I have hand embroidery ready to do when daytime power is lost. For night, it doesn't work for me because of the lack of adequate light. It makes for good family time with board games. I do have a treadle machine and love to get it out and sew when the daytime power is down. It is hard to plan for best use of quilting progress without power so it is a good time to catch up on keeping things in order or returning them to their proper places. It is an opportunity to catch up on things. We have alternative heating sources because the furnace needs electricity. And, we have alternative cooking sources also. During the winter I am careful to not run out of basic food items so we are 'snug as bugs in a rug'.