And Then There's the Pool

So, cooking is one thing.

The other is our pool. Those of you who are familiar with it know that we've been patching cracks in the pool wall for some years now. Well, the last time Carlos and I patched a crack, it only stayed patched for a couple of days, and we were right back losing water as if we had done nothing. We decided this was the point of no return.

This photo was taken just the day before the crack reappeared and our idyllic life changed again. This was the first time Dianna tried venturing into the pool since her hip surgery. Looks just perfect.

First and Last

That will be the last time for a couple of months. We decided things had reached the point of no return for the pool. If we didn't do something drastic, it was just going to collapse and we'd have nothing but a pile of rubble.

Among other things, the pool pump house was leaning in a more precarious angle than ever before. In fact, I was surprised the water pipes and electricity were all still connected.

Coming Apart At the Seams

You may know the cracks were caused by an underground stream we discovered after we'd had the pool for about three years.

I'll put together a few photos showing what has happened to the pool as a result. I'm also working on a new slide show plug-in for the blog. Then we can really show some pictures.

Somthing New Down the Hatch

Every now and then when we cruise through the market, we see something that just catches our attention. This morning was one of those days.

Pitahaya or Dragon Fruit

This is what caught our eye today. It's called Pitahaya (pronounced just the way it's spelled, for those who understand phonics). It's also called Dragon Fruit. Don't make the mistake of spelling it Pita Haya - that's apparently an Indian deity who even has a song written in his/her honor.

Anyway, Dragon Fruit is found all over central and south America, most of Asia, some of the middle east, etc., etc. It has three varieties - red, yellow, and white. This one looks red, but when you peel it, which is easy to do, it's white inside.

Ready To Eat

I know, it looks like we sliced up a poppy-seed muffin, but it's not. It's a pleasant-tasting fruit, quite moist and soft. You don't even feel the seeds. It's not too sweet either. Quite refreshing. It grows as a cactus, and is quite plentiful in season. I'm looking forward to having more.

Yesterday, I showed you a picture of the bulkhead work and it had like a wood shelf over the bags forming the bulkhead itself. I said they were going to change that. So, here's the result. There will be a lip or shelf extending out over the water a few inches, instead of the way they had originally intended to do it. Much better arrangement.

Bulkhead Work

Another view of the framing shows the view into the boat slip area. This shows a bit better how the framing is coming along.

Looking At the Boat Slip Area

Finally, here's a view that I haven't seen for quite a while - the pool and deck taken from the canal fence. The area in the foreground is destined to become a private little sitting and dining nook. Should be quite cozy when it's all done.

From the Canal

From On High

As long as I was up on the roof of the guesthouse anyway, I decided to take advantage of the situation and snap a few more shots of this and that before I headed back down the ladder.

The Pool, All Nice and Blue

I took several shots of the pool. Amazing what a new pump motor does to help rehab the pool. Well, that, along with Dianna and Cody scrubbing all the tile and the mosaic with bleach and CLR. I was right. I mentioned to Dianna what I had written the other day. She laughed and said that Vivien had emailed her, warning about this being a dangerous combination. Dianna also said that when Cody mixed the two (he only had a little bleach left in his bucket when he poured some CLR in it) that the mix immediately bubbled and gave off a very strong chlorine odor. We'll be more careful in the future.

Another View of the Pool

Just for good measure, I threw in another picture of the pool. Water temperature is staying pretty steady at anywhere from 92º to 94º (f). Too bad we can't get it more comfortable...

I know I promised a detailed look at the plantings in our yard. I'm working on that (in my spare time). In the mean time, here's a glimpse of the garden.

Some of the Garden

What this picture also shows is the guys still have some work to do on top. Filling all the blocks and plastering the sides and top to make a nice row that won't fill up with water.

Back Garden Area

The shot above shows the back garden, which has been really neglected. Now that the guesthouse is nearing completion, Dianna is looking much closer at that area to figure out what she wants to do with it, so I'd expect this part of the yard to become a bit more filled and complete looking in the near future.

We do get a nice view of the bay from upstairs at the guesthouse. If we ever finish the second story, this will be the view.

