Winter Storm in Texas

This was a week before the Winter Storm hit. Harrison went with me on my trek down Salado Creek Greenway. I think we did 6 or 7 miles. He was pretty worn out by it, so I don't know that he'll be so apt to say yes to me next time! :-) But I was sure glad to have him along.

This was not a cold day. 

It was a day last week that Harrison just decided he wanted to see how many layers of clothes he could put on in case it ever snowed again.

And then last Sunday we woke up to icy roads. Our church cancelled services. We drove down the road to try a church close by. They were filming their service inside, but there were no congregants and their doors were locked. So we came back home for an online service. We assumed this would just be a cold day or week with maybe some snow. 

Monday we woke up to no electricity and lots of snow! Since we wanted to keep the house warm with what heat we had, we didn't let the kids play out in the snow (well, I had let them go out in it until Phillip said we should probably keep the doors shut). So we bundled up and did some school. Much of Jonathan's school is on a computer these days, but we did what we could. 

We had sandwich fixings for lunch, so we didn't have to resort to any weird foods. We tried several ways of making coffee: with a blow torch and with our alcohol lamp from chemistry. It wasn't great. 

The whole day I was thinking, "At least we have water! I'm so glad we have water!" 

The back bedroom actually warmed up a bit with the sunshine and the door shut and all of us back there. I even cleaned the bathrooms by candlelight.

Then just when Phillip was making reservations for a hotel for the night (not easy to find, btw), the power came back on. 

It had been a weird day for me. My phone died very quickly and we didn't have cell service at times, so I just felt out of the loop of what was going on. I had seen on Facebook that Texas was doing rolling blackouts, but this didn't seem to be rolling. 

Monday night we knew they had turned off the power for several hours, but it came back on at 6:30. So we got up and going like usual. Tuesday afternoon my neighbor texted to say her cop neighbor told them that they (the city?) would be turning off the water. Then I heard it from the preacher. So I texted our group neighborhood chat to tell them what I'd heard so we could all prepare. Sure enough, around 5 pm, our water was out. I've heard it could have been from all the breaks in town giving low pressure water. And also that the pumps that pump the water work on electricity. At any rate, we had filled up 5 buckets with water before it got turned off. 

Those 5 did not last long (I didn't realize how much water it takes to flush a toilet). So then Jonathan started scooping up snow and melting it on the stove. We didn't use it for dishes or bathing or drinking; it's just a little bit dirty (ewww).

But I was super happy that we at least had electricity! 

We went through Wednesday with no water. Thursday it started snowing again.

What a blessing this neighborhood is. One neighbor knocked on our door this morning to ask if we were able to get water at the store (we weren't ~ no water, milk or bread. Or meat. I did find some salami in case we had to make sandwiches again). She gave us almost a whole caseful of bottled water! 

And that afternoon another knock. A man said, "The girl over here (pointing at Presley's house) said ya'll needed milk." He handed us a gallon of milk. Wow. We shared some with our other neighbor. We've had so many offers of food and water....

We got some low-pressure water to come on Thursday late afternoon. 

I boiled it and got my dishes done! Oh, I do hate a messy kitchen. 

So now we seem to have heat and water. We still have our buckets of toilet flushing water in case this is a fluke.

 The kids were so happy to be able to watch the snow accumulate all day! 

They've gotten lots of play time out there. They didn't realize how much it glares when the sun shines on it. They didn't realize that a cold powdery snow doesn't pack for snowballs or forts. They were surprised at the icicles and the way the sun melts the top of the snow and makes a crust. They've learned a lot about snow this week.

He is wise in his bundling. 

I never was wise in my bundling and was so cold in the snow as a kid.

We made snow cream. So easy and delicious! About 1/2 a cup of milk, 1/3 cup sugar, a dash of salt and bit of vanilla. Beat that real good. Mix in as much fresh snow as makes a good slushy, ice-creamy mixture. I'm not sure I've made it before, but I'm gonna call this a great first experience.

Harrison watching the snow fall.

I'm reading about the people in town who've had it so much worse than we have. No heat or water for days. No fireplace. Some who have died from exposure outside or fires or carbon monoxide. This has been an adventure for us, but I see how scary it could turn. 

"Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away" has been an experienced truth this week. What could anyone do for us from far away? I won't even drive to my friends who are 10 minutes away on icey roads (I didn't used to be scared of ice, but I haven't driven on it in a while). How could I expect anyone to reach me? Preparedness is great. We've been so fine compared to so many. But you can't really always prepare. Some things you just don't expect. 

Liz and her snow up in Joplin. 

Her dorm floor has been quarantined, and today this was her "yard time." OCC has also had lots of snow and classes cancelled, but the North is just better prepared for that, so they've had all the working utilities.

P.S. I taught the kids how to play Hearts. We play a couple hands at a time, so we haven't reached 100 points yet. Brings back Clouse family memories. Hearts and Spades were card games we played all the time. Miss it.

Family Photo

Alec Rogerson Photography

 While we had Liz home over Christmas, and while we had a photographer still in Texas (our friend Alec was being sent somewhere else with the Navy), we got a couple of family photos taken.

Phillip is doing well at his job with Asset Works. He fixes bugs in code. His INTJ/P personality says that he's a scientist. I never figured him for that at all until he started coding; now I totally see it. He works on the side on our very own Flexible Homeschool App. He's been working on getting Subjects in there so we can then add Grades. I love using the app to plan my homeschool. Check it out if any of you homeschoolers need a scheduling tool!

I am homeschooling Jon, Phoebe and Harrison. Jonathan does most everything on his own now, so we're in the spot where homeschooling gets easier every year. I think. I've started volunteer typing for a Charlotte Mason transcription team, and I have to say that it's very relaxing. I'm also working on a writing project, and I'm giddy to tell all you CCCB people that Twila is on the team! Don't worry ~ you'll see all about it as soon as we can post our work.

Elizabeth (who I believe is mostly called Lanaya at college, which I think is so funny) has been knitting hats for sale, trying her hand at writing knitting patterns (anyone out there a knit pattern tester?), and doing the college class thing. She is doing very well grades-wise. Speech class is not her favorite (takes after her mother). 

Jonathan is very conscientious about school. It makes it easy for me! Because he's on top of his assignments and doesn't shirk the work I give him. He fixes things around the house. He joined up with a friend from church to help lead an online Bible study. They meet on Discord. Oh, the times, they are a'changing. 

Phoebe has been working on a sewing project for a good while. She told us today that she will likely finish it tomorrow. And she said I could take a picture and post it. It's very hard to get her to show us her handiwork and drawings, so this is quite the privilege! She's a funny gal ~ makes us laugh with her wit; makes us reprimand her when it's acerbic. 

Harrison impresses the kids with his vocabulary. They've all said at some point, "What does that even mean? Are you using that right?" And he usually is. He draws, listens to books, plays outside with neighbors, plays Roblox, and creates things on Roblox Studio. He is the beloved youngest. 

Hum-Drum Winter

We're in those blasé days of winter now. The exciting holidays and breaks are over. Now it's just school and cold. 

I recognize this now though, and it doesn't scare me like it used to. When you're young, you think the feeling you're currently in will last forever. But it doesn't. Life is made up of much and many and various. And I really don't mind the cloudy, low-key days ~ they mean staying home and getting cozy.

 

Jon made a Lego 'Shoots and Ladders' to entertain his brother. And himself.

Harrison finished up his PT boat at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. (School project) 

This was our first time doing epoxy. It dries really quick! And it's expensive! We liked working with it, but we'll need to find a different source than Hobby Lobby.

Now, I talk about cloudy, cold days. I really don't have much grievance here in Texas. 

We have so much sun! Today it got up to 80º. 

But a week ago, all of us got snow. 

Liz got snow in Joplin. Phoebe and Phillip got snow in Vandalia, MO. And we got snow here in San Antonio. Ours was a slushy, sleety kind of snow. It would rain, sleet, and snow all in the same minute. The neighbor kids and our boys got out there and got soaking wet and cold and made slush-balls. It was exciting. 

Liz' snow didn't stick in Joplin. Phoebe woke up to snow blanketing the ground in Vandalia and enjoyed it very much for all of us.

Jon graciously played Scrabble with me. 

He beat me so bad! I think this game was 422 to 242. I really enjoy Scrabble even though my score may not show it.

I am overjoyed to see kids playing at the playground. 

