Return to the Pond ...

[Zookeeper]

Well, after months of computer problems, ISP problems, family and pet
illnesses and deaths, ... I'm back!! Talk about withdrawal symptoms --
really miss this group when I can't get to it as often as I like.

And now for the pond ... it's still there, LOL! I didn't get all the
fall leaves out before the freeze and snow, but the fishies seem to be
surviving just fine for now. Will just have to do a little extra spring
cleaning in a FEW weeks.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! The best gift delivered by Santa
this year was a digital camera to our 16yo son, so will be snapping some
pics of the pond, garden, pets and kids soon. Errrr, I mean, he will be
taking the pictures as I'm a typical mom, and know nothing about newer
technology, LOL!
--
Kathy, aka Zk
3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
Oregon, USDA Zone 7

[Phyllis and Jim Hurley]

Welcome back. A few weeks is amazing. Seems like winter just got going.

Jim


"Zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> Well, after months of computer problems, ISP problems, family and pet
> illnesses and deaths, ... I'm back!! Talk about withdrawal symptoms --
> really miss this group when I can't get to it as often as I like.
>
> And now for the pond ... it's still there, LOL! I didn't get all the
> fall leaves out before the freeze and snow, but the fishies seem to be
> surviving just fine for now. Will just have to do a little extra spring
> cleaning in a FEW weeks.
>
> Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! The best gift delivered by Santa
> this year was a digital camera to our 16yo son, so will be snapping some
> pics of the pond, garden, pets and kids soon. Errrr, I mean, he will be
> taking the pictures as I'm a typical mom, and know nothing about newer
> technology, LOL!
> --
> Kathy, aka Zk
> 3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
> Oregon, USDA Zone 7
>

[BenignVanilla]

"Zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> Well, after months of computer problems, ISP problems, family and pet
> illnesses and deaths, ... I'm back!! Talk about withdrawal symptoms --
> really miss this group when I can't get to it as often as I like.
<snip>

Zk...welcome back. The holidays are over so we can all focus on getting our
ponds ready for spring right? LOL.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

>The holidays are over so we can all focus on getting our
>ponds ready for spring right? LOL.

Spoken like a true Neophyte. ;o) Actually after this winter, a real winter,
in the PNW, I'll even look forward to the start of the ponding season.
~ jan

[Zookeeper]

Sorry, lol!! The "FEW" was meant to be tongue in cheek. I'm sure it will
be April-May before the water gets back to 45-50*. Your winter did start
a little later than ours, but I suspect that our spring arrives later
than your spring gets going.
--
Kathy aka Zk

Phyllis and Jim Hurley wrote:
> Welcome back. A few weeks is amazing. Seems like winter just got going.
>
> "Zookeeper" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>... Will just have to do a little extra spring
>>cleaning in a FEW weeks ...

[Zookeeper]

BenignVanilla wrote:
> Zk...welcome back. The holidays are over so we can all focus on getting our
> ponds ready for spring right? LOL.
>
> BV.
> www.iheartmypond.com

Thanks BV. With two inches of powder snow on the ground (on top of 1-3
inches of icy snow left over from New Year's Day), and 2/3 of pond
covered in a thin layer of ice and snow, this is a good time to focus on
getting our ponds ready for spring. Actually, I think the "getting
ready" and planning starts as soon as we stop feeding the fish and get
the pond ready for winter. LOL. Gotta have something to do while my toes
are freezing.
--
Zk

[Anne Lurie]

Kathy, as a digital-camera owning grandma, I suggest you set the camera to A
or Auto & snap a few pix here & there. I've had my Canon Powershot for
nearly 2 years, and I'm planning to read the instruction book any day
ow -- not!

Glad to see you back :)

Anne Lurie
Raleigh, NC

"Zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> Well, after months of computer problems, ISP problems, family and pet
> illnesses and deaths, ... I'm back!! Talk about withdrawal symptoms --
> really miss this group when I can't get to it as often as I like.
>
> And now for the pond ... it's still there, LOL! I didn't get all the
> fall leaves out before the freeze and snow, but the fishies seem to be
> surviving just fine for now. Will just have to do a little extra spring
> cleaning in a FEW weeks.
>
> Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! The best gift delivered by Santa
> this year was a digital camera to our 16yo son, so will be snapping some
> pics of the pond, garden, pets and kids soon. Errrr, I mean, he will be
> taking the pictures as I'm a typical mom, and know nothing about newer
> technology, LOL!
> --
> Kathy, aka Zk
> 3500gal pond, 13 pond piggies
> Oregon, USDA Zone 7
>

[BenignVanilla]

"Zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> BenignVanilla wrote:
> > Zk...welcome back. The holidays are over so we can all focus on getting
our
> > ponds ready for spring right? LOL.
> >
> > BV.
> > www.iheartmypond.com
>
> Thanks BV. With two inches of powder snow on the ground (on top of 1-3
> inches of icy snow left over from New Year's Day), and 2/3 of pond
> covered in a thin layer of ice and snow, this is a good time to focus on
> getting our ponds ready for spring. Actually, I think the "getting
> ready" and planning starts as soon as we stop feeding the fish and get
> the pond ready for winter. LOL. Gotta have something to do while my toes
> are freezing.

