9 November, 2011
Our morning tea-and-toast conversation focussed on our electrical system, and whether or not we can actually reduce our energy use enough to avoid having to add additional solar panels and batteries. Lorena thinks we should consider additional panels oriented to better capture the winter sun. This would almost certainly require mounting panels on the cabin roof, as she does not want to have them in a highly visible spot in the meadow, which is actually much closer to the generator shed.
The core problem in trying to avoid adding hardware to our electrical system is my mother. She cranks the propane fireplace in her cabin to 80F yet often leaves the door open. This means that her refrigerator is often struggling to stay cool. Even though we installed expensive, energy-efficient LED lights in her place, she frequently leaves the closet and bathroom lights on. Second only to the refrigerator is her television — Mom falls asleep while watching TV and the set may be on all or most of the night.
We can think of no practical way to cut down on her energy use. In fact, when I suggested that she try to be more careful with the televison and lights, Mom reacted by turning everything off, as if it is an “all or none” proposition. She tried a similar stunt when I asked her to turn down the heat while the door was left open. “Turn off the propane, I don’t need it!”
Marshall came to help with chores yesterday, bearing a gift of fresh chanterelle mushrooms. He found the mushrooms in the woods near the DNR gate, so when he left in late afternoon Chico and I climbed into the back of his truck and hitched a ride to the pipeline road. The three of us wandered through the second growth forest on both sides of the pipeline, finding the occasional chanterelle. This regrowth is mature enough now that the forest is beginning to open up, with lovely mossy areas and lots of distinct game trails. It was Chico’s first genuine walk-in-the-woods so I was pleased to see that he stuck close to me. On those few occasions when he wandered out of sight, he also came back quickly when called.
I eventually lost sight of Marshall and after half an hour or more found myself back near the McCoy Trail, just south of the Bowman Mountain logging road. In other words, no more than a quarter of mile from our cabin. I had about two pounds of chanterelles and oyster mushrooms when I finally gave up. I was also fairly well soaked, very thirsty and quite tired, even a bit dizzy. The next time we do this I will be sure to carry my daypack with water and a sitting pad, perhaps even a radio. On these cold grey wet days I can easily imagine how easy it would be to get into a fairly serious pickle even while quite close to home.