I fully intended to have this written and ready to post at dawn this morning as usual but then the weather had other plans. The electrician did not come to turn our power off yesterday but a nasty storm did. A very nasty storm. Two more inches of rain and horrendous white out winds. We had a wild night. Sadly one of my young pear trees literally lost its head, but that really was the extent of the damage. Though after days and days of storms and heavy rain I wonder how much more we can take before limbs and trees (or my nerve) just starts to break. We were without power most of the night which meant that the sump pump in the basement was also without power. So out came the generator. No-one can sleep through a generator. But it was better than a very flooded basement. Mostly flooded is bad enough.
Anyway very little sleep was had. The power came back on in the early hours, the generator was unplugged in the dark (the three phase power is out in the chook house for some reason so the generator had to sit out in the field). I milked Daisy by hand this morning, as the two quarters that had mastitis on and off are almost completely dried up and will not hold the cups on, and it is more effective to get all the milk out by hand, we collected up more wet hay to dry on the racks in the barn because the big animals are again not allowed to destroy the fields with their big flat feet and are coralled on the concrete pad and all I have for them to eat is the grass hay that has been rained on intermittently for two weeks and so we are drying it inside and feeding it unbaled). Then when I went to coil up the lead from the generator, I did not check that it had been completely unplugged, and I gave myself an electric shock which sat me straight down on my bottom. It ran straight through my hand, up my arm and wacked me in the chest. I could literally feel where it went in which was curious. It gave me quite a fright and chickens scattered squawking from under me as I hit the deck. And now I am sitting quietly, back inside and feeling tingly.
I am wondering about the electric shocks they gave people in those old mental institutions. If it was to rebalance them I am not sure that that works. I just feel dull and sore. I hope I am even making sense. But basically I am ok. Everyone is OK. But the fields are underwater again. I know that the farmers have insurance for the seed, but there is a lot of gas and time in replanting and it is getting very late for that. They are having a rough few years.
Anyway to cheer ourselves up let’s look out of some back doors.
Robin of Meridian Jacobs looks across her fields to her barn. What a beautiful barn, she has sheep so it is well used and looked after.
My little Corner of Rhode Island. I imagine that this is a very well used space. Perfect for two little children and their gorgeous grandmother.
Ordinary Goodness. Below is a typical cosy, well used I bet, back door view from New Zealand. The leaves are turning there, it is autumn.
Deb and Alice have sent me a picture of their back yard in New Zealand too. Deb is my best friend from forever. We have spent hours on end with a glass of wine or cup of tea looking out through this tree. Her garden is huge and wild and in Auckland where plants just love to grow. That little building in the view is Alice’s chook house where her good little chooks lay the family’s eggs.
ChgJohn thinks that his little back door view is not as glam as some but we know for sure that it is just precious! That little open gate leading who knows where has such promise. I bet his roses are just around the corner. And he has captured a glimpse of that loveable rascal Max! John is a vital member of The Fellowship and a good friend. As soon as Daisy has dried up completely and is well I hope to be heading up to visit John, and a few of our other Chicago Blog friends. We need to go shopping before I go to Canada in July!
Soph ‘n Stuff has built some new planters for her garden.
Lisa in Port Hope has a view that would delight any child.
Not much more today my darlings. I think I am going to go and have a wee lie down.
Have a lovely day
your rather shocking friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Wild Storms, Electric Shocks and Back Doors”
Thanks for posting my back door pic Celi. It is a very favourite spot. That maple tree is such a pleasure no matter what the season.
Electric shocks are a burn to the body hence the flat feeling and tiredness. Arnica, arnica, arnica!!!!! It is for shock, trauma and bruising so should help on all levels after being zapped. I am sure there is a more precise homeopathic remedy for electric shocks but that is beyond my scant knowledge. Rescue remedy added in would not hurt either.
Oh my gosh C! I’m so glad that you are okay – from the storm and the shock. I had an electrical shock once too. Scared me to death. It is a very weird feeling. Good luck with the storm clean-up. It has been one weird spring.
