Nice farm trip.  Greg did not make it - sick.  Rick and Jasper and I went up to work.  Jennifer and Sophia and Emma, and Mary and Hunter came by for a few days.

Rick and Jennifer bought a nice RV - and the girls spent the nights in the RV.

I had a great time.  It was really sweet around the fire ring.  It is interesting to observe these grand-kids interact with each other and with adults.

Nora is feeling and functioning so much better - I may be able to go up much more often and work.

Rick and I spent several days trying to do more than we were able.  Here is an extract from our farm work journal:

Interesting week at The Farm.  Rick and I tried to limit the scope to projects we could complete while there – but left a few things un-done.  We had the typical off-road problems, each of us broke equipment we were working on. 

Still, using the ATV and the Swisher® 44 in. 12.5 HP Rough Cut Trailcutter®, Rick mowed a path up the mountain along the old lane, and the driveway, and paths to the creek.  He mowed and weed-wacked a fire area – and built a stone circle.  We enjoyed the new location.

We bought a Swisher weed cutter half price ($150) at Tractor Supply Center.  Neat tool. Like the DR Mower on TV ads.

We have the bathroom sink and toilet installed and hooked up.  (Shower has been there a few months.) The kitchen sink is in its cutout in the kitchen cabinet.  Have a few leaks, and bought the materials to fix them.

The Envirolet® Composting Toilet System is in the cellar and is not vented outside yet.  That may be the first thing to finish so the house does not get stinky…..

We ran a lot from the 3700W inverter powered from the Explorer.  We moved the inverter and the two 200Ah batteries into the basement and need to hook them to the solar trickle charger.  We ran the pump – but need to wire it better – with a switch in the bathroom and in the basement.

We shall also wire a master disconnect switch on the first floor.

Lights in the new kitchen/dining/family room are great – far better than a couple gas lanterns.  Even though we have a lot of 12v compact florescent lights, I am thinking of wiring for AC using the inverter.  Less power loss to wire length with AC vs. DC.

Nora will be away for a while starting Tuesday morning.  Greg and I will go back up to accomplish the following:

1. Finish plumbing

a. Vent stack

b. Supplies on bathroom sink

c. Supply for toilet

d. Install water heater

2. Electrical work

a. Wire solar trickle charger to battery bank

b. Wire 120Vac cable from battery pack to front and/or back door to charge from a generator or an inverter.

c. Create battery current kill switch @ 1^st floor

d. Install AC OCPD box at battery with 2 30A breakers.

e. Battery voltage monitor at 1^st floor

f. 40A+ cable to charge from outside back and/or front driveway

g. Use ground bus bars to make temporary 12Vdc distribution from (or bring fuse panel from radio station)

3. Horticulture

a. Spray with woody and leafy herbicide – let the grass grow.

(1) Meadow,

(2) Spot spray Multiflora  Rose

b. Spray with leafy and roundup spray – kills everything

(1) Driveways, trails, areas already mown to be left bare