Digging the pool took just over one day. There was one driver that did prettymuch everything while a few others assisted. They worked SO hard.
Dump truck coming back for another load of dirt
We did minute to win it games one afternoon for fun. Having so much of the sameness was getting old so we did a week of fun and different things.
Nicole was the one to research and come up with the games, its was fun to have her in charge.
They were able to dig despite the rain that had made lots of puddles.
Beach days this summer saved us. All this space and fresh air and endless fun to have was wonderful.
Tide pool crab hunting
John caught some little fish in his shovel!
Diana and her new glasses!
They finally got out the enormous stump!
Pipes going in, digging happening, it was great to see the long awaited project begin in earnest.
Nicole put together three of these wooden marble runs. They were complex directions and she mastered them. She has very good analytical skills.
Equipment pad (we had no idea this would expand to have stuff screwed into the siding, pipes going a few feet to the side, etc)
We went to school to pick up school supplies, it was so sad to only say a quick hello.
Coronavirus sure made meet the teacher different.
All of the pool surround fill ready for the pool drop.
Our daily schedule, everything in yellow is the live classes. I'm like a teacher's aide making sure everyone is logged on at the right time, that assignments are turned in, and then spend the day with Katy reading what she can't and making sure she does what she's supposed to.
The pool and crane are here!
Because the distance from street to backyard was so great, we could get a huge crane or a small one and move it twice. They got the small crane and first set it on the grass. Then moved the crane and lifted the pool again over the house. Such a delicate operation.
Finally all in.
We took a trip to Jordan lake and had a little flotilla exploring around.
As the pool was filled with water, they added the backfill gravel.
John has enjoyed watching different classes and listening in if someone loans him an earbud. Michael called him his emotional support animal.
Katy's homework. They have us take pics and video all day long to show their work.
John finding a quiet cozy place. I love my little boy. He just finished a puzzle and was a little tired so he got in the basket and took a little nap.
Putting the kids on the back porch for school has saved my sanity. They can talk at a normal level and not bug each other so they can be out there while I don't have to tell John to be quiet or feel like the house is under siege all day.
The kids finished school early one day, so I gave them a project of cleaning out the garbage cans. They put on masks because it smelled so bad, I'm not sure the masks helped though!
Adapting during corona is tricky. We went to the dentist and the kids did school in the break room since our visits take hours with so many.
Pool coping done and sheer descent started! There has been just a few hours of work done in the last 3 weeks since this.
Macarons for Caleb's visit!
He did a real underground bbq for us!
Wearing sulus from Fiji
Caleb spent all day preparing tons of delicious, interesting and traditional foods.
Chicken feet! Yes they ate them! Jim and I gave that a pass, but the kids were totally brave.
They all wanted to eat a fish eye after Nicole had one. So we put blueberries and the last eye in a bowl and they all took one and ate it. Devin was the winner, but didn't care for the eye much :)
We went peach picking with Caleb and he helped the kids reach the peaches. They sure love their uncle. It's such a blessing to have an adult that they can really connect to like Caleb.
Apple slushies not to be missed!
Butterfly garden had lots to look at
Nicole and Mike spotted some money on the ground by their market stand and turned in the $60 to the indoor checkout. They were so grateful for the kids honesty they got a free ice cream scoop.
Michael is now 12!! Starblaster.io lemon cake was the request this year. I think my candle additions were rad.
We had to take Caleb to the beach of course!
Exploring the tide pools and hoping for crabs! We found a ton of different types of crabs and caught some fish too.
This guy was dinner!
Nicole collected a ton of mussels. Sadly, they were all empty but we found that out at home.
Jim handed John a pole he'd just cast and John walked along reeling it in. Then he had something on the line and it turned out to be a flounder, just a few inches too small to keep. Talk about fishing luck! He and Jake!
Jake caught a few lizard fish.
Caleb brought the kids some very cool souvenirs.
Boar tusk necklace.
Jacob has some braces to help him stretch his calf muscles.
Jim went to CA to help Dad with some braces.
I accompanied a musical number at church so had the bring the kids. Kids can still make a lot of noise through masks!
