Surviving the Frozen Island
Greetings from Matagorda Peninsula Island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well and thawed out from our unprecedented freezing spell.
To say that it was DANG COLD out on the island during those three worst days and nights, would be a grossly unjust understatement! That early Tuesday morning, Feb 16, saw the wind chill temperature at 1 degree. . . that’s right, ONE!! The actual temp was 19 degrees, coupled with a 25-30 mph sleet induced, bone cracking north wind howling across wide open Matagorda Bay, with the island being the only land mass in its way, making it feel like 1 degree! Seriously folks, it was cold.
After forcing open my upstairs north facing door that morning, held solidly in place at the bottom from the blowing sleet and ice accumulation, Corky ran outside on the deck and began doing the “Boxer Waltz”, slipping and sliding everywhere on the ice covered surface. Thank goodness for full length vertical railing on the upstairs deck. After seeing that, I inched my way downstairs very slowly and found everything covered in white sleet.
After checking on my chickens, ducks and guineas, and finding every single one of them to be just fine, (Yay!), of course their water containers were frozen solid, I went out onto my dock and saw the truest sign that it was the coldest out here I had seen in my 21+ years. . . the lagoon was iced over! Are you kidding me?? Even with the wind creating ripples on the protected lagoon water, it still iced over. I could actually see dead frozen baitfish floating under the ice.
I had to very carefully walk up the iced 4 1/2’ tall inclined ramp that leads into the storage building and start the generator for a hot cup of coffee. And there was no way I could safely walk back down the ramp, so I honestly got on my big butt and slowly slid all the way down to the bottom. I think Corky was laughing at me! As far as freeze related damage, I was thankfully spared. I had disconnected my pumps and drained all the lines, and wrapped old blankets and chair cushions around any outside low-lying pipes, so I was ok. I left two burners barely going on the downstairs kitchen propane stove, to keep my inside kitchen cabinet pipes and my on-demand water heater from freezing and breaking.
I want to say Thank You to fellow islanders Tim, Chuck and Ronnie H. for letting me borrow propane and gasoline during these coldest days and nights. You were not on the island, but your help was certainly appreciated.
Well that’s it from the island for now. The tomato seedlings started from seed have just sprouted, and I’m so glad that I waited an extra two weeks this year to get them going, otherwise the freeze would have gotten them. Everyone take care and have a wonderful day.
