Another strike against wind

More accurately and specifically, against spending our hard earned money on a wind turbine. That whole economic principle of opportunity cost where if resources are put into one area (wind), the resources aren't there for another area (food, art studio). Anyway, the neighbor's turbine that I covet is not spinning. I don't remember when we noticed but it's just been a yard sculpture for what seems like a month. Who knows with the way Summer is blazing by. A bearing is out so there she sits NOT feeding the grid. At least, they're grid tied so they're not sitting there like a spent RV after a two week vacation of partying like rock stars.

Zxeres is allegedly standing behind their turbine and has sent the replacement parts. However, there's the issue of actually repairing it. You know, someone coming waaay out here to the UP and climbing Mt. Tower. That's the problem we had with the Loewen windows and doors. They didn't want to pay for someone to come waaay out here and do the work. I want to emphasize that was our experience and NOT, to my knowledge, what is going on with the Zxeres. Tower height and parts availability has been something The Husband and I have discussed. Bergey has a reputation for getting the parts to you ASAP. The Husband and I have discussed at great length, tower height and aesthetics. This Zxeres is a big bird. We're looking at a much smaller turbine. Is it going to get it's turbine ass kicked in the winds here? It's like pulling teeth to get anybody out here to do anything. We've been bantering around the words "tilt-down" tower. We're not in any position right now to add wind so we've got plenty of time to think about it. But, if Bergey wanted to ship one here out of the kindness of their hearts in exchange for undying gratitude and some heavy duty publicity, we'll I'm not ashamed to admit that this girl does love gifts!

We received a somewhat juicy tidbit of info that's worth passing on. A meter reader reported to a mutual acquaintance that people that have solar are happy with their solar and people with wind turbines are not happy with them. More pause for thought.

However, when you're off-grid and "need more power, Scotty," what are your options? The Husband and I have thrown on the table the possibility of tying into the grid and planting some more sunflowers (PV arrays). We'd still have our batteries in the cabin so we could keep going when the grid goes down which it's always doing out here. I fired the first electricians/company we had out here at the cabin and those people do work for the electric company so we'd definitely want to be able to stand alone when the grid goes down. We make solar power hand over fist in the Summer. We dump power after 10:30/11:00 am every day in the Summer. Could we produce and feed the grid enough in the Summer via solar to still have a zero electric bill in the Winter? Hmmm?

On another note, kind of a fair warning, I will be doing my Studio adventure posts here on this blog. I have been hesitant to include much of my art life here but I've found that trying to segregate my art life from The Secret Cabin blog doesn't work for me. I will clearly mark my Studio/Art posts as such so you may skip them if you wish. Hopefully, it won't be too inconvenient or bothersome for anyone.

