Conserving Energy

Today my work was cancelled, but DH’s was not. They did cancel his outdoor responsibilities, for which I am grateful.
We had the second coldest temperature of all time for our locale today. Yesterday I worked remotely, but to be honest, it was hard to concentrate with the cold piercing my clothing layers, worrying about today’s coldest temps, and rolling blackouts starting.
I turned our thermostat down 3 degrees, to 65. I closed the vent in a room we won’t use. I opened the vent in the basement to make my morning bike ride more tolerable-turns out there’s a reason it’s been so cold!-and to help prevent pipes freezing. I turned off and unplugged everything I could.
The news advised no laundry, no dishwasher, no oven to save energy. Oh, darn, I can’t do housework; however will I survive?

We were not the only ones to leave our porch unlit last night! Dark porch is preferable to no electricity. Even Benji was too cold to bark about it, as he has before. He needs his routine.

I planned for passing the time without electricity:

The puzzle is complete. I used daylight for all of my daytime activities! With DH working in another room, he asked why I was walking around.
“Just another turn-off-and-unplug sweep,” I told him. I prayed a blackout wouldn’t interrupt his remote work. I only found one thing to unplug, but they say if every household does just a little, it helps.
And now the sun will set. I’ve turned on a light to continue my activities. I’m skipping a usual hour of TV. I can feel the cold air creeping into our 120-year-old house. I hear the furnace click on.
Glad for many blankets and woolen warriors should a power interruption be necessary.
Sending warming wishes your way (unless you’re in Miami 😘).