OK, Time to Pull Some Loose Ends

Now I'm a multi~tasker by nature but I'm at a loss at what to go back to? little joke, very little joke. So although the summer is 2/3 of the way over, I'll go back to the pool filter first.

43 years and my Dad kept it on life support most of the last 15 years. I CPR'd it, badly, the last 2 summers and then the 'dyke broke'....did say I ordered a new one? It was really a very difficult thing to face. On a practical level another expense which won't assist to sell the property. Pools are not BIG lures. But when you have a 43 year old swimming hole, which would cost a fortune to build in this day and age....inground cement bottom and steel sided pool, you have 2 choices. The first is to drain it. The cost of 'filling' the hole is excessive. And a big empty cement hole=major safety hazard and would always be filled with debris blown from the fields. Constant upkeep housekeeping wise, a lose/lose. Thus the big 'showing point' would be a chipped paint cement and sides with growing crap blown in? Raise your hands....who thinks we should vote for that?

Or we could do what I've been doing for 3 years, cover it properly in the winter and open and maintain it during the summer.

Now as I mentioned...a pool isn't a big draw for a buyer. And most normally will either not use it or fill it. Or they can have a trash hole in their backyards, not my problem. BUT, when its on the market it is far more attractive to have a well maintained pool than the hole. So back to my dilemma. I would be having a new filter installed. Difficult as in $$$ and effort but practical. But on a personal level it meant I'd failed. I left my Dad down. I know if he had lived and been 'up' to the work he no doubt would have found a way to keep it working. I couldn't, I failed. And now I was replacing his filter. Watching that filter being disassembled, cut up and taken away was bound to be painful. I failed. 

I went up to the house the morning of the installation feeling very bad although at that moment I hadn't identified why I felt so badly. 

The van from the pool company pulled into the dirt road next to the house obviously unsure as to where to park. The driveway wasn't an option as the filter had to be unloaded and the old filter pieces loaded. So I walked over to the van to discuss their options. The young man in the passenger seat-a grizzly adams sort-pulled off his sunglasses and said "Do you know who I am?" I didn't. So he said "its Lemar." 

And I felt a relief I hadn't expected. The young man is my 1st cousin/once removed, the son of my father's only brother's son.  

Lemar Graybill/Carl Walter Van Hyning

My uncle's only son is my cousin Lemar Graybill Van Hyning II. The young man in the van is Lemar Graybill Van Hyning III.

Susan Elizabeth Van Hyning/Lemar Graybill Van Hyning III

Now I knew I would be able to watch the old filter leave. I realize many may be skeptical about woo-woo paranormal issues. I don't make decisions on woo-woo. But I've had enough happen to me in that area to decide I have no clue why/how strange things occur, I just know they do. And somehow I just knew this was a message sent from 'over there'. My Dad was telling me it was alright, I wasn't a failure. I did my best and the new filter was fine. Why was my cousin there? I can believe he was 'sent' by my Dad. I can believe its part of some big cosmic 12 act play. I can believe it was dumb luck. Doesn't matter, over the next hour plus Lemar and his supervisor/co-worker did their job. The supervisor just seemed to understand the situation and encouraged my cousin to do the work to disassemble the old filter.

So first they cut it apart.

Then bit by bit they shoveled the sand out into buckets. We dumped the sand in the field.

The new filter was installed and the old and tired filter went into the van. It was done. Before they left all was up and running. And somehow the dread went with it. Yes, I failed to fix it but I knew it was alright, I'd done my best.

Thanks Lemar, thanks Daddy, thanks 'whatever'.

Back to Jr John Deere

Having been given some solid input on the oil plug I went back to it. A few times the last week I've attempted to turn it but quickly get frustrated and walk away. Then, being a typical ADHDer I began looking at the trees and bushes around the house. HM, bet I can trim EVERYTHING. And also being a typical ADHDer...I'll get back to telling about that later. Because while slaying wood and repairing chain~saw, on one of my forays over for yet another try at the oil plug, I got it closed. I had finally sat down next to the Jr JD after a few successful turns and noticed I could see through the drain hole...but only partially Could that be significant? So reaching in and getting a hold of the knob I turned and saw a rod move inside the drain hole. AH HA! Keeping an eye on the hole I turned the knob, of course opening it further. OK, turning it the other way I saw the rod move past the hole until all I saw was rod....NO HOLE. Could it be closed? Only one way to find out......

I stood up and twisted off the oil cap and then took the cap off the gallon of oil-or what remained of it after pouring it in/out/in/out/in......of the Jr JD days ago. I poured and it didn't come out. After a bit of happy dancing I got enough oil in to register on the dip stick and then slowly got it to the 'full' spot. Score: Susan 2. Battery and Oil. Turned the key and cranking away but didn't start.

