Things were going pretty much to plan, the Christmas cake and puddings were made, all baking was finished and in the freezer, Josh's room had a floor and was mainly insulated, most presents were bought and some were even wrapped then the weather came.....
We had a first with our church being cancelled 2 Sundays running, now that's never happened before. The first Sunday we had a huge snowfall and high winds, the second was even more snow followed by the dreaded freezing rain. On Monday 23rd December we were all busy killing the turkeys for Christmas orders, we were doing really well having finished 14 out of 24 so we stopped for a break and to feed the animals. At this point we had had yet more snow which had turned to freezing rain again. The power went off with ice making trees fall on the lines. More than 50 000 people in New Brunswick were suddenly without power 2 days before Christmas. We were very fortunate that we heat the house using a wood burning stove so we were warm but we have a well for our water and the pump is electric so we were without water which makes life very difficult not just inside the house but trying to feed and water lots of animals too.
David got up early Christmas eve and while I delivered the turkey orders we'd managed to complete he and Isaac and Harri set to trying to kill the rest of them so we didn't spoil anyone's Christmas dinner. As I delivered the turkeys I collected fresh clean water for David to use and us to drink. By that evening all the orders were complete.
We had invited out friends the Lemmons for Christmas lunch so we really wanted the turkey dinner rather than beans on toast so we hatched a plan. While we were in town for our Christmas Eve service I cooked the turkey in the oven at my work. We were planning on cooking the veggies on the woodstove and having a simple dinner without all the trimmings. Just as we were melting yet more ice for water and digging the drive at 11am Christmas morning the power came back on, what a celebration! 2 1/2 hours later we sat down to a very yummy turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
Rich and Jen came for tea and stayed over till boxing day but went home feeling sick, Harriet then also spent boxing day in quarantine being sick too! fun, so far the rest of us are ok.
We were one of the fortunate ones to get our power back, there are still thousands without power, our friends the Warringtons being one of them. They visit us on a daily basis to borrow our little generator so they don't lose all the food in their freezer, to wash, have a coffee and shower. Our local village hospital is open as a warming station and the fire brigade have visited every effected home making sure they are ok and taking water for drinking and to animals too, they also have special heaters that they can heat up homes to stop pipes freezing and are offering food and showering facilities. Some homes probably won't have power until the New Year. Just to add more spice to life we have another severe weather warning for Sunday/ Monday with lots of snow turning to freezing rain again, it looks like we may have to get the candles out again!
On the plus side it has been a Christmas we'll never forget and although it has been hard work it's also been fun.
Our Christmas day walk Harriet with Shadow and Daisy also with her Shadow!
Shadow!
Best buddies!
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