Mom and Dad visit California, October 2001
- Dad begins the huge project of removing the deck and reinforcing it, for the coming hot tub, by sawing some lumber used in the reinforcement.
- The redwood deck is opened up - quite a feat - Dad had to carefully pry up each individual 2x4 redwood plank.
- Dad stands next to the deck job.
- Never give up! Just because the sun has gone down, that's no reason to abandon the deck job.
- Dad unearths the gas valve - a vital step, since the hot tub is gas heated.
- On to the next part of the hot tub project: Dad pours the cement slab that acts as the base for the heater, pump and filter. Here he is preparing to mix and add a new bag to the existing wet slab.
- Dad waters the cement! I know, I know, it's part of turning it into gloop.
- A slanted shot - one of many - showing Dad mixing the cement with a hoe and wheelbarrow borrowed from a friendly neighbor, Moe. The hoe is actually a specialized cement mixing tool, I believe.
- Another shot of Dad mixing the cement!
- And another!
- The last shot of Dad mixing cement. I guess I found this a fascinating step of the overall process!
- Here is Dad filling the cement slab with another bag's worth of cement. It surprised him, as he didn't think he'd end up using as much cement as he did.
- Dad spreads the cement ...
- ... and then smoothes it out.
- Mom is writing a friend, on a sunny day, in the dining room.
- Annikin puts herself squarely between the flowerpot and the watering can - nothing like a tight spot to see as a challenge!
- The base of the hot tub goes in - somewhere around Oct 12 or thereabouts.
- Philip, the main person who did the hot tub installation.
- The 3 workers: Dad, Philip and the other person whose name escapes me now.
- The hot tub is still under construction, but it is beginning to look like a hot tub!
- Esa Cate works at my iMac (for a liberal definition of work!)
- Steve Cate enjoys the skychair that they gave me a year ago as a wonderful birthday present.
- Evan Cate also loves the skychair.
- Evan is working on constructing his candle.
- Esa with her candle.
- Evan with HIS candle!
- Dad and Marianne inaugurate the lovely robes from the rest of the kids (birthday present in 2000) before inaugurating the hot tub itself.
- Dad standing (inexplicably?) in hot tub.
- The official inauguration of the tub, with both of us in - and by some odd coincidence, it's October 17, 2001!
- Miriam invited us to her Oktoberfest in Palo Alto, California.
- Annikin, the most spoiled cat on the planet (I think.) Who else gets treats from the deli?!
- A busy workman in overalls also has to make many phone calls.
- Ian and Nika Woodfill, ages 2 and 4 - my good friends Karin and John's kids.
- Ian loves Annikin, although only Annikin can say if this is mutual.
- My good friend Karin Meyer, who I met in 1985, in grad school in Seattle.
- My next door neighbors, Mike and Nancy Lee, join us for a night in the hot tub.
Marianne Mueller
Last modified: December 14, 2001