No fancy preparations here. Heat with wood...use a propane campstove when I have to. We did plan on this by having backup gas heat that does not require electricity. I keep a 20 qt. stock pot on the woodstove for "washing up." Oil lamps, candles, lanterns, and an Aladin lamp keep us in light. We are both Ham Radio operators, so we have communication until the batteries run down on the hand-helds.... after that we have the radios in the vehicles in case of emergency. Our phones used to go out about 2 hours after the power failed...phone company finally fixed that problem. Mainly, I watch for signs of wet snow or ice and fill large stockpots with clean water and the bathtub with water for flushing. I make huge pots of stew and hearty soups in the winter and always freeze a few quarts...just in case. Keep some milk in freezer and since I bake my own bread, I nearly always have extra in the freezer. Most often when we loose electricity it is not extremely cold...wet snow and ice come at temps that just barely make freezing and slightly below. We were out of power for 6 days once...when it came it was barely cold enough to freeze down here on the lake, but 12 inches of wet snow fell in the surrounding area. The power crews ended up working in their shirt sleeves before the week was over. Back then the problem was 11.5 miles of rocky, hilly roads. Three of us with 2 chainsaws spent 2 hours cutting and dragging to get half way out before meeting others trying to cut their way in to feed cattle. Now we have Air Ambulance service, so a little less concern for our older, less healthy neighbors. That was 20 years ago...now the County shows up with a snow blade and salt for the bad spots. Hard to believe how much change has come about. The down side is that it took developement, and more permanent residents to make it happen.

Hey girls, love all you nuts!:)) Nutbunny! I got my box today! I just went to the post office after checking the dc and it said it was delivered today! So after supper, here I go............... (I haven't opened it yet, just got back, so I's gonna open it with everyone! Whoo hooo! Drum Roll please!!!!! I love the writing on the outside of the box! lol, Fragile....Please do don't toss or play catch with me! Thank you! lol Fragile....This means it will break! Girl they don't pay us any attention! Ok, box is getting opened cause I'm about to bust something besides this box! 1st off is a beautiful note, thanks sweetie! Lol, I love it, a pack of Yogi Tea...Fasting...Weight Loss Support! God I need it, hope it works! And a cute note stating that its for 'after Thanksgiving' lol. Love it girlfriend! Thanks! (But I could use it now) A bottle of Avon Vanilla shower gel Wow! I love this homemade is it coasters, it their own little homemade basket? I love it anyways and can think of lots of ways to use it! Thanks sweetie, I really love it and the garden colors on it and the pretty ribbons, I don't know if I'll let anyone use it, lol. OMG! Please tell your kiddos thats the most beautiful ornament I've ever received from anyone! I swear, I teared, how awesome, I could never tell you how much I love it Melissa! Hugs to you and all your beautiful kiddos! Ok for those that can't see it yet, its a beautiful star with jellybeans , I'll post a pic, its just lovely! Thank you so much!!!! I really love it! Hugs and more hugssss! Oooooh, an Orange Poppy seed/Strawberry Blossom/Chocolate Chip candle, wow girl! Yummy! Can't help but be! Ok, this one has a note saying....This one's got Ms Sassy inside! Oh how cute! another ornament, Melissa, I don't know how to describe this so they will understand, but just know I adore it! So cute! Oh and Kenzie's is too cute! Thanks so much, I just love it! You're so sweet! Ooooh, I just love my fall scarecrow girl! Hers soooo cute! I'm smilin' back at her now:) Love the Apple Basket Candle Topper, so petty! An ear of Corn for my squirrels, they'll be thanking you also! I do feed my squirrels, lol. Avon vanilla body lotion Good lawdy girl...... I will take a pic of this! Oh, I love it Melissa! Its the front of a dress so cute! and the skirt part is a dishtowel with sunflowers!!!!! And the top has a cute little sunflower. I'm amazed! I love it!:)))) I love you crafty girls! Hershey's Kisses with caramel(Its too late, Jerry just saw them:( lol thats ok, he'll share! Avon Rasberry Lip Balm (thank so much, needed some so bad) Now I should be asking for the drum roll! Girl you gettin' hugged all over that couch tonight! No I don't have this Paula Dean Cookbook and I thank you so much for it! I can't wait to snuggle up with it! You'd think as much as I love her I'd have all of her cookbooks, but I don't. This is a treasure and I appreciate it so much! Wow, I've never seen the beat of how much can be put into a flatrate box! I am in awwe girl. You have really overdone yourself my friend, I can't say what I love the most, but I can tell you... this is by far one of the most special boxes I've ever received! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, you really put thought into it and I know it came from the heart, and a really big one! Hugs Hugs Hugs and so many Kisses! I've had so much fun going through it and I know its taken me forever! Sorry! But you packed it! lol And tight, I might add. Thanks sweetie, I really loved every single thing! Sassy

Just wanted to say thanks again to y'all, you put a smile on my face!:-) It is a little intimidating coming on this forum at first, y'all seem to know each other really well. I feel like I belong! Riverrat, my favorite blizzards are M&M with no chocolate syrup, and French Silk Pie! Can't wait for March when our local store reopens! Linda, I don't think I'll worry about 50 yet! Chase, even if you want to forget your B_day, Someone will probably remember! Compumom, you are definitely right! Rita, my MIL is also "39", My husband is 43 though. We're not sure how that happened! Donna, glad to know you made it through 40 unscathed! Terry, it wasn't painful at all. In fact, if school wasn't back in on Monday, I would not have even realized I turned 40 yesterday! Boo, you are absolutely correct (but it is kinda a big number!LOL!)! Shaun, God Bless You! I know plenty of people who have had children at 40 and better and I have a huge amount of respect for them. I could barely keep up with my son when he was a toddler, and I was in my mid twenties! But they all seem much younger than those of us with older children. I think playing with babies makes you younger! San, thank you for thinking of me! Michelle, I love the sparkly birthday cake! I wish I could figure out how to do that! Maybe my son can explain it to me! Ann, Jessie, Woodie - thank you for your lovely birthday wishes!

We've had the 70 series dryer stacked on top of the 60 series washer since August. While I'm happy with the stacked arrangement, if I had to do it over again I might not, because as others have pointed out, stacking will increase the cost of any repairs down the line. I do encourage our particular 60/70 combination. The 70 series dryer adds the Perfect Tumble (reverse tumble) feature, which I consider invaluable (and so do many other posters). However, there's nothing in the 70 series washer that I consider worth the extra expense, and the IQ Touch is much easier to operate than the Wave Touch.