In America the ice-storm is an event. And it is not an event which one is careless about. When it comes, the news flies from room to room in the house, there are bangings on the doors, and shoutings, “The ice-storm! the ice-storm!” and even the laziest sleepers throw off the covers and join the rush for the windows. ~Mark Twain
In my part of Kentucky, we are under an ice storm warning. The weathermen are predicting between one-half to one inch of freezing rain. Freezing rain is not good. We much prefer snow even if it piles up deep. Ice is difficult in so many ways. On roads it can make travel practically impossible for cars, and foot traffic isn’t much easier even if you have great boots. You need those ice treads.
We’ve experienced a few of those ice storms. One year we were without power for a week. Then we had a wood burning stove where I kept a teakettle for tea and cooked some soup beans and chili. So we stayed warm and even had hot food. If that happens this time, I won’t be as fortunate since we no longer have that woodstove. We do have a gas fireplace. Do you think I can heat a kettle of water over those flames? I would need a fireplace hook. I’ve researched how people used to have to do all their cooking in a fireplace, but I’m not sure I want to give that kind of cooking a try.
In that ice storm, I went out and gathered up garbage bags of ice off the bushes to put in my chest freezer to save all those blackberries and other fruits and vegetables I’d spent so much time in the summer freezing for winter use. It worked well and my frozen foods were still frozen when the power was restored. Darrell and I both did take a couple of tumbles, neither of which the other witnessed. Our backyard has a slope and Darrell said he slid all the way to the fence. I just slipped on the ice covered rocks, probably going out to fill the birdfeeder. Poor little birds, you know. No lasting harm done to either of us, but it isn’t much fun to have your feet lose traction on ice. As well as I remember, even my dog, Oscar, was glad to see the last of that ice coating.
We’ve had little ice coatings since then. Still slippery but not so thick. Last year, I did get some beautiful pictures when the trees and bushes got an ice coating. So today as we wait to see what the weather is going to be, I’m remembering the beauty and hoping for the best.
Right now, I’m also hoping the forecast is more dire than will actually happen. Perhaps the rain will turn to snow sooner than they think and we won’t have as much ice as predicted. I do have my laptop charged up so I can still do some writing on my novel in progress if I lose power. At least until the battery runs down, and should that happen, I do have pencils and paper. People lived for centuries without electricity wired to their houses. But these days, we depend on that power being a click of a light switch or the push of a button away.
If you are in the path of the storm, I hope you will stay safe and warm. Maybe I should go fill up that birdfeeder now. 🙂
Have you made it through some ice storms in the past?
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We’ve had some ice and snow storms in the past that knocked out electricity for a while. Our worst time though was in warm weather with tornadoes and hurricanes.
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That has been a worst time for parts of Kentucky this year for sure, Connie. It seems tornadoes are becoming more common in Kentucky in the last few years and I don’t know that I ever remember tornadoes at Christmas time they way they hit Western Kentucky this year. They usually show up in the spring. We can get lots of rain from hurricanes but not winds.
You always have the most beautiful ice-covered photos! Thank you.
Here in the Dallas, TX area we had freezing rain and that icy coating was underneath about an inch and a half of snow. I stay indoors when this happens so that I won’t fall down and get an injury.
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Very smart, Linda. No need going ice skating unless you really want to. I was pleased that although we had a little coating of sleet and ice that was covered up by a skiff of snow, it wasn’t really very slippery. Of course, you can generally walk in the grass without it being slippery unless the ice is very thick. The dogs and I had no problem taking our walks.
I’m glad you liked the pictures. Those ice encrusted blooms and cedar branches did turn out great and of course, the cardinal set off the icy branches.
So, how did it turn out?
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Our little county seemed to have a bubble around it to keep out the worst of the ice storm, Gloria. We got some sleet and then some snow. There were drops of ice on the tree branches but nothing that would stress them. Then the sun came out today and though it was still cold, it was a beautiful day that melted most of the ice on roads. So we came out smelling like roses. 🙂 Other places in Kentucky did get more ice and had fallen trees and loss of power.
What beautiful ice pictures, Ann!!
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Thank you, Lauren. I do love taking pictures of things in nature.
