JWilsonphoto wrote:
Thanks for the info Ken. The Generac unit I will be installing is about 8' x 4' and will power our whole house as if things were normal, 24,000 watts. (deleted)
What has been happening to you guys in Texas makes me ashamed of whining about having to wait a week to get the furnace fixed in above freezing weather.
When they started cutting the power in "wind events" to lessen/eliminate the possibility of utility caused wildfires, we bought a generator. We cook and heat with gas, the Pacific Ocean is our air conditioner, you can't get TV here without cable (or satellite which we don't have), and we have oil lamps (and storm candles) for emergency lighting.
Since our "needs" are simple, we just bought a "portable" 3500 watt generator from Harbor Freight. It's powerful enought to run the refrigerator & freezer (at the same time), and that's all we really need. Just have to make sure to keep a couple gallons of gas available. Not worried about long term power shutoffs, because even if we are without power for a week, they won't keep the cities on the other side of the hill in the dark for very long. So it's not that far of a drive to get more gas for the generator if the local power is out.
Didn't like losing the fridge and freezer a couple days after making a Costco run last year. Don't intend to throw out another trash can full of perishibles, once was enough.
Danpbphoto wrote:
I may have missed your "update" on health "JA"...You doin' ok now??
Maryland is the epitome of a"charlie-foxtrot" concerning this whole virus situation and anything associated with it!
Dan
Hi Dan it's going slowly the right way I'm working about three days a week for about 5/6 hours depending my stamina.
Tried to clean the house this weekend, but I have to divide it into three days because I get so tired.
And the weather is strange, we went from -12 C to + 17 today in just one week that is a bit much for me, last week I was standing on the Ice watching the skating and now I can go outside in a T shirt how weird is that.
But he, it is what it is.
Hope you all are doing fine, Ill try to remember to post about my progress but thanks for asking...
Jan-Arie wrote:
Hi Dan it's going slowly the right way I'm working about three days a week for about 5/6 hours depending my stamina.
Tried to clean the house this weekend, but I have to divide it into three days because I get so tired.
And the weather is strange, we went from -12 C to + 17 today in just one week that is a bit much for me, last week I was standing on the Ice watching the skating and now I can go outside in a T shirt how weird is that.
But he, it is what it is.
Hope you all are doing fine, Ill try to remember to post about my progress but thanks for asking...
I just finished shovelling the 30+meters of driveway that I waited for 3 days to do. Snow, ice, rain, ice, snow......
I won't get into a discussion on anything else..too frustrating!
I had not seen posts or heard from you on MA2A, not that you were not, I was concerned and don't know anyone who has had CV19 and is recuperating. I like 1st hand info so speculation is not a debate.
I have the US State of Missouri attitude- "Show Me".
Stay well Jan-Arie!
Dan
We have a mini goldendoodle pup as well, about five months old: Beethoven Manuel Paiz Cardona... aka "Beto". Daniela says you can't properly chew out a kid without using both of their given names, so there you go.
Quick thought for the brain trust... what's the most portable camera you can recommend that still has very good image quality and pretty good high-ISO performance?
I'm thinking that a very nice P&S/integrated camera might do the job, or a very small Micro Four-Thirds or mirrorless setup. Not likely to find an APS-C/DX sensor in something that small, or am I? Any ideas, opinions? Maybe a single solution won't work, and I need to get a P&S to use instead of the phone, and something m4/3 or mirrorless for "everyday carry"?
Right now my only choices are either the D850 and pro stuff, or my phone. I'm hoping to find something I can take everywhere, so then hopefully I'll at least end up taking it somewhere.
That is “Honey” Dan, she’s a character. There’s Raider, Texas Tech derived, Honey, Belle, Delila, Blue, and one whose name escapes me at the moment. This was the first time they really got to play outside and it was hilarious.
She's a sweetie!!!! Yeah all my pups loved their 1st snow!! Leaping and jumping to catch snowflakes in their mouths!!
It is great fun to watch them see something for the 1st time! I wish I could read their minds!!
