Power Outage Is NOT Camping In Style

-

Twice this winter we have had several days without power. Over Thanks Giving we went the entire week with the power being restored the day after all of our big plans.

 Trying to Camp In Style with "generator toast"

Three days into it I'm thinking "Ruth your one girl who loves camping" making the best of it. While watching my friends without power come unglued I remained inspired to Camp In Style. But on that fourth day ................................. I more than came unglued. I won't bore you with all the details of managing a house in the snow you can't drive to, with no power, no phone, one small propane fireplace that keeps a tiny area of the house at 53 tops, with a 5 yr old, a husband out of town and a small generator located around back and down a slope to use for one item at a time.  

Our generator

I lost my cool, cried, freaked out and then was totally disappointed in myself for being a bad girl scout.
 
  PG&E vehicle to get to remote downed poles


Then I reasoned it like this. 
  • Camping is planned, meals and intentions
  • Camping you prepare for the weather and whatever discomforts you may endure
  • Camping is with other people usually
  • Camping is in the Summer when the sun goes down later in the day
  • Camping is Camping and loosing your power is (&$@!$%^**&%^%$
 PG&E power poles day 5


Comments

Sue said…
C'mon, summer! We're all sick of this winter already. I would have been stressed out too - just the 5 year old would have been enough!
2/23/2011
Elaine Coombs said…
Ah, Ruth! I think you did pretty well. Good point that camping is planned and power outage is not... Hmm, maybe you can work on some power outage planning for next time? I don't know what that would entail but I'm sure you could come up with a stash of some things to use in case of the next 'no power' moments. ~ Elaine
2/23/2011
Unknown said…
I love your comments.

Elaine the only thing that I think would help isn't legal, if you know what I mean. So I try to cook and prep dinner at 4pm and make it cocktail hour to take the "what if" out of the "I hope not" "if you know what I mean"

Sue most days having a child feels like I've lost my power.

Their expecting 33" in a 24 hour period starting tomorrow afternoon. Where we live that's allot of snow.

NOTE TO SELF
* rent dvd
* charge all batteries
* charge cell phone and laptop
* gas up the car
* gas up the generator
* break out the candles
* break out the land line
* pray
* plan meals ahead of time
* run dishwasher
* laundry
* stock wine cabinet and coffee

pray, stay inspired and dress warm
2/23/2011
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Camptrip Review

-
Image
Camping was both good and well as usual a learning experience. I've come to decide a few things:   Bring what makes you comfortable without bringing too much I like my camp kitchen set up and don't need to buy anything bigger I don't like the laundry basket idea, I couldn't find anything and prefer the compartments of a duffel bag I'm not into rainy camping when it comes time to pack up. Everything is wet and dirt is stuck to it    Camping with my 5 year old daughter is awesome A truck would make camping easier Bears are fairly harmless but even though I know I don't have to worry about them my instinct says don't sleep the first night I camp. And it's always a thrill to see them. I love my $3 purchase from the thrift store it's very useful as a seat or side table Three days or more of camping makes packing up more tolerable We LOVE smoores with cookies Using a wine box to roll up newsprint for making a fire was a
Read more

Nature Based Art Projects For Kids

-
Image
Rock Art: Draw a line or spiral with a long stick and collect rocks and pine cones - place on the line in a pattern. Show them a picture of “The spiral Jetty” by Robert Smithson.   Camp Kitchen: Collect cooking gear from the thrift store, see if you can find items on small scale, find a flat rock, log or camp bench and draw in chalk a stove top (two circles with an “X”) Fill a pitcher of water and tell them to go to town making mud pies and cooking them. (keep mud away from where people walk). Rock & Stick Art: Hunt for sticks and rocks then paint with washable tempera   Pine Cone Critters: Glue small rocks, sticks onto pine cones to make different figures. Tacky glue works best.   Hide & Seek an old stand by.   Bug Hunt with a bug jar.   Hopscotch: Use a long sticks to make squares in dirt & small rocks to throw.   Beading: $1 store good for this, I like using a tray or baking sheet to contain everything.   Journal: Glue, t
Read more

Camping AT D.L. Bliss

-
Image
Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe California D.L. Bliss Campground - Not all campsites are equal - Scroll down to see BEST sites 9881 HWY 89 Tahoma CA 96142 Click Here For State Park Link Entrance of D.L. Bliss by Gary O'Toole Location – Directions 17 miles south of Tahoe City on Highway 89, a couple of miles north of Emerald Bay Tahoma Latitude/Longitude: 38.9851 / -120.1304 Phone: 530-525-7277 Reservations: 800-444-7275 Click Here Even though this park gets a 10 rating from most of the camping books, many campsites are on slops that are rocky or are small. I would rate this place a 5 or a 10 depending on where you’re parking your tent. I love the beach access at this park and a few nice sites sit facing the water. You pay extra for that though and no dogs on beach here, not even on leash. However early rise and sunset ball throw worked for us just fine. The beach is BEAUTIFUL and it’s the beach that makes this campground great. If you want to book a good site you will nee
Read more