Character is forged not in the absence of adversity, but in the fire of facing it head-on.
~ Unknown
Since the weekend, we have more than five feet (150 centimetres) of snow, and it's not over yet. Major roadways have been inaccessible at times.
Our electrical power was out for over 48 hours.
Thankfully, unlike many, we have a propane-powered generator.
To reduce propane consumption, we minimized our electrical use by building fires to keep the house warm and unplugging unnecessary appliances and Christmas lights.
Thanks to my husband and son, we have an abundance of chopped wood for the fire.
Because we live in a remote location and try to minimize car travel, we take pride in having a fully stocked pantry and freezer.
We have spent much time clearing snow to facilitate an emergency exit and to ensure the tradespeople finishing our garage build can get here. The workout is enough to minimize our need for external sources of heat.
Having become cold-adapted via cold plunges in the lake, we are also more efficient at generating body heat.
What a blessing because after regaining power, what smelled like sewage outside turned out to be exhaust triggered by a gas leak in the furnace.
An inspector shut it down Tuesday. Getting the problem solved with limited accessibility has yet to happen.
Closing thoughts
The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer, self-sufficient. There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing and one thing only.
~ Joseph Wood Krutch
Today, we are grateful that we have:
become cold-adapted
a well-stocked pantry and freezer, and
lots of wood for the fire.
We are also thankful that by the end of this week, the garage will be functional. We're excited that the cars will be snow-free throughout the rest of the winter.
Not to diminish the suffering and inconvenience that our neighbours are experiencing, but right now, we are counting our blessings. We are in a position to give. We have no need.
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