Day 1

Meandered through the morning by taking in the views from the Field Lab. Had a long lunch with Chuck'n'Kathy at the Grub Shack - chatting with Betty and Whitebear. Got back to the ranch at 2PM and packed up my Christmas decorations and cleared some of the chaos that seems to continually encroach on my humble desert existence.

Took a drive out the furthest road due west of me to try and figure out a shortcut to the swimming hole. Planning on a dune buggy route to get me as close as possible. Will have to wind my way through virgin territory for almost a mile. My initial survey of the area holds promise.

So day one is over and I'm already feeling pressed for time as there is a lot on the schedule for 2009. Worked on my TO DO list for the year and planned a shopping run to Alpine tomorrow to get me underway for the new year. Here is the big picture for '09 - and the view of the Field Lab on January 1. Hopefully next years Jan 1 picture will reflect the following:

1. New solar hot water heater

2. Indoor plumbing for kitchen sink

3. Ranch Gates

4. Greenhouse

5. Guest house

6. Wind turbine to supplement batteries at the living quarters

7. 2nd dam for rainwater catchment

8. Observatory building for my telescope

9. Solar concentrator with my old 12' satellite dish

10. Larger fire pit

11. Remote controlled desert explorer robot

12. Short wave radio

and amost forgot....a chicken coop and chickens.......