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Happy Birthday, Sis

This last Weekend, Jan, Mike, Jill and I managed to surprise our oldest Sister for her 75th birthday. Dawn has moved into the big old convent in Rochester, MN that once housed all the nuns who staffed the Mayo Clinic. We discussed when she was visiting before she went that it was only a 12 hour drive from Casper.

Sometime this winter we decided that the 4 of us who lived in Casper could surprise her on her birthday this year. And it was a complete surprise. We left on Thursday early morning (about 4:30 am) and hit the road. We spent about 13 hours on the road (and lost an hour halfway across South Dakota) and rolled into town about 8:00pm.

We checked into a hotel and got up the next morning to meet our co-conspirator (Ramona) and set up the surprise. We were ensconced in the Walnut Room, and she went up to get Dawn on some excuse. She came in the room and looked around with a puzzled expression and a blank look for a couple of seconds (since we were all wearing masks) and then started jumping up and down shouting her favorite expletive. She has declared it the best birthday ever.

We spent two days celebrating her birthday, exploring some of the most unique dining ever. The highlight was Twig’s, a unique restaurant attached to a small hotel. Twigs specialty is a thick slice of granite, heated to 650 degrees. It is served with slices of raw beef, pork, scallops, and shrimp. You then slap the meat on the granite and cook to the desired doneness. (See Jill’s Facebook pages for pictures of food).

On Sunday morning we packed up early and headed home. On the way home we drove through Sturgis, SD and stopped for dinner. We ate at Knuckle’s, a noted eatery during the motorcycle rally in the summer.

We pulled into home about 8:30 pm after a fun & exciting trip.

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house construction Solar Power weather

February Update

I apologize for the time between updates, but things are in quite a state of flux. My house is basically complete, other than finishing up the interface between my backup power and Jill’s house.

Jill’s house is progressing nicely. The electrical work is mostly done, most of the wallboard installed and roughly half of the mudding & taping is done. The ceiling fan has arrived, and the mini-split unit is waiting in the C-can to be installed.

The well water reverse osmosis plant remains an issue. While I was down in So. Cal at the end of December the mini-split unit was powered down and somehow did not get restarted. As a result, the reverse osmosis plant froze, and significant damage was done due to freezing. I’ve exchanged emails with tech support at RainDance Systems and we’re looking at $500. – $2,500. for new pumps, filters, etc. I was considering just replacing the entire system (~$13,000.) but got a surprising amount of pushback during the weekly call on Saturday evening.

For the past few weeks, I have been driving a couple of miles down to Yellowstone Hwy to the fresh water supply point and getting 4-500 gallons of water for $5.00 and pumping it into the FW supply tank in the C-can. It’s turned into about a weekly process and is fairly routine (when the weather isn’t into negative numbers). I could continue that for the next couple of months while we make progress on Jill’s house and other possible developments on the site. I may just continue as we are for the short term and wait to see where we go from here.

The other issue going on is modifications to the solar power installation up on the hill. I am modifying the solar collectors to attach to the sides of the C-cans. That is the optimum angle from sunrise to ~ 10:00am in the morning, and on the other side for evening. That will free up some square footage in the Orchard and Garden areas, as well as providing room for possible expansion of the barn area assuming we remove the trailer as planned this summer.

New Position for Solar Panels

Amplifying info to follow.

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Health Update

Note: This is part of an agreement with my children, that as long as I keep them advised of my health they will no longer worry and harass me about health issues; feel free to skip this.

Had my Winter health update today with my PCP Dr. Corrie White. First the good news – my A1C level is at 5.5, down slightly from 6 months ago. My weight was 250 lbs, so I could stand to lose another 20-30 lbs which would probably help out the A1C as well.

They had me take an Alzheimer Screening Test to measure cognition and I aced it, so that was not a current problem; I had discussed a study of Viagra linking improved cognition and reducing Alzheimer biomarkers with her last time. She said that currently she could prescribe it for Erectile Dysfunction but not for Alzheimer’s prevention, especially since that was not a current problem (apparently one of the side effects of COVID-19 is a reduction in off-label prescriptions). Recognizing the correct answer when presented, I obtained a prescription for ED.

A current issue/problem is my blood pressure. At the office my BP was 160/90, they would like to see it at 130/80. But to make sure it wasn’t an issue of the “white-coat effect” she wants me to get a weeks’ worth of daily measurements. I also brought in my BP cuff to compare it to theirs and it was reasonably accurate. After I drop it off, they will consider whether to put me back on medication. I had been prescribed Losartan and Lisinopril but had been off them for a year.

