Bogieblog

Out of Quarantine

UPDATE 2/27/2024; Corrected the 2nd picture of Big Boy (middle of post). It was showing the same as the 1st pic - now it shows him under the coffee table.

I have failed to update on Big Boy once he got out of quarantine. He was allowed full access to the house a couple of days after his first round of shots, blood tests and confirmation that his roundworms were eradicated. So, on 2/6/24 the door to the gate was left open. A couple of days later he found the living room bay window is much like his previously favorite perch, the bedroom bay window.

Integration hasn't been all sunshine and roses. There have been tiffs here and there, and Rainey is the one who is the most resistant to the integration. There is no actual fighting, just hissing and growling which seems to confuse Big Boy and he normally either just lays down or tries to walk away. Spot normally gets on okay with Big Boy by leaving him alone for the most part. I'm sure at some point, even if they don't become best friends, they will at least ignore each other.

On 2/18/24, I finally got rid of all my old magazines that were underneath either end of the coffee table. I placed a pet mat on one side, and a box with a small pet blanket on the other side. Shortly thereafter, Spot had claimed one and Big Boy the other.

 

And Rainey was on the big cat tree looking like the wrong movement could be interesting, and she looks grumpy about being disturbed - LOL

Dry Clean Only - Yeah, Right

Last weekend, while the weather was warmer and we had some actual sunshine, I decided to wash the curtains from the front bedroom. Before washing, I looked at the cleaning care tag, and it said Dry Clean Only.

Well, that wasn't going to happen. First, because I'd have to travel 30 miles to get to a dry cleaner. Second, because I was pretty darn sure the curtains would be fine.

So I loaded the curtains into the washer. Using cold water and the Delicates setting, I washed them

Then I put them in the drier on Low, Delicates, Less Dry settings and let her rip (because that is how I roll - LOL).

The drier set itself for just over 30 minutes with those setting. Once it was done, the curtains were still just a bit damp and I hung them back up to finish drying.

Happy to say, they are much cleaner, no worse for the wear and less a whole bunch of cat hair - the amount of hair in the lint filter of the drier was amazing.

Welcome and Goodby

In Curious Goings on Next Door, I had mentioned a lady that had moved into the new house to the south of my property. I wasn't sure if she owned it, or was being given use of it as a displaced person from flooding. I assumed it was the latter since she was elderly, by herself (in a large 3 bedroom house), and had little furniture (only a medium sized U-haul load).

Since the, I have met the elderly lady, exchanged numbers with her, and provided transportation for her once (she wasn't feelig well but had some urgent business to take care of). In the first meeting, I found she does indeed own the house. She also gave me a tour, which confirmed that she only had furniture for the living room, her bedroom and some office stuff in a room in the basement. She also had a bed in one of the other bedrooms, but that was it.

Well, on 2/4/2024, I noticed this go up (link to listing)

In talking to her earlier last week, she is selling because she doesn't like the property taxes being so high. She may go back to NC (she has lived in NH previously in several different areas). She had mentioned at one point that she has owned 13-14 houses in this state, NC and GA.

During last week she had people over for the home inspection (and something else, but I don't recall what she said). Yesterday I noticed that there was a "Sale Pending" sign there (it was probably up earlier as the listing said a sale was pending as of 2/7/2024 - not that I look that often).

Should be interesting to see who moves there next.

Radon Testing

Living in NH, the possibility of elevated radon levels is a thing. This is the Granite State and granite contains uranium (in small amounts), which during decay, produces radon gas. Radon gas finds its way into indoor air mainly by migrating from bedrock, through the soil and into the home via cracks or other openings in the foundation.

Because of the widespread presence of granite bedrock, the state has high percentages of homes with elevated radon levels. The USGS says 55 percent of the state is more likely than not to have elevated radon in groundwater. (source)

Because of this concern, DHHS has a radon program and gives out free radon tests.

I haven’t really never thought too much about radon. When on a well, we would have our water tested occasionally. In my present home, the envelope is not very tight, so there has been a good exchange of air. However, as I've tightened things up, especially getting the old chimney sealed up and the two large windows blocked in last summer, along with the groundwater seepage up thru the basement floor, it is more of a concern. Although I still hadn't thought much about it, I ran into an ad for free radon testing. So I figured, "why not".

