Weekend playtime

I've been away from the blog for a while-my computers graphics displays were all messed up (the technical term) but everything is resolved now. I have some fun news; Tom and I are taking a class together- introduction to domestic solar hot water. It is put on by the Midwest renewable Energy Association-or MREA. We are hoping to install a solar hot water system, from what I can gather a closed system for a family of 4 costs in the neighborhood of $10,000-but there are a number of federal, state and utility rebates available now which bring the price down and the system would then pay for itself within a few years. I can see the wheels turning in my husbands brain; there are a series of classes available through MREA which would lead to becoming a certified solar hot water installer-the first of which we go to in the end of March. He may be considering a second career path :)

I borrowed a copy of the Bartholomew -Square Foot Gardening book. Love it. I am going to try to restrain myself a bit so as not to get overwhelmed and frustrated -gardening IS supposed to be enjoyable. I can see that I want a sun box of some sort to get seedlings off to a good start-and as soon is the snow is gone from the S side of my house I will work on that.

This weekend we had a play day at ArkWorks Farm- the temps were in the 40's and the sun was shining so we went for a walk in the woods ( there is still 2 feet of snow out there-but our old snowshoe trails are walkable) and then built a fire at our camper site-the girls had fun re-discovering their tree forts and playing with the melt water running across the trail. Spring seems to be coming a little early for us-and we just missed the 6 inches of snow our neighbors 20 miles south received!

Sunbathing in WI


The view down the hill from our camper site to ArkWorks Farm,