Pool Season Is Officially Over!

So, this happened today!

Long overdue and spur of the moment decision, I found some motivation and spent the afternoon; a long afternoon, closing the pool down for the season and getting the cover installed -

A bitter sweet process, as this very well could be the last time I close and need to fuss with my pool.

I have the process down pat and have become proficient at opening and closing all by myself, right down to removing and installing the 22'x42' pool cover -

With the fall upon us, the leaves are beginning to drop with many finding their way into the pool, which makes for a mess and more work for me.  So, it's always such a relief when the cover in finally in place and I no longer need to worry about leaves and debris, the expense to run it or the time to maintain it.

She's all tucked in for the coming months - sweet dreams.

It's A Geyser I Tell Yeah!

I spent a couple hours the other late afternoon tending to my pool.

With the lack of rain we've had these last couple of months and the heat and humidity, I've lost quite a bit of water to evaporation.  Even though I hate to do it, I needed to add some water to ensure the skimmer intake had water flowing into it.

I dragged the house down and tossed into the pool, then turned on the faucet.  After a couple minutes of the hose whipping around like a snake, it finally settled and created an awesome water spout -

I let the water run a bit longer as I took in the relaxing site and sounds of the splashing water.

Ans not to be outdone by the cemetery's fountain I referenced in my previous post, here's a video I took of my homemade pool fountain  -

Perhaps, I let the house run a bit too long, as you can see my water usage for Thursday 9/11 was a tad high -

TSK, TSK, TSK to me...

Water Water Everywhere...

At initial glance and from this distance my pool looks great, however, that couldn't be further from truth and to be honest I've had it with the pool, the expense and especially the upkeep!

I just cannot get the pool clean.  I've spent hours vacuuming it, cleaning the filter and yet there's always dirt and debris all over the bottom. Seems like the filter just isn't filtering as it should be and it's frustrating.  I've checked the filter grids and they look fine, no tears or holes, so there's something else going on.

Also, July has typically been a month where the water seems to attract all sort of insect that "fall in" and this year is no different, perhaps even more so.  I can skim the pool in the morning, removing most of the floating leaves and insects, then go out a couple hours later and it's like I hadn't skimmed it at all.  There are oodles of flying ants, crickets and beetles galore - oriental beetles, Japanese beetles, June bugs and others I cannot identify, it's maddening!

I wouldn't mind doing all the needed upkeep if the pool was being used, and the toad I pulled from the water the other morning doesn't count as "being used".

 Such a shame and a waste and to be perfectly honest, I'm already counting the days to when I can shut it down, winterize and close it.

Big Brother's Watching!

I spent a couple hours yesterday tending to and working on the pool, which is a love-hate type of relationship.  As much as I loath it, it was a beautiful day, so I flipped on the radio to a local country station (more thoughts to come on this in a future post...) and got to work.

The weather has been so hot and humid the last couple of week, with little rain, the water level in the pool has been slowly dropping due to evaporation.  So, as I worked the vacuum, I turned the hose on and threw it in the pool to raise the level.

Seems I added some 320ish gallons and received the below 'high use notification' email from the Franklin Water & Sewer Superintendent, OOPS!  These emails are generated and sent automatically, so I'm not too worried about being called out on my usage.  However, that's not to say that they're not alerted or flagged when high consumption is reported.

Franklin has a water ban in effect and as a matter of fact they have had one each of the 20+ years I've lived here.  I hate to do it but it's a necessary evil of pool ownership.  Ironically, I didn't need to add a single drop to the pool last year, as Mother Nature helped me out.

The pool is looking So much better now!  Stop over for a swim anytime!

Fire In The Hole - A Successful Pool Pump Start Up!

So, after working all morning delivering packages and saving a BIG turtle, I was able to finally spend a couple hours on my pool.

Since removing the cover, I've added (10) bottles of liquid shock to the water, which did a great job a killing most of the algae however, the dead algae, leaves and "stuff" sunk to the bottom and was a filthy mess, YUK!

This afternoon I fired up the pump, with fingers and toes crossed, and vacuumed most of the YUK off the bottom and straight out the drain pipe.  That also allowed me to lower the water level to it's appropriate and desired level.

Once that was completed I pulled the filter apart and cleaned all the YUK off, put back together and fired her up again, this time recirculating the water through the filter and back into the pool.

Here is what the water looks like some 3 hours later - 

However, the filter needs to be pulled apart again and cleaned, as it's now running too high with all the YUK stuck to the filters.

I'm at least making progress.

I will tell you that it's "shocking" at the prices of both liquid and powered shock this season (see what I did there?!?!)!  I may need to get a second job or perhaps I'll try a GoFundMe page...

