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 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.

Replacing the Pool Filter Motor

At the close of the last post regarding year 2 of Pool Wars I was standing looking at a dead motor. And I had ordered and received the $300 replacement. Now my Dad was an electrician in the Navy so over the years he did any work associated with electrical  issues. But I knew that over the last few years there were wiring issues in the house that needed repair or replacement. Plus periodically, when flipping the switch behind the filter, it wouldn't engage. My guess was a loose wire causing a short. But this wasn't a lamp or a fuse, this pump motor was hard wired. And with the house heading toward FOR SALE, I just didn't want to take a chance. My brother had given me a quick verbal rundown on 'how to' and it seemed something I could accomplish, but my concern was should anything fail causing an electrical fire it was important that a licensed electrician had done the work. Plus the outlet by the pool wasn't working and one by one several outlets in both the house and Little House ceased to work. So I called an electrician.

This is one of those moments, of many, when my Mother weighed in. I went home, explained the status and informed her a electrician would come the next day to do it all. She looked up and said "Your father always did that sort of work." Now it wasn't said like a question, just a flat statement. I just stood there, even looking around and at myself...maybe my Dad had materialized or I'd morphed into my Dad....until I finally said, "Ah, I'm not Dad and I think a licensed electrician is needed". Still looking at me in what I've learned years ago as the 'you aren't correctly interrupting what I'm saying', I waited. Finally she gave up and concurred.

The next day I arrived at the house and began to realize that the electrician would wire the pump but I really should have the pump ready for that to happen. For 2 hours--I struggled with the filter/pump motor area. At this point the 42 year old filter has essentially been held together with epoxy, so a simple pipe wrench, screwdriver and muscle may not detach the filter/pump motor. All those tools I'd organized for over a year gave me the hardware I needed. I used several pipe wrenches and 2 screwdrivers but often simply turning the PCV wasn't possible--EPOXY. Plus I didn't want to break any old repaired areas in removing the unit. Finally aided by a vast array of 'sailor speak' I had detached 1. and 2. with no damage. (see photo)  But detaching the actual  filter/pump motor from the aged round unit holding the sand? And no matter what I did, the fitting where it would logically be removed, wouldn't budge from the unit side. But the threaded portion attached to the filter/pump motor-that would move. (above the right corner of the photo)

 My only option at this point was to unscrew the filter/pump motor from the main filter, and I mean by rotating the entire filter/pump motor. So, for the next 40 minutes I turned it bit by bit, until it detached. I was able to lift it off and set in its place the replacement and just as the electrician pulled into the driveway. He quickly hard wired it back together and it worked. He found that a fuse in the Little House was all that was needed to fix half the outlets. Like endless times since my Dad passed, I walked to the cellar and pulled out a tiny drawer in the metal box and pulled out exactly what was needed, a 20 amp fuse. The other half of the outlets.....Duh Moment, the outlet box on the cement patio on the back of the house? Fixed by pushing the reset switch.

After the electrician departed and only a $75 invoice, which I thought was good value for the money, I fired up the pump and began getting the pool fit for swimming. After that, pool wise, it was a fairly good summer. No one but me swimming in the pool which makes it difficult to keep algae at bay but I enjoyed the pool between lawn mowing, sorting possessions, trimming hedges and dealing with the 'caretaker'.

POOL WARS~YEAR 2-OPENING THE POOL

The pool company closed the pool at the end of year 1 as a cover was needed due to my destroying the patched tarp. And they installed the cover, cover which had made the 'crop circle/square' and which I managed to roll, move and lift onto sawhorses this summer. Well, lift perhaps isn't exactly the best description of how I got the cover on top of the saw horses. What actually occurred was numerous attempts to lift it, all of which resulted in the toppling of one or both of the sawhorses, failure. My attempt to put it on a board and tilting the board on an angled sawhorse which I then valiantly attempted to sit upright also failed. Finally despite all defeats, with the end of the cover propped on the edge of one sawhorse I inched the cover up on one sawhorse and then aided by my vast reservoir of 'sailor speak' I slowly crawled it to a position across the 2 sawhorses. Hm, Bet I Can Figure THIS Out. TAKE THAT~~COVER AND SAWHORSES!