A week or so ago I commented on your blog that your post made me want to live on a farm. Today’s does not. There is a funny ad on TV here at the moment with the tag line, anyone can be a farmer on a good day, but there aren’t many of those!! Sounds a bit like that for you at the moment. Hugs to you and would love to swap some rain for some dry desert air. X
Oh it was just a bad moment, the farm is still a glorious place to be! c
My goodness, Celi…….what a scary thing to happen……I’m so glad you are alright but rest some now to let the “heaviness” wear off…..and be careful, dearie and bless you!
Oh Celi, I’m so glad you’re ok!! Getting an electric shock from a generator during a wild storm is dangerous stuff! Take care, hope the tingling passes.. xx
Celi, no more self-treatments, yes?
Okey dokey!! c
Don’t know how many times I got out of bed last night to see whether you had posted. Our news was full of your weather and I now have the Illinois radar etc as a ‘favourite’ on my computer next to the Sydney Basin one! [Yucksville up your way!! And we are nearly flooded at the moment!]. I was stupid enough to keep talking on the phone during a thunderstorm when I lived in the tropics: got a hit thru’ the phone which broke into lots of pieces [!!!] – I was so in love with the guy on line, I somehow went to another extension and kept on talking until I got the shakes!! For God’s sakes Celi: this is no time for bravery and stiff-upper-lip, Kiwi or not!!!!!!!!
Supposedly electric shocks are good for you… I’ve been knocked across a room and got shocked on top of a very high ladder – luckily I hung on, rather than being knocked off. I can’t say I enjoy them, but they make you feel alive afterwards 😉
high ladders and shocks would be rather unfortunate.. lucky you were able to hang on! c
I once (accidentally!) plugged myself into the UK mains (240v, 13 amp) – I was travelling backwards at some speed when I hit the wall on the other side of the room. :-)) I second Mad Dog’s feeling; after treatment for minor burns and overcoming the ‘shock’ of the moment, I felt very alive for at least two years. I wouldn’t recommend doing it deliberately… and I and my heart were younger then!
Good evening Celi as when your power was out i was shocked you had not posted
( no pun intended ) glad to hear that you are OK. i have been tingled many times being an old Asplundh tree experts man. been tingled by 30,000 volts but just tingled . you should see a doctor if the tingling does not go away OK !your friends mike and missy have a good night 🙂
Tingling has gone, just an ache in the hand now.. so all good! love to missy… c
🙂
Wow, action packed day – whoosh; sure glad you weren’t hurt; that would have left a hole in my soul; yes, my mom got shock treatments in the 50s; who knows. Greta Erlich (sp) wrote a book about being hit by lightening. Hope stuff dries up soon.
I think we have reached saturation point, so the rain will stop soon.. I told it so! c
Appalled to think of the shock your system must have had… do you have any rescue remedy ( Bach Flowers), it is for shock, and you must have had several different kinds of shock when that happened…hope you can take it easy and coddle yourself…
That’s an alarming post: fierce storms and then an electric shock. I see that we Kiwis are sounding a chord here: homeopathic arnica and Rescue Remedy; to which I add REST. (Yes, I know it’s not in your list of 1000 favourite words, but . . . ) Do take care, and I hope some gentleness comes your way soon.
Good heavens, Celi! How very lucky you are! I hope you’re not feeling the after-effects today. Do try and take it easy today. (Yeah, right!)
You’ve collected such a nice collection of back views and were very kind in your description of mine. I’ve just posted a bit of an explanation of what’s going on in my yard. If I can hire someone, that “thing” will be gone in a couple days. I’m off to bed. Have a great morning, Celi.
I’m glad to see a couple of comment replies from you 🙂 Ah, a glimpse of Max… wonderful.
Oh dear, you really do have to go through some stressful times 😦 Hope things all return to an even keep soon. Loved todays photos – I feel like I do a little round the world trip every time I visit!