Sunday, June 04, 2006
Pool Reflections of a Spiritual Nature
I’m learning but not sure how this all comes together yet, since we got a pool I’ve been thinking about pools and springs in the Bible a lot about refreshment in the book on Ester these days. I’m sure there are others that escape me now so I may need to look those up.
The pool prep. part: the place we get to keep the water, filtering, cleansing, balance if we are in or out of balance in our spiritual life it effects us in other areas of our life too.
Adding stuff chemicals, even perfumes, to make it smell sweeter; testing yep there is always testing in our walk of faith isn’t there? Also vacuuming have you ever had the Holy Spirit vacuum some stuff out of you life that blew in with a storm?
What I love about this is that it makes me WANT to get out my bible and look up stuff! Gotta love that especially when it’s fun and can be applied to daily lessons in life I’m getting these days.
The other day when I was floating on the air mattress I was able to mediate and pray it was very refreshing and relaxing. We all need that from time to time in our lives time out for relaxing and getting refreshed.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Shock n Swim
If you keep do a fish tank up [which I can't] You can do a pool! LOL!
Shock n Swim aka Pool Chores:
Refers to the first time I swam it was cold in our unheated pool
and there is a weekly treatment of chemicals for pool maintenance to add.
W = weekly shock n swim treatment or after rain storms.
D = daily test ph etc.
EOD = Every Other Day add chemicals
EOW = Every Other Week change filter
Weekly or E.O.W. Vacuum pool.
M= Monthly or as needed get pool supplies.
This is great exercise equipment!
Set up sechedule and time to go over pool rules with family & friends.
Set up time for pool parties.
Schedule time for me to exercise in the pool.
And for lessons for grand kids as they are learning to swim!
Lessons From The Pool!
Skimming the surface we can see the sun reflections off the water
the cool clear blue water has a few leaves and things that need
skimmed off of it each day several times a day if we have the time.
Filtering
If not we turn on the pump and it does the filtering for us.
Water
Pure clean water is from begin re circulated, and some chemicals are used to keep it clean or washing, purifying it and to keep the bacteria from growing. This is actually a great science lesson for those that are fascinated by this.
Balance
Ph balance must be right and other things are tested in the water also
not to hard and hot to soft.
Testing
there are like five different things to test for when we test on the test strips. Every day or so these are done to see if the balance of the chemicals is right. Hubby is rather obsessive about testing and doing it daily.
Conditioning
Some conditioners can help to keep the sun from zapping the chlorine out of the pool water.
Scent
I noticed that there are even scents you can add to hot tubs
and spas to keep them smelling fresh and clean.
Vacuuming
There is a vacuum to suck dirt grim and crud off the bottom leaves etc. that sink to the bottom.
Poolside Reflections!
I remember when dads was on the city counsel when were kids in the small town every one kind of took turns. They had designated different responsibilities to different streets our street was designated as overseeing the city pool. We got to see the pump house where the lifeguards added chlorine and watched the pool being filled, and we were even able to be privy to some of the interviews and got the inside scoop on the new lifeguards for that summer; with a kids behind the scenes look at it all, it was very interesting and we were fascinated by all this.
Mom worked and bought us a season passes in the summers, we took swimming lessons, and were at the pool for two sessions a day I did lifesaving. And at one point got to rescue my little sister who had floated out in to deep water at a park mom could not swim a stroke.
We did not have a swim team in those days. I remember watching the lifeguards test the water to do the chemical additions to the pumps in the pump house. I remember what a joy it was when I passed the deep end test in the third grade and I could finally get to swim in the deep water with the ‘big’ kids. I learned to dive and loved the time when the adults and older teen kids could swim with out the worry of swimming over a top of the little brats I mean kids. We could do our laps with out interference. I seem to need this time to de-stress. I’ve been thinking a lot about that this week the fun I had as a kid swimming at the city pool swimming tag was a fun game we played and dodge ball some of the guys played that they threw the ball at each other on the diving board that hurt so I did not play that game!
My cousins came to town to be with gram for a month and were on the swim team in there town and there was no swim team in our town and they changed that. They got a team going and taught them how to do the turn and tuck and push off the edge of the pool. Some of my happiest memories are at the pool in high school I remember talking with my girl friends from school as we sunbathed on the deck by the pool to rest between swimming sessions.
