You’ve heard that today is Earth Hour. All across the world, from Antarctica to Egypt, cities and people committed to turning off their lights for one hour starting at 8:30PM their time. I watched on the Internet as Big Ben dimmed. But things are very different in the big city. All those people with flashlights and battery powered lanterns and candles actually light up a lot.

Here in Sonoma, out in the country, when you turn out the lights. Well, the lights go out. In a big way. Especially when the moon is just a sliver as it was tonight.

A glass of Scotch and a natural beeswax candle for light.

A glass of Scotch and a natural beeswax candle for light.

Andy and I were walking around with those miner’s head light things and lighting candles, but it was still pretty spooky with coyotes howling and all the tree frogs chirping. Not to mention the unidentified growls. Mountain Lions? Big Foot? Chupacabra?

Andy and Oscar are not looking happy about all the animal sounds closing in now that its pitch black.

Andy and Oscar are not looking happy about all the animal sounds closing in now that it's pitch black.

Now Andys checking his watch to see how much longer he has to put up with this.

Now Andy's checking his watch to see how much longer he has to put up with this.

Weve already got no TV, well water and no heat but a woodstove, so with the lights out, we were pretty far off the grid.

We've already got no TV, just well water and no heat but a woodstove, so with the lights out, we were pretty far off the grid.

 

It didn’t take long before Andy was lobbying for Earth Minute. Needless to say, we didn’t last the whole hour. But we’re pretty far off the grid here, so we figured that was acceptable.

Happy Earth Hour, everyone!