Welcome to Dana's blog!

Who needs a natural disaster

to loose an entire freezer full of meat, when your 11yo can simply just not shut the door tight.......... I got up and went to work out and that's usually when I plan supper (cuz I"m in the basement w/the meat!LOL). SInce Mat's youth is tonight, I thought that I"d have sloppy joes that I already have frozen in the frig freezer. But I opened one of our uprights anyway. The sight horrified me. Blood. Frozen blood. Appeared to be dripping. There was nothing on the floor. Then I saw the basket at the bottom w/popcicles slightly askew. The impact hit me hard--Mat didn't shut it tight when he got a popcicle on Saturday. Then the realization that this was the freezer w/a FULL hog and all the chickens (most being my sister's!) hit me HARD! I screamed for Mat and was nearly in tears by the time he got down there. The sausage is on the top shelf and quite a bit of it was thaw--cold, but thaw. That's what bled down the rest. The chickens were still frozen. I went ahead and worked out cuz I knew that I'd need the time to think and formulate. Most of the meat was still frozen or at least almost frozen. That was GOOD. The knowledge of what loomed ahead of me, made me tired to think about. But, it's 1:30 and I have done SEVEN loads (well the 7th (bloody towels from defrosting the freezer) are in the washer), 4 of which are dry and put way, worked out, defrosted a freezer, browned 21 lbs of sausage, a few pounds of bacon and some pork chops. I also nearly froze to death cleaning out the other freezer and prying the frozen meat from the bloody frost to put in the other freezer. I had to stop 3 times cuz my hands got so cold.

Mat was very upset that he'd done this. So his punishment is staying in his room all day--no pumpkin carving, etc. I think I"ll let him go to youth. I think we both need the break at this point.

While this was all very frustrating, I am very thankful for many things. We did not loose ANY meat (other than some nasty jowl bacon and neck bones nad such that we've been collecting from each hog!LOL), I had an extra freezer to put everything in so I wouldn't loose it. I now have 1 really clean freezer (and one that will probably need cleaned thanks to what bloody frost I could not get off w/o ripping the paper) and w/my fury, I opted to do the swim trunks and towels that I was going to put off until tomorrow. I also have six 2 lb browned sausages ready for either chili or sloppy joes, nine 1lb browned sausages and several things of precooked bacon and smoked chops that are 'heat and eat' ready.

OTOH, my back is killing me and my right thumb hurts (I'm sure it got too cold).  I'm ready for a nap.

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02:47, 2008-Oct-13 .. Posted by Isabella

DD did the same thing one winter. Our small chest freezer is in the utility room and she left the door wide open. Two days. The food was fine because of the cold weather and the freezer was okay. I am sure it added to the electricity bill. I am glad your "mess" is cleaned up. God Bless. I

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05:35, 2008-Oct-13 .. Posted by klynnharris

I am so glad you didn't lose anything! We lost a whole freezer a few years ago when no one checked it for a few days. It's sad to lose everything you have stocked up on.

I feel your pain...

07:38, 2008-Oct-13 .. Posted by CheleLew

Oh Dana, it's almost funny to me that you should post this today. There was this "smell" on our screened in porch that we thought was from the dog. Um, nope it was from the upright freezer, three quarters full of beef and some fruit/veggies. Hubby discovered the door was just a tad open. I've since concluded that it was me that caused this problem. I lost everything -- including the freezer. Let's just say that creatures that are attracted to opened raw meat were present. So not only have I lost well over $500 in beef, but now I need a new freezer. I still can't get the smell out of my nose. Um, maybe I should inhale some chocolate. LOL -- oh that's right, I've been eating it....

Glad you had better luck than I did. Did you know they make freezers now (at Lowe's I found them) that have a door ajar alarm and a high temp alarm? Of course these freezers start at about $500....

CheleLew @ homeschoolblogger.com/chelelew