Recent Projects

Thanks to loads of help from my parents we've been in project mode...getting lots of useful projects completed to make our off-grid living easier and more enjoyable. Project #1: Phone in Back Cabin was accomplished during the brief periods of dry weather that we had before Christmas (it's been absolutely perfect weather since Christmas Eve Day).

In the above picture you can just make out the gray pipe that is running through the bush alongside of the left (as you look at the picture) side of the driveway. Also note how "duck lake" has completely dried up. I took these photos today...we haven't had but a sprinkling of rain in the last 30 hours or so! See the sweet duckies resting in the shade.

To fix the phone, my Dad and Tommy had to run 500' of new phone wire in protective gray pipe. Most of it is snaked through the bush.

Here is the start of it:

Project #2: New Water Pump & Tank I've stated before that the solar system that was in place to run the water pump and lights was undersized and not positioned correctly on the roof (the panels were shaded at noon!). The old system left a lot to be desired and with weeks on end of rainy weather we were not able to use the water pump and resorted to hand filling 5 gallon buckets with water. Showers became few and far between. Not a scenario I was looking forward to with visitors. Tom fixed it all by getting a pump that would work with our new solar array.

And a MUCH larger pressure tank. The pressure tank that was in place was soooooo small (more like for an RV than for a home with 5 people). I'm extremely grateful that we have running water!

Project #3: Lights & Ceiling Fan To help prevent mold growth and that ole musty smell that accumulates from weeks on end of rain (constantly from about the beginning of November to Christmas Eve Day) we knew we needed some ceiling fans. One has been installed in the bedroom that is currently housing most of our clothes.

 This project also upgraded the old solar system lights to new solar system lighting. Gone are the days (sniff, sniff) of the candles and oil lamp being our only source of light. It's amazing how just a few simple, low wattage lights, can really add productive hours to the day. It's much easier to do homework, dishes, etc... with lights vs. candles and oil lamps.

Project #4: Wringer Relocation and Pulley Laundry Line I wasn't complaining, but maybe I did say that it was sort of challenging to do the laundry in a poncho in the pouring rain a tenth of a mile away from where we are currently living. As a result of my mentioning this my Dad and Tommy set to work on relocating my wringer to a spot that is under cover. They also very kindly installed an awesome pulley laundry line.

It's super cool! After the rinse load I just run the clothes through the wringer and then I can hang them directly up on the line....without getting wet (from the plentiful rain showers we generally have) or moving an inch! I'm DELIGHTED!

Project #5: SHELVES! Man oh man did we need some shelves. We have a ton of books...quite possibly because we find them extremely useful AND quite possibly because they were the cheapest thing to ship from Wisconsin to Hawaii (thank you media mail!).

Tommy had put up a lot of book shelves at the Aloha Cabin (aka Front Cabin), but because we are not living in that house (no natural air circulation) and that house is surrounded by many tall Ohia Lehua trees all of our books were developing a lovely (not!) covering of Puna Cashmere (musty mold!). Puna is the district that we live in Hawaii County.

Admittedly I have not caught up to getting organized, so once I have it a bit more organized and pretty I will post more shelving photos. Again, I am delighted because they are so wonderfully useful and handy!

Project #6: New Table! We have not had a good, sturdy table in decades! Yes DECADES! Probably since we lived with our parents. We have a Storey Book on building Simple Furniture and found a great plan for a table and benches. My Dad and Tommy bought the supplies and built this table and benches in 2 days! Let me tell you, it is STURDY, durable, and DIVINE! How wonderful it was to have all 7 of us be able to sit at the table for dinner or a card game! Above My Dad is protecting the table for years of hard use to come!

The above picture shows some siding that the project gurus installed to help prevent rain splatter from getting under the sheltered open space.

Today has been the nicest day yet. So pleasant with warmth and sun! I did a full load of laundry, my Dad finished sealing the table, and my Mom & the kids planted some coffee plants (thanks Tedd & Noelle!!!) and a poinsettia plant (thanks Mom & Dad). Hard to believe there is only one more day left to this year!! Wishing you all a Happy New Year!!!