Week of Oct. 12 to Oct. 18, 2009

One last large icicle

The skunk that visited

A chipmunk that died praying

Monday, October 12, 2009
It was cold again last night with the low being -10.8 at 7:48 AM this morning. Helena was calling for a low of 7 degrees for last night, so I hope the predicted high in the 40s for Wednesday is true. It is clear this morning, but NWS is calling for more snow tonight and snow likely tomorrow and through Thursday night. They are showing a possible break on Friday, with the high being 44 degrees and partly sunny.
I have been having some trouble with my acid reflux and allergies, so didn’t feel like doing much of anything today. I was having trouble focusing my attention on anything for very much time, so did a little of this and that most of the day. I decided to do additional research on acid reflux, as what the doctors are doing isn’t working and the medication, while being probably the best for me, isn’t solving my belching. It is so bad that it makes me sick and I feel like I need to throw up all the time.
I found a web site on using apple cider vinegar (ACV) to solve the problem and spent most of the afternoon reading about the benefits of taking a couple of table spoons of it on a daily basis. A few years ago I had purchased a book on using vinegar for health and dug it out to reread. It seems that the natural ACV has a long history of medicinal uses and is said to cure many aliments. Using apple cider vinegar with baking soda helps balance the body’s pH and can be beneficial. According to the site: Apple Cider Vinegar has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, primarily coming from the malic acid and acetic acid portion of the vinegar.
Most of what I managed to read and understand makes sense and at this point I am willing to try almost anything. My acid reflux problem has followed a long list of symptom, from a constant dry cough, to severe heartburn, to stomach pains, regurgitation, and now abnormal bouts of belching. The medication has helped the symptoms but not cured the problem, so I am going to try the apple cider vinegar and baking soda treatment, along with a spoon full of natural honey, and hope for the best.
ACV and honey is also supposed to help allergies and asthma, so it may help in more than just one area and seems like it can’t do any harm. Besides the acid reflux and allergies, I have no other problems and hope that this may be the natural wonder elixir I am searching for.
By 5 PM, it began snowing for the first time since yesterday evening, so I guess NWS is correct in their prediction. I shall shower and fix myself some dinner, already having fed Zack and Zoey, and then relax by the fire until time for bed.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009
It was overcast and in the teens this morning, but by 11:30, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and began to raise the temperature. By noon, it was reaching the 40s and the snow began to melt. My hopes of the weather changing and becoming warm enough for the snow to melt were dashed when I checked NWS and discovered that they had changed the forecast and now expect a 70 percent chance of snow this afternoon and 90% tonight, with more snow through Thursday night. The 40+ degree weather they predicted for Helena has changed to 80% chance of snow into Friday, with the temperatures rising into the 60s on Friday afternoon.
After my disappointing trip to the RV on Sunday, I doubt that the ice in the tanks will melt enough to empty them until the temperature has stayed in the 50s or 60s for several days. My problem here is whether the winds will blow the still loose snow into deep drifts on the Divide. If it does, I may not be able to get into town as both vehicles are here at the cabin. None of the weather reports forecast far enough in advance to determine if I should move the Jeep to Marysville for the winter. Normally, I wouldn’t have to do that until late November, but this isn’t normally.
I spent the morning as usual and then played with Zack before deciding how I would spend the day.
Well, it is 6 PM now and I just played with and fed Zack. It is somewhat sunny and the temperature in the direct sun got into the mid 40s, but on the shady side of the cabin, it didn’t get higher than about 34 degrees. The sun helped melt some of the snow, but there is still plenty left, plus NWS says a 90% chance of snow this evening. They are also predicting winds, which will cause the road on the Divide to be impassible with deep drifts.
I spent the afternoon working on resetting the inverter/charger limits, as the batteries simply aren’t holding a charge for more than 24 hours. They should last me 36 to 45 or more hours, so I got out all of my manuals and the information about my new batteries, which I had downloaded from the web, and carefully reread everything. After reading it out loud, three times, so it would all make sense, I realized my error.
I had read that low temperatures don’t affect these Acid Glass Mat (AGM) batteries, at least until it is 40 below, but I didn’t understand that the charging of these batteries is affected by temperature. With the low and below zero temperatures I’ve had, the voltage needs to be increased to fully charge the bank. I won’t bore you with all the math and terminology here, but to put it in simply terms, I needed to decrease the amp input and increase the volt input, which I did.
Just prior to doing the adjustments, I had run the generator until the charger said the batteries were fully charged, so I had shut it down just prior to making the adjustments. What I found out when I took voltage readings of each battery was that I charged the bank to about 60% of a full charge. The inverter told me they were charged based upon the figures I had previously entered. Once I made the adjustment for the low temperatures and started the generator again; it began charging to the full capacity. The bad news it that at 40 degrees and lower, the bank will take 10 to 13 hours to be fully charged!
So, based upon this new information, I should be able to fully charge the battery bank and have it last me for at least 36 hours before it needs to be topped off again. I just hope that all of the under charging I have previously done hasn’t shortened the life of the batteries. The generator has only been running for two hours since I recalibrated it, so I will have to refuel the generator a couple of times before I am done, not to mention stopping and starting the generator for bedtime. I just hope that this truly solves my problem.
I will shower and then have some dinner and relax for the rest of the evening.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
It is partly cloudy, with a breeze, but not threaten in overall appearance. I have decided to make the trip to town for my chiropractor appointment.
As I was doing my regular morning routine, not in a hurry to go to town as my appointment was for 2 PM, and my peripheral vision noted a large dark shape at the sliding door. I started to get up to let Zoey in when I realized she was asleep in the chair next to me. Zack was asleep in front of the fire and didn’t stir. I saw something I’ve never seen at the cabin, and hoped I never would. It was a large skunk! He sniffed around the door, woodpile, the peanut shells and debris in the area, and then disappeared around the corner into the woodpile along side the cabin.
Zack had been acting funny about going out, sniffing at the door and firewood and then turning around and wanting back in. He hadn’t barks, growled or acted scared, but his behavior wasn’t normal. I now suspect he picked up on the scent and didn’t like it. It dawned on me that if the skunk decided to pack his winter home under the woodpile, we would all be trouble. It then occurred to me that skunks are nocturnal and this one was out snooping around at noon on a now sunny day. My understanding is that it could be a sign of a rabid animal, so I wanted to make sure it didn’t stick around.
By now, my getting the pistol to insure my safety if I went out and it attack, stirred Zack, but he still didn’t want to get outside. I carefully stepped out and walked away from the cabin so I could view the woodpile and surrounding area. I saw no sign of it and walked all of the way around the cabin. There was still enough snow on the ground that I might have seen tracks, but didn’t. I imagine he could have been under the pile, but I couldn’t see all the way to the back. The underside of the cabin is sealed very well, with metal flashings shirting the entire foundation, so unless it dug under the skirt, I don’t believe it could gain access, but I’m not sure.
I couldn’t take the time for further investigation, so Zack and I headed for town, while Zoey was safely inside cabin. I still had the chains on the truck tires, so I wasn’t concerned about making it out, but NWS forecast 90% chance of snow this afternoon. We got to Marysville without too much of a problem, only sliding into ruts where the gumbo mud was. In Marysville, I removed the chains and we made it to my appointment at 1:45. After the adjustment, we stopped at Safeway, Whole Food, Ace Hardware, Target, and picked up my mail. We then stopped at the RV Park and I managed to open all the valves and drain the water heater, but I won’t know the damage until I try to use the water system the next time I use the motor home. It is supposed to be into the 60s by Friday, so I think most of the ice will melt and drain, at least I hope so.
I decided to take a chance that we could make it back without put the chains on, so up the mountain we went. It hadn’t rained or snowed since we left, so my tire tracks were still visible and we followed them home, arriving at 5:30. After unloading my goodies from the truck, starting a fire, and putting things away, I was disappointed to discover that my adjustments to the inverter/charger made no difference whatsoever and I had to start the generator to charge the batteries.
I will need to rethink the setup and try to figure out why the charger isn’t charging the battery bank to its fullest.
There was no sign of the skunk, so I am hoping it was just passing through looking for food. Zack don’t react when I let him out, so I hope it is gone for good.
I fed Zack and Zoey, but due to the lateness of the day and the fact that it was getting cold, plus a split on his paw, Zack got no playtime. I showered and fixed myself a grilled skinless chicken breast and due to drinking way too much V-8, had three sodas before going to bed.

