I recently had the sort of weird experience of a recent blog post being on the top of Hacker News and there being a fair amount of interest in the details of my wacky living situation.

I could write a detailed post explaining everything, but that'd be boring .. instead I'll tease the stalkers with more oblique references to it. So here's my notes for a caretaker who will be here while I'm away at DebConf.

Please make yourself at home!

  • The back bedroom bed is made
  • That weird thing on a stand next to it that looks like a juice container with a wire coming out of it is a lamp. Plug it in to use it.
  • Check battery voltage (press the green button on the Xantrex controller) and avoid using much power if it gets below 12.0 volts. (10.0 is absolute minimum)
  • Orange inverter on stand in front bedroom has a switch to turn on, regular power cord on front porch.
  • Plug in server computer in kitchen (under my portrait), wait 10 minutes, and you can get online with wireless. (Wireless network is "hollow", and is an ad-hoc network, with Cell id AA:AA:AA:AA:AA:AA. You may have to enter this information manually.) Slow is normal.
  • Cook stove: Pull red handle behind stove to turn on gas. Light w/lighter. Turn off cook stove gas with red handle when not in use!
  • Eat any staple foods in kitchen.
  • Eat everything in fridge! (It won't keep; food lasts only half as long in it as you're used to.)
  • Check once a day (especially on windy or stormy days) that the fridge is lit, by touching the black pipe sticking above it on the back. That's its chimney. It should be warm to the touch. Temperature can be adjusted in rear also. If fridge is blown out, follow instructions printed in back to re-light.
  • Human drinking water is in large jugs in kitchen + red water cooler. Sorry it's so turbid right now, I'm using a neighbor's well.. but it's safe. I have not tested the water from the large cistern yet this year.
  • Dishwashing water: Use water from any of these (non-potable) sources:
    • rain barrels
    • outdoor shower (on way to outhouse, not at parking area; that other one is fed from a spring that has dried up)
    • large pail on coffee table
  • Please don't drink the distilled water; it's used in battery maintenance.
  • Feed dog 3/4 of metal bowl each day (on porch, next to table)
  • Cat: 1 dish full each day.
  • Consider brushing the cat, with the folding saw, on the left-side porch steps, every other day. Hairballs..
  • Chickens: 3/4 yoghurt container of feed per day (feeding station is across yard, down steps, on right; some feed is in container there)
  • Eggs can be found in nest under bush in woods. Trail starts to left of shower, goes about 10 feet in. Eat eggs, or give to dog with food.
  • Blueberries are currently available on the small hill near the greenhouse.
  • Dog and chicken feed is in front bedroom.
  • Keep solar powered fountian to the left of the sliding door full; it's used by the dog and chickens.
  • Cat has large water pail in bathroom, good for about 2 weeks.
  • Take animal water from rain barrels or from shower outside. (Can detach hose for easier access and watering.)
  • Also water lemon and lime trees, in pots, if it's dry. (Feel free to eat lemons.)
  • The house does best in hot weather if all windows are closed during the day, and opened during the night.
  • If it gets too humid inside, drain water from trays of salt underneath the pantry shelves, and run the fan.