Holiday Greetings!

Merry Christmas!  It's been a month since I last posted, but for good reason.  Dubs and I have been busy preparing for winter, which is now in full swing.  Between collecting (liquid) water, chopping wood, and stacking hay, we are beyond busy.

Our propane tank-turned wood burning stove continues to keep us toasty warm, even in the presence of negative temperatures.  In addition, our solar panels and deep cycle batteries continuously provide us with (relatively) limitless, renewable energy and power.

All of our furry friends are thriving, with thick winter coats and warm places to sleep.

With snow in the immediate forecast, I must attend to the wood burning stove.  I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Blessings,
Cece

Seasons Change

It's been over a month since my last post, "When October Goes", and for good reason.

In the last few weeks, we have been preparing for the inevitable onslaught of winter., spending hours chopping and stacking firewood, gathering and storing water, building sheds for the critters, etc.

Our first REAL taste of winter came a week ago, on the night of 11/13, when we were greeted with howling winds, single digit temperatures, and a blanket of white, powdery snow.  Despite a morning of low of 2 degrees for three days in a row, we've managed, (through round-the-clock monitoring), to keep the temperature in the trailer hovering around 80 degrees.  Dubs' little propane tank-turned wood stove has continued to impress us with its output of heat on such a relatively small amount of wood,   We've been fortunate enough, thanks to a dear friend, Paul Paine, to amass a wonderful cache of oak firewood, and go through about 25 pounds in a 24 hour period.   Oddly enough, I feel like I did a year ago, when we were on "foal watch", waiting for our rescued Arabian mare to deliver her "surprise" package.  Though the "little stove that could" delivers a knockout punch, it is still limited by its demure dimensions, and requires nearly constant monitoring to keep the temperature at a comfortable level.  Fortunately, Dubs and I have opposing sleep schedules, and have since we met.  He tends the fire during the day, and I go on after midnight.  Despite our fractured sleep schedules, (it's almost like having a newborn all over again), we remain in good spirits, and are pleased with the progress we have made thus far.

Our Great Pyrenees rescue, Momma Sweety, delivered 4 healthy pups on 9/24, and has turned out to be the greatest momma ever, despite her profound loss of hearing.  The puppies, who started out at 1.2 pounds, now tip the scales at over 25 pounds apiece, and are only 8 weeks old.  Three of the four pups; Harley, Lexi and Buttercup have been spoken for, and we plan to keep the remaining one, Nicci.  On Thursday we successfully delivered Harley to her new forever home, much to the delight of Allie Marie and her four darling children.  Dubs and I plan to start up a Pyrenees breeding operation, known as "Wolf Skull Ranch Pyrenees Mountain Dogs aka LGD's (Livestock Guardian Dogs)".  Based upon the rave reviews our puppies seem to have drawn, and the fact that this entire part of the country is comprised of high-range cattle and sheep ranches,  we expect to turn out some lovely, first-class pups, on a very small scale basis.

Our horses, (4 of which are OTTB's), are thriving in their new home, sporting coats not unlike that of a wooly mammoth, and enjoying their newfound space to gallop.  Dosie, our "Quarab" filly, will be one year old on 11/25, and continues to amaze us with her correctness and laid-back attitude.

While the chickens have stopped laying, owing to the reduction of daytime light and the plunging temperatures, they all cuddle up togther in their cozy little Victorian chicken coop, and seem none the worse for wear.

Finally, as our furbabies go, the 5 kitties are quite content to live in the 3rd story of our storage shed, and have successfully kept the mouse population at bay.

All in all, we've had our first taste of winter, and are prepared to take on the worst it can dish up.  Our solar array continues to keep us well-supplied with electricity, while the deep cycle batteries and charge inverter ensure its judicious usage.   On cloudy days, our generator picks up the slack, and we never lack for the basic amenities.

 While the off-grid lifestyle is not for most, it is certainly the most gratifying experience of my life, and I feel very blessed to be forging the path for others like me.

More posts to follow soon.  Til then, horsey kisses and chardonnay dreams.

When October Goes

The last rays of sun are disappearng over Wolf Skull Ranch as I reflect on a busy last few days .

After spending all day Sunday working on a movie shoot, Dubs and I drove home at 9 p.m.,  amidst blowing snow and howling winds.    We awoke Monday morning to find the ranch covered in a blanket of white. 
 

Although the snow had melted by noon, it served to remind us that Old Man Winter is not far around the corner.  In the last couple of days, we've hauled and stacked hay for the horses, gathered firewood, finished the shed, and created a firewood rack for the trailer.  

Dubs brought home a nice little stick welder this morning, and has been busy creating new inventions ever since.


Sweety, our Great Pyrenees rescue, continues to dote on her 4 little pups, who turned 3 weeks old today.  They have tripled in size, weighing 5 pounds each, and are as fat as sausages.  Now that their eyes have opened, they amble about curiously, wrestle with each other, and practice acting fierce, with tiny growls that resemble the mogwai from Gremlins.

