Have you volleyed around the idea of going solar?
Photo by Unsplash by via Pixabay
If the venture seems a little too “out there” or overwhelming to pursue, you might be interested in a free online Google tool called Project Sunroof.
The tool “helps homeowners explore whether they should go solar or not” by offering a birds-eye view (aka high-resolution aerial maps) to help calculate a roof’s solar energy potential “without having to climb up any ladders.”
Photo by Joan Sykes via Geograph
(I couldn’t resist that photo!)
Anyhow …
Currently available in 42 states, the tool searches your address and, if it’s available, comes up with a basic analysis of how much sun your roof gets and what sort of solar installation might work as well as prospective costs and savings. You can also tweak the estimates based on your actual electricity usage and other parameters. If you’re interested in exploring more, Project Sunroof will help you find local installers who could give you a more accurate quote.
If your address isn’t accessible yet, fear not—Google plans to reach all 50 states this year.
Try Project Sunroof here.
Are you a sheddie?
If the image below strikes your fancy, then you are, dear, you are …
Photo by Mira (on the wall) via Flickr
“Sheddie” is one of those catchy British terms that means, loosely translated, shed enthusiast.
If you are, indeed, a sheddie, then you might also identify as an outpostie, shackie, coopie (I’m just making those up as I go, in case you were wondering).
In England, it seems that there’s a sizeable population of sheddies—enough to support a site called Readersheds, which celebrates every conceivable style, shape, and size of shed from the traditional to the unconventional.
Photo by RobArmstrong2 via Pixabay
Readersheds showcases sheds a-plenty, but its crowning achievement is its annual Shed of the Year competition, which kicks off each year in May.
The man behind Readersheds, known simply as Uncle Wilco, is the head judge and founder of Shed of the Year. A passionate sheddie since his youth, he claims to have made it his mission “to open the eyes of the world to the importance of the shed.”
Photo by Antranias via Pixabay
This year, a panel of judges has selected a shortlist of public shed submissions for each category:
“Now it is up to you to decide on the winners from each one,” they invite. “Take a look at the sheds our panel of experts have selected to represent each category before voting for your favourite. A final judging panel will then pick an overall winner, whose creation will be crowned Shed of the Year 2016, later this Summer on the Channel 4 show Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year.”
Here’s a clip from the 2015 show:
Photo by Efes via Pixabay
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … RubySlider!!!
Ruby Slider (#1663) has received a certificate of achievement in Make it Easy for earning a Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert Level Collect It! Merit Badge!
“My passion is antiques and one of my favorites is my Chambers stove. The one I have was made sometime between 1949 and 1952 in Shelbyville, Indiana. People are passionate about these jewels, so information on them is easy to find. Mine was my mother’s before she came to me and she is a Deluxe Model C Style 90 in pastel yellow. It has 3 burners, a deep well for soups, stews or baking, a griddle and broiler. The oven(s) are so heat-efficient that I can turn them off 1/4 to 1/2 thru cooking and everything comes out perfect.
I inherited a partial set of Franciscan dinnerware in the desert rose pattern. I have since added the serving pieces as I can locate them. I haven’t been able to locate any pieces locally, I purchased some pieces online and I’m always on the lookout for additional unique pieces. All of my collection was made in the USA. I keep finding pieces that are from Portugal.
As far as value, the prices I find are all over the place. For instance, I found a gravy boat in excellent condition for $9 and have seen the same piece for as much as $40. I have a total of 62 pieces. My wish list contains pickle dish, a three-tier platter, egg cups, and the crescent salad plates.
I’m not in any hurry to grow my collection. The happy surprises of finding a piece when you least expect it are the best!
I keep my antique Franciscan collection safely tucked away in a china cabinet, I also store my collection of cordial glasses in there (that I have been collecting since I was in my 20s). I have two small built-in display cabinets that house small vintage crocks, a glass hand-crank butter churn, and various kitchen implements. All are estate sale and flea-market finds. My favorites are the butter churn and a 1954 Art Deco Toaster that sits on the kitchen counter and works perfectly.
My collections are safe from dust and accidental damage, but also on display. As they should be; why have them if you can’t admire and use them?”
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
