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3380. PelleNilsson - 11/30/2005 8:01:50 PM There was a discussion about geothermal here a few months ago which generated considerable interest. It seemed to me that those who favoured it could be roughly classified into three groups.
Group 1 were people building a new house and with general ecological concerns.
Group two were young people who had bought an old house with an antique oil burner and an oil tank of dubious status, thus facing a heavy reinvestment. but willing to accept a long pay-back period.
The third group is perhaps of most interest in your case, thoughtful. They were people nearing retirement facing the same situations as the first two. But for them the pay-back period was of less concern than the prospect of a reasonably stable and predictable running cost.
And, a simple thought: if you go for geothermal you will have solved the heating question. No need for those expensive masonry stoves. 3381. PelleNilsson - 11/30/2005 8:43:19 PM We have had two glorious winter days. If it keeps up we may put in some skiing this weekend. We have a couple of golf courses nearby which usually provide good skiing (but somewhat uninteresting). There is too little snow to go out in the woods. Here are some shots from our drab surroundings in winter shroud.
3382. wonkers2 - 11/30/2005 9:27:50 PM Today, we have snow on the tround and trees for the first time. Can't say I've been looking forward to it. 3383. thoughtful - 11/30/2005 9:37:09 PM Pelle, thanks for the input and good point about the masonry stove...I think we'd like a regular woodstove anyway though for the looks of the fire but even more so the comfort. There's nothing quite like curling up with the cat on the rug in front of the woodstove for a nap on a wintry sunday afternoon.
We haven't dug into the geothermal details yet (no pun intended), but the payback on it is supposed to be relatively short at 3-5 years vs. active solar which is running 16-17 years. Hubby's key question is if you can put the geothermal pipes in the ground around the septic system. If so, you can save lots of money as you have to dig those holes anyway. Major cost factor apparently is drilling for the vertical systems which can be expensive in our area. Cost of the pump and the heat pump is not so bad.
Hubby's other concern is the cost of the electricity to run the heat pump and the pump, which is why he's still interested in active solar.
Also our state will pick up 1/2 the tab of a new solar system so long as it's connected to the grid and next year there's tax credits that kick in from the latest energy bill that will help pay for the system too. 3384. thoughtful - 12/1/2005 7:47:11 PM Made corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot yesterday. I never tried that before and it was very easy and came out good, though different somehow. Though I used all the same stuff as usual, it had a different flavor. Don't know if it was the corned beef or the process. But the meat was tender and juicy but didn't fall apart. The veggies were not under done or over done.
Carrots and celery on the bottom of the pot
corned beef on top
add 2 c water with bay leaf, pepper corns, cloves, rosemary, garlic, green pepper and onion. Cook for 1/2 the time (6 hrs on low, 3 hrs on high) add wedges from 1/2 a cabbage and finish cooking.
If you want to boil potatoes and the rest of the cabbage, you can do it separately on the stove top. 3385. ronski - 12/1/2005 11:29:26 PM Nice pictures Pelle. I am quite the snow-lover. We had snow last week. I'll post pix later. 3386. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:49:38 AM 
The deck. Those pots held coleus in the front, tomatoes in the back.
3387. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:50:38 AM 
The view from the deck.
3388. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:52:00 AM 
Some winterberry down the road apiece.
3389. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:52:54 AM 
Cold kitty.
3390. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:53:41 AM 
Cold kitty two.
3391. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:54:41 AM 
Struggling viola.
3392. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:55:41 AM 
Yellow trumpet honeysuckle.
3393. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:58:46 AM 
All he has now is his memories of a glorious hallowe'en.
3394. Ronski - 12/2/2005 2:59:55 AM 
The Indian Corn was protected under the eaves.
3395. Ronski - 12/2/2005 3:01:02 AM 
Inside, the Christmas cactus bloomed early.
3396. Ronski - 12/2/2005 3:04:11 AM 
Hunter Mountain ski area, last Friday, near closing time. The run on the left wasn't open yet (and it's a steep mother); the cuts on the rights are lift lines. I like the sky, with sun through snowmaking.
3397. Ronski - 12/2/2005 3:05:39 AM 
Saugerties, New York, last Friday afternoon.
3398. thoughtful - 12/2/2005 3:46:02 PM Nice shots ronski. 3399. judithathome - 12/2/2005 11:32:33 PM Very nice shots, I agree!
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