Weird Wind Follow Up

In a previous post, there was a weird wind that left some of our Loewen windows whipped and hanging not in a good way. Well, a few days later, our paper reported this as a storm. It was apparently a pretty bad one and left a lot of damage in it's wake. We finally were able to get a warranty claim processed for the original purchase of our windows and doors. They came out about a week after the storm. They were very professional and thorough. When they were working on the slider in the Garden Level, they noticed and did not like how the handle and lock were working and they fixed it. This may not seem like a big deal to anyone but I can't tell you how many times a certain other person, who also works for the place we bought these from, went through that door. Also, on two windows there was some pieces that they were able to just lightly pull and the pieces came right out. The pins that were used to nail the pieces in were too short. These guys fixed all that up too. Again, fixing the work of the aforementioned certain other person. This crew answered a bunch of questions for us. The Husband was here as I feel I can no longer control the urge to kick the crap out of anyone that looks like they hold a hammer for a living. I absolutely REFUSE for the sake of my freedom to deal with contractors without The (six foot tall) Husband standing next to me. Exceptions: Bob's Sheet Metal, LR Contracting, Hanson Electric. I also REFUSE to EVER go to the Building Department for anything EVER again. That, of course, is a lively discussion The Husband and I occasionally have when we talk about the wind turbine installation. Anyway, so The Husband was able to ask his maintenance questions. These guys addressed our concerns, answered our questions, and fine tuned the windows and doors. They were an interesting crew. They have worked on multi-million dollar homes. They do custom cabinetry. They've seen worse than The Secret Cabin. While it is somewhat comforting to hear that I'm just as stupid as someone that can afford a multi-million dollar home.... Cripes! I know human beings can't be perfect but for crying out loud, hideous framing on a mulit-million dollar home?! You've got to be kidding me. One of the purposes of this blog and the bitching in the blog is to hopefully help protect at least one person from the criminal building industry. It is unfortunate because there are honest guys out there that take pride in their work but finding them is like trying to find a rare, almost instinct animal. My brother is a carpenter. A good one. He said the guys that were in residential building that were really good, closed up shop, and went and got jobs elsewhere due to the economy/housing industry or lack of housing industry rather. He no longer works in the residential sector. He's now working for a huge industrial construction company building roads and bridges. Anyway, I'd been better off just doing my best with macaroni and glitter glue so I don't know what to tell you. My resume includes work for architects, engineers, and industrial contractors. I dreamed of becoming an architect as I typed away on proposals, scopes of work, and specifications. I was secretary to the Vice President of the industrial electrical contractor that performed the electrical work on The State Office Tower II in Columbus, OH. I worked on site during a BP turnaround. There was a trailer that was just for the job schedule. The schedule would constantly change and I'd take down pages of Gaant charts and replace with them with the updated schedule. I read everything I could get my hands on - for twenty years. I designed one home from scratch. The economy was cranking and no one builds a truly custom home. They can't make money or rather a killing on a home they've never built before. I thought I proceeded with caution but.... Back to the windows, I am now in receipt of an estimate to repair the wind damaged windows. It's bad. I feel queasy. Eighty-five dollars an hour for labor and to sit in a truck while it rolls down the road to get here and it's an eight and a half hour drive - each way. I have no idea what our insurance company is going to say. You really can't have just any body work on these. The hardware system is unique to the brand. We'll see. I'm going to close the Loewen window chapter on this blog with this closing statement: While the windows and doors are beautiful, we don't recommend them. They are too fussy requiring an immaculate installation and pricey, certified technicians to maintain and repair them. Some general tips for specing windows and doors: NO push-out casements for a windy site. (They blow closed all the time.) Doors should be out-swing so that when the wind blows it blows the door slab against the jamb thereby making a tighter seal against drafts. Especially, important on a windy site. It is best to let your new construction/remodel settle (probably at least a year, maybe two depending on item and warranty) and just before the warranty is up, in this case on windows and doors, make all your calls for a claim/adjustments. Most importantly, NO ONE cares about you, your home, or your money as much as you do; unfortunately, YOU MUST educate yourself enough to pass an architectural, engineering, and builders licensing exam and even then your odds may be better in Vegas, baby. For your construction budget, the ten percent for overruns is just the beginning. Unfortunately, you're going to have to pay for some work at least twice. Once for someone to run off with your money without coming back and/or possibly twice to pay for it to be done right and/or, if you're like us, you'll just gut things out until you can afford the parts and do the work yourself. Yeah, Vegas, baby. This concludes the window chapter.

Weird Wind

It was hot and super humid in the Keweenaw yesterday. I did chores late hoping things would cool down. I had just finished my outside chores by LED flashlight and sat down for a moment before starting my before bed chores in the cabin. It was 11 pm. All the Garden Shed windows were open and all the windows on the main level of the cabin were open. There was no breeze to speak of. Then I heard what I thought was either rain coming or the wind in the trees, however, something was different. At 11 pm, I'm slower than usual. Hmmm? What is that? Something feels weird. That's kind of loud for rain. Is it getting louder? Then it was eerily still and quiet. Then for just a moment, I felt something. I don't know what it was. It wasn't really air. The Secret Cabin kind of exhaled. I know that sounds super wack-o but there's a lot of wood in the cabin and it contracts and expands with the temperature and humidity. But never like this. That wasn't it. It was like the roof was being pressed down. Then, all of a sudden, the wind came from out of no where and ROARED and whipped around the cabin. The windows slammed shut and blew back open repeatedly as a herd of spooked felis catus stampeded from the front porch in all directions. By the time I hurdled the cats in my oncoming traffic, the wind was blowing rain through windows hanging half-ripped away from their frames. Shit. I quick-looked the porch and confirmed no cats on the porch and shut the door going from the porch to the kitchen. I ran around the rest of the cabin and got the windows shut and locked while mentally noting all cats present and accounted for. I went back out to the front porch. I was able to get some of the windows pulled in but not enough to latch them. One of the windows was sticking out more than the others and I felt my old cowgirl injuries flame up as I tried to lift the triple pane window into the frame enough to prevent further damage. Now, it was cold. I called The Husband to tell him what happened. He's used to me saying weird things so that didn't concern him as much as if the Garden Shed and Barn were okay. So, out into the down pour. The Garden Shed was fine. No broken, cheap Pella windows. The temperature had dropped ten degrees since I was last out there about 20 minutes previously. Next, the Barn. By the time I got to the Barn, my shirt and shorts were completely soaked down to my skin and I couldn't see through my lenses. Diesel was pretty concerned, doing the horse talk whinny-knicker thing, but everything was fine. The chickens and ducks always sound like what I imagine our US Congress sounds like in session. I went back into the cabin and called The Husband to let him know that yes, the Barn was still standing (for now); no, no damage to the Garden Shed; yes, everyone is okay; yes, solar panels still where we last left them but I couldn't get the windows lifted back into their frames. When I went upstairs to the loft to finally turn in after my exciting evening, I discovered the knee wall storage doors had blown open. Quick check for feLIONs, closed the doors and put the items we had stacked in front of them to keep the doors from blowing open back in front of said doors. Sigh. Now, for the day after.

