Just About Done

 Ok, so they plastered on Wednesday and started filling the pool.  Here's the plaster and the hose filling it.

It filled all the rest of the day and all night.  Being paranoid, I got up several times Wednesday night to check on the water level.  We finally shut it off around 9 on Thursday morning.

The crew showed up Thursday to do the mastic, which is their final step.  But a cold snap had come through and the temp was dropping like a rock.  It was 24 F in the afternoon and last night dropped to 15 F.  So they're going to come do the rest of the job on Saturday.

The wind was also blowing like crazy, so there are leaves in the pool.  Here is the pool full.

We also hired a pool company to do the start up for us.  This involves setting up the right balance of chemicals and brushing the plaster every other day.  They are coming out this morning.  We have a salt water pool and they said no salt can be in it yet.  We also cannot use the creepy crawly, our pool vacuum.

This is mid-January, the middle of winter.  I can't wait to see how cool it will look this summer.  And to swim in!

Day 6 of Renos

They're plastering today!  Which means they're almost done.  The stone is mostly in.  And they did the prep coat, sort of like a primer, yesterday.

Because plaster has to "cure" under water, according to the pool guy, that means they should start refilling out pool today also.  Which means a large water bill is on the horizon.  Yikes!  Lonnie called the city and there is some sort of break as long as you let them know.   So there's that.

Once the plaster is done, there are a few minor things that have to be done, like replacing the mastic (I think that's what it's called) in between the exposed aggregate.  A putting a new drain and jets.  We've also hired a pool company to get everything set up properly, brush the new plaster ever other day, and make sure the chemicals are in balance.

I'll be sure to post more pictures.

More Pool Reno and Miscellaneous

So, they worked Saturday and took off Sunday.  They're back now.  They're cutting the stone for the coping.  The tile is in.  It's looking really good, if I do say so myself.

Eleven Days

It's been eleven days since I blogged - which is very, very bad.  I have several blogs I follow on a regular basis, and if the bloggers slack off that much, I usually stop checking their blog.  Sigh.

I'm sorry.  I have had my butt in the chair, fingers on the keyboard, trying like hell to navigate through a double deadline - the first in my 18 years as a published author.  I didn't feel like I could use up my writing energy doing anything except write on the contracted books.

Plus, my life has been fairly calm and uneventful - which is good, but which does not make for great blogging material.

Except - we finally got around to hiring someone to renovate our aging pool.

Here is what the pool looked like in May 2011.  This is from the good side, so you can't see the tile that had begun to crack and fall off.

And here is a collage from the first day they started working  - draining the pool, taking off the coping, and the tile.

And the second day (yesterday).  All the tile and coping is off, and the pool is totally empty of water.  They drilled three holes in the bottom (!?!) to keep the pool from floating up.

They haven't been back so far today, but I have a feeling this will be interesting.  This time we are going with Oklahoma flagstone for the coping, and an earth-toned, larger tile.  It is very difficult walking outside and seeing that mess.  At least it's not summer and I'm not missing swimming.

Now back to writing.  It's been nice popping in and I promise to try and do it more often.

Another Start

It's 2014, a new year already.  Lonnie and I ended 2013 with a nice dinner out for Italian food, then watched the New Year celebrations on TV.

On the first day of 2014, I cooked Prime Rib, black-eyed peas, green beans, cornbread, and rum cake and had my dad and my brother and his girlfriend over.

We've cleared the house of Christmas, and it's time to get to work on the new book.  I turned in the synopsis and, even though it hasn't been approved yet, I've got to start.  It's due 4-1 (and the other book is due 2-1, so I might try to work on two books at a time!)

We had a really chilly dip in temps last night - it was 15 this morning.  Last night I made my favorite collard green-sweet potato-onion-chicken soup and some homemade bread.  It was, as usual, delicious!  We'll be eating it a couple of nights until it's gone.

But today, I'm back to work.  Still trying to figure out an exercise schedule.  But ready to see what this sparkly brand new year will hold!

Endings

Tomorrow is the last day of 2013.  This has been a very - insert adjective here - year for me.  (Yeah, I couldn't decide - strange, weird, difficult, interesting.... so I'll let you pick).

The year in recap:

I weigh myself every Monday and record the weight. This year, I weigh 2 pounds less today than I did on the first Monday of the year.  I've been as high as 9 pounds higher than today and as low as 4 pounds lower. I am happy that the year ended up as a minus there for me.  But, I stopped working out and need to get back to that in 2014.

I lost my mom.  Enough said.

My husband Lonnie was in and out of the hospital, had eye surgery a couple of times, and is now is great health.  Whew, on this.

