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(Week 3, part 2,
level 1)
by mrs. patsi @ A
Working Pantry
Wagon clipart link …
https://clipart-library.com/clipart/713877.htm
Whether you decided
that ‘going shopping’ in our last post was a good plan for you or not, life is
going on and it is now day 17 in our scenario.
Does it seem like
you've been without power longer than that?
Does it feel like
this thing is never going to end?
Do you just long for
things to be ‘easier’ again?
What are you missing
the most, other than electrical power?
Wait! Hold that thought … there’s a loud and persistent
knocking on your door … are you going to answer it? Whatever time of day or night you’re reading
this is when the ‘loud and persistent’ knocking is occurring.
Do you have a
security plan in place?
mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
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Iissed hot showers the most during our seven days out during Helene.
ReplyDeleteIt's rare to have strangers at our door in our out of town area but we would look to see who is out there before opening the door. When the power is not out we have security cameras .
I’m missing long hot showers. After a few days of not showering I just feel so disgusting. We would probably not answer the door since it’s 8 pm and dark. Hubs would definitely have a plan. Generator locked up at night, doors and windows locked. He would even be concerned about the garbage. His theory is people in our area don’t experience hunger and things could get real ugly once they do. Sue in MN
ReplyDeleteIt's 1.30pm here so a knock on the door isn't totally unheard of - however we have a security grille on the front door with a protected glass panel beside it - we could look through there (or look down from upstairs) to check who it was and if known to us and trusted, we would open the front door with the grille still securely locked to find out what they wanted - however to be absolutely cautious, I'd be more inclined to go out to the front patio above which looks down to the front door and ask what they wanted, that giving me plenty of time to duck back inside and lock myself in if there was danger. If it were dark, I wouldn't answer the door at all. It's a catch 22. As far as day 17 goes, we'd be getting awfully tired of watching our backs but life would go on - we'd probably be hot and sticky and yearning for the fans at least but there are other ways to try and keep cool - sleeping would be the hardest.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good question. At the time I read this my husband isn’t home. It’s all most 8 o’clock at night. Part of me is saying wait till my husband get home. The other half is wanting to yell through the door to see who it is and what they want.. I am really going to have to think on this. Plus ask my husband what he would have me do. In such a situation!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could throw sheets and towels in the washer. I’m tired of having to decide what is more important to use water for. I’ve been thinking lately about security. I had the loud persistent banging on the door and it was quite unsettling until I saw it was my mom who was freaking out because her phone quit working. I didn’t hear her at first and she thought something had happened to me. I’ve since reintroduced her to her cell phone. It’s not a friendly relationship. Mel in Co.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly seems a lot longer than 17 days and, while we have settled down into a new routine, I would still like things to return to normal. I think I would be missing settling down to watch something on the tv and having the radio playing in the background while I read or go about my jobs. The battery powered radio is now only occasionally switched on at times when the news would normally be on, just to check if there is another update broadcast.
ReplyDeleteIt is 8.45 in the morning here, so I would just look out of the window beside the front door to see who is knocking. If this took place during the night I would open the window above the front door and shout down to find out who was there.
I think most would miss their cell phonesinternet as you will only be able to charge it just so long using your car depending on where your fuel amount is in the car. Gas stations would not be able to pump gas.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a solar cube to run the HAM radio and charge our cell phones. It's able to run my old wringer washer,I would have to cart water to it.
