Life Off the Grid 16 - June 29, 2012

June 29, 2012

 Panels on a temporary stand on the deck.

As Jeff said, "the cabin looks like the freakin' Starship Enterprise now".

 The panels do cut the view more than a little bit.

But it's not too bad.  Well worth the trade off.

 Gratuitous shot of the ladder to the loft. I believe I mentioned this ladder earlier a few times in earlier posts. This is the ladder one must get down if nature calls in the middle of the night...

 My incredibly handsome and dedicated guy wiring up the panels.

Light switches in the kitchen!!!! I would never have imagined I would see such a thing.

Power outlet in the dining room. That weird-looking thing in front is one of the many museum pieces that are still in service in out cabin. Do you know what that is? It is a fire extinguisher. You fill it with water. If there is a fire, you pump the handle on top and water is supposed to spray out the hose.  Hasn't been tried in awhile...

The inverter that helps to turn all that beautiful sunshine into useful electricity.
 

Roughed in wiring for sconces on the balcony/loft front overlooking the livingroom and dining room.

5:30 PM

WOO Fuckin' HOO! We have lights in the kitchen! The solar panels are up (temporarily on the deck) and we have lights AND a plug in!

E-lec-tricity! We have fuckin' E-lec-tricity! Clean energy from the sun!

This must be how people in the early 20^th Century felt when electricity forst came to their homes.

I can't begin to say how freakin' happy I am. The kitchen is dark.

 Press a switch. The kitchen is bright!

Glorious! Glorious!!!!!

8:45 PM

Went quadding. Amazing! 

 Fabulous wild paths!

Gorgeous lakes!

 Your humble hostess on this journey into the backwoods. I do not always look like an extra from the cantina scene in Star Wars.

 The beautiful machine...

The beautiful man beside the beautiful machine...

Ruts and wet bits. (sorry about the blur - travelling fairly quickly)

 

Then there is this “bridge” we encountered. 

Well. You just know all the best partying is going to be happening the other side of a bridge like this.

There were exciting moments on the quad ride. Being a pagan and born and raised in Canada, I am surprised by how theological my cussing is when scared, and also that it comes out with an Irish accent.

“Jaysus Murphy!”

“Christ on a crutch!”

“Jaysus, Mary and Joseph!”

“Fuckin' shepherd of Judea!”

et cetera.

As I mentioned, there were a few tense moments. Crossing the bridge, for instance...

Now we're back home. Jeff's got the stereo going. Plugged in. Not running on AA batteries. Got some curried lentils cooking. Fuck Yeah! Life is awesome!

Jeff just told me he pulled off another tick. So, ok, life would be more awesome without ticks. But still. Quad! Motor boat! Tunes! And light! Not a headlight. I can work in the kitchen without feeling like a miner going below. A real electric light.

I can plug in my computer. This is awesome. My phone is charging right now. And we may have found a spot on the lake where I can get text access. In Winnipeg I am going to try to get a lead on satellite internet. That is an amazing thought.

10:00 PM

We went for a boat ride after eating. Gorgeous sunset.

 Serious face

Goofy face

Moon on the water

Moon in the sky

Contemplative...

Heading home.

Then Jeff did the final hook-ups of the panels (they had to go live in the dark for some reason). No big battery acid explosions. All good so far. We're going to play cards by lamplight (electric light, doncha know?)