Nice View of Corozal Bay

Here's a nice peek-a-boo view of Denis and Vivien's house from upstairs. The palapa is Elsie's and it's protecting her car.

Neighborly View

And finally, I'll finish off with another shot of the Pooch family that lives up by Tony's Inn. The kids have just finished breakfast. Soon all four will be taking a nap.

Pooch Family

Every Silver Lining Has A Dark Cloud

Having a swimming pool down here has, for us, been just a wonderful godsend. According to the definition, it's also unexpected. That was our case. Our original ideas for Casa Winjama didn't include a pool, so in that way, it definitely has been one.

And a real treat it is to use too. We use it at least once a day, sometimes two, and even sometimes three times a day.

There are days when it is almost too hot to use - not the air, the water. When the water gets up around 98° (f), it's wet, but not really all that comfy and relaxing. This happens fairly often. The way our pool is set up, it gets unmitigated sunlight all day long and can really heat up.

Some shade would be a real benefit. We do get "some" shade thanks to our patio umbrella that provides a bit of shade each afternoon. But, what we're thinking of is some sort of total covering we can, in some fashion, open and close as needed to keep the whole pool a little cooler while we're in it. Probably using shadecloth, like we used to use with our greenhouse in Olympia, with some sort of pulley system or something that would allow us to crank it out over a framework to cover the whole pool and that we could roll it back up when we're done or when the wind kicks up to higher velocities.

Higher velocities have taken a toll on our umbrella too. A couple of times, even when cranked closed, the "brolly" has been launched (cast iron stand and all) off the deck into the garden. The last time that happened, one of the struts that hold out the umbrella fabric broke, so now half of the strut just hangs there by a wire (we had a light kit installed on the underside of the umbrella), while the other half just sort of pokes at the fabric. One of the other struts is bent, but so far hasn't broken. My guess is, it's good for one or two more launchings then it'll be good to be launched into the trash bin. Bummer.

All that is an aside. Here's the dark cloud. Hard water. You might have seen hard water before. We had hard water in Colorado and also hard water in Olympia. Let me tell you, this stuff is hard. Our water has calcium coming out its a**!

Wikipedia defines hard water as: "...water that has high mineral content (mainly calcium and magnesium ions)... and sometimes other dissolved compounds such as bicarbonates and sulfates."

We have a Rotoplas 10" paper filter as the first stage of all our filtering and a Culligan water softener, that all household water is run through and we still have to regularly clear our faucet aerator screens of calcium build-up.

For our drinking water, we run softened water through the reverse osmosis system with about 4 other filters, a membrane and a UV light. That water is probably like 98 -99% calcium free. We have no calcium buildup from that.

So, that's all in the house. For the pool (getting back to the subject at hand), the water coming into the pool is unfiltered water direct from the well. That is a ton of calcium-laden water. Now that we have our pool chemistry under control and do regular testing of the water and treat it accordingly, the pool water is crystal clear. However, there is still disolved calcium in the water. All the chemcials (well, some of them anyway) help keep it disolved, which is what we want.

Where we run into problems, is the very top layer of water where the evaporation occurs. Naturally, we have nice shiny, dark-blue tile all around the perimeter of the pool. Dolphin tiles (below) alternate with a smooth blue tile all around the pool.

Our Dolphin Tiles

We spent several days about six months ago cleaning the tiles from the original construction concrete/Diamond Brite film layer that had also accumulated a sizable bit of calcium. Then we slacked off for six months till yesterday. Cody, Dianna and I spent virtually the whole day in the pool, getting burnt and sore, cleaning the tile ringing the pool. We used LimeAway initially, spraying a layer on about 2 feet of tile at a time, letting that sit for a few minutes, then scraping each tile over its whole surface with single-edge razor blades in paint-scraper holders, then wiping each tile with CLR.

Like Dianna told her brother Edward this morning over Skype, "the pool looks kinda small until you start going over it inch by inch." No lie. That was a chore - for all three of us.