Then our kids learned to swim at the pool taking lessons, and our daughter won a cannon ball contest at the night swim party one year she still talks about that. Now we are teaching the grand kids to swim so the lessons continue.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Wireless Sucks
I’ve called for the tech support guys to come check it out and they will be here on Mon. we will see what they say. They promised a new tower was going up less than a mile from us when I signed up, said they had three towers and I would not know when one was down not true!
I’ve heard promises like this with cell phones and the reception / coverage never got any better. So it will be interesting to see how this turns out.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Tree Removal & Pool
Last weekend we took out two trees they were small about as tall as a one story house, they were on the list to go for a couple of years now. Bugs had gotten in to them one a mugo pine and the other an apricot tree. We used the ATV to haul the trunk part to the road from the back yard. It was pouring down rain by the time we were done we were soaked.
Then we got an above ground pool and got it up filled and the filter has been running and I’ve had my first dip in it b-r-r it’s cold! The weather is no longer up in the ninety’s but it’s in the 50’s and 60’s here now.
Today I got some bricks for a path and area where the dirt is that the trees came out. That was great exercise and I enjoyed doing it. The other day I reclaimed the play house and it’s now the pool house with towels and pool toys in it.
I had a wooden TV stand and it is the pump “house” now, keeps the wind from blowing it over and the elements off of it. We have been working between showers this week on some days any way.
Hubby has been fishing got his limit two days in a row.
I got my books in and have been enjoying them have read SBB’s new one Moving on. And CEO’s House works is great with color pictures glossy pages and I love the lay out of this book!
Other points of interest:
Dear daughter & family have moved in to her new house.
Dear son is asp V.P. for collage next year.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Summer Heat
It's 7:30 and some one is mowing some times you just gotta do what you gotta do. Our son has been appointed to Vice Pres. at the collage he is attending this will save him a lot of money! He will be a senior next year and today is the last day for him this year he is looking forward to the summer break, dear grand daughter is done with pre school tomorrow and she is also looking forward to summer break. Dear daughter is moving in to their new house this is the 2nd one that thay have built.
Hubby has a vacation coming up shortly too and he is looking forward to that, I however I am dreading it actually because these are more work for me. First we will do yard clean up haul stuff off to the dump, dear son will be moving his stuff out and then playing in the woods I suppose and camping tent or in the canopy will be more work than I have normally. I do have a plan to meld pen and paper with the journal and a new book while sitting at a different locale and smelling the pine trees will be good. Fence fixing is on hubby’s list too I’m not sure if it’s on my list or not yet! A new experience to add might be interesting! A new book I just heard about: Moving On by Sarah Banbrathnach is going to be picked up this week! I can read at some of our camping excursions! Dinner cruise on a local tour boat up the Snake river is going on our list again this year we really enjoyed that last year.
I’ve been working outside in the patio area moving wood we have “collected” for camping and I have reclaimed an area for planting, and the grandkids can play in the dirt too while I’m getting this area prepped for some brick to put down to increase the garden I’m thinking of another herb garden but low growing close to the ground ones like thyme, and other ground cover plants that like to creep about.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Mom's Day
The worst moms day I can remember was when we had empty nest and the kids were living away from the area we had to make some changes this was a time of growth for me; learning I was no longer the center of the universe for them a real wake up call! I was able to move on and let go. Teens do not always want to be hanging around mom all day long.
Now as a granny I have come to the place that I can enjoy the company of family, however I realize it is not just about me and they have other family members to consider mothers-in –law has come in to play. I just feel privileged and lucky to be able to enjoy their company for a few hours. We are having a B.B.Q. here some thing I’ve been wanting to do and it’s a great motivator for getting the kitchen spiffed up and counters cleared off. We are avoiding the moms day lunch crowds and will be enjoying the wonderful weather here. Taking a stroll round the yard to enjoy the flowers that are opening up for the event will be on our actives list today.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Flowers & Summer Fun!
I am enjoying these milder days of spring before the summer heat arrived we are looking forward to more fun in the sun on our jet boat, bass boat, motor cycles, pedal biking, hiking, fishing, camping, using the new ATV. Out door activities are a big part of the live style here where we live in the Pacific North West.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Writing Goals
I have a letter to write for mom and got a pen pal letter today that is always fun because we talk about our crafts and hobbies weaving spinning knitting and crochet we are doing and art books we are using to hone our skills and give progress reports on how we are doing on making stuff for birthday holiday gifts.
