The eve of a new Year

The last day of 2013 is a good time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new one.  It does seem like the years keep moving along at a faster rate, or is that because we always seem to be in a hurry?  

Sunset over the snow dragon and farm fields.

This past year has seen a new wind turbine installed and running, 3x more solar collecting capabilities and so far, siding that hasn't come loose yet.  However, thinking back to last year at this time, I was dreaming of building a dock on the pond so that we wouldn't have to walk through mud to get to the water, landscaping and planning a patio area and finishing the landscaping on the west side of the house which is what one sees as they first drive in.  It's looking pretty plain yet.  None of those things were even begun.  I had expected to replace the storage batteries, but it looks like with the new solar panels, that can be put off awhile longer.  On sunny days, the batteries are getting fully charged which will help maintain them.  One thing that I'm not very good at is equalizing them often enough (very rarely, if that).  

Plans for 2014?  Air conditioning!!  With the increased solar capabilities, there should be enough power to run a small air conditioner on sunny days to at least eliminate the humidity inside.  The house is very energy efficient, with the inside temperature reaching 85 degrees on the third floor during the hottest days last summer.  This high temperature was usually after numerous days of high heat.  An air conditioning unit would make sleeping a bit more bearable.  Oh, the modern conveniences!!

I can still hope to get the patio worked out and maybe even a concrete driveway pad, and the dock.  But in my world, expect the unexpected.  Who knows what will come up.  I also need to work on another heating source.  There will be excess energy in the summer so setting up an electric water heater as a dump load could heat the domestic hot water.  But is there a way to set this up to also heat the floors?  Would an electric water heater be enough with the capacity of the floor tubing?  And the other question, since I don't need the heated floors in the summer, would there be too much heat energy for the limited hot water that I use in the summer?  Since there would be no temperature gauge on the water, instead the dump load device would turn it on and off.  Why are things always so complicated?

Sunrise on a new year!

Wishing you a great 2014.

Christmas 2013

The second annual snowshoe to Christmas dinner.  Does life get much better than that?  This year my 11 year old niece decided to join in on the fun.  It wasn't a sunny day, but the temperature was around 20 degrees with little wind.  It was a pleasant jaunt until the last mile through the open cornfields and it began to snow - really snow, blowing in our faces.  According to Google Earth, the trip was 2.83 miles one way.  Nothing like a little exercise before a big dinner!  

Luckily, we had a ride back.  The snow continued throughout the evening and put down another few inches with the wind blowing some small drifts.  The driveway was cleared yesterday and has proven passable to two wheel drive vehicles now.  How long will this last?

And my Christmas present?      A log splitter.  I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I've seen it demonstrated.  Nothing like manual labor to keep one's fingers and toes warm on a winter's day.

 

First day of winter 2013

The previously mentioned snow "storm" was overrated.  The first real storm of this winter began last night.  5+ inches of snow.  I did my morning routine of brushing off the solar panels.  I was hoping for a little sun today and it did finally show it's face this afternoon.  There were three solid days of thick cloud cover and no wind.  The batteries made it through the first day and night of clouds.  But by the evening of the second day I had to run the generator to charge them back up and again the following evening.

The driveway is filled with snow so my vehicles won't be leaving today.  The wind was supposed to pick up (more power) but it doesn't appear to have done so.  :(. Although, all of this snow and no wind would better my chances of getting the drive cleared and me free to go as I desire.  However, wind would supply me with more power...always the dilemma.  But, the temperature is supposed to drop and so the man with the blade and tractor is in no hurry to come out and play in the snow with its layer of ice underneath.  The bright side, and it is bright, the colder temperatures usually mean sun.  And there was sun.

More good news, the wood pile seems to be doing ok.  If I figure one row a month, there are two rows left which should be January and February.   Yes, I know there are a few more weeks in December, but there are still some logs yet to be cut and split that I didn't get to last year.