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If I can hang crisp curtains
And paint a handy shelf,
Put up a picture here and there
To sort of suit myself,
Put cushions on a rocking chair,
Have a few flowers growin',
I wouldn't trade my happy lot
With all the kings that's goin'.
If I can cook a pot of stew
Or make a batch of bread
A pan of shiny home-made buns,
Air out a feather bed;
If I can plant a row of beans,
Take pleasure in the sowin',
I wouldn't trade my happy lot
With all the kings that's goin'.
If I can live in happy peace,
With none to work me ill;
A crimson rosebush by the door,
Sun on a distant hill,
A little home where love is lord
And all the world be knowin',
I wouldn't trade my happy lot
with all the kings that's goin'.
~Edna Jacques, Crisp White Curtains
Back-Door Neighbors, 1946
What a beautiful poem this morning, all about being content with the blessings we have been given. There is nothing wrong with striving to build a better life for yourself, but really, why would you be blessed with more if you cannot bring yourself to appreciate what you already have. Food for thought here.
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Everyone is bracing themselves for the big storm of the 2026 winter. With below freezing temperatures and lots of ice and snow expected across the board. The internet is full of practical advice on how to heat your home, cook food, boil water, etc. when the power goes off. (Note I said when not if. It happens all too frequently where I live.)
I found this:
STEPS TO PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGE
- Charge all essential devices, including cell phones, laptops, and portable chargers, to full capacity.
- Stock up on flashlights, battery-operated lanterns, and extra batteries. Avoid relying on candles for safety reasons.
- Invest in a portable generator or solar power bank if possible, and ensure you have sufficient fuel or solar charging options.
- Freeze water bottles to act as ice packs for your freezer and as a backup drinking water source when thawed.
- Prepare a supply of non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking, such as canned meals, crackers, and energy bars.
- Store at least 14 days’ worth of drinking water and consider water purification options like filters or boiling methods.
- Set up an emergency cooking solution, such as a portable gas stove or outdoor grill, ensuring proper ventilation.
- Create a shelter plan for extreme weather or prolonged outages, including identifying safe locations to stay if needed.
- Unplug large electronic devices to protect them from power surges when electricity is restored.
- Keep an emergency kit ready with essentials like a first aid kit, manual can opener, fire extinguisher, and a battery-powered radio.
- Prepare emergency lighting options like LED lanterns or solar-powered garden lights for extended outages.
- If temperatures are freezing, let faucets drip to prevent pipes from bursting, or drain pipes if water access is unavailable.
- Plan activities like books or board games to keep family members engaged during the outage.
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Place several tea lights or a candle on a safe surface and light it. Place several pencils in a square around it. Place a clay flower pot over the burning candle(s) making sure that the pencils are holding it up off the surface and creating a place where air can circulate. You can pop your pot of water or soup on top of the clay pot and it should come to a boil or heat up enough for you to safely use/eat.
Several of these set up in a small room will also help to heat up the space. (Like a bathroom.)
As always, when working with fire, be careful and cautious and never leave it untended.
If you have a gas BBQ outside you are off the races. These often come in handy during power outages. I have very fine memories of BBQ-ing suppers for my family during snow storms in power outages. DON'T USE THESE THINGS INDOORS!
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I called the Doctor's office yesterday morning to try to get a telephone appointment. My own Doctor was not available but they did set up a phone appointment for 1:15 for another Doctor in the surgery. The time came and went, one hour, two hours . . . Cindy said I should call the surgery. So I did, but unfortunately they do not accept phone calls after 3:30 and I was just past 3:30, so no joy there.
I was very disappointed that the Doctor had failed to call me back. Now I will have to wait until Monday to see or talk to someone. There is no ER services at the hospital in our town on weekends. On the plus side, although I am still bleeding, there is not a lot of pain now when I urinate, so that is an improvement. I have not had to take a pain killer since the one I took yesterday morning. Fingers crossed it keeps up.
Hopefully I have turned a corner.
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I did not do much of anything yesterday, except wait for the phone call which didn't come. I hope today I will get some muffins or some such baked and maybe even some bread made so that I have something to eat if the power goes out. You can make a fine meal out of bread, cheese and tinned fruit, or muffins. Peanut butter. Jam. My bread that I have here from the shops is over a week old. In fact it is closer to two weeks old so I really need to make something to take it's place.
I am quite capable and can do so. My bread machine makes lovely bread, and I have two bananas left from what Glenna brought me last Sunday that I need to use up. They would make great muffins.
Might as well make good use of my power while I have it. We are not expected to get much in the way of snow until tomorrow and then it is supposed to snow for four days running.
Snowmageddon 2026.
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Oh, I just reminded myself of the U.K. They loved to categorize their storms over there, such as "The great floods of 1999," or "The great snows of 2001." etc. It was very endearing.
Weather was a topic of conversation that figured greatly over there. It was something which always gave everyone something to talk about. It was a wonderful conversation starter. If you had nothing else to speak of and had extinguished your talk about your aches and pains, there was always, always the weather to discuss.
I think it was Bob Hope who once said about the weather in the U.K. "If you don't like it, wait five minutes."
Yes, very changeable to say the least.
I do miss it very much, the U.K. . . . and the people. But I am where I want and need to be. Close to and with my family. God is good.
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And with that I will put an end to this missive. I was very late getting up this morning. It was a quarter past seven before I opened my eyes. Mind, I did not fall asleep until past midnight, so I must have needed it. I am not sure what I will get up to today, but rest will be involved and a bit of baking.
A thought to carry with you . . .
☾ ° ★° * 。
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*The true art of living consists in seeing
the miraculous in the everyday.
~Pearl S. Buck • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
Something I did manage to bake a couple of days ago. Finnish Cardamom Tea Cake. Delicious. A simple cake with no bells or whistles, and plenty of flavor.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend. Stay safe and warm. Whatever you get up to, don't forget!
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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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And I do too!
PS - I did not get to respond to comments yesterday. My iPad won't let me comment on blogger. Not even on my own blog.