I’ve had a great morning found a day planner in pink at the thrift shop today and a pink tote and believe dream & vision journal; I really like it because on side of the page is blank like for sketching!
I took my self out to the local taco stand this was for my art date and wrote in my journal, and then went across the street to tweak this planner; came home and filled up a bunch of planner pages some one had left in it blank with these great topics for project info. I’m glad to have that out of my head now. I’m migrating to David Allen techniques for this new season of my life. Looked up the newest of his book on half.com today, the other older one is on order from the library.
I was going to go out and plant stuff in the yard but the wind kicked up so I just brought the posies inside, I’d take a pic. of them but the phone seems to be down don’t want to waste time on that maybe later after I get them planted.
Add to month o salads daily entry! ~ Did that fresh onion tops from the garden what a treat to pick those and see the first roses of spring in bloom when I did.
I want to design a project page and print out a module for a sample to see how it goes I got some design ideas on paper this afternoon.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Getting Back Your Edge
I’ve been reading a book that had a chapter on this topic in one of the chapters it’s been very effective for me and I have been taking a lot of notes on this and the jest of the answer of this book prayer that works by Jill Briscoe is that we go to God and show him where we lost our edge and he helps us to get it back! The other chapter was on going to the mountain to hear from God the reference was Moses in the dessert. Listening to God was a key and going back to where you lost your egde was the other key.
I found this book at a yard sale this weekend and it was so timely because last week I was like really stuck in my prayer life, it seemed like the wheels had come off my prayer wagon and this book helped me to get it going again.
Have you ever had a day time that where you were over whelmed not getting your way and just wanted to stomp your foot and go off in a huff and just have a pity party? That’s about where I was mid week last week. I suppose that was where I lost my edge. It just was not one of my finer moments.
Then this weekend hubby and I had a few chest bumping moments our egos were getting in the way and we were not listening to each other. We had to laugh at ourselves and by the end of the weekend things were good again. Him getting me a new cabinet did not hurt any. I learned something too tile floors in front of a fridge can break, part of my rant was we needed some home fixes here, new flooring is on the list. So I’m rethinking what I even want now.
He got a new mountain bike and we went on a couple of short rides together, after he got the goo in the tires to keep the puncture weeds out. These pedal bike rides are great for stress relief! ubby was not getting his way either ATV woes, and his cargo trailer has not arrived plus it rained and was windy we did not get the yard work done.
I was lucky enough to find some pansies and another tomato plant the truck had just came when we were over town and I asked if they brought any pansies, the guy showed me where they were. I’d already been to several other stores with out any success pansies were in short supply around here! Gardening season is on. So on my list tomorrow is going to be planting pansies and the other tomato plant I got. Then we went to a new favorite cafe' not far from our house.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Fast
What I had to do was to just had to schedule some time for me some down time, to rest regroup, I went on my art date and got shopping therapy and two novels later I’m in a much better place now!
I needed to clear a spot to work and grabbed a pen and started writing five pages later I had my entry, no longer blocked the words began to flow. Now I had something to write in my spiritual journal. I’d felt like I was coasting things were good and it was easy to skip writing in that one. But when a challenge faced me I knew I was growing and needed to get the process down an important step in the process of growth for me.
I can count this success from fasting I’d been giving up morning newscasts for a fast, and on an involuntary computer fast the net was not working my wireless router and modem were too close together and not working for a few days. That will do it for me give me time to investigate what’s going on internally for me sort and process emotions swirling around inside my head and heart. I sorted things out on my morning prayer walks and the physical activity helped me to feel like I was actually getting some where as I ventured through this process.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Have You Lost Weight?
Yesterday after my walk I reclaimed the dining room, dumped the trash again, the laundry is not current and we went boating, we had a fun safe time dodging an occasional log floating down stream from the spring run off. On the way home I did some shopping to get food for a b.b.q. at dear son’s and got some more yarn I finished a scarf over the weekend and can start putting. some things in the dresser where I keep the finished projects for holiday gifting. Today I'm going to try to concoct a sugar free recipe for ambrosia fruit salad I like to get at the deli but I think I can do one that's with out added sugar.
