So far we have brought the bill down quite considerably and I love it. I had no idea how much we saved by just not turning on the lights. We saved half of the normal cost of electricity by doing this. I went out and purchased two large flashlights from Family Dollar many batteries and a lantern from Wal-Mart and another from Aubochon. Not to mention the many candles I had purchased and had on hand already. I also purchased a beautiful kerosene lamp from my favorite antique store in town-“Serendipity”. We have dinner by candle light and many small flashlights that I bought the girls over the years from camping trips and their summer camps. We have a loading dock for rechargeable batteries as well.
Unfortunately we have a large black dog who has been more than patient with us for tripping on her quite a bit. Poor Loki-she is such a good sport through this. I know that I am getting much better with my night vision. Sometimes I hate to just grab a flashlight or lantern to make a short trip in the house (usually for a bathroom run) and have actually sat there in the dark adjusting my eyes to make the trek needed.
We live in the wilderness with no street lights or urban glow from nearby cities so when it gets dark-it is a complete darkness that is so thick it hits hard on the psyche. My girls are troopers and have not complained one bit. They wanted to put the light on in the basement the other day to fill up the woodbin since they waited until 4:30 (after dark up here now). I held firm and told them they need to strategize better since they knew it had to be done. I gave them my largest lantern that I use for cooking and putting my makeup on in the bathroom for them to use in the basement. They groaned and probably thought me quite crazy. But, really for that savings on the bill-Yikes!
I am really finding great sympathy in our not far off ancestors. I actually find myself thankful for a full moon since the glow really lights up the house after dark if the skies are clear. I am teaching the girls and myself to strategize daylight activities so we can save on batteries and candlelight. And yes we can always turn on the light in an emergency. Thanks goodness that has not occurred yet! I am really having fun with all of this.
We also did not skip a beat during the Halloween snow storm as I like to call it. We were hit with an early snow storm that wreaked havoc all across the East Coast and received quite a bit of heavy snow that day. We lost the power for more than 24 hours but we sailed right through it and knew that we could handle more if needed. I filled the bathtub with water for flushing the toilet (the well does not run when we have no power in the country) and was all set for washing dishes and cooking (thank goodness to all of the wilderness roughing it camping trips with the Hodgkin family). Those camping trips we took years ago when we went camping in the wilderness with no utilities and facilities-literally in the woods with tents and our kids and a camp fire; really paid off in times of no electricity. Besides, my daughter Tiffy and I had a good excuse to crank up the Victrola and dance the Charleston till we dropped! lol! We had such a good time and then for a good meal by our now cherished candlelight. Hmmmm I am wondering how much we ever really needed the electric lights in this house. .. We seem to be getting along quite fine without them. J