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!