Thanks for the enjoyment Jim!!
RD
Thanks "XH"!!!! They are around here all the time enroute to the Naval Academy ceremonies but at such speeds by the time I hear them coming into the flight pattern SE, they are spots in the sky!!
Dan
Greetings all; reporting in from Buda TX. We have fared better than many but still had our share of issues. Had power about 50% of the time in random intervals for four days or so. We were using a wood-fire camp stove for hot water and soup, and got through all of our firewood in the fireplace in our living room. Lost water for 12 hours while our neighborhood water pumps failed. The fixes for those were simple at least, but then we lost power again so they couldn't fill the header tanks again for a while. That was overnight so wasn't hugely onerous, although we're now on a boil water notice as a result. It got down to 40s in the house and 32 in our bedroom on the coldest days. No burst pipes but a suspected small roof leak. Several tree limbs down with the weight of ice.
So we're OK; thankful to be out the other side.
Now that we have plenty of toilet paper...we don't have water for the toilet!
7 Days without water and we continue to survive in better fashion than 'Little House on the Prairie'. I shaved yesterday and it felt good; funny how we can appreciate the little things in life when faced with change (is there a pun in that statement..."shaved"..."faced with change"). I am wondering if I can heat up the spa for a warm rinse for the wife and I, or will I just flood the backyard? 66 degrees F and things are trying to dry up.
The big box stores with plumbing supplies are limiting customers in the plumbing isle and the photo I saw had a long line waiting for access. I don't like lines with the COVID thingy, so I rang up my favorite plumber and got on the list. I am hoping I may see him around Tuesday. We can handle another week at least. I cut the 3 pan Boy Scout washing process to two. Saving more water. If the pool goes dry we have the creek with about 3' (one meter) of water flowing. Think I will boil that water a little longer with the farm and ranch lands draining into it. You know, fertilizer/herbicide residuals and livestock dung. But the water is clear, I can count the rocks in the bottom.
Here on the farm we are not hangin', we are swinging! The exciting thing is the editor called with assignments Saturday which will be a fun distraction from the empty store shelves. Today should be the perigee for the empty store shelves as the 18 wheelers are on the road again. Tuesday should be more normal. We native Texans don't complain, we know things are going to change, just like our weather. We go with the flow and take advantage of God's Blessings with what he has provided.
Life is good!
Ahh! Those 100 degree corn harvest days in August sound so good now! Who's your wingman?
Right you are Ray! yesterday I was able to break up the ice in the pool a little and get the top half of my DE filter popped off so that Popsicle could thaw. Today I could get deep enough into the system to see that my Hayward multifunction valve was toast so off to Lowe's I went. Fortunately I snagged the last four fittings needed to rebuild the PVC piping leading to the valve. Leslie's has a valve but seeing as how I promised myself that I would never spend a dime at Leslie's again, I ordered it from Bezos (actually a toss up who I like less), saved 90 bucks and it will be here in a few days. I think that may be the only thing that busted.
We (at least the Red portion of us) are self sufficient, non-whiney folks here in The Lone Star. We fix our stuff and go on down the road.
I will be working mine tomorrow, today is a day of rest and decompressing from the busy week. My leaf cover has been seriously stressed. It is sagging into the pool. I tried to take it off Monday but the holes for the attach pins were already frozen plus there was an inch or more of ice sealing it to the deck. I will roll it up and let it decompress, hopefully it will go back to normal.
Have been watching from afar these past few months. As others have said, our 3rd lock-down pretty much rules out any social activity, and working in the health sector (+ Brexit shipping challenges) means work has been relentless.
With flight training on hold due to the pandemic, I can't even sit my final 3 theory exams, I finally re-booted the digital darkroom this afternoon. Maybe my enthusiasm for photography is returning, I certainly fell out of lust for it these past 18 months (I think it might still be a long term love affair)
). I am wondering if I can heat up the spa for a warm rinse for the wife and I, or will I just flood the backyard? 66 degrees F and things are trying to dry up.