Thursday, October 15, 2009
The sky was clear last night, but there are a number of clouds in the sky this morning, with the forecast being for possible rain. The high temperature yesterday really surprised me at 60.4 degrees. National Weather Service is predicting a high of only 48 tomorrow, but 61 on Saturday.
Yesterday, I purchased an electronic scale that not only tells you your weight, it gives you calories and BMI, so I spent some time reading the directions to set it up only to find out it was defective and I couldn’t even get it to turn on. I also bought the new water filter product called Zero Water, which gives you a TDS tester that tells you the amount of Total Dissolved Solids in the water, and the fewer the particles, the lower reading. I was amazed to find that my bottled drinking water had 233 dissolved solids, while my faucet water was 111, and the Brita filtered water had 044, whereas the Zero Water had 000.
I am totally impressed with this new filter system and can taste the difference in the water. Because I am on my annual health kick, I am watching what I eat and trying to keep my pH levels balanced, which includes drinking a lot of water, so the better the water, the better for me, or at least I think so.
The Zero Water system has a convenient pitcher, which allows you to either pour from the spout, or use the push button dispenser on the bottom. That way you can place it in the refrigerator and just get a glass of water when you want. I brought mine at Target for $34.99, but you can find them in other large stores like, Home Depot, Walgreens and Wal-Mart. After testing my bottled water I think that using the Zero Water is a good idea for pure drinking water. If you go to Amazon, you’ll see several different types of pitchers and systems.
I haven’t seen any sign of the skunk and even put out some apple to see if it would take the bait. Zack isn’t acting strange about going out and none of the chipmunks seem to be acting differently. I truly hope that it has moved on to other locations. Speaking of animals, Zack’s crack in his pad is healing and he seems to be back to normal. I have limited his playtime and he seems just as satisfied, so I’ll keep checking it and hope for the best. I am going to make him some snow boots to wear this winter, and hopefully limit the cracking in his pads.
The weather was kind of stormy, so I stayed in, cleaned the kitchen and picked up the mess I have been living with for the past several weeks. After returning from my trip, I sort of just left things where they laid and not done much cleaning. Michele had done an excellent job of cleaning and vacuuming before my return, so I started in good shape and have gone down hill since then.

