Money, Politics, and the American Way
I started reading a Clive Cussler book the other day. I would've sworn it was a brand new book because of how current the issues involved were such as global warming, financial scares, and oil price spikes and shortages. Turns out it was written in the seventies. So was this clip I found. I am just about to stick my head out the window- too bad I live in the middle of nowhere and only Polar, the chickens, and nearby squirrels would hear...
The bailout, from minute one, seemed to me to be a horrible plan. Like putting a bandaid to try to heal a severed wound. I compared it to my business because after all, it is only a bunch of zeroes that separate us from them. If my business is being poorly run and we overspend who has to pony up? I do. If times turn sour, and business is down who pays? We do. I've been at that point more times than I care to count with my little rinky dink biz. But, I assure you it is my bank account being drained, or my signature on the loan paperwork for a bridge loan. I can't even imagine asking the government to give me money because I screwed up, or didn't have a big enough egg stashed away for poor times. I wouldn't even know who to ask, but I am sure whoever got my call would die laughing! It's capitalism. That's how it works, and that is why it works. If you screw up that badly, you fail!
The election is looming and we will have a historic first regardless of who wins. Everyone throws (or lately spits) Republican and Democrat as if they are four letter words, and to admit one or the other is likening yourself to the Nazi party or Communistic regime. I don't play that. I vote for the person, not the party.
The first president I really loved was Reagan. I would say that he is my favorite- in my lifetime so far. I didn't mind Bush I, or Clinton. I abhor Bush Jr. Hate him. Hate that he lead us to war for oil while ignoring viable alternatives in this country. btw-I don't think we should pull out and abandon the people in those countries we devastated, either.
This time around it is Obama that scares the living crud out of me. We are a hair's breath away from socializing our system, and with him I am afraid that would only be the beginning. I like capitalism. I like getting compensated for a job well done. I understand that I won't get paid if I don't work, or if I screw it up. The whole tax the rich to give to the poor is horrifying. Maybe I am a little biased as I just finished Atlas Shrugged, but it is hard to see it playing out any other way. There are moments when I remind myself he hasn't actually done anything! He could turn out to be a puppet that gets pushed around by those in office.
Then there is the fact I think things could still be going South. Whoever gets elected may be branded with the failings through no fault of his own, so who should that be??
John McCain is nothing like Bush. To digress, I hate Bush. I really like John McCain- and I think Sarah Palin is just awesome. Living in NH I am among friends with this opinion, although the hardcore conservatives don't think he is Republican enough. Ms. Palin saved the day there. I like that he has been working to cut pork, even though is part of the senate. In our business (industry) we learned first hand how much money and time it takes to finally get a bill on the floor, Then to have to bend over and take it while they go back and forth getting their special earmarks and concessions put in. Then you have to do it again for funding. I think this is a huge problem in our governmental system. I also like his health care policies. Being a small business I like his incentives (or should I say lack of additional taxes) that will help (or at least not hurt) keep my business going in good times and bad. I like his practical approach to energy. He was one of the first to support a biomass initiative. See above for how it turned out, but the fact is he helped write it and get it passed. I find it absolutely embarassing that we exported more biomass than we used domestically last year. Export our cheap biomass to Europe,and import more oil from the Middle East. We have about 1.4 billion tons of biomass waste annually in this country yet we used 1.3 million tons and exported 1.6 million. Disgusting. Actually, I think either candidate may do o.k. on this front but McCain HAS been doing something, and I think has the experience and knowledge to make it happen NOW!
I know politics is often a touchy subject, and I am sure there are multiple people who will take offense somehow to what I have said. It was more written for me. I would like to look back at my frame of mind before the election.
Happy Thanksgiving to all Canadian friends!
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
11 October 2008
03 August 2008
Carbon Footprint
Like many others we have been working to reduce our carbon footprint. Our biggest contribution to reducing our carbon emissions was done years ago when we began heating our home with carbon nuetral wood pellets.
When we moved into our new house we upped the ante by putting in the boiler so now we not only heat our home with pellets we heat our domestic hot water as well. This is our first full summer with that setup and it is working great.
On the example of friends who use an efficient wood boiler to heat their home and water we turn the boiler on once a day. We take our showers, do dishes, cleaning, and laundry that needs hot water then we turn it off. On average I would say it is on for about ten hours a week as opposed to 168 hours (24/7).
