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

More improvements  Rick, Greg, and I stayed 5 days, Mike came by 2 days.  We now have hot and cold running water - supplying a shower.  Took more time and money than we thought, but we have a bathroom underway.  .Rick will send some pictures.

Corner shower stall, RV toilet, and pedestal sink fit into the 44" x 60" cubby hole.
Shower.
Pedestal sink.

Used RV toilet like this

Great time with my sons.  Reminded me of when Dad took Stu, Keith, and I to the farm to play.  Dad defined play as work you don't have to do.  Play you have to do, though, can become work.

We played hard!

Greg and I plan to go up monthly to service the generator and mower and work off some item or another.  We have a couple leaks in the plumbing we can easily fix - my first time using crimped connections with PEX pipe. 

Next?  Probably the sink, then the commode, then the kitchen sink.  May have all working well in a few visits.

October 2010 Visit

Greg and I stayed at The Farm for almost a week. Beautiful mild weather. A few visitors - Ron Yoder and his son Tyler were hunting deer. Kevin Beachy also tried to find and murder Bambi. Kevin is about my age and grew up on an adjacent farm. Mike Morrison and his daughter Violet visited a while. You've all met Mike, I imagine..... ;-)

Well, I was there to think of my father and our times together. Greg was a great companion. We did some smaller projects - fixed the spring house door, some plumbing modification, glazed Greg's window and the attic windows, and patched the travel trailer (RV) roof.

We are planning a return while Rick is here - en-route to Hawaii. We will finish hanging sheetrock, frame the kitchen interior wall, and sheetrock it, set the kitchen cabinets. Perhaps we will cover exterior wall areas missing siding.

The Driveway!

Here's a slideshow for the driveway. You could ride a tricycle in now!!

June Farm Visit

Family,

I had a super time at The Farm! It was so great seeing most of my children, their spouses and children. These cousins really do get along, don't they?

I think we will abandon the plumbing in the RV - it has been a series of fixes and fixes of fixes. When we can, I want to finish the area at the end of the hall and put in a bath - toilet, sink, shower. Might use the tiny shower from the RV - or one like it. The space is only 45" wide by 60" long - and some of that 60" will be taken up by a wall and door. It would be nice if we could work a window in - for ventilation and the view.

A real work success, though, in finishing the water tank, pump, and drain system. We will keep a pump somewhere when we move the kitchen - could even be outside.

Again, it was wonderful spending time with you all. Nora and I have better offspring than we deserve. I am a blessed man.

Dan

Just thinkin' - June holiday

So, Laura and the gang are considering 2-3 nights. Frederick's school year ends 11 June - a Friday. Katie is the only one so affected. Perhaps we could have a Flag Day extended weekend - starting the evening of 11 June through to Tuesday morning, 15 June. Can't travel on Flag Day, you know, its sort of a rule I just made up. For those among us who are happily ignorant, Flag Day, 14 June, is Jim's birth anniversary, and since it is a Monday, the holiday is on the actual date this year.

Now, I am not proposing that Jim and Deann and Will and Jacob need to come to the farm to celebrate, though one could make a day trip or just a single overnight,

In early June, the nights will still be cool, and noxious insects in short supply.

Dan

June Trip to The Farm!

So, Ricky will be home on leave in June. I would love to set a date and have a family farm gathering during that time. I can make arrangements for someone to handle the heavy lifting - getting my father in and out of bed, cleaned, and so on so Greg and Mary and Andrew and I can go. I want to set a date early so those who actually work for a living can get vacation time.