Something strange started happening in our south meadow late last summer.

At first, no big deal. There’s always something going on at the farm—things being built, repaired, mowed, hauled, watered, cut, or dragged around for reasons we don’t fully understand. We’re used to projects.

But this one felt… different.

Mom and Dad never mentioned it to us. We’d head out every day for our usual routines—walks, bike runs, rock climbs, dog parkour—and suddenly Dad started spending a lot of time down in the meadow. Digging. And digging. And then digging some more.

Naturally, we helped.

Because holes.

At first it was fun. But then the holes got really big. Like “you could lose a tennis ball in there forever” big. Then one day… a cement truck showed up. And metal pipes got planted into the ground like giant silver sticks.

We looked at each other.

What. In. The. World. Is. This?

That’s when Willy—one of our boarding peeps—casually dropped the theory:

“It’s a communication device for aliens.”

Now Willy’s a city dog. A cosmopolitan type. He mixes with the latest culture, trends, and ideas. So naturally, we assumed he knew things we didn’t.

And that’s when we got worried.

Why were Mom and Dad building an alien communications array in our meadow?

Were we about to be abducted?

Would aliens appreciate our recall skills?

Would they take the chickens?

We decided an intervention was necessary—for everyone’s safety and sanity.

Mom and Dad listened. Then they laughed. A lot. And finally, they explained everything.

Immediate relief. Tails wagged. Crisis averted.

So what did go up in the meadow?

Turns out—it’s a ground-based solar array.

We still don’t fully understand words like kilowatt-hours or joules (honestly, sounds like chew toys), but here’s what we do understand:

The sun makes energy.

Energy means heat.

Energy means food.

Energy means lights, computers, adventures, and our boarding peeps coming to visit us.

Energy means mountain trips with Mom and Dad.

Nuff said!  Whatever that thing is… we’re all for it.

Mom and Dad explained that energy is kind of a big deal right now. There are lots of new things coming that make life better—but they all need energy. And lots of it. So getting clean energy—from the sun, wind, water, and even deep in the earth—matters more than ever.

Dad likes this quote:

“You never change things by fighting against the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.”

Instead of barking at the power company, he built a new model in the meadow. Classic Dad move.

Who knew?

Turns out we’re pretty smart now, just like Willy.

We even poked around Dad’s computer files (another mysterious energy-powered contraption) and found a really cool folder about the solar array. Dad designed it himself using regular, easy-to-find materials, and it meets Colorado building requirements. He’s sharing the design freely, so if anyone wants to build their own ground-based solar array, you’re welcome to use it.  

Sharing is caring. Also very dog.

And finally—to all our boarding peeps who visited last month:

Auberon, Finley, Sophie, Otis, Moxie, Ziggy, Bella, Annie, Sadie, Freya, Maizey, Willy, Bishop, Charlie, Tootsie, Apa, and Stella—

Rest easy!

Peace Out!

No aliens!

No transmissions!

No forthcoming abductions!

To quote from one of our favorite TV shows…Saul Good!