Monday, December 15, 2008

Sometimes, it's all in the timing

Well, we couldn't have been more fortunate if we had tried to time it this way:

--A couple of days after we got our wood, it snowed, and then turned brutally cold. I realize that some people's definition of "brutally cold" may differ, but when that wind chill kicks in with considerable numbers below zero, I don't think anyone will hold my definition against me.

--Checked the paper yesterday to see if aspen wood gentleman was still advertising his wood, and his ad wasn't there. Just checked this morning's paper to make sure I wasn't making this all up, or was mistaken about which ad was his, and with extra information from my husband can confirm that his ad is not included in the classifieds. (Can you blame him, really? Who wants to cut/haul/sell wood in -0 degree temperatures?) I think there are 3 ads for pine wood and a mystery wood, (too lazy to check the paper again, sorry) but no aspen wood gentleman. Guess we got our order in just in time. Now that we're using that aspen wood, guess we'll see how long it lasts.... :)

We feel very blessed that it worked out for us this way. We also feel blessed that at this point we are not in the middle of an emergency of any nature, so that we can prepare.

Our wood purchase is one example of timing working out to our advantage. Timing isn't always connected to weather or forces outside of ourselves, though. We can use timing to our advantage, and I love this quote that I saw recently:

"Nine-tenths of wisdom is being wise in time." –Theodore Roosevelt

What I take from this quote is that we look/are pretty smart if we do things "in time," which means to me while we still can, and before it's too late. I have a tendency to look at things in terms of preparation, (hey, I have a blog to write... :) and specifically in terms of emergency preparation. I gather information and read other blogs, but I also need to do what I can to prepare--just knowing I should/need to/ought to will not be enough--it's like being a grasshopper and watching the ants store up and thinking that it's a wonderful idea to try tomorrow. If it's a matter of truly not having time to learn new things because of multiple jobs/responsibilities/insert your situation here, or the finances are not there for emergency preparation activities/expenses/insert your emergency preparedness issue here, at this time, that is a different story entirely. However, if we have the time and means to do more for emergency preparation right now, it would probably be wise to do as much as we can before an emergency strikes. I'm nine-tenths certain that I do better with new recipes when I'm not under stress than I do in the middle of an emergency...and cooking new recipes is something that I find it quite easy to put off. That's an area I need to work on--I have gathered some recipes that I should try soon, rather than always putting it off until tomorrow.

What are some preparedness issues that are particular to your situation? Wood, obviously, is an issue for us, not only for the heating issue that we are facing at the moment, but for cooking if it became necessary. If you live in Florida or somewhere that it doesn't get extremely cold, your preparation activities could take a different direction entirely. One thing that we would all agree on, however, (taking the tiniest of leaps here) is that we will all need to eat, regardless of location. We are also not all in the same financial situation, so we have to be wise with our means--do what we can when we can without going into debt over it. Every little bit we can put aside helps, a bag or box or can at a time. We never know when an emergency of whatever nature is going to find its way to our door, so we need to be "wise in time" and get some/more in while we still can....

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here in the Great white North where it is going to a high of 0 today, timing is everything when it comes to heat/cooking wood. We use primarily Oak so it must be cut, split and stacked atleast 1 year preferably 2 years ahead, (I have 5 years ahead right now). before October 12 face cords need to be stacked up close to the house so you don't have to walk 40 acres to get todays supply. I was ready for this winter back in August. Good Timing

The gutters are a big ice maker causing Ice Dams on the roof and perhaps a water problem in February inside the house. so over the weekend when temps were 40 I cleaned the ice out of the gutters and shoveled the roof. Good thing because like I said it is 0 today and very windy, wind chils are -20. My Timing and there for wisdom was perfect this weekend..What is not so cool is that it went from 40 to 0 in 3 hours yesteday.
Carl in Wisconsin

The Scavenger said...

I'm so glad you have your wood in time for bad weather. We are expecting some ice tonight. I have my wood bin beside the stove full, my tote by the door full and my wagon that I haul wood to the front door full and sitting just outside the front door covered. We need to read and learn all we can but action is where preparedness really comes into play. Great post and I know you guys will stay warm and feed through out the coming snow.

Chris

Marie said...

Carl--Wow, you have your timing down to a science, and I'm impressed that you are that far ahead. Clearing the ice is really thinking ahead--I would say you have the timing thing down pat. Your weather sounds similar to ours--warm, warm, warm (for the time of year) and then whammmo. You probably win in the speed department, though--ours probably took longer than 3 hours, but the fall in temperature sure felt quick anyway...

Chris--It's always good to hear that others are ready--you sound set for wood at your place. We are very happy about the wood--one less thing to worry about. We might have to practice to see what works on the wood stove in terms of cooking--there's not that much cooking surface, but I think we'll be able to work with the space available...

Thanks for your comments and your good examples!

Marie

foodstr2 said...

I'm fortunate enough to live in Texas where we have a decent growing season.

I think it's wise to get non-hybrid seeds ( http://www.internet-grocer.net/seeds.htm for example) so you can get truly independent ... but you should ALSO raise chickens or goats for protein.

Bruce

Marie said...

Bruce--Non-hybrid seeds are an excellent investment, because from what I understand, there are fewer available all the time--need to get some while they're available. Animals are also a good investment for those who can keep them and take care of them properly--thanks for your comment!

Anonymous said...

I live in Las Vegas--where it usually doesn't snow.

Yet, it snowed this week. My children wanted to play in it--and they could, because I had prepared and had put aside some winter clothes.

However, getting snow clothes to fit all the children before the snow melted would not have been an easy task.

Food storage is the same way. There comes a point where it's too late to prepare, and you need to have already done it.

Marie said...

Prudent Homemaker--That's a great example--thanks for sharing it. I'm just hoping that more (if not all) people will prepare before it's too late. Thanks for your comment!