 

 

 

Tomorrow, we're heading up to Pueblo to purchase a chain saw. Dubs and one of my friends, Paul Paine, are heading out to cut firewood on Friday, so the saw will definitely get a workout. 

We continue to stay warm and toasty in the trailer, thanks to the propane tank woodburning stove that Dubs invented and installed a couple of weeks ago.  

My laptop recently crashed, so I'm having to blog by phone, which is an arduous process.  I'm hoping to pick up a replacement laptop tomorrow, as I'm already going into technology withdrawals.  Between blogging, posting on Facebook and keeping up with the crazy news of the world, a pioneer girl can only do so much with a smartphone.

Signing off for the night, so I can call my son in South Korea and wish him a happy 18th birthday.  God, I miss that boy.

With October halfway over, I wish all of you Horsey kisses and Chardonnay dreams.

Pioneer Girl Goes Hollywood (For a day)

 Extra, extra: read all about it: This pioneer girl has gone Hollywood!

 



The initial set, near Hooper, CO.
 

This morning, I was up well before dawn, beating Bucky, (our rooster), to the punch.   For those of you who know me, you  can appreciate the rarity of this event, as I normally prefer to sleep until noon or later (thank you, Dubs, for always covering the morning shift).

 

Today was different:  Dubs and I had a mission to accomplish.  About 10 days ago, Dubs was approached by the Adams State University public relations office, inquiring as to whether or not he would be interested in playing the role of a cowboy in a modern Western movie, to be filmed right here in the San Luis Valley (SLV).   Having lived here for over 15 months now, Dubs has established somewhat of a reputation for himself in the local community as an OGC (off-gridder cowboy), computer guru, contractor, etc.  Needless to say, within a few hours of receiving the inquiry, I was in downtown Alamosa, preparing to show pictures of Dubs to the casting agent. 

 




Dubs, on sound check. 

Upon seeing the multiple pictures of Dubs, (some of which included me), the casting agent immediately put us in contact with the director of the proposed movie, proclaiming that Dubs would be perfect for the suggested role.  As luck would have it, the casting agent saw something in me as well, and, much to my surprise, recommended me for a bit part in the movie, playing a waitress/cashier.

 

Needless to say, within a couple of hours, I received a call from New York City, from the director of the movie, asking if we would like to participate in the production of the film.  Dubs and I, beside ourselves with giddiness and anticipation, agreed to sign on, with filming slated to begin 10/12.

 

I've kept this uber quiet for the last few days, not sure if I should post about it or keep it under wraps.  Today, my questions were answered.  This morning at 6:30, Dubs and I showed up at the set, which was situated adjacent to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. While I can't discount the fact that we were both nervous, we came prepared to act out our scenes (which had previously been forwarded to us by email).
 



Some of the staff "resetting" everything to prepare for another take

Upon our arrival, in the wee hours of dawn, we were thrilled to be greeted by a large group of movie staffers.  The director, his 1st Assistant Director, gaffers, grips, and a bevy of other positions were represented, as well as other actors in the movie. 

 

Having made our respective acquaintances, we proceeded to load out to our first set site, a tiny gas station called "My Sister's Place", situated about 18 miles north of Alamosa, in a quiet, pastoral setting.  Dubs was first up on the docket, playing the role of a seasoned cowboy.  The script called for him to drive up in an old, faded grey Ford pickup truck, and proceed into the gas station, as if to buy cigarettes, groceries, etc.  As Dubs is finalizing his purchase, "Marcus", the main character in the movie, (who had previously been chilling in the gas station), proceeds to steal his truck, burning rubber as Dubs busts through the door, trying in vain to stop the carjacker.  All in all, the stolen-truck scene was shot and re-shot, from various angles, about 10 times, until the desired effect was achieved.  In the meantime, I sat demurely in the background, preferring to remain low-key, until my presence was requested.

Between takes, ready to try again

Soon enough  (i.e., yawnnn...6 hours later), around 3 p.m., Dubs and I headed over to our second set locale, a cozy little gas station located just minutes from The Great Sand Dunes National Park.

 

Suddenly, and cataclysmically, it was MY turn.  I only had 3 lines to memorize...quite simple, really.  Still,  my stomach churned incessantly as I continued to doubt myself and my acting ability, the latter of which is virtually non-existent.

 

Fortunately, the crew and cast were completely understanding, and forgiving.  I have no doubt that they sensed my apprehension and nervousness, (having never played a theatrical role in my life), yet they continued to urge me on, encouraging me for my efforts.  In short, we had the scene nailed within 5 takes, from 2 different camera angles.  After the shoot, they told me that I did a great job...by not trying to "over-act" my role, but just being myself.  I guess nailing a scene in 3 takes or less is good???

At both set locations, we were beset with copious amounts of delicious food, too keep us going through the long day of shooting.  We enjoyed homemade cinnamon rolls, sandwiches, salads, BBQ brisket, and a veritable buffet of desserts!  They even had real Blueberry Lemonade, with real blueberries frozen into the ice cubes!  It was heavenly!