At the end of the day, we made a solemn agreement to never repeat that again. Our plan of action calls for once a week (Friday), for Cody to vacuum the pool and send the effluent to waste. That is, instead of going through our pool filter, it goes out to the overflow pipe and directly into the canal. As long as Cody vacuums quickly, the the water level of the pool will only go down about eight or nine inches - about two inches below the tile ringing the pool.

Then we'll grab our rags and CLR and go around the pool wiping all the tile. Then, we'll refill the pool to it's original level. If we religiously do this each week, we're confident we'll be able to keep the calcium line buildup under control and everything will continue to look pristine.

Well, there you have it. A day of drudgery (my arms are still tired) and we're ready to jump in and enjoy the pool with only a small inconvenience each week.

In fact, why wait? I'm gonna grab a beer and a floaty and head out there right now! See ya!

Happy Independence Day, Belize!

Today, Sunday, September 21, is Belize's Independence Day. Fireworks displays started at midnight last night, parades and speeches everywhere all day today, and for quite a sizable portion of the population, tomorrow, Monday is a holiday.

Belize is still growing into independence, and still learning how to do government right. They are trying very hard, but with a total population of less than the population of Toledo, Ohio, it's tough to do everything a country needs to do. If Belize was just a city, it would probably be OK, but infrastructure, etc., etc., really stretches the Belize dollar to its limits.

Any way, good on 'em for trying. It's a happy day - even if it did rain heavily at the end of the fireworks display last night.

We'll continue doing our bit to pump some money into the local economy. Our pool is really coming along. John says another two weeks and it'll be done. Yea!!!

To show you some of the progress, this picture shows the spa area on the right and where the steps will go on the left.

We're struggling to find the right kind of jets for the spa area. That could impact the finishing of the walls of the spa, and in turn, the finishing of the cast ring topping the whole pool.

Agusto Working the Stairs and Spa

Here's John, working up a bodacious sweat, forming up the pump house - which is kind of complex in that it's a hexagonal shape structure.

John Doing His Thing

What you're looking at here is the pool face of the pump house. It also will have a mural of dolphins on it and a waterfall cascading from the roof down into the pool. Nice!

Pump House Waterfall

Pump House and Waterfall

These next ones are of the inside of the pump house. Of course on the left, it's only a wall. On the right, the window is actually in place.

The Pump House Taking Shape

The Pump House With A Window

The Pump House From Another Direction

Bracing is in evidence for the spa area bench. A nice cozy seating area - especially if we get the right jets for it. That should be fun!

The Spa Area After Pouring

Here the crew has poured and is shaping the outline for the steps of the pool. There'll be five steps right up to the pool edge.

Steps Area Being Defined

Steps Area Being Defined

This is a little better view of the spa bench still being poured. Gives you a better idea of its hex shape. And, you can see the wall for the steps really moving along.

Spa Forms

Steps Wall

Looking like it's officially a spa seating area now, the spa has really been cleaned up. And the step wall is speedily being finished.

Spa Seating

Steps Growing

John gave a trial fitting to the sand filter. With two pump motors, a chlorinator, electrical breaker boxes and some other stuff in there, the hex-shaped pump house is going to be cozy, but with the steady breeze, a louvered doorway, and a louvered window, it should stay comfortable for all the equipment.

Sand Filter's Trial Fitting

Finally, I was able to have Cody varnish the new shipment of mahogany moulding that Isaiel brought for me from Shipyard. Now, I'll be able to finish the porch screening project.

As you can see from the picture, Cody put together a great varnishing stand out of some sticks we had laying around. It's at the perfect height too. No bending over, suffering back strain to do it either.

Mahogany Moulding Being Varnished

Well, there's a couple of things that have to happen first.

Tuesday, we've been promised (remember, this is Belize) that our workbenches, cabinets, and shelving for the downstairs will be installed. If that happens, then I need to take a day or two to unpack and organize all my tools and parts.

Then I can do the screen project. That'll be nice if we can really unpack our downstairs stuff. I know Dianna has really been champing a the bit to do just that.

As all that's going on, I'll try to remember to take a few pictures of these activities and the pool progress as well.