When the pool company closed the pool I did note they seemed to drop the water level much lower than my Dad ever had done. But they were the 'pool guys' and did fancy things, like celebrate the closing event with gushers of water blasting up from the skimmer, which they informed were 'blowing the lines'. And instead of the cinder blocks, railroad posts and field stones they filled these 15 bags with water. Well the 15 bags had two compartments with plugs....rather like those rafts we had a kids. You know the ones that normally didn't last til the next year? Assuring me they would anchor the cover, which extended several yards on all sides beyond the pool-think maybe they sold me one a bit too large....ME TOO! I could envision my pool cover transformed into a hot air balloon which, one day when I arrived at the house, I would observe it living nicely atop a stand of trees. It all survived the winter nicely and in place.

The second year I had them open the pool. Hindsight is the one that is 100%, right? I tried to clean most of the leaves off the cover and had pumped some of the standing water but as I'd never hired a company to open the pool I really didn't understand what 'prepare' meant to the 'pool guys'. After 1 'pool guy' pumped a bit of water off the top and removed a large portion of the leaves and the other 'pool guy' had reassembled the pump they pulled a corner of the cover off to look at the water. At which point seeing how low the water in the pool was, the 'pool guy' looked at me and said "Did you order a water truck?" {15 years ago that bill was $600-think NOT 'pool guy'}. "NO, no water truck." Silence.

'Pool Guys' next question was "You don't have a well do you?" Hearing my therapist's voice in my head saying "congratulations on using your impulse control Susan," as severe impulsivity is key in my ADHD-I decided not to look around at the fields, streams, trees and farm buildings in mock horror and yell OH MY GOD, WE HAVE A WELL....NOT CITY WATER!! Instead I calmly stated "yes". To which he then informed me that they could open the pool but wouldn't run the filter as the water needed to be above the skimmer unit. Fortunately for him he didn't add, "because you only have 12" of water in your pool. I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE ASKED WHY THEY PUMPED IT SO LOW WHEN THEY CLOSED IT IN THE FALL.

I should note that the entire time they pumped the water off the cover, oh! during which they left for an hour and a half because it was taking so long, 'pool guy' kept hinting we must have a hole in the cover. Impulse control still working I didn't finally implode after the 'hole' theory was presented for the 10th time with, YOU MEAN THE TOO BIG POOL COVER I BOUGHT FROM YOUR COMPANY JUST LAST YEAR!!!

Also, another incident involved the 15 2~compartment bags. As they emptied the water to roll and stack them, for use in the fall, I noticed a few of them being placed in a separate pile. Asking why?, 'pool guy' said that one side on each in that pile had holes and hadn't survived the winter so he would dispose of them for me...????? At $15 a bag Xs 4 bags=$60 I stated that as one side still functioned why would I throw them away? 4 bags Xs 1 side leaking= 2 bags. I'm speculating that much like mechanics at a car dealership, I'd interferred with his commission for 'work outside of original issue'. Looking unhappy 'pool guy' grumbled "well if you want to keep them" as I walked away. Small victory but I cling to any victory no matter how minute.

When the cover was removed, cleaned rolled and put on top of the sawhorses, by 2 'pool guys' with numerous grunts, they left. Assuring me that 'when' the water was at the required level I could run the filter. Meanwhile though, since water level wasn't going to happen overnight, in 3 days or a week.....I could operate the filter on recirculate mode which would at least keep the water moving and some chemicals would keep things in check until then. They left.

The entire time 'pool guys' closed the pool and now opened the pool I could hear my Dad grousing. These were evolutions he completed, virtually solo, for over 21 years and now I have 'pool guys'-2 OF THEM-doing it. {Don't worry Dad the pool will be up and running soon, I promise}.

