The most wonderful things happen when the power goes out and you're forced offline a few days! Since Wednesday when a major storm blew through with torrential rains and wind, we've lived by candlelight and everything is so very soft and quiet and, well...18th-century-like. Last night I lit my courting candlestick from Fort Boonesboro and Wyatt asked if I wanted to have the lantern instead. As I began that first chapter for this next book I thought of Ben Franklin who liked double-wick candles to better see by. But the light from that single taper at least made it to the page I was working on. And I was thrilled to meet four new characters:)So today, Friday, still no power. I'm sitting in Starbucks 30m from home, laptop open and latte steaming. Randy is out shopping for a generator. The boys like the adventure of being off school. Grilled cheese sandwiches really do taste better cooked on the woodstove:) And after being offline for awhile, it's fun to see what emails await. Like the one from Allan Eckert and his lovely wife, both of whom are reading TFD! And then another telling me the galleys will come in mid-December.
Do you enjoy being without power? Offline? Wonder what would happen if the entire country was shutdown like this and not simply the Pacific Northwest? If this post contains typos and I don't reply to any comments you'll know why:)
Happy weekend to you!
ybe I should have candles and food that I can eat cold just in case...This house is all electric and not other options if power goes out...cold cuts are pretty good when you are hungry.
ReplyDeleteI have candles but always have to walk around in the dark looking for them.
You are smart to be prepared Laura :)
Sounds like you've been having a cozy few days. Way back in the very beginning of my writing, when I wrote everything in longhand (this was before home computers were essential, and I didn't even own a typewriter), I began writing by candlelight. I can't remember why, except perhaps that I was writing a 6th century-based fantasy novel and thought it helped me get into the mood. It's rare for us to lose power here in S. Oregon, but I still burn candles often when I write. Today has been so dark and gray and rainy, it's felt like twilight all day long (not THAT Twilight). I wouldn't want days like this all the time, but I rather like them now and then. In fact during our seemingly endless, hot, bright summer, I long for them.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds nice. But power going out wouldn't be too good for those ailing, elderly, or having other problems. Also the surges that would destroy everything wouldn't be good either. The great thing is that y'all made the best of it.
ReplyDeleteWe were without power for 36 hours after Hurricane IKE blew through Houston a year ago. It was an adventure! I really enjoyed the quiet in our home. We spent quality time together as we read and played games. We all went to bed when the sun went down. It was very peaceful. Of course, we were thrilled once the power came back on. Most of my family was without power for 10 days, so we were the lucky ones.
ReplyDeleteGod was good to us those few weeks. We had cool weather and a nice breeze. Normally, that time of year in Houston is high heat and humidity.
I hope you have your power returned soon. In the meantime, enjoy that family time.
Are you going to tell us about your new book or do we need to wait a while for the characters to be developed? :-)
Laura, you know I like the ambiance that candle light and hurricaine lanterns offer. I don't like the inconveniences that surmount, but the romantic notions of how others live long ago feeds my imagination and relaxes me. Though I'm sure it wasn't so relaxing for them! Just think, now you can say you wrote some of this book in candle light! I wonder if your kindled surroundings influenced your imagination.
ReplyDeleteHoping your electricity is soon restored.
I'd never heard of a courting candle before and had to do a little research! Very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteWe had a major power outtage after an icestorm a while back and I was without electricity for five days. One of the things I noticed most was the complete absence of all those electrical hums and buzzes that become white noise you don't even notice anymore. The silence was profound and very calming. If it hadn't been so cold I'd have been content to stay that way a while longer. I kept thinking of that scripture from Psalms: "Be still and know that I am God." Ever since then I've made a point of tuning out every now and again and, while I don't lose the refrigerator buzz or the furnace hum, I relish that 'still' time.
Nancy, We always scramble during an outage and are woefully short on candles. Despite doing this several times a winter! But we usually have a case of Nalley's chili from Costco and some cold cuts, like you said. The boys know better than to complain when everything's down but they miss their baked goods, having an eternal sweet tooth:) I've been tempted to throw some potatoes in the ashes of the fire to bake but am afraid they would explode!
ReplyDeleteLori, Not THAT Twilight, indeed! That Twilight is right near us in the tiny town of Forks which is currently in the dark as well. I've seen people camped out at the movie theatre this week in the pouring rain waiting for that new one to open. Oh, to have such devoted fans:)
ReplyDeleteI love candles, too - any and all kinds. Would love to learn to make them as I have a big candle-dipping scene in CML. Lots of work!