We also do most of our laundry in cold or cooling water and then hang them on the line to dry. I love the crisp fresh feel and smell of line dried clothes!
In the summer months and into the fall we use our wood pellet grill for cooking/baking. It has just as much temperature control (with a built in thermostat) as my oven/range, but doesn't warm my house and uses about one-fifth the electricity.
I went around the house about a year ago and unplugged everything. I plugged things in as I used them, and the others remain unplugged. I also make an effort to unplug things after I use them that I only use sparingly like the iron, an extra tv, boom box, pellet stove in the summer, and sewing machine. I do make an effort to unplug my cell phone and laptop chargers when I am not using them as they suck up almost as much juice whether or not they are charging/powering the device.
When we first moved into this house we changed our lightbulbs for the compact flourescents, and we are upgrading our windows and insulation as we can to decrease energy loss in the winter.
We also buy as much food as we can locally. I love the fresh milk and cream (especially ice cream ;) from our local dairy, and the fresh meats can't be beat. We joined the local co-op for our veggies, and get most of the fruit we eat from our yard. We have had great success with Damon using our greenhouse and fields for growing. Win- win there. Then, of course, we have the chickens now. They are way too much fun! You should have seen them fight over a few grapes I gave them yesterday. Best game of keep away I have witnessed in a long time...
We combine our trips so we aren't constantly in the car running up and down the hill. We got bikes and should be better about using them for local travel, but that is in the "still working on it" category.
The latest project for energy reduction is actually an idea from last winter. For Christmas we bought a 100 year old wood cook stove instead of gifts for each other. It was a little rusty and well used, but still in working order and will be beautiful with a little tlc. Of course, our plan is to adapt it to burn pellets (not changing it to a convective stove just using the pellets instead of wood for fuel). It sat in our friend's garage for almost two months after the holiday, then in the warehouse until today. (We had gotten a hearth pad for it in the spring...) Today we spread it all out and got the grinders and wire brushes out and start cleaning her up. Tomorrow I will paint it and then we can bring it home to set it up! We are putting it where the original house owner's had a wood stove. Venting through roof is done we will just have to adapt into it. Gee- I wonder where we will get the pipe from!LOL! Here are some before pics...
When we moved into our new house we upped the ante by putting in the boiler so now we not only heat our home with pellets we heat our domestic hot water as well. This is our first full summer with that setup and it is working great.
On the example of friends who use an efficient wood boiler to heat their home and water we turn the boiler on once a day. We take our showers, do dishes, cleaning, and laundry that needs hot water then we turn it off. On average I would say it is on for about ten hours a week as opposed to 168 hours (24/7).
We also do most of our laundry in cold or cooling water and then hang them on the line to dry. I love the crisp fresh feel and smell of line dried clothes!
In the summer months and into the fall we use our wood pellet grill for cooking/baking. It has just as much temperature control (with a built in thermostat) as my oven/range, but doesn't warm my house and uses about one-fifth the electricity.
I went around the house about a year ago and unplugged everything. I plugged things in as I used them, and the others remain unplugged. I also make an effort to unplug things after I use them that I only use sparingly like the iron, an extra tv, boom box, pellet stove in the summer, and sewing machine. I do make an effort to unplug my cell phone and laptop chargers when I am not using them as they suck up almost as much juice whether or not they are charging/powering the device.
When we first moved into this house we changed our lightbulbs for the compact flourescents, and we are upgrading our windows and insulation as we can to decrease energy loss in the winter.
We also buy as much food as we can locally. I love the fresh milk and cream (especially ice cream ;) from our local dairy, and the fresh meats can't be beat. We joined the local co-op for our veggies, and get most of the fruit we eat from our yard. We have had great success with Damon using our greenhouse and fields for growing. Win- win there. Then, of course, we have the chickens now. They are way too much fun! You should have seen them fight over a few grapes I gave them yesterday. Best game of keep away I have witnessed in a long time...
We combine our trips so we aren't constantly in the car running up and down the hill. We got bikes and should be better about using them for local travel, but that is in the "still working on it" category.
