Tell Dave to take it easy which I know from experience is easier said than done but it does pay off in healing. Walking is wonderful for him.
That's great that you have videos of your ponds from over the years. You will enjoy them I'm sure.
Years ago I had a huge video camera that was very heavy and used it until it quit. Would love to have one of the new little ones they make now. I call taking pictures making memories.
Put those movies on get a good cup of something warm and relax.
It isn't warm here any more and we are supposed to get cooler temps next week. Just in case I'll get the landscape blankets out. Weather has been really weird so far this winter.
Just had my 8 o'clock cup of hot choc.
Ponds 2014
The weather has been beyond weird - this has been one cold winter and it started early. I suppose in an interest of fairness we could have an early spring? I know - don't count on it.
I cannot get Dave to walk. He did it once and fell so because he is so easily embarrassed, he will never do that again. To me, that is letting that moment of embarrassment and/or neighbors that may have seen him fall dictate his health. I did tell him that. As somebody I work with said - 'you can force the horses' head into the water, but you still will not make him drink'.
I have 14" of snow that I am going to need to deal with in my driveway. Not looking forward to it, but I would like to be able to drive my little Honda instead of Dave's SUV. The gas is better for my Honda too.
Stay warm everyone.
Going down to 29 tonight! Florida isn't prepared for this kind of weather (nor are my bones!)
I'm going to snap off some branches of my coleus to try and save the most important colors. I'll top off my ponds since I don't have water heaters, and make sure the water is blowing full force. Ponds here are very shallow. Keeping my fingers crossed!
MM - if it doesn't last long, you should be ok with the pond. My understanding is that it takes more than a day or two for the gases to build up. I would still try to keep an opening in the ice though.
Let us know.
It will be 2-3 days....then go back to the 50s on Wednesday. I'm not sure how quickly they can adjust to the temp shock, since it wasn't a gradual seasonal drop in temps, but a quick crash. Only time will tell, I think this one is beyond what I can prep for. bleh....
Oh I can't wait till Spring to start the new pond project. LOL I keep looking out at the snow covered yard and thinking how much I want the ground to thaw and dry out so I can start digging. I have one of the big leaf castings sitting on the front porch waiting to come in start painting it.
My old pond heater died a few years ago and I replaced it with a more energy efficient model which I find tends to not work near as well. The opening that it creates will freeze shut in very cold, rainy or snowy weather.
I hope Dave will continue to improve and get his Blood leveled out. My Dad has been on coumadin for more than 20 years now. I know this is a difficult time for both of you. Ric had back surgery the second week of Nov and I have been doing pretty much all the work right now. He is getting better and stronger each week and hopefully by Spring he will be back to his normal self.
Holly
Thank you. We will get there at some point. I am hoping the good weather comes soon too. I feel like it has been so long since I have been able to sit outside and enjoy the pond and the birds and flowers, and everything else.
I did not realize that Ric had back surgery. I hope he has a speedy recovery.
Carolyn. As I told Charlie don't complain. He has covered all outside faucets and water lines.
14" of snow would put him into orbit. I have wrapped a few plants but my Australian tree fern which is my pride and joy is way above house so I could only do bottom. If plants die I'll plant again no sweat. A lot worse could happen.
M Mary, We are supposed to be going down by morning to 26 over here. A 65 degree drop in just a few hours is radical. Jeff took Barney big pleco out of small pond and is coming back with a heater for him.
Well it finally happened====heron emptied out 1/2 of small pond and was standing on end of walkway this morning at 7:30 eyeballing big ones in larger pond. He didn't even fly up with me standing on other end. He circled house and went across road into top of pine tree. He didn't get my big ones but sure had a good meal on 7 and 8" ones plus 2 very small orandas that Jeff had just brought over. That bird will never return again guaranteed.
I put a black plastic hiding tunnel in pond and all the stones fell out and it tipped so I went wadding about noon time and also put rocks back up into wall of one section. I have another one but wouldn't do any good in larger pond as fish are too big to get into it without a part sticking out. Jeff came by on his way home from work and just as I said could have been worse and he agreed. I still have Blondie & Goldie, Orca and his large showa. Also the Asagi and 2 sushui which I dearly love. Bird didn't spear any of the larger ones. In all things give thanks.
