goodbye, June...

Today, it was HOT! It started out HOT this morning as soon as I woke up. I am a non-air conditioning kind of gal -- but there was not a breeze in sight -- so the air conditioning went on at 8 a.m. Rick arrived home from work at 9 a.m. -- he worked the 2 a.m to 8 a.m. shift -- so the day started out a bit backwards.

The pool guys showed up about 1 p.m. -- at about the hottest part of the day. The poor guy who was troweling the vermulite bottom said it felt like it was about 130 degrees inside the walls of the pool. I couldn't even watch those guys work -- I felt like I was guilty/responsible for them having to be out in that blazing hot sun -- which is partially right because if we weren't having a pool built then they wouldn't have been out there, but, they probably would be somewhere else in the blazing hot sun, but, I wouldn't know about it, and, I wouldn't feel guilty/responsible about it. So, they quit for the day when we had our daily dose of rain at about 4 p.m. The bottom is not finished, and they said they would do a touch-up on whatever the rain tossed around.

For this evening, we'll just practice our technique... A liner and water for the un-birthday is quite possible!

people come and go so quickly here...

We had lots of activity here yesterday. The pool crew arrived at 8:30 a.m. They worked until 10:00 a.m. and then left. At 11:00 a.m. a convoy of trucks arrived -- the pools guys first and second in line, with a big cement truck pulling up the rear. We were a bit skeptical as to how that cement truck would fit in the space between the garage and the house -- but the pool man assured us it would, and he was right. The cement flowed quickly into the space around the outside of the pool walls -- and then as quickly as it came, the truck was gone. The pool guys sloshed around in the cement with their big yellow boots -- and Sofia wanted to join them but the man in charge told her "no". They put the posts for the concrete deck in place, and off the pool guys went again.



At the end of the day, they came back to drop off the supplies for tomorrow.



The vision is slowly taking shape.



Now, we wait a bit, and dream...

okay, painting sounds like a good idea...

We're only a year late. We were supposed to paint Nicholas' room during summer recess last year -- don't ask me why we didn't -- I just don't know. Yup, the wall is red. I started the painting with Sofia's help -- Nicholas followed and then Rick finished up. The red wall turned out really nice. There is definitely a twist in painting with red paint -- to me it was more of a chore than painting with other colors. The rest of the room will be blue and beige.



And while we're at it, how about a bench seat for the bay window area?



Since we moved here, I have been wanting this in the room we have dubbed "the activity room". We will be adding doors to hide the storage beneath the seat. I finally have my inspiration for making some new curtains to replace the "temporary" shades that have been up for 2 years -- LOL!

I finally caught it...

We had severe thunderstorms last night. The first was during dinner. The lightning was soooo close that we moved the chairs away from the windows while we ate dinner. Then the power went out. Rick had battery backup on his laptop, so we were able to see the path of the storm on weather.com. Since it doesn't get dark until almost 9:00 p.m. we were able to get through dinner and then go outside after the storm passed. It moved slow and stayed to the southeast for awhile -- but we waited until we couldn't hear thunder before venturing outside. The lightning show kept our interest for quite some time. Even though it is erratic, I think I figured out how to catch a picture of it -- just point the camera and press the shutter release button down halfway. That way the camera will be all set to go and all you need to do is keep your eyes pointed up at the sky!

I did this for awhile -- but the lightning was travelling within a semi circle, so I was pointed in the wrong direction most of the time until I found the momentum of it.

Can you see the lightning? Just click on the picture and enlarge it. I finally caught it! :-)



If that wasn't enough, we were treated with this sight also.
We have had some breathtaking sunsets -- but this is the best one so far. I even think Scarlett O'Hara would applaud!



A little bit after all this the power was restored and then we had another thunderstorm -- the red blob on weather.com was right over our heads with this second one. We had lightning that was so bright it actually made our eyes hurt. And thunder that went...KaBOOOOOM!

I think we are more than ready for some peaceful weather.

So, we passed the 1st inspection for the pool installation! Hooray! Now, what to do while we are waiting for the pool man and his crew to return on Monday.

Let's see...

We can collect rocks with interesting shapes from the big piles of dirt in the backyard.



We can do magic tricks.

We can jump for joy because the sun is shining!

Have a great weekend!

phenomenal...

Here is a picture of the sunset we were treated with last night. After all the rain we have been getting, this was a sight for sore eyes... and more!

Click on the picture to enlarge it. The colors are just breathtaking.



And... if that wasn't enough, all I had to do was look east while I stood in the same spot and this is what was there.



Hmm... caught between a rainbow and a sunset -- kind of like how it must be in heaven!

sigh...

So here are my pool steps. This morning the pool guy showed up at 9:30 with a delivery of the pool components. These were placed precariously on top of the melted mountain of dirt that the big shovel guy will hopefuly be taking away tomorrow. Sigh...

