Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Life Is Good

This is just a little bit of an update. I know I hav'nt been on all that much, it's just because there has'nt really been a whole lot to report. However there are a few little additions.
I think Traction really likes the mansion. But then so do I. I hav'nt been overly busy working on the house lately. A little here and there, but it just seems there are a lot of other things that need doing too. There is the stock market(6.5 hours per day, plus the before market open and after market close preparations), so that is kinda like a 5 day per week job with weekends off  if I so choose . The pay is never gauranteed but it's been coming in a little bit at a time and getting better all the time with practice. The important thing is that I am enjoying myself doing it. Then there is also firewood making, all the usual chores, and then I threw in a new one that I did'nt even know was there, and it is called enjoying life. Seems now that I am in the house, I'm not really in a big panick to get everything done. I'm going to keep my eyes open for some good deals on cabinets, flooring, etc. I really don't mind living in an unfinished house, as that sorta gives me more of a real live cabiny feel to it. But I do plan to get things done gradually. I am just real happy to living in it. It's like a mansion to me.

I got a new washing machine. At first I was shopping around more for a cheaper top load type, but then I discovered that these front load machines are supposed to be alot more water and energy efficient. This particular one is one of the lowest rated kw/hr per year usage that I could find. Seems to work pretty good. I also have a dryer, and it uses zero fossil fuel energy.

And there she is. The dryer. Costed about $10.00. I was shopping around for a propane dryer, but I'm really in no hurry, if I ever do get one. Dryers use alot of energy just for convenience. So far this system has given me no problems.

So far all the main things in the house have been working out pretty darned good. Heating, water system, power. The power is good, but we have had alot of cloudy or snowy days, so the solar charging has'nt been performing real well. There is the odd sunny day in between 3 or 4 not so sunny days, but this is to be expected.  My larger battery bank allows me to go for 2 or 3 days of no sun charging, before I run the generator. I could go alot longer than that before my batteries would be in danger of low charge, it's just that my honda 2000 generator will have a hard time catching up. I like to recharge the batteries when the State of Charge drops down to about 90% area (that means that only 10% of the capacity has been used). And that is usually about 2 days of living, burning wood in the day and the furnace taking over later in the night. I recently went for about 3 days with little,  if any sunshine, as a test, without burning wood one of those days. When the furnace was doing all the work, and the outside temps were at around minus 20 celcius outside. I brought the battery bank down to about 82% SOC. The next day with the honda 2000 running, and the sun shining, I was fully charged. I don't think my panels would have done it by themselves in one day of sunshine this time of year from 82%. So that should just give some kind of an idea how things are working.

     One thing I've learned so far is that fire wood has a way of getting used up a little quicker than I thought it would. I have been burning it quite regularly. I hav'nt used much propane at all since I've moved into the house. I have been using some wood out of the wood shed, but I have mostly been bucking up my pile logs and using that as I go. It seems I can really notice my pile getting smaller all the time. lol.   Just today I move all the logs around with the backhoe to make it alot nice getting at my wood without all the snow, but I hav'nt taken any pictures. I really thought at first that  I had more than enough wood for this winter, but I don't think it is going to be. Live and learn I guess. Oh well, we'll figure something out.
Every once in a while, I go out buck some up and split it.
Then haul it to the house.




