Mrs Desert, I fully understand your dilemma and "only reasonable solution" - at least you now know the "true" value of the water. Treat it preciously! Someone above suggested drip systems. In your area, a drip system could loose 75% water due to evaporation. The best solution would be to use sub-surface ceramic pots. I am now coming up to my 7th year of using these pots, buried at the roots of the plant, and when carrying out periodical tests, I find them in perfect condition (they do get a "nest" of roots attached to their surround). Since the sub-surface pots are gravity feed, there is no need for regulators etc... and they are simple to install. I make these pots in batch mode using a simple slip cast method. Partially glazed, fired and finally adding a rubber cork with a sealing compound then fitted with regular 1/4" tube fittings - should you want details please contact me. May be a hand project to take up the extra time you may have living in the desert. All the best - Shaz

Gee everyone thanks for all your thoughtfull words and advice. minnie...I like the idea of the inverter for the car and will keep that in mind. As far as water, canned goods and candles...I usually keep that on had ALL the time..it was just to darn cold - more so inside the house than outside...and I just didn't feel like cooking. I used to own a wood burning stove in my old home and used it for warmth & cooking..(I sure miss it)..but with just a fireplace now, you have to sit real close to feel comfortable. Candy...before we got the snow, I heard that Co. was having snow storms...and thinking I couldn't do that so early in the season...I guess I spoke too soon. Karen...I wish we had that generator sooner too! I don't to humid heat or COLD very well...and I was really reaching the end of my sanity! Marlene...I guess we can all relate to going thru something like this at one time or other...and it will always bring back miserable feelings. Punk...wow - Several Generators & Toy Hauler!! DH must be a survivalist! I'd feel pretty safe knowing I had all that 'backup' !! lol mm...you are so correct about pure boring misery..with COLD thrown in. That gas hot water heater sounds good, but I probably wouldn't want to come out of the hot tub to freeze! janet you're so sweet to think of me. Sounds like you're pretty well prepared for storms with a generator, wood stove and fireplace! I miss the old stove I had and did some cooking on it like you. I hope they take care of your water problem soon. I agree with you on 'Snow Pictures' being beautiful...as long as you're not in them...lol jane

Congrats julescap! I also agree with you. We have that exact model and more than happy with it (and it's dryer). So happy we dumped our front loader, fighting the water levels worrying about mold/mildew, keeping the door open (suggested by manufacturer).

I think the place with the most types I've seen is M. Texeira. They also fabricate, but you need to check if you job meets their size and range requirements. (My project did not.) They'll sell and fabricate all over though. Their site has lots of pictures and is pretty thorough. But you only need to find one you like. And most soapstone is gray. So your choices tend to be gray, black, blacker, grayer, gray green, gray with gray-green ... I'm sort of kidding, but in the end, it all comes down to the individual slab, I think. I think Central Ne. and the Mass. Dorado are interrelated companies. Most of the people who work for both them have the same last name. They will e-mail you a photo of representative slabs, oiled and unoiled if you tell them what you're looking for. You can choose to go up or not. They offer several solid choices on their Web site, and come very highly recommended here.