Catchin' Up

It has been a crazy time at our house.  We were in charge of the Boy Scout Garage Sale.  It was a great success but we didn’t get anything done around the property.  The ponds aerator is working wonderfully.  We have had some warm weather and we have a lot less algae than I think we would have had without it.  We have about 10 Mallard Ducks, one Snowy Egret, and one Great Blue Heron that are living here. The ducks really are enjoying our cleaner water it is amazing watching them dive.  One morning I spent about 5 minutes watching a heron fishing then I realized it was moss hanging from a tree in the shape of a heron. 

We finally got the solar charger hooked up to the electric fence but it has not been long enough to see how well or even if it works.  We are starting to be able to pet Hope and the steers while they are eating.  She still is skittish but she is getting friendlier. We have plans to put in more fencing: new pastures and finally get the property fenced.  We have an area of the property that is about an acre, it is cut off from the rest of the property by a drainage ditch that becomes a raging creek when it rains.  I think our next big project will be to build a bridge to that area and turn it into a pasture.  

We need to move the sheep’s daytime area but have been too busy and I am not sure where we are going to move them that isn't in a coyote runway that I can set up the temporary fencing around and has a lot of things for them to eat.  We have been letting the sheep roam between the house and the pond when we are home.  The cats have a wonderful time stalking the sheep.  

Solar Charger

 We have been messing with the solar charger and trying to figure out why it works part time then seems to stop for no reason.  I emailed the company we ordered it from on Sunday morning and to my surprise by Sunday afternoon I had a response.  Not one that worked but still a response.  Monday and Tuesday we go back and forth between email and phone calls and on Wednesday I actually talk to the person who can help me the most.  It turns out, I live in an area that is too sunny for my solar charger.  It is overheating and shutting itself off.  The solution it seems it to cover part of the solar panels.  It sounds crazy to me but we have a piece of cardboard covering ½ of the solar panels and it has worked for days without any problems.  I am very impressed with the company and their quick response both in email and on the phone.  

The DMV and Broken Fences

I drop 1 child off at Sports Camp, one child off at Band Camp, had bring one child with a limp to the DMV with me.  IT’S HOT! The line is out the door.  After being in line for an hour and 5 minutes we get to the reception desk and I get a phone call.  My oldest Daughter is panicked, dressed for work, and the sheep are tangled in the fence!  I am more than 30 minutes away from her if I leave the DMV NOW.  I have her call her sister for help.  Together they untangle the sheep, put the fence back up and she goes on her way to work.  Hours later I leave the DMV with an appointment to come back later, go home and check the fence.  It isn’t working!  I wiggle the connections and fuss with the solar charger and it starts working again.  Then a few hours later I check it, it has stopped working again.  This time I wiggle the connections nothing happens until I open the lid all the way so the solar part is in the shade.  I don’t understand much about electricity but this doesn’t make sense.  I tell my  husband and he agrees it doesn’t make sense and every time he checks it everything is fine.  This is exactly what happens when I think something is wrong with the car!