The latest project for energy reduction is actually an idea from last winter. For Christmas we bought a 100 year old wood cook stove instead of gifts for each other. It was a little rusty and well used, but still in working order and will be beautiful with a little tlc. Of course, our plan is to adapt it to burn pellets (not changing it to a convective stove just using the pellets instead of wood for fuel). It sat in our friend's garage for almost two months after the holiday, then in the warehouse until today. (We had gotten a hearth pad for it in the spring...) Today we spread it all out and got the grinders and wire brushes out and start cleaning her up. Tomorrow I will paint it and then we can bring it home to set it up! We are putting it where the original house owner's had a wood stove. Venting through roof is done we will just have to adapt into it. Gee- I wonder where we will get the pipe from!LOL! Here are some before pics...
03 May 2008
10 Great Reasons to have Chickens
Araucana Chick
Black Australorp ChickWell, we picked out our chicks. We will get three Araucanas and three black Australorps. The Araucanas have the great green and blue eggs that are so delicious, and the black Australorps are supposed to be quiet, even tempered large chickens. The malamute of chickens if you will.
From My Pet Chicken My newly bookmarked resource.
Ten Great Reasons to have Chickens
Great-Tasting, Nutritious Eggs
We all love our dogs, cats and fish, but do they actually produce something edible? Or pay their own way? Chickens do, and once you've dined on their eggs you'll never reach for a dozen in the supermarket again. They're so much more flavorful, in no small part because you'll eat them when they're only minutes or hours old, not weeks or months. You'll even see the difference in the yolks, which are a healthy orange - not the pale yellow you're used to.
Plus, you can feel good about the organic eggs you'll be feeding your friends and family. All it takes to get organic eggs is organic chicken feed! Research shows that chickens allowed to roam freely and eat grass lay eggs that are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E and at the same time lower in cholesterol than store-bought, too. (Think of your hair and skin...)
Chickens Have Personality Galore -- Seriously!
Each chicken has their own completely unique quirky, kooky and endearing personality. They're stunningly beautiful too, parading around in a variety of colors, patterns, shapes and sizes. You'll name them, spoil them with treats, and pick them up and hug them any chance you get.
Get One Step Closer to Sustainable Living
Do you find it disconcerting how far removed we all are from the animals and plants we need to survive? How our fast-paced lives and ever-increasing demands are trashing the planet that sustains us? Believe it or not, keeping a few chickens in your backyard equates to taking a stand against all this. Read more about sustainable living with chickens
A Healthy Lawn without the Chemicals
Chickens LOVE to range freely, and allowing them to do so kills the proverbial two birds with one stone: they'll eat any garden pest they can get their beaks on (earwigs, grubs, beetles, even moles) and they'll turn it all into treasure in the form of fertilizer. Say goodbye to toxic, costly pest control solutions and wasteful bags and bottles of store-bought fertilizer. Chickens will even cut down on the amount of mowing you do because they love to eat grass. That's right -- you sit in a lounge chair with your mint julep while they do the hard work for you.
One Man's Unappealing Leftovers are another Chicken's Feast
Chickens can eat almost anything people can, and they adore "people food" -- so you can throw those unwanted leftovers into the chicken run. No more feeling guilty about letting them rot in the fridge or throwing them out! Watch out for the garlic and onion, though, unless you want your eggs tasting funny.
A Balanced Compost Pile
Composting is a wonderful way to reduce your ecological footprint, and a nitrogen-rich compost pile is a healthy compost pile. What better to provide the nitrogen than chicken poo? Eggshells are a great addition, too, especially in areas where there's lots of clay in the soil. At the end of the composting process you'll have "black gold" soil, so called because it's so rich and fertile.
Handy Leaf, Weed, and Grass Clipping Removal
Leaves, weeds and grass clippings are a treat for Gallus gallus domesticus. They'll happily dig through whatever you give them, eat what they can, and pulverize the rest. Give a small flock a heap of yard and garden debris and a week later it'll be gone without a trace. No need to bag it and pile it by the curb!
Save a Chicken from a Factory-Farm Life
If you're aware of conditions in factory farms, even in some of the so-called "free range" farms, we needn't say more. If you're not, please research it. Factory farming is terrifyingly cruel. The good news is that by keeping a few pet chickens of your own, you're reducing the demand for store-bought eggs and sending a message to those factory farms that you don't want what they're selling.
The Very Definition of Low-Maintenance
Chickens don't need to be walked, brushed, or fed twice a day. Essentially all you have to do is gather eggs daily, fill their food and water containers a couple of times a week and change their bedding once a month! (For more on chicken care, take a peek at our free chicken care guide.)
