The before we leave projects
Last season we had a real issue with our cedar hot tub here in California when we were in Europe and at the island. It developed a massive leak and we had to shut it down. Clients (guests) we had staying with us were furious and we had to compensate them for the inconvenience. Not cheap. So, when we got back, it was high on our priority list to fix the problem.
I didn't think it would be a big deal and I set off with my 'Michael's clever solutions' to the problem. When the first one did not work, I upped the anti and went to the second. When it failed, I got serious and went all the way to the third. It too was a dismal failure. I resigned myself to facing the fact that I would have to tear it out and replace it with a smaller fiberglass model. I cut out all the plumbing and was about 10 minutes away from taking a sledgehammer to the tub itself when Janice came across a YouTube video of a guy who fiber glassed everything from fish ponds to swimming pools.
Again, my lame attempt at fiber glassing had been a disaster, but I could see why it had failed. I was encouraged that I could save this sucker and have what I wanted at 1/6 if the cost of replacing it with what I did not really want. I had already spent an ungodly amount of time and effort on this already, but in for a penny, in for a pound. I spent a lot of time not only re-doing all the plumbing and sealing the interior but making a much more attractive set of stairs to get in and refinishing the exterior. Finally, I am just days away from adding water (no leaks!!!), turn on the heater and ...Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Next on the last-minute projects agenda was replacing a window in the kitchen to complete the kitchen remodel. It had been ordered as soon as we landed and was promised to be delivered in early December. HA! Fat chance. It arrived days ago, and I am scrambling to get it in before we leave. Is it just me, or is this the story of my life? What happened to retiring with a rocking chair?
The plan is to at least take one day this week to drive up the beautiful coast to the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea (quintessential California) to visit the art shops and have lunch at the 'Hogs Breath Inn', which was owned by Clint Eastwood until recently. Few people know that Clint was the mayor of Carmel fom 1986 to 1988, earning $200. / month while in the middle of his film career. He was elected with 72% of the vote.
We are two weeks away from pulling up stakes and hopping over the pond where our next project awaits. We had a dozen large trees cut and stumps pulled on our new property and will get busy getting the contractor set up to start work on the pool. We know that we both work very hard for the things we have, but we never kid ourselves in not knowing that we are blessed beyond words and that ultimately have much more than we deserve.
See what's new?
No, not the door silly, the door MAT!
News you can't use
The Epistle. We report, you decide.
