Monday, July 27, 2009

Sarah and the Rat



Sarah had really been looking forward to going down to one of our complex pools each day. It was too hot for me to sit on the covered patio during the middle of the day so Sarah got up early one morning while the temperature was still bearable and we headed for the pool.

When we got to the pool there was a notice by the gate that there was a dead rodent in the filter. I had Sarah check for it before she got in the pool and she didn't see the rat. I decided that the pool man had taken care of it and that the sign hadn't been removed.


Sarah cleaned all the leaves and bugs from the pool with the skimmer and got in the pool to swim. After a few laps her mother arrived to join her in the pool. Much to our disgust, the rat had not been removed and the swim was over.




Gail and Sarah showered at the pool, then went home and showered again with some anti-bacterial soap. That ended Sarah's daily swim. The other pool is about a half mile away, but parking is not close to that pool and I couldn't walk on the gravel path to reach it. Such a disappointment for Sarah because that is the activity she had really been looking forward to. She loves to swim, which is surprising since she nearly drowned twice when she was a toddler.



This is a Century Plant near the Kartchner Caverns Visitor Center.



I will wind this series on Gail's visit with more photos of our activities.



Sarah loves working picture puzzles.


Rachel and Hans

Everyone knows about Linus' blankie. Well, Hans has his version in the form of a blue ball. He walks around with it in his mouth and, as they said goodbye, he held it in his mouth. Hans learned a new word at my house "Move". He really needed the comfort of his blue ball because he heard that word from me quite often!



All too soon it was time to say 'goodbye".



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9 comments:

Chancy said...

isn't it fun when the young ones visit. I am sorry about the rat in the pool. Those things do happen but the pool guy should have removed it sooner.

Take care

Sylvia K said...

Oh, I am sorry about the rat in the pool, but other than that I know it must have been so much fun to have there! So glad that you've had a great visit! I know it's hard to say goodbye sometimes! But you'll have some fun memories -- excluding the rat, of course!

Tabor said...

Sounds like a perfect visit except for the swim problem. I do hope your weather cools a little as fall gets closer.

Joy Des Jardins said...

Yuck, a RAT....poor Sarah. She's adorable...and a girl after my own heart...I love jigsaw puzzles too. I do them everyday on the computer and I have boxes and boxes of them in my basement that I still do from time to time. What a nice visit you must have had with your three girls Darlene. Rachel and Sarah are just beautiful... and very sweet. It sure flew by didn't it? Hugs and love, Joy

Rain Trueax said...

Looks like a great visit rat or not. I maintain our little pool when I am in Tucson and it definitely has its yucky aspects. It helps some to have a small garden pool as a water source-- otherwise the big pool, with no way out, is it.

Darlene said...

*Chancy - I agree, it should not have been left there for so long.

*Sylvia - It was, indeed, loads of fun.

*Tabor - So far any cooling off is a distant hope. It is supposed to reach 105 tomorrow, but humidity is only 16% and that helps a tad.

*Joy - You are such a sweetie and say such nice things. I will pass your compliment on to Sarah and Rachel. I know they will appreciate it.

*Rain - You are so right about pools as a water source. I had a pool that I maintained at my other house and birds that drowned made me sad.

Friko said...

But you did have a good visit! and enjoyed the family, in spite of mishaps.

My dog's comfort blanket is an old slipper. He insists on handing it to every visitor at the door.

Darlene said...

*Friko - Thanks for letting me know that Hans is not unique in having a comfort toy.

Unseen India Tours said...

Rat in the pool is so sad...Rest with family it is fantastic..Nice post...Unseen Rajasthan