Wesley,

Household battening here is pretty much a way of normal life once true winter is on the doorstep. By the time a day like this comes along, we have most supplies well in hand. All we need to do for now is move the van to one end of the mouth of the driveway so a tractor can haul it through a road plow's leavings and onto the road if pastoral necessity requires, while we confidently await the bigger plow that clears us up anytime a snowfall bigger than Hardi's little Deere can keep up with-- so that the rest of the winter, the Deere can push additional snow far enough back to keep the turnaround circle nice and roomy. Sometimes it also requires Hardi to wax his cross-country skis and pack a bag to go stay in town a few days. (The skis make getting around Main Street, funeral home, church, and hospital do-able.)

In farm country, we all know which neighbors have generators; if it gets really dicey we'll take the new can of coffee, a couple of freezer items, and the crockpot full of good beans, and go visiting uproad. :~) Let's see-- if we go one way there will be a freezerfull of homegrown veggies, and if we go the other way it'll probably be venison in their freezer. :~) Or if we head another way there's a friend new to the area who might need a little more help, and we might head there. Or whatever.

Biz battening, though, includes packing up a few days worth of work-at-home projects, letting colleagues know how to be in touch if necessary, being sure printer ink is on hand, and so forth. For our work, phone calls to clarify which events are on and which are off, what to do in case of this or that usual emergency, etc.

Hanging loose and being available, and keep eyes and ears open, is what it boils down to. Letting neighbors know if you can help, or need help. Letting concerned cityfolk know we're set and that even if we might not be heard from for awhile, we're cozy, safe off the roads, and doin' mighty fine.

~Susan