Unprecidented winter

[TheBeachHouse]

So, the storm on Thursday and Friday brought the highest storm surge since the blizzard of '78. During the blizzard of '78, the iconic fish shack that is the emblem of the town was destroyed by the ocean surge. This storm, the shack (which had been rebuilt) stayed intact, the but water did come all the way up to its foundation.
Cars were almost swept into the harbor. Social media saved them. People posted pictures and the owners came to get them. The Weather Channel sent Jim Cantore to broadcast live from our harbor.
We thought we were prepared because we have a wood stove and a generator. When the power went out, the generator didn't kick in. And when the house filled with smoke, we realized the chimney on the woodstove had been blown off the house!! So much for being prepared!!
The very good news, the neighbors came to help with the generator and found the secret emergency switch. AND - we are closed so no guests!!!!
We are now sure we made the right decision to be closed in the winters from now on. Too much stress and liability. Our driveway is a sheet of ice and there is no fixing it. The rooms are heated, but not in the way a hotel guest would expect. You still need a sweatshirt and good socks. None of the restaurants in town are open. PLUS - I'm very happy to not have to go out of the house for shopping.
Tomorrow, the temp rises from today's zero degrees to 38 degrees F!!!! One more day!!!!

 

[Morticia]

I'm watching the neighbors try to dig out and sand the driveway for one room. I yelled over the fence that this is why we're closed right now!
We didn't have to rush to clean everything up. No worries about power going out. Let it snow! 42 here on Thursday!
Glad you're ok. What an exciting evening you had!

 

[gillumhouse]

Sorry the generator did not kick in.I had my chimneys taken down (before they fell down) when I had the metal roof put on. My emergency heat is a stand-alone radiator in the foyer that is ONLY emergency because it is a #1 - turn on the gas#2 - light it. There are no safety features as it is so old, but it does still work. We used it in extreme cold in the past when the power failed. Did not even think to do that during the last 2 weeks.
I have been setting my alarm for the time of the lowest predicted temp (during the night, we havve been in single digits for over 2 weeks) to get up and start the washer. Some loads were washed as many as 3 times (only the first with detergent). The drip I managed to get going in MY bathtub will finally be shut off today (it is difficult to get so once successful, it stays on). My water lines are under the kitchen floor (originally back porch) before heat tape and no room to get under there to fix it. It is only a problem at 8 degrees or below. We are to go up into the 30s today! And this week even into the high 40s. Grateful for that because I am going to a Conference Tuesday and the house is on its own until Friday. So far, the lows predicted for this week are in the 20s. I can relax. Times like this I REALLY miss Himself to be here to "hold the fort". Glad he did not have to go through the last 2 weeks though as he could not have taken the cold at the temp I kept the thermostart on (62) - I would have a $400 gas bill to try to keep it at 68 for him.

 

[Camge]

So glad that you all made it through this wild weather. We were vacationing in Me., and thought we were through the worst, when we returned to Long Island only to be hit with more snow and crazy cold. Luckily no guests! Keep warm everyone.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Good for all of us - strong people who manage winter. Tellin' ya!
I'm just so glad it's over tomorrow. A whole week of temps above freezing.

 

[Silverspoon]

Good for all of us - strong people who manage winter. Tellin' ya!
I'm just so glad it's over tomorrow. A whole week of temps above freezing..

Oh yeah, we can relate. Gusts over 75 mph out here, sticking out into the Atlantic, but all rain from this storm. We are on high ground but all the harbors here were under water. Temps dropped like a stone and oil delivery companies are backlogged at least 10 days out for deliveries. Thank goodness we are closed for the winter!!!
Glad you made it through ok. Let’s hope The rest of the winter is kinder.

 

[Morticia]

Good for all of us - strong people who manage winter. Tellin' ya!
I'm just so glad it's over tomorrow. A whole week of temps above freezing..

Oh yeah, we can relate. Gusts over 75 mph out here, sticking out into the Atlantic, but all rain from this storm. We are on high ground but all the harbors here were under water. Temps dropped like a stone and oil delivery companies are backlogged at least 10 days out for deliveries. Thank goodness we are closed for the winter!!!
Glad you made it through ok. Let’s hope The rest of the winter is kinder.
.

Yes! I'd like to get out snowshoeing at least once.

