Missed Skeet Farm

It is raining and blowing a gale today so we worked on the Solar system design. This consists largely of trying to make all of the manuals sent with each component we purchased agree with the other manuals on how to set this thing up. We bought a very modest system but the parts are from different companies and trying to understand what each instruction booklet is trying to tell you and making sure it fits with what the others are trying to tell you is interesting. I am beginning to think I get it. This is worrisome since there are huge areas that I have to ignore to reach this conclusion. Still, I think we will either have solar power or a large meltdown of parts in a week or two when the rest of the parts arrive.

A couple of weeks ago we purchased a set of solar garden lights that run on 3 AAA batteries and hooked it up inside. It gives dim ambient light, but fair light over the stove, sink and table. It required no knowledge of amps, watts, volts, wire size, what a shunt is and why you should have one, polarity, Gfp, Awg, and dozens of other abreviations that mean nothing unless you are an electrical engineer. This one could be that simple but they really don't want "do it yourselfers" putting these together. That makes it all the more attractive to do it yourself.

Our water system is the antithesis of the our Photovoltaic experiment. It is very low tech, perhaps no tech which is the other end of the spectrum and appeals to me greatly. It consists of 4 formerly toxic waste barrels that we got for free (this also appeals to me greatly) and some black well pipe and sundry fittings that will provide us with running water to the sink, hot water tank on the back of the wood stove, and water buckets in the horse stalls. Chores are going to be easier and less time consuming which will give me more time to work on the photovoltaic solar electric extravaganza. If it is still raining tomorrow I shall start to put the water system together. It will need it's own insulated room in the barn loft and that will take more time than putting the pipe together.

We have been riding since the weather is better than you could possibly hope for this early and the horses are getting better with each ride. We keep training new things and trying to expand their repertoire of skills and things we can do with them. Just sitting with them while they stand around or lay down and sleep is fun. Riding is a bonus.