It took 2 weeks to get the water level at the required level. Meanwhile a steady leak from one of the 2 pipes on the side of the filter had been epoxied to a small drip. This 'fix' was recommended by the 'pool guy' and it worked. So the day arriving when I would turn off the pump to move the handle from 'recirculate' to 'filter'-- I was ready. I turned the switch to OFF, opened the strainer and cleaned it out thoroughly, tightened the strainer cover back on and it had been running it didn't need priming. I would turn the pump on and after the water started filling and big bubbles broke the top of the water I would do my Happy Dance around the pool. See Dad, I did it, HA!.

I turned the switch to ON, the electric buzz began........along with sparks shooting out of the pump casing followed by clouds of smoke........

Quickly I turned the switch to OFF, took a deep breath and told myself it was just a fluke and when I turned it on again everything would be alright. Reaching over I turned the switch to ON, I was right....no sparks.....no smoke....no electric buzz either......DEAD SILENCE. The pump had died. No Happy Dance for Susan. I went inside, typed in 'Hayward Pool Pumps' into my computer and found the best buy with free shipping and the quickest delivery. $300 and 4 days later at my feet a new pump.

Hm, Bet I Can Install This?

Ah yes, POOL WARS-year 1

In the 3 summers since my Dad passed my knowledge of pool systems has increased dramatically. But I am not the 'master of the fix' that he was. When they purchased the house with pool in 86', the filter was the original which put its age at 18 years. All vendors engaged in 'POOLS' told him it couldn't be fixed and needed to be replaced. Thus began the 21+ year~~Hm, Bet I Can Fix That. He wouldn't have repair people come out to the house regarding the pool because all they would do was try to sell him a new filter. In those 21 years he found parts, rigged parts, manufactured parts and FIXED parts. When he passed I was left in charge of this---

He built the stand it was on and in all probability worked on every piece, connection, and switch. It dripped a bit here and there but that first summer when I anxiously flipped on the switch on the wall, after numerous attempts to prime it, it ran. Pressure wasn't 15-18lbs but it hadn't been for a while so no big deal. Finally I hooked up the vacuum and proceeded to clean the bottom of the pool. It did seem to be removing dirt, at least the first 5 minutes. When I went around to check the pressure gauge was bobbing merrily at 2lbs. NOT GOOD.

For the next month I fought algae, fiddled with settings, called and asked questions. Finally I called the pool guys out. Although it was ancient, OH REALLY POOL GUY  I DIDN'T KNOW THAT! it was functioning. That is F-U-N-C-T-I-O-N-I-N-G. Not working well or effectively. But functioning. After an hour of work and adjustments and $128 later it was working. Pool guys last words were 'don't touch the handle to the value as the tiniest bit of movement will undo all the work. I could change the value out but IF you don't touch it it may work the entire summer.

A while later a phone call from a friend asking to use the pool to which I said, "Sure but the Pool guy was just here and got it fixed so just swim. Nothing else". I went to an appointment, came back and walked around the corner. 'Friend' had the vacuum hose out looked over and said, I can't get it to work. Turning to the filter the valve was NOT where it was when I left. Pissed wouldn't come close to describing my reaction. For 3 days I tried to find the sweet spot the Pool guy had set it on with no success. Called them back and had the valve installed and it worked adequately the rest of the year. That year I had the Pool guys close the pool with the cover that ate Cleveland.

At this point there is patches with epoxy, lines rigged with gaskets, bit of a drip from the two pipes into the actual filter. I could never get the chlorinater {on the wall} to work and when they closed the pool I was informed they didn't even make them anymore. Next year, I'll just toss chlorine in, works for me!!!!

POOL WARS CONTINUE

Sometimes I mull over the question "Does anyone else do battle with inanimate objects, speaking to them as though they could comprehend? Do the objects react to threats, physical abuse and cower in fear? Do inanimate objects cringe and change their behaviors due to living creatures, such as ME for example, ranting, raving and threatening?" ABSOLUTELY NOT! Experience confirms those approaches are 100% ineffective. Does that stop me from employing those tactics? NO.
Susan vs Inanimate Objects.......0/infinite

It is a significant difference between my Father and myself. Now before I go further, regarding myself, it should be understood that 99.9% of the time no external evidence of these behaviors are actually observed by anyone. If witnesses could observe, 99.9% of the time the public me, it may be obvious I'm frustrated or stymied, but externally I remain calm. But 110% of the time internally~I am a raving lunatic. And every once in a while, normally when alone but alas not always, the .1% me transforms into a temper tantrum throwing 3 year old child.

