Solar power installed

It was a very warm day yesterday of 34.6°C (94°F). The temperature in the evacuated tubes (solar hot water) is in Celsius, yes! That's 275 degrees Fahrenheit!



It's useful to note here that the water in the tank is 70°C (158°F) and the pump will not run once the water has hit 70°C.. so there is no risk of getting 135° water through the taps inside. :)

That's when Cathy called to say she would come and finish the solar panels. Everyone worked so hard in the heat, they're all so tough!







The end result is quite minimal! I am surprised that they look so small sitting up there on our shed roof.



The system was tested to see if everything worked, but it is currently turned off until a safety inspection is completed.. and after that the electricity company needs to upgrade our meter. So we're almost ready to start making our own electricity! Hooray!

Speaking of blue tongues!

Marty and I made a new compost pile in the compost bays today, and we disturbed a lovely little blue tongue lizard. He scooted off and we continued to layer our compost with horse manure, garden clippings and cardboard. We both went into the house for a little rest because it's nice and cool inside the old brick part of the cottage. Sitting on the couch, we were shocked to look over and find a blue tongue lizard climbed partially up the flyscreen door! Thankfully no-one screamed. :)

We really would have liked to get a picture but the camera was out by the compost heap.. (Not very handy!) and I was much more interested in opening the door and getting him outside! The blue tongue was quite scared of us, and hid behind the couch. After a short time scooting him from behind the couch, under the television stand and hissing at Marty, we finally got him near the front door, but he decided he would rather run towards the bedroom! Ooooh no way. Marty grabbed him and took him outside, while trying not to get scratched by the little (but sharp!) claws.

It appears to have got in through the loungeroom that is still being dug-out! There are are few holes that lead under the kitchen part of the house, and not surprisingly, they have a few scratchy marks in the dirt nearby.

So, if that's not an indication that we need to get a move-on with the renovations, I don't know what is!

Until next time!

Scat!

A little present has been left on our new path. :)



2cm = 0.78 inches

I've seen the odd scat around the old cottage before - this one is more dried out than the others have been - it's been a few days since I first noticed it.



Marty and I have noticed the bits of black beetles in them before, too. This one's bugs are a little more digested than the others.



But you still get the idea...



We're guessing its one of the local blue-tongue lizards that is leaving these little presents around. I hope they have a good appetite, as the earwig population is quite high! Not nearly as bad as last year, but certainly catching a lot with the traps. Hmm, I hope they like earwig!

Until next time!

Solar power is on it's way!

This is about all there is to see of the solar system so far! Bright and early this morning Cathy and her crew of 3 came and installed as much as they could of the solar system. The panels should arrive before the end of next week - so there is much excitement around the old miners cottage!

The picture shows the big yellow inverter and, I think, a fuse box or two. I'm sure we'll get a better idea of what is going on once it's all installed and switched on. :)

Until next time!

Paths and Potatoes

We didn't think the rock we brought on the weekend would be enough to finish the path, but it was! It only took one day after the rocks were delivered before the earwigs called it their home, though.. Anyway, happily, the path is now finished and should help keep the water away from the side of the old miners cottage!

From the front of the house:



Looking down to the backyard:



Looking to the front yard:



Hmm, I think the house needs a coat of whitewash. :)

The potatoes popped up! The Saphire potatoes are doing really well. I've topped them up with compost to keep their stems from seeing too much light - and increase our potato yield. (With luck!)



No earwigs in the traps of the Saphire potatoes. Phew.

Unfortunately the Russet Burbank are having a slightly harder time of it. I suspect the bottom of their water-tank has more holes in it than the Saphire potatoes water-tank does. The new growth is being eaten by earwigs and the traps have earwigs in them, too.



We've officially ran out of Nuttelex (margarine) containers to use as traps, so either we're going to have to eat a whole lot more Nuttelex, or I might just ask around and see if anyone else has some containers spare! :)

Until next time!

Wildflowers of Stawell

We are very lucky to have such a beautiful variety of flowers that grow wild on our nature-strips (the verge) without any intervention from us at all. Almost everyone (who doesn't spray their nature-strips with poisons) has these lovely flowers popping up at the moment - they even survive the lawn mowers!

I just have to show them off!













They're so tough, the neighbour pulled some out of her nature-strip and threw them into her trailer.. we rescued them and planted them in the backyard. ALL of them still have some green left, despite having very little root system left, and VERY little water thrown at them. :) I think they just might make it - but we'll see how they are after this long hot summer. Crossing fingers!