Did you play the Powerball Lottery?  Did you win anything?  I did.  One of my numbers was 10, and I won $8.   Here’s what I bought with my winnings.   I’m good with this prize.  

I’m watching a tribute to Willy Nelson as I type this and wondering if he’s sick or something.  He’s getting such a tribute and, unfortunately, we usually reserve this for when you’re dead or dying.   Ouch.

For five years, from 8th grade through 12th grade, I rode bus 72 up Lee Highway on my way to John Battle High School.   During that time, I noticed the landscape daily.    I still do.   For the past couple of years, I’ve noticed this building but I didn’t know what it was…it is supposed to house tenants  that are involved in the research, manufacture and/or development of “Clean Fuel Energy” products and systems.

Mike and I rose early and were at Sam’s Club at 7 am to get new tires for my Prius.  He followed me in the truck with River riding along, naturally, and after dropping my Prius off, we had some time to kill .  I mentioned this building, so we drove up on the hill to take a closer look.  The property has a gate on it which was wide open, and we drove right in.    It was very interesting.

No one was there.  This is the backside (above).  They are using cisterns to capture water and probably using it for toilets in the building.     What was once an old method of gathering water is suddenly new again.  I’ll bet in 20 years, cisterns will be cropping up in many places as we learn to care for one of our most prized natural resource.

The landscaping is all drought resistant, and I really liked it.  Conservation is cool!

Here’s the back field…more drought resistant plantings.

Look at this huge generator.  It’s a whale.   The solar array is behind it.

Uh oh.  No matter how energy efficient a building may be, the occupants have to be thoughtful, too.  Someone left this window open, and it’s 40 degrees.  Whoops!  I like the fact that these windows will allow fresh air.   I could not tell if there was a screen, but if there’s not, someone may come to work and meet up with a bat or a bird.

I want one of these.  A wind mill.   If I’d just won that pesky lottery.

I took several pictures with my phone, and we turned to leave and, I said the “Oh Crap” phrase because the gate that was open when we drove in had CLOSED.    I looked for an opening in the fenced in area, and there was none!    I was getting ready to call 911 but Mike thought it might open as we approached it, and thankfully, it did.   However, what if it had not, and what if I had not had a cell phone with me?   Many people carry their phones with them all the time, but I do not.   We’d have been stuck!    I took this picture after we slipped through the gate and it was locked behind us.   Apparently, it should not have been open earlier.

And that was our adventure before 8 am this morning!  I’m going to try and learn more about this building.    I have heard there might be a rooftop garden of some sort on top of this building, and I want to see it.  I wonder if Virginia Master Gardeners have been involved with this project.  I was a Virginia Master Gardener but that was a long time ago.

On another front, I finally got my ears pierced, and tonight, they are HOT!   I hope I have not got infected ears.  I’ll be so mad at myself.