I can't speak to the fact of whether my Father was fighting the same internal battles. But inside my sternum I just know there lives what I refer to as my 'PETULANT CHILD' and the child is very real to me. Keep in mind I wasn't a girly girl in dresses, unless the occasion required. But the Petulant Child is 3 years old with curly blond hair {as was mine at one time}. She is wearing a gingham dress, white ankle socks and patent leather shoes. Shoes like the ones little girls wore years ago. Church shoes with pointed toes. By the way I hated those shoes when I was young. Why? Couldn't wiggle my toes. Confused? Obviously so was my mother as she always bought the shoes, made me wear them and couldn't understand why I fidgeted and often took my shoes off in church.

Which brings me back to a major difference between my Father and I regarding the process of 'learning'. My Father was what I call a Theoretical Learner while I am strictly a Visual Learner. Endless examples of this were played out in our lives. At 16 when I asked to my Father to teach me to drive, his response was to tell me the first step is learning how a combustion engine works.......so I would understand how the car functioned and thus I would understand how to drive....?????? My approach was simpler~WHERE DO I STICK THE KEY IN? Learning to drive went rapidly downhill from there. When I bought a VCR and wanted to hook it up my Father insisted that if I understood 'how' a VCR worked it would be crystal clear what to plug into where and hooking up the VCR would go smoothly. He then proceeded to lecture me on how a signal is sent from a satellite and~~~I picked up the VCR and slammed it into the floor. {OK, not my finest moment but hey *&^$&$#}.

Of all the personality traits either through genetics or upbringing we had in common, the process of 'learning' stood out as one of the exceptions. But the process of 'doing' is something I inherited from my Father. Whenever my father would have us help him to fix something or do maintenance of some sort around the house, my brother and I knew our job was GOPHER. Go for this and go for that. And we really wanted to help and would always beg to assist but the answer was always....Wait until I do this, or after I get this part done, its too hard or when I need you I'll say so. Consequently we both quickly learned that to help Dad could easily be done sitting on our ass in front of the TV until he yelled for us. The upshot of that was there was a great deal we just didn't learn. Not that he didn't want us develop the skills. But he tended to be a do it all myself sort.

And that is one trait I do get from him, I'm happiest and calmest when I just do things myself. Despite the frustration as the Petulant Child stamps her feet with her little fists clenched yelling, NO NO NO-I WON'T I CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE I WANT TO DO IT MYSELF.

And I have come to learn a great deal of that behavior is due to another little 'genetic' issue I inherited from my father, ADHD. Much like his refusal to admit to Alzheimer's he also dismissed the notion that he had ADHD. Keep in mine here once I grudgeingly came to terms that it was THE major factor, leading to or in tandem with others issues impacting my life...... which led to my brother's diagnosis....... and both his sons......Trend here ya think? But recognizing we inherited it genetically-and from our Father. That thought wasn't permitted for him.

Which continues to lead me once again to the subject of Alzheimer's. Don't worry-I will eventually write on the actual subject of this post, Pool Wars....after I--oh look a bird! Should go feed the birds...oh forgot to put that in the trash......guess I lput it there on the way to the trash last tim.....nice breeze  NOTE: {ADHD=Severe Distractability, Impulsivity, Hyperactivity, Hyper focus, intolerance of schedule changes without notice......} oh yea Alzheimer's. Next post, I promise, and the Pool Wars........

Ah, Let's begin with the POOL!

First let's start with a bit...who am I kidding...a lot of background on this topic. The pool was built around 1968. In May of 2009 I was faced with this pool and how my father had done things for over 20 years, alone. The filter-same one as in 1968. Through the years the parts support disappeared, OBVIOUSLY. So my Dad's creative brain had found ways to make, alter or fix everything associated with this pool. He wouldn't have a contractor come out to help him fix it. Because he just knew when they saw the age and how long it had been off the market~they would have spent all the time trying to sell him a new system.

