It's Summertime... almost...

Once the middle of March passes, any cold weather is for the most part gone until way after the fall...  and, while the temps may dip down into the 40's at night or only increase to in the 50's during the day, it is still considered to be T-shirt weather and Spring is here...  actually, today is considered to be the FIRST DAY OF SPRING where the night hours are just as long as the daylight hours.

Once this day arrives for us in East TN, it is time to take the deck furniture out of storage and arrange on the deck under the gazebo...  even though we may continue to get rain showers and thunderstorms because we can cover up the furniture with tarps like we have done when adverse summer weather arrives.

However, we will not open our pool for another month because as soon as we open it, we will have to start putting chemicals into the water and since the water inside is not yet warm enough for swimming, there is really no reason to open it...  opening the pool is rather simply as all we have to do is undo the ropes that are holding one side and remove the bricks on the other side...  return the plugs eliminate water leakage, open the flow valve, start pumping in water, and once the pump tank is full, start the motor that begins water circulation and filtration.

The pool cover is then placed in a plastic container with lid to prevent the entrance of stink bugs which believe it or not have a way of getting into the tiniest of places to stay warm.  Stink bugs arrive from somewhere (?) once warm weather arrives and no matter how many will kill each day, they seem to continue to be on our screened in porch every day...