Friday, October 16, 2009
The sun shining in my eyes awakened me and I looked forward to a sunny, warm day, but that changed when the clouds moved in and looked like it might rain. A quick check of NWS shows that they have altered their forecast and now show a partly sunning day with the high only reaching 48. It isn’t the mid to high 60s that they thought we would have, and after the surprising high of 60 degrees day before yesterday, I expected today to be nice.
I spent the morning doing some more research on diet and pH balance and found some interesting and surprising information. I was told by my chiropractor to check out a site that outlines diets and discovered a chart of alkaline and acid foods. I am going to try the apple cider vinegar idea, check my pH levels on a daily basis for a month, and record my findings. I will summarize those findings on my blog when I conclude the study.
I have done a lot more studying about diet, the use of vinegar, and acid reflux, along with playing with Zack a few times. I am not holding my breath, but NWS is predicting 59 degrees and mostly sunny for tomorrow, so I will plan on working in the generator shed, preparing for the return of my large generator. Meanwhile, I am still trying to figure out why the charge on the battery bank isn’t lasting longer.

Saturday, October 17, 2009
The weather looked like it was changing for the better and when the sun came out, it warmed up considerably. My high for today, in the direct sun, was 77.3 degrees, which is amazing when you consider it was only in the 40s yesterday. The weather service keeps changing their forecast, so it is hard to predict if this will last.
I had my usual morning routine and then went to work on the generator shed. I managed to make a big dent in the job of cleaning and organizing, but it will take a couple of more days before it is the way I want it. After it is thoroughly cleaned and everything is in its place, I will rebuild the generator platform and rewire the shed. I hope I can put up some blue board insulation and maybe even sheetrock the interior before more cold weather, and then I’ll be more comfortable when I need to use it during the winter.
Play periods with Zack, between working in the shed, and then one final playtime before feeding him and Zoey, finished the day. I showered and had a nice hot cup of green tea before thinking about dinner. I have been on a real kick of drinking V-8, apple juice, and hot tea for over a week now. My body is trying to tell me something and I am attempting to listen.
Dinner and television for the remainder of the evening, with bedtime coming at midnight, which is the time I’ve gone to bed almost every night this week.

Sunday, October 18, 2009
The wind picked up during the night and is blowing close to 12 mph, gusting to 15 at times. It is overcast, cool and looks like it might rain. National Weather Service is calling for 30% chance of rain or snow for this afternoon and evening, with a 70% chance of snow tomorrow. It is a big change from the warmth of yesterday, and that was short lived.
After my usual morning I went out to work some more on the shed, hoping to finish getting the tools all organized and in their proper place.
It is now 6 PM, and I have just come in from getting all the tools organized and starting to disassemble the table that the generator sits on. I have to lower it a few inches so the exhaust pipe doesn’t need an extension as it leaked and filled the shed with fumes.
I played with Zack until he was pooped and then fed him and am doing a second load of clothes while the first dries in the dryer. I just built a small fire, as it is getting a little chilly. I will finish this update and then post this weeks events before I shower and have my dinner.
I finished computing my pH level, as it requires two days worth of readings and then some math to come up with the average and my actual pH level. It came out to a reading of 5.91, which is more acidic than it should be, but not off the charts. The book says I am 5 to 10 times higher than I should be and I need to balance my system. I need to do some more reading to see just what I need to do, and I will adjust my diet to compensate for the high level.
I have continued my two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and rather enjoy the taste of it, when mixed with a glass of water. I am trying it in hot water, like a tea, right now and find it soothing to my throat. I made the mistake of taking a deep breath before having a sip and about choked on the fumes. The smell reminds me of dying Easter eggs. Mom always added some vinegar to the dye and the smell brings back pleasant memories.
Well, that’s it for this week. I hope the weather holds so I can finish my shed and retrieve the generator next week.