Saturday, February 5, 2011

Cleaning up and making do...

By Wednesday afternoon everything we owned was packed up, secured, and we were settled behind a strong wall in the centre of the house, locked inside. Our bathroom is in a corner, refurbished from a verandah and not safe at all. We did fill the bathtub with water, and lots of buckets...
 
 
All the donated 'New Beginnings' Kits were under the dining table, and in plastic crates.
The next morning, after the worst of Yasi had passed us by, Mr E and I went under the house to a safe corner (the winds were still very strong and stuff was flying around the yard) and untied the bbq. We boiled water on the bbq burner, and cooked up bacon and eggs. The power was gone so we had to use foods that were perishing.
 
 
We repeated this at lunchtime and cooked up a pan of mexican mince to make nachos. 
By the next morning (Friday) we had to throw out so much spoiled food. I'm glad we got to use some of it this way. 
By Thursday night the power was on again in half the town - we were in the blessed half. I started to put things back together in the kitchen so we could at least eat during the following days of clean up, while Mr E and Sam put our mattresses back in the bedrooms. 
The view in the backyard...



We were so blessed to only have tree damage. The pets are fine, as they were locked inside with us through Yasi, but the dog next door went missing in the hours before the storm and has still not been found. A sad but familiar story. :-(
We drove up to the hill at the top of town and looked over the region...
You won't be able to spot it (but I circled it and you can click for a large photo) but we could see the river for the very first time since we moved here. That's how high it had gotten - higher than when the floods went through in December. We were just told that the highway either side of the river has all been ripped apart, so no access for supplies for a long while. 
All that water will flood country Queensland again. :-(
The supermarket in town lost nearly all it's cold stock in the power loss and as our town had not yet fully restocked after the floods last month, we now have empty shelves. So many will have had to throw away spoiled foodstuffs, and there was only so much to go around at the supermarket. We are going to be very cautious with what we use until supplies arrive again. The river was over yesterday and roads cut off. It will take a while till life is normal once more, but we are BLESSED that we have homes, water and drygoods, and our lives.
Those in Tully, Mission Beach, Tully Heads, Innisfail, Cardwell....so many do not have this, not even in it's simplest form.
 Pray for them
Pray also for our friends in the US who are battling their own weather disaster with blizzards and ice storms. 
I don't know what your thoughts are, but I agree we are experiencing global warming, and this planet is only going to get more and more weather crises. What are we leaving to our children and grandchildren? I shudder to think.
~~~~~
This morning I had to use the last of the apples, and didn't realise till later that I was using the last of the self raising flour....
..and baked cinnamon/apple/currant muffins with the last of the homemade yoghurt. 
 I don't have any baking powder so will need recipes with plain flour. How can I make baking powder, do you know? I might have ingredients? **(Thanks to those who shared the recipe for baking powder! I don't have cream of tartar so will have to shelve that idea)** We do have bread flour so I can bake some loaves as we need them.
 Now to start unpacking the sewing room, begin lunch (baking olive focaccia breads), and finish washing the blankets. Mr E spent yesterday cutting up fallen trees at the school, and today is starting the clean up around the house here.
It's raining again and lightning storms are predicted, so a quiet night inside will finish our day. 
I'll do Show and Tell tomorrow. :-)
Hugs
Jenny
xxx

49 comments:

simplestitches said...

glad to hear that you are all OK...it must of been very frightening.
Those muffins look excellent! Hope that things start to pick up soon and no more weather dramas....
Julz

luv2quilt2 said...

So glad to hear that you've come safely through the storm. Baking powder is made of 1 part baking soda, 2 parts cream of tartar, and 1 part corn starch.
I'll be praying for all who have been so affected by the severe weather.

Karen said...

Hi Jenny....I'm glad to hear you didn't suffer too much damage except for the trees. Muffins look yummy.

I did a search for how to make baking powder, but I've never made it myself.

Here's the link: http://www.ochef.com/1275.htm

Hope it works for you.

Keeping you in my prayers, Karen

Unknown said...

Glad to hear you had Minimal Damage...Hope life will get back to Norm for you soon...
Take Care
xx

Rita E in AZ said...

It's good to hear you are safe.
There is a recipe here for baking powder as well as storage info:

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/condimentsandspices/r/Baking_Powder.htm

Ingredients:
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1 teaspoon corn starch (optional)
Preparation:
Mix the baking soda and cream of tartar together until well combined. Use immediately.

Yield: One tablespoon of baking powder.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Don't have any cream of tartar. Will have to rethink this...
Thanks for those who shared the recipe for baking powder though!
Hugs
Jenny
xx

Sandy said...

Glad you and your family are safe and well. It is amazing what we can make do with....prayers your way!

