215/366: Hungry Frog

Let's talk about my pond, k?

If you don't want to talk pond, then I hope you visit tomorrow, when I talk about food.  Gluten Free food.

On to the pond.

I am totally transfixed by this pond.  Ever since I got the UV filter, it has been a renewed joy to just stare into the pond and watch the fish.  Especially watching the babies...yes, we once again have baby fish.  This time two, perhaps three. 

From my kitchen window, I can see and hear the pond.  I noticed Mr. Frog was spurting water, not spitting. 

I assumed it was a filter issue and it was getting clogged up.  When I approached, I became uneasy.  What the _____?

It was so disturbing, I went in and got the camera and a paper towel.  Slug, in the mouth?  How did it get in there?  Did it get sucked into the filter when I was cleaning the sponge part?  Then through the tubes and it's now stuck?  Gross.

I got my towel ready, I was all shaky from disgust.

Do you remember when this frog jumped out at me?  He's up to no good.  Ever. 

Especially today, this was not a slug.  Just dead stems from my water plants.  I scare easily.

The frog is definitely on to me.

160/366: Pond Talk

Tonight we celebrated my Dad's birthday with ice cream treats and 'pond-talk'. I love pond talk with my Dad.

I'm involved in an algae battle and he is involved in a pond addition and relocation project. It makes for great conversation. Tom and my mother aren't all that jazzed with pond talk,but it was his birthday and he could talk about anything. We also planned our next flea market trip!

So as we sat outside and looked at the one empty pond and listened to the water fall into the "lower" pond, this guy stopped croaking and begged for a picture.

All we had out there was Tom's iPod, so it's quite grainy.

The fun part of the moving of the pond... He found the missing Easter egg left by the Bunny!

24/366: The Box

I have a little pond in my backyard, fairly close to the house.

We put it in to eliminate all the greenery that we had near the house that housed a plethora of little mice.  Mean mice.  Mice that found a way into my home, under the heater.  With those creepy nails scratching at my carpet.  Luckily, they never made it into the living space, but we heard them and saw their little freaky feet.

Back to the Pond.  During the winter, I change out the fountain and filter with an aerator.  Simple pump with a tube that has a spongy looking hard block at the end that creates bubbles.  The pump is stored in this tool box that was modified with a couple holes and an exhaust tube that resembles a periscope.

Last year it worked great and I only lost one fish (I didn't expect that one to make it anyway, he was an indoor fish).

This year, the pump has been running hard.  Making a loud humming noise as if it were knocked around or suffocated.  (Do you get were I am going?).

My mind began to imagine that cute little family of mice, taking up residency in my pond pump box.  The warmth of the pump, the shelter, I didn't think it was a stretch.

I had asked Tom to open the box for me as I am frightened of what I may find.  I worked myself up so much that my heart was racing when I finally got up the nerve to go out and check yesterday.  I had a clear path for running as I slowly listened and flicked open the latch.  Deep breath. 

With my nervous hands, I flung open the box and knocked it a bit and jumped when I saw the frozen frog!

A frog fell right out at my feet.

The resin frog.  The decorative frog that is my fountain in the summer.  Nicely stored in the box.  I had forgotten I stored it in there.

I'm such a dork.  I was scared of something I did myself.

And the mice?

None.  The box had some water on the bottom and I believe the noise was due to an un-level footing for the motor.

Frog.

Guess What I'm Working On...The Day Shot

For those that were curious as to the outcome...

Here he is!

UPDATE: Frog and Fly is available here in the shop!