The cleanup goes on
Right now, the usual bird sounds are masked. A mechanical snarl, which I can hear through shuttered windows. Generically, a chain saw, which has taken the place of the broad axe, from a century ago. Fitting; this was the “storm of the century”.
No logging. This is cleanup, from fallen trees that are more than a generation old. The property owner, already of a certain age, will not have such a task again in his lifetime, even if he planted new seedlings and cared for them. I was lucky, because my trees are limited in number, and none fell. Next door, a more diverse planting and now demanding replacement, or some saw work. These were not small trunks. Moving them away has required his tractor (another noise that isn’t normal). I miss the birds.
It’s important to record the aftermath of disasters, and some homes are heading into a third week of darkness. Daily tasks require a different skill set. I know our answer; up the propane reserves, for the next time. I want autonomy and the cost is incidental to my cause. I’m also awaiting the delivery of a fourth solar panel, to make my grid dependence less dependent on others. The sun (almost) always shines, right? Adding additional solar is a no-brainer, because the price is reasonable, and I have room to make a temporary array on the deck. Or the back yard. Or the roof. Possibilities galore.
The generator did the heavy work, two weeks back. But the sun carried us across the finish line. No freezer downtime. Storage is simple; the panels fit in behind said freezer, until called to collect rays.