 

[user 26]

Ohmy! I am staying with family in Scituate - yup, it's all over the news. Came here because the house I'm renovating is all torn apart ... water is off, all rooms are down to the subfloor, finding issues ... MANY issues. Including a new leak in the roof maybe because of ice. It looks great from outside with all new windows! Thermostats are on 65 on both floors to prevent any freezing. Plasterers have been in working all over the house. I can't be there. So came here. Just in time for the blizzard.
Here we had amazing blizzarding, flooding that came up the street but no higher than the basement as is usual, so their luck held. Although many stores and homes in the harbor flooded. Sump pumps on full all the time. Some in town lost their power, we did not. Although lights flickered quite a bit and restarted. I made a huge beef stew and chili. Woodstoves are on in two of the fireplaces and if we had needed it can use them to cook or keep things hot. Anticipating a warmup to above freezing this week which of course will bring flooding, so we'll see. That is a big concern.
We took in a few neighbor folk who needed shelter. They were trying to get transport to the town shelter during the blizzard with no luck and their heat was out... one quite frail ... I saw one of them on his dark porch and so we bundled up and went over. It took a bit just to get them in ... we ended up using a toboggan! Up the handicap ramp on the side of the house. Bit of a struggle and biting freezing but we did it. Was fun to make breakfast with what was on hand. Giant quiche and muffins, apple pie had to be made as the Christmas apples were quickly going bad. Two pans of fudge brownies just for fun and massive amounts of coffee and popcorn. They huddled by the fire for a long time. Heat has been restored in their house and they were anxious to go home.
I have only gone out once as the roads were so treacherous. Maybe tomorrow.
The heating bill in this house is off the charts.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Ohmy! I am staying with family in Scituate - yup, it's all over the news. Came here because the house I'm renovating is all torn apart ... water is off, all rooms are down to the subfloor, finding issues ... MANY issues. Including a new leak in the roof maybe because of ice. It looks great from outside with all new windows! Thermostats are on 65 on both floors to prevent any freezing. Plasterers have been in working all over the house. I can't be there. So came here. Just in time for the blizzard.
Here we had amazing blizzarding, flooding that came up the street but no higher than the basement as is usual, so their luck held. Although many stores and homes in the harbor flooded. Sump pumps on full all the time. Some in town lost their power, we did not. Although lights flickered quite a bit and restarted. I made a huge beef stew and chili. Woodstoves are on in two of the fireplaces and if we had needed it can use them to cook or keep things hot. Anticipating a warmup to above freezing this week which of course will bring flooding, so we'll see. That is a big concern.
We took in a few neighbor folk who needed shelter. They were trying to get transport to the town shelter during the blizzard with no luck and their heat was out... one quite frail ... I saw one of them on his dark porch and so we bundled up and went over. It took a bit just to get them in ... we ended up using a toboggan! Up the handicap ramp on the side of the house. Bit of a struggle and biting freezing but we did it. Was fun to make breakfast with what was on hand. Giant quiche and muffins, apple pie had to be made as the Christmas apples were quickly going bad. Two pans of fudge brownies just for fun and massive amounts of coffee and popcorn. They huddled by the fire for a long time. Heat has been restored in their house and they were anxious to go home.
I have only gone out once as the roads were so treacherous. Maybe tomorrow.
The heating bill in this house is off the charts..

Scituate is often the hardest hit. Sounds like you made a huge batch of lemonade out of those freezing lemons!

 

[gillumhouse]

Ohmy! I am staying with family in Scituate - yup, it's all over the news. Came here because the house I'm renovating is all torn apart ... water is off, all rooms are down to the subfloor, finding issues ... MANY issues. Including a new leak in the roof maybe because of ice. It looks great from outside with all new windows! Thermostats are on 65 on both floors to prevent any freezing. Plasterers have been in working all over the house. I can't be there. So came here. Just in time for the blizzard.
Here we had amazing blizzarding, flooding that came up the street but no higher than the basement as is usual, so their luck held. Although many stores and homes in the harbor flooded. Sump pumps on full all the time. Some in town lost their power, we did not. Although lights flickered quite a bit and restarted. I made a huge beef stew and chili. Woodstoves are on in two of the fireplaces and if we had needed it can use them to cook or keep things hot. Anticipating a warmup to above freezing this week which of course will bring flooding, so we'll see. That is a big concern.
We took in a few neighbor folk who needed shelter. They were trying to get transport to the town shelter during the blizzard with no luck and their heat was out... one quite frail ... I saw one of them on his dark porch and so we bundled up and went over. It took a bit just to get them in ... we ended up using a toboggan! Up the handicap ramp on the side of the house. Bit of a struggle and biting freezing but we did it. Was fun to make breakfast with what was on hand. Giant quiche and muffins, apple pie had to be made as the Christmas apples were quickly going bad. Two pans of fudge brownies just for fun and massive amounts of coffee and popcorn. They huddled by the fire for a long time. Heat has been restored in their house and they were anxious to go home.
I have only gone out once as the roads were so treacherous. Maybe tomorrow.
The heating bill in this house is off the charts..

