My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

NorthAthenian I've never tried turnip wine but I think it would probably be very good as turnip is fairly sweet. The best wine I remember my Dad making was beetroot wine - it turns white. At my sister's wedding, which ended up in my parents home, the home-made wine cupboard was raided and marrow rum was talked about for years later as being superb.

I too like spy novels Ludlum being my favourite so far. I've read all of Terry Pratchett's disc world novels at least twice. I am currently re-reading M C Beaton's Hamish Macbeth & also her Agatha Raisin (both slightly comic detective). I hate it when a series I've loved comes to an end (Kelley Armstrong's Rockton novels). When I am reading the outside world doesn't exist, and people have to call my name more than once for my attention. 

I have some poppy seeds I collected from my Mum's garden a few years ago (huge pink ones and some read ones). I will give them a try next year and see if they are still viable.

Lunch the same as usual. Dinner - sandwiches as DH brought back some lovely bread.

It’s been very windy so the batteries and power packs are all fully charged.

DH went into town today for something work related. Since he was there, he made the best of using the petrol by doing a number of jobs for the house. Taking some books to the charity shop for me; buying milk, eggs, cheese, bread and toilet rolls (using a £20 voucher that was part of a home insurance renewal deal); posting an eBay sale parcel; stocking up on pet food; buying petrol; sorting out a query at the banking hub. A good few jobs done.

A metal gate that I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. I’ll help DH install it when we get a day of good weather.

A load of laundry done today, and air dried despite the very high wind. Also, picked and cooked some beetroot to add to salads over the next couple of days. I think I only have one more load of beetroot left in the ground. I’ve baked some coconut buns and a Victoria sandwich cake that will last a few days. I’ve started to sew some felt strawberries and I’ll finish them over the next couple of days.

AnimalTribe

Lunch the usual. Dinner will be pasta with tomato and herb sauce.

A bit of a disaster yesterday. The generator has broken down. If it’s sunny or windy the batteries will top up and the house electrics will work (including the main lights). If it’s like today no wind, no sun then the generator would normally switch on automatically. 

Instead, DH has to drag a small backup generator from the shed (it’s heavy) and plug it into the freezers and fridge to keep them running. It can be used to charge the portable power packs that we can then use for the internet, phones, laptops etc. They won’t run the main lights though (so torches it is). It also means that today and yesterday DH had to go out in the pouring rain to connect it, and that there are cables trailing all over the floors. 

It will take a while for an engineer to come out to inspect the generator and it will likely be an expensive repair. I suspect we will be living like this for weeks and being extra careful with what we power up. The mini generator has to stay outside and DH is now having to consider the best way to leave it in situ and protect it from the elements. Unfortunately, such things are par for the course in off-grid living and DH and I just get on with it. Luckily we both have a decent sense of humour.

To top it all off the dog barfed all over a rug yesterday. I’ve been keeping an eye on her, but she’s absolutely fine today. I think she just gobbled her food too fast. Also, today DH tripped outside and fell heavily on his knee. Fortunately, it’s just very sore and bruised (not broken), and he’d just put the generator down, otherwise it could have been very bad indeed.

As electricity is limited for the moment, I’m switching to spending most of the day crafting and reading. DH has internet access via a phone so he can manage what he needs to. I’m only logging onto the internet for a few minutes a day and then switching the plug off. My oven is calor gas so cooking isn't affected.

AnimalTribe

Lunch the usual. Dinner will be vegetable soup from the freezer with some nice crusty bread.

It turned very windy yesterday evening and thankfully the wind was coming from the right direction so the batteries were fully charged and the house electricity ran normally. So, no cables or need to go out in the rain last night.

It's been windy today as well so the charged batteries should see us through until tomorrow. 

The dog hasn't been sick anymore so it was just a one time thing - thankfully. She is getting on a bit now.

I didn't do much extra today just pickled some cucumber and did a bit of sewing. 

northAthenian

  I'm sorry to read about the generator troubles, I hope it's a less costly fix than you anticipate & gets done sooner than expected. having hobbies that don't require electricity can be very handy.. and as that was 3 incidents, sure that's you done - i hold strongly to the "it comes in threes" saying!!  ( surely that's the end of your blip in the universe's luck allocation..maybe Great A'Tuin was off course..)
  

AnimalTribe

northAthenian – thanks. I have an emergency fund for generator repairs so if worst comes to worst I’m covered. It’s been windy today so the batteries and the portable power packs are all topped up. Funny you should mention Great A’Tuin as I’ve just been watching a turtle rescue.

DH and I went in to town early today, to ensure that we got parked. As it was really early, we had breakfast at a café there. At the greengrocers I managed to find a Padron chilli and a Scotch Bonnet chilli. I also, got some prickly pears and a dragon fruit. I bought all of them to save the seeds. Of course, I will use the rest of the produce too. I also bought some apples and bananas, as although I have frozen berries and tinned fruit, DH loves apples and I love bananas – and we just had to have some.

Lunch the usual. An early dinner of veggie spaghetti bolognaise.

It is very cold here so I’ve put on an extra layer rather than turning the heating up.

AnimalTribe

DH had to put the small generator on this morning and laid cables to the fridge and freezers, but the sun picked up and the batteries were partly charged so he was able to switch off the small generator. The portable power packs are fully charged and will be used for the fridge and freezers overnight. Things aren't going badly so far.

Lunch the usual. Dinner corn on the cob.

I picked the last of the beetroot today and found an onion that I'd missed. I also, picked the last of the courgettes as they were beginning to get nibbled and the solitary marrow. There'll be lots of veggie stew on the menu over the next couple of weeks. I also, made veggie rocky road.

DH has sold two more things on eBay and I've sold some Halloween earrings.