A sweet friend brought over some things to help me relax, and it was perfect since Jim was out of town. Calming candle and fun puzzle.
Meanwhile, they come and look at the pool sometimes but it got this vivid green and then swamp green. They are in no hurry to do this pool.
Nicole and I took a trip to Biltmore on Labor Day Monday and came home Wednesday. It was just was fun as last time, and we did a lot of different things than last time. We didn't care to do the house tour again. There's only so much you can look at old fancy things.
Flowers never disappoint here. The variety and arrangements are always magnificent.
They have a visiting model railway that has wooden carved train station replicas from around the US.
We did repeat the awesome trail ride. Riding horses is Nicole's favorite and this is her second time, both at Biltmore. She's ahead on a horse named Alan and my horse is Boone.
The view of Biltmore from the trail is so breathtaking.
Salmon for dinner was so good.
Foggy misty morning was so fun- and it was almost cold but as soon as the sun burned away the mist it was the perfect temp in the 70s.
Meanwhile at home, Jim had fun doing puzzles with John.
Nicole and I went clay shooting for our first time. The instructor helped Nicole through the first terror phase of shooting a shotgun for the first time, and then to actually getting confidence in what she could do. He didn't give her time to freak out that it was so loud or that when she shot there was kickback, he just got her attention with coaching tips and reloaded before she could back out. I was so grateful to have a chill, yet skilled instructor.
She hit her final clay and it was so awesome because we were going to stop and he asked her if she wanted to do two more (the shotgun can have two bullets) and I thought she'd say no thanks, but she said sure. And then on the second one she got it!
I was able to hit most of my clays, to my great surprise. He had me transition from single shots, to two clays firing in a row from the same location, and then to two clays that go at the same time from different locations. Each challenge was fun to try and I was amazed that I hit them either first time or after a few tries. Totally a fun adventure to try and succeed at something new with Nicole!
We went biking after our shooting lesson and lunch. They have lots of beautiful trails, and there is a trail of connecting paths that lead to Biltmore so we opted to see if we could make it.
One part went along the French Broad River and it was so beautiful.
Along the way, there is a man made lagoon that reflects Biltmore. So pretty.
After some pretty intense uphills we finally made it!
Nicole was not too pleased with having to bike the crazy steepness!
After making it to the house, we walked in the gardens for a bit. But we were so tired we figured we could come back the next day to see the rest!
To celebrate that we didn't die on the insane bike ride, we ordered a scoop of ice cream. They were finishing off a pail though, and gave us four scoops each. We took one for the team and didn't let any go to waste :)
Got a case of sparkling grape juice from the grapes at Biltmore to bring home. Such good stuff!
Playing with some farm animals before breakfast. Cutest little calf ever.
Our last morning, we finally went to the house.
Gardens by the house with ponds.
Indoor conservatory with lots of tropical plants.
We decided to go on the rooftop tour this trip and really enjoyed the views and history. Vanderbilt had this model made on a lazy suzan to show his guests.
From his upper office you can go up a winding staircase to go up and out onto the roof.
So fun to hang with the gargoyles.
The roof is super steep. They put on the slate roofing from the inside.
Crazy that his initals G.V. are on the rooftop! Used to be plated in gold too. An awful lot of work that nobody ever sees!
Bear with honey pot! They had other cool carvings like squirrels, griffin, monkeys and people along with the traditional gargoyles.
This dome supports the huge chandelier over the staircase.
Into the attic
Looking down the grand staircase. The steps go through the wall to create a (smaller) outer staircase too.
The light spitting rain made long vistas hard, but we did see the horses grazing in the distance and it was fun to see them again.
Farewell lunch for Nicole was shrimp and grits.
BBQ plate for me
Katy at the park! Jim finally got to take the kids now that the governor lifted the restrictions.
Tile for the pool surround came.
And they did come by and dump some chemicals and spend a few hours on tile. But it's been a week since then. They came by to talk and it felt like being on a hamster wheel. Lots of talk and no change. Jim called the company owner and got chewed out that we are getting in the way and just let them do their job. So...we would love to get out of their way if they'd come to work!
Jim got his buddy a live lobster for his 40th bday! So grateful for good friends!
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