Let The Expenses Begin!

So, this happened today, UGH!

The weather really hasn't been that good.  Most weekend we've had rain on one or both days.  That coupled with I'm now working, finding the time AND the motivation to do the work necessary to open the pool just hasn't been there.

However, since it needed to be done, today was the day!

I've master installing and removing the pool cover all by myself.  It's a challenge and I'm spent by the time it's all done and everything put away AND today was no different.

I took this pic below once I removed the cover.  It does look a tad green but now, some six hours later and six gallons of liquid shock applied, the water itself if crystal clear.  The gunk on the bottom, well that's a different story, and I'll vacuum most of that to waste at the same time I lower the water level.

Then I'll fire up the pump and let the filter do it's job to clean up the rest...fingers crossed.

I dragged the pool cover to the driveway and spread it out to dry. Once dry I used a broom to loosen most of the debris, then broke out the ole gas leaf blower.  Works like a charm too!  A couple hours after that I strategically folded it, so come the fall it'll unfold like an accordion and in the proper order\direction.  The question is, will I remember how I folded it in 5 months, dunno?!?!

Oh the joys of it all!

Being Lazy Doesn't Pay...

The same windstorm we had throughout the day yesterday claimed the neighbors pool, flipped it right over!

Now, understand that my neighbors appear to be very lazy and most definitely not the outdoorsy type, nor big on doing typical lawn care, yard maintenance nor pool maintenance.

The pool survived last winter, which surprised me. This past fall it appeared that they drained the pool but did not winterize it and certainly opted to NOT even bother to cover it for some reason, so I'm not surprised it ended up like this.

It's unfortunate really but comical at the same time. 

You know the ole saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"...

And That's A Wrap!

It's officially the end of the 2024 pool season here at the ole homestead!

I closed my pool today, yippie!  I have it down to a science now and banged it out in a couple three hours.

It's always bittersweet, as it signals the end of the season, however, it's also a welcome end too.  With the pool to bed I no longer need to maintain it - skim, vacuum, add chemicals and run the pump.

Plus, this is the second season where the pool was used ONCE!  All my hard work for not, so I am very happy to have it closed and buttoned up for the season.

It's good timing too to keep the leaves out!  There are a couple Box Elder trees just over the rear property line and they are super messy trees, just like Ash trees.  With the few nights we've had in the 50's, and the lack of rain, the leaves are already turning yellow and dropping, AND I was tired of constantly skimming the pool to clean these out.

One less expense and thing to worry about.  All in all a win in my book!

Skinny Dipping, Perhaps

I spied this frog making it's way to the edge of my pool last night.

You can see it's wet pee stain behind it.

Just might be the BIG frog I've pulled out of the pool the last several mornings.

There was a skunk in my raised bed digging the other evening but ran off as soon as I turned the spot light on and stepped out onto the deck.  I welcome them, as they're terrific at digging up grubs, however, as beneficial as that sounds, their digging is SO invasive and makes a mess of my lawn, UGH!  Stick to the gardens and we'll be fine, the skunk and I, otherwise we're gonna have an issue...

Floating And Chilling

It's been SO hot and humid even Trixie got in the pool!

Well, not in the water, rather took a spin on the boogie board.

I gave her a bath just a few days earlier and didn't want her getting wet with pool water so soon after.  I want to enjoy her NOT smelling like a dog for a little while anyway...

Wicked Smaht Idea

For Father's Day Emilie bought me an animal escape ramp, which is a floating animal saver rescue tool for pools. 

You fill the main pad up with air, using a small hand pump that was included with the item, then put stones in the pouch that sits on the deck to secure it and keep it in place.

The premise is critters such as frogs, toads, chipmunks, etc. have a place to get out of the water and rest.  The smarter ones can use the ramp to escape to safety.

I can only assume this works as advertised, as there's no way of knowing for sure just how many critters make their way out.

This morning, during my regular pool inspection, I was happy to see this Green frog taking advantage of the floating lily pad, HAHA!

I'm guessing most frogs and toads will need assistance is getting out out -

"She's a beauty Clark!"

Open for business!

Come one, come all!

Just in time for the heat and humidity that's headed our way next week!

Bucket-O-Frogs

Ah, the joys and surprises of doing my morning pool inspections.  I never know what critter(s) I'll find -

I removed (18) frogs from my pool yesterday morning!

This group was in the skimmer basket, the others were in the water.  Of course the ones in the water would dive deep, swim away to avoid me.  I eventually caught them all and moved them away from the area.

Guessing the heavy rains we had the previous evening had something to do with all these dudes deciding to go pool 'hopping' (see what I did here 🤣) in my back yard.

