AT LEAST there was a wood stove in the kitchen! That constituted about the only thing I could feel fortunate about on the night of my "Age Fast" episode.
First of all (does this sound familiar?), my husband was away. Second, a surprise snowstorm had sprung up. And,third, the power had gone out.
Actually, for a little while, the situation didn't seen so daunting. While I was new to farming, I did know how to start a fire in the old range.
I quickly decided I should check on the animals. With the night bitter cold and the wind biting, I bundled myself up.Then I dashed to the barn.
The sow supplied my first shock---six newborn piglets were huddled close to her side for warmth. If I didn't do something to provide them more heat, they'd never make it to morning.
So I lined a box with straw, packed all six babies in and staggered back to the kitchen with it in my arms. Snug beside the stove, they fell fast asleep.
Remembering our milk cow was due to calve any day, I hurried back to the barn. Sure enough, I found her nursing a new baby. I gave a gasp of pleasure----then groaned when I spotted a smaller calf abandoned in the straw. Twins!
There was nothing for me to do but take this baby, too, to warm kitchen, where it soon was stretched out on a blanket in front of the stove.
By now, my hands were numb. But, as I held them to the fire, it occurred to me it had been a while since I'd seen our St. Bernard---who, you probably have already guessed, was expecting.
Another trek into the cold revealed her to be in one of the barn's remote corners, crouched over four trembling puppies. Up into my coat went the newborns; Mama trotted along behind as I raced them back to the house. There, I gave them a blanket and sheltered spot under the table.
But wait...where was the cat? Yes, she was also going to have babies, although they weren't supposed to arrive for several weeks. That didn't matter on this night---there she was, in a closet, curled around her new litter.
Running out of room, I dug out an old suitcase, lined it with a fuzzy sweater and let cat and kittens take up residence there in another kitchen corner.
Suddenly, it dawned on me that the chicken house had a problem as well. Without power, there was no heat lamp for the chicks. Again, I rushed outside, toting a laundry basket. I scooped the chicks up into it and stumbled with my cheeping load homeward.
When I pushed the door open, my eyes were met by sheer bedlam:
The cat had transferred her kittens into the kitchen sink. She was standing guard over them, hissing and spitting.
All six piglets had escaped their box. They were sprinting around the room, squealing and driving the dog under the table into a barking frenzy.
The calf had struggled to its feet... in the process, knocking over several chairs. It was bawling for mother.
Days later, my husband finally arrived home. Proudly, I related how I'd saved many of our animals from certain death during the storm.
"Honey," he grinned, "didn't you know we have a generator in the barn for emergencies like that?"
Well, no... I didn't. And it's added a lot of mirth to his life over the years. He
still shakes with laughter retelling how his wife lived out
Rescue 911 instead of pushing a button in the barn.
