Good morning! So about 2/3rd's of the US is either going to experience, or is experiencing this massive winter storm. I wish you all God Speed! We are in the Major impact zone for Georgia. So we could get up to an inch of ice. For those of you unfamiliar with an ice storm. That's bad. This isn't the joke of southerners panicking over a dusting of snow. This is a one inch coating of ice on everything and it's very dangerous. Anything 1/2 inch or greater brings on serious power outages, trees down, impossible roads. Oh yay!
So I've been battening down the hatches and getting things squared away. While I do have my two strapping young sons here. DH is out of town. I wish he were here, if only for the company and moral support. He's keeping in touch, and quite honestly; even if he tried to get here; with a 2000 mile long winter storm between us and him; I don't see him getting a flight.
I've done all I can to prepare, with a few more small things to do today. I DID NOT want to get into the craziness at the grocery stores. Diva had to go by there and she said she had to go to three stores to find one loaf of bread. She said everything was cleaned out. Instead I've stayed home and made bread, granola, hamburger buns, BBQ Sauce( to go with some cooked pork in the freezer), and 2 batches of cookies. Today I'll make up some meals that can be reheated on my camp stove.
Speaking of camp stoves! I had resigned myself to cook anything I needed on the outdoor grill, but then I imagined what that would be like in the middle of freezing rain. UGH! BRR! I figured so close to the event, the chances of finding propane cannisters for a camp stove would be zero. Still, I got on Walmart's website. They had 2 packs for $32.99. I thought GOOD GRIEF! They had to be shipped and would be there in 2 days. Too much for no guarantee of arriving in time. I called a local hardware store(Howard Brothers for you locals) to see if they topped off propane tanks for grills. They did. So I then asked them if they had adapters to convert grill propane tanks for use with a camp stove. I was told they had sold out. I wasn't surprised to hear that with it being 2 days before the event. I then asked him if by chance they had any 16 ounce propane cannisters for a camp stove. I even said "I know this is a shot in the dark, but". He actually had some, but told me I needed to get there soon. He'd had 8 cases the day before, but had sold out and what he had left was on the self. I was a mile and a half away. I was there lickedy split. Went in and he showed me where they were. Want to hazard a guess as to how much two cannisters were at this local hardware store? Mind you these were the same Coleman brand cannisters. Two cannisters were still $12 and some change. It never dawned on them to raise their prices due to demand. They just provided a service for their customers, and charged what they were already priced. Walmart raised their price due to demand. It's sad to say, because my son works for them, and they gave him a job when he couldn't get one. I have to say, this is disappointing. Now one could say they increased the price because of shipping. That's what I thought until a friend told me he had seen them pull a pallet of these cannisters out at a local Walmart and they were priced the same as the ones online; $32.99. Needless to say, they sold out, regardless. 😒
If you're in the path of this thing, were caught off guard, but are needing to grab something or use something you have to get through; Here are a few tips I've gleaned through this experience.
1) If you have hurricane lamps, they will generate a good amount of heat in addition to light. This is, however, when used in a closed off room such as a bedroom.
2) Think outside the box for items you think you need. For example: I have an elderly dog who won't be able to go down the steps on her own if they're covered in ice. I feel bad I was late realizing this. In my defense, she does fine when there isn't ice. I'll be needing to go up and down steps too in order to see to our chickens. So I need salt to melt the ice. No way to find rock salt or ice melt now, but what I did find was canning salt: 2 bags around 3 or 4 pounds each. I need 4 D batteries for one camp lantern, but could only find two. I don't think I'll need them, but if the batteries currently die, I can still use the lamp if I put two new batteries in to replace two dead. It won't work as long, but it will work some. It isn't urgent to have these, but it will be nice to have. I need to stretch the propane I have in my camp stove cannisters, so I'm making things :Coffee, meals, etc. ahead of time so I only have to reheat it on my camp stove; not cook from the beginning.
3) So you couldn't find groceries at the store? That sucks, I know, but that means you can go home and use the time you do have to make up meals, snacks, whatever with what you have on hand. It's work, but it solves the problem. That's what I spent yesterday doing. I'll do more today if I have the time.
4) If you think a power outage is possible, wash clothes, run the dishwasher, everyone shower, and anything else you think you'll need to have taken care of before the outage hits.
I'm hearing the first pitter patters of precipitation. It's my reminder that I need to run fill up my truck just in case later gas stations are on the fritz. Then I'll come back and situate the chickens as best I can. Still have some indoor things to do. Prayers for everyone going through this right now. I figure if we're prepared it will only be rain. That would be fine with me!
