Stormy weekend

We had an ice storm this weekend, topped with some snow.

We lost some branches, and we’ll have to fix the netting over the chicken pen as it came crashing down when a branch fell on it, but other than that, no lasting damage. The cattle got out on Sunday morning–with the electric fences not working, they thought they would just roam a bit. They eagerly followed Kevin right back into captivity when he went out to feed them.

Our power finally came back on around 10 Sunday, after 18 hours. Not too bad. Kind of an adventure. I’d like to get a gas fireplace or wood so we’d be warmer if that ever happened again. We do have a propane heater in our playroom, so we camped out in there.

Kevin and the girls went to bed around eight thirty, while I stayed “up” and organized some pictures by candle light. We have three kerosene lamps and tons of candles, so I could see fairly well. I can totally understand why our ancestors went to bed so early though.

I took all the pictures that were at least halfway in focus and of worthy subjects out of the magnetic, horrible for pictures albums from Kevin and Connie’s childhoods, and put them in a regular album, for now. The plan is to pin down my mother-in-law to tell me stories to go with the pictures, and eventually get that recorded with the pics. The first twenty years of Kevin’s life are now in one album.

It’s pretty funny comparing how much picture taking has changed–I have four very thick 12 x 12 scrapbooks, two picture boxes and one 600 photograph album of Miss A’s first two years!

Back then, there were a few pictures of Christmas, Connie’s birthday in February, maybe Easter, Kevin’s birthday in July, maybe one on the first day of school, and perhaps a few incidentals, like of a new tractor, a huge cauliflower, really deep snow, or downed trees from a windstorm, and that was one year.

Sunday, all four of us went with Kevin to deliver papers at two in the afternoon–there were, of course, people waiting for it. I’ll never understand the obsession some people have with their paper. One guy was actually on his way to buy one at the convenience store, even though he has a subscription.

The roads are actually worse today, as now it’s completely frozen. We got our Saturday mail delivered to us at 7;30 this morning!

Pretty boring weekend all in all, but I’m still super tired. The girls didn’t sleep well, but at least no one wet the bed (although she did fall out of it!)

My mom is coming up today which will be so welcome.

If you have a good bean soup recipe, I’d love to have it. I’m looking for one online right now, but I may be out of luck for today since I forgot to soak the beans overnight. It just sounds like a comforting food for an icy bleak Monday, so maybe I’ll make potato soup or grilled cheese instead.

What’re your favorite comfort foods?