The Rain

Forgive me readers, it's been much too long since my last post.

Our house phone rang at 3:24 am.  The confusion turns to panic, then turns to aggravation when it's an unknown number and dead air.

I had really wanted to sleep in, but was restless since then.

The rain is falling.  We have a part of our gutter that is bent and the water falls to the patio and creates a loud clapping sound.  Yes, I am truly awake, now.

Boys are all asleep and I think how great life has become.  It was hard a mere three years ago.  The load has lightened, our moods are brighter.   Our difficulties are different, but not worse.

Highlight the quiet, serene moments of life.

Even if they only last long enough to write one paragraph.

Pitter patter of little boy feet headed my way.

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.

175/366: Moss

We have lots of nooks and crannys in our back yard.  Between the rocks by the pond and in between the cracks of the slate patio.

This Scottish Moss is near the pond and it's delicately delightful.

My Irish Moss doesn't really like the heat near the front of the pond.  I have two other spots where I have the moss and it's doing well. 

But this Scottish Moss...perfect. 

Perfect little flowers.

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!

144/366: {this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

111/366: Evening Pond

I worked on the pond yesterday after dinner.  Added some of the plants I purchased at the Perennial Sale at Mischler's Florist and Greenhouses.

We have yet to bring out our table and chairs from the garage, so I sat on the patio, leaning against the house listening to the birds and the frog spouting water.  Looking beyond my new rock (more on this another day), watching the very active fish chase each other in the pond gave me a moment to just sit.  No kids, no bugs, just warm weather.  Yes, a cocktail would have been fantastic, but I fell more connected to the pond and the plants at their level.

I just re-read this paragraph...I am a nut.

After I healed a skinned knee, I tried to get some night shots of the pond when the solar lights came on.  I unfortunately had the micro lens on, so the shots didn't quite work, but I did take this video.  I love the sounds and glimmering water.

73/366: Micro March

Ice melting on the pond that never really froze over this winter.  I saw the fish swimming around every month since I closed up the pond in October.

This net has kept many of the leaves from falling into the pond.  I'm hoping for a clean spring!

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.

Rocky Rocky Rocky!

I wanted to show you what's been on my mind lately (aside from the predictions I received last week Friday).

Rocks.

You could even say I've been obsessed with them.

Their shape, texture, color.

We (I) are finally getting to the finish line of the pond.

Who am I kidding...it will never be finished. I'll change it every year, I'm sure.

We (I) are finally getting the dirt covered for the pond.

I need some more plants to fill in some cracks, openings. I also need some more rocks.

I have become obsessed with rocks. I even looked at the rocks at the pet store today. The ones for the fish tanks. Yeah, at $1.99 per POUND at the pet store, I even considered one.

When I brought home my last batch from the garden center, I also got a green rock, well two. At 40 cents per pound above what all the other rocks cost, it was a splurge.

I used to splurge on jewelry, or expensive shoes, or name brand cereal.

Now, I splurge on rocks.

Obsessed, I tell you, obsessed.