You and I should switch places for a season. I would trade my dark, damp woods for your sunny, hot openness anytime! But the gloomies here are great to write by:)
Carla,
ReplyDeleteIt is fitting and kind of romantic to write the first of this book by candlelight. I'll bet Maine has some terrific storms and downed ships in days past. Good novel fodder!
It's day 4 with no power and Paul's hair is now standing on end for want of a good washing:) I think not having hot water is the hardest thing - you should see my laundry room! We have a creek that's overflowing. Maybe I could tote my washboard down there and gain a new appreciation for the women I write about:)
Thanks for the kind thoughts. Hoping it's back on real soon, too!
Adge, You are so right. The elderly really suffer - and those with health problems. I think the one thing that helps us is our woodstove. So many of our neighbors don't have that and are older and the cold just gets unbearable. Thankfully some of them do have generators but many don't. The fun for the kids is wearing off now though they're getting a good dose of removing debris from driveways around here. Hope you are snug and well-lit where you are!
ReplyDeleteKav, I love that Scripture. It seems to have a subtle warning about our busy, noisy lives. You are so right about the quiet (well, when the generator isn't roaring). I like being able to hear the wind and creek and all those other sounds. It really is soothing.
ReplyDeleteAs for that courting candle, it's black iron and spiraled around the candle itself and has a little wooden dowel-type thingy at the bottom for the father to adjust the height of the candle. If he liked the suitor he'd leave it so it could burn long - if he didn't like his daughter's suitor he'd rig it so it was short. Hard to explain! But it's quaint and intriguing, like you said. And I should use it in a book - maybe this next one:)
Stacey, I forget about those southern hurricanes! Scary! Our 60mph winds must make you laugh. Good that your family got a small taste of quiet - 10 days is quite a stretch for the others! And often that is without water which really becomes a challenge. We really do seem to have lots more creative family time like you said which is always a blessing. My husband even suggested going to the pool an hour away which never happens, if only to use the showers there.
ReplyDeleteOh I love your question about this next book! It's about 2 sisters in Ky. (surprise!) and the indentured servant who comes to live with their family during the Revolutionary War. His name is Silas Walker and he has a very unusual calling. I'm trying to come up with a tentative title. Some writers wrestle with telling anything about the book they're working on and even consider it bad luck. Not me, obviously:) I love giving little hints. And I really appreciate your asking!
have have you been Laura? I want to wish you a great Thanksgiving, we are eating with out daughter.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
Edna, Wonderful to hear from you! I was thinking about you yesterday as you and I haven't been on Facebook much lately. I know this must be a busy time of year for you with all your grands and family around. I pray this Thanksgiving is healthy, happy, and full of blessings (and good books)!
ReplyDeleteI know your power can frequently go out there! Good you are so well prepared having candles and essentials around. Praying your power is back on and you all are nice and cozy! I have only been without power a few short hours a few years back when we had a terrible ice storm in the South. We are too spoiled to the warmth and light we always seem to have. I try to envision how it must have been back in the colonial days.....just hard living all the way around. Hoping you all have a great Thanksgiving and I plan on calling you soon if I can get you, ha! :)
ReplyDeleteRhonda, So good to hear from you! I was thinking the other day of how we used to email every day - for 7 years straight or something like that! I really miss you and can't wait to see you next year:) The boys are excited already!
ReplyDeleteWe finally had power restored Saturday afternoon and were so thankful. Glad it was this week and not over Thanksgiving. That would have been a memorable holiday! Bet you all have something fun cooked up in NC. Thinking of you all!
Maybe i'm strange, but I enjoy it when the power is down for awhile. Not days, but hours is nice. It means no TV noise, glow of candles and lanterns, time to sit and read with the kids, and it makes me feel like a family from the 19th century.
ReplyDeleteoooohhh, grilled cheese on the woodstove sounds yummy. We like to make homemade hot chocolate on our woodstove.
Lisa, I think the Lord must like outages as He allows so many of them! Makes us listen to that still small voice as Kav pointed out. It's also fun to see what an adventure our kids make it out to be. So there's a bit of wind in Oregon! Leftovers from here, I bet! Glad to know you're not missing all the fun down there:)
ReplyDeleteI found your blog on Book & Such's Blog Carnival Post! I'm going become a follower and be on the lookout for your books. They look very interesting and the titles are eye-catching. Did you come up with them or did the publisher?
ReplyDeleteBritt, So happy to meet you here through the Bookies site! My titles are my pub's pick and I'm always more pleased with them than mine, at least eventually:) My first book was titled "Dogwood Winter" when I submitted it and this became The Frontiersman's Daughter which is the heart of the story. My next book, Courting Morrow Little, was originally Red River Daughter. Glad you like the titles - Morrow's is eye-catching like you said:) Thanks!
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