All in all, it was a successful checkup; I have an appointment for another check in 6 months in early July.

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New Year’s Day

This is Monday January 2, 2023, and winter continues. Yesterday it snowed all day and we woke up this morning to see the following:

30 Inch Drifts

There is a 30 inch drift out back door. The very light snow is blowing from right to left. Yesterday was New Years day and we had the appropriate celebrations.

This morning at 8:00am I got a call from the Dr’s office offering to reschedule my appointment to Wednesday morning.

Deconstructed Reuben

I, of course, had the traditional sauerkraut (a German tradition bringing prosperity). I take my dose in the form of a Reuben Sandwich.

Reuben

It was delicious.

Dressed for Outdoors

The key to weathering the storm is layering. We had some problems getting Mike & Jan’s Nissan Rogue up the slope. Mike and Jan made several attempts, but it took AT’s experience to get them up the slope.

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Jill’s House

After visiting with my other two sisters last September, my next younger sister Jill decided to build a tiny house up on the ridge behind my house. She is using AT as the contractor and her grandson Johnny has moved up to Wyoming to apprentice to AT.

Last month they broke ground and started construction. It’s a tiny house/studio on a 20×24″ slab. She spends part of the year with family in Texas and part in CA with other family, so this is basically a refuge of her own.

We ran water and power out from my basement up to Jill’s house and ran her main drains down to my septic system. We deliberately sized my septic tank and drain field for 4 bedrooms, allowing for my 3 bedrooms and Jill’s bedroom.

Roof Rafters

The back wall was built in AT’s garage and the front one was built in my garage while I was down going on the cruise with Jan & Mike; so, the walls went up quick. Here they are almost done with the rafters.

Finishing the Roof

Here is what was completed, on the last day of December 2022. The roof is roughed in and covered with chip board. It really does look like a “horse shed, with appliances” as AT phrased it.

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Fortuitous Discovery

While driving down to Los Angeles, I decided to stop and spend the night in St George, UT (off exit 6). Directly across the street was Chef Alfredo’s Italian Restaurant. Highly recommended.

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house construction

December Update

It’s mid-December and time for an update on various projects.

Jill’s tiny house continues to progress.

Jill’s slab looking SW

The slab has been poured and cured. The blue line is the water line coming in from my basement. The white fittings are various drain and vent lines.

Insulating Jill’s Slab

Johnny is insulating his grandmother’s slab; 24 inches down. Now that the slab is insulated and backfilled AT will be erecting the walls and wrapping them with house-wrap to weatherproof the exterior.

Jill’s sewer tie-in to septic system

Also, not pictured, is the power run up from my house to Jill’s.

We expect the walls to go up this week. Jill and I are in Southern California waiting to go on a 3-day cruise to Ensenada with Jan & Mike and Terry & Voula.

I left on Monday, a day before I planned, to outrun a large storm that descended on Monday evening dropping 6-8 inches of snow. It’s planned to continue until Wednesday dropping close to a foot of snow.

After the cruise, I will drive up to Steve & Irene’s house to see them and spend the night. Tuesday morning, I will pick up Jill and we will drive back up to Casper with the first load of her belongings.

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house construction weather

Progressing

We are making progress, making progress however slowly it seems. On the closing of my loan on the house I have reviewed the updated Interest Rate Disclosure document and should be ready for Closing next week. It turns out that most of the three-week delay was caused by Appraisal Companies unable to locate comparison properties that weren’t connected to the power grid.

The replacement inverter has been received and installed, restoring us to full power.

Power System

After last week’s cold weather, progress is proceeding on Jill’s house.

Early Nov Snow (note snow on solar panels)
Jill’s Foundation last Week
More foundation
Ready for Pouring this Morning

This shows the rebar and piping installed and ready for cement pouring.

Pouring cement for the slab.
More Pouring

They got the slab poured, smoothed out and covered to keep the cement from freezing before it can cure. By next week it should be ready to start construction.

It wasn’t all good news, however. Below is a view of the plant that died. It was a bit of tropical greenery that was included in the flower arrangement that our realtors gave up when we moved into the condo in April 2003. When all the flowers had died, I noticed that the greenery has started roots, so I planted it.

Sic Transit Gloria

It had survived ever since but I let it get chilled in the process of moving into the house and it has finally died. That leaves the senior plant in residence the Christmas Cactus that we budded from the house on Aries Drive in 1977.

