S is for Solar Power

If you have been following my blog for awhile you know that we live off-grid and have for 20 years! You can read my previous post at Skinner's Fractured Off-Grid Tales. That will give you much more information than this post.

In the picture above you are looking at one of three pole mounted solar arrays plus our newest roof mount that was installed last summer by Hire Electric, Inc. 

They did such a great job and we are loving the extra power! 

After 20 years, hubby has our power system working just as good as those who are connected to the grid! With the new roof-mounted solar array we are even able to run our new Infrared Sauna...Sauna starts with S too!!!

Well, I am off for now! I need to decide what the letter T will represent!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom is our weekly host so be sure to hop on over to her blog to see what's up!

So let's get started!

As I look outside my window...

The clouds are rolling in:( It was bright and sunny this morning. Cold, but sunny! The temperature dipped to a low of 32 degrees (F) and doesn't look like it will get over 45 degrees today. I think the weather report is predicting rain for tomorrow.

Right now I am...

Cooking some lunch/dinner while writing this post. I just fed hubby and the electrician who is hooking up our new solar array so now it is time to think about something for me.

Thinking and pondering...

I have been trying to decide on a menu for Thanksgiving; thinking about the swap card I want to make six of; thinking about projects for my next Happy Stampers Club.

On my bedside table...

• Still reading How to be Organized in Spite of Yourself by Sunny Schlenger and Roberta Roesch.
• Starting Me and My Sisters by Sinead Moriarty (recommendation from DD)
• Read aloud: Ride the Dark Trail by Louis L'Amour (only one more book to go in the Sackett series after this one)

On my TV tonight...

Maybe a little of The Voice but not sure. 

Playing on the radio...Nothing!

On the menu for this week...

Monday -- Curried French Green Lentil Soup with Garbanzo Oat Burgers

Tuesday -- Leftover Curried French Green Lentil Soup (add some kale, extra carrots and potatoes) on Basmati rice

Wednesday --

Thursday --

Friday -- Potato Corn Chowder (didn't end up having last week)

Saturday -- Potluck at Church

Sunday -- Mizidra

On my to do list...

• Make swap cards
• Dishes--camping style!
• Laundry
• Clean kitchen
• My list of 20 (deep cleaning) things to do before Thanksgiving
• Finish organizing/cleaning my office

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating...

• Cards
• Crocheting the blocks together for my Granny Square Afghan

My simple pleasure...

Spending a couple of uninterrupted hours at my craft table:) Bliss!

Lesson learned the past week...

I had something and was going to write it down (and didn't) but then forgot what it was so I must not have learned it very well:(

Looking around the house...

• Kitchen is a disaster after cooking lunch/dinner! Kitchen sink still not draining so hubby will most likely have to cut out a section of pipe under the house and replace it (he is NOT looking forward to this job).
• Dogs enjoying the heat from the wood stove.
• Everything pretty tidy if you don't look at the kitchen.

From the camera...

Our new solar array that is being hooked up today. And yes, I do have a post planned:) The windows are part of the greenhouse. The greenhouse is covered with Lexan to allow light and heat in. Hubby has shade cloth to pull across the ceiling when it gets too hot.

On my prayer list...

• Friend who lost her husband in September
• Brother
• Sister in need of hip surgery
• Family needing a house; currently living in a motel

Bible verse/Devotional...

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."   James 1:5

Oh My Poor Tree

Awhile back I promised you the story of the tree. See this big, beautiful tree that provides a lot of shade in the summer? Well, in addition to shading the house--good; it was also shading the building on the right--not good. Hubby is planning to put solar on the building on the right--9 panels to be exact! And he didn't want the tree shading the solar panels! (The lower part of this roof is over the greenhouse) So, what did my hubby do???

Yes, this is the same tree! I nearly cried! Hubby assured me it would grow back and be as beautiful as ever, just shorter. Well, a week later there was no new growth. Two weeks later, no new growth. Hubby started to question--maybe it wouldn't grow back after all! Now, nearly a month later the tree is started to bud in places--whew! Looks like we're going to have a pretty tree again after all! 

When we get the solar up on the roof I will show you pictures! Actually, I think we are going to have a Solar Raising Party in July! For more information about our whole off-grid system, read Skinner's Fractured Off-Grid Tales!

I hope you have a great day!

Kat