That pond is straight sides and I think that helps as a deterrent. If I had lost them all I would just start right over again.
All pumps and water falls are running so can't picture a freeze over but who knows. My pool is below the skimmer so can't run that pump. If that freezes we can ice skate on it. Not really. It could crack the cement but that's a chance we just have to take.
I know I was asking for cooler weather but this is over the top. We'll make it through.
More important Carolyn and Holly is your husbs. health. I sincerely hope they recover well and in spring will be healthy and happy.
Thank you Bonnie
Hate to hear you have a heron. They will generally come back until they have you all cleaned out. Funny thing about herons, I have read they are supposed to migrate, but it seems like there is no time where we are safe from them.
Good luck with Mr. Heron, Bonnie. I know how upsetting they can be.
Bonnie, I'm glad he didn't spork your larger ones. Years ago, I had a heron that would just spear my jumbo fishes heads, couldn't eat them, but would kill them anyway. I talked to some of the professionals and they said they've seen herons do it many times, just for the sport of it. It was so sad to see them slowly die over the course of a week or 2 because of their wounds. I'm so happy your special fish are still with you! Blondie and goldie I remember well, and I was afraid you'd report that you lost Orca...happy he/she is still around too!
Please add my daughter to your prayer list, she is due at the end of Feb but not doing well. I brought her home from the hospital today, total bed rest until Thursday, then she gets re-evaluated. Blood pressure 160 over 110. We just want this sweet little girl she's helping God bring into this world to wait until February.
Everyone take care and stay warm! :)
Carolyn, I assure you this heron WON'T be back.
M Mary will put your daughter on my prayer list. One of my grand dgts. had that problem and only an hour after delivery her BP went right down to normal. Hopefully your dgts. will go down before then. I'll pray.
Keep warm and hope fish do ok too.
MM - does she have toxemia? I had difficult pregnancies with my feet elevated and complete rest for 6 weeks. About drove me crazy, but both of my children were born healthy and fine. I got the impression that my mother was more upset than I was, but my mother was an RN in the labor and delivery room, so she was more knowledgeable than I was. I will definitely put all of you in my prayers. Please let us know.
Bonnie - good luck with that heron.
MM, Thoughts and prayers comming your way.
Yours too Carolyn.
Taira (my daughter) has preecplampsia. They worry about the mother having a stroke at some point, or the baby going into distress. They may have to take the baby early, but she's not ready enough at only 32 weeks. Thank you everyone for the prayers, I really do appreciate them.
So far the fish are good....only one night left of freezing temps. Hopefully that will be it for the year, although February usually has the colder temps.
Bonnie, maybe your heron knew he needed to fatten up before the cold hit! Darn buggers!!
I checked my pond as the pipe running water in combined with nice warm weather +30 or above has opened up a good size hole in the ice (3-4' across). I saw a fish (black, red, white) about 6-7" long laying along side my water lily pot sunk in the deep end. Assuming he is one of the fish from last fall (like duh, what else would he be) he has grown a lot. Was nice to see him out in the open where I think the water is fresher and has more oxygen than down in the caves. I am sure we have more cold weather and snow coming but still encouraging.
Merry, isn't 32 weeks 8 months? Early for sure but still very viable if distress develops and they have to do a C-section. Also less stressful for Mom and baby than a natural birth holding out for a natural birth. Will be holding good thoughts for Taira and your granddaughter -- you too.
M Mary will certainly remember Taira in prayer plus baby and grandma.
Prayer changes many situations. If baby comes early it could be perfectly healthy. Look to the GREAT PHYSICIAN.
Carolyn and Holly continued prayers for their full recovery, and M Mary I hear ya on your Taira, praying for a return to normal BP for her and full term for the wee one. My DIL is due later this month with our second grand baby this one is a boy. Please keep us posted.
Just getting back to DG after a bout of a massive sinus infection and flair up of the Asthma... but didn't delayed forked out the month and went to the Dr asap. So now today has been the first good sign that the antibiotics are working on the sinus infection and caught the asthma before it could get a strong hold on me. In October had a 6 week bout with the asthma.... The coughing is the worst I didn't want a repeat of having another hernia... and without an income and no health insurance it wouldn't be getting repaired....
