Wonderful, Jonna!!!!!!!

Jonna - I am amazed at how lovely it has all turned out! That new pond is wonderful! I have a feeling you are going to be up on that roof top more than you know! I can picture using it in the evenings with some soft lighting. A perfect place to just chill out after a busy day!

Yes, I agree. I am off today to look at outdoor chairs and shower heads. The lighting is mostly picked out, I pretty much let Henry (my architect) pick the fixtures as he has a much better eye for lighting than I do. I think the sconces for the big wall are not picked out yet, but really Henry will find something that is economical and perfect for that spot. There are down lights around the pond, and some pole lights on the walls, nothing really bright. I told him it was all just mood lighting, not task lighting. I think it will be a great place to wind down in the evening. I love the look of the city at night and the sounds as well. I'm a city mouse, the music drifting over the houses and the voices of people walking home are good to me. I think of it as my secret garden above the city but part of it.

You can also buy those string lights and move them around wherever you want them or use candles... There are a lot of solar lighted things now, and also I think you can buy solar powered fountains and such for ponds. I have never used them though so I don't know how good they are.

Glad you have a contractor you can count on, Jonna.

It's all looking spectacular.

Looks good. Can't wait to see some night pictures of the space and the city.

kqcrna said:Wow, it's looking great, Jonna!

Karen

Jonna - You should write an article about your roof renovation for publishing here on ATP. I found the whole process very interesting! You could basically copy and paste from your posts and add some of the best photos showing the work being done. I think others on ATP would enjoy it as much as those posting on this thread!

I have enjoyed it immensely. You are the best Jonna for taking the trouble.

It looks really nice. You will enjoy it a lot.

This has been so interesting to read. Now the real enjoyment begins!

Well, now I have a lot to do. Everything is done except the pots and the lighting but I've been under the weather and haven't gotten anything done up there except to fill the pond. I will need to add some muriatic acid and keep the PH low for about a week to cure the concrete a bit more. Then I can drain and add fresh water and try a fish or two. In the meantime I need to find something that kills snails and treat all of my waterlilies and other aquatic plants. I'm really sick of these small spiral snails that have infested that pond. I have the pump screened but I think their eggs must be drawn into and hatch there, or the really tiny snails are able to get through the screening and into the pump. I've replaced one pump and have to constantly clean out the new one to keep it from getting plugged with snails.

My 'to do' list is getting quite long. I need to start some seeds so I can plant what are winter crops here, tomatoes, lettuce, greens... I can't start the seeds because my lighting and my "spot" is in the laundry room and that is now full of all of our clothes while the bedroom and closet are painted. So, last week I took 2 huge black plastic bags of clothes to the laundry. This week I will take one more. It's just too much to do it all here, you can barely get to the washer. My garden guy is painting the bedroom right now and should finish tomorrow. Not the best to be painting in this super high humidity, we've had thunderstorms and monsoon rains every evening for over a week and supposed to continue a bit more. It is what it is though, we need that room painted so everything else can go back to its normal place.

I will post more pics when I at least get the pots in and perhaps some seedlings started. Did I tell you the pots are a variation of an earthbox? They have a water space at the bottom and the drain is above that. I intend to set up an irrigation system so the well of the boxes is always full and the roots of the plants can get down there and the surface stays dry. That will help with mold and algae on the surface and maybe even with other diseases. Of course, can't do anything about the rainy season but we generally have many, many dry months with lower humidity and warm weather starting in about a month.

Are you feeling better, Jonna?

Yes, the medication is working well. It was another UTI, my doctor says that I have to drink 2 liters of water every day. In addition to the other medications he's giving me. If I get another infection I will need to have a laser surgery, I think it is same day. Still, I don't want it so I'm trying really hard to get all the water down. It makes me sick to my stomach sometimes to drink so much water but, it beats the options. When this one started I just stopped eating and drinking for a couple days to stop the cramping. Not smart but I'm stubborn about not wanting to go to the doctor. When it got to the 3rd day I called and he got me in. Of course, I was really dehydrated and shaky. Pretty stupid for an old woman. He reminded me that I have his cell phone number and that I can call him night or day. This is why I love medical care here, it is really personal. But I'm still stuck in avoidance and try and tough everything out.

Can you flavor the water? Guess the question would be better stated, "Would it be easier for you to get down if it were flavored water?" If it doesn't have to be plain water, you could take some in the form of ices, like a Slushee, maybe?

Bet you don't get sick often, which might be contributing to the wanting to tough-it-out. Normal reaction to wait and see if whatever it is will go away by itself; and a generally sensible reaction, too. Now you know that this problem may be recurrent, though, could try turning that stubbornness toward doing what is needed to keep it from happening again. Easier to suffer a little now than a lot more later. I have some chronic conditions that flare up periodically and have to remind myself of that same concept--and I sure don't like it when I have to nag myself, either!

I put a large pitcher of water with a couple lime slices in it on the counter in the kitchen and I'm trying to get it all down today. I find it easier to drink room temperature water than cold water. One good thing, I'm not hungry with all this water sloshing around

No, I've been blessed with good health most of my life. I don't often even get a cold. Still, I'm getting older and should expect and pay more attention now. I am really trying to take this seriously as I know I would hate going for the surgery more than I hate drinking all the water. Not too fond of the pain from the infections either.

I hope that the water is the cure. I wouldn't want surgery, either. I fear surgery.

you can drink so much water that your electrolytes get out of balance. Even if you are not hungry it is a good idea to eat a small salty or sugary snack every couple hours. Salted sunflower seeds, raisins, fruit or some chicken broth, ect.

Absolutely! Some of the fluid could also contain some electrolytes, like salt. Or even a banana for potassium. Or gatorade or pedialyte or pop or.....

Karen