Emergency Situation

Oh well, you know, we haven't had a power outage of any length in probably about 10 years. Well, no sooner do we get some baby chicks all set up in a brooder, dependent on that all important infrared light that keeps them warm and toasty, their lifeline, don't you know, and what do you think, you guessed it -- serious power outage. Thank you, Murphy!

No sooner did the power quit, but the loud peeps in the basement notified us at once about the predicament! It was after 10 p.m. and, well, that pretty much renders me useless -- nevertheless, once we realized the power wasn't about to be restored immediately, I captured the babies and placed them in -- ick -- a dirty old tub in which we keep our recyclables in the garage -- emptied of the cans and bottles of course. Husband Steve swung into action (as he is the night owl) and drove the chicks around the neighborhood in his car (he loves his new Honda Fit, any excuse to drive it) until about 1 in the morning. I was asleep when he came in and told me he was driving to his parents' abode 40 miles away, which he knew was connected to the grid.

So our chicks made it, a little flustered, back home again in the morning when power was restored. Needless to say, they were really happy to be home again and back in their brooder in our basement.