a load off my mind...

Hmmm....food wise - in 9 months I have created 4 bags of trash and 16 bags of recyclables....that almost sounds sustainable.  Felt good to unload.  Made the usual rounds in Alpine and stocked up on essentials. 

In part of my cleaning frenzy yesterday, I discovered bugs in lots of food stuff in the cabinets under my kitchen counter.  Until I find some deals on bug proof jars - Ziploc bags outta keep them out.  86,101,63,0,B

Mr. Flanders

Attached two 4' splices and welded the 32' beam into place on the east side this morning.  Started thinking about what has to happen next and decided I need more room to work.  Began the task of moving stuff out of the way and managed to bag up long overdue trash and mostly recyclables...20 bags.  Heading to Alpine in the morning to unload thanks to Hal Flanders.  http://www.alpinerecycles.org/hal_flanders.pdf  84,98,65,0,B

east side welding prep...

80,99,54,0,B

personal day...

85,94,49,0,B

cow bonding...

Benita and family came in this morning with a new cow and calf in tow...threw off my whole day.  No construction - just tried to bond with the new two day old.  Not sure what sex it is till I see it pee but it's name is Valentine regardless.  Nice big heart shaped marking on the forehead.  Mom has quite an impressive rack.

So the day wasn't a total loss of production, I ordered a huge fresnel lens for further experiments.
http://greenpowerscience.com/FRESNELSHOP/49INCHSPOT.html

Cooked my first whole chicken (a healthy free range chicken from Blue Water Natural Foods in Alpine) in the solar oven today.  81,93,56,0,B

some labor day...

Picked a 3 hour chore for the holiday - hoisted a 4x4 beam up the east side today to begin the task of closing off that end.  Rather awkward  safely solo lifting a 24' long piece of steel that weighs 152lbs. 
A cold front moved in last night.  79,89,65,0,B

report from the field...

Tffnguy, Ring, and Robert swung by early this morning for a quick tour.  They were on their way south for breakfast at the Motor Inn.  They invited me to come along but I declined.  Five minutes after they left - the thought of a real restaurant breakfast overwhelmed me so I shot off after them.  Joined up with the crew just in time to get my order in.  After - we headed over to check out Frann's ( http://frannbro.blogspot.com/ )latest progress on her earthbag building.  I must say that I was quite impressed with what she has accomplished with the help of her friend and neighbor Denese (http://thepathtobliss.blogspot.com/ ). 

I really love this madmax structure that she built early on.  80,93,71,0,W 

And thanks to my IT guy in the UK for sending me this link months ago about a creative use of a fresnel lens.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/video-solar-powered-3-d-printer-turns-sand-into-glass-objects/7557