Here Comes the Sun!

Y'all!  We have finished the Biggest DIY project we've ever tackled... and I mean HUGE!

This winter past we (meaning mostly the farmer) put together our solar off-grid power system.

Amazing and Awesome in scope... We are running on the sun, powering up everything from the well pump to this very computer I am typing on.

It is like magic!

And, of course, there are pictures... you expected that, yes?!

So, in a somewhat orderly fashion, here is the step by step process we went through to power up the lake place... 

After much research and lots of mulling the options over, we decided to go with Iron Edison for our complete off-grid kit.  The batteries and solar panels were delivered by freight truck  and that's when our work began.

Each box contained the cells for our 48 volt battery bank, with each cell weighing close to 80lbs... these batteries are seriously heavy duty!

We set the battery bank up inside our shop container and then turned our attention to the meat of this project... the solar panel array...

First came the nuts and bolts, setting up the ground mount system for the panels, which meant bringing out the post hole digger... love that little Kubota tractor, it made quick work out of the digging... 

The bigger job was making sure we set the rack up facing true south, so that the solar panels will catch the most sun.  We wrangled with that compass more than was reasonable, that's for sure!

Pipe cutting and setting was the next step...

Finally... Finally!  

Time to set the solar panels...

The grid was complete with 18 panels, room on the top for another row if we decide to expand.

We might have given a whoop or two when that last panel was finally attached... Exhausted but so excited... couldn't wait to harness the power of that Texas sun!  And to be honest, just a little scared it wouldn't work and then what??? !!!  (Can't even go there...)

It took roughly a week of steady work to get from the freight truck delivery to this point.

But we were far from finished...

Next step was connecting the solar panel grid to the battery bank.

We chose to run the electric cables underground as much as possible...

Once the cable was run up to the container, we fed it through pvc pipe up to the battery bank and set up the rather complex inverter and solar charge controllers. The Farmer could give lectures on amps and charge and carrying loads...(this is where you tell your children that math and science are actually very important, so pay attention and do your homework!)

With fingers and toes crossed we flipped the switch and...

We Had Lights!!!

And Heat and Air-Condtioning!

As well as a myriad of assorted and sundry electric appliances!

And, maybe best of all, We had our first brewed cup of Coffee!!

All from the power of that gorgeous Texas sun...

It's like magic I tell you!!

Of course, this project had it's share of goofs and bloopers... nothing goes as smoothly as you imagine it!

One of the solar panels had a rough trip on the freight truck...

Ouch!  Not what we wanted to see...

Thankfully, Iron Edison quickly replaced it at no charge to us!

Another major snafu was a little bit bigger hiccup.

The first time we ran the A/C, the load drained the batteries down in just several hours,

to the point that it shut the whole system down!

We were like, Yikes!

It gets hot here in Texas...

A/C is not just a luxury,

it's a mandatory utility!

With hearts sinking, we feared that our 48 volt Battery Bank

was not going to be sufficient to power us thru the rising temps of summer,

let alone the brutal dog days of a Texas August!

A call to our favorite technician at Iron Edison, helped alleviate our concerns.

With the patience of a saint, Rhodes talked Leroy through troubleshooting the parameters on the system and found that it had been pre-set at the factory for wind-power rather than solar-power.

Obviously, that wasn't going to work!

Parameters were re-set and we were off and running!

From sunrise to sunset,

the sun brings renewed power and life to our little country homestead.

It is a simple joy and blessing indeed!

God is good,

and we are graced with His sunny smile today...

With bended knee and a happy heart,

thanksgiving pours,

My Love, Always,

                              Jane

We Have Water!

... and we have SNOW!

But, first the WATER!  Our well digging team has been hard at work these past few weeks...

 

 

And maybe, just maybe the water is kind of gray...What's up with that?!

Not to worry, all is well... just found out we were drilling through the shale layer... (thank goodness, was very nervous for a minute).  But our fabulous well team:

 

hit pay dirt... clean, cold water... this week past!

