Life Off-Grid in the New Mexico Desert: Winter Storm Watch and Energy Conservation
When people picture New Mexico, they often think of warm days and sunny skies. But here in the desert, winter can bring a real chill, and this week is no exception. We’re currently under a winter storm watch, and three days of cloudy skies have made energy conservation a top priority. Living off-grid, we rely on solar power, which means every bit of energy counts.
### Solar Conservation During Cloudy Days
On cloudy days like these, we make careful adjustments to reduce our energy use and extend our stored solar power. Here’s what that looks like:
1. **No Rehearsals or High Energy Activities**: Normally, our animatronics and music studio take a lot of power, but they’re off-limits on low-sun days. That means no rehearsals or other activities that use a lot of electricity.
2. **Minimizing Device Charging**: We limit charging to essentials only. Staying connected is important, but unnecessary devices stay unplugged until the sun comes out.
3. **Reducing Light Use**: Evenings feel cozier with fewer lights, and the RV’s own batteries provide backup. However, we conserve those too, as the RV’s charging system can drain the main solar battery if we’re not careful.
4. **No Microwave Use**: Our RV came with a microwave, but we found it to be more useful as bread storage than as an appliance! This high-energy device stays off for good.
### Staying Warm Without Power
To avoid using up our propane too quickly, we bundle up in layers instead of running the heater. The propane heater is our last resort, so until it’s absolutely necessary, sweaters, blankets, and hot beverages do the trick.
Life off-grid comes with unique challenges, especially when the weather takes a turn. But with a few adjustments, we can weather the storm and enjoy the desert winter from the comfort of our cozy RV.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#LifeOffGrid #WinterInTheDesert #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #KaHoonCampground #DesertLiving #SolarPower #EnergyConservation #RVLife #OffGridLife #WinterStormWatch #MinimalistLiving #EcoFriendly #PropaneHeating #SustainableLiving #NewMexicoDesert
Tag: KaHoon Campground
Discover the challenges of off-grid living on the mesa, from water issues to extreme weather conditions.
**The Reality of Off-Grid Living: What You Need to Know Before Moving to the Mesa**
In recent years, we’ve seen many people move out here with dreams of living off-grid. The land is cheap, and the idea of self-sustained living is appealing. Many come with plans to farm, plant trees, and cultivate gardens. While not impossible, the reality is far more challenging than most expect—it requires a significant amount of money and resources.
We, too, had hopes of planting gardens and creating a more sustainable environment with trees and flowers. However, we quickly realized that water is the biggest challenge. On this end of the mesa, we simply don’t get enough rain to rely on rainwater harvesting. The soil is incredibly arid, and the intense sun scorches everything in its path. Then, there are the relentless winds. You’ll quickly get accustomed to the taste of sand and how it invades every crack, crevice, and structure you build.
Drilling a well is prohibitively expensive, and while hauling water is a cheaper option, it takes a heavy toll on your vehicle and trailer. Unfortunately, there are currently no local water delivery services, though that may change in the near future.
Living off-grid here also means preparing for extreme weather conditions. Winters can drop to the teens or even single digits at night, while summers bring triple-digit heat. A solid, well-built structure is essential—tents simply won’t hold up to the harsh environment.
Off-grid living on the mesa can be rewarding, but it’s not for the faint of heart. You must be prepared for the extremes and fully understand the challenges that come with this lifestyle.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving #SelfSustainedLife #LivingOnTheMesa #HarshClimate #WaterChallenges #SustainableLiving #MesaLife #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #KaHoonCampground #OffGridCommunity #DesertFarming #ExtremeWeather #Sandstorms #HaulingWater #RuggedLifestyle
Advocatus Diaboli & the Grim Leafer Band: New Songs & Rehearsals | Upcoming Show Previews
** Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band : Show Update and Rehearsal Reflections**
Good Wednesday morning! The temperatures here have been quite pleasant, which makes it easier to focus on rehearsals. Yesterday, we spent most of the day in the studio, working on some new material and fine-tuning the animatronics. Of course, life brought its usual interruptions, making it a longer-than-expected session—over 4 hours of rehearsing!
I’ve always enjoyed rehearsals, even when they run long. We’re constantly pushing the show to the next level, not just musically but in terms of performance, timing, and the overall atmosphere. Each rehearsal brings us closer to enhancing every aspect of the show, from our song list to how the animatronics interact. We’re particularly excited to introduce a couple of new songs to our set in the upcoming performances, blending parody, original pieces, and our unique band dynamic.
