Off-Grid in West Virginia

Thursday

Linda

I got up this morning at six o’clock hoping to get out of the house by nine to go do the shopping I didn’t do yesterday.  As you all already know living off grid means going out no matter what the weather to start the generator when there is no sun in the forecast.

Icy car window

Ruby and Moby went out of the door ahead me.  Ruby’s feet hit the brick walkway and slid, Moby stepped on it as if he was stepping on egg shells.  I gingerly stepped out and walked like a penguin all the way to the generator.  I tried to keep off the packed down snow trails we have been walking on because they were the most slick.

The top of the generator had an icy cap covering the hood.  I opened it with no problems and pressed the start button.  It started right up without any hesitation.  Sometimes when it is very cold out it likes to kind of wheeze a little before it kicks in and starts up.  The temperature wasn’t all that cold though.  I guess we had an icy rain all night, but it should turn into a regular rain by early afternoon.  I gave the brick walkway a dose of deicer so none of us will break a leg trying to ice skate across it.

We have been using our back up gas generator for a few days.  It’s a good idea to use it once in a while to make sure its still in working order.  I knew it was going to rain last night so I covered it with a tarp and switched everything over to the propane generator we usually use.  Changing over generators is just a flip of a switch in the battery cabinet.  Sonny wired up a plug there for the spare generator and the switch turns the power on to it when we want to use it. The spare generator is stored in the battery cabinet.  I can drag it out, but it’s too heavy for me to lift back in.  Sonny will have to do that job when he gets home today.

Covered Generator

Wednesday

Linda

I had planned to go shopping today and was almost ready to head into town when Carol called and said that it was time to soak our bacon slabs.  The shopping trip will have to be put on hold until tomorrow.  I didn’t have anything so important on my list that it couldn’t wait anyway.

Sugar cure for bacon with smoke flavor

It’s been a week now since we put the sugar cure on our bacon slabs from the hog we had processed.  The directions said to cover the bacon with the cure and then let it set in the refrigerator for about a week.

Today we removed our slabs from the refrigerator and soaked them in lukewarm water for two hours to rinse away some of the salt in the curing rub.  Then we cut them into smaller slabs and put them into ziplock bags.  The last step of the curing process is to put them back in the refrigerator for two more days.  Once that is finished we can put them in the freezer and thaw the bacon as we need it. Hopefully this curing rub will have a good flavor.

Soaking Bacon

This is another new experience so we will have to see how it all turns out.  I will let you know what it tastes like as soon as we try some with our farm fresh eggs.

Monday

Linda

The house is quiet and a little empty today.  It’s just me the dog and two cats again.  Sonny left this morning to take his parents back to Delaware after a nice Christmas visit.  They left me with a profusion of leftover pie and cookies along with an assortment of chocolate and mint candies.  There are enough leftovers in the fridge to feed an army and now I have a belly ache.

Ruby and my in-laws dog Miley had a great time together.  Miley is about a year and a half old and lives with a cranky twelve year old cocker spaniel named Casey who could care less about playing.  Ruby gave Miley plenty of play time and taught her some new games.

Frozen Dog Toy

The two dogs had a grand time kicking up the snow as they played chase.  Ruby’s ball and rope toy was ice covered and stiff as a board but it didn’t stop her from teaching Miley how to play tug of war and keep away.  Hours of good play and bellies full of dog cookies and Christmas leftovers made for two sleepy, contented dogs.

We adults enjoyed Christmas Eve at John and Carol’s which of course involved plenty of food and conversation.  They came to our house for Christmas dinner and everyones mantra afterwards was, “I’m full as a tick” and “I feel like I’m going to pop.”  It’s no wonder our New Years resolutions always involve a diet that unfortunately we never keep.

As always this Christmas was filled with good times and memories that will be tucked away in our hearts and remembered throughout our lives.  Those are the best gift we can receive and will cherish the most.  We can’t always have all of our family members with us as so many are spread across the States and overseas, but they will remain and will always be in our thoughts and hearts.