 

 

Our job now is to run the well 3-4 hours at a time over the next few days to clear the sediment that drilling stirred up.  Easy-Peasy!

Except for the snow... and ice... in Texas... in March!

 

 

 

 But we were able to sneak in a little painting on the one good day we've had! Which is really great because our fabulous well team covered the well head pump:

 

with this questionably beautiful, but fully functional metal cover:

 

 

 And ya'll I like Blue just fine... but Camo is so much better out here in the sticks!

 

Oh, and the well water holding tank?  We slide it into the Rail Container for safe keeping!  

 

When we get ready to run water lines to the house we're all set.  And one of these days there will be a house!  I might have mentioned before that time in the country moves SLOW...  But, oh, so worth the wait!

Next up, the septic system.  I'm sure everyone's as excited as we are!  Spring come soon and melt all this snow and ice... we're ready for some Blue Skies and Sunshine...

Bundling up in Grace,   Always,

                                             Jane

 

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Snow...

Nor Torn Rotator Cuffs...smile... The Hunt Continues...

Despite inclement weather and a gimpy husband, we have persevered in the journey!

This past month has taken us to backwoods peaceful and southern spectacular in the search for our next home place.  There is the tiniest thrill of anticipation as we wander the country roads and imagine ourselves settling down here or there.  And admittedly a tiny bead of anxiety as well, as we are still homeless, blessed by the sweet hospitality of my father and daughter, yet without even a blade of grass to call our own... at moments unsettling, but hope springing nonetheless  :-)

And so, here in no particular order are the highs and lows from this past month of dream-hunting...

Roger, the Realtor found a little cabin in the woods for us...near Lake Texoma on a few acres... Yes?

 

No...Not exactly the cabin we had pictured...

 

But what about this next one?

 

A Geodesic Dome overlooking the Lake... How cool is this?!

 

 

 

With amazing views!

 

 

 

...and a crumbling foundation perched on the edge of a ravine...

No.  Oh, so very cool, but No...

 

So on to a Gentleman's Hobby Farm that needs just a tad of elbow grease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, ok, maybe a lot of elbow grease...

Farmer Husband shakes head and raises gimpy arm...

this Southern Plantation will have to depend on some other hardy soul to make it shine.

 

Never fear, Roger, leads us on...

 

 

 

11 acres in the middle of no-where!  We're intrigued!

 

 

 

Oh, the trees, the peace...

We stood still and listened to the Bird's song high above us...

We grinned, feels like home!

 

 

 

A hidden pond nestled among the trees...and still half-full despite the drought

Sanctuary for the wildlife that rustled all around!

 

 

 

Bordered by Brushy Creek and the wind whispering thru tall Cedar...

oh the possibilities!

 

 

 

Ahhhh.... Bliss for these country-starved farmers!

We hiked for an hour, tracing boundaries and soaking up the freedom.

 

That very night, in the dark, on our borrowed bed,

we made plans and wondered and dared to dream.

 

But something almost too good to be true?

Roger researched and dug deep and found the hitch...

no electric to the property...

 

But, we said, this is not an insurmountable thing, is it?

 

Not insurmountable, no.  Not if we were independently wealthy

(which of course we are not... goat herders are happy, and healthy, but not generally wealthy!)

 

Running electricity from the nearest pole (nearly 1/2 mile away)

would cost upwards of $40,000

 

Seriously?!  Who knew?!  This little piece of heaven just flew out of reach!

 

And yet, we know our limits...

and we're determined to be true to our goals.

Becoming over-extended in the pursuit of the dream will be

a trainwreck for this journey.

 

Even in the knowing, Dreams are dashed for awhile.

The smile wavers just a bit...

 

Thankfully, God knows our hearts,

And just when discouragement threatened to derail the journey,

we came upon these beauties munching in a neighboring yard...

 

 

 

 

Sometimes when you least expect it,

Hope has a way of sneaking up on you!

 

Praying your weekend is filled with Glimpses of Hope,

wherever your dreams take you!

 

In Grace Waiting,

                         Jane