By golly, it works!

My husband happily informed me this morning that the new solar heater for our pool actually works. (I already knew that because I had it on all day yesterday before I swam in nice 88 degree F. water in the afternoon.)

It had gotten down to around 59 degrees F. last night so the pool water was around 84 degrees under the solar blanket. brrrrrr

At 8:21 this morning, this was the outside temperature (the top reading).

(Click on pictures to make larger.)

At the same time, this was the reading outside on the platform:

I am so relieved that we apparently didn't waste our money and the darned thing actually works as advertised. We shall see, however, how much longer in the season we can really swim before we turn into icicles.

Now that you are all thoroughly bored over my enthusiastic ramblings about our pool, we shall go on to a much more enjoyable topic: more company coming.

Yes, on Wednesday of this week daughter + 3 will be the first arrivals of the day. Then we can expect Jimmy and Sandy, and son Brian, Reva, and son Brandon. On Saturday, our son-in-law will be arriving for the day. We will have the pleasure of everyone's company until they all have to take off on Saturday. And won't we have fun doing all the usual things -- eating, swimming, laughing, talking, watching movies, playing with the kids, and maybe some visits to the Amish? Who knows what we will do.

Sandy and company will be arriving on motorcycles so our yard will again look like we are holding the Sturgis rally here. The Little Sturgis rally was held last week starting on Thursday, and all we could hear and feel for four days was the deep, throaty rumble of cycles as they passed through our one-horse town. The Little Sturgis rally is held in Sturgis, KY, which is 23 miles down the road. Our town is the last place for bikers of all kinds to gas up, use the bathroom, get a cold drink, eat, or just rest before they hit the infamously rowdy biker scene down the road apiece. Yep, you see 'em dressed all kinds of ways. Especially cute are the ones you KNOW are weekend warriors trying to look so hip. Some even sport tattoos and wear leather.


And for those who plan to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, wear your helmets:

If you're in our neck of the woods this weekend, y'all come on down. The food'll be good, the water warm, and the company mighty fine. There'll even be a place for your bike, if you're so inclined.