Sonny and I hope your Christmas bag of memories is filled to the brim and overflowing.  Blessings to all.

Wednesday

Linda

The weather today is actually pretty mild although I believe more snow is on the way.  I opened the coop hatch today to at least give the chickens a little fresh air and the chance to get out and stretch if they felt like it.

There’s nothing like a good dust bath to freshen your feathers after days of being locked up in the coop.  Two of my hens found a nice little spot in the corner of the pole barn.  They were happier than two hogs in a mud hole, rolling themselves in the dirt and then shaking out their feathers.

Mabel, your feathers are looking just fabulous.

It wasn’t long before the rest of the girls found them and joined in.  The Rooster stood around watching his ladies like a husband patiently waiting for his wife at the beauty shop.  I think he was glad they were happy.  Could you imagine being stuck in a coop with a bunch of crabby hens because they’re having a bad feather day?

Hey let us get in there too!

With the chickens out for the day I decided to do a little sprucing up in the coop.  I scooped out some of the fresh poop out and put down some fresh straw.  The girls should feel better today.  A fresh coop and a day at the dust spa is just what they needed on a dreary winter day.

Friday

Linda

Breakfast anyone? Cows only.

Wednesday

Linda

This is the only deer Sonny was able to get this year.  We’ll have to use a lot of tenderizer on this one.  Looks like it might be a little tough to chew.

Nice six pointer

Tuesday

Linda

Being a kitten has to be the most fun and exciting life ever.  Everything is an adventure and everything that moves is pretend prey.  Wiggling feet under the covers or a dangling robe sash is something that must be attacked.  A wispy branch from the kindling box, a broken off piece of bark or broom straw is kicked from one end of the house to the other like a hockey puck.

You are mine little stick!

I know there are numerous crinkle balls and aluminum foil balls held hostage somewhere in this house.  Once in a while I will come across one under the dresser or stuck beside the washer.  The moment I release it is pounced upon by Moby the Destroyer and is rolled around and mauled until it is imprisoned once more in a new location.

Nothing is safe when the Destroyer has come out to plunder and torture all household items with his mighty claw feet.  The Rooster and hen embossed on my kitchen rugs look pock marked and beaten.  They didn’t have a chance when the Destroyer discovered and raided their placid little farm scene.  They are usually tortured into submission daily.

The couch covers and bed quilts are given an acupuncture treatment whether its needed or not.  The millions of  apparent tiny pin holes are evidence of  Moby’s tender care.

I'm going to imprison you with crinkle balls.

He seems to think we are all under his rule.  Annabelle can’t take a nap without him rousting her out of her bed, or have a minutes peace without him chasing her across the couch, the buffet and a spring across the dining table.  Bedtime for me is considered the perfect time to play with the blind pull and bang its plastic knob against the wall for an hour. A good run zooming from one end of the house to the other using the bed and couches as spring boards is another favorite.

He has found new territory to explore in the higher elevations of his domain.  He can now climb up the peaks of the refrigerator and cabinets.  He practiced his climbing skills on my drying racks until one collapsed on him.  He pretty much leaves them alone now although not conceding to a defeat in any way.

The rest of us are getting tired of the Destroyer’s antics and have decided to do a little fighting  back.  Annie gives him a good pop to the chops at times and Ruby holds him down with her mouth or paw when he gets too rowdy with her.  My newest weapon is called the fly swatter, but I have another plan that is soon to be put into action.  It’s called the Veterinarian and it involves a scalpel.  Maybe that will take a little of the piss and vinegar out him.

All in all the Destroyer does have a sweet side. He gives a lot of love and no one can resist cuddling him.  Sometimes it’s even hard not to laugh at him when he’s on a rampage.  It’s called being a kitten and soon he will turn into a fat, lazy fur ball that lays around all day and expects to be waited on by his keeper.  I can’t say owner because we know that word does not exist in the cat vocabulary.

So when you see a cute fuzzy kitten and it sucks you in with it’s big woebegone eyes be prepared for the alternate personality to show itself and terrorize your household.