Pools, Winter and Repairs

The Scene Last Evening before I Cleaned up

The winter was especially tough on my pool and the supporting infrastructure.

I have broken water pipes in the pool house, which means that the sink had to come out and I am digging around n the wall finding the source of the leaks. As it turned out, the soldering failed on two joints. Of course I didn't find the second one until I had the first one repaired. That is the way it always seems to go.

The second leak is tougher. I may have to do a lot of cutting and soldering to fix it.

And then I have a  bad O ring on the distributor atop my pool filter! So it is leaking liberally, at times. I am getting one on order so that I can rebuild it. It is only 21 years old, so I believe it has more than accomplished it mission. If I can get away with a little backyard rebuild, then I will be lucky.

Look in the pool image and you will notice missing tiles. They are at the bottom of the still too green water. Yup, the winter caused an excessive number of tiles to pop off--it was so cold that moisture behind the tiles expanded and caused them to pop off. End result? Big mess.

The joys of owning an aged pool. Every season is a few more hours of care to ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Riordin Poses

Riordin

Sometimes, when I am just fooling around I take the greatest images.

That happened last evening as we were sitting on the back deck, enjoying the evening and reflecting on the hassles of the day.

The heat of the day had not yet dissipated and I was enjoying the smells of the forest and the residual heat on the air. Riordin jumped up next to me on the deck and sat, posed, for long enough for me to snap a picture. 

Riordin Posing

And I got it, twice. Remember, this is the cat who came back after being lost for six days. We had another scare on Sunday--he was gone for three hours, until the mower started and he came running home. Note to self--start the mower when he goes missing.

He should be in commercials.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 12, 2014

1. Mother's Day 2014 is over. I hope you remember your Mother for the rest of the year.

2. I made an interesting statement yesterday about my wife, Chris, when speaking to the family--"she is a mother to us all!"

3. Amazingly, the pool is open although not ready for swimming. The winter was not kind to it and it will need a few repairs to start the season. It looks a lot better in the picture than it is in person.

4. I went to an amazing baseball game Saturday evening--the Orioles won after a 55 minute rain delay to over come a one run deficit in the bottom of the ninth. Winning in the tenth was awesome.

5. It can be very hard to get out of bed on Monday mornings.

6. The month of May is rocketing by--the leaves are nearly full on the trees and now that the pool is open, the outdoor fun is only just beginning.

7. The Orioles almost pulled off back-to-back sweeps, but came up short yesterday.

8. Why is the door always open on my pool house? 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Mother's Day 2014 Addendum

Mom and me

Here it is--straight from the archives a photo of me and my Mom from 50 years ago.

The date reads Jul 64.

I was 8 years old almost 9.

I believe the image was taken in Danby, NY,  at the house where I grew up from 1959 until I went away to college. 

Amazing what can be found on Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Mother's Day 2014

Mom and Me

It is Mother's Day. 

While I cannot spend the day with my Mom, I have already talked with her through the magic of the telephone and wished her a great day. 

She is going to have a great day with my brother and his family--and I am happy about that, sometimes I think I monopolize her time. 

Mom always demonstrates a caring and selfless attitude. She is the driving force behind keeping our family together.

Thanks Mom for your unconditional love and support, not just for me but for the whole family. 

Enjoy your day--you've more than earned it.

Love ya!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Stump Today, Gone Tomorrow

Invariably, it seems, we lose trees in the yard due to storms or disease. Last year we lost my plum trees due to disease. I was very sad about the loss--but dutifully removed the trees from the yard--except for the stumps.

The stumps were significant. Not something easily removed with hand tools.

We had tried the epsom salt idea by drilling holes and hopefully speeding the natural decay of the stump--but it wasn't fast enough.

Enter, the stump grinder.

An awesome 25hp machine designed to do one thing--replace the stun with a hole.

I have used the grinder before. I love using "heavy" equipment in my yard to make difficult projects disappear.

