Patio Project

This summer was all about projects. Not only did we put in the pool and deck but we covered the patio as well. We have a refrigerator for drinks, the air hockey game, a sitting area with stereo and a misting fan. What more could you ask for, well I wanted an area to pot plants and I have that too. Now that the back of the house is looking good it is time to start on the front!



Caitlin taking a break on the new covered patio.




My favorite area...




I really enjoy having my morning coffee here or listening to the rain... Come join me any time you can!

Road Trip to South Carolina

On Friday, August 1st, Caitlin, Jessie and I left on a road trip to Aiken, South Carolina to visit Eva, Danielle and Shaun. I really wasn't worried about the drive except for getting through Memphis and Birmingham. Thank goodness for cell phones! Mike stayed on the phone with us giving precise directions that got us on the right highways with little or no stress! We spent the night in Oxford Alabama and on Saturday we arrived in Aiken, South Carolina a little after noon.

On Sunday we were privileged to attend services at New Covenant Presbyterian church, where Shaun is the assistant pastor, and hear Shaun preach. The rest of the week we went shopping, enjoyed touring downtown Aiken and relaxing with family.


I had a very special alarm clock every morning...Eva would come in and wake me up so we could start our day together. I really enjoyed my mornings with Shaun and Eva!



Eva and Jessie playing ball


Relaxing on the deck


Shaun, Danielle, Eva, Caitlin & Jessie


These two lovely ladies sit outside a gift shop in downtown Aiken


On Friday August 8th, we left Aiken and headed back home. We decided we were going to try and make it all the way home in one day, stopping only when we needed gas. Danielle thanks for the wonderful kettle corn, it was the favorite snack!

It was a long day (16+ hours) but we arrived back home at 10:45 pm on Friday (I did load up on caffeine along the way)

Thanks for the great visit Eva, Shaun and Danielle

Pool Project-Phase 5 -The Deck

After many months of waiting and hard work I think we can say the pool project is complete. Flowers are planted around one side and the first section of the deck is built and we are enjoying the pool and deck! Summer is nearly over so we will concentrate on getting grass growing and when spring arrives we will start landscaping again and add another section of deck.


Laying out the design


Almost there


Ready to use!





A little color!

According to the weather this morning we are going to have temperatures in the 90's so the pool will be open and ready to use so......so come enjoy it with us!

Project Pool - Phase 4

Project pool is almost complete. The pool is up, filled with water and we can swim! The first swimmer in was Papa.....



Since we don't have the deck up and the steps in we used our "red neck" ingenuity and backed the pickup up to the pool and use the tail gate as a deck. Notice the designer steps for getting in the truck bed!



Next phase of the project is the landscaping and deck building.....stay tuned!

Project Pool - Phase 3

We are in phase three of the pool project! Saturday morning we had several volunteers here and we were ready to lay the liner in and set up the walls. We lay the liner out in the sun to help get the major wrinkles out and then carried it to the pool area and stretched it out.


Getting instructions from Papa on how we were going to carry the liner to the pool area.


It took 7 of us to move the liner



Stretching the liner out.


Smoothing out the wrinkles.


Walls are up and we are filling the pool!


Setting the pool walls up and pulling the liner up over the walls was a lot harder than we thought it would be. There are no pictures because no one could turn loose long enough to take a picture. We were tired and sore at the end of the day. The girls and I know for certain that we never want to be pool installers.

Not much longer and we will be swimming!

Phase 4 coming soon!

Project Pool - Phase 2 (Little Pool in the Woods)

On the twenty ninth day of the sixth month in the year two thousand and eight we started the grueling task of establishing "The Pool". The task seemed quite challenging but our little minds couldn't begin to imagine the obstacle ahead of us. The first step was not to erect a pool in this open area of Earth but to establish a level and stable foundation for The Pool's construction . We shoveled and raked the grains of sand until sweat dripped off our noses and the leather of our gloves worn through. It was back breaking and time consuming but we were determined to have each grain of sand it's rightful place. The heat and physical work quickly wilted us down thus resulting in no further work to be completed. With an evenings rest and our hearts in high spirits we long to proceed back to the establishment of The Pool.

-An excert from the diary of Caitlin E. Spencer, a young pioneer woman


Ma laboring in the Earth.


Pa and myself.


Jessica and I leveling the grains of sand.


Pa using the large machine as I stand and ponder in amazement.

Future Red Hatters

What happens when a bunch of girls get together? You never know. Jessie and her friends Beyla, Kyla and Landon decided to play dress up with my Red Hat stuff. Then they had to do some posing......