This is the third blog related to this family experiment and I hope it lasts quite a bit further due to the savings so far. In doing this we still have use of our internet, gas stove, TV's-we just do not turn on the lights. It was and still is hard to remember that after a long day or when I first get up in the morning. I have noted that I had a tendency to turn on the lights when it was still quite light out-side. Hmmmmm and now we are getting quite good at waiting until we absolutely need the flashlights or lantern, so my night vision is definitely improving as a result of this! I actually had to duct tape the light switches and take out light bulbs. The first few days we learned how much light we needed for initially we started out with Family Dollar store flash lights and small Wal-Mart lanterns and tons of batteries. As the weeks progressed I purchased rechargeable batteries and better lanterns from Aubochon and a charging station for the batteries. I live in a very old house (older than two hundred years) and already had antique kerosene lamps which work beautifully even after well over a hundred years. They just don’t make much of anything like that anymore. I also have antique candelabras for family candlelight dinners.
It is especially challenging since we live in the wilderness of Maine and when the snow comes in it just won’t stop-so we have that to deal with that as well pretty soon. Hopefully it does not dampen our spirits with this. But right now, it is just plain dark. There are no lights from any cities, which means complete and utter darkness as only those up here know about. There are no street lights. Just darkness when the sun goes down and incredibly bright stars! Up here one can still see the Milky Way quite clearly! So the danger element is there when the stars are not out and it is overcast there is a huge difference in just evening natural light from the stars. One has to make sure they have a lantern or flashlight at all times when travelling from room to room. We have a big black dog named Loki who often gets lost in the darkness and we have often stumbled upon her… Good thing she is wonderfully forgiving of us! I don’t know how many times I have had to backtrack to the prior room to get my lantern. It is just something that is not programmed into the modern mind. Once you leave the realm of light there is complete and utter darkness! Really there is! And it must be taken seriously!
I have actually looked forward to the light from the moon when I am out on the porch at night sneaking my cigarette. I watch how it lights up the whole yard and the shadows dance across my frosting lawn. I have also noticed how the shadows play in the candlelight. There is not much if any of that with light from fluorescents or modern lights. Light from the candles seem to make everything more inviting and peaceful. It is amazing how voices seem to automatically lower under the candlelight. This is especially nice over dinner.
We have definitely been affected even in this short time of our sleeping habits. It is almost as if our bodies are adjusting to the loss of artificial lights by making us more in tune with the natural light of the sun. Very interesting in that! I really feel that this should be rather interesting as we adjust more and more to this experiment as the months go by. I am learning that our bodies are so accustomed to artificial lighting that there are actually physical affects in the absence of them.
We have learned as well that in some cases we do need better lighting such as when cooking in the kitchen and the bathroom (especially for putting on makeup in the morning). In the beginning I begged people to forgive me and had to explain the situation. I was kind of guessing on the makeup application and hoped I did well. When I arrived at work I was able to see that I did fine-good thing huh? lol!
We are also learning to take care of more things during the daylight hours such as chores and laundry. It will be interesting to see how fast the girls fill the woodbin during the daylight hours. I am calling them today from work when they get home from school to remind them of this. We are starting to use the woodstove for heat now and the wood bin upstairs need to be filled a least every other day. There can be nothing worse in this adventure so far than having to make a wood run down in our very spooky and ancient basement after dark! If that happens we are going to have to tie the lantern to our heads!
If you would like to hear more of our adventures I have recently published my "Sharon's Wicked Awesome Blog Book" for sale on Amazon and then there is my authorsite as well at www.sharondnovels.com