Be the Coolest Kid on the Block
Despite their many merits, backyard chickens are still relatively uncommon. Wow neighbors, friends and family by being the first person they know to have chickens. Amaze them with the green eggs from your Ameraucana hens. Confound them by scooping up your pet chicken and cuddling it. Astound them when your chicken falls asleep in your arms after you've lovingly stroked its comb and wattles. Make them green with envy at the lawn your flock has made effortlessly fabulous.
Chickens are, after all, the most "chic" pet you could possibly have. And we think it's time everyone knew.
We all love our dogs, cats and fish, but do they actually produce something edible? Or pay their own way? Chickens do, and once you've dined on their eggs you'll never reach for a dozen in the supermarket again. They're so much more flavorful, in no small part because you'll eat them when they're only minutes or hours old, not weeks or months. You'll even see the difference in the yolks, which are a healthy orange - not the pale yellow you're used to.
Plus, you can feel good about the organic eggs you'll be feeding your friends and family. All it takes to get organic eggs is organic chicken feed! Research shows that chickens allowed to roam freely and eat grass lay eggs that are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E and at the same time lower in cholesterol than store-bought, too. (Think of your hair and skin...)
Chickens Have Personality Galore -- Seriously!
Each chicken has their own completely unique quirky, kooky and endearing personality. They're stunningly beautiful too, parading around in a variety of colors, patterns, shapes and sizes. You'll name them, spoil them with treats, and pick them up and hug them any chance you get.
Get One Step Closer to Sustainable Living
Do you find it disconcerting how far removed we all are from the animals and plants we need to survive? How our fast-paced lives and ever-increasing demands are trashing the planet that sustains us? Believe it or not, keeping a few chickens in your backyard equates to taking a stand against all this. Read more about sustainable living with chickens
A Healthy Lawn without the Chemicals
Chickens LOVE to range freely, and allowing them to do so kills the proverbial two birds with one stone: they'll eat any garden pest they can get their beaks on (earwigs, grubs, beetles, even moles) and they'll turn it all into treasure in the form of fertilizer. Say goodbye to toxic, costly pest control solutions and wasteful bags and bottles of store-bought fertilizer. Chickens will even cut down on the amount of mowing you do because they love to eat grass. That's right -- you sit in a lounge chair with your mint julep while they do the hard work for you.
One Man's Unappealing Leftovers are another Chicken's Feast
Chickens can eat almost anything people can, and they adore "people food" -- so you can throw those unwanted leftovers into the chicken run. No more feeling guilty about letting them rot in the fridge or throwing them out! Watch out for the garlic and onion, though, unless you want your eggs tasting funny.
A Balanced Compost Pile
Composting is a wonderful way to reduce your ecological footprint, and a nitrogen-rich compost pile is a healthy compost pile. What better to provide the nitrogen than chicken poo? Eggshells are a great addition, too, especially in areas where there's lots of clay in the soil. At the end of the composting process you'll have "black gold" soil, so called because it's so rich and fertile.
Handy Leaf, Weed, and Grass Clipping Removal
Leaves, weeds and grass clippings are a treat for Gallus gallus domesticus. They'll happily dig through whatever you give them, eat what they can, and pulverize the rest. Give a small flock a heap of yard and garden debris and a week later it'll be gone without a trace. No need to bag it and pile it by the curb!
Save a Chicken from a Factory-Farm Life
If you're aware of conditions in factory farms, even in some of the so-called "free range" farms, we needn't say more. If you're not, please research it. Factory farming is terrifyingly cruel. The good news is that by keeping a few pet chickens of your own, you're reducing the demand for store-bought eggs and sending a message to those factory farms that you don't want what they're selling.
The Very Definition of Low-Maintenance
Chickens don't need to be walked, brushed, or fed twice a day. Essentially all you have to do is gather eggs daily, fill their food and water containers a couple of times a week and change their bedding once a month! (For more on chicken care, take a peek at our free chicken care guide.)
Be the Coolest Kid on the Block
Despite their many merits, backyard chickens are still relatively uncommon. Wow neighbors, friends and family by being the first person they know to have chickens. Amaze them with the green eggs from your Ameraucana hens. Confound them by scooping up your pet chicken and cuddling it. Astound them when your chicken falls asleep in your arms after you've lovingly stroked its comb and wattles. Make them green with envy at the lawn your flock has made effortlessly fabulous.
