Originally Posted by ssullivan

Yep. I was at my parents' house, Dad was out of town, and Mom and I had to do with no power for a few days and use the fireplace for heat and to cook.

Another period of colder than normal winters happened around 1982-1984. One of those winters it was cold enough around Christmas that the lake in our neighborhood in the area northeast of Houston froze completely over. That's the only time in my life that has happened.