BTW, even though Monday is an official holiday, for the construction trades, just like in the States, it's a work day. We may splurge and give them some beer at the end the work day tomorrow. Heck, I might have one myself!

Cheers!

Moving Along

The pool is definitely moving along. This too is more of a grab-bag of its progress than an organized exposé. These first photos you can see the newly-poured floor for the pump house. This will house all the water controls as well as all the electrical stuff.

Manuel Stepping Over Pump House Floor Form

The Newly Poured Floor

Back View Showing a Wheelbarrow's Width

A bit of luck yesterday. John ran across a friend of his that was going to be coming back from San Pedro with his boat (a twin-engine something or other) and he volunteered to bring back all the bags of DiamondBrite, filter sand, the filter, the light, and all sorts of fittings as well. They were due to arrive at 5:00 PM yesterday at the fisherman's pier in Corozal. But a passing storm raised rough water and one of two engines decided to go down for the count. So, they arrived here shortly after 6:00 PM. Some boxes got wet, but that was about all. The DiamondBrite stayed nice and dry.

The Fiberglass Sand Filter

Agusto Opening the Skimmer, Lamp Housing and Lamp

Bags of DiamondBrite, Filter Sand, and Cement

Poor Cody. This was the forth time I've had him dig up the same trench. Hopefully, this will be the last time. Here he's busy re-filling the trench. It was necessary as we had to extend the water main and run new electrical service out to the pump house.

Cody Re-doing the Trench

Here you can see the pool lamp housing in place on the East end, and a back view of the same.

Lamp Housing Front

Lamp Housing Back

These two shots show the piping on the east side of the pool.

East Side Piping

More East Side Piping

Here you can see the sap outlined and ready for more blocks. They're digging out to put a bit more pipe in place.

Agusto Working in the Spa Area

Agusto and Manuel Digging For More Pipe

All that's left now of basic forming is the stairs. I think those will begin to take shape in the morning. Another photo opportunity.

Just Another Day in Paradise

Ah, what would a day without construction going on be like? Quiet, perhaps?

At least, Ed Sosa and his bulldozer have moved up the road to Doug and Tyla's place for a while. That in itself makes things quieter by a large factor.

But then, if construction wasn't going on, we wouldn't be getting our pool built. And that would be a shame. I think having a pool here is one of those "necessary luxuries". I mean, even if we weren't getting a pool built, we'd still have to have our round, twelve-foot wading pool to cool off in. It's just such a treat to jump in, relax in a floaty, and have a nice cool beer, that makes a hot afternoon seem like paradise. The fact that we are actually in paradise helps too.

Here's a collection of photos that pretty much bring you up to date on the pool construction as of yesterday afternoon.

Manuel Shaping Blocks for Odd Angles

Unloading the Last of the Blocks

John, Teaching Agusto

Continuing to Make A Lot of Progress

Below, you can see the 1-1/4" water pipe extension we did the day before yesterday. There's also a small pipe for a "top-off" valve to just add some water as needed to counter evaporation.

Water Main and Top-Off Valve

Angled corners drive the block-setters nuts. Complicating it is the water jets that are in the corners as well.

Agusto, Being Taught by John How to Work the Corner Blocks and Water Jets

Along with the water main being extended, we're also running new electrical service out to the pool and for the future guest house. here's the line for it running along the wall and through to the outside.

New Electrical Service Being Installed

Feeding to the Reverse Osmosis System

This pool certainly has some angles... I'm so glad I'm not building it! Anyway, lots of progress has been made.

Spa Area Taking Shape

Pool End Blockwork Proceeding

John Shows How to Figure Blocks Out

John Puzzling It Out

You Can See How Complex It Gets

Square is So Much Easier

This view shows some of the piping coming together where the pump house will be built to manage all the piping.

Future Pump House Location

More View of the Walls

Another View

The girls are bored during the day, since we keep them chained up while workers are here. This does two things, keeps the dogs from becoming traffic hazards and prevents over familiarization.

Secret Hard At Work

Cindy Hard At Work Too

There'll be more shots as construction continues to move right along. This is a fast moving project - which is nice. We are so looking forward to a dip in the pool.