Chickens are, after all, the most "chic" pet you could possibly have. And we think it's time everyone knew.
30 November 2007
How much does a chicken weigh?
There are many people in life that will pose thought provoking questions that range from the mundane to the fantastic. There is a question so obscure, yet so frequently asked that we are left scratching our heads. Because we are professionals do we have an extrasensory knowledge that the average person does not? How do you live up to the sense of urgency with which the question is asked? It seems harmless, an innoculous little question that should have a simple and straight forward answer, so what's the big deal? Um, short of a crystal ball, full house schematics, a weather audit for the spot where the house is, full knowledge of what temp the people in the house want, know how often the doors open and shut, air leaks in windows, etc., a planetary weather control system or at least forecaster... it is impossible to answer. "How many pellets will I need a day/a month/this year?"
Art's favorite answer when people ask how long a hopper/bag will last is "You can go all summer on one bag!" but the irony is generally lost and the response is a glazed, deer in the headlights, puzzled look.
I usually turn it around and ask, "What will the temperature be on January 18 at 3:00 in the afternoon?" They look at me and say, "That's impossible to answer." I just nod...
We expect it from the average consumer who is probably looking for more detailed information like, "How much heat does this unit put out on high/low?" and "How many pellets does it take to produce said heat?" But yesterday we had a peer in the industry call to ask how many pellets the boiler uses. He's been doing this longer than we have!
So I would like to submit "How many pellets will I use?" to the "Why did the chicken cross the road" hall of fame.
18 November 2007
Blackie
We have finally dumped that old gas hog Avalanche. I can't believe we kept it as long as we did. Three years ago my Mom wanted to sell her Avalanche. We were in need of a new truck and I liked the backseat and upgrades it had, and convinced Art that it was still a work truck since it was a 2500. One big problem was that my Mom said it got 24 miles to the gallon. I must have asked her a hundred times if she was sure. She said she was. My Mom is a wonderful person, but I will probably not ask her a mathematical or numerical question again. It gets 12. Or 10 if you're in 4 wheel drive. That would be about half. My fault for believing it, but you believe what you want to believe sometimes. We had it for three years. It was great to have the heated seats, the memory seats, the big back seat, the ability to fold it all down and stuff sheetrock in the back, and it was awesome in the snow. It could go places the Bobcat would struggle with. But, it felt a little hypocritical to promote being green, and energy efficient when we were driving around in an American consumerism status symbol. Also, it had a cracked windshield (again), the brakes and tires needed replacing, and there was a "check engine" status light that Art's little car problem decoder box said there was incomplete combustion. That just sounds like an expensive problem. Plus gas prices are up to $2.99 a gallon.
So we took it down to the Honda place to look at Elements. Not sure why we needed to look since we bought an Element for a service vehicle for the shop two or three years ago and love it. Anyway, they gave us what we wanted (and didn't expect to get) for the Avalanche, and gave us the automatic for the invoice price of the manual. It is all black, no plastic panels on it. It is very fun to drive. Today I had to go down to the laundromat to do eight loads of laundry since our washing machine crapped out- mid-cycle-thankyouverymuch, and then I had to go to the grocery store, and pick up my dry cleaning. I folded up one seat and stuffed everything in easily. The back doors you can open with one finger! I still had room in the seat behind me and nothing was in the passenger seat. It also has an i-pod port :)
And it actually does get 24 miles to the gallon...
12 November 2007
Hot, Cold, Hot...
Little rant.
((((Sigh))))This is our business life. Things are either off the charts, or dead as a doornail. We have years where we are booked out three months in the fall, backordered on stoves for months. The next year you stare at the door and wonder what the hell happened to all those people who were screaming because you couldn't get them squeezed into your schedule in a couple of days as soon as it snows and you wonder if you'll make it through the year??
Where are all the people who swore that pellet or wood was the answer not just because it's cheap (I hate that word), but because it the right thing to do? These people shut their stoves off in droves when oil prices are low. Not lower than pellet in many cases, but hey if you don't have to get your lazy ass off the couch to fill the stove once a day it's worth a few extra bucks right?