We tried several churches, from Unitarian to non-denominational to Baptist.  We attended one non-denominational church pretty regularly, but eventually stopped going.  I refocused my spiritual search where I feel it belongs, the same one I'd started over 30 years ago, and was able to find comfort in my mother's passing.  

Lonnie and I became volunteers with Legacy Boxer Rescue.  We helped nurse a nearly dead, sick and starving dog from 27 pounds to 52.  We picked off over 100 ticks, treated her for Erlichia and got her adopted - only to have her returned as she has kidney disease.  In the meantime, we'd taken another foster dog in and adopted him, so somehow we ended up with 5 dogs.  Which is Way.  Too.  Many.

We also evaluated dogs in shelters, transported dogs from shelters to foster homes or to vets, and did home evaluations for prospective adopters.  I joined the Shelter Committee and quit, as I wouldn't have been able to write.  I then joined the Foster Committee and during the weekend before Christmas, helped get 8 dogs pulled from shelters to foster homes!  We made and delivered holiday baskets to two local shelters, and assisted at fund raising events.

I got a new 8 book contract and then, as I was in the middle of the first book for this, was offered yet another contract for a Continuity.  I now have too much work, which is a good place to be when self-employed.

My husband and I not only took our third week-long cruise, but spent a few days in Vegas.  Due to the foster dog situation, we didn't get to go to our lake lot at all this past summer, which has never happened.

We've hung out with family, eaten a lot of good meals, and heard some good music.  I finally learned how to make a decent margarita at home, and cooked many new and different dinners.

I don't make resolutions anymore, but in 2014 I hope to get my day schedule better nailed down.  It's difficult when your husband is retired and there with you, and I tend to waste a lot more time than I should.  I want to map out time for exercising, as well as time devoted solely to writing.

And that's it for me.  How about you?

It's Over (Whew!)

Christmas is over and I woke up still exhausted this morning.  Christmas Eve was different - Lonnie and I went and visited my mother's grave.  He gave me privacy and I sat on the bench by her - so close I could reach out and touch the granite.  My brother had bought a little Santa ornament and hung into there with a stick-on hook.  I brought some holly and silver ornaments and put them with the Santa.  I'd also gotten two scratch off tickets since she'd loved them so.  I talked to her awhile and scratched them off and left them for her (they didn't win.)  I cried.  Christmas Eve has been, for a very long time, a time we spent together.

Afterward, Lonnie took me to McAlister's Deli for lunch and then we went on home.  I cooked all the sides for the next day's Christmas dinner.  My daughter came over and we all went to eat at Cristina's Mexican Kitchen.  It was enjoyable.  Here's our tree on Christmas Eve, loaded down with gifts.

And my daughter and our newest Boxer, Peyton.

Finally, I set a beautiful table - which again made me miss my mother, as she took such pleasure in the fancy table.

The day itself was busy, but nice.  I still had the ache inside though.  I made cinnamon roles like I always do. We had coffee and Lonnie put Amaretto in his, like he always does.  Steph came over and I made maple bacon, another tradition.  We opened gifts.  I got Boxer earrings, a boxer tote bag, a custom made boxer blanket, a new purse, sneakers, pj's, and a surprise gift - Garth Brook's boxed set  - Lonnie must have listened when I was complaining how I couldn't buy his stuff on I-Tunes!  I'm listening to it as I type.

Later, my Dad, my brother, and his girlfriend and her daughter came over. She's seven. It was a delight have a child again at Christmas.  We all ate a big feast of ham, scalloped potatoes, cheesy spinach casserole, and glazed carrots.  I'd made pear and apple cobbler for desert along with Bluebell homemade vanilla ice cream.
The once again, we exchanged gifts.  I got a bottle of tequila.  My brother seemed to love his leather motorcycle jacket!  And the little girl appeared to like all her stuff - barbie, tea set, stuffed frog, new jacket.

Everyone was relaxed and happy.  It was a good day.

By the time everyone went home and Lonnie and I cleaned up, I was beat.  Today, I'm back to work, working on the synopsis for the Colton's of Wyoming book - Dead River Danger!  It's fun.  And a welcome distraction.  I still need to finish up on The Long Wait, which is now due February 1st. (Dead River Danger is due April 1st), so I'm going to be super busy.  That should help.

One other caveat - in the days leading up to Christmas, Legacy Boxer Rescue, where I volunteer, was super busy.  I think we had 11 dogs pulled from shelters or from owner surrenders in the days leading up to Christmas. Lonnie and I even transported one, a cute little female named Tierney.  Made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday, full of family and friends, good food, and gift giving.  Hold that family close, as I can promise you that you will miss them when they're gone.