Hounds for the Holidays

Well, we are officially ahead of schedule. We have taken the photos for our annual Christmas card, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. That's a milestone!

This year's card will feature a photo of each dog in holiday collar. Preview below of the chosen images.

Miss Bella


Tasha


Parker


Kingman


Macho


Sparky


Figgy

Parker and the Rat

OK, this one's all in fun. Parker and the rat are vying for the title of "Most Scary Grin". Who do you think is the winner?



Happy Halloween!

Can you help?

First, I have to say that this is out of my comfort zone. I don't like to ask for money, and often would rather work for free than have to bill someone. Maybe it's the whole karma thing, but I always hope for the best.

I feel better since my request isn't for me personally. My "cause" is the Verde Valley Humane Society. I have been serving as the board president for three years and in that time we have been doing our best to gather money to build a new facility to replace our 23 year old building. Through generous donations and special people, we gathered enough money to start the project this March. Project completion is near, but we need to raise an additional $150,000 to get it done. This is where I ask for money...$10, $100, $10,000, whatever you feel you could donate to this project. It's a tax-deductible donation, we are an IRS approved 501(c)3 organization. After so many years, we are so close, it just pains me to see us stop due to lack of funds. (And if you are wondering if I support my own cause, the answer is "YES", through donations of time, materials and several thousand dollars...)

So can you help? Will you help? You can donate in money in several ways:

• You can sponsor me in our "Drive for the Last Mile" golf fundraiser. I'm supposed to hit 100 balls into the hole, and need sponsors for at least $1.00 per hole. If you want to help me to help them, click here to send me an email and I will get you the details. If the email doesn't work for you, just comment on this blog with your contact info.
• You can go to our website and click on the donation link and send money via PayPal. That's fast and easy.
• You can send a check to us at the address below:
  Verde Valley Humane Society
  P.O. Box 1429
  Cottonwood, AZ 86326
  Make checks payable to: VVHS Building Fund

You can be anonymous or have your name published as a donor. In either case, we will send you a donation receipt for tax purposes.

If I haven't lost you yet, please read more about our Humane Society below. The photo below is of the existing building when it was opened in 1986.


When the building was opened the size was appropriate for our needs. Sadly, today is it grossly undersized, and many of the dog kennels are outdoors. Something is always in need of repair. The staff have no place to eat lunch or take a break except outdoors, under a corrugated metal roof and next to the crematory. In the heat of summer or the cold of winter, both animals and people are not in a good place.

Why we need to finish our new building:

• The current facility can no longer accommodate the rapidly increasing population of the Verde Valley. VVHS already cares for 1900-2400 animals per year.
• The current 3000 sq. ft. shelter is inadequate in many ways. Many kennels are open to the elements and all areas are overcrowded. There is no area to isolate animals with illnesses or injuries, which causes unnecessary euthanization.
• This society’s policy uses euthanasia as a last resort. Animals with serious behavior or health problems are euthanized, but at times perfectly healthy animals die simply due to a lack of space.
• The new facility will give VVHS additional dog kennels and cat cages. It will also include get-acquainted rooms, clinic/exam room, grooming area, laundry facility, ample storage areas and adequate staff facilities.
• A new facility will provide space (in the existing facility) for rehabilitating animals that are abused physically or emotionally, and allow them time for recovery before adoption.

The photo below is our "work-in-progress". The outside is nearly complete, the inside has drywall up and the basics installed. Paint is in process, as is the flooring. We're getting very close, and our contractor has been working very closely with our CEO to ensure we maximize every dollar we spend.




You can read more at our website

Thank you for reading all the way through, and thank you in advance for any donation that you make. We're all counting on you!

Funny How This Happens...Here's Macho!

So here we go again. It has been just a couple of weeks since we lost Tillie. As we have always said, we don't go looking for dogs, they find us. We had an open bed and there was a dog in desperate need of a loving home.

Macho had been adopted out in 2000. Since then his people have fallen on hard times, and have been neglecting his care and health. We had heard of him nearly two years ago, and thought he would be surrendered back to our adoption group. But his owner changed her mind and let go of her other dog instead. He needed better care even then, but there was nothing we could do at the time.

Recently the same person was seeking assistance to pay for his basic needs, and he still needed much more. This time a friend stepped in and got the surrender paperwork signed. She took him in to see her veterinarian for some "triage". He was covered in fleas, had a toenail growing well into the pad on one foot, has teeth that are absolutely nasty and smell rotten. He's got a slight fever and heart murmur, probably a result of all those bad teeth. Of course our group agreed to take him back. And we agreed to take him in.



So here's Macho. He's been in to see Dr. Flannery, and we waiting for all the test results. A full blood panel, fecal exam, x-rays and general evaluation. He's on strong antibiotics for awhile to get things under control before we can begin dental work. It's likely he will lose most of his teeth, they are so bad. But in the last 48 hours he has had the nail clipped, and the wound dressed. He has had a flea bath and is clean again. His diet has improved 2000% over the "Ol Roy" canned food he was getting. We've started him on vitamins and supplements, and he's eating with gusto.

I'm hopeful that in a month or so he will have his weight down a few pounds, the arthritis pain managed, the nails in order, the teeth cleaned or removed, and generally look like the other healthy hounds that live in our home. He has fit in with all of the pack, and is working on learning the dog door. So far he has gone out, but not back in yet. The photo below shows how he is integrating...



This boy will be 12 in October. There are many similarities between Macho and Tillie:

• Both were close to 11 when we took them in
• Both have long soft fuzzy fur
• Both are cow-spotted (Tillie black, Macho red)
• Both were in poor condition
• Both needed serious dental work
• Both are very much loved in our family

Stay tuned for updates!

Tillie Moo 8/17/97 - 7/24/09

For those friends not on Facebook, just a sad note to advise of Tillie's passing. We released her on 7/24 from her cancer pain. She was with us but two short years, and would have been 13 years old in August. Those past two years were wonderful for both Tillie and all of us. We wouldn't have traded it for anything.

She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in May, and we vowed not to put her through any excessive treatments. We kept her happy and managed the pain until she no longer was our happy girl. Sometimes it is best to let go. We have so much technology at our disposal, but there are times it is more appropriate not to use it.

We adopted her when she was nearly 11 years old. She had been found in the desert, wandering around. Animal control picked her up, and our adoption group (GPA-AZ) took her in. She had heartworm, and needed to be treated for that, also several teeth needed to come out. She was in pretty rough shape, but her foster parents, Jan & Bud, took care of her and got her to a better condition. If she hadn't chased their cat, she would have stayed with them. Instead, she came to us in May of 2007. Seniors are great, we would adopt one again. Don't overlook the old kids...

Deb's Fireplace Dream

OK, I admit, it's hard to think "fireplace" when the temps are over 100 degrees. But what better time to take on a project? Since we moved in, Deb has envisioned a "mountain lodge" type of fireplace and mantel. After five years it was time to pursue it. The old fireplace was designed to burn wood, but had a gas log in it. There was a blower, ostensibly to provide heat to the room. Yeah, right...with noise like a loud bathroom fan (can't use it and watch TV) and so much heat you might think you had a hot flash while in the snow. See below for the original look)



We started by selecting a fireplace that could actually provide heat. It's a "furnace rated" unit that provides up to 45,000 BTU of heat output. That's enough for a small house, and should do an excellent job of keeping the great room/kitchen, office area warm. We like cool bedrooms at night, and this will generate heat in the center of the house, and cooler areas at the edges.

The old fireplace was removed, and the new insert roughed in.



We had an opportunity to get a great piece of wood to serve as the mantel. A large hewn log from the old Inn in Prescott. It probably saw decades of service as their mantel, and still had some cigarette burns and scars to prove it. After some sanding and an oil finish, the top is as smooth as glass. Some attractive stone was procured and the work was scheduled to be done.

