Vela Creations

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Andy Warhol

"Land really is the best art." - Andy Warhol

Hot Water Issue

We just replaced the PEX tubing inside our solar water heating panels.

When we remodeled the two panels that Abe's dad had found in the junk, we used PEX pipe. It is a lot cheaper than copper and much easier to install. The setup worked well, heating water consistently to 125 degrees.

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However, on two separate occasions, the PEX split. The first time, we replaced the pipe, and made some adjustments to our design. It worked fine for a long time, but then recently split again. I guess it just gets too hot in there.

So we have now bit the bullet and replaced the PEX with copper tubing. It is more costly, and you have to be very careful not to kink it when making the required curves, but we got it finished and back up in place in half a day. In fact, we got it done so fast, we didn't get a chance to take photos!

Hopefully, that will now last.

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Hot Water Issue

Quail Loss

All our quail are now gone, taken by a predator while we were away.

With the ability to sit and hatch their own young almost entirely bred out of domestic quail, our group of hens was extra special. They lived in the garden, keeping bugs at bay without destroying plants. We had three hens that hatched chicks. It was a real joy to be able to watch them all from inside our big, south-facing windows.

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However, while we were away on one of our recent trips, they all disappeared. There were signs (including feathers) that a large predator (like a dog or coyote) had gotten into the garden, and hunted them down. A friend of ours would come up to check on things and top up feeders. He said he saw a couple of dogs there a few times, eating from our dog feeder. We have seen them since we've been back, but not on our property. They are the most likely suspects, as I doubt our male dog, Sam, would tolerate coyotes so close.

We plan to get more quail in the Spring, to see if we can replicate our breeding successes. In the meantime, we have had one very hopeful sighting: the other day, we saw one of the females. She was in the garden, drinking water and wandering around, and she then flew off. So we're hoping that at least some got away and are not too far off.

Quail Loss

Pumpkins

We cut up one of our pumpkins for Halloween this year.

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I don't normally like to cut up pumpkins, as it constitutes a fair amount of wasted food. But Abe wanted to do one for the boys, now that they're getting bigger and can appreciate it. It came out really cool and they loved it, especially getting to light the candles and see it glow.

We got a lot of big squash this year. I use them throughout winter. When I cut one up, I usually take out a cup or two to make pie and then make the rest into something like squash candy. It's a treat we all love.

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Pumpkins