Next step was the spark plug. A friend visited that day who had happened to just change her spark plug on a mulcher. And said she had to purchase the tool to do the job. Now, my Dad-in my view-had enough tools to repair Boston. So in we went to search. But it seems as I recall that my brother had taken a large portion of the ratchet side of the wrench world. Gobel and I searched a while but no spark plug piece, although some handles which would fit in the tight space. When she went home that night she called and told me she would run her tool over the next morning in case it fit.

Going up to the house the next morning I hunted again. And I found a circular fitting about 2 inches long-so it would fit far enough into the spark plug shaft and when I looked at it, it actually said 'SPARK PLUG'. Duh!!!! Then I selected a handle which I could slide the fitting end to end in the tiny space. Popped it on and....step back Fred!!....it fit! Within seconds I had the spark plug sitting in my greasy hand. Cleaned it, went in and read the manual which told me how to test it. Out I go. Hm, maybe I should stick the end of it back in that little rubber cover before I hold it again a bolt attached to the engine and turn the key. YA THINK? Got a spark, reinstalled, turned the key, cranked away and didn't start.

Next the manual said to change the fuel filter. A bit more challenging got it off but somehow the fuel knob is exactly opposite what it said in the manual. After spilling quite a bit of fuel while fumbling about I turned the knob back onto the 'ON' position per the manual....closed. After I looked at all the fuel filters in Walmart and seeing none 'exactly' but 'looks like that MIGHT fit' picked up a Fram G12. Wrestled it on, knob to 'OFF' per book but on for my Jr JD.....turned key, cranked away but didn't start.

Next the manual told me to go to a John Deere repairman. Wanna bet???? Next I'm going to the carburetor!!!!

What Next? Sun Tea

Of the many things I learned from my father, any knowledge of herbs came from watching and listening to him. I really wasn't all that interested in growing herbs. Or how to identify them. Herbs just, well, WERE. My father's pointed interest in herbs got my attention when they moved to this house. He grew herbs in Maine and no doubt in gardens he cultivated where ever the Navy plopped us. Since landing in this last house though herbs took on a more serious interest for him.

He grew Rosemary and the bushes grew high. He took great pains with his Tarragon which was thick right outside the porch on the other side of the pine tree and when the mower went by, Ah...licorice. Pennyroyal went next to the porch screen door and he would gather it, roll it in bandanas, which he tied around my dogs neck to keep fleas at bay. Tannis was to dissuade flies. Catnip, which grew everywhere he would collect, dry, and even made a few cloth mice and filled them with it to give to friends. Bags and bags of dried catnip which he hung on rafters in the attic room above the kitchen. Then bags of it were just carried to that room and set everywhere. So much catnip we carried to the field the summer after he passed as he never got around to using all he dried. I have a small bunch of it hanging on my wall now.

Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, and Sage with markers stuck in the dirt identifying them. Parsley and Dill lined the garden. Basil resulted in many many meals of wonderful home made Pesto which he put in little restaurant plastic cups with lids, Basil with Cheese or Basil with Walnut Oil written on top and the date made. They could be found in the freezer when the urge hit. Lemon Verbena, now and then made tea.

 

He built an area under the kitchen window, after work in the kitchen of replacing windows, putting in cabinets, laying new floor, moving a door, painting and endless other tasks were completed.  And here he planted many of the herbs I mentioned above. Initially Rosemary on the left corner. Garlic Chives, Oregano, Marjoram and Pennyroyal  across the area. And always...Mint.

Mint can always be identified by a square stem. I've never forgot that. Catnip, Spearmint, Peppermint.....all Mint, a square stem. He planted Orange Mint, Pineapple Mint. Mint of all varieties. In this recent photo the bed is full of Chocolate Mint.

And anyone who came by he would run his hands through his herbs releasing a world of smells and always--whether or not a person wanted to know--he taught about herbs. Their uses, recipes, history....all about herbs. Herbs at one point led him to produce vinegars. Fruit vinegars and herb vinegars. He wanted to sell some, encouraged by an acquaintance at the city market. So he researched for supplies. He got gallons of champagne and red wine vinegars from Philadelphia. And purchased cases of small bottles, caps and sleeves to slip over the tops which he used a hair dryer to seal. He got labels. Some he made and hand wrote. But my Dad hated his handwriting, which I think was beautiful. My Mom made him labels, computer lab at the high school where he substituted for 21 years made him labels.

We enjoyed these vinegars for years and right now in my dining room sits a box with many of them in those same bottles, his writing on some labels. Strawberry, Blueberry, Mint and Peach are flavors on these few bottles remaining. I cleaned them up after rescuing them from our flooded basement in April. In the overhead above the kitchen are cases of bottles, tops, plastic caps and in the LH a big bag of the sleeves.

Oh yes, Tea. Around the property Spearmint and Peppermint grew wild in addition to those he planted. He would often gather great bunches and prepare sun tea. Sitting a jar on the apron of the patio as it brewed. And last week in the horrid heat I decided Sun Tea was needed. I went down to the utility pole at the road and cut stalks of fresh Spearmint. Into the sink and spritzed them off.

Ah, then I realized I needed a clear glass container and I'd cleared everything out.