First step, tear out the old hearth and mantel box...all sheetrock and plywood. Then start framing up the new hearth, column supports and backing for the stone.



Stone is being set...


And as always, a floor supervisor to assist...



And after 5 days...of labor, voila! Here's the finished project!


Products used:
Heatilator CNXT4842 (heatilator.com)
Tivoli Stone "Toscana Plateau" (tivolistone.com)

What is APS Thinking...Or What, Is APS Thinking?

OK, so here's the WTF item of the day. APS sent out a cheery email telling me to check out their website and the new account information available. Things like comparisons of our usage to others, how much it costs to run our household, how our bill compares this year to last year. You get the idea.

So I went to the site and logged in. As I reviewed the one page synopsis, something stood out. As you all know, we went solar this year, and have a grid-tied system. We generate more than we use, typically 2 to 3 times more each day than the daily consumption. Our bills hover around the $8.00 range now each month. So APS shows me a handy bar graph of my electric cost and how we stack up to "our neighbors". Sort of like the yellow sticker on a refrigerator showing how the annual cost of that model compares to others. The little chart is below. Look closely...


So according to them, my home using $8 in the last month uses more energy than similar homes in my area. More? Sure, like my average neighbors (none of whom generate electricity) have $7 bills? What kind of math do they use? I've sent them an inquiry, and we'll see how they respond. For your reading enjoyment, the entire page is below, just click on the image to see it full size and legible.



Standing by...so far no response from APS to my inquiry.

Ever Had A Dutch Baby?

OK, if you didn't know this already, a Dutch Baby is a breakfast dish. It's a batter-based delicacy that's cooked in a Dutch Oven or a cast iron skillet. Below you see two in the oven, one in a skillet and one in a Dutch Oven. It starts out as batter in the bottom and rises to heights above the container while cooking. When done, it is golden brown on the outside and soft and light on the inside, much like a popover. Typically you would squeeze some fresh lemon over it and dust it wish powdered sugar (...or bury it in powdered sugar!)


The next photo shows it on the counter being served.



The last photo was taken with the kitchen "sky cam" and shows our friends having the Dutch Baby for breakfast. Deb has mastered the creation of this breakfast treat, and we look forward to our special weekend breakfast.

Now if a certain friend in Utah could just come over and share breakfast and a few days with us...

I'm Going to Kanab!

It's time for the annual Greyhound Gathering in Kanab, Utah. This year we had to pick the trio that would attend with us. That's a tough choice! We decided on Parker (featured here), Kingman and Bella, or as they are affectionately known, "Gimpy, Limpy and Kingman".

We opted to let Tillie and Figgy remain in their lounge-a-beds at home, since Tillie at nearly 13 doesn't have the endurance for all day events and parades, and Figgy at 10 gets bored just standing around (she'd rather walk somewhere or be on a couch). Besides, five hounds in the van is a little cramped, and we don't want anyone to get their tails in a twist!

So off we shall go to beautiful Kanab tomorrow morning. We'll meet up with friends and hundreds of other Greyhounds. This is our third year attending, and it is always a blast.

So stand by for photos upon our return, there should be some good ones!

Solar Production - April 2009

April is behind us, May on the horizon. As we close out another month of being a solar-powered home, I thought I would share our production stats:

Last day results:

The longer days are giving us between 60-63 kWh per day. This is roughly two to three times our current usage, with all the surplus being banked with the utility as credits for upcoming months. The lifetime total is since the system was commission in February. We're into our fourth megawatt of generated power!





This next chart represents the daily production for each day in April. You can see a few days where we were at about 40 kWh for the day, these were cloudy days, yet we still made more than our usage for the day. The vary short bar was a day of clouds, rain and dark skies. Not bad overall!





Finally, here's the clip from the utility bill. For the second month now, our bill is $8.54, which is the charge to be a customer (administration, billing and meter reading fees, plus all the taxes). Our credits of kWh last month were 349, this month we are at 955, nearly a megawatt of credit. The bill for this month last year was $128. Stay tuned for the next update!