Maria McCabe said...

Looks like pioneer living! Very resourceful! So glad you made it through, hopefully you will all be able to start getting back to normal.

Wendy said...

My prayers to you and your family ... my goodness ... Bless you and all of you "survivors."

B J Elder said...

Thank you for sharing the pictures - I haven't seen much of it at all on the news. The unrest in Egypt has taken precedence in the news. I'm so glad there was so little loss of life.
Hope that food and other supplies will soon be on their way to you.

Dawn said...

Hi jenny, such a struggle when you don't have all the food stuff on hand that your used too...not sure how I would cope..Found out today that 1/2teaspoon of Bicarb is like two eggs if mixed with a little liquid.... and you could use yeast for muffins..like a bread muffin...
Hugs & prayers for you and the family..Dawn x x

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

Glad to hear the family all made it through safe and sound.

Allie said...

LOVE the candelabra in the bathroom - how very Jenny!!! Gorgeous. Wow. Can't believe how much you had to pack up! Makes me want to go buy stock in plastic totes. And USE them. You guys - making such beautiful food after a disaster - good for you!

Your backyard is a right mess, girl. Thank the Lord it's only trees and not your house. I hope the dog next door comes home safe...

I'm praying for calm weather for the next few years, dear one. And I continue to hold the good people of Queensland in my prayers.

Sara said...

You are ok!! So good to hear that you and your family are safe sound. Glad you are getting back to normal and have food:) Hope the storms have passed for good.

Orcsmom said...

We are all so grateful that you and your family are fine. It was very scary listening to the reports here in the states. I only wish we were closer to come help those who need help in recovering from Yasi. Big hugs and prayers being sent to you!! Hugs!!

Pam

Crafty Chookie said...

What an amazing outlook you have Jenny. Am so glad to hear your all ok. I think about the impact the floods and Yasi has had on the children. It will stick with them for a very long time, if not forever. Many prayers for all.
Hugs Michelle

FlourishingPalms said...

Such fascinating circumstances you're in. All the preparations you made, how you had to cook, and now how you're learning "make do" in the midst of clean-up and resettling... all while seeing how your part of the world has changed. It's evident to me that you're leaning on God because I see your strength. Praise Him.

Clara said...

Thank you for sharing your emotions and your experience, Jenny. I was very worried and I'm glad everything is ok with all your family. Take care, Clara.

Nima said...

Glad to know that you are ok...

Debbie said...

Hi Jenny, Glad you are ok. It must have been all the prayers! My daughter is in Townsville still no power to Kelso, she is annoyed that all their food went off as they are on a tight budget. I am going to visit her on the 20th. If you happen to be in Townsville l'd love to meet you, I am there for 10days.
I had to laugh she wrapped glow sticks around the cats and dogs neck so she could find them in the dark.
I would have never thought of that.
Big Hugs Deb

Sharon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan said...

Gosh - what a trauma this has been for so many. Thank goodness for the BBQ! Sorry we can't send you stuff - we would have boxes of food on its way otherwise

Sharon said...

take two!! Hi Jenny I have been checking in to see if you had returned... I only said a couple of hours ago that I hoped everything was be ok with you guys... Glad to hear for the most part it was...One wonders when life will ever return to normal again.. The weather seems to have taken on a life of its own... Down here in Melbourne we have been lashed with 'one in a hundred years storms' except obviously the weather gods can't count because this has happened again in only a short space of time. While we are fortunate enough not to have what you guys are - it having disurbing enough...It makes me wonder what the future holds... Again glad to see that you and yours have come through an incredibly tough time - take care...
** Update - just have been watching the evening news re last night storms most suburbs of Melbourne have had some sort of damage.. Railways stations which look like rivers flowing through them instead of train tracks, golf courses that have taken on lake like appearances roads and freeways flooded and of course the most heartbreaking homes and businesses that have been flooded...

Alice said...

BBQ's are wonderful things! I love the muffins--such a normal thing in the midst of all the chaos. Wish I could send you some baking powder, but I am sure it would not make it through customs. Ugh! I hope all this weather ends very soon, it is all very scary.
Hope you don't have to do without too much as you are putting life back in order.
L,A-

Amanda said...

How thankful you must be that you only suffered damage to the trees, but there's so much cleaning up and sorting out that you need to do. It's certainly a very sobering thought the amount of weather crises that are happening around the world this year, but whether it's down to climate change or El Nino I don't know. The best of luck with coping until things return to normal.

Jude said...

So glad you were kept safe during the storm and did not lose anything of great value. If I could I would send some SR flour but its not possible so I hope everthing is back to normal soon.

Bluebell said...

