Water Is Life

The opening shot is the face of a man on a mission.

It’s Sunday morning, the sun is getting hotter in the clear blue sky and he has a couple of large troughs to empty, clean and refill before his grans arrive and want to play in their pool, which needs topping off.

The back trough process starts with an algae green large and heavy trough, with water that is perfectly potable, but not aesthetically attractive.

and the reclamation project begins with some bailing with a hand bucket,

until it empties to about half filled, when you get behind it and, donkey (Celtic not natural) style, you tip out the rest.

Then you scrub the shell, rinse and after refilling, an hour later it looks nice, cool and clean.

While you are waiting for the trough to refill, you shovel shit into a wheelbarrow

transport it across the back property and dump it at Hadrian’s Wall. Repeat until all the barn and surrounding area shit is cleared.

And then you move out front and start again. Because there if there is one constant during summers at Casa Claire, the creatures need clean water and lots of it. So after another hour wherein I emptied, cleaned and moved the front trough to the more level Southern side of The Old Man, which gives Claire and Honey an approach that is clear from the pool, the water was sparkling clear, refreshing and cold for both birds and beasts.

I must patent that bird saver on the sides of that trough.

Then the Universe let me know that I did good, by sending me a ladybug,

and shining a sunbeam down through The Old Man’s leaves onto the newly cleaned trough.

I was able to stand back and appreciate the truly mystical beauty of the toroidal energy field beneath The Old Man’s canopy.

And the whole time I was working, the dogs were close by, keeping lookout for zombies, and enjoying the shade.

They even kept my Chaise Lounge warm for me.

And once I chased them off and recovered my throne, they hopped back on board a much more comfortable cushion.

While pinned beneath a hundred pounds of loving Canis lupus familiaris, I was treated to watching some birds enjoying the bath on Gnome Island.

Finally, after the pool was topped off and clean,

the rug rats arrived for an afternoon swim, but after a few moments in the icy cold water, decided they would prefer the hot tub.

Afterwards, we all shared pizza from Berthoud’s Pizza – now I dearly miss Dino’s Pizza from Mosholu Avenue in the Bronx, but Berthoud’s Pizza comes pretty close – and when the late afternoon thunderstorm rolled in the grans packed up into their rolling caravans and headed back to their own oasis.

When the thunderclouds cleared, and the evening settled upon us, Lisa and I were exhausted, but happy.

I remain both as I appreciate the aches and pains that wake you up at my age and remind you that you are alive.

So, a full work week is upon us, but don’t rush into anything with too must gusto. We are all appropriately exhausted after the long weekend so let’s just ease ourselves into Monday.

But no matter what the world has in store for us, let us make today a great one.