Happy Easter!

Parker
Kingman
Figgy

First Billing for Total Solar Month

We just received the March bill from APS. This marks the first bill where we generated our own electricty for the entire month. At the time of the meter read, we had 349 kWh in credits (now over 480 just a few days later). The total bill is for $8.54, with the breakdown being: (click on the image at right to see the details)

Basic service charge $1.74
Metering $2.48
Meter reading $1.71
Billing $1.92
Regulatory assessment $0.01
State sales tax $$0.44
County sales tax $0.06
City sales tax $0.18

At this time last year we used $3.71/day, this cycle was $0.27, and it is all admin charges and taxes. The days are getting longer, and we generate more each day. Last month we got about 44 kWh out of a day, yesterday it was 58.8 kWh. I'm curious to see what the peak amount per day can be.

Stay tuned....

Parker survives an odd incident

It was back in early February...I was in my office working and Parker ran in and bounced onto his bed. He had just come in from the back yard, and was his usual happy self...and then I looked over and saw the gash on his nose! He had blood all over his face, but didn't seem to mind. OMG! What happened?

We never did discover what the cause was. We treated the wound at home with a mix of powdered sage and styptic powder. It formed a large covering like a scab over the wound. It wasn't pretty, but it stopped the bleeding and protected it.

After a week or so the powder began to flake off, and we began using warm compresses on the wound to help the remaining powder to wear off. Once it was gone, we used vitamin E oil to cover and soothe the area. Now, two months later the wound has healed and there's barely a scar to show. The fur is grown back, and he's as handsome as ever!

Hopefully we won't have anything like this again.

Production Numbers are UP!

We have crossed the 1 megawatt line in our production. This took just about one month. Today was the highest single day's production as well--over 53 kWh! We have a "bank" of over 110 kWh with the utility now. This will help in hot summer months when we are running all the air conditioning units. For now, it gets stored as credits on the account.

First Billing Cycle - Post Solar Installation

This is the first bill from APS (the electric utility) since the solar grid-tie system was installed. The first image below is the breakdown of usage prior to install. The second is the breakdown post-install. That's the kind of bill I can live with now!



Post-install:



In that time period we had a net usage of 6 kWh. Currently we are sitting on a credit of nearly 51kWh as of 8am...and we're already selling back. Probably will be a credit of 80kWh by end of day!

Solar Production Update

Here's the current production number:



Today was another day of some sun and some clouds, on the one really sunny day we've had in the last week, we did close to 43 kWh. So we are waiting for good, full sun days, maybe in a week or so...there are storms forecast for this weekend.

APS (the utility) changed our meter yesterday to the new digital meter. No more "spinning backwards", just numbers--boring.

Second sunny day...

Production stat's for day two:



Not too bad considering it was cloudy today. This more than meets our average daily usage, and puts credits in with APS. Bummer is stormy weather ahead for a couple of days. Upside, rain will wash the solar panels!

We're online!

As of 12:00pm today, we are officially "online"and generating power. And yes, the meter is spinning backwards! We'll see how much we contribute by evening today, I'll report again then. In the meantime, current production is about 6500 Watts. Bruce Rogers (B.W. Rogers Electric) and Sylvia Cedillo (APS) were the team that inspected and turned on the system today. The whole event lasted about 15 minutes. Thanks to Bruce for the clean install that was so easy to inspect and approve.

Electrician and Inspector


Meter in action (first meter is solar production, second is utility meter running backwards)


Day's summary


Overview for today

Today should be Sun-Day!

According to my reliable source, today is supposed to be the day that APS (our electric company) comes out and commissions our solar electric system. Stand by for news!

Can you draw the Greyhound?

Hounds!

No, I can't take credit. A local artist came by for dinner the other night and sketched some images of the hounds. Now if we can convince him to do a group portrait...

Tillie (above)


Figgy (above)


Parker (above)