Pool Surgery - Part II

Today was more demolition than anything. Two guys with axes and saws chipped away lots of the plaster around the tiles. Then, they made dents in the bottom of the pool. I think that will help the new plaster stick. It looks really pitiful right now, but should be improving by tomorrow when they will begin replastering. Let me tell you, the dust and plaster chips were flying yesterday. I thought I was going to have to get masks for King and Bubbles.

I will give a plug here to Tru Blue Pool Service. They have done excellent work. Check back tomorrow for a picture of our "new" pool. (hopefully)

What Were They Thinkin'?

Abigail just turned on the TV to watch "The Price Is Right" and there was Drew Carey in the place of Bob Barker. DREW CAREY!?! What's up with that? He can barely string a few words together. My problem with this most likely stems from my fond memories of watching the show as a child. Bob Barker IS "The Price is Right." Now, I know that 80-something year old man was starting to look a little like plastic man with his many surgeries. His face was a little too tight for someone his age. However, the big dude with the black glasses just ain't cuttin' it either.

I did read somewhere that Rosie O'Donnell was in the running for the job. So....things aren't so bad they couldn't be worse, right? (my mother always said that)

I'd better go. It's almost time for the Showcase Showdown.

My Fall Garden

Just like spring, except a little more "jungle-y"


A new hydrangea in October? Wow.

Funny, isn't it? It looks very much like my spring garden. Wait...it is! Due to strange weather patterns and global warming (obviously), my impatiens are still blooming. This is such a strange phenomenon. Seriously, they are usually brown and crispy by late July. It's been very nice to enjoy them for so long. I believe I planted them in May? Definitely got my money's worth this year.

I did plant a few mums in the front of the house. I needed some fall color to go with my pumpkin and my newly painted black front door. Happy Fall, Ya'll.

Pool Surgery

We finally had to bite the bullet and spend some money to repair our very cracked pool. We've been babying it along for several summers now and it was time to do something about it. We would have to add water nearly every day, just to keep the appropriate level. It was very interesting to see the responses to approximately 25,000 gallons of water running down the street. I was planting flowers in the front of the house and noticed many different looks. Cars would drive very slowly, as if expecting it to suddenly flood. Several walkers would go by, looking for the water main break. I think it took about 3 hours to drain it completely. My thought was, "That really is money down the drain...I mean, street."


Setting up the pump, 3 big nylon hoses emptied into the street


Water level going down...


Of course these two had to crawl in and have a look-see


These guys drilled out the cracks and then added rebar going
sideways across them. Then, they filled in with concrete.

I thought this looked just like an incision that had
been stapled after an operation. Weird.

Hopefully this project won't go on and on like the floor remodel. Tomorrow I believe the plaster guys will come in and smooth new plaster over the entire surface. Best part? I don't have to do anything but take the pictures.

It's A Sick, Sick World

At least in the Holmes household. Rebecca is at the beginning of her third week of upper respiratory/coughing/no energy sickness. Three days ago Jeff started coughing. Abigail started coughing Saturday morning. Katherine woke up with a cough and fever this morning. HELP ME! I am the only member of my family who is upright. (Even Paige called in sick to children's choir tonight. Get better, Paige.)

At one point tonight, we had 3 on the couch alternating with fever and chills. I'm seriously considering purchasing a rebreather mask to wear. I really don't know how I could not get this sickness. Please, Lord, no?

Requesting some prayers be sent heavenward on our behalf. And, we thank you for them.

Abigail in Aggieland

Jeff and Abigail drove to College Station yesterday afternoon to witness the gridiron matchup between A&M and Kansas. Not much of a game, according to the two attendees. A&M lost, 19-11. "Pathetic," said Mr. Holmes, when asked how the game went.

Rebecca was so mad. Every time Abigail has gone to a game, former President Bush has been in attendance. Maybe next time, Bec.

The weary travellers arrived home after midnight sans peproni rolls. Should I have let them in the door?

I Was Just Wondering...

I was just wondering this morning...why do all scrapbook stores close after being in business only a short time? I received an email a few days ago that Recollections, one of the best scrapbook stores ever, will be closing early next year. Now, I do admit that my first thought after "NOoooooooo..." was, "Ooooo...clearance sales." Why can't they stay in business? I've never been in that store without lots of other customers. The crop room is always occupied.

