Friday, June 15, 2012

What We Do For Fun

Okay, so I'm being a smarty pants. Yesterday when we were kept inside all day by the rain, we managed to find lots of things to do. Following is one of them.

This is our bank of batteries for our solar system stored on very substantially built shelving in a corner of the garage.

Because the water level in the batteries has to be kept at a certain level, they need to be checked regularly and periodically replenished.

Papa Pea gets the upper story work while I remain on the ground. I fill a cup measure with distilled water, hand it up to him and using a funnel he pours it into each one of the twenty-four batteries.

What a team! Now, do we know how to have fun . . . or what?

20 comments:

Karen L. said...

My guess is ..... or what! Do you also put a lamp shade on your head at parties? I am guessing that you don't do that much partying. If so, I could be your twin except that I don't work nearly as hard as you. Yikes! You do put some of us to shame.

2 Tramps said...

I think it looks like fun - team work is always fun. Things get accomplished so much more quickly. And I think being so wonderfully organized that you actually remember to do these things would also be fun!

The lamp shade sounds good, too!!

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I have never seen batteries stored that way. Looks like you need a special battery checking stool. Is there a vent in there somewhere?

Unknown said...

The buddy system sure gets things done faster.

Tombstone Livestock said...

Teamwork, no wonder you get so much done and can be so independent.

Freedom Acres Farm said...

Your garage must be insulated and heated too?!?! Nice! It's always fun to do homestead projects together with hubby, even when I'm just the gopher LOL

Sparkless said...

24 batteries?!! My that's a lot of batteries to have to fill. But then with the rising cost of electricity I think I could get used to fill some batteries.

Lisa said...

'Together' always makes a 'chore' so much more fun! A couple of other comments mentioned 'teamwork'... I agree!

Erin said...

LOL, after reading the title I thought you were going to post pics of some hike or canoeing day! But maintenance has to be done, right?!

Mama Pea said...

Karen L. - No, no lampshades on my head at parties! I can't dance and one looks pretty stoopid just sitting with a lampshade on one's head. ;o)

Mama Pea said...

2 Tramps - I think it's been proven over and over again that two people working together more than double what can be accomplished. The only time I don't like to work with my husband is when he's doing a "thinking" job where he has to stop frequently to figure some aspect of it out. That leaves me standing (wasting time!) when I could be getting something else done. (Yes, I AM impatient! Wanna fight about it?? [That's what I tell hubby all the time!])

Mama Pea said...

Jane - We had to be creative in our storage of them because of lack of space. No special battery checking stool . . . he just climbs up on the workbench! (Helps keep him loose and limber!) Yep, the area is vented.

Mama Pea said...

Nancy - Yes, and I especially like it when your buddy is stronger than you are and can do most of the grunt work!!

Mama Pea said...

Tombstone Livestock - There are some gals doing it alone that I admire SO MUCH so I know it can be done, but it is harder that way, no question about it!

Leigh said...

OK, I'm looking at that nifty closet just for your batteries and thinking, hmmm, I wonder if we'll someday think, "now, why didn't we plan for one of those???".

I love that you all make such a great team. It's the way a marriage ought to be.

Mama Pea said...

Freedom Acres Farm - We partitioned off the end of the garage and installed a wood stove in there so we would have a heated workshop area to work in in comfort in the winter. That's where the batteries are stored, because they have to be kept from freezing in the cold weather.

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - Bigger alternative energy systems require a lot more batteries than ours does! What really is a pain is when you have to replace the batteries after a certain number of years! I guess there's no free lunch, sorry to say. :o/

Mama Pea said...

Lisa - I agree! Some yucky tasks just aren't that bad when you do them with someone else. If nothing else, you can pass the time with good conversation. Or discussion. Or debate. Or argument. (Just kidding.) :o)

Mama Pea said...

Erin - And we've been pushing on the outside tasks (and remodeling!) so much lately that things inside (like checking batteries, cleaning the house) have really been neglected. The hiking and canoeing will come! (But we're entering the busy, busy tourist season in our area when we tend to avoid going out to fight the crowds!)

Mama Pea said...

Leigh - With your ingenuity, you'll find just the right spot for your batteries when the time comes. (Plus Dan will no doubt construct doors for the area with a scene of your whole homestead wood burned on them!!)

We've always worked together through good times and bad. I don't think we could have done what we've done otherwise. We'll be married 49 years this late summer and have been lucky to have had each other. (Most of the time anyway. Hee-hee!)