And put it under the steps. On this particular day when I did this, from start to finish was about 2 hours of work. I always like to put these kinds of tasks into an hourly perspective to compare with working in the real world for wages. One thing I do know, is that I could have put in one mediocre day at work at my previous job, and that would have more than paid for one months heating fuel. lol. But this is alot more fun, I guess. I can see that keeping myself in firewood is going to be one of my biggest chores in life. I think of it as a fitness plan. I'm not totally sure where I am going to get all my firewood in the future, but I do have plans of making it into some kind of a recreational event in the summer time.
    Oh, and another thing, I don't think I have ever mentioned the little bit of siding that is on the house. My friend Jo-Ann and I did this little bit quite some time ago as we were getting warmed up to put the solar panels on the roof. Just thought I should mention that. Hate to take all the credit for things I don't do myself. And on that note, she also helped me one day with the deck attached to the house. This deck is just a quick temporary one for the winter. In the summer time, this deck will be getting moved to the back door, and a new full width double decker will be going onto the front of the house.
I just learned a real neat trick for baking my potatoes inside the wood stove and it works like a charm.
I put them in there for awhile. Did'nt time them or anything, just once in awhile I gave them a turn and a little squeeze to see if there was any give. This worked pretty good for me. lol. The spuds were not real over sized, but I'm sure larger ones would have cooked just as well. Thanks Margy over at , http://powellriverbooks.blogspot.com/  
for this idea. Margy has baked breads and other things in her wood stove.


Disclaimer--IMPORTANT


This is a personal blog, mainly for my own use. I am building a house with my own two hands, but I am learning alot of things as I go. I do not claim to know what I am doing, or if anything I do is even close to being done correctly or safely. So please, if you are planning on using any of my ideas or methods for your own use, please get professional advice before actually following through with your actions. I will not be held responsible for any injuries or damages of any kind caused by information or comments from this blog.

19 comments:

  1. Hey, thanks for the comment and link back to my blog. I know how you feel about firewood. I feel like it is money in the bank. You can never have too much. When the pile gets low, I know we have to get more, or we can't stay in the cabin. Fortunately, we have lots of wood along the lake shore. But in the winter it is wet. We have to cut it soon enough to let it get dry enough to burn, usually about a month in the woodshed. So far, we've always made it through with a little bit to spare. - Margy

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    1. You're welcome Margy. Ya, I kinda like bucking and splitting the wood a little every once in awhile, it is kinda like putting money in the bank.

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  2. We've also discovered that our solar array is not sufficient for our needs - so will be looking to expand it by 50%. Also, RMan has invested in a 50Amp battery charger - that way whenever the generator is on so that I can do a couple of loads of washing, he will charge the batteries at the same time.

    Woodpiles are funny things - in summer they attract mice and snakes (here) but in winter they never seem to be big enough. Can you not use any dead trees round your area?

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    1. Hey Dani, my solar panels would be lots, if the sun ever decided to shine. It is not like this every year, but it sure seems like we're getting alot more snow and cloudy days this winter so far. I have always had it in my mind that there is usually about 3 months of generator use per year where I am. I do have some standing dead trees kicking around here, but I'm not real concerened about my wood stock. It's been pretty cold here lately so I've probably been using more wood than normal. If for some unknown reason that I do run out of wood,and can't find some more, I have lots of propane. lol.

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  3. Sounds like all is going well in the far north. When you put in that monster propane tank i realized that it really get's cold there and for a long time. It's almost 6:00pm here in So Calif and it's 59 degrees F my in-laws have a cabin in the local mountains at about 8000 ft elevation and we do enjoy spending time there in the winter with fireplace and wood stoves to play with, but then in 21/2 hours we are back home at sea level.

    How much of the stored wood under the patio will you use in a 5 day period. That diesel generator should provide all the power you need to charge your batteries or run the appliances, can you run an extension cord to the appliance itself and see if it will work.

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    1. Things ARE going good here Riverhauler. Lots of snow the last couple of days, but it's all good. I could have probably gotten away with a 500 gallon propane tank, but the 1000 will work better in the colder weather as it will be fuller. I fill the tank once per year (the plan anyway) and usually in July when, I think, propane is cheapest here. If the sun decides to shine here for a few consecutive days, and maybe the temps warm up a bit, I will use the furnace more and the wood less on the warmer winter days. I used up a little more than half of that pile of wood under the steps, and that would be six days use, I think. That cheap diesel generator, I did'nt even try to start that thing in this weather. lol. It had enough trouble starting in the warmer weather. I am in the process of rigging up some 4 wire 125/250 volt cable to run from that generator to the house just as an experiment when it warms up a bit. I tried that generator with my magnum inverter one day using 120 volt only and the inverter/charger would'nt seem to accept the generator power, but it will work with my honda. I'm hoping that when I plug 250 volts in, it will charge things. I'm really not all that fond of my cheap diesel generator. Sometimes being cheap is'nt always better.