Sat. I went to a yard sale and found three chairs for the grand kiddos to use we like to do lunch outside on the deck porch patio and under the big shade tree in the front yard. With only thirty four days of school left it’s time to think about Granny camp. I got some crayons at the thrift shop with cartoon characters at the top of these and the grands like to draw so this will be one of the favorite activites, using up a ream a paper I have here for them to draw on and it has lines so they can practice abc’s and 123’s, between side walk chalk and sessions at the pool, nature hikes in the field. We will be camping soon too.
We love that I have been hankering for some tent camping and sleeping in the back of the truck in the canopy, and the pull trailer camper will give us some fun variety this year combined with fishing four wheeling it looks like we are going to be having a lot of fun!
A Day in My Life!
After that we went to The Diamond Shop and I got my ring that was being sized down so I don’t loose it. We looked at some new rocks for a ring or new stone for our 35th wedding anniversary coming up in a couple of years.
Just down the street is a shop called Yesterday’s Treasures I’ve been in several times to “visit” the table / desk I’ve had my eye on there was a small table in the basement of the farm but brother in law burned it so this one is a replacement of sorts. They could not get furniture out the steep basement steps that had been build over and around the contents of the basement. I was thinking of this for an out side work space potting plants and such. I would have gotten it Wed. but the antique shop did not have any one to help me haul it up the stairs and outside to load it in the truck. Hubby helped me with that, we brought it home and I painted the legs every thing except the top it needed a bit of gluing, it has an old handle and drawer front and legs the rest is new wood. I love it except it was an awful grey color. The color I have on now is a soft peachy off white. I will be putting an antique finish on later.
Hubby washed his truck and had some other errands to do over town I opted to stay home and paint the weather was lovely. I was setting up the saw horses dear son showed up and he helped me to get the ½ sheet of plywood and table/desk moved to the back yard where I was going to be painting.
Later we went to look at the progress on dear daughter’s house and they have sold their other home and have until June to get this new one finished, they have some paint on, some cabinets up, sub flooring nearly done, the patio is poured, step to the basement are in, half & of the deck it done. After that we went to look at a boat for a friend of hubby’s. I took my knitting and did that while they were talking. Then we went to dinner a new place here called Grumpy’s. We were less grumpy after we ate!
I came home and had a flash back of being a newly wed that’s what I call it when the kitchen is buried I used to let the dirty dishes pile up until we ran out of clean ones I did not have a dish washer in those days, the dishes would just about reach the bottom of the top cabinets, I took the leaf out of the table so less stuff could fit on it. I got the dishes loaded in the dish washer and the laundry got done during the day too. I made up some Jell-o for dear son’s b.b.q today. [I’ll be doing a green salad too]. I’d work on that between coats of paint and work on my new knitting project. A scarf for holiday gifting.
The weather is glorious here today so it will be fun day here too. Fri. nite we were going to eat at one of our favorite spots but there was an hour wait so we didn't but did wonder over to see the new rv park http://www.hellscanyon.net/Default.htm and enjoyed that. They had a hot tub pool and it is right by the river.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Painting Outdoors
I painted a shelf and one pair of shutters. Thise still need to be antiqued and made in to a shelf for over the vanity. I have another pair of shutters to paint yet also, and some chairs but those will have to wait for another day.
Dear grand son was happy playing out doors in the yard with me. We had a long walk I got in my 2.5 mi. walk today. I had him get out and walk for a block or so and push his own stroller so he got some exercise too.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The Rustic Rabbit
Shopping is on my list this week. We have a store here called “ The Rustic Rabbit” they have shabby sheik furniture and I saw some of their stuff at the antique shop and I got some inspiration! I want to go to that store and see what else they have. I need some boards for a shelf hubby is going to make for me. I’ll need the truck for that. We need to put up lights in the kitchen and dining room so I’m going to see a new store here I’ve heard about. The deck needs replaced too. Hum... the list is growing of projects.
Easter dinner was a hit here we had ham n fixins after church the kids stopped by and the egg hunt was a success. Spring bloom is lovely here my apple and plum trees are glorious and it’s great to look out the kitchen window and see them while I’m doing chores in the morning! The yard looks great but I will need to mow again soon, the grass is really growing with all the rain and warmer temps. we’ve had here. Last night I cleaned the table on the deck it sure looks nice and inviting out there this morning but it’s too cold only 36* here today! br-r We are supposed to get up to 77* on Thursday I can’t wait.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
The Energizer Knitter!
