Author Archives: ellen

Modifying the RV for Travel

Posted on April 12, 2021 by ellen

Over the last two weeks I’ve spent a lot of time moving the camping equipment from the old RV to the new one and installing storage upgrades to fit the family. It has been so much fun to set up … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Distractions, Organization, RV Camping | Leave a comment

New RV; New Projects

Posted on March 22, 2021 by ellen

Before we moved to Colorado and started remodeling the new house for LEED certification we bought a 2002 Itasca 22E Class C recreational vehicle. We acquired it and the very end of 2009 as it’s third owner. We had so … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Distractions, RV Camping | Comments Off on New RV; New Projects

Moving Up to LEED 4.1

Posted on March 6, 2021 by ellen

All of the documentation on our LEED project so far has been to fulfill the requirements of LEED for Homes 2009. Although I have another year to qualify under the old system, I’ve contacted Energy Logic to finish up the … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, LEED Project, Planning | Comments Off on Moving Up to LEED 4.1

Rolling Case for Trolling Motor

Posted on February 27, 2021 by ellen

The new trolling motor needed a case so that it could be stored and transported more easily. I thought I might use the Sailrite sewing machine and some vinyl to make one but first I thought I should look for … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Distractions, Reduce Reuse Recycle, Tools | Comments Off on Rolling Case for Trolling Motor

Cold Weather Call for Heat but No Boiler Firing

Posted on February 13, 2021 by ellen

I realized when the temperature got down to zero and hung around in the low single digits that the heating zone in the rear of the house was acting strangely. The thermostat would call for heat but the boiler would … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Maintenance and Repair, Radiant Heat | Comments Off on Cold Weather Call for Heat but No Boiler Firing

Battery Box for Trolling Motor

Posted on February 4, 2021 by ellen

It’s winter and outdoor projects are limited. As soon as it turned the new year I made a reservation to camp for the Fourth of July. Camping is very popular in Colorado and it is difficult to get into a … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Distractions | Comments Off on Battery Box for Trolling Motor

Incomplete Sailrite Sewing Project

Posted on December 13, 2020 by ellen

I started a new vinyl cover for a spa section which broke my Singer 9960 sewing machine. I sent it out for repair and it is not yet ready. But I purchased a really heavy duty expensive Sailrite zig zag … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Maintenance and Repair, Reduce Reuse Recycle, Spa | Comments Off on Incomplete Sailrite Sewing Project

Hoppe Lock Jam

Posted on December 2, 2020 by ellen

We first had this problem when one of the doors was new. There is a piece on the three point lock that is called a mishandling device. This is a latch that releases the top and bottom throw bolts that … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Air Intrusion/Thermal Envelope, Maintenance and Repair | Comments Off on Hoppe Lock Jam

Door Lock Issues

Posted on November 30, 2020 by ellen

When we returned from Indiana, our key did not work in the front lock. The mechanism would not turn. Fortunately one of the patio doors is keyed the same and we were able to get into the house without breaking … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Maintenance and Repair | Comments Off on Door Lock Issues

Indiana House

Posted on November 22, 2020 by ellen

We spent the first two weeks of November at our Indiana house. It’s lovely out in the Indiana forest and the house needed attention. In early September I went to Indiana and had to work on taking out moldy drywall … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Distractions, Spencer House | Comments Off on Indiana House

New Sailrite LSZ-1 Sewing Machine

Posted on November 1, 2020 by ellen

It has arrived! It shipped faster than I expected. The packaging was very secure and it is amazingly heavy and built like a Mack Truck as they say. The underside of the machine is also very stout! The machine came … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Maintenance and Repair, Tools | Comments Off on New Sailrite LSZ-1 Sewing Machine

First Trombé Wall Glass

Posted on October 31, 2020 by ellen

The trombé wall has been missing its glass ever since the new windows were installed. The original Trombé wall had solar glass that was just glued to a wood frame and trimmed on top of the glass. The bottom trim … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Construction, Reduce Reuse Recycle, Trombe Wall | Comments Off on First Trombé Wall Glass

The Wrong Tool

Posted on October 27, 2020 by ellen

Unfortunately I tried to use my Singer 9960 sewing machine to sew a spa cover with vinyl. I didn’t stop the first time the machine jammed. Just cleared the jamb and continued. Then it jammed again and I could not … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Appliances, Maintenance and Repair, Spa, Tools | Comments Off on The Wrong Tool

Filters and Boiler Maintenance

Posted on October 18, 2020 by ellen

Fall is falling and some quick chores were completed. We have a Campbell filter on the whole house water supply. It takes a double charcoal filter and it relatively easy to change as long as the water turn off is … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Condensing Modulating Gas Boiler, Maintenance and Repair, Plumbing | Comments Off on Filters and Boiler Maintenance

Packing the Pool

Posted on October 11, 2020 by ellen

I also packed the pool up for the winter. We had fun using it this summer with its jerry-rigged solar heater. But after reading the advice for and against I decided to take it down for the winter. We were … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Maintenance and Repair, Pool | Comments Off on Packing the Pool

Fixed the Spa

Posted on October 11, 2020 by ellen

We are finally enjoying the spa again. It broke on January first and here we are in fall and it is back online. After installing the new Megatrol equipment, I had to wait for the new controller to get the … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Maintenance and Repair, Spa | Comments Off on Fixed the Spa

A New Porch in Spencer

Posted on September 23, 2020 by ellen

We built our first energy efficient house in the early 1980’s on 40 acres in the countryside outside of Spencer, Indiana. We have owned the property for over 40 years. But we recently decided that we should sell. This photo … Continue reading →

Posted in -Chronological Recent Posts, Construction, Distractions, Maintenance and Repair, Spencer House | Comments Off on A New Porch in Spencer

Finally Repairing the Spa

Posted on August 26, 2020 by ellen

The story of the new spa equipment is a sad one. I unfortunately wired the first shipment of a new controller box incorrectly and blew out all the 110 volt connections by sending 220 to them. I sent everything back … Continue reading →

Posted in Maintenance and Repair, Spa | Comments Off on Finally Repairing the Spa

Tesla Solar Roof

Posted on July 15, 2020 by ellen

The Tesla solar roof is made from tempered glass. Advertising mentions quartz glass which is a form of tempered glass, the other form is silica although the terms are used interchangeably. The product is called Solarglass and is textured. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Roofing, Solar | Comments Off on Tesla Solar Roof

From Tesla Solar Panels to Solar Roof

Posted on July 12, 2020 by ellen

When the new glass roof tiles from Tesla were in the media, I was intrigued because we eventually needed a new roof and we live in the Hail Alley of Colorado which means hail is frequent and often damages roofs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Electrical, Roofing, Solar | Comments Off on From Tesla Solar Panels to Solar Roof