The summer after my Dad passed and I began to 'attempt' the pool issue I had to argue with a local pool company. They informed me this pool wasn't cement and MUST have a vinyl line. Fortunately I whipped out my camera and showed the clerk the pool. "I've never seen one like that....I can't help you". {Hm, not as dumb as he looked!}

Over the last 2+ years I've done battle with everything from friends who thought they would 'help' me, no pressure so vacuuming and maintenance impossible, chemical battles to keep it as it should be, pumps which smoked and sparked just as I was ready to run the filter. Sometimes I think I'm an ongoing Alien Experiment and they must be ROFLTAO watching, as I deal with this pool.

So now I'm in my 3rd summer of pool wars and each year I know what to face and have managed quite nicely. But the filter.....still the one from 1968. And this year the leaks in PVC which my father patched, repaired and replaced over the years, are back with a vengeance. Plus my usual 'entertain the Aliens' with everything from removing the pool cover to pulling the frogs, mice and voles out of the water. Oh yea, the background. Might as well start at the top with the entire property....here goes~~

When my parents bought this house in 1986 it looked somewhat like this~All together now, OOOO!---Ahhh!. An arial tour? Certainly! And perhaps what I've been talking about and WILL be talking about will make more sense. On left, at the 0900 position traveling in a clockwise direction. Tiny little pine hedges which now are too high for me to cut them with a ladder but that doesn't stop me for firing up the chain saw. Pool with gravel area, which now is the home of the 4000+ bricks I've written about. {Badminton net in yard}. At 1100 a row of bushes and what strongly resembles an outhouse-on its right an actual shed where lawn care equipment could be found. Still a few trees next to where the  outhouse like structure was along with the tool shed. The area where the tool shed sat was for many years a garden and for the last 2 years branches, trimmings from bushes + and where I am now doing battle with the Jr. John Deere. THE LITTLE HOUSE which I tend to refer to as the LH, still there but about 30 years of wear and tear on the roof and the little tree to the left of the french doors is gone. The 2 huge Tulip Trees  and our mailboxes. The Tulip trees are still there and every day I can be found picking up branches~large and small~from the front yard. Although still tall much less dense overall. Mailbox is still there but on a much nicer stronger wooden frame.  Down the road to where the dirt road round runs along the bottom, see those 2 trees in the front yard directly in front of the porch, their big suckers now. And those 2 bushes either side of the front walk, about the same ......but the other little bushes much much bigger. At the lower right of the wrap around porch, the Butterfly bushes  have migrated along the side porch up to where a screened in section begins and the pine tree at the corner is above 15' higher than the roof. I've attacked it with a chain saw also to clear the wires. The Main house is field stone and originally a summer house and and smoke house. Kitchen is the addition on the back. At the 0600 spot is a Quince Bush which I HATE. It has thorns which tear the heck out of me as I attempt to mow. Last year I did a Quince Bush version of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre but its still there and insists on growing. When I get my Dad's chain saw tightened up AGAIN, its going to be HISTORY.

A telephone pole with a tiny Hydrangea bush to its left, the Hydrangea is now 10 feet tall and that tree next to it is over 30 feet high. The actual land goes a bit further and then straight down to the '1100' trees.

The house is over a hundred years old and when the guy put the pool in 68', {I am thinking its the story I heard} he also winterized the inside. Which meant a stairway, landing, stairway to the second floor to a loft area with a walkway all around, 3 bedrooms and a bath upstairs. Downstairs a great room with beautiful stone hearth/fireplace. But it has pine paneling throughout and deep set windows so just doesn't let in much light which can really wear during the winter. Utility room passing from the great room off which is the downstairs bathroom and then into the kitchen.

Why, you ask do I tell you all this? Because in 86' when my parents purchased it, my Dad was 58 years old and my Mom 57. He had already bought the old farm in Maine and 'fixed' up that house. And he insisted on doing it again. He was inventive, determined, talented, a hard worker and just didn't listen to reason. Through the years the plans he kept making grew, many were accomplished. But he also commenced substitute teaching for 21 years. And as he aged with normal health issues it was a full time job with substituting and doing the pool, yard, garden and all the normal tasks of maintaining cars and homes. But he just wouldn't lower his goals.