I was very over welcomed when I tried to get yarn the first time for a prayer shawl, I was just totally over-whelmed, so I had to think about it. I did not know how much yarn to get so I got four, one too many but this first one was a for a large woman so I used them all.
That one was of a lovely turquoise super saver red heart multicolor yarn, it is such I lovely color I got more to do another one, and I want one for me! I was intending the lav. one for a friend who I thought had lost her mom and then I remembered lav. was not her color so I let her pick and she took the one I was going to keep for me. I got more of that color to do another one! I know it’s a hit! LOL!
On my artist’s date last week I got yarn found some at the thrift shop, for some practice projects; my book was in and I got a knitting mag. too while I was there, and a journal with an angel on the front cover and new yarn too. The idea is to keep journal for this project only I'm blogging it! I have a prayer journal, daily journal and several blogs. The last thing I need is another journal. I’ve been passionate about knitting weaving etc. in the past and have been very excited about prayer shawls, ponchos, blankets, lap robes etc. these days.
As I was knitting I remembered a crochet (yes I crochet too) tote my granny made from a gallon milk carton for us to put our swimming suits in when we came home from the pool. So this weekend I did up several milk carton totes for grandkids, mine were ½ gal. size. I’ve tucked these away for Easter gifting. I made and extra one for show and tell at knitting meeting, and ladies group at church. Pics are up at my cromepen360yahoo blog now of some of these. I'll be doing up some one gallon size totes next.
I got the doll shawls done, these are to go in the milk carton totes, and have a prayer shawl wip (work in progress) about ½ way done, it is from the big one pound skein of yarn that wanted to be a baby blanket instead of a shawl. This yarn in soft pink blue yellow and white ombre’ colors wanted to be a baby blanket instead a shawl as I’d intended. LOL! I started a cape that’s been frogged (ripped out or un-knit) several times as I get a pattern going. Grand-kiddos love the trying on process! LOL!
Today I am going to call the library and see if they had this Book,
it’s a novel Knitting by Anne Bartlet ~
Later ...
I went to the library and they did not have it in, I found some books and got inspired by a shawl pattern but it is for a lighter weight yarn than I have on hand at the moment. It was very inspiring looking through the books to get ideas! Weekend afghan was one title. I forget the author.
I have been squirreling away yarn for my needle work ministry stash, for some fall knitting. I have some buttons and pins that will be fun to embellish the capes I’m currently working up.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Ring Ring ...
"Hey mom did you get number need new ip address message?"
"yes"
"what did you do?"
"I called the tech. and we retweaked my settings what’s the number? "
"Okay, again; only slower this time. "
"Okay got it"
"Bye."
"Bye"
A few minutes later ~
ring ring
"mom that was a local number "
"they are closed "
"do you have the other # ?"
"Yea "
"it’s here some where "
rustle of papers ---
more papers rustling ---
here it is! "
I give him the other non local number.
And put them under the glass for easy access on my desk.
----
What I did:
[I love it when our son a jr. in collage calls me for techie help!]
While I was looking for the paper with the phone # on it.
I told him that I told the tech. that "I broke the internet" when I made my call and convinced him it was the rain and clouds snow and other inclement weather that was the problem we laughed!
We did some "trouble shooting", I said I'd just moved the pc in from the living room and the modem has to be plugged in first and yes I had restarted it a couple of times eventually we found the problem wireless router had a cord plugged in the wrong place, changing that fixed the problem.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Cyber Techie Granny Learns to Run Wireless.
Wireless is installed and running now with a router. I have hooked it up. Learning as I go had to call dear son twice to do this but I got it going. Next install new printer cord and install ink, first I have to open this plastic packaging sometimes that's the hardest part! Okay back to knitting the prayer shawl I was working on.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Wireless
I'll be able to use the pc in my creativity room, with no phone line instead of just the living room. I'm excited! The faster you go the more you pay. Zoom any thing is faster than dial up! The special is up on Fri. here so I moved it up a bit! I still need a router and need to put get ink on my to do list!
They were here before to see if I could get it; but at that time last fall they did not have spam and virus protection for e-mail. I did not want to get it with out that. They have that proction now. So on Mon. I called the co. dear son has for wireless the wireless guy is came today and set it up.