Wind chill is not actual temperature, it is what it feels like.
But, I will say that the wind sucks heat out of everything and the word fast, is not fast enough to explain it. Power went out all over the valley. The big villages nearby, that I can see in the distance, had no power also. We had a storm. A storm that rivaled a thunderstorm for ferocity in the summer months. Wind chill hit a bone rattling -51 C at several fun moments. They had the air raid siren going in one of the bigger villages and it wailed for six to seven hours. I have been up most of the night tending to the fire, so it would not go out and making sure that the Tiny Russian Village home kept in one piece…. The outer mud room filled with drifting snow and at one point I finally opened the front door and it was half way up the door in a drift; and ice started to form on the south wall as the wind relentlessly pulled the heat from our home. Needless to say, log walls have a limit to there insulating ability…
The wind hit a wild 65 kilometers and hour and they just started the air raid siren again. It is 5:30 and we finally got power back on…
I am not sure it will stay on, but I have boiled a pot of water, built our fire back up and shoveled snow to the outhouse and gates. Boza and I walked at 2 a.m. and he did his doggy business. I had to carry him over some drift areas and we finally got to the top of the mountain. There it was wind swept almost clear and Boza did his business. We walked for about an hour and finally got our courage up to trudge back down the mountain to our home. The path we cut coming up, was gone and even deeper. At one point, I had a doggy in my arms and was pushing through a drift up to my waist…
Needless to say, I had to change clothes when I got back and the snow covered ones are hanging near the fireplace drying…
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Today,
I have to restock all the wood. I put a dent in the inside pile last night, had no choice, that or freeze to death. It was definable an interesting night and actually a very good night. I realized that I was prepared for the worst; flashlights charged, firewood stocked and plenty of food for energy if needed. That was an issue these last few days. I have had to eat and eat too much in my eyes, for my blood sugar has been very low. I have almost stopped taking my pills and it is still pushing the low side. My body is burning calories like crazy and it is compensating by heat production and my blood sugar does not get a chance to go up.
Interesting how our bodies work to keep us alive…
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I feel the heat wave coming today!
Short lived and most likely only will last a few hours, but it will hit zero degrees this morning and then turn around and get to around -15 tonight. It is hitting zero now. When it gets daylight, Boza and I will take a long walk and or try to walk. Then we will get ready for round two of the brutal storm hitting us. By noon it is suppose to be back to -5 and dropping fast from there…. Plus it is really suppose to snow tonight. What we just had was a warming up party…
I know what is coming, for my arthritis is going nuts and I hurt like hell…
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It is so beautiful out…
And all is good here in the Tiny Russian Village. I don’t complain, for there are many places much much colder in Russia than our little place. I am thankful just for the experience of life…
WtR