We did something really huge and cool this year, we splurged! Even in chaos. Even in a year of unknown outcomes. We jumped, with both feet.

My husband has been wanting a pool for a looooooooong time. He was a lifeguard in high school and having a pool of his own, was just something he wanted. Little Bit LOVES to swim. I love water- the reflections off of it, the ability it has to cool something off or warm something up without even trying. This blog is full of posts about lakes, oceans, and rivers. For us, water is where it’s at.

So, we did it. In the midst of a pandemic, we ordered a pool!!! Because of the way of the world these days and limits in the supply chains, locally all of the above ground pools sold out, causing the inground pools to sell out, too. I’m told that there’s never been a run on pools like there has been this year. It was suggested that if we wanted one, we’d better order it early.

In June, we ordered our dream, inground, fiberglass pool with sandstone granite coating. Oh, and we were on a twelve week wait. Unheard of in this area. Ok, fine. We didn’t mind waiting. Later, that wait got extended six more weeks. Ok, no problem.

That put us at an October 29th install date. But, it rained continuously for an entire week. Like, mud everywhere kind of rain.

On November 4th, installation began. You guys, watching that pool come together was like in the “Top Five Most Amazing Things I Have Ever Seen” list. Our back yard was slanted. Not exactly a sledding hill, but raised enough that I didn’t like mowing back there. The transformation of the space to what it looks like now is unreal.

Watching that pool install crew was like watching artists. I told them that, too. Every day I sat out there watching a masterpiece come together. They were able to use dirt from our own land to build up the sides around the pool shell, increasing the elevation of the yard, aka, getting rid of the slant. How cool is that? (Seeing that all come together even made ME want to get creative! Hello bracelet making! Ha ha.)

It was a super amazing thing to witness. The short version is: dig partial hole, bring in the crane, truck the fiberglass pool from Tennessee where it’s made, the crane lifts the pool off the trailer and into the partial hole- spot on, the first attempt, huge miracle. Next, bring in lots of dirt, raise the yard, add the drain lines, put in the plumbing, set up the filter, pump, and accessories, spread gravel, bring in the cement trucks, pour cement.

I have never seen such grace, as watching all that. There is a rhythm to it. Definitely a team thing, but also each person is very gifted at what they do. Start to finish it took nine days. Art, in that little teeny time span. Simply amazing.

The pool was finished right before Thanksgiving and when my husband mentioned closing it down, I abruptly threw out a “Nooooooooo.” Ha ha. I didn’t want to see it covered up already.

So, we kept it going, until last week. Multiple days of twenty degrees and the thoughts of busted pipes, allowed me to let the pool ‘rest’ until spring and summer show back up. And, it turns out, covering a pool is a personal choice. You can or you don’t have to. This year we decided to leave it uncovered so we can admire the art, pool art!

PS The sandstone coating gives the water a beachy look, almost an emerald color, which is super fabulous because normally we go the ocean once or twice a year. Traveling got nixed this year because of state restrictions. So, I like to think that we brought the beach to us, minus the sand.

Thank you for reading, hope you have an amazing day!

Jesssss