Pool build - day 7
Here's what happened today: the cement truck pulled into the alley behind our house. The decking crew came too and got right to work. They spread more sand and taped off the house so that it wouldn't get dirty from the cement. Then they started moving wheel barrows full of cement.

The most wonderful pie crust...
Sue Conrad has been making and selling pies in Sherman, TX, for a very long time. Her pies are legendary and it's because of the crust. Her pie crusts almost taste like a cookie - buttery and perfect. I bought her cookbook this summer and am just now getting around to using it. I'm making her famous strawberry pie tonight. For those of you about to bake a pie, try this. It's amazingly good and easy. I've added to Sue's instructions, answering the questions that I had as I made mine.

Have you heard about Movember?
My son, Jeff, is taking part in Movember. Participating men are growing mustaches and raising money to fight the "man" cancers, prostate and testicular. Jeff's page is here and it's easy to click to donate. There are more photos, including the one below, of Jeff's mo in progress on Celia's blog.

Pool build - day 7
I'm back from OKC. My sister is better! She was sitting up and eating some and is mostly coherent so Mom sent me home. I got home to find that they have leveled the yard and built the forms for the concrete decking. The drains in the deck are set and the electrical work is finished. The green tags are in place - meaning that the work has been OKd by the inspector.

Pool build - day 7
Dave and his co-worker are working on the wall with the waterfall here: The waterfall will be 2' wide and it's centered in this wall. If you look close you'll see a bright yellow strip of plastic where the water will fall from. It was chilly and windy - n