Or did I? 

  

Into the Little House, the pottery section. It looked like I was SOL. But below the beehive cookie jar, was a biscotti jar, clear glass. And with a lid! Thanks Dad.

So after washing the jar and filling it with cold water, I threw in a couple black tea nylon bags. Then it was time for the important ingredient. Spearmint!

I sat on the diving board and stripped the leaves from the 'square' stems and dropped them into the container. Periodically I reached in and crushed the leaves.

 All that remained was for the container to sit it in the sun for a few hours. A little ice and a tall glass, here's to you Dad!

Back to the Pool Wars...Year 3

 I'm still at Pool Wars Year 3? Here is what I was dealing with when I opened the pool for the 3rd year. At the end of year 2, I covered the pool by myself and I ONLY drained the water til just below the hatch. I had used 11 2-Compartment bags and 4 bags with one side usable. Over the winter I did have to put a few cinder blocks and one pail full of old pool sand as high winds caused the cover to move about. All alone I uncovered which takes me back to the pool cover vs lawn issue.

A few weeks later....

First item to report, that perfectly rectangular crop circle, OK fine-where I killed the lawn by leaving lay the pool cover that could cover Asia? Guess I moved fast enough....

Another week passed and.....

In my head I'm able to say, "See Dad, it grew back I didn't kill it....(yet:)".

Now it was time to put the additional water into the pool and turn on the filter.....So 'TIMEX', the filter which for years which took the lickings and kept on ticking, or in this case 'filtering'.

The beginning of the end. The only issue I 'thought' I had prior to turning the on/off switch was located at 1. A little tube which last year had developed a lovely spout about 5" up and out. Year 2., naturally I EPOXIED the hole and it resolved the issue  for the summer, although it still dripped. The tubing was yellow and dried out thus the pinhole spout. So I had removed it when I closed the pool and simply purchased a new length of tube. So that was my first repair. Installing the new tubing the old yellow pieces it attached to with washers into holes in the PVC all held by clamps, well~try to visualize the domino effect. One of the yellow pieces broke where the tube slipped on. Then the other yellow tube split at the end attached to the washer. Now the tube no longer was dual end usable. I could put one end of the tube over the yellow piece which still had the 'slip on', but I couldn't wedge the tube over the larger piece  the 'slip on' had broken off of. So back to Lowe's I went and got a larger tube. Getting the tube fitted on both yellow pieces, clamps slipped on and the pieces and washer back into the PVC I tightened it all down. Then with one of the many rolls of plumbers tape I found along the way I taped where the gaps were.

Water up, turned the switch on. Was going to need liquid nail as around the fittings on 1. as leak was still too big. Squirt-moosh moosh~drying. NEXT! The big issue was 2. & 3. Now 2. I had epoxied last year on the advice of pool guy and although it still dripped it was minimal. But this year......2. was a steady stream, the 3.? 

On 3, the PVC which WAS at the arrow, cracked apart due to age. But there seemed to be no leaks despite that so.....

So I gathered 'help'. Along with duct tape and liquid nail was the bedrock of all supplies, epoxy. And I began. First I applied epoxy all around 2. where it leaked, but the gap and depth of the area was just too vast. So finding an 'old' chalking gun with 'old' caulk I levered it into the entire round of the PVC. I let it harden, a little bit, and turned the pump on. It held, for about 20 seconds and then began dripping from multiple areas around the fitting. Turned it off and packed more chalking in and let it dry. Before I left for the day I epoxied OVER the caulk. 24 hrs later again hit the ON button and it lasted about 40 seconds then drips. ARRGGHH! I can figure this out, DUCT TAPE. So I wrapped a few rounds of tape over the gap around the epoxy, caulk, epoxy. Then I epoxied over the duct tape.

 Ah HA. 24 hours later and ON. It lasted another 40 seconds and then slowly leaks appeared from the corners and edges of the duct tape and around the epoxy. THAT'S IT~NOW I'M PISSED.

So I put the ENTIRE ROLL OF DUCT TAPE AROUND IT. And in my best INTERNAL and EXTERNAL petulant child mode, I yelled~~LEAK NOW FILTER!!! I turned on the pump and went from child to master of sailor speak as both 2. and 3. did this....

 I stood there with water spritzing everywhere. 3. is evident in the photo, 2 meanwhile was sending out tiny jet streams which exponentially grew by the second.I briefly considered epoxing the ENTIRE DUCT TAPE, wait 24 hrs..........., forgot that. For a moment I considered walking the 10 feet over the the little house, stepping inside and going to the corner. Where I would pick up the sledge hammer, slowly return to the filter....AND BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF IT! The reality was, the filter had given far more years of service than it was designed to do. If my father was still alive I've no doubt he might eek out another year or two. But my father had worn out and I had to allow him to go. So the least I could do for this filter he nursed for the last 22 years of its life was allow it to go also. I walked in the house and picked up my cell phone and ordered its replacement and set up an appointment for installation.