One, two, punch! It was supposed to be a couple of storms, topped by a third that boasted the strongest winds in 50 years. And they were headed our way.

It’s hard not to be a little apprehensive when you live in an area frequented by power outages. The possibility of “pioneering it” spurs survival activity — gathering batteries, candles, extra kindling, matches, and food that doesn’t need cooking. The impending punch was an impetus to clear the garden and porches of anything that could become a projectile in strong gusts.

And so, on the weekend of Oct. 14, thoughts of water, heat and food circled in my head. Without power, the heat goes off, lights fail, cooking is problematic, refrigeration ends and the well doesn’t pump.

I filled jugs, pans and pitchers; left the tub full in case I needed water to flush the toilet. I packed the freezer full to make the cold last longer and made extra ice for the cooler.

While I still had the luxury of electricity to power my world, I ran the dishwasher, did laundry and baked high-protein muffin bread. My most powerful ally in an outage would be the woodstove, its fire being a primal utility.

I had just gotten a cord of wood the day before the trio of storms were to hit, but hadn’t laid a stove fire in 34 years. The secret I remembered was to get a hot fire going by crisscrossing kindling and small pieces of wood before adding the larger chunks. There were the airflow adjustments to make, the frequent checking, poking and re-arrangement of embers to do.

These fire-tending activities were almost hypnotic. Working to keep the flames burning just so required vigilance, patience and finesse in an elemental dance with fire.

At my old farmhouse in the late 1970s, friends were over for a party when the lights went out. Without pause, I lit the oil lamp; the woodstove was already going strong. The conversation never broke. When my guests left, I put on a big pot of water to boil and threw in a package of chicken legs I had in the refrigerator. A delicious chicken stew simmered for a couple of days, providing easy eating.

Presently, my two near neighbors have generators that provide an ongoing source of power for their electrical conveniences. One offered me use of her refrigerator to save food, and another, the use of his outdoor water spigot. I believe the thought of carrying buckets of water across the lawns in the rain inspired me to save the bath water to keep at hand.

In the end, one prepares as best you can, then surrenders to the fates, which this time around were in a kindly mood toward us Kingstonites.

Kingston Citizens Advisory Council Open House: Kingston and surrounding burgs in North Kitsap County were treated Sept. 29 to a delicious assortment of more than 40 informational displays assembled for their benefit. Services ranged from Paws to the Sheriff’s Office, Kingston Garden Club, Kingston Community Solar, Stillwaters Environmental Center and more.

Early bells: Do I hear sounds of Christmas? Yes, they are coming from workers readying holiday bazaars. Two I know of first hand, because I’ll be a participant in them with my photos and books.

Redeemer United Methodist Church’s Holiday Bazaar is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 18 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at 9900 NE Shorty Campbell Road.

Village Green Community Center’s first Holiday Gift Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3, at 26159 Dulay Road NE.

— Judith Ryan is a writer and photographer. Contact her through her blog at www.kingston.life or e-mail her at judith@king ston.life.