They had some really
high tech equipment

 



Dubs with one of the "slates" that they
begin every scene with

Anyway, Dubs and I are on Cloud 9, and not just because of our mad love for each other, but that we had the opportunity to participate in a legitimate movie shoot...a once in a lifetime experience.  They want me back on 10/21 to do a closing scene.  Must be doing something right. 

   

 

Ciao! (I hear that all the big-time stars say that...)

Horsey Dreams

and

Chardonnay Kisses!

Here Comes the Sun

Looking forward to a sunshine-y day tomorrow.  After two days of grey skies and nearly constant precipitation, we are giving our solar array/deep cycle batteries their first real test. 

Good news: despite a lack of sun, and the fact that we have been continuously charging cell phones  and laptops, playing the stereo 24/7, (it's how we get our weather warnings), and operating the lights and fans in the trailer, the batteries are still holding at 12.2 volts.  The lowest voltage that we have observed during this period was 11.8 volts.  Due to the high wattage of our panels, and the judicious use of our electrical resources, we have proven that we can maintain an adequate power supply despite a lack of full sun.

Between our sustainable electricity supply and our Propane Tank Wood Stove, we are warm, safe and connected to the world.

Signing off for the night with a picture of me and Nicci, one of our Great Pyrenees pups, 16 days old.  The other pup is Buttercup...one of Nicci's sisters.

Horsey dreams and Chardonnay kisses.

Cece

Rainy Day (Pioneer) Women

As the 40° rain comes down outside, I sit here warm and cozy, catching my breath and reflecting upon recent events as Dubs concocts his next masterpiece. 

 

He's working on designing a large kennel for the dogs, complete with its own heating system.  But what is really special about this kennel will be the choice of building materials.  He explained to me that he plans to build the kennels with walls made from concrete and repurposed aluminum beverage cans.  He built a small test wall using plain mud and cans at our previous residence as "proof of concept".  People familiar with "Earthship" building techniques will have heard of this method of wall construction.  This method also saves a ton of money on concrete!  From an engineering standpoint, these walls are both strong, owing to the "honeycomb" of concrete created by placing the cans in it before the concrete hardens, and energy efficient, due to the dead air space created by the cans inside the wall.  A standard 8" thick concrete wall only has an insulating value of ~R4, while the use of this building technique can raise this number into the R20 range!

 

An aluminum can and concrete wall

Once the walls have been built up to the desired height, another layer of concrete will be "smeared" over each side to create a wall that is strong, energy-efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.

Dubs showed me his sketches, but he wouldn't let me publish them yet.  He says he's still got some "adjustments" to make to the design.  I can tell you that there will be another wood stove constructed from a repurposed propane tank to keep the kennels heated on the long cold winter nights.  Dubs also incorporated some "passive" heating techniques to distribute the heat from the wood stove throughout the individual spaces for the dogs.  There is also a solarium on the south side of the structure, to get maximum solar gain, and use yet more passive solar heating during daylight hours.  Stay tuned as this concept develops.

 

As the rain continues to pour from the sky, I find myself wishing there was a "legal" way we could use all this "free" water!  While it is illegal in Colorado to catch rainwater, without an "augmented" well permit, a little bit of it gets caught in our large stock tank anyway. Every little bit helps. Every drop is precious.

Till next time, Horsey Dreams and Chardonnay Kisses!

Hauling Water

Today was one of those 6 hour water treks that I referred to in my post from yesterday. 

Dubs, Roy and I went to check out a new artesian well today, in our never-ending quest for water.  The good news: we found a well, about 28 miles from the ranch, that will be easily accessible in the snowy months ahead.  The well that we have been previously hauling from is in Paradise Acres, about 3 miles from La Veta Pass (9,400'), and is quite remote and difficult to access.  The bad news: we didn't have the necessary equipment, (I.e. a water pump), to fill up our IBC totes, so we hand-filled and carried 7 gallon water containers repeatedly until we had 375 gallons in our various tanks.  Filling and moving 53 seven gallon containers of water is exhausting and taxing.  Fortunately, all I had to do was fill the containers from the well and stack them repetitively on the bank until we reached 53.  Dubs and Roy did the real work, lifting the jugs into Black Betty and pouring them into the IBC tank.  Who knew that 7 gallons of water weighs about 60 pounds?  My rotator cuff is not happy right now.

At any rate, since this is going to be our primary watering hole, at least for the winter, we will come prepared next time, with PVC attachments pumps, hoses, etc.  A basic water pump runs around $150, and can fill a 300 gallon container in about 20 minutes....much better than hand carrying water in the darkness, to the tune of 53  containers. 

Slowly but surely we are gaining a foothold in this pioneer life.  We have electricity through our solar panels,  heat through our Propane Tank Wood Stove, and a constant supply of water from a year-round artesian well.  Life is good.

Promise to post more tomorrow.  Like I said, today was a 6 hour water collection ordeal, and definitely a learning experience.  We learn as we go, and aren't afraid of the future.

Until later,

Horsey dreams and Chardonnay kisses

P.S.  The wood stove has the temp inside the trailer at 92°.  Cozy city!!!