I know Recollections is owned by Michaels Stores. My only hope is that Michaels will pick up some of the items and paper lines that Recollections has been selling. For really neat scrapbook embellishments and paper, Michaels, and even Hobby Lobby still can't compete with Recollections.

I guess on the positive side I'll be saving money. Right? Small comfort.

Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous

Our family spent last weekend at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. Jeff spent all of Saturday in a meeting while the girls just played. I must admit, cheapskate that I am, that I have a hard time enjoying myself when everything is so expensive. Take Friday night's dinner buffet...cough, cough...the food was great, but the cost for 12 years old and up was $28.00! I mean, really, what kid eats enough food to warrant that? Did I eat enough food for that? I kept telling Rebecca -- eat, eat! Put a roll in your pocket for breakfast. (kidding) I decided these places are better reserved for anniversaries and special occasions. But hey, when someone offers to pay for your room...

The place is huge. This is just one of the outside views.

This is the view from our room. Pretty cool.
I think we watched parts of 3 weddings over the weekend.

These are some random pics taken around the hotel. One part of the hotel is created to look like the Riverwalk in San Antonio.

All the girls stood in line to get their caricature done by an artist.
I thought he really captured Rebecca's personality.

The star is in the middle of the atrium ceiling of the hotel.

The girls had fun for a little while in the arcade. Abigail should never be turned loose on a four-wheeler or any other ATV.


The landscaping is unbelievable. The flowers are so beautiful.
I cannot imagine how many people it takes to maintain this place.
I guess they have people who come out at night, like fairies, because
I never saw anyone working on the grounds.


Katherine's favorite ice cream -- a little tiny container of Dulce de Leche. Only $6.00! Well, maybe not that much. I'm just guessing since that was part of her buffet meal.

Overall, it was a nice weekend. I'll just remember that when we have the kids along to pack a suitcase of peanut butter sandwiches. No, wait...we won't be going back with the kids. Never mind.

Bunny Love

By nature I am not an animal lover. (Stop laughing, Barb.) Actually, there are very few animals I will tolerate -- fish, hamsters, hermit crabs -- all things small and easy to care for. Abigail's bunny, Bubbles, has now been added to my approved list of animals to own. He is so sweet. (with the exception of biting Katherine on the leg today) His fur is the softest and he makes no noise! My kind of pet.

Isn't this a sweet little face?

He actually prefers this toy carrot to the real thing.

I wonder what he's looking at? Probably King barking.

According to Rebecca, Bubbles needs a friend. Do you think Bubbles told her that?

We Are the Champions

We are coming to the close of a very successful volleyball season. Rebecca has learned so much about the game and is becoming a really good player. This past weekend she played in a tournament at Liberty Christian in Argyle. She played with the Grace Prep B team and they lost both games, which put them out of the tournament. Rebecca's coach asked her to stay and play with the Grace Prep A team, since they had won games and would continue in the tournament. The team won the tournament and it was fun for Rebecca to be part of it.

I love trophies!

Bring it on! We're ready.

Grace Prep Lady Lions

Just Wanted to Share

In my Bible study this morning I was directed to read the book of Jude. Do you find that sometimes you read a particular Scripture and it just strikes you in such a way that you have to go back and read it again? I was blessed this morning when I read these verses. And, I decided that you might receive a blessing from them as well.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
Jude 1:24-25

"to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy..." Isn't that awesome? We can stand in His presence, blameless with great joy. I really love that.

From Plumlee Paris to Bagel Dogwood

As my blog readers (all 3 of you) will see, I've stolen this little activity from Printed Paige. I think I'm going to have a hard time looking at Paige now and not wanting to call her Plumlee.
So, here we go...