I would say that is a good thing for any of us to do, have goals....its what keeps us alive. But, here we go again.....Alzheimer's. The houses and his projects had always been a source of contention between my parents and all in all when younger, my support was on his side. But as he aged and his brain began to be attacked, plus just plain nearing 80, my support logically drifted to my Mother's side of the debate. He couldn't physically do all he wanted. He wouldn't admit it to himself let alone others. And eventually could not understand or even accept his limitations. But give up.....GET A GRIP!

I always have said about my Dad .....THE QUALITIES WHICH MADE HIM SO SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOUNG WERE THE QUALITIES WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM DEALING WITH HIS ALZHEIMER'S. I'm certain the same could be said of all who suffer with the disease.

So here I am, my third summer.....POOL WARS

Long Stressful Week

Where to start? Last post I was gearing up to tackle the Junior John Deere and......summer. So over the weekend I called the gentlemen who assisted with the first load of metal. He volunteered to take items to the dump/landfill and would 'get' the Senior John Deere for metal. He stopped by Monday, we set up a time of 0900 Wednesday morning.

All points covered and plans rolling? The story of my life is 'if you think you have everything covered, OBVIOUSLY you have overlooked something'. Ya see, 2 weeks prior when he took the first load he mentioned his 'girlfriend' was looking for a rental as her lease expired 1 June. At that point the evening of the first metal day, our doorbell rang. Gentleman and girlfriend. Asked to look at the property, I handed over a key, they came back later, she handed me back the key, "it is a beautiful place", and left. No problem, guess renting issue was closed.

Now on Monday, after appointment for Wednesday is set, while I'm up 'working' at the house, my Mom calls. Says the gentleman and girlfriend stopped by and 'she' wishes to speak about renting. I come home, they come by, we talk.

Ya know, I have been stressed and alone the last 2+ years with everything from lawn/landscape, pool-an unending source of humor for OTHERS as I'm still at the bottom point of the learning curve {adventures will follow}, clearing, sorting, cleaning, organizing.......bet you get the BIG PICTURE. This summer I was just this side of anxiety attacks over how I would do all the lawn care and daily maintenance of the pool with no potential buyer in sight. THINKING, the rental would assist with those 2 specific tasks as well as people occupying therefore maintaining house the rental seemed the solution. She wanted short term, we offered excellent monthly terms. But although I didn't have a specific reason for the feeling, renting to her didn't seem to be alleviating my stress. Too many 'tells' during our conversation, in which the gentleman seemed to be signing up for all the work while she seemed to want the house completely empty of all our property. Out, not set aside, worked around or even gradually removed.

Well, between Monday at 1600 and Thursday at 1400 she demanded and fussed her way from--yes, I can rent you to NO, you won't be renting. I really must thank them both as my gut told me at the git go something wasn't according to Hoyle. And I would really enjoy thanking them both for Self Destructing in under 3 days. And the Senior John Deere is gone. And despite the gentleman being 3 hours late for the Wednesday appointment, arriving with 'she' and not announcing their arrival and steamrolling the 'dump' evolution on Wednesday that stuff is gone.

Oh, and the stress I was feeling Sunday over me~myself~I handling lawn/pool again all summer-buyer? sale? Who knows!-On Thursday at 1400 when I informed the parties of 'its off!'- it felt great. Now that is stress I can live with and frankly.....although I still don't know how I will manage....compared to the stress of those 72- hours. NO COMPARISON.

So now I'll be back about the Senior John Deere, Junior John Deere, Pool Stupidity 101 and the continuing struggle of all my Dad left my Mom and therefore ME to juggle. I just know I can hear him chuckling in my ear. But I also know he is still watching and directing the show.

Right now I have to go buy a battery for the Jr. John Deere, pick up parts to repair leaks in 2 places on the 43 year old pool filter, and mow the yard. I did get the unit to work and recirculate so that was a major win yesterday.

{Yea, Yea, Dad I'M WORKING ON THINGS}