The Long Walk

I was putting it off as long as possible, but three days without power sent me back to the place that always has power, and heat, and light - my school. The long walk down the hall, to the staircase that takes me down to E-Wing where my room is (I hope)was dizzying to say the least, after a summer on the farm. I had no choice as the freezers are thawing and the last of my piggie products will spoil. I would rather feed them to my students than the dogs (sorry, doggies!)so I packed up the semi-frozen packages of sausages, roasts, spare-ribs and bacon, and brought them here. I also needed to charge my cell phone and post to my blog, just in case anyone is wondering what the heck happened to me. We survived Hurricane Irene with minor damage. The wind blew rain under the ridge pole of my roof, causing a line of leaks going the length of the barn extension over me. The pots were singing. So here we are at day 3 with no power. What a bummer. Talk about getting weaned off technology real fast. I've been doing everything I can possibly think of that does not require power - cutting out Bundaflicka totes, melting soap scraps for blocks (I still have propane, thankfully) and picking fleeces. I wear my headlamp and use lots of candles at night and the early morning. I read at night, unusual for me, went to sleep at 9 and woke up at four this morning, all slept out. With no running water I go to Shepherd Mary's to fill up gerry cans and bring them home. She gets power from NYSEG and did not lose it at all. I have the co-op, Otsego Electric and they are not giving their customers any indication of when the power will return. I have a cistern in the back field, but a marshy area separates it from the barn making carrying heavy water containers difficult. The sheep drink from the pond, but the "ancillary species," like chickens, rabbits, ducks, dogs and cats need water taken to them. Then there are the humans, who are used to various activities like cooking, bathing, flushing, etc. Suffice it to say I am eagerly looking forward to the power going back on. This morning I decided to take a bar of soap and a towel up to the pond. It was 40, yes 40 F. this morning so I waited until 9 or so, hoping the air would be a little warmer. I spooked a beautiful Blue Heron at the edge of the pond, making me feel a little guilty I was claiming the water for myself. The hurricane has flushed the pond nicely, with water racing down the overflow. Fearing I would chicken out and not get my proper bath, I stripped and lathered up from chin to toes so I would have to fully submerge in the cold pond water. How invigorating to float amoung the cattails with little, and big, green frogs for company. I left the water feeling much, much better, got dressed, and took my curious doggies back down the big hill to get ready to make my way here. I have no idea what is happening out there in the world, what roads are impassable, who is still underwater, etc. I hope all this will be revealed by my lovely PC here on my desk. I would like to visit Mia for a day, but have heard some roads to New Jersey are closed due to flooding. We were planning on a beach day, but will probably put that on hold. Mia is working every single weekend from now to December so she can fit in her two clinical situations for nurse practitioner school. I have work and shows coming up. We'll see how it goes.