Saga of the pool

Over the summer, we were faced with a dilemma. Our pool was rarely used, but we were constantly maintaining it with chemicals, water and electricity to run the pump/polaris. The oaks around the pool and patio area provide great shade, but the root systems are constantly making tiles pop off the pool. Then there was the leaf situation. It's a constant battle to keep leaves and acorns out of the pool. Every spring when we had the annual leaf drop, I thought I'd lose my middle-aged mind with all of the necessary skimmer emptying and leaf removing multiple times a day for several weeks to keep the system from getting clogged up. We had to either cut down some of the oak trees nearest the pool, or mothball the pool. We chose the latter option. 

From start to finish, it took almost six weeks. But that's mainly because the so-called deck professionals are really bumblers with their schedule. Plus they made some promises they didn't keep in terms of work to be done. I'm not gonna go down that rabbit hole or we'd be here all day. Suffice it to say I'll be leaving them a rather tepid review and certainly won't be recommending them to anyone else.

I just sent a payment for our Christmas lighting company to install strands of the pretty white bistro lights from the rooftop point of the pool cabana, across the new pool decking, and over to the trees outside the family room windows along the back of our house. Now I just need to hire a band or square dance caller to make some money back on our new pool overdeck that resembles a big dance floor.

 

 

You'll notice our younger terrier Pepper checking out the progress of the pool emptying in the pics above and below - she's always curious as a cat.

 

 

And voila - I'm loving the lights! The four strands the light consultant suggested was just right.

We still have the pool at the lake house to enjoy. Now I'm down to just paying one maintenance guy every month to keep the pool chemicals balanced and equipment running. For me, the biggest difference is that we actually use the pool at the lake. It's the perfect smaller size in a spot right next to the water, so it's reminiscent of an infinity edge. Plus it has the two waterfalls that run twelve hours a day and are so soothing as ambient background noise when we're sitting outside on the back porch. And no tiles to pop off since it's completely lined in Pebble Tec!

 

State of the union

Geez Louise, I imagine we're all about sick of the stuff showing up in the news cycle these days. None of us would argue that 2020 has been a trying year. But it has been made all the worse by the incivility we see all around us. 

I'm a card carrying conservative, but I'll be the first to admit that some of the stuff coming in on the president's social media accounts give me pause. As in reallllly... Didn't you want to give that a rethink or edit before you hit post? However, I don't think the incivility originated with him. I think there are MANY keyboard warriors out there who think it's fine to haul off and say unkind things. Things you probably wouldn't dare say to someone's face because it would just be considered rude and careless. Though admittedly folks from some parts of the US find it easier to roll their thoughts on out there in a rather brusque way since that's how they've operated, historically.

I find myself disgusted by many things in my Facebook feed. I don't do Twitter because it's just billboard style putdowns and shorthand narcissism. Oh sure, there is some truth out there. But you have to wade through the mean and hateful stuff to find it. The LOOK AT ME posts. Like me. Pay attention to me. I believe that bad stuff is like velcro. Or maybe cat hair. It sticks to places like your mind and soul and is hard to shake off. It can make you cynical and bitter if you let it. 

Anybody else tired of the lies and hypocrisy, because they're rampant on both sides of the aisle. And the news organizations. Give some folks an inch, and they'll run for miles. I don't know what this world will come to if we keep giving in to things we know are sinful. Legislating them. Making them law. Ignoring the harm they do to our fellow Americans, neighbors and ultimately our souls. I would encourage everyone to take a stand for what is morally and ethically right, with good intentions rather than judgment, even if it's just within your own family or community.

And don't get me started on the false narratives that are meant to mislead. Tear down. Create more divisiveness. This whole us against them mentality will eventually tear our nation apart. It makes me sad for my kids, that they'll be dealing with the results of this long after I'm gone. And their kids. 

What grounds me is God. When I feel disheartened and beat down from looking at all of these things, I have to remind myself that the Lord is in control. Our lives are but a speck of lint in the warp and weft of time. God created us for a purpose, and yet it's a very short one when compared to eternity. Every living thing was put on earth for a reason He has ordained. I take great comfort that God has a plan for my life. Though the ills and sins of history seem to be on a nonstop cycle of wash-rinse-repeat, I know I can find peace and strength through my faith. That no matter what life throws my way, I need to keep my eyes fixed on eternity with God the Father and Jesus the Son. That is the prize for a life well lived, not fame, nice houses, fancy cars or likes on social media. 

Hold tight to these truths in the days, weeks and months ahead as we weather what will undoubtedly be a contentious election to wrap up a rather hellish 2020. Remember who is the great author. That all things happen for a reason, often known but to God. We are to love one another as God loves us. For without faith, hope and love, we are just flotsam being cast about in a storm with no direction or ultimate destination.

Furbaby birthday

Every 6-8 months, I send the breeder of our little female cairn terrier an update with recent pic. She let me know that she had updated her website, so I cruised over to take a look. I was scrolling through her picture archives and found some puppy pics of our sweet Pepper, born in April 2017.

This week, our British born boy Ollie turns nine. It seems like a lifetime ago since we lived in England and got him from a cairn breeder located between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. He was our original squirrel hunter, and still sets up a ruckus when he spies one of these tree rats on our property. Or hears birds perched on the top of the fireplace, singing a song.