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  4. Loved the dryer. All that build up with the new washer, expecting to see a matching dryer and SMACK.... had me laughing. Which is a good thing this early in the morning. :) Enjoy the warmth of the cabin. Sounds like you're on your way....

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    1. Hey Lynnanne, I love the dryer too. I really don't understand why I ever owned a dryer. They are handy and convenient I guess, but I don't think I need one really. It's just like my refridgeration. I can't understand why one would use energy to make your food cold when it's like 40 below freezing outside.. lol. I freeze 1 gallon jugs of water outside and put them in a cooler for my fridge, and anything that needs to be frozen, I just leave outside. lol. The cabin is cozy, I'm luvin it.

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    2. ha. the only time we've kept things outside when it's freezing out is when the electricity goes out and the inside of the freezer/fridge is warmer than the inside of the house! lol i'd love to get to a place where we don't have to depend on those obnoxious power lines.

      glad it's cozy and you're enjoying the fruits of your labor. :)

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  5. I have a front load washer and it is efficient but one word of caution. Leave the door cracked open after each use or they tend to build up mold and mildew..

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    1. Thanks for the advice Adrianna. So far the machine does seem to be pretty good energy and water wise. I'm glad I plopped a little extra money out for that kind of maching.

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  6. Mark all I can say is you've got it made. Looks great! :)

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    1. Thanks Jeanie. I think I'll have to agree, I got it made, I'm liking it alot so far.

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  7. Hi Lynnanne. I'm here in my cozy little mansion. Sorry for being so gosh darn quiet lately. lol. I hav'nt really done alot to the house since the last post, but I am now starting to get a little antsy. I think. I needed a break from all this building and stuff, that's all I've been doing for the last 3 or so years. But like I say, getting a little antsy. I was thinking about putting something up soon, just to let the world know I still live, just incase someone should be worried. I guess one could say I had me a "bbb". (a Building and Blogger Break). I feel so guilty when I don't post something for a long time, but I don't really have much to post unless I dig right into the personal life, and I'm not sure if anyone wants to hear all about that or not. lol. Thanks for your concern Lynnanne. I'll put somekind of an update on soon.

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    1. In addition to blogging about building, how about chitchat 'n about trucking? I understand, or from what I've seen in older posts, you're a trucker, right? I was, but t hung up the license and permits just before Christmas, '08. Thought you had gone through some trauma or something since you haven't posted in six months or so. Glad to 'see' you in the comments section and you're alright.

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    2. Hey Randall, ya I used to drive trucks. I quit my job as of July , 31 2012. I did since then go to work for him one day to help them get some hay hauled in. I needed a well deserved break from that rat race since that's about all I've done for the last 25-30 years. I lost track. I don't really miss it all that much yet. Someday I just might take on some other form of trucking just for something to do, but I'm really not sure at this time. Every thing is fine on my end, just pretty busy with getting transistioned into a new career. Getting my education. lol.

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  8. I just returned from Ontario. First time into Canada. Crossed over at 1,000 Islands area. That was gorgeous! Went out birdwatching... went to that famous ice skating canal in Ottawa, and to the parliament buildings... stayed in Perth. Pretty cool place, that Canada. :) Oh... and good to know you're still breathing. :)

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    1. Hey Lynnanne, thought I replied to this one a long time ago, guess not. Sounds like you had a nice trip. I don't know if that part of Canada is anything like this part or not, but someday I hope to find out. The furthest east for me has been Manitoba, but I would love to visit Ontario and maybe some other provinces sometime.

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