Last year was one of the worst for our industry. What people don't realize is they created a very dangerous situation by having such on again, off again support for alternative fuels. There were many major players, and little guys, that went out of business or had to sell to the highest bidder, are carrying large loans and/or are on the brink of collapse because of this. One of the worst parts is that every time we lose users here- even for one heating season- that fuel is LOST. Sold to Europe, sold to China, sold to so many others who know the value of the fuel. We now export more pellet fuel than we use in this country. Good luck getting it back. It won't happen. I have been to a few world pellet conferences in Europe and they spend a great deal of effort and money to woo the US and Canadian manufacturers. Their standards are lower, they pay in advance, and they buy very large quantities.
When the oil prices are out of sight the number of people that use their pellet stoves goes up by the tens of thousands. Well in excess of 100,000 extra stoves were estimated for the 2005 heating season. The average house uses three tons in a heating season. So these extra users can add an extra demand equal to as much as a third of the annual pellet production in this country in an instant. (AND that doesn't account for the fact that we now ship more pellet fuel to Europe than we do domestically.) This creates spot shortages, DUH! The best JIT system in the world couldn't manufacturer 30% of their annual production in a week or two...
The industry took the area shortages in the Northeast very seriously in 2005. They made deals with West coast manufacturers (who had excess that year) to ensure that there was ample supply in New England. Manufacturers, and dealers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, and more on infrastructure, and extra stocking space to buy the fuel early. Then our fair weather friends did not turn on their stoves. They did not buy fuel. The Year of the Cricket, where many fell or were severely crippled.
This year the oil prices are back where they should be and suddenly we are back to a packed store of people wanting this yesterday wondering why we have so few employees, why we are sold out of many stoves, and why it will take weeks for us to get out to install a stove. Pellets are holding for now-(knock on wood)...
I have learned to be greatful for the times when I cannot get the product and have a backlog. Even though customers are screaming at us and holding us responsible at least the fuel is being used and therefore preserved for our use- this year at least. ((((Sigh))))
((((Sigh))))This is our business life. Things are either off the charts, or dead as a doornail. We have years where we are booked out three months in the fall, backordered on stoves for months. The next year you stare at the door and wonder what the hell happened to all those people who were screaming because you couldn't get them squeezed into your schedule in a couple of days as soon as it snows and you wonder if you'll make it through the year??
Where are all the people who swore that pellet or wood was the answer not just because it's cheap (I hate that word), but because it the right thing to do? These people shut their stoves off in droves when oil prices are low. Not lower than pellet in many cases, but hey if you don't have to get your lazy ass off the couch to fill the stove once a day it's worth a few extra bucks right?
Last year was one of the worst for our industry. What people don't realize is they created a very dangerous situation by having such on again, off again support for alternative fuels. There were many major players, and little guys, that went out of business or had to sell to the highest bidder, are carrying large loans and/or are on the brink of collapse because of this. One of the worst parts is that every time we lose users here- even for one heating season- that fuel is LOST. Sold to Europe, sold to China, sold to so many others who know the value of the fuel. We now export more pellet fuel than we use in this country. Good luck getting it back. It won't happen. I have been to a few world pellet conferences in Europe and they spend a great deal of effort and money to woo the US and Canadian manufacturers. Their standards are lower, they pay in advance, and they buy very large quantities.
When the oil prices are out of sight the number of people that use their pellet stoves goes up by the tens of thousands. Well in excess of 100,000 extra stoves were estimated for the 2005 heating season. The average house uses three tons in a heating season. So these extra users can add an extra demand equal to as much as a third of the annual pellet production in this country in an instant. (AND that doesn't account for the fact that we now ship more pellet fuel to Europe than we do domestically.) This creates spot shortages, DUH! The best JIT system in the world couldn't manufacturer 30% of their annual production in a week or two...
The industry took the area shortages in the Northeast very seriously in 2005. They made deals with West coast manufacturers (who had excess that year) to ensure that there was ample supply in New England. Manufacturers, and dealers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, and more on infrastructure, and extra stocking space to buy the fuel early. Then our fair weather friends did not turn on their stoves. They did not buy fuel. The Year of the Cricket, where many fell or were severely crippled.
This year the oil prices are back where they should be and suddenly we are back to a packed store of people wanting this yesterday wondering why we have so few employees, why we are sold out of many stoves, and why it will take weeks for us to get out to install a stove. Pellets are holding for now-(knock on wood)...
I have learned to be greatful for the times when I cannot get the product and have a backlog. Even though customers are screaming at us and holding us responsible at least the fuel is being used and therefore preserved for our use- this year at least. ((((Sigh))))
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