**Upcoming Shows:**
– Oct 12: * October Music in the Desert * at Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center
– Oct 18: * Halloween Hootenanny * at Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center
– Oct 19: * Advocatus Diaboli & The Grim Leafer Band * at Tractor Brewing Company – Westside
– Oct 32 “Nov 1”: * Halloween Dance of the Dead at Red Gorilla Studios * at Red Gorilla Studios LLC
If you’re interested in catching a show or booking us, feel free to visit any of the Facebook Event pages or check out our websites:
http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
Come join the fun and see what we’ve been working on!
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#AdvocatusDiaboliBand #GrimLeaferBand #AnimatronicBand #ParodyMusic #OriginalMusic #KaHoonCampground #MusicInTheDesert #HalloweenHootenanny #TractorBrewingWestside #RedGorillaStudios #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #LiveMusicEvents #StudioRehearsal #UniquePerformance #OffGridMusic
Chasing Cattle Away From the RVs: A Morning on the Campground!
Thought I’d share a quick video of the cattle paying us a visit this morning and having to chase them away from the RVs. Watch how “difficult” it is to drive them off (said sarcastically)!
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#cattlelife #RVlife #KaHoonCampground #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #offgridliving
Off-Grid Morning: Solar Power Challenges and Life with Vibria the Pup at KaHoon Campground
This morning, we woke up to find the solar power out, which was strange since we had a full day of sun yesterday. As I lay in bed, my mind raced with possible reasons. My first thought was that maybe we’d forgotten to turn off the PA after rehearsal with the animatronics. That thing pulls about 3,000 watts, and we’ve accidentally left it on a few times before. But I distinctly remembered us shutting it down, so that couldn’t be it. The next thought, which I dreaded, was that something might be wrong with the solar system itself.
Eventually, I gave in and got up, mostly because the dogs decided it was time. Vibria was already calling from her box, ready to start the day. After letting the dogs out, I usually throw in a bit of fetch, fill up their water, and inevitably annoy them by going inside to make coffee. But not today. Today, I was on a mission to figure out what happened with the solar.
It didn’t take long to crack the case. Somehow, the fridge had switched to using both electric and gas. That means it draws power from the batteries first before automatically switching to gas when the power runs out. To make things worse, the RV charging system had switched to boost mode, which draws extra power to charge the RV batteries faster. Running both the fridge and boost mode overnight drained the system. It’s fine during the day when the solar’s up and running, but overnight? Not so much.
With a sigh of relief, I realized nothing was broken. Now, we’re just waiting for the sun to come up and recharge the solar. It’s a bit cloudy this morning, so it may take longer than usual, but it only takes about an hour or two of full sun to get the batteries back to normal.
Meanwhile, the dogs got their morning playtime, barked at a camper stopping by to say hello, and are now back to napping. Vibria’s curled up at my feet, and we’re just waiting on that coffee to percolate.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving #SolarPowerLife #RVLife #AnimatronicsShow #TinyHouseAdventures #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #KaHoonCampground #KaHoonVenue #SolarPowerIssues #DogLife #VibriaThePup #MorningRoutine #LifeInTheDesert #RuralLiving #SustainableLiving
Cattle Chaos: Off-Grid Adventures with Solar Panels and Free-Range Herds
**Cattle, Cattle, Everywhere…**
Why do the cattle always feel the need to hang around the solar panels? Seriously, they have acres upon acres of land to graze on, but no… they have to gather right where they can cause the most trouble! Growing up on a dairy farm, I remember the cows roaming the yard freely, grazing peacefully among the flowers and plants. At least, that’s how I remember it—though my parents might have a different story! Maybe I was too young to notice the chaos they caused back then, but these guys? They’re determined to drive us to the loony bin.
Yet, despite the destruction, I can’t bring myself to put up a fence. The open views are just too beautiful. The cattle are welcome here—if only they’d stay away from the solar panels! It’s not even like there’s a buffet of grass around the solar setups. But still, they gather like it’s the hottest spot in town.
Even with all the havoc, watching these cattle brings me back to my childhood. Back then, it was Holsteins wandering the Minnesota fields, and now it’s these stubborn free-range fellows. Nostalgia sure has a funny way of making chaos feel a little less… chaotic.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampground, #KaHoonEventCenter, #SolarPanelProblems, #CattleTrouble, #OffGridLife, #CountryLiving, #RVLife, #TinyHouseLiving, #FreeRangeCattle, #RuralAdventures, #FarmLife, #NoFenceNoProblem, #NatureChallenges, #OpenRangeLiving
Meet Vibria: Our Newest Adventure and Challenges with Free-Range Cattle!
Life with Vibria: Our New Puppy and Free-Range Cattle Adventures
It’s been three weeks since we brought Vibria home, and we think she’s around 11 weeks old now. While we don’t know her exact breed or how big she’ll get, we estimate she’ll grow to be around 10 to 15 lbs based on her current size. Vibria has a big personality and zero fear—she’s quite the confident little pup. Potty training her has been a bit more challenging than it was with Dreugan, but we’re adjusting. Having a small dog again has its learning curve!