This experience was no different. In a very short time two significant stumps were removed and in their places were holes to be filled in with the wood and dirt removed. 








And what nice holes they are!

No more stumps!

Refill and plant grass for a nice obstruction free yard. I won't have to worry about the boys tripping over the stumps are they race through the yard anymore.

On to the next project. I think a chipper may be involved!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Here Come the Hostas

My hosta garden is up and growing.

I have to check every morning to determine if the deer have discovered my small garden of paradise. 

My hostas are growing and thriving in a shadowed part of the yard. Unfortunately, the deer also know of their existence. It is only a matter of time until my hosta garden becomes a dinner plate for the small herd of deer that occupy the wild area next to my house. 

Many other plants and flowers adorning my gardens will soon also, likely, become food for the wild animals. Last year spied a woodchuck which took a liking to my gardens and that is in addition to the rabbits which also feast upon my plants.

I spent a lot of money on plants that will become wild animal fodder.

But they look good for now.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hockey--Baseball? A seasonal contradiction?

The hockey playoffs are in full swing and I am cheering widely for the Pittsburgh Penguins who are currently battling the New York Rangers on the road to the Stanley Cup. The games are close and every goal could be the winning one.

The baseball season is in full swing and the Baltimore Orioles are currently in Florida playing the Tampa Bay Rays. Yes in Florida. It is early in the season with just 31 games played of a 162 games season and so far the optimism I had in the team has seemed justified. They are in first place in the division and scrapping for every win.

I am watching sports of opposite seasons. The boys of winter (hockey) and the boys of summer (baseball) are playing strong. One season, hockey, is nearing its end and trying to crown the season's champion; while baseball is just getting into full swing in anticipation of the hot, sweaty days of summer. 

I was switching the channels back and forth last evening--from ice rink to grassy field and it dawned upon me how full of contradictions I am. I waited all winter for spring to come, yet now, when I should be relishing the warmer weather, which I am, I am still fascinated by a game played upon a cold and frozen surface.

Sports. It brings out the best of all seasons.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dogs, Everywhere are Dogs

Sometimes it seems that animals just appear from nowhere. That is happening with my family lately.

Mike with Anna--formerly MJR Angie

Over the weekend, Nicole, my daughter, and her family adopted a rescue greyhound. Wow. What a shocker. What a great dog. I was able to watch her racing history--five short races, and from knowing her I understand why she was not a good racing greyhound. She raced as MJR Angie. She was just happy to be on the track running. I had to laugh as she raced--she is such a gentle spirit and it comes through in her racing. The story of how she adopted, yup I wrote she adopted, my daughter's family is great. I guess people were watching the dog with Nicole and the boys.

Last evening, I met another potential addition to the extended family--a three month old great dane puppy! What a cutie--they are test driving the pup--which could top out near 200 pounds! At only three months old, he already made a loud thud on the floor when he walled. I didn't get a picture of him--but he was a beautiful dog--not yet as large as the pony he will soon become.

I'm sure we will find out how the test drive went. He is a puppy!

More to follow, I am sure. And maybe even some pictures.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cinco de Mayo 2014

The two of the biggest party days of May have passed. I survived!

Cinco de Mayo Celebration on the Counter

The first was Sunday--May 4th. The classic Star Wars holiday of May the 4th be with you!

The second, and more famous, holiday was Cinco de Mayo--which as everyone knows is my favorite foreign holiday. A good reason for a party and to celebrate the victory of the Mexicans over the French during 1861.

It is a good time to gather friends and enjoy Mexican food and drink. 

OK, maybe the drink. Where did I leave my margarita? Nowhere, I drank it!

It was great fun.  There are other celebrations during May. May 1st is an international holiday, May Day. Then there is Memorial Day coming near the end of the month. There are a two holidays associated with the end of WW2 in Europe: V-E Day on May 8th and Victory Day on May 9th.

Cinco de Mayo is over for another year--now it is on to Bastille Day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD