Going Off Grid in East Tennessee (dryers, vacations, post office)

[Missourigal]

Hi Lisa!Since your kitchen doesn't have a window above the sink, have you thought about putting a mirror there so you can enjoy your beautiful view while doing dishes? I have enjoyed your story!

[southernfried]

Happy bday!!!!I was wondering how Mike learned about wiring up the solar panles I have wired up my own shop that I built. I'v been looking into solar &wind for our next home. Everthing lookes GREAT!!!!!! Seeyall!!

[younglisa7]

Originally Posted by Missourigal

Hi Lisa!Since your kitchen doesn't have a window above the sink, have you thought about putting a mirror there so you can enjoy your beautiful view while doing dishes? I have enjoyed your story!

That might be a good idea. Thank you.

[younglisa7]

Originally Posted by southernfried

Happy bday!!!!I was wondering how Mike learned about wiring up the solar panles I have wired up my own shop that I built. I'v been looking into solar &wind for our next home. Everthing lookes GREAT!!!!!! Seeyall!!

Mike learned about electrical and 12 volt systems from "watching" and he was also an auto mechanic when he was younger. He learned on his own.

The solar/wind was a completely new experience for him. He had no one to watch so a lot of it was trial and error. He has a couple of solar catalogs but that was about it. Also many of the "solar" people at the solar companies don't really understand the systems. They can't think outside the box(a hindrance for so many "professionals") Mike now understands the system and wiring inside and out. I think he's pretty amazing.

If you ever have any specific questions for Mike just PM us.

Lisa

[scootiepie]

Lisa, I have enjoyed reading your story and would love to get my husband to read it ...but there is NO WAY he would ever get through all this! Have you ever thought about starting your own webpage or blog to chronicle your adventure?

[vacation bound]

Happy belated birthday Lisa, and congradulations to both of you for finally getting to move into your house. I bet you both are so proud of yourselves to build a house with your own hands and now enjoy the fruits of your labor. It looks so beautiful. I dont know what all of us are going to do when you are completely done and don't post anymore. It has been so enjoyable and educational reading your posts. I hope to use some of the things you did when I build my house up there. Keep up the good work.

[younglisa7]

Originally Posted by kygman

Happy belated! My wife said if I have to do any big paint job like you did on the outside, she's going to put numbers up for me! lol I also did a double take when I saw your bed spread and pillow shams. We've got the same one! Walmart has some good stuff, doesn't it? lol

Mike was actually impressed with my cut in work on the painting. Trust me you do get better over time. I still don't like to paint but I'm not so bad anymore. Tell your wife to let you start practicing and you'll do fine. You can always re-do it if it looks really bad, LOL.

Good choice on the comforter set. We are happy with it and for the price you can't go wrong. We also got our lamps there.

[younglisa7]

Originally Posted by scootiepie

Lisa, I have enjoyed reading your story and would love to get my husband to read it ...but there is NO WAY he would ever get through all this! Have you ever thought about starting your own webpage or blog to chronicle your adventure?

Mike won't read the whole thing either but he loves the pictures, LOL. Tell your husband to read it with you, or you can read it to him and show him the pictures.

I have no idea how to do a blog or webpage. I'll have to ask Mike's daughter. She's really good with that.

Lisa

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by younglisa7

Mike won't read the whole thing either but he loves the pictures, LOL. Tell your husband to read it with you, or you can read it to him and show him the pictures.

I have no idea how to do a blog or webpage. I'll have to ask Mike's daughter. She's really good with that.

Lisa

That's what I did with my husband: Read it to him and showed him the pictures! The eight-year-old loves it, too!

[texasfirewheel]

Originally Posted by younglisa7

This is a little of our background. Mike and I both grew up on Long Island. Mike is 8 years older than I am. We have known each other for 32 years. Our families knew each other. Mike used to warn me about boys and dating when I was younger and he also took me for my for my driver's license. He was like a big brother and we were always friends.

While I was in school Mike got married and moved on. I grew up, went to school, and eventually got married. He and his family lived in FL and I lived in NY. We still occasionally stayed in contact. About 14 years ago Mike told me he was moving to NC. I was going through my divorce and thought I would check out another state to start over. I had to work so I settled in Hickory, NC. Mike moved to the mountains. After his divorce was finalized we started seeing each other. We realized that it was the right time in both of our lives to be together. We never saw ourselves as a "couple". That was over 10 years ago and we are as happy as can be. I know I finally found my soul mate. He knows it too.

Lisa

What a wonderful beginning and ending to a lovely love story!!! It reinforces my belief that some people were just meant to be together. Thanks so much for sharing!