The red frog in the above pic is a wood frog.  I recall seeing these all the time at my folks house growing up.  I believe the others were all Green frogs.

Opening Day!

I removed my pool cover this past weekend, a last minute decision really.

I've mastered both opening and closing the pool doing by myself.

Mixed emotions both when opening and closing.  Of course, when closed there is no maintenance needed, which is nice.  As you can imagine, it's the opposite when opening not to mention the expenses to maintain and operate.

I added about a dozen gallons of liquid shock.  Although, the water itself is crystal clear, the algae makes it look a lot worse than it is.  Keep in mind I took this pic shortly after I removed the cover and before I added the chemicals, it looks a lot better today.

The next step is to vacuum to waste all the yuck that remains.  When that's complete and things are a bit cleaner I'll fire up the pump and start to filter the water.

I used to scrub the pool cover with dawn liquid soap and a push broom but have since given up on that.  Instead, I let the cover sit on the driveway in the hot sun to dry, then I use my gas powered leaf blower and the push broom to clean it.  Works just as good.  Once dry and clean, I fold it, but fold it like an accordion so it's a breeze to unfold and install from one end, then tie it up and store in the garage till closing time.

Let the fun begin...

That's A Wrap!

The summer 2023 pool season is officially over here at the ole homestead!

I spent the last couple of days winterizing and closing my pool.  She's all battened down for her long winter nap.

Always bittersweet but it was time. I had enough of the maintenance and upkeep that goes into keeping the pool open and swimmable. 

Closing for the season is a lot of work too but I have the process down pretty good now.  However, all the bending, the ups and downs and wrestling with the cover have me a tad sore, but a good sore none the less.

See you in the spring!

Diadophis punctatus

I found this beauty in my pool on Sunday, a Ring-necked snake!

Seems to be a yearly occurrence the last handful of seasons.

Ring-necked snakes are secretive, nocturnal creature and rarely seen during the day.  I imagine they weren't too happy to be spending time swimming in the hot sun and were quick to slither off when I released them.

They're such a cool and docile creature.

I introduced it to Trixie and Oliver.  Trixie could care less after her initial sniffs but Oliver on the other hand was infatuated and couldn't get enough. 

This is another Ring-necked snake that I pulled from the pool on Monday!

Nope, NOT the same snake.  This one was larger and just as beautiful.

Awesome colors, the charcoal black against the orange belly and ring around it's neck! 

Always a pleasure catching one of these critters!

Wanted: Amphibian Life Guard

I think we all can agree that Mother Nature is angry, if the crazy weather we've been having here in New England this summer is any indication.

One of the things I've noticed to date has been the lack of toads in my yard and frogs in my pool.  In years past I'd always come across a big toad here and there, even in the pool some mornings, as well as frogs in the pool too.  This year I hadn't seen any until recently.  Same with Honey Bees, I've seen only a handful in my yard to date, despite all the flowers I have blooming.

That being said, with all the rain we've been having recently there have been a slew of baby toads and small frogs in the pool.  Sadly, except for the one dude in the picture, who's taking advantage of the floats I intentionally leave in there for them, all the others have been dead; drowned! Yup, I've skimmed well over a dozen of "croaked" (hehehe) toads and frogs from my pool in the last couple of weeks.

I wish I knew of a way to stop or prevent these little fellas from falling or jumping into the pool.

Lounging and Leisure

After running errands yesterday morning, the afternoon was spent lounging by the pool reading and relaxing, okay and napping too!

The pool and the water has never been so perfect and crystal clear!

If only there was a way to keep the darn insects out of the water!  About this time every year, flying ants are constantly in the water, UGH!  I prefer they get sucked  into the skimmer versus me skimming them out and setting them free but whatever.

Interestingly, the catbirds, bluebirds, wrens and sparrows are forever picking the insects off as they float on the water, but alas there are far too many for the birds to keep up with.

#blessed

Splish Splash!

I spent a lot of time on my pool this past weekend - skimming, vacuuming, adding chemicals and constant filter dismantling and cleaning, and it's all paying off!  The water is still a bit cloudy and more vacuuming needed but looking good - I'm getting there!

If you're in the area drop by for a dip, any time!

Welcome Summer!

I spent the better part of Monday opening my pool.

I removed the cover and did all the opening prep work -

 I then added shock to the water, which made a big difference -

I dragged the cover to the driveway, spread it out to let dry.  I then swept it and used my leaf blower to blow all the crud off -

Once dry, I folded the cover, tied and move it to the garage till it's needed come the fall.

The next step will be to vacuum the entire pool to waste.  When at the proper level, I will add more shock and fire up the pump and filter, and we'll be off!

#blessed