Really Enjoyable Maine Weekend (Skowhegan, Newfield: appliances, houses, high school)

[Mass2Maine]

I figured I'd share a short story about my weekend at our house in Newfield this past weekend. I still live down at the bottom of Mass, but have a family weekend home in Newfield, ME. So we planned on heading up there for this past weekend before the crazy weather broke out. Down here in Mass, I got 5 inches of rain. Thought that wasn't so bad. Packed up on Friday afternoon and headed on up.

I had heard that there was some ice up there, but didn't know how bad it was until I got off RT 16 in NH and headed east on 153. Couldn't really see much at night since it was about 9pm and, despite the phenomenal moon, still pretty dark. Saw a bunch of frozen branches, but nothing really down. Passed houses with some Christmas lights on so I figured we were ok.

As I turned on our street, I heard an unfamiliar (well unfamiliar for the area. not unfamiliar to me) sound. Gas generator noise. Rats. No power on our street. Pull in the driveway (which was covered in ice) to find a pitch black house. We had some friends over and let them head up before us with a key so at least the stove was fired up. Unfortunately the power must have went out on Wednesday or Thursday so it was 45 degrees in the house.

So what were we to do? Make the best of it. Had four adults and two kids in a house with no power or running water. I ended up doing all the cooking on a combo of the wood stove and the outdoor gas grill. Make everything from scratch of course. Not a problem at all. Had huge breakfast with eggs, bacon, homefries, english muffins. Made pasta with Italian sausage and garlic bread for dinner. Had plenty of snacks. Played cards by candlelight.

As for running water, we just filled up a bunch of 5 gallon buckets from Bond Spring and used that to flush the toilets. Had the kids get ice to melt and boil so the women could wash dishes. And to relax, I went out and chopped wood for the rest of the winter. Its nice to spend time doing things the old school way. My family had a great time. The dog loved skating on the ice and cleaning up all the branches in the yard. The kids didn't even mind the lack of video games or tv. Maybe they'll make it after all.

The only bad part of the weekend, I missed the moose that were outside our bedroom window. Found some piles of "leftovers" frozen under that sheet of ice that we were given. Oh well. Maybe next time. Thanks for reading.

[island mermaid]

It sounds like you had a great weekend in spite of the weather conditions and lack of power. Might as well stay and make the most of it. It's a great way all get to know each other better, including your immediate family. No video games provides for more conversations! Sharing in the chores makes for more family involvement as well.
Glad you guys had fun.

[Maineah]

In 1998 during the ice storm,after a week of sleeping in the livingroom, heating with the fireplace and kitchen wood stove, Coleman lanterns, no running water , hauling water from a well, tepid showers, no tv or video games,stove top food....the power came on! The kids wanted me to go downstairs and shut it off again! I think we'd be better off if we had more ice storms.

[chiisai]

Occasionally here on the MA/RI line, we have a transformer let go during a storm. I have a gas stove and hurricane lanterns. The kids (12 & 14) love going around lighting them. We then get out the cards, a book, or Scrabble. Sometimes the kids shut the lights off when they do come back on.

We have our electric and Non-electric appliances. My kids love to see what they CAN do without power. i.e. making cookies with the hand-crank mixer, grinding wheat-berries with the grain mill, to make bread, heating water to take a bath/shower (5 gal water bag).

It brings out their creative side!

It's nice to see that they have common sense, and aren't rattling around saying "What do I do now?"

[tankratt]

Some of the best times we had growing up was when we lost power, I rememder we lost power on Thanksgiving the turkey had just gone in the oven when pow no lights, no nothing. Dad got the grill out and we moved the turkey outside Mom set up the camp stove for the other things and we made the best of it and it may be one of the best we ever had. Then after pie we played Yahtzee and Clue by flashlight.

[lrfox]

I agree with all of this, but when I was in High School, I invested a lot of my money into a nice, 75 gallon saltwater fish tank with all sorts of unique species of fish and invertebrates (honestly, I really wasn't that big of a dork). Every time we lost power for a while I had mini heart attacks because I thought all of my fish were going to die without filtration and oxygen in their aquarium. I never lost a fish during or right after power outages, but they were some troubling times.

If I EVER do the fish tank again (which I'd love to when I'm settled for the long term again), I'll make sure I have some way to power it for a while when the power is off.

[retiredtinbender]

Sounds as if you had a great weekend despite Mother Nature. I guess we don't need all the modern conveniences to enjoy family and friends. Not that I'm going to get rid of any of my stuff. I should think about a wood stove though. Or at least a generator

[American girl]

My power was out 11 days during Maine's last ice storm. The romance wains after day 3. I was living alone, and of course working, and I went a whole week without seeing my house in the light. When the electricity finally came back I almost gagged at the sight! Paw prints, shoe dirt and just general dishevelment. I was heating with wood at the time so I was never cold but it sure did get tedious after a bit. I can remember the last day when I had been promised the lights would be back on. I called my house every half hour and when the answering machine finally picked up I wept.

[chiisai]

Originally Posted by American girl

My power was out 11 days during Maine's last ice storm. The romance wains after day 3. I was living alone, and of course working, and I went a whole week without seeing my house in the light. When the electricity finally came back I almost gagged at the sight! Paw prints, shoe dirt and just general dishevelment. I was heating with wood at the time so I was never cold but it sure did get tedious after a bit. I can remember the last day when I had been promised the lights would be back on. I called my house every half hour and when the answering machine finally picked up I wept.

Imagine how people 100 years ago felt. Many didn't have the options we have today. Many, still, felt all that "new fangled" stuff wasn't worth the time or money to invest in. LOL

Now a-days, we get upset if we can't get cell service. I know I do! Skowhegan is spotty with Sprint/Nextel!!

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by American girl

My power was out 11 days during Maine's last ice storm. The romance wains after day 3. I was living alone, and of course working, and I went a whole week without seeing my house in the light. When the electricity finally came back I almost gagged at the sight! Paw prints, shoe dirt and just general dishevelment. I was heating with wood at the time so I was never cold but it sure did get tedious after a bit. I can remember the last day when I had been promised the lights would be back on. I called my house every half hour and when the answering machine finally picked up I wept.

I remember that, too. We had power after 3 days tho because of the generator on the island. But after 3 days of no shower!?!? Man, I offended myself.