I’ve experienced many ice storms. They are beautiful but I think that is their only positive. We had a bit of ice Tuesday night in central Kansas before it turned to snow. Combined with quite low wind chills, schools closed both Wednesday and Thursday. Since I work at a school, I haven’t had to get out to go anywhere. Streets still look fairly slick but hopefully won’t be too bad as I get out for work tomorrow. It’s still cold but we’ve had sunshine today. I hope your ice storm won’t be too bad.
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The storm mostly missed us in my local area, but other places in Kentucky had to deal with ice on trees and downed power lines, Pam. I was very happy that we just got a layer of sleet covered up with a scant inch of snow. And the sun came out today and took care of the slick roads, I think. You are so right that it can be beautiful when everything gets iced over and then the sun comes out to light up the world. But I still prefer no ice except in my tea glass or to make homemade ice cream. 🙂
In 2009 we had over an inch of ice on the power lines. It was at night, and I will always remember the troubling sounds of the big trees on my street losing their limbs; there was a crack, like a firecracker, every few minutes. It was so awful. Then, after the storm passed through, we had to wait 8 days to get our power restored. Meanwhile, some of the utility company men discovered some little cats in the park hiding in some bushes near my house; they moved them to one of the neighbor’s yards, where I found the Mama Cat holding her little baby in her arms. The Mama, unfortunately, didn’t make it, the cold was too much. However, the little black kitten, was rescued by me and eventually by a friend of mine and she just recently passed away after 12 wonderful years! I’ll never forget that cold January! We named the little black kitten Stormy. She was so cute.
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What a sweet story about your storm kitten, Carolyn. Poor Mama Cat though. One of the ice storms we had, you could stand outside and hear the transformers blowing up. I suppose that was when the ice pulled the line down, but it was eery sounding. And you’re right about the limbs breaking too. Sometimes if the ice isn’t too heavy and breaks then, the trees make a squeaky creaking sound when the wind blows through them. Not really a good time to be out anywhere near trees or power lines. Eight days is a long time without power. I’m hoping we don’t face that here because the temperatures are supposed to be really cold this weekend. We’ll be fine with our gas logs but plenty of people won’t have that. So hoping and praying the forecast is worse than what we will actually get.
Thanks again for sharing Stormy’s story. Loved it.
We are waiting for the ice to hit too. I am like you and hoping the snow starts sooner than expected. Your pictures of the ice are pretty, but it isn’t fun to deal with. After experiencing power outages over the years, we invested in a portable generator and have been thankful many times for it. I always fill containers with water when bad weather is expected because we have a well and being without water during power outages is one of the worst parts. Hope you stay safe and the ice isn’t as bad as what they are calling for!
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We have city water out here in the country, Hope, but I do know what you mean about no water being a worst thing. We used to have a cistern and a pump and when the pipes froze up, no water except what we drew up in a bucket.
So now we just have to worry about the electricity going out. We have a generator but sometimes we can’t get it started which doesn’t help at all.
The ice storm.of ’94 was rough.I think we are going to miss the worst of it this time here, but I am concerned about you and my friends in Grayson County.I guess the good thing about this ice storm is that we have had time to prepare the best we can for it.
I love that you brought in ice for your deep freezers.Thats smart!
Be careful and be safe my friend.I will keep you all in my prayers.
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I’m glad your part of Kentucky will miss the worst of it, Lisa. Still not sure what we will get here. Still raining right now.
I have done what I can to get ready. Ran the dishwasher and washed the dog towels. LOL. We all got really wet walking today. Not sure about walking tomorrow. The dogs may have to take their chances in the back yard if everything gets icy. I have walked with ice on the ground. Not too bad if you can keep to the grassy parts. According to how thick that ice is.
There is nothing more beautiful even though it’s so dangerous! I will be praying that you will all be safe and fingers crossed it won’t be as bad as predicted! I’ll be watching for updates! Be safe!
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The ice on trees can be beautiful, but also very dangerous, Diana. We’ve had some bad ones in Kentucky with many trees and power lines down. I’m hoping and praying that this one won’t be as bad. I plan to hunker down and wait out the storm.