I did not sleep well last night due to a cramped muscle in my left shoulder. As I was lying awake, each attempt to move caused excruciating pain.

Why do I even undertake big projects like this? Every time I do, the stress wreaks havoc on me physically.

I need more Tylenol, and a nap, before taking Sofia to her first gymnastics class of the summer.

Sigh, again... Time to press on...

monday...

I changed my header, for you, my sister! Not sure if you even had a chance to check in and look at the other header -- but -- here is one that I thought you would like -- and, just in time for your anniversary! Hooray!

It's Monday. The kids are home from school. The hubby is off from work. The weather seems more like early spring than the first days of summer. The hydrangea flowers can't decide to be pink or blue.

I just explained to the troops that Monday is all about the transition from the weekend into the week -- and I'm ready to go forth -- guess I need to drag all the above along with me on this one!

Go forth and Monday!

Oh, and the pool man says he'll be here this afternoon!

no pool man today...

It rained all day -- until dinnertime. After dinner we sat out on the porch and enjoyed the gorgeous sunset -- you can see it better if you look up at my new header. (I know my sister won't like my new header, so I'll change it in a few days :-)



Hope the evening is lovely for you!

today's the day!

We're waiting for the man with the big shovel! He'll be here at 1 p.m.

the pool man cometh...

He drew a us a nice picture of the pool. Then he left. Then he came back. Then he left again to rescue the guy with the big shovel and the dump truck who was lost somewhere (but close by)...




The guy with the big shovel finally showed up -- 2 hours later than expected. He squeezed that big machine between the house and garage -- with about a quarter of an inch to spare!



He dug a hole and made big piles of dirt around the yard. It was just amazing to watch this huge machine as it spun pirouettes and gracefully scooped buckets of dirt.



Then he left, with the big shovel machine -- to rescue his dump truck that got stuck in the mud while he was dumping a load of dirt (somewhere close by)... At this writing, he hasn't returned. The truck was stuck in the mud up to its axles. He did mention to Rick that he would most likely not finish today.

After being overcast and dreary most of the day the sun has finally popped through the clouds. It has been a day of waiting and unexpected delays -- exactly how I thought it would be.

To be continued...

today is thursday, today is...

Thursday! My day off! But... wait... it's the last day of school... the pool man just announced he will be here a day early, it's raining... again... and, what the heck is this growing in my garden?



alien fruit? anyone?

6/28/09 -- This plant has been identified as: jimson weed -- thanks to an anonymous viewer!

calm before the...

It is the day before the last day of school. Sofia has been home with a cold/sore throat thingie. She looked and felt much better this morning -- so we packed her up and sent her off on the bus. I'm sign out Mom today -- so instead of the bus, she'll be getting a ride home in the car. The lilies on the side of the porch are all blooming -- and I'm happy it stopped raining so we can at least enjoy them for a bit. Sofia commented on them -- she said "Mommy, doesn't it seem like the lilies are always blooming when it's the last day of school?" There's a lesson in gardening here that I'm sure she will realize some day...

Oh, yes... just when the yard looks the loveliest -- did I mention the pool guy is coming to dig up our backyard on Friday? Yup, that's the way it works in my world. I believe it's the whole feng shui, ying yang, balance thing at work. Most of the time I do a pretty good job at leveling the see-saw -- but then there are some things that are out of control. For those things, I just concentrate on my inner balance..."oooohhhhhmmmmm"!

Stay tuned, I'm sure there will be lots of pool pictures and stories. I have about 30 minutes more of quiet and then I'm off -- accompanied by the dog -- to sign out the first and second graders for the last time! Do I feel a tear at the corner of my eye? In September, Sofia will be in a different building than she is now. It is closer to home, and, a good change for both of us.

well, oz didn't give nothin' to the tin man...

Nicholas presented this to me this morning. I can't believe he drew it himself! He has a different style than Sofia, and, just as amazing. I believe this rates in the same category as the "sunflower" that he drew a few years back. It's definitely time to create the "wall of art" in Nicholas' corner of the activity room!

P.S. Anyone remember the song in my title?

singing in the rain...

After fixing a major wardrobe technicality (the dress that had been planned and "labeled" a month in advance is now too small) our little superstar was ready for the most awesome school concert of the year! There was a huge turnout of parents, grandparents, siblings, and, of course, more rain. However soggy the weather might be, the spirits of the choir were undampened and voices were lifted high. The concert ended with a more tailored rendition of the gospel song "My Father's House". Bravo, Sofia!

go into the light...

Yesterday morning started out with thunderstorms that lasted over an hour. It was dark, and, dreary. Not a typical June morning for us. Then, at sunset, we had the most comforting pink light. I experimented with the different settings on my camera and ended up with this photo:






The photo has not been altered in any way. The room was bathed in the pink light. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, then look closely, you can also see the shadowy outline of a person -- we have determined that the person is Nicholas. Any ideas of how he could have somehow shown up in the picture?