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house construction Solar Power

Mid-Nov Update

This is being typed on November 16th. We still have not closed with Rocket Mortgage after 3 weeks. I got a call-back from my Acct Manager at Rocket, and he explained the issue. So far, I have had 3 separate appraisers show up to walk through, take pictures, etc. The problem is that none of them can find an equivalent house (new construction, 1400 sq foot, metal roof & walls, on well (with reverse osmosis plant) and powered by solar cells) to develop comps with.

Rocket has escalated the issue and has some mid-level managers involved with trying to resolve the issue. I am expecting one or two more appraisers over the next week or so.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been on half-power from the solar arrays. When I was working on the electrical system to get approval from the County Building Inspectors, I discovered that batteries went into self-protect mode. I did some further troubleshooting and discovered the Inverters DC battery input were shorted together on one of the two inverters. I disconnected the faulty inverter and was able to bring up 120 of the 240 VAC. Fortunately, the side that remained up was the MBR, and most of the Kitchen and Living Room.

I contacted Signature Solar and reported the issue. I forwarded pictures and video of me measuring the shorted inputs. It was immediately escalated to second level response. After a week of nothing heard, I called up and rattled their cage. Last week I received a FedEx shipping label. That same afternoon I packaged up the bad inverter and shipped it off. Later that week I was notified that the replacement would be shipped shortly. Latest info that it should be delivered on Saturday.

The good news is that I have demonstrated that I can go a day, or even two with heavy overcast with only half of solar panels. Once I get the replacement inverter, I can bring the full power back up in the house.

The past week or so Jill’s tiny house has moved forward. The goal is to get the foundation poured before the weather gets too cold, and erect the structure early in the spring.

Jill’s Foundation

Also, we dug the trench and ran the water line from my crawl space up to the foundation.

Water Line Running Up to Jill’s

Finally, we got the washer and dryer installed. Note the dryer is electric and needs 240VAC, so it is waiting the new inverter.

Washer and Dryer

In a Catholic school cafeteria, a nun places a note in front of a pile of apples, “Only take one. God is watching.” Further down the line is a pile of cookies. A little boy makes his own note, “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”

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house construction Solar Power

Progress on the House; Part Three

Today is Sunday, October 16,2022. I am woefully behind in updating this blog. Below is a walkthrough of the house. AT is hoping to finish up the house and get an occupancy permit by the end of the week. Also, Kate is coming for a visit this Saturday (10/22/22).

Mostly Done with Siding

The siding is mostly done, lacking the corner pieces. We still need to pour a 20′ parking apron in front of garage.

Solar Panels

Off to the left are the solar panels. There are two panels not installed yet. I got 30 with the package I got. The minimum to reorder is 10, due to packaging requirements, so I will add two when we order Jill’s. The wires from the panels run underground to the panels in the garage.

Solar Power Installation

This is the South wall of the garage. The rack mount of 6 batteries is in the center. The two boxes labelled “EG4” are the main inverters that produce 240V to the Main Breaker panel to the right. The large white box to the left is the demand hot water heater. /

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom is currently the staging area for trim work. Note the ceiling fan (one in each bedroom) and the trim work.

Living Room

The living room. Note the ceiling lights in the living room and kitchen. The red blotch in the living room is for smoke detector. The butcher block on the kitchen counter is covered by protective cardboard. The cardboard covered black thing by the front door is the range waiting to be installed in the kitchen.

Kitchen

The microwave is installed over where the range will go. The cupboards are in, but still need handles.

Bedroom/Laundry/Office?

This is the bedroom at the front of the house. The window looks out at the front porch and door. The closet to the right of the laundry area will be the linen closet. The two boxes under the window are monitors for Kate to try out this week.

Second Bath

The second bathroom, with the magic toilet. Need to install some sort of glass around the shower.

Master Bath

This is the master bath. Note the slightly larger shower with built in window.

Patio

The patio off the dining room. Note the trim work is done on the house, along with the patio lights under the eaves. From L-R we have two MBR windows, Master bath window in the shower, window over the sink, patio doors and finally window in the office/bedroom.

Front of house & Solar Panels

Front of the house, note the large pile of dirt and big bank is knocked down. The solar panels on the left.

Garage

“Let there be Light!” in the garage. Note the attic stairs in the middle, and the garage bathroom and water heater on the right.

That’s the house as of 10/16/2022.

In other news, here’s some looks from back over the three weeks.

Erecting Poles

Mike, Jan, Jill, and I erecting the poles for the solar panels. Photo taken by Dawn.

Sisters

My three sisters, Dawn (Sis), Jill, and Jan after finishing erecting the poles.

Jon

My middle Jon, who spent the last couple of weeks helping out tiling in the showers and helping out immensely with the putting together the solar panels and the power system.