Sunday, December 27, 2009

Christmas Outtage!

If you stop and think for a moment what it must have been like for the pioneers of the 19th century to wake up Christmas morning in a Western mountain town. Before rushing to the presents you had to find a light source, build a fire because of the negative temperatures, and look for something warm to eat...

Whether we liked it or not that was our Christmas morning. The entire Wood River Valley was powerless as of 10pm Christmas Eve. No Christmas tree lights, no warm coffee/tea, no lifts running on the ski mountains, no phone calls, and most importantly no heater! That was a glimpse into our Christmas morning. But despite our lack of things that need power (which is pretty much everything) we managed to have a wonderful Christmas!

We sprung into action like true campers. Zach pulled out the headlamps and camping light. We built a fire in our wood stove and luckily we could make coffee/tea on the wonderful flat surface. Not being able to contact anyone, we decided to load up and head up the canyon to Zach's parents house. Not surprisingly, they were doing the exact same thing as we were, however we had coffee :) We decided to head back down to our house and have a proper Pioneer Christmas :) Jean and I whipped up some eggs, hashbrowns, and toast on the wood stove. Then we settled into opening gifts around the tree. Aaaahhh, Christmas!


Luckily, the power returned around noon in our neck of the woods but the people north of us (yes all the rich Sun Valley folk including Schwazeneger, Jamie Lee Curtis, etc.) where not as lucky. Their pioneer Christmas lasted into the evening and I can only imagine what they were eating for breakfast.

We continued to stay warm with a skate ski around Quigley with Lucy.
Later that night I served up a proper Swiss fondue for four. Apples, rosemary bread, and chicken sausage in melted cheese. Fresh duck in peanut oil. Not too shabby for pioneers.

Lucy settles in with her new "goosey"
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and are staying warm where ever you may be!

4 comments:

zach latham said...

I had an pioneer christmas that will not soon be forgotten, thanks go my AMAZING wife Sarah, you are the best!

Erin said...

Sounds like it was a unique but very memorable holiday. Glad you guys got the power back. And Zach is right, Sarah you are the best!!

jeannie said...

What fun to know you can do without the power, cook a meal and entertain yourselves. Yeh Christmas!

Darleen said...

No heat! That does not sound good. Glad you had a wood stove. Not fun if you didn't.