We had a bit of an adventure on Monday. During the night there was a pretty significant wind storm, and it knocked out power to our house, and most of the block, with localized power outages in patches throughout the area.
So we were forced to Low-Tech it all morning long. As you can guess, it was great fun!
The first thing to be done was to create light (just check out the first chapter of Genesis, and you’ll see I am right). Fortunately, we have an oil lamp and a good supply of parafin oil so this was easy and full of ambiance.
We are practically Laura Ingalls Wilder right now!
And we had oatmeal for breakfast because of course central heating doesn’t work without electricity, so it was a little chilly in the house. We have a gas fireplace, but it uses an electric fan to spread the heat through the room, and of course the fan wasn’t working. So we talked about how the pioneers liked hot, boiled breakfasts like oatmeal, cornmeal and grits, not only because they provide a lot of energy, but because they warm you up from the inside.
Then it was time to do school.
With some hot tea, of course. Nothing warms the cockles of your heart like some chamomile or spiced rooibos.
The oven couldn’t work because it is electric, but the stovetop does (gas). So once you light it with a match, you’re off to the races. We like homemade bread, and steamed breads were very popular in the colonial and pioneer days when people might not have an oven, but usually had a pot and an open fire.
If we were good bloggers we would have documented the whole process of making the steamed maple rye (and steamed molasses rye, because, porque no los dos?) and made a blog with five pages of history of steamed breads, and one little recipe at the bottom.
Feel free to make up for our shortcomings as bloggers by imagining it. Like Shakespeare said.*
Power or no power, cold or no cold, wind or no wind, the animals need to be fed, so we trekked over to the farm and did the chores. It was not terribly cold in the barn, but once we stepped out into the open…
Poor Winnie almost got blown off her feet!
But that didn’t stop her bringing the pig bucket back to the car to be taken home! Never too little to help.
So there you have it, our half day of being pioneers.
On a more serious note, this did cause us to identify some potential gaps in our preparedness, which we can begin to work on for future events. It was not just a fun day pretending “Laura Ingals.” Of course, the electricity came back eventually, only because of people working hard all day in the cold, wind and rain, so many thanks to them.
*O, pardon! since a crooked figure may
Shakespeare; From the Prologue to Henry V.
Attest in little place a million;
And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces work.
Little Farm in the Big City 