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME:
(first pet & current car)

Dixie Caravan

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME:
(fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)

Chocolate Oatmeal

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME:
(first letter of first name, first three letters of last name)

Ghol

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME:
(favorite color, favorite animal)

Purple Bunny

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME:
(middle name, street you grew up on)

Jeanette Highway 1004

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME:
(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)

Holge

7. SUPERHERO NAME:
(”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)

The Pink Diet Coke

8. NASCAR NAME:
(the first names of your grandfathers…or grandmothers)

Bill Otis or Audrey Lucille

9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:
(mother’s & father’s middle names )

Jeanette Ray

10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME:
(Your 4th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)

Bond Boston

11. SPY NAME:
(your favorite season/holiday, flower)

Autumn Hydrangea

12. CARTOON NAME:
(favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)

Grape Caprisie

13. HIPPIE NAME:
(What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)

Bagel Dogwood

14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME:
(”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”

The Scrapbooking Snow Tour

Fall...Are You Ever Going to Get Here?

I've done everything I know to do. I bought a pumpkin for my porch. I purchased a bag of decorative gourds for my kitchen table. I pulled out all my fall decorations this week and set them up all over the house. I even had hot tea with dinner tonight. (Actually, that one doesn't count, because I pretty much have hot tea every night.) In spite of all these preparations, fall still has not arrived. Can anyone tell me why it is October 5th and it feels like August 5th? Good grief. What is going on with our weather? I'm ready for sweaters and scarves, boots and jackets. I'm actually ready to consign my flip-flops to the back of the closet. At this point, I think I'd probably settle for temps in the high 70's. Wait! I just remembered some of the best things about fall...sweats, fuzzy socks and chai tea. How could I have forgotten chai tea? Not just any chai tea either...the kind sold at Borders. Can I get a witness?

Until fall arrives, I'll have to find comfort in these photos, taken during a little cold snap last November.

Isn't there a poem about "when the frost is on the pumpkin?"
I'll have to look that up.

Think cold, snow, ice...wait, not ice.

Snap, crackle, pop...I love a good fire.
(Photo by Katherine)

Finally, in my ongoing effort to bring about the autumn season, I've added a new poll to the blog. Check in and let me know your favorite cold weather beverage. Hope to see you with a scarf around your neck soon!

I Was Wrong

Well, I was wrong. The sweatshirt was only $28.00. Volleyball mom called today and said she will leave my money in the school office. Katherine didn't seem to dwell on it much. In fact, her first question was, "Can I have that sweet jacket at Delia's that I've been wanting?" I guess it's good that one of us has moved on from the incident.

Speaking of Katherine, you may notice I have a new link on this blog for insignificant teenager. That would be Katherine. And, when she is allowed back on the computer I'm sure she will have some warm, witty and wonderful things to say. Check back in a week. (or two)

Is It Just Me?

Is it just me? Probably. This is such a small thing, really, but something that just bugs me. Early in our school year we can order items of clothing from the school's booster club. They call it "spirit wear." Whatever. Anyway, the volleyball booster club had a table where sweatshirts were on display. A particular sweatshirt was labeled as available for purchase by 10th-12th graders only. Didn't know why. Katherine really liked that it was different - a white, hooded sweatshirt that proclaimed, "Grace Prep Volleyball." (It was really cute.) So, I plunked down a whopping $32 and placed my order. I didn't really have a problem with the money because that sweatshirt will end up being her winter coat for school. But I digress...

We received word yesterday that the sweatshirt was in the office. When Katherine went to pick it up, the shirt they gave her was gray. She told them it was the wrong color and would need to check with her mom. Tonight I asked the woman in charge (hereinafter known as volleyball mom) about the mix up. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, not looking sorry at all. "There was a terrible miscommunication. The WHITE hooded sweatshirts are for the VARSITY volleyball players ONLY." I'm sorry. What did you say? Volleyball mom starts looking uncomfortable here. "I don't understand," I say, "the sign pinned to the sweatshirt clearly said 10th - 12th grade volleyball players." "Well, yes...hesitate...stumble...pause...there was just so much going on, and I should have caught the order, blah, blah, blah..." Meanwhile, I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that there are now limitations on the color of shirts we can wear (0r not wear) to school based on the fact that we have not yet reached that pinnacle of success in the athletic world -- varsity team. I mean, we're not talking about game uniforms or playing ball here. We're talking about a shirt that is worn to class!

So, volleyball mom does graciously give me the option to have my money reimbursed or keep the gray shirt. Ah, no, I don't think we'll be keeping the shirt. It's the principle, right? Or, am I the one with the problem? Don't tell me. I just needed to vent.