guarding the grid

After a week at Mt. Gretna enjoying surround-sound tree environment, I woke the next day to a chain saw trimming the white pine so it does not break the wires of the power grid.  I'm okay with that, as long as the tree remains.  Far right are tips of branches of the pin oak we planted 15 years ago or so.  The orange truck blocks the farmer's lane.

end of storm story

The moral? It takes four trucks, one chain saw, and one guy grabbing the wire to retire our emergency downed wire sign. Oh, and twenty minutes sans electricity, and then twenty minutes setting the clocks. Oh, bless the grid, the psalmist did not say, but I do, despite the witness of a passing buggy and the wire-free schoolhouse across the road.

ice brings line low

The ice brought down several boughs of our pine tree and our line with them. Improvised a danger sign for school children tempted to explore the damage. Despite the stretched line, we have electricity.

edge of town

Going north on a snowy day, you see the last building in Monterey, stripped down to its stick frame. Some cultures build round like nests. We do squares and rectangles. Looks like electricity thinks in right angles, too.

the wheels on Eby Road

I I

I

I

I

I

I have stood on busy city streets and saw hot dog cart wheels, bus, truck, rail, and carriage wheels. Remote Eby Road might have just as large a variety. You'd have to stand and wait several country hours.

Here's a neighbor, father of my childhood buddy and Monterey Gang fellow founder, burning up miles on his electric three-wheeler. I'd say the rig was doing 20 mph when I shot this. Notice huge battery on back and safety flag.

up in smoke

East of Monterey, when I drive to Souderton for my job Tuesday morning, I see the Limerick nuclear machine. One of those puffs is me turning the pipe organ on and using electricty.

I see this sight right after I turn north off of Route 23 in the village of Histand, which is 2 miles or so east of Route 100. If you like the Byzantine Pennsylvania web of roads, this is West Bridge Road. In four miles I'll be in Spring City. Cross the Skylkill and I'm in Royersford.

Hey, I like farmers who leave the corn stalk in the rough. Monterey farmers whack and chop them to the ground asap.

New light in time for solstice

In time for the shortest day, the winter solstice, a new light started to shine between the driveway and the house. On this frosty day baby icicles hung all four sides.

With this being December 13, there are only 7 more days until the shortest day. One father with two small children told me that he loves this time of year. It's dark when the kids go to bed and dark when they get up. Somehow that makes it easier.

The lamp was made in Hanover, Pa. It sits on a cedar post. The electric wire goes up a hole in the center the length of the post. I'd like to know how to drill such a long hole.

This is really outside light four. My parents had an electrician put up the high light at the corner of the house. Joel and I made that into a double light about 1997. When we put in the office at about the same time, we installed a light outside the office door. I forget when we put a light at the back door. It could have been in preparation for Sarah's graduation party.