Today dawned bright, clear, sunny and cold! It was 45 degrees at 7 AM when we got up and began our day.
We cranked up the noisy (but necessary) generator that has given a small degree of power to our house and Barry and Tabatha’s house for the past week. Since many people have power now, there are plenty of generators to be loaned to those still without power. 
Daryl and Bonny loaned us their butane-powered single-burner, and I prepared cups of tea for Olen and me as we started the events of the day. (Note my handy but questionably fashionable red flashlight-necklace.)We listened to the 8:30 AM daily briefing from the Huntsville authorities. Water systems are back to normal, and 98% of the customers in Madison County have their power restored. They reported that those who are still without power might have to wait a “couple more days” to get power back, and they reminded us that when we do get power, we must be extremely conservative with the use of electricity.
Olen went to Lowes yesterday and bought four more solar lamps. We put them outside all day to absorb the rays so we could have lights in the house tonight.
A motel room became available in Athens late yesterday, and we convinced Olen’s parents to move to the motel where they would have lights, TV, hot water for bathing, and heat for these couple of days when it is predicted to get so cold. The motel is right next door to the Cracker Barrel (their favorite) so we felt really good about them being there. This morning they called for us to come and get them and bring them back home, but after being home where it was cold with no power, they quickly decided we could take them back to the motel!
While Olen prepared his Bible lesson for tonight, I went to Norm and Barbara Jo’s house where I enjoyed a nice, long, hot shower…only my second shower in a week. While I was there, I washed and dried a load of clothes for Mom and Pap.
Olen and I have tried to eat one good meal each day, so we went out for our “meal of the day” and then took advantage of Mom and Pap being at the motel and went over to their house and cleaned out their refrigerator, disposing of all of the food that was no longer edible.
At 4:25 this afternoon we marked one week since the horrible storm went through this area. The black, threatening skies of last week have been replaced by sunny, clear weather today. We have baby birds in a nest on our satellite TV pole.
The roses are blooming, and this morning I saw a newborn calf in the pasture just down the road. Life goes on.
We have really done very well this past week. Being without power has required some adjustments, but today the trucks were working very near our house. We knew it would not be long. About 6 PM, right before we left to go to Bible study, I noticed lights on in the kitchen. We have electricity! Life is good. Really, it is. We have so very much to be thankful for…and now we can add electricity to our “thankful” list.
Does anyone want to buy a solar yard light or two? Only slightly used .
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