July 26, 2018

Our propane tank arrived yesterday and is snug in it's big hole! 

We will change out all of the heating system in the house to propane once it arrives - propane furnace, demand propane hot water, propane cook top and propane fireplace.  Will also have a heat pump installed for summer air conditioning.  Will drop a line to the shop to heat the "warm room" where the water treatment facility will be located, to keep it from freezing.  We will make it about 10x12 or so, and put the extra fridge and the chest freezer in there as well.  Can easily heat it with a small heater.   They can also drop a connection for the motor home so we can attach to it and have propane for heat in it during the winter, as we use it during that time and therefore don't winterize.    Will be nice once we get it in.  Mike can also add space heaters powered by propane in his shop as we get that area developed - will probably be the kind that hang from the rafters like you see in commercial buildings.

Contractor finished ditching out the water line this morning, so that is all ready for water system to be finished up. We can run water and power in the same ditch, and will run an extra power line down to where we want to put the flag pole and probably Christmas lights.  Got the final bid from the pump contractor for our piping our water up from the well today.  Had to take a few Valium and have a few stiff drinks after looking that one over!  But when we are all done, we will have a solid, dependable water system, for which we are thankful.

Heard from Avista (the power company) and they will schedule us in after August 7th to put in our power - easements all signed so that is ready to go.  Once the power is in, we will activate the water system.

Still waiting on the contractor for the shop - hope to start that soon - maybe next week?

As you can see from the pictures, things are starting to brown up now, but everyone here says it is still surprisingly green for late July.  Lower fields and upper meadow are still pretty green, but hillsides are starting to go brown now.  Temps have been in high 90's, Tuesday was cooler, but highs up to 100 predicted later this week.  Humidity is low (less than 20%) which really helps, as does the nice northeast wind that was blowing yesterday.  We have learned wind from the north/northeast is usually cooler, and southerly winds (called "fire winds") are hot and dry.

Got to run for now....

Glennis