4 Things to do While the Lights Are Out

      The Lord definitely works in mysterious ways, because honestly I had no idea what I was going to type about today until in the middle of my newest fascination (wood carving, or whittling as I found out it's called) the power went out. This reminded me of when I was a kid and the power went out for whatever reason, all the things we used to do by candle light/lantern light waiting for the power to come on. Sometimes it took days, sometimes it was only a short few hours, but no matter what we found a way to entertain ourselves so I figured I would share some of those things I used to do and still do when the power is off so TV and Computers are kinda off the table.

1. Read All Those Books You Haven't Had Time For: I know this is technically cheating, and might be a bit of self advertisement, but setting up some lights so that you can grab those weird things made of paper with words on them might help pass the time. Our time is so divided between watching videos on YouTube or social media, that we forget that getting lost in a book we like is some of the best hours spent is getting lost in a book. Power won't be coming back for a hot minute, so better to get off the phone and let it keep the power it has while you grab something that doesn't require electricity. By the time you get to the best part the power will suddenly be back on of course, but nothing says you can't keep enjoying a good book no matter the circumstances.
2. Board Games: This was one that me and my family did a lot when power went out. Maybe we weren't miserable enough without AC in Texas so we decided to whip out Monopoly and Uno to really start taking it out on each other. I am kidding of course, as we had such a big collection with all sorts of weird and fun stuff that we would get annoyed with one game we would move on. If anyone has played Risk before, you know a board game can fill up the better part of a day until lights come back on.
3. BBQ with Friends and Family: My mother was a master at being able to take anything we cooked in the kitchen could be done on the back porch. With a lot of the food we keep not lasting without refrigeration, it might be a good idea to break out some charcoal if you have some and throwing something on the grill. I remember some of our best meals were just stuff we planned on eating later being put on the grill in the tin-foil with some butter or oil and some salt and letting the grill do the rest of the work. I myself have gotten a full set of camping supplies and cast iron cooking ware, so I ain't that much different from what I already do. When the weather turns for the worst it's a great chance to gather everything together and cook like you went to ones of those KOAs.
4. Sleep: My laptop is running out of battery so this one might seem rushed, although that is kind of the point. We are all rushing around so much with keeping up with everything that when the electricity goes out, it might be the perfect time to get some much needed rest. Now I know without AC that is easier said than done, but it is a great idea if you really don't have much to do and need to get the hours to fly by. Without your phone and email constantly pinging you about some stuff that needs to be done, maybe it is time to catch some zs and sleep the darkness away.

     So that is all the time I have before my laptop dies. Thank you for reading, subscribe and follow my Facebook and Instagram please, and I'll see y'all later!