This is the new non-solar energizer (plugs into a 120v outlet).

The red lead connects to the fence, the green connects to the ground.  When you or an animal touches the fence, a circuit is completed (electricity travels thru you to the ground you are standing on).

There are two things I've realized since setting it up.  First, trouble shooting can be fun.  Initially, distant portions of the fence were providing a weak shock, so I told the boys we had to do some good 'ole fashioned tests to determine if the energizer or the fencing was the problem.  The best way to see if the energizer is functioning properly is to go to where it connects to the fence and ground and touch the fence.  Caleb and TJ now know what 7,000+ volts feels like and I can't get them to test any more fencing.  I think this is why farm families 100s of years ago had so many kids, a kid was only good for one test.  7,000+ volts also offers a lot of family entertainment.  A new game we've discovered is seeing how close you can get someone to the fence before pushing them into it.  I laughed so hard I cried trying to get Calvin to the fence, he was like trying to hold onto a greased pig.

Another recreational activity is sledding, snow is a lot darker in the country.

I guess they hit a rock.  This is milliseconds after the sled's collision sensor deployed Keena as an airbag for Trinity.

That's a no hassle Christmas tree on the right.  I asked TJ to go out and find one and 20 minutes later it appeared.  (BTW, I wonder if this is how Fabio got started.  Sammy: "What's Fabio?")

Here is a cool pic of the grapple I previously missed.  I wonder if it could pick up (and crush) a small car.

And here is a pic I also missed of Silver Dollar City.  It was beautiful at night.  We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, may the Lord bless our friends and family in this new year.