Update on "What I've done to prep this week"

It's been a little over a week since I last posted, so I thought I'd update what we have done lately to prepare.  We are preparing for more drought this summer, and possible wildfires again.  PH installed a rain water catchment system on the barn tonight.  I was so surprised and very happy.  I had sent him the link at work, for "the list" after the house project was completed, or at a standstill.  He came home tonight with the supplies.  We had the bakery buckets already, as well as, the three concrete blocks (exactly the number needed!) and a friend of his had the barrels.  He purchased the gutter, connectors, downspout and faucet. 

Here are the directions (I'll take pictures in the morning of our new water collection system):  http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Rainwater-Collection-System

We are keeping the fences cleared, and the wood pile stacked neatly and away from fence lines.  We are making sure the 1100 gallon water tank is topped off, and the fire hoses and sprinklers are on the shelf, waiting and in good repair plus actually working.

Brush has been burned in the fire pit, and the goats are keeping the dried brush away from our fence line by poking their heads through and eating it.  A few also like to escape to eat in the adjoining fields.  Our neighbors to the North doesn't mind, he doesn't live there and only comes out once a month or so.  The property to the South is vacant and unsold, and the land agent is okay with the goats meandering over there every now and then.  I'd love to put a gate in that side, for them to be able to go eat to their heart's content.

We've been busy working on the new house too this weekend.  PH finished putting up the boards to wall in the house.  The kids and I (mostly just me) cleaned up inside.  Collecting nails, screws and tools and placing them in a container, throwing out all trash, stacking useable lumber, and placing scraps in a bucket for the wood stove.  Afterwards, we swept the entire house free of sawdust, dirt and assorted debris.  It looks pretty good in there ;-) I'm ready to move in...

Backside

View of the ceiling in the loft

The view from one of the 2nd story windows

I always wanted a fireplace in my bedroom

The weather has been HOT lately.  I don't mean just your average almost 100 degree hot, but 116 at 4:30 p.m. hot.  The kind of hot when you walk outside your skin starts shriveling up.  The garden is doing great though...cantelopes are ripening, and PH brought in SEVEN of them this morning.  Our 2 year old PS asked for me to cut one right away, and then he ate 1/2 of another before going to bed...Ah, diaper changing should be fun tomorrow...I wish potty training was advancing better.  Boys are so much harder to potty train than girls (sigh).

PH has been working on our new cabin.  This time a REAL cabin, and not a 45 foot long, 8 foot wide metal shipping container that this PW calls a cabin to make herself feel better. 

I did laundry today, and sometime around 7 p.m., PH noticed the small pond by the bridge was totally dry.  Confused as to why he went over to the well and fiddled around with it.  Soon PH popped up with a bunch of words I cannot print here, and almost looked as if he was going to cry.

Apparently, our well pump is not working, and we didn't notice this...our 1100 gallon water tank that was supposed to be our safe guard in case the pump stopped working was practically empty.  Because PH didn't know the main well wasn't refilling the tank, he had basically drained it dry (my two loads of laundry didn't help I am sure) while he was mixing cement to put the piers in for the new house.  There is a foot of water in the tank.  So effective NOW we are shut down.  We have no water for laundry or bathing.  Praise the Lord!  This PW had the foresight to purchase those big blue water storage containers and had them filled, plus several plastic jugs of water. 

I had also cleaned and added water to the above ground pool, so the water level is blessedly high and it's clean.  So, because we couldn't take a shower we went swimming.  I then washed my hair, while standing in the grass, and poured a bucket of water over my head (it's one of the kid's buckets to fill with sand at the beach).  PH looked at me like I was crazy, but he soon relented.  After working in the hot sun all day, he was fragrant.  And not with the sweet, smell of prairie grass, but a really great prairie funk!  He soaped up from head to toe, and poured a couple of buckets over his head, then went swimming.  Good thing we live in the country!  Wouldn't want the neigbhors shocked over flagrant
"nekkidness". 

On the agenda tomorrow after church, PH and I will head over to our town house (soon to be sold I hope) and fill up water containers.  Good thing the main pond is full.  PH had been keeping it filled for the horses, and the rain a couple of weeks ago, has the pond overflowing.  The horses and goats should be okay for awhile.  This will give us time to get the well fixed, and maybe God will send us rain in the meantime.

This is a good lesson in a "survival" situation.  If this was when TMHTF (The Manure Hitting the Fan) what would our options be?  Personally, PW (that's me) has been "gently" encouraging PH to install a windmill, solarjack or Bison hand pump, but PH believes that is a "STUPID" idea.  I'm not so sure.  If we had the windmill, it would still be turning, if we had the hand pump, we could take turns pumping it to fill the 1100 gallon water tank, and then we'd have a water supply.  (sigh)

So, for the next few weeks we will be using our travel toilet, and digging an outhouse.  Hauling water from the pond to flush with is no fun.  Been there, done that....NO FUN!

We have drinking water, and can bathe at the town house, or have a sponge bath.  I did get the solar shower bag out of the box in the kitchen, and will fill it and hang it up outside the door.  This will allow PH to rinse the dirt off and go to bed clean and ready for work on Monday.

Washing clothes will be in my Wonder Wash http://www.laundry-alternative.com/products/Wonderwash.html.  I received this for Christmas several years ago, and haven't had the opportunity to use it more than twice. 

This has caused me to look at my other preparations.  I noticed I am low on kerosene, and that I need new wicks for the oil lamps.  Burning oil lamps is necessary sometimes, candles don't give out a lot of light.  Candles are okay for washing dishes, but sometimes I need additional light to look for something, read, sew, etc.  An oil lamp is a poor substitute for a regular lamp, but I also have battery operated lanterns that I use on a regular basis.

Check back with us to see how we are doing, and if anyone has died from the "harsh" conditions LOL.  BTW our PDs (13 and 8) are staying with family, not because of the water situation, but because their PU (Prairie Uncle) is LOADS of fun, and likes to spoil them.