This particular park is near our library and has a small wood, rocks on which to 'parkour,' and a stream/wetlands area to cross and climb down into. I'm very thankful for this being so close to our house. Our library is still closed, but it has also been a blessing to us. The kids used to go there to hang out, partake in the programs they offer, get books (of course). We miss our librarians.

Last Week of Winter Break

The kids wanted to go ice skating. And Jonathan can drive. So I didn't have to go!!! This is an amazing time in my life. 

We visited the museum on the free night so the kids could draw Greek artifacts in their Book of Centuries. I let them go off on their own. By the time I went to find them, they were all hanging out in the lobby. NOT looking at art. 

We were excited to find some John Singer Sargent paintings. He's our artist for Artist Study this term. 

New Year's Eve was games and Jon's friend over. 

The kids did fireworks and drank sparkling grape juice and played computer games; and everyone, including Midget Pants (Jon's name for our Harrison; as opposed to Jon's friend who was here who is also named Harrison) stayed up until midnight. The fireworks in the city woke me up, and they were absolutely beautiful. I feel like there were a lot more fireworks this year.

Saturday was a beautiful day to complete the middle part of Salado Creek Greenway. I fell once. No bruises, so that's a win. 

I have one last section to skate and it will probably take a couple of afternoons. Which I don't mind. I enjoy having that little something to conquer when I feel the need to conquer something. 

Off the trail this girl was being filmed/photographed while dancing. 

There was quite the little crowd that stopped to watch her. Very fun.

This was ominous. 

It went downhill; I couldn't see around the bend; the wall was too high for me to hang onto while I inch my way forward. So I ended up taking off one skate and skate-hopping it down there. It's a good thing I did. I would definitely have had bruises.

We start school tomorrow!

 

Christmas

Christmas Eve we had cocoa and toast and Phillip read the Nativity story from the Bible. 

The kids opened their stocking gifts.

We watched It's a Wonderful Life. 

A very relaxing time together at home.

The kids had the idea of getting matching plaid shirts to wear on Christmas Day. 

Phillip told them they would never have gone for it if it had been our idea. So it goes. :-)

This was funny. 

We have a story of Phoebe when she was maybe 4 years old, shaking her fist at the neighbor guy and saying, "Give me fourteen dollars!" 

So Jonathan's gift to her was $14 with this note.

Aupa's serving dish was for cookies this time.

Our children's minister came over for lunch. It was a lot of fun to talk with her about life at a children's home and with missions and Enneagrams. 

Harrison got on the Lego assembly right away. 

Jonathan played "Silent Night."

Phoebe got Harrison a model airplane kit. 

He received three airplane gifts this year. He's enjoying them all. 

Jonathan is working with the drawing tools his friend Liam gave him. He's doing a sort of bullet journal of weapons right now. I gotta say.... I like it.

 

Christmas Celebrating

 

The girls and I went to La Cantera to window shop.  It's a fancy outdoor shopping area. The Christmas lights there were beautiful. We stepped into an art gallery to see what the area had to offer in the way of art. There were some pretty pieces in there. Even a couple of modern-art types that I would have taken home had I been in the market. 

Fun time with my girls.

 

I thought there'd be more to the Riverwalk lights. There was not. But we got some walking in and got Slushies for the trip home. It ended up being a warm night.

Phoebe got this from the White Elephant gift exchange at the youth group Christmas party. 

They are so glad to be having youth group! They have recently realized that Harrison will be old enough to be in youth group next year and there are shocked faces all around. 

Phoebe's deadpan sarcastic exultation in her mini Lite Brite: "This is thrilling."

Gore Brothers, Inc. 

Jonathan teaching these kids how to play Mafia. 

Jonathan and Phoebe were a big help with a little Christmas party we had yesterday. 

I mostly wanted to tell the Nativity Story to the neighbor kids, but we threw in games and snacks too. They are making dipped pretzels above.

Nativity Story with my favorite porcelain Nativity set. 

They each had a piece that they used to participate in the story. They were calm and listened well. They got plenty rowdy later, but I had prayed for a calm story time.

This was surprising hit too! 

I found this set of 15 miniature bird puzzles at Hobby Lobby. Each kid had a bird to put together. And they all loved it! I thought for sure they'd poo-poo the idea and throw the pieces at each other. 

We are off of school this week and enjoying our time together. All the kids are home, there are no relationship troubles, no health problems, we have plenty of books to read. It's good.