If I walk around to the back of my house, there is a 600 gallon water tank with two downspouts from a rooftop deck draining into the covered and screened top. When I last checked, it was full to the brim. Water is drawn out of the bottom of the tank via a standard garden hose faucet.

When I lived in Iowa 42 years ago, I had the same arrangement on my farmhouse, except the tank was an underground cistern with a handpump on it.

hikermor...for 04 I used Phillips headed deck screws..I do in fact have a hand brace, but didn't think of it at the time..., don't think I've seen a Phillips bit for one though...since 04, I've changed my fasteners to #25 TorX deck screws and 18v Rigid portable drill...modified a bit holder to work in the Yankee Screwdriver

I actually have a Phillips bit made for a hand brace. 5t was given to me years ago, and I haven't seen one in stores recently. Unfortunately, it only fits large screws.

Here is a gizmo for your bit brace that will allow you to use any standard hex driver bit,

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/use...ger+Driver+Bits

Standard Disclaimer,

Second the out house/pit toilet/honey bucket idea. It's not like your going to hold it for three or more days if the water goes out.

I am not a fan of candles - a significant fire hazard, although that can be minimized by enclosing the flame in a good lantern. I am a fan of LEDs, recharged if necessary by solar systems.

In the old, old days folks just went to bed when the sun went down.

Official sunset time today was at 16:24. That is a bit too early for my bedtime!

OK, you can stay up until 5:04....

I think depression was fairly widespread during that time of year as well. Lights, and especially electric lighting, really changed our culture.

Old style and ornate glass kerosene lamps. They look great, somewhat Victorian, and give a surprising amount of light.

Wife hates the smell off lamp oil, anyone make any oil that doesn't smell?