Getting some more tasks done

Since the installation of the lithium batteries back in November, we have wanted to make the compartment where they are located a little more "tight". The previous lead acid batteries needed venting to allow for off-gassing (not needed by lithium), and the lithium batteries are a little more cold-sensitive (we are not supposed to charge them if their temperature is below freezing). We have been watching the temperature in the battery compartment when the forecast was for below freezing temperatures, and we haven't seen it get down to freezing yet (the lowest we've seen is 38F when the outside temperature was in the low 20s). But, to help keep the compartment cleaner, and to help ensure we won't have a problem, we wanted to insulate it.

Carl picked up a sheet of Styrofoam insulation at Lowe's last week, and on Saturday, we worked on the project.

First piece installed along the front wall of the compartment. Note that above Carl's head the slide is out -- this is the slide that is stuck out... which makes this job a bit harder as you not only have to contort your body to measure and install inside the compartment, you also have to remember to stay crouched when you are getting out from the compartment.

We had the table set up so we could measure and cut the Styrofoam.

That's it on the pictures... because we decided that it would make more sense for Carl to measure and place the foam boards, and I could do the cutting... so photo ops went away!

On Sunday, since we have electric hookups, I'm taking the opportunity to do cooking that needs to use electricity, and working to use some of the things that we have in the freezer. We had wanted to make Beef Stroganoff with some of the beef we have gotten, so that's what we made on Sunday.

Onions and mushrooms were cooked up first...

Then the beef was cooked... we determined that we weren't going to be able to combine the vegetables and meat in the pan we had, so...

... we switched to the wok that we got a few months ago to do the final combination and mixing.

It turned out really good - we are certain to a large part because the beef we were using was not normal "grocery store" variety but straight from the farm!