I have plenty to do. I never did install my diffuser last year, so I need to
do that this spring. I have a ton of leaves in there, so I'll have that to
contend with. My biggest problem is the leak in the stream. It forces me to
do water changes, but I don't like being forced to do anything.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[Zookeeper]

Thanks Anne. We had ulterior motives in getting Santa to provide the
camera for son #1 -- I've wanted one for years, but even with the prices
coming down, it still seemed too extravagant. But Staples had a great
deal on an HP so son #1 has been snapping shots, and running down tons
of batteries since Christmas day. And all the snow we've had has
inspired lots of shots, and lots of videos of sledding and boarding
friends. (Son didn't read instruction book either)

Here's the first pic of all three canine critters:
http://tinyurl.com/2pcub

If I can convince son to leave camera home from school, I hope to get
some pond pics soon.
--
Kathy aka Zk

Anne Lurie wrote:
> Kathy, as a digital-camera owning grandma, I suggest you set the camera to A
> or Auto & snap a few pix here & there. I've had my Canon Powershot for
> nearly 2 years, and I'm planning to read the instruction book any day
> ow -- not!
>
> Glad to see you back :)

[Zookeeper]

And so it continues, the pond work is never done, especially when we
have to remodel, or enlarge, or add streams, or ... Sorry you're still
dealing with the leak. Have you tried the milk trick yet? or does that
only work in still water? Well, someone will pipe up with an answer or
two I'm sure.
--
Zk

BenignVanilla wrote:

> I have plenty to do. I never did install my diffuser last year, so I need to
> do that this spring. I have a ton of leaves in there, so I'll have that to
> contend with. My biggest problem is the leak in the stream. It forces me to
> do water changes, but I don't like being forced to do anything.
>
> BV.
> www.iheartmypond.com

[BenignVanilla]

"Zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks Anne. We had ulterior motives in getting Santa to provide the
> camera for son #1 -- I've wanted one for years, but even with the prices
> coming down, it still seemed too extravagant. But Staples had a great
> deal on an HP so son #1 has been snapping shots, and running down tons
> of batteries since Christmas day. And all the snow we've had has
> inspired lots of shots, and lots of videos of sledding and boarding
> friends. (Son didn't read instruction book either)
>
> Here's the first pic of all three canine critters:
> http://tinyurl.com/2pcub

Zk, get your son some rechargeables. Monster makes a charger and set of
1800ma batteries that will last a lot longer then any alkalines you can put
in a cam.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

> If I can convince son to leave camera home from school, I hope to get
> some pond pics soon.
> --
> Kathy aka Zk
>
> Anne Lurie wrote:
> > Kathy, as a digital-camera owning grandma, I suggest you set the camera
to A
> > or Auto & snap a few pix here & there. I've had my Canon Powershot for
> > nearly 2 years, and I'm planning to read the instruction book any day
> > ow -- not!
> >
> > Glad to see you back :)
>

[BenignVanilla]

"Zookeeper" > wrote in message
...
> And so it continues, the pond work is never done, especially when we
> have to remodel, or enlarge, or add streams, or ... Sorry you're still
> dealing with the leak. Have you tried the milk trick yet? or does that
> only work in still water? Well, someone will pipe up with an answer or
> two I'm sure.
<snip>

My problems grew on me...

....VF was too low so it didn't fill
....lowered plumbing, got water in VF, VF liner shows a lot
....built wall across VF, pump water up...now most of liner is hidden
....VF over flows
....wife says, 'just make a stream'
....make stream
....stream leaks about 3 inches of water a week
....patch where i think it leaks
....leak slows, but doesn't stop
....winter comes, pumps off, leak stops
....damn stream (in the biblical sense, not in the beaver sense)

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[Zookeeper]

As soon as the next pay check arrives ... we had asked Santa for the
charger/rechargeables, but ... Son's biggest waste of the battery power
is in reviewing pics, watching videos, and adding sounds / commentary. I
imagine it will ease off some now that school is back in session.
--
Zk

BenignVanilla wrote:

> Zk, get your son some rechargeables. Monster makes a charger and set of
> 1800ma batteries that will last a lot longer then any alkalines you can put
> in a cam.

[Zookeeper]

BenignVanilla wrote:

> My problems grew on me...

Don't they always ;-)

> ....VF was too low so it didn't fill
> ....lowered plumbing, got water in VF, VF liner shows a lot
> ....built wall across VF, pump water up...now most of liner is hidden
> ....VF over flows
> ....wife says, 'just make a stream'
> ....make stream
> ....stream leaks about 3 inches of water a week
> ....patch where i think it leaks
> ....leak slows, but doesn't stop
> ....winter comes, pumps off, leak stops
> ....damn stream (in the biblical sense, not in the beaver sense)

Yep, it's called the "fix one problem, create ten" syndrome, and it
especially applies to ponding.
--
Zk