Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Terri O]

Good morning everyone...just a quick note cause I gotta cook today...my car was grumbly starting yesterday...wonder what she will say today? I did not have to see my noon client yesterday...but not because of the car. His son called and told me that the man had fallen trying to get out of bed! I guess he scraped up his arm pretty well so they were taking him to the doc. Poor guy! He is retired military too and traveled around the world with 7 kids and a wife in tow! He just turned 92 and is a great guy to talk to! I havent heard an update yet---praying that he just wounded his pride!

I have a 15' flat ended "Scanoe" that I rigged with a a 80W panel, hooked to a battery that runs my 60lb thrust trolling motor ALL day long (on a sunny day) It's a blast cruising/trolling around the river in complete silence...LOL I get some pretty weird looks too. The Panel is raised up on aluminum angle stock and also acts as a shade to keep me out of the sun. Takes me about 5 min to set everything up once I get the canoe off the truck...

I love goofing around with solar... Be nice when the Panels drop a little more in pricing.

You DO need a regulator between the panel and battery though.... I learned the hard way! LOL

Tomski--this gave me a chuckle this morning...I can picture you in a canoe under a huge panel with your feet propped up, drink in hand (for this pic it is something with an umbrella) just cruising along........probably could sneak up on stuff too hey?
So I hope everyone's stuff made it through the night OK. I have a half cup of coffee yet to drink and then the coveralls go on...I may just wear them right to work too--I have done it before! I am hoping that we dont get too much residual snow from the storms that seem to be all around. N IL has a warning starting at 9 and we only have a watch here...but if the wind IS coming from the South as DrH (resident weatherman) says we might get some. Is it true that Western WI might have 10" by tonight? Whoever said we need the January thaw...I agree! Only problem I see is that it was so nice for such a long while that thaw will prolly come in March and we will have more snow until June!

Coffee is down to the point of adding my DE for the day...my favorite time!

I am going to do a bit more research though...I have had surprisingly more energy lately!
Have a fantastic day....stay warm! Terri O

 

[Celtic Chick]

I heard little PEEPING sounds this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dr HaHa]

CC!!!!!! Pics soon I hope! TO begining to think the runt in the brooder might be a bantam. The others are out growing it leaps and bounds. Hope your client is OK!

Tomskl lectricity is probably my weakest point other than hatching.

Otherwise this house would already be rewired. Seems I read that you lose around 25% with an inverter. Wished I lived a lot closer so I could hound you with dumb questions. Frying up a couple of pounds of the new bacon, smells delish! Going to mix some oats in the grease and give it to the kids a little later. They sure gobble up the lard mix.

 

[raimnel]

YAY! CC! what kinds are you expecting?

HURRY up spring! lol

 

[MustLoveHens]

Morning All!

Everyone made it through the night but the power did go out. I thought I dreamed about upset chicks! The waterer on the porch froze but the chicks there all seemed fine. No losses there!
Buzzy is a little happier with her lamp but I think I'll swap out the bulb to a 100w. The Girls are not really very happy with this cold but the bunnies are loving it. I think I'll cook up some oat meal and scrambled eggs for the Girls, Buzzy and the babies. That will be a nice treat for them today. Break up the monotany (sp) a little for them.
I should fill the bird feeder too but I get those stupid crackle/cow birds and poof! all me seed in gone in like 5 minutes. Geesh I thought those things flew south for the winter. My poor little nut hatches don't get anything and the Cardinals and Jays just fly by....Stupid cow birds...
At least mt squirrels will be happy. I have a whole dray of them! (Bet you guys did not know a group of squirrels is called a dray...ok...neither did I! Had to look that one up! LOL!)

CC-Whoooo Hoooo!! That is exciting news! Can't wait for updates!

GR65-look into a product called a Sweeter Heater. I have been having my eye on them for some time. They are supposed to be very safe and either can hang or be wall mounted. Great for brooding, welp boxes, and chicken coops. They come in different sizes to meet what ever application you want to do.

Well, I best go do something productive like finish off my coffee and toaster strudel before the Chia-Pit decidsd to take matters into her own paws...
Laters

 

[Celtic Chick]

Whoever said we need the January thaw...I agree! Only problem I see is that it was so nice for such a long while that thaw will prolly come in March and we will have more snow until June!

Exactly! And you all want the chicken bash in May. I'm gonna look like Deb buried under blankets huddled by the fire, I just know it.....

 

[Celtic Chick]

Thanks everyone! I was so excited after hearing that, I almost teared up. I said almost, boys. Oh, that's right. Jim isn't back just yet.

I'm just giddy. I completely understand your excitement over your hatch, DrH. I just hope everything turns out ok.
Raim, these are just going to be mutts. A dom roo to buff orps & black aussies. But they're my first hatch, so they'll be beautiful regardless.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Oh! And I have my camera in my bathroom

, all charged up with new batteries and ready to go.

 

[Tomski]

..Tomskl lectricity is probably my weakest point other than hatching.

Otherwise this house would already be rewired. Seems I read that you lose around 25% with an inverter. Wished I lived a lot closer so I could hound you with dumb questions...

I didn't know squat about electricity until I bought this house. I've rewired the whole thing... Even upgraded from 60amp to 200amp. Hardest part was pulling the old wires and running new ones. LOTS of reading on the internet...LOL However, if you do have any questions, just ask.

My next Solar project is to convert my Pop-up into Solar - It's already wired for 110v and 12v but there is no charging system for the battery when I'm running 12v. I want to add another battery and make some kind of plug-in mount for a 68w panel I have laying around. Goal is to have it done before the bash.

BTW - Still working on the Pop-door issue.. LOL

 

[Dr HaHa]

CC can't wait to hear more news ya gotta get a pic of a chick peeking out from under mama! I wanna see! Tomski I guess the easiest thing [for you] to ask is what would be the the best book for an idiot to buy to get the basic knowledge needed? There are so many out there. I've done some reading on line but..... Have 110 house wiring pretty well down not much to it really. Have a lot of remodeling to do on that. About a month or ago or so found that there is an extension cord wire powering the bathroom. Doesn't come into the 100amp box need to pull some light fixtures to see where it's tied into. If you move the outlet that I found it in the power goes out in the bathroom cut it back for a broken wire and it's the same thing. Scary stuff! Snowing here supposed to get 1-2". I have the original Bit*h and her daughter Btwo that banty is now Lil "B". She just won't shut the H up!