odd question for inventors

Hi there,

This is probably going to sound like an odd question, but is there a solar powered device that I could put in a small tub of water to prevent it from freezing. It doesn't get all that cold here normally. 'Though it was cold enough last night for my rabbit's water system to freeze. It's about a gallon of water in a bucket with tubes going to each cage and a nipple on the end that they can lick for water. I could probably insulate the tubes better but that won't help if it's got cold water flowing into it. I've seen water heating systems for livestock in the feed shop. They are a heating element that you emerge in the water. But they all seem to need an electrical source and I've haven't seen any that are thermostat controlled. It would be silly to keep it on when the water is warm. Also, there's no electricity down to where the rabbits live.

so, tell me, is there a solar powered, temperature controlled, water heating device available for an affordable price or has this yet to be invented? If it does exist, how many batteries, at what strength, would it require to make the heating work?

I'm off to carting hot water from the house to the rabbit's home for the rest of the morning if anyone needs to get in touch.

Yarn

I've just taken some yarn down to Knotty by Nature, our local fibre arts shop.

It's all hand spun by me and it is lovely. But I'm selling it - except the light blue one, I couldn't part with it. It's lace weight and, though tiny, there is lots of yardage and I'm certain that I can find a use for it.

From the top going clockwise: wool, two ply, woollen spun - (my favourite) 60% alpaca, 20%wool, 20% silk, two ply - wool, cool aid dye, woollen spun, two ply - baby camel plied with silk - light blue lace weight that I'm not selling after all - pastel colours, 80% wool, 20% silk, navajo ply. I spun the last one for socks but realized just in time, that pastels are just not right for me.

EDIT: the picture posted sideways. I don't know why. Oh wait, yes I do. It was because I was thinking that this bloging program hasn't given me any trouble lately. Any way. the above description is from the blue one on the right side going clockwise.

I hope this yarn finds a good home. If one of you lovely people end up buying it, feel free to let me know what my yarn grew up to be.