Texas

[electrycmonk]

Sorry for all the folks suffering from the cold weather, power out etc...I'm in Illinois and pay plenty to have Chicago water but it's reliable - now that I said that hope I haven't jinxed anything.

Had septic tank, well water - awful with tons of iron in it. If it set in a glass for a few minutes all the water looked like rust. Taking a shower with rusty looking water - seemed ridiculous.
Had a kennel of dogs and they refused to drink the water after smelling it. Had to fill clean/empty milk jugs at a relative's house to bring in good water.

In early 1980's set state record for 32 BELOW ZERO. Thank the Lord, the furnace didn't give out.

We got spoiled by 3 very mild winters in a row and very little snow. But, winter is back with a vengeance, blustery winds and dangerous wind chills.

As bad as the cold etc. is when you live here you get used to it. I imagine Texans say the same about the heat. Face masks - real ones, fleece or neoprene make a huge difference in keeping you warm. Had to walk nearly everywhere for many years, no car, couldn't drive anyway. Walking with face mask on I'd overheat and pull it off - only to get freezing cold in an instant. Showed me just how protective masks can be.

I wish Texans would give me advice on surviving heat & humidity- we get both in late spring and summer. Makes me really ill and can't handle most foods till the weather cools. Been like this since I was a young child. Doesn't bother anyone else in my family. Just lucky I guess - Asi es la vida.

I can honestly advice on heat later.

 

[electrycmonk]

As if the weather isn't enough to contend with and the well freezing up, now the power has gone off too! Luckily, I have alternate heating sources for the house.
4+ inches and still coming down.

Awoke to power off. ERCOT warnings for 45 minutes rolling outages all day.
Power came back on as I was updating our utility automated system.

 

[007Sean]

Awoke to power off. ERCOT warnings for 45 minutes rolling outages all day.
Power came back on as I was updating our utility automated system.

I've gone through 3 blackouts so far!
1st was only for 16 minutes, the 2nd, 45 minutes, the 3rd was an hour.

 

[electrycmonk]

I've gone through 3 blackouts so far!
1st was only for 16 minutes, the 2nd, 45 minutes, the 3rd was an hour.

8:13 power just went off again. This our 2nd "known" outage.i was asleep from ~1AM until dogs woke me at 7:20-ish when power was already out then. It came back on about 7:45-ish.

So now the waiting game continues.

 

[Matejka]

That last pic is of deer tracks, they walked all around the yard and all around every pen...I guess they could smell the bird feed and where trying to find a way into the pens.

Different type of predator. Put some corn out, wild critters gotta eat too.

 

[007Sean]

Different type of predator. Put some corn out, wild critters gotta eat too.

My neighbors do that...much to my dislike, because there are too many deer in this area already due to very few peeps around here hunt them and they just keep multiply....I can't even have a garden, they eat everything to the ground...and I'm not going to fence in a garden.

 

[Matejka]

Just another bridge to cross. We struggle to get/stay warm for us/animals. So we get thrown another obstacle, no power,
What to do what to do?
The best we can.
Fill bathtub up with water, have alternate heat source-if possible, we have propane heat and cook stove. Make the best of a bad situation.

This too will pass.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

We were without power Thursday and Friday, then it went off this morning at 4AM and has not come back on. Thank goodness for a propane stove, lol.

 

[Matejka]

 

[Auntiejessi3]

View attachment 2530910

For real though!