High Summer in the PNW

The PV array on the roof produced 620 KWH of energy in June. That's more than 20 KWH per day! The next several days are forecast to yield completely sunny weather. Today I read the meter and did my monthly Green Tags attestation ritual. The regional energy monopoly, PSE will be calculating net-metering payments in July. This is the sunny season.

Two weeks ago, I climbed on my good extension ladder and using a L O N G pole and synthetic sheep's wool window washer-thing and a hose w/ a nozzle attached, cleaned dust and bird droppings from the PV array. The panels are visibly cleaner and since our big construction projects are done (for now at least) less dust will be flying around. Clean panels make for better power generation.

I received the soil analysis back from Twiss Labs. As I suspected, the soil in our main garden area is woefully deficient in Nitrogen. At a pH of 6.6 it's also a bit alkaline for some of the vegetables we've planted. Today I broadcast about 2 pounds of ammonium sulfate on our 320 sq ft garden. As instructed on the package, I then watered the fertilizer into the soil. As I type this Angel is giving the plants another drink.

Hopefully this will do the trick. We've had some spinach and some other greens but everything seems to be growing slowly.

The soil analysis indicated that we have plenty of organic material (that's good news, considering all the back-breaking work I did last summer). Phosphorous, potassium, and trace minerals are good too. Next year I'll emphasize organic supplements, but for now I decided to kick start the particular element that was lacking.

Since elemental sulphur is indicated as a way to lower the pH of the soil, I'm also hoping the application of ammonium sulfate may make the soil slightly more acidic as well. We'll see, won't we.

Our summer visitor dance card is filling up, which is exciting and fun. We have someone staying with us now (an old friend of Angel's) and have a near constant stream of friends and relatives staying in our guest quarters in the carriage house through mid September. Given all the changes in the past year, Angel and I are grateful for friends who have been able to make the trek up here to the 48th parallel.

The air is still, and the sky is blue and bright. It is just shy of 8:00PM.

Press On.

Resting, Writing

Nearly all our windows are sparkly clean now.

The PV panels have been washed (carefully).

Most of the north rain gutters have been cleaned of debris.

The past couple of days I have spent a lot of time climbing up and down a 20' ladder. After a while I got over my initial nervousness, but I continue to hold the Force of Gravity in great respect. My shins are all banged up from carting ladders around the property. Hands, knees, lower back... the usual suspects.

There are just a couple more windows that need attention.

The rain gutters on the south side collect much less debris than those on the north side; although I may clean them a bit... will clean them when/if we are able to add a rain catchment system. There is a short section of north side gutters that are difficult to access because of terrain. At some point, I'll need to get up there. This section is right above where I plan to put the biggest water storage tank, so maybe I'll be able to scamper up to the top of the tank and clean the gutters from there.

Yesterday, after reaching a good stopping point on the window, gutter, PV array cleaning frenzy, I got on the cross-trainer for 30 minutes. I feel that although I'm getting plenty of strength exercise, I need to maintain a cardiovascular program as well. This is challenging. So many "shoulds" leave insufficient time for "want tos".

Then, naturally, I taught a yoga class at the gym last evening. Fortunately for the Old Amigo, it was a gentle yoga class.

So today, I've done several blog postings (see my Modern Technical Manager and my Energy Efficiency blogs if you're interested). Next, I'll collect what remains of my wits and work a bit on my novel. I know how it should come out in the end, but there's a long ways between where I am and where it winds up... Said another way, I'm trying to limit my physical activity today to an afternoon weight training and cardio session. Some rest.

I think that 10 or 15 minutes of guitar playing are in order as a transitional activity.