Melting Ice fm recent Ice Storm

NO pictures BUT our folding non-waterproof 220w solar panel now has survived lots of snow storms and now thick ice from the recent western New York (WNY) ice storm! It's been on our front awning at the wrong slant to the sun [hoping to fix this angle in Spring if  that ever arrives], but there's a tiny bit of freezing water dripping from above, and the wattage input to the solar battery has increased from yesterday's 2watts to now even springing UP to 8watts even under a mostly cloudy sky with outside temps of freezing and less at night for some months!

Sure, it's a tiny input wattage from the sun BUT it IS charging our solar batteries and I'll happily take any wattage instead of no wattage at all, or the alternative of plugging it in to AC power, which is what we purchased these panels and batteries to avoid!!

How are YOU powering your devices and electronics? We know that one of our three 300w solar batteries will power our TV up to almost six hours, and that's about how long we watch the tube in a normal day. The only reason I am still not buying a higher wattage battery is that it'll require double the time to charge via our use of sun-power!

NO images to illustrate the system we use, BUT we are happy we finally quit talking about it, and actually do something about it. Granted, we may not be getting much now BUT something is better than nothing, and we are on our way to sunpowering more devices and appliances. Also, we are learning how to utilize our batteries in powering various household items.

It's just a matter of time! HOW are you planning for your solar-powered future?

Memories of Visitors at the Falls

The ice storm of jst a few days ago really freezed up the Buffalo NY area, as it created a thick floor of ice that was dangerous to drive or walk on. Huge heavy trucks that plow the streets couldn't even clear streets as the ice is too thick, heavy and slick.  

Otherwise, just a few days previous it was a somewhat pleasant day that almost looked, felt and seemed like an early Spring. But even at this early day, we already knew there was going to be an ice storm and followed by snowfall. This is western New York: just wait a few minutes and it'll change - again!

See the squirrel?

An ICE lawn looks strange but reflective as the sun sets on the upper Niagara

 

 

Great Wellsville Hot-Air Balloon Rally

WE have finally had a chance to see hot-air balloons over the weekend!! Now we are back at home, but so delighted we were lucky to see the intense fast work balloon teams must accomplish in order to launch. Hard work, but with a gratifying launch to the sky where they look so easy soaring with the clouds, raptors and, to look down upon the glorious Earth and countryside. 

It wasn't anything even close to a "perfect" four-day hot-air ballooning weekend, but all teams made the best of it, explaining how things work, showing their equipment off, and in general, just answering a lot of questions of many who asked! Though the wind did not cooperate at all, there was a huge crowd out to see these big and colorful balloons once they were inflated!

Our thanks to all the balloonists and their teams who came out from everywhere, to make it an incredible and colorful event! Thanks also to quaint town of Wellsville for sponsoring such an event, and the great fireworks afterwards! Thanks to Mother Nature who ensured Saturday night offered  just enough wind for some of the balloonists to even launch! Friday was the first day of this rally, and it was so wet, rainy and windy that Saturday evening was practically the only launch opportunity some balloonists had, and that was after the projected launch time was pushed back as winds were still too high! Even Saturday during the night, it poured down heavily, to make it even more difficult for any launches Sunday morning! 

Here's a few pictures, and remember to click to see them larger!

BUT everyone did stay around for the fireworks which was a great noisy but colorful hit with the kids!!