And, with winter being the time of year that it is most likely to build up, the timing was perfect.

I applied for a test kit and received it about 10 days ago. The test goes for at least 48 hours, so I started it last Saturday morning and ran the Monday morning. Then I packaged up the kit and sent it in, not expecting response for a couple of weeks.

This morning I opened my email, and the results were in. I am happy to report, that radon levels are below the window of concern. From the report:

Can't ask for much better than that.

2023 Tax Filing

Most years I have simple taxes, without any deductions or credits. I still use a tax program because it is much easier than going thru and checking my math 97 times (because the first 3 times I always have discrepancies - LOL).

Last year (tax year 2022) I had credits for the solar array install so the program was more than helpful. I did have to wait until the form was updated on 2/2/2023 before I could file, but that wasn't a bad delay (I like getting them in as soon as eligible). This year I have a minor credit for the combi-boiler that was installed last February as the result of the hot water heater failing and proactively replacing the 30 year old boiler. I also bought a small battery backup solution after the 3 day power outage last March. It isn't a large solution, but can be expanded and will make heating much easier to deal with if I need to.

Last weekend I completed my taxes but the program said I had to wait for updates to forms on 2/2/2024. I just went in and installed the update but now they say more updates are required and they will be out on 2/9/2024. These are required updates for at least one of the forms I am using, so I guess I'll try again next weekend.

Solar Monthly Comparisons Between Years

With just slightly over a year of solar under my belt, I thought I would do a comparison.

December of 2022 Versus 2023. It was interesting that I had more production in 2023 (the blue numbers in the pictures). At the same time, there were more snow storms in 2022, so there were 3 zero production days and 2 very low production days (some of the panels were still snow covered).

In 2023 there no zero production days and 3 days with a slight snow cover hampering production (which attests to the plethora of heavily overcast days we have had this season)

 

Comparing January 2023 with January 2024

This was interesting as the total production was basically equal between the two years (116.7kwh versus 116.9 kwh).

 

If you study the pictures, which I'm sure you haven't, the energy I've imported this season sky-rocketed compared to last season. There is a simple explanation for that; last season I used the main floor pellet stove exclusively for heating. I had lots of pellets I'd gotten for cheap, and the electric prices were sky high, so I used the cheapest method. I still use the basement pellet stove as that is the only heater down there.

This year, pellet prices have rocketed up, and electric prices have dropped. I had plenty of credited dollars with the electric company from overproduction during the summer. So, it has been cheaper to use the mini-split on the main floor for heat. I did use the P43 for 4-5 days when it was frigid and the wind was blowing, but for the most part the P43 has been resting with occasional use to give a shot of warmth on mornings I wash my hair (doubles as a heater and a blow drier - LOL).

And despite the screaming for people to go all electric (for whatever reason - doesn't matter and I'm not getting into the politics/beliefs), my utility company sent this breathtaking comparison for December usage which is basically complaining about me going mostly electric this year (yes, there is a difference in usage shown, but that is because of the "month" they use). Note that when they show "February usage" at the bottom, that is actually January 2023, they actually mean what was billed in February (they bill at the beginning of the month, so I don't have any idea why they make it confusing like that).

In that same email, they suggest ways to save energy - LOL

Sure, to "save energy" I need to add appliances like dehumidifiers and air purifiers. Not to mention, during winter high humidity is the very last worry I have.

It was good for a chuckle anyway :)

A Meal in the Making

This caught my eye Wednesday afternoon. Yes, taken during the "brightest" part of the day - we have just been socked in with heavy, gloomy overcast for what seems to be years, although it has only been months with just the occasional brighter day.

That line of black dots is feathers. Hawk must have gotten itself a meal. I didn't see any blood or tracks/wing marks, so must have caught it in the air. Interestingly that line starts at about the edge of my back porch so the victim may have been trying to get under cover (either under the porch or under the roof). Bird feeders are a good 50' away from that area. When I first saw it, I was hoping it was one of the 5-6 squirrels that hang around.

Guessing with the feathers all being really dark that it was a junco.