 

 

 

 

September at the lake

Our older daughter took a trip to NOLA with some friends, so we were on chorkie duty all weekend. We took him up to the lake with our two terriers. He has been several times. The trick is that he has to ride in his kennel because he's a car barfer. So we loaded him up in the kennel, with our dogs in the second row, and hit the road. 

When we pulled up to the lake house, we were surprised to see that the tallow trees we poisoned three weeks ago are already starting to die. An old family friend gave us this stuff to use because it just targets the tallow tree - doesn't kill any of the landscaping around it. So now it looks like these trees got an early start on fall foliage. I remembered to give our lake yard guy a heads up so he wouldn't think we had some sort of rot or wilt settling in. I'm looking forward to cutting down these trees over the winter so they can be replaced with some pretty new shrubs that aren't a sticky, shedding mess. Or have roots that would eventually wreak havoc with the house's slab and driveway.

The daughter parked her car here in our driveway on Thursday since she flew out of our local airport, so we had a chance to give her brand new Kia SUV a good look. The inside is really nice. It has all of the bells and whistles, plus lots of sensors to hopefully keep her from running into things.

Spice Purge

Wednesday was the great spice purge of 2020 here at my house. I hadn't checked expiration dates since we moved into this remodel a little over three years ago and stocked the spice drawer, so it was time. Sure enough, I needed to toss quite a few in the trash. I was just glad I had what I needed to put together a big pot of spaghetti and meatball soup. I'm still on a roll with my fall soupalooza. I also made my favorite garlic bread that calls for a stick of butter and half cup of mayo. I can feel my arteries hardening, just thinking about it. But it was so danged tasty!

 

 

 

 

 

In the beginning...

Today I kicked off my third year of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) via Zoom. That's how we ended last year's study of Acts, thanks to the pandemic. Since the ladies who attend at our location either have kids at home or are in their retirement years, it makes perfect sense that we'd do distance learning until a vaccine is readily available. Until then, we just have to make do with our lectures, discussions and fellowshipping all done via the internet.

This year's study takes us to the first book of the Bible, Genesis. Believed to have been written by Moses and spanning about 300 years, it will no doubt serve as a timely and timeless reminder of how God created us in His image and set mankind on an ultimate path to redemption through His son, Jesus Christ. In the past I have sometimes grumbled a bit about the Old Testament. However, the history lover in me always appreciates the narratives that tell the tale of God's chosen people.

The ladies in my group are always so much fun and really offer some great insights for our weekly lessons. I love the notes and read them in advance of the questions every week. I like to supplement it with a couple commentaries, too. Warren Wiersbe is one of my favorites because he always makes scripture so easily understood and applicable to our daily lives. Gone is the King James thees and thous from my youth, where the language was often a stumbling block to genuine understanding. I adore my NIV Bible. I say use whatever Bible really speaks to you.

If you're looking for a Bible study that will allow you to dive deep into meaning, I believe you'd be blessed to start in the beginning with BSF this fall! 

 

Soup's On

 It's fall per the calendar, but certainly not the Fahrenheit. However, that hasn't stopped me from whipping up things like chili and soups this month. Tonight spaghetti and meatball soup with garlic bread is on the menu. I'm trying a new recipe since the last time I made this because I wasn't overly impressed with the old one. My new recipe calls for meatballs made from beef and ground Italian sausage, so I hope that will make a positive difference. I'm also whipping up the fancy garlic bread that calls for a stick of butter and half cup of mayo. This stuff is artery clogging, but absolutely dee-licious.

Last week I made French onion soup that called for a cup of dry white wine. It definitely changed the flavor profile since I usually just make it with beef broth. I think I'll go back to the old recipe I've used before that calls for a bit of brown sugar to really caramelize the onions. 

Question to the master chefs out there... why do the same onions that stink and make me cry while chopping them smell so danged yummy when being sauteed in butter and white wine?

A chorus of pugs

My mother's pugs, Max and Ruby, are quite the pair. Brother and sister from the same litter almost twelve years ago, they're getting senile these days. It's like mother is running a doggy nursing home over in the pool cabana. Worst thing is the incessant barking. They get cranked up for any little thing these days. Mother recorded them doing their howl routine one day when she was getting ready to leave. The good Lord only knows why they decided to serenade her out the door. 

 

Pumpkins on the move

Y'all know how much I love to decorate for my two favorite seasons of the year, fall and Christmas. Sure enough, I took my pumpkin decorating on the road to the lake house this weekend where I put out touches of fall since we've crossed over into September. 

I didn't go wild with the pumpkins like I typically do at the "big house" here in town.

But I could have. I figured the trunk load of decor I imported up to the lake was plenty. My goal is to be able to store all of my seasonal decor in just six plastic bins that will be placed on the master closet shelves. Now I'm already starting to plot Santas for Christmas, so we'll see if I can resist temptation and stick to my master plan.

Oh sure, the weather was hot even though we're staring down autumn. We did get to watch a thunderstorm roll in Saturday evening, cooking our burgers before the rain hit. I don't know what it is about the lake that we always find so relaxing since it's another house requiring our time to maintain. The honeymoon phase of second home ownership, maybe? Who knows. For now, I'm just enjoying every moment we get to spend up there, even if it requires mopping the floors, running the washing machine and swabbing down the boat.