Our security camaras are on solar.Dog lets us know when someone is around the house(including the neighbors) or coming down the lane. Doors are locked because the dog lets herself out other wise and then goes over to Amish neighbor to fight with their dog. We are armed. We have solar pump on deep well pump, we have water reservors on wood/coal cook stove and we have camping solar shower kit. BUT I grew up heating bath water in a water canner on a space heater we heated the house with. I have an old propane stove that I would move into house and the one in house out (no electric it won't even light with lighter). Have oil lamps and 5 gallons of oil. We have talked about trash service and recycling. I would keep recycling, never know when you might need to use something you tossed but am working at lowering the amount of trash. Daddy only had a plastic grocery sack a week... my goal though I do feel decent about only 1 of the 13 gallon bags a week instead of the 2 black trash bags the two widows with no kids in home in the neighborhood has each week. I do have a burn barrel for paper.cardboard trash.I would be hooking up with one of the local Amish to find an outdoor canner so I wouldn't be heating up my house during the summer. I just canned beef stew(broth not gravy), 3 types of meatballs with sauces, and slidder hamburger patties. Self reliance book recipes. I have enough fuel on site to run generator(have 2) to can most of what is in the freezers within a week.
I have actually thought about security before, and realize though I live in an extremely safe neighborhood, there is no way to totally secure my house. All of my first floor windows are 7 feet long and go all the way to the floor. The windows on the front of the house are just 5 or so feet above ground level, and the ones on the back face the deck, with little more than 4 inches above it.
ReplyDeleteI am reading this at 7 am and TheHub is not here. I imagine I would not answer it and hope for the best.
I am still counting on our local water works board to have back up power to keep the water going. If not I do have access to water in my backyard. It is not potable but it could be used for washing/bathing.
Makes me think I need to get a really good water filter to have at the house.
I've read this at 7:41 AM (Central time, US). I'm holding my own, but emotionally it's taking a toll. Close friends are starting to talk about cooking together once a week, just for the sense of community. But we'd have to do it mid-day, due to having to walk a mile+ and needing to traverse the route in daylight.
ReplyDeleteIf someone came banging on the door at this hour, at least it's light out now that Daylight Savings Time has ended. Pup would go into protection mode -- even though he's small (mini schnauzer), he has a big bark and would likely bite if I were in danger. I have sidelight windows on each side of the door, so I might be able to see who's there. If not, or if it's someone I don't know, I'd open a window from my main level (1/2 flight of stairs above the foyer) and speak to them from inside, without opening the door. And, after that, I'd measure and cut a broom stick to use as a security jamb, between the foyer baseboard and the base of the door. Later in the day, and if I'd felt threatened, I'd alert the neighbors who have worked in military/public safety/Homeland Security, and ask for their guidance. My late husband's childhood baseball bats are at the ready.
It’s 9am here, so not too scary. We have a pretty tight-knit street, so I would not think too negatively about it. However, I would look out the window to see who was there. That would determine if I opened the door or not.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am missing the most is cooking a good, hot meal. We have an electric stove so we’d be using the BBQ a lot. Not sure if my generator would run the stove and oven along with th fridge and freezer.
Lori comment about broom stick. Son2 lived in apt that all the windows could be unlocked from out side. We cut wood sticks to stop window from being raised. Painted them white to blend in to wood around his windows. He left them when he bought his house. Single lady used them and when someone tried to open her window she started screaming. Neighbor called law and another neighbor knocked the guy out.
ReplyDeleteGood for your son and for the lady who inherited them with the house. We had one for our patio door when we had a summer house years ago. In this scenario, I'd use what I had on hand and a broom stick would fit the bill, since I don't keep much lumber on hand any more.
DeleteMany years ago my husband's elderly great aunt lived alone in a ground floor flat. She had a large sash window that she liked to leave open a tiny bit all the time to let some air in. She also had a table full of very spiny cacti under the window, so that anyone tempted to try raising the sash and climbing in would get a very nasty surprise!
DeleteI understand hairspray applied to the eyes is quite a good defensive option. Might have to be doing my hair when the door is answered….
ReplyDeleteRealised that gas bbq is not a long term option as you can’t buy bottled gas when there is no power to operate the service station registers and no deliveries because the fuel can’t be pumped.
ReplyDeleteWithout electricity there is no way to get cash and so you can’t buy water tanks to catch rain water.