That is exactly what you would do. You are a sweet, caring person. Moaning about problems just make them worse. Turning it into a fun time makes life better for everyone.

 

[user 26]

ha ... no really, i do my fair share of moaning

 

[Lee2014]

I kept asking our maintenance man if its cold enough for him. The answer was always no. After three friends homes' pipes froze, the NE inn's apartment pipes froze and broke, and the PA town's pipes broke forcing us to send our guests to another town that still had water, the maintenance guy said, "Not yet, but its getting there!" Then today after I swept the porches in the bright warm sunshine, I found his jacket left behind when he went home...

 

[Tom]

My mother (90) lives in Ipswich and is staying here for a few weeks enjoying the PNW wet winter. Just sits by the fire and reads. Her friends back in MA are pretty worn out.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

My mother (90) lives in Ipswich and is staying here for a few weeks enjoying the PNW wet winter. Just sits by the fire and reads. Her friends back in MA are pretty worn out..

I believe it. It has been exhausting. Where is PNW?
Glad you got her out of here! Did you spend your childhood on Crane Beach?

 

[Tom]

My mother (90) lives in Ipswich and is staying here for a few weeks enjoying the PNW wet winter. Just sits by the fire and reads. Her friends back in MA are pretty worn out..

I believe it. It has been exhausting. Where is PNW?
Glad you got her out of here! Did you spend your childhood on Crane Beach?
.

PNW = Pacific North West, and yes Crane's beach, acres of sand. Sailed out of Marblehead. Miss the lobster rolls.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Hubby and our very favorite handyman put the chimney back together yesterday. We had a fire last night! So happy to have it back. Temps are in the high 40s. Snow and ice are melting and we are expecting rain. There could be more flooding in the area. But it's nice to have the deep freeze behind us.

 

[Silverspoon]

Hubby and our very favorite handyman put the chimney back together yesterday. We had a fire last night! So happy to have it back. Temps are in the high 40s. Snow and ice are melting and we are expecting rain. There could be more flooding in the area. But it's nice to have the deep freeze behind us..

Yup, 56 out here today! Snow is gone and it felt like a spring day. Washed all the salt spray off east facing windows and took a walk with DH. Life is good! Glad you got your chimney put back together....you know these temps won’t last!

 

[Morticia]

Hubby and our very favorite handyman put the chimney back together yesterday. We had a fire last night! So happy to have it back. Temps are in the high 40s. Snow and ice are melting and we are expecting rain. There could be more flooding in the area. But it's nice to have the deep freeze behind us..

Yup, 56 out here today! Snow is gone and it felt like a spring day. Washed all the salt spray off east facing windows and took a walk with DH. Life is good! Glad you got your chimney put back together....you know these temps won’t last!
.

Snow is gone? Wow! I've still got a few feet here!

 

[Silverspoon]

Hubby and our very favorite handyman put the chimney back together yesterday. We had a fire last night! So happy to have it back. Temps are in the high 40s. Snow and ice are melting and we are expecting rain. There could be more flooding in the area. But it's nice to have the deep freeze behind us..

Yup, 56 out here today! Snow is gone and it felt like a spring day. Washed all the salt spray off east facing windows and took a walk with DH. Life is good! Glad you got your chimney put back together....you know these temps won’t last!
.

Snow is gone? Wow! I've still got a few feet here!
.

We have gotten mostly rain so far this winter with just a dusting of snow here and there. 50 degree ocean water all around us means the snow we do get usually melts quickly. We are sort of like Burmuda...

 

[Morticia]

Hubby and our very favorite handyman put the chimney back together yesterday. We had a fire last night! So happy to have it back. Temps are in the high 40s. Snow and ice are melting and we are expecting rain. There could be more flooding in the area. But it's nice to have the deep freeze behind us..

Yup, 56 out here today! Snow is gone and it felt like a spring day. Washed all the salt spray off east facing windows and took a walk with DH. Life is good! Glad you got your chimney put back together....you know these temps won’t last!
.

Snow is gone? Wow! I've still got a few feet here!
.

We have gotten mostly rain so far this winter with just a dusting of snow here and there. 50 degree ocean water all around us means the snow we do get usually melts quickly. We are sort of like Burmuda...

.

It is so foggy right now I can't see outside. Must be really warm.