Thank you for the pictures Jenny, just glad you are safe and dry and still managing to produce some lovely foood.
Love Jillx

Pam said...

It seems like you're all coping brilliantly. Hope everything gets back to some sort of normality before too long.

Rumi said...

I saw some pictures on the evening news and was worried about my Australian friends. I'm so glad your family is fine. Hope things quiet down for you and things return to normal soon! Hugs!

Robin in New Jersey said...

So thankful that you are Ok and your house is intact. I will be praying that you will have enough food to keep you going until the stores are stocked again.

Thank you for posting and letting us know how you are.

Mama Pea said...

Glad you are all okay and the damage was minimal. Your cooking under such conditions sounds more yummy than my every-day cooking! :-)

Dot said...

Jenny,

So glad you're safe, and coping. I understand about the food shortages, however...we're dealing with that but not on such a long-term basis. Where I have lived most of my life, however, I've grown used to preparing for such a case and so usually have quite a stock on hand. How are you for flour? Do you have yeast? Have you ever made your own sourdough starter to provide rise? You can always give a list of what you do have, and we can throw around ideas...

We always think of it as an adventure. It helps your outlook, as opposed to thinking of it as a burden.

Dot
dminshall67@yahoo.com

Heather said...

Thank you so much for sharing your personal story of the storms. It really helps to make things more real to those of us that live so far away. You and your family are in my prayers. Good luck in the days and weeks ahead. I know that times are tough but nothing is more important than the safety of family and friends! God bless.

sandra said...

Dear Jenny , prayers and blessings from Canada, My heart goes out to all the brave people in Australia but I know that you are a strong country and things will get better.

Heike said...

Thank God, you're o.k. I always thought of you the last days.
xxx
Heike

Patty@inStitches said...

Jenny, we are in Colorado, USA, where drought conditions exist, always. Wish we could slurp up some of your water and redeposit it here!
If worse comes to worst, you don't need any kind of leavening to make tortillas. And you can wrap almost anything in a tortilla, which saves on dishes and dishwashing.. more time for sewing!

We are keeping your side of the planet in our prayers, and working on caddies to ship as well....

Isabella said...

Thank God you are all safe

Nellie put the kettle on said...

What a horrific advent to have to go through, so glad your all ok.

sunny said...

I'm glad you're safe, and it sounds like to have a plan to make it through until life gets back to normal. But what exactly is normal? Take good care of yourself.

Caroline said...

Hello Jenny!
Glad to hear that you and your family are safe, well and suffer minimal
damage, except for the trees. Here in Brazil we are having the same
problems with the floods and storms..it is very sad because as you told it reflects the global warm and the lack of concern of people about the enviroment.
We will be praying for all who have been affected by the storms and floods in Australia!
I'd like to apologize for my english that is not very good.
Big Hugs,
Carol - Brazil.

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Glad to see your home was not damaged Jenny! Hope you get your food supplies into the town soon. Best wishes for the yard clean up.

Di said...

How resourceful you all are in the face of such a mess and with all the inconvenience and food shortages! Jenny, I hope it encourages you to know that at church this morning we prayed for all Queenslanders like you. You are wonderful to be carrying on helping others with your "New Beginnings" kits while you yourself are living the 'pioneering' life (to put it mildly)!

Karen said...

God bless your family. Please keep us in the loop & let us help when possible. Here is something I recently heard while watching a cooking show. Attempting to improve meals for hubby.

It is possible to substitute baking powder for baking soda, though one may need to add a larger amount of powder to get the same results. However the reverse is not true. Substituting baking soda for baking powder will not work in recipes that require high heats or long cooking times. As well, baking soda has a somewhat bitter taste, which can be hard to mask."

Penny said...

Glad to hear you and your family are safe and sound. Hope the weather goes back to normal soon.

NANNASWORKROOM said...

Hello, happy you are safe, My family live in Townsville, all safe, some damage to their home but thhey are all safe, no power still as yet. But the important thing is they are safe.Take care

Janice said...

It looks like it will be quite a while before thing get back to "normal" up your way. Thanks for sharing how you coped during the cyclone, as so many of us have no idea what is required in the preparation. Dinner still looks good, despite your shortages. A mate of ours from Rocky works for Ergon and was deployed north early last week to assist with the power. I bet he has been extremely busy.

Terri said...

Jenny I am glad to know that you all are ok. I will keep all the rest in my thoughts

RobynLouise said...

Glad you weathered the weather. Hoping you have enough to keep you going until the stores have a chance to restock. You're very resourceful in how you're using what you have.

Carrie P. said...

I am so glad you and your family are safe. God is good.