Writing out my wish list so should this scenario happen I will have water tanks, a good supply of wood, have a supply of seeds, make sure I have a better vegetable garden and make a solar food dehydrator.
Stock my pantry better including dry food for my animals. Get some camping solar panels that can power my camp fridge. Only issue I can’t fix is getting a job closer to home.
We were able to get propane tanks filled in the week after Helene. The local hardware store brought in a big generator to power the operation and they were filling tanks for a flat $20 each.
Delete
ReplyDeleteBy this point, I cannot imagine my husband's state of mind...or mine after dealing with him for 17 days without power!! Seriously, the whole scenario sounds doable to me, it does truly, but he's never experienced week long power outages etc. When we've had them here he was always at work, where power was provided by generators! It was me and the kids, or me by myself who soldiered on back in the day. Now he's retired and with no phone (He's got one hobby that is watching tv so I figure he's run his down and out by now) and no TV he's going to be one testy character. And I'll be so busy just figuring out how to cope that I'll have no patience with him whatsoever. Does it feel like forever. Yes and another lifetime besides!
We do have protection on hand and he would be home (it's now 3:30pm so daylight) and have protection in hand when he went to the door. To be honest, I'm NOT worried about scavengers and looters, not in our rural area. There aren't that many homes and people being what they are, they'll be focused on protecting what they have not in taking my stuff.
Assuming that scenario is playing out in the same time frame/season we're in then we've had rain and I'll likely have heated water to wash a few pieces of clothing and perhaps to do dishes. We won't be drinking it or using it to cook with, but even dirty water will flush a toilet! We would still have food and we can have hot meals but water will be a concern. At present we've had temperatures drop a bit and we're pretty darn grateful for that!
Like others I want to wash sheets and take a hot shower. I want enough water to drink without having to worry about what we're using. And most of all I want the tv on so my husband will settle down and stop complaining, LOL!
Circling the Wagons.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people have mentioned missing showers. Aussie members, the Aldi catalogue has portable outdoor showers on page 27, on sale November 23rd, $49.99. If you want to add that to your supplies.
Its the catalogue with the blue pillow on the front, as I know they often have 2 on the go.
My husband also watches a lot of television as he has energy issues, so he would definitely be becoming cranky and bored. I’ve checked on google and the bore in the front yard would probably be safe to drink if filtered, we have a filter jug and spare filters so that isn’t a problem. Security wise, front screen ok , but back screen lock needs replacing. Old house (1960’s) so the windows, although large are sturdy steel wind out type and the glass would need to be broken for entry all except one modern sliding on on the rear verandah and I would us a stick in that. We don’t have much growing but a reasonable pantry. I would have gone to the shops to top up. I would have checked through the window before opening the door. Son would be testy as he spends a lot of time on the computer. I think I would be spending time in my sewing room cutting and sorting fabric as that doesn’t require power. We would be going to bed earlier without lighting/electronics/tv.
ReplyDeleteIt’s 8:05 pm and the door knocking has started. The big dog let us know when the person (people) hit the gravel on our road! lol I will say that we are well prepared for unexpected friendly and Not So Friendly folks…I carry pepper spray, have hairspray and bug spray (which sprays much much farther, btw) and sundry other security measures. My child worked in security and has taught us many ways to utilize what is at hand for protection. I will add here that one must do serious soul searching about how combative they are willing to be. And that one must also consider at what distance they feel threatened. To have someone threatening at your door before you have decided these things is not a good time to punt. Know what you are willing to do and how. Take self defense courses. And keep your
ReplyDeleteChosen protection in every room! Personally, I have a lot of bug spray foam! Lol As for how I am…. Productive!! Our main meal is at noon and we are in bed shortly after dark. We have slowed down and are setting small goals for each day that help us prepare for the possibility of extended outages (just as we did in our recent challenge)…. I think I’ve dropped ten pounds already from the extra physical labor and I sleep like the righteous and just…. And I am digging the quiet…. Except this incessant knocking….. 😉