Plant blown off front porch. It took me a while but I did find the planter it was in.

Stupid, over priced Loewen window trying to leave the building. Good riddance, piece of crap.

This screen frame cracked when it blew open. Now it won't close.

Tsk, Oh. Darn, my wind chime got broken. It was hanging on the above screen. 

You have got to be f*ing kidding me. Really? Well, now I'm pissed. This WAS the Swarovski crystal top to the Swarovski Saturn Candlestick Holder. Now retired. It WAS in mint condition. I still have all the original packaging, box, and certificates. It was a gift from The Husband. OOOOOO, I really don't like - a lot - Loewen right now. 

In conclusion, if we were made of money, I'd yank these lame ass windows and doors, load them up in a garbage truck, and ship them back to Loewen Corporate where you cannot reach anyone by phone. They might take some interest if there was a bunch of their windows dumped in one of the executive's parking spot. With the performance of these windows and doors thus far, we do not expect that we will even get ten years out of them. Of course, I don't know how long the poor Secret Cabin is going to be able to keep it together. We've still got leaks we're looking for. I'm concerned about rotting and mold. Then there's the drafts. It's a darn good thing we paid for permits so the Building Inspector was out here and kept the contractors honest, eh? I so badly want to move forward, heal, and get on with my life but I keep getting yanked back down in the mire of construction past. It's hard to move forward when you're still dealing with it all. Shaking head. I just don't know what to do about this mess.

Getting a little on the side

Ya know, I find myself saying things that are weird to say about this whole construction drama. So, things are NOT working out with my current contractor and I want to toss him out and fire his ass. It's so reminiscent of a bad relationship break up only he never bought me a ring to throw at him as I stomp indignantly off into the sunset. It's hunting season. This current contractor's usual level of lack of customer service has left me alone for two weeks without any workers or any work being done. What's a girl to do to fill her lonely, quiet, construction worker-less days? Not let the job site get cold. That's for darn sure. The last shipment of Loewen Windows came in along with a couple of guys to install them. So, yes, guilty. I'm guilty of cheating on my contractor with another contractor. So, these new guys are amazing. We stopped work and went into town for lunch. We went our separate ways for lunch and I was took my sweet old time as I usually do with my other crew. I had lunch. Set my fork down between bites. Chewed slowly and thoroughly actually tasting my food. Then I ran some errands. Then I drove within the speed limit. Good thing the old ticker is still a work horse. I'm still suffering from a little disbelief though. Eric and Jake were done installing the windows. As if that weren't shocking enough, they were, get this, cleaning up. Then Eric said, in slow motion with the camera in tight on a shot of his lips, "Is there anything else you would like us to do for you while we're here?" After, visions of laying on the ground and getting the electric paddle treatment to the chest cleared my head, I responded with an intelligent, "Uh, no?" After as much a recovery as anyone in my shoes could make, I was able to point at the cabin and kind of stutter, "Come back to UP? Proposal to finish cabin?" while refraining from throwing myself down on the ground and holding them by the ankles and crying, "Don't leave me; finish my cabin, please." So, I'm getting a proposal. And so, yes, I'm guilty of courting another contractor on the side while I'm still hooked up with this current contractor. My new contractor has a cooler truck too! Na, na, so there.

The world's cutest kitchen window

Well, we ran out of that beautiful weather we were so lucky to have for so long. It has been gray and raining and a bit chilly for just about two weeks now. Fall is here. The boiler is down in the apartment building so there is no heat. I'm waiting for a chimney part to come in for the cabin so there is no heat there either. We have made progress in the cabin though! I fired the plumber so I will be doing the plumbing. I found an expert helper though. The building inspector is coming out on Monday. The carpenters will be out building the barn this week while I do plumbing and the electrician wires the cabin. Hopefully, the chimney part will come in and then we'll be insulating and hanging drywall in the cabin. We're coming down the home stretch now! Mike and I will switch places in a couple of weeks. He'll come here and put up the solar array and I'll go to the Ohio farm and take care of the critters and pack. I have to take some pictures yet with the windows in.