Vibria is so tiny that she can easily slip through the fence in our yard, so we’ve set up her own little fenced area within the larger yard to give her a safe space to play and soak up the sun. When we’re outside supervising, she gets to run around in the bigger fenced-in areas and even outside them.
Life out here has its challenges, though—especially when it comes to the free-range cattle. They love to roam, and unfortunately, they have a habit of tearing up our solar lights and getting too close to the solar panels. To keep them away, we’ve set up motion detectors that trigger sounds and lights, but sometimes these deterrents aren’t as effective as we’d like. We could build a fence, but we love the wide-open views, so we usually just go out and herd them away ourselves when they get too close. While we enjoy watching the cattle, we could definitely do without the destruction. We tell them they’re welcome as long as they stay out of our areas—but they don’t seem to listen!
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #KaHoonVenue, #VibriaAdventures, #FreeRangeCattle, #OffGridLife, #RVLiving, #TinyHomeLiving, #SolarPowerChallenges, #LivingWithDogs, #DesertLife, #OutdoorAdventures, #PetTraining, #WideOpenViews, #CattleHerding
Disrespect on Private Property: A Lesson in Why Respect Matters | Plateau Hame de Colquhoun
This past week has been tough for us with a lot of personal things happening. We don’t usually share much, but this has been particularly stressful, filled with drama and a lot of questioning.
One thing that keeps standing out is how much some people lack **respect**. A few days ago, a neighbor came over, and while we were outside, we saw a motorcyclist going down Powerline Rd, which is closed off and impassable. He reached the end, turned around, and instead of heading back the proper way, he cut right through our property, ignoring “No Trespassing” signs and us standing there.
When we shouted that he was on private property, he flipped us off and continued to the end of our driveway. He then turned back toward us, but when Brent and our neighbor started walking down the driveway, the motorcyclist finally turned and left.
Now, if he had simply stopped and said he was lost or thought it was a road, we would have gladly told him to go ahead. But he chose to be disrespectful, and for what? Respect really does go a long way, and I just don’t understand why it’s so hard for some people to show it.
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#RespectMatters, #CommunityFirst, #PrivateProperty, #NoTrespassing, #StandYourGround, #PositiveVibesOnly, #NeighborsMatter, #MotorcycleLife, #ChooseRespect, #WestMesaLiving, #PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampground, #EventCenterLife, #RuralLife, #RespectGoesALongWay
Rehearsing in the studio with wonderful campers visiting from Switzerland and celebrating retirement travel!
Yesterday was a busy day in the studio as we spent most of it rehearsing. In between, we had the pleasure of hosting a couple of wonderful campers. It’s always enjoyable giving tours and visiting with guests who come from all walks of life. One of our campers was a father and son who had just embarked on a two-week vacation to tour the USA, all the way from Switzerland! We were honored to be their first stop on such a special journey. Another camper had just retired from truck driving and is now planning to enjoy all the sights and experiences they had missed while on the road. We wish both of them the best on their travels!
If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat with a welcoming community, be sure to visit us at **Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center**.
Check out our upcoming events and learn more on our website:
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampground, #NewMexicoCamping, #OffGridLiving, #DesertAdventure, #CampgroundLife, #AdvocatusDiaboli, #GrimLeaferBand, #MusicInTheDesert, #TravelNewMexico, #FamilyCamping, #RetirementTravel, #OutdoorRecreation, #DesertGetaway, #ExploreUSA
Vibria the Puppy Invites You to Music in the Desert Talent Show & Karaoke | Special Guests!
**A Message from Vibria, the New Colquhoun Puppy**
Hi everyone! I’m Vibria, the adorable new puppy at Plateau Hame de Colquhoun, and I can’t wait to see all of you tonight at the Music in the Desert Talent Show and Karaoke!
Make sure to stop by and give me lots of pets! You can even ask my family if it’s okay to hold me, sing with me, or show off your talents. I’ll be watching with wagging excitement, but don’t forget to ask my parents first!
My favorite band members (and my awesome Dad!) Advocatus Diaboli and Shamshini will be performing too! It’s going to be so much fun!
If you can’t come in person, don’t worry—you can watch parts of the show live on our Ka-Hoon Plateau Hame De Colquhoun Facebook page.
I woof forward to seeing you there! 🐾
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampground, #EventCenter, #AdvocatusDiaboli, #Shamshini, #MusicInTheDesert, #KaraokeNight, #TalentShow, #LiveMusic, #CampingEvents, #OffGridCampground, #NewMexicoEvents, #HalloweenHootenanny, #FamilyFriendlyEvents, #DesertAdventures
