Pretend you're in a floating chair...

This is the view from the pool. Gorgeous, even with the construction debris...

The "silo" has siding...

Siding is a big job, but the guys are making great progress.

You can almost see the front door!

The protective boards are off the front door, visible here behind some ladders.

The Pool is a BIG project!

Like many things in life, the pool is a lot more work than anyone expected. The cement for the shallow end was pretty straight forward (she says). A truck came, poured cement into the hole, and the boys levelled it out. Especially John the master of all things cement.

The deep end is a different story. All the cement for the bottom (which slopes from shallow end) and sides (which also slope) has to be hand mixed and poured. I think we're on 3 weekends going on 4.

But overall, progress is great. The weather has cooperated which is a bonus. Rain is not the friend of wet cement.

Scaffolding is a sign of progress (really)...

Sometimes it seems a bit been there, done that when you see things at the site. Like the scaffolding... "Again? Enough already with the pipes and planks." But to the informed constuction savvy audience, this is, in fact, a sign of progress. The siding is making its way up and onto the house. Halelleuia! (spelling?) Did I mention I love the colour IRON MOUNTAIN and that I have NO REGRETS on this HUGE DECISION that I had to make sight unseen about 6 months ago!!!!!!

Did I mention we're building the pool too?

One of my friends recently commented that Seb is a glutton for punishment, I pointed out that Seb chose to marry me, so go figure.... :-)

Seb decided that pools were too expensive and if you can build a house, you can certainly build a pool. "How hard can it be?" has become a mantra in our home.

So, we ordered a pool kit, and trusted the project to our good friend/cousin-in-law John (he who has been understandably less available due to arrival of twins in December but who featured extensively in last summer's work effort). John owns the backhoe that is often pictured on this blog.

The logic on building the pool now is that it's more convenient to do it before we do the septic (which is (theoretically) an imminent project).

Here are some of the pool building shots. You might recognize any of the following people: John, Seb, Seb's Dad Rene, Seb's brother Christophe...

Mystery Hill Olympic Pool

So, essentially I am maxed out on decision making capacity. Anyone who has built a home will tell you the same. It's not just the volume, it's the detail and the timing. For example, bathrooms are months away but I must select the taps now. It affects the plumbing which impacts our dry wall schedule which is happening now. That's the construction point of view. My point of view is "how can I possibly pick the taps when I haven't picked the vanity, tub, sink etc... its just a bloody faucet" BUT ALAS NO, it is not just a bloody faucet... :-)

All this to say, I gave Sebastien complete control over the swimming pool. It's a tad large...