Desert Weyr Blog
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Solar Panels on the Roof
September 16th: it’s the Big Day! It’s time to get the solar panels on the roof. Our system is designed to have five panels initially, but it’s also designed to take an extra panel if we need it later. First, we had to get our ropes and ladders set, then get safety lines tied to… Continue reading
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Fall Farm Work
While the solar system was being installed, we continued fall farm work. One task was to clean out one of our ditches. Ken used the backhoe to clean it out on September 11th. This area is where we will rebuild the pens for the rams for winter. We have an apple crop this year, and… Continue reading
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Wales Trip
I was fortunate to be able to attend the Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Annual Show and Sale in Abergavenny, Wales, on September 4th, 2008. Then, I got to judge and view a number of flocks, culminating in my attendance at the Cadet Judges training. It was held at the Ted Williams Garth Uchaf Farm in… Continue reading
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More Solar Work
On August 25th, the heat dump loop was completed. Next, we had to work on the actual panel mounting structure. The first step was to get the blocks that would provide the spacing for the braces. That was finished on September 11th. The next day, we started the mounting structure. With the blocks secured, we… Continue reading
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Somerset, September 6th, 2008
Another day with Melinda Baker. We sorted and looked at her entire flock, then got to finish two other flocks as well. Here are Melinda’s show sheep, ewe lambs, and wethers. After getting the catch pens set up, we got the sheep into the pen. It was refreshing to see someone else set up pens… Continue reading
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Somerset, September 5th, 2008
My next stop was at Melinda Baker’s farm in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. She had to work for part of the day on Friday, so her husband kindly took the day to take me around and play tourist. This is the chapel of the Marston House. It belonged to the Earls of Cork and Orrey. The… Continue reading
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Black Welsh Show and Sale, September 4th, 2008
In the pens, ready to be judged. Ted Williams with his ewe entry. Julia Patterson with her ram. Judge Matthew Evans checking the turn of a ram’s horns. The Adult Ram class. E.O. Williams with his ram. A couple of nice older rams. A very nice boy with wide-spread horns. Checking the shoulders. Checking the… Continue reading
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Abergavenny, September 3rd, 2008
This is the Park Guest House, the B&B where I stayed in Abergavenny. I took the first day there to recover, then spent all day on the fourth walking around Abergavenny and doing touristy stuff. Our first stop was, of course, the castle. The ladies at the castle museum sent me on to the St.… Continue reading
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Solar Continues
The installation of the solar hot water system continues. The heat sink pipe is now in the ground, and it’s been fully covered. Continue reading
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Solar Hot Water System Started
We’ve decided to install a solar hot water system to provide domestic hot water and heat to the house in winter. We already use a combination hot water heater and boiler that gives us domestic hot water and in-floor radiant heat, but it’s propane-fired. We are in an excellent area for solar, and we hope… Continue reading