Pool Cover (Winterizing?

The 1st year i put a garbage bag on it & shoved some into the hole - this was a mistake as it filled with water like a balloon & I almost couldn’t get it out! Now i use a little tarp & bungee it around the skimmer- mostly so if ice forms i can just take the tarp off & open it up for a look into the pool w/out opening the pool cover. I leave the bottom open so if water is displaced it will come out.

I put an upside down water bottle in it to allow for any freezing, so any ice will push in, not out on the sides of the skimmer.

I had an oversized cover and pulled the cover over it. Remember DO NOT run the cover wire UNDER the skimmer.