I'm just glad the cold spell didn't last more than the 3 days and that we are back to sunshine an warmer weather.
Looking forward to the rain that is just off shore now.
Jan
Ric is doing very well. Dr. appt earlier this week got a thumbs up for him to go back to all activities. He will need to build back up to full strength but there are no more restrictions and they are very pleased with his outcome and recovery.
Great news, so glad Ric is doing better. Thanks for the update.
Jan
This has been quite a winter for you all down south. I feel badly for each and every one. Hopefully spring which is surely on it's way to you if not to us yet will lift the spirits and infuse the body with health and strength.
I misspoke earlier. What I thought was a large fish was only the orange bottom of a lily pot that had turned over. Ahhhh, wishful thinking. :)
Oberon, I'm in very good shape for 76 and VERY thankful. Of course little aches and pains but nothing drastic. Just move a little slower but I can still work outside which is great for me.
Holly, glad Ric is doing well. He'll be back to his working self in no time.
Carolyn, Hope your hubby is improving each day.
Right now we are getting a gully washing rain which is wonderful.
Son spotted a skinned place on one of the big fish today I hadn't noticed. Not bad but tomorrow I will salt the pond. If that doesn't work to heal this time he will take it to his house for doctoring. I've had enough of that for a while. Heron must have tried to get him. Like I said he won't be back.
Stay warm up north.
Ones left in old pond are lively and eating well. Water temp went up to above 60 so I let them eat. They have very good appetites.
This year the ice on my pond is the thickest it has ever been in 13 years of ponding. Sometime ago, when it did a bit of a melt down, I found 2 large holes in my ice. I saw paw prints too. I don't know if a cat fell in or if a cat fell in and was able to get out. I would love for the ice to melt enough for me to see into the pond. Even with our weather in the 50's for several days, there was still a thick layer of white ice on the pond - I hate to think of some poor kitty drowning in my pond as well as the possibility of contaminating my fish.....
There are always paw prints on my pond around the air holes. Some are even my dog's - dufus. Never found a corpse yet. I think the animals are too sensitive to the condition of the ice; like the cracking or flexing of it. Not sure about the holes though. Hmmmm.
Just looking forward to (and please take that in the most sarcastic tone) the next Florida freeze! I'm not sure what ever happened to "global warming" but I guess they left Florida off the itinerary. So, once again, I'll cover as much as I have time for, and hope for the best with my fingers crossed. Sigh, sigh, and one more sigh....I'm not sure what's up this year, but sheeeesh! :) Roll with the punches, eh?
MerryMary I am with ya. I just want to get well enough so I can get on with planting my veggie seeds and some flower seeds.
Jan
Just think about Oberon and Carolyn with ice on ponds and it will make you thankful we are here and just contending with cold temps. Charlie always says if he ever sees ice on the ponds there gone. I agree. That's too much work for me. I told him we would have to build a bldg. of some sort and put the pond inside to which he said sure Miss Gotrock's. Good for a laugh anyway.
I also covered what I could and once again loaded up potted stuff and put inside Charlie's shed. I really need a heated greenhouse if only for a couple of mos. NOW that should be possible. I can dream anyway.
Jan don't push the seed planting unless you can keep them warm. I did that one year with 100 and some little plastic cups (like to see seeds grow inside) and put them out by pool and lost all of them to a cold snap. Before you know it we will be sweating again and complaining about heat. Heat makes me tired and I don't last as long working in it.
I sure hope fish don't croak from the cold. They have made it thru before. So I shall hope.
Keep warm all both north and south.
I suspect the fish are much hardier than we are. They have to be to survive being dormant for months (5), not eating, then coming back bigger than ever. Plants? Now that is another thing. And it is much easier for us that simply watch all the plants die and get covered with snow. Like, what's to worry about? Wait til spring, watch seedlings come out of the ground, and start again. But to struggle to keep stuff alive that hasn't died from cold over and over? Man, that is stressful and a lot of work. You have my sympathy. I would rather they just croak and let me be moody for the winter until spring when out they come.
I have had the paw prints every winter, however this winter there was a hole in the ice that was the size of a large cat or a small dog. The thing that was odd was their was another hole the same size on the opposite shore with paw prints as well. I think whatever (cat?) may have gotten out, but not positive. I am hoping there isn't anything dead in the pond. If there is and it decomposes before I can get to it, that will kill my fish. At least with the cooler weather, I would think the process of decomposition would be slowed down some.
We are supposed to get cold again too - bone chilling cold. It has definitely gotten old, not that I am a fan of winter. I am beginning to think that nowhere is safe from the cold anymore - perhaps Ecuador - they are on the equator.
I sure hope you don't have a frozen cat in your pond. YUK
We just have cold snaps but when freezes come back to back for a few years that's bad. That's how we lost our grove.
Thank God we didn't depend on it for a living like lots of my friends did. We only had 10 acres in fruit and that's not enough to live on. They lost thousands of dollars. The banks owned lots of large groves and sold them mostly for housing developments just to recoup their loss on grove loans. Most people who owned their groves still sold them out. It's very expensive to replant and have to wait at least 5 years for a good crop worth marketing. I still miss ours and the privacy it created.
Hope you stay warm and fish stay safe.
So the cold killed the trees? Not just temporarily killed leaves and froze the fruit??
Carolyn I so hope you don't have something dead in there as well. The though of having to take that out, not a fun part of a pond, plus that it would kill your fish. I'm thinking I'm glad I didn't have a pond up north in the garden. Starting to sound like too many worries for me, although to have a pond with just plants might just be more my style.
Mary, yes our oranges take a beating when these cold spells come down this far. But now with the diseases that are so rampart it worries me about them. I was reading the other day in a local ag mag one farmer on the east has started growing peaches as his oranges go to the wayside.
Yes, diseases of plants are scary. So many new ones seem to pop up. And very resistant to treatment.
Oberon,
If citrus trees loose their leaves there's a good chance they are living through the cold. If the leaves hang on and the cold gets to the wood they are gone. We chain sawed all of ours down and then pulled the roots out with a front end loader and burned the piles. Was a sad sight and I still see it going on now. What we have now they are calling green desease or cankor. I haven't seen a good healthy grove for a long time. Central Fl. used to be one of the largest citrus producing areas in Fl. Those days are gone.
I know a former extension agent in Brooksville I think that grows peaches and nectarines. I have a nectarine tree and it hasn't grown a bit ever since I planted it. I love nectarines but doubt I will ever get any from it. Most of the ag. land is now in houses. Ug!
Bonnie, I know what you are saying a few months back when we drove over to Kiss.... to take a look around, I just couldn't believe how many groves were gone and in their place houses..... Such a sad sight. I just wonder how many years down the road will the welcome centers stop serving orange juice.
Probably won't have orange juice unless its from Cal.
I sure miss all the orange trees.
I miss the fragrance. There's nothing like it's sweetness, when you catch it's scent on the breeze. Now it's only a memory like the shell dolls and orange grove honey of my youth and visits to my grandparents.
We are holdin g in the mid 30's. If only it would hold til March. Big open spot on pond. I doubt our newest idea would have worked quite as well with our more usual cold weather. It had formed a tall ice tower at the beginning of the winter so Damien lowered the hose to drop only about 6" into the pond rather than 2'. Less drop less splash less ice surrounds.
Surely they (fish) cannot complain about lack of oxygen now. Water is disturbed maybe 5-6" down.
One of my tank fish developed problems with swim bladder. I moved him to another tank and tried to feed him peas per my book on fish but no soap. He eventually just lay on the bottom and was tilting over. I sent him to fish heaven with regrets. Still have 9 nice healthy ones growing and getting ready for pond.
Mary
you are warmer than we are. We are supposed to get into the bitter cold again next week. Enough already!
I am sorry to hear about your fish. I wish I had room for an aquarium. I had one when I was a kid. I loved it.
My favorite smell of all time, is driving through an orange grove when the trees are full of blossoms! I could just fall asleep under one!
I found a gold fish in the skimmer in the pond. An orange and white one about 6" long, just lazing around. Pond is almost half ice free and the water is crystal clear. I keep hoping to see fish at that end (opposite the skimmer) but no luck. They could be under the remaining ice not wanting to be out in the open. It was so good to see even one little gold fish. Gives me hope for the others. Somehow those who make it through winter are always bigger than in the fall.