My goldfish pond

[CountryEscape]

I know I'm 4 hours south of you, Keith, and warmer, but my pond has not had any ice on it for quite a while, maybe 3 weeks now. I've had the bogs running and keeping water moving as much as possible, and shut off the air and water bubblers at least 2 weeks ago, no heaters since then either. I'm glad I have no ice, so wonderful to see the fish.
Are you going to the Garden Show this week/weekend? My friend is going tomorrow, sure wish I was going with her, but decided better save my money this year for my vacation this summer. But, sure was tempted to come up on Sunday, put my name in on koi fish raffles, and see if I could bring home one of those beauties! But, I really don't need any more koi, have too many when they grow up as it is, but they sure were pretty last year!
I don't have any flowers yet, just spring bulbs are up, but they have been up for quite a while. No tulips up yet, thinking either they are later, or they didn't make it. I usually don't have much luck with tulips. Even forgot where I planted them, but know I had quite a few last fall I stuck in the ground. Other plants are coming back, like the sedum, and I noticed my rose bushes have buds on them for new leaves, too! Won't be long now.

 

[CometKeith]

Herz, I haven't touched mine in three weeks and it had been solid ice. I always wondered if the ice stays at a steady temperature like 32 degrees or it can get colder like dry ice? So do you think the snow keeps the ice warmer? I shoveled mine because it was raining for several days and figured there probably was an opening in it. JW. Yes parting of the ice! but I remember last March we had at least 10 days 80 degrees or warmer so things can be better... This year it's been like one or two days above 40 degrees brrrrr, but it was fun seeing a few fish. CE. Wow it's really been warmer by you. I think today was a high of 27 degrees and its been snowing a little. I don't think we will go to the show. It's fun but our daughter is coming home from college this weekend and we will end up smothering her because we haven't seen her in two months other than skype. Also she is planning to go to Ntisaw Cameroon soon so we want to spend as much time with her as possible before she leaves. EWB-UIUC Ntisaw Water and Sanitation Project .

 

[CountryEscape]

Wow, you are colder than by me. Got down to low 20's last night, but coming back up to 40's today. I don't mind 20's at night, as long as daytime temps are well above 35. And, spring IS just around the corner, whether we will get the real springlike weather with it or not! Here, March came in cold and wet and windy, so I'm counting on that old saying, "comes in like a lion, does out like a lamb" and assume that the end of the month will be wonderful weather! A girl can always hope, you know!
Good luck to your daughter, and have a great visit this weekend. I don't blame you for wanting to be around her as much as possible.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Today the temperature is going to get to almost 60 degrees today, then it will get cold and a bit more darn snow! Darn snow, go snow go!

 

[j.w]

Very nice Keith that your daughter is involved w/ the water project there in Africa! Enjoy your visit w/ her before she leaves and hope she takes lots of pictures and maybe you can share some w/ us when she comes home. How long will she be there? Oh boy talk about HOT.............that's Africa hot back there!

 

[CountryEscape]

Colleen, the temps have been really swinging here, too. Was 60 last Sunday, going to be close to 60 on Friday, but the days in between have only been up to the 30's and 40's! Tomorrow they are saying 54. Woohoo!!!! I'm having my girlfriend over Fri. after work, we are going to cook out a couple of rib eyes and potatoes on the grill, and sit on the deck with a glass of wine and chit chat and enjoy the fish! Her son is leaving early tomorrow morning to go on his senior class trip to New York, and I promised him I would be sure to spend some extra time with her this weekend. Other friends are having her over for supper on either Sat. or Sun., so she will keep busy.

 

[CometKeith]

CE Thanks, she has nothing planned next week for spring break so we will be busy doing things with her. We have tickets for Book of Mormon for our anniversary while she is here and I am hoping to get tickets for a Black Hawks game. The temps have been nothing like that here. Just really cold. I think it's been 10-15 degrees below normal for all of March so far. Last year it was 70 degrees on this date and hit the 80's by mid March. Have fun with your friend. You can't really drink enough red wine these days. It has so many health benefits! JW, Her group is staying here the night before they leave Chicago to start their trip including a professor going with the group. Naturally I am going to show them my pond. From what I understand one of the tests they will do in Africa is determining the amount of dissolved O2 in the water. I am going to learn whatever I can from them about water while they are here and hopefully they can give me some tips about my pond. They are going for three weeks. It is a great experience for the students. They have been planning all year for the trip and have been working on solutions for a project that was started a few years back. Re going to Africa it was difficult for us to wholeheartedly agree to the trip for her. We heard about a French family being kidnapped in the Cameroon recently by terrorists from Nigeria and other incidents in Cameroon on the border with Chad. We had to do a lot of research and gather a lot of facts before we were on board with her going on the trip. Colleen, it's been snowing here lately off on on too. I know March is a winter month here but I don't really want to accept it!

 

[j.w]

Prayers that the kids have a safe trip and neat that you get to learn about the water process from them too. You will have to share w/ us what you learn.

 

[callingcolleen1]

CE, rib eyes are my favorite cut of steak! Just love rib eyes on the BBQ, now you made me hungry!
Yesterday was so very warm, and as me and the hubby loaded the puppies in the truck for their daily trip to the park, we saw a big rodent on the front step! At first I thought it was a rat! Then I looked again and saw that it was a big gopher right where we had been just a few seconds ago!
Now the weather is suddenly cold again, supposed to get freezing rain tonight.

 

[CountryEscape]

Same with weather here. Colleen. We are going to get that 60 something weather tomorrow, mostly sunny, then down to only high of 45 on Sunday. Stop changing for goodness sake. Leave it at 40 and when you decide we deserve 50's Mother Nature, up the degrees a little at a time. This 60 then 30 then 50 then 30 is driving me nuts. LOL Poor plants, they don't know what in the world to do either!
A gopher, huh? My dog was playing with something last night, right next to the cat that came up from the basement. Looked to see what Denali was so excited about, it was a mouse for goodness sake! I ran under my recliner. Lifted the recliner forward, there it was, but do you think dog or cat got it? Nope, they thought I was going to get it. LOL I tried to hit it with my boot, but it ran ... somewhere, didn't even see where it went! So, it's probably sitting under my chair as I type, but I don't care. I'm not crazy scared about mice. Just don't want it in my house, so will set a trap or more poison. I have poison out, but not where any of the animals can get to it. Will have to watch to see if any of it gets eaten now.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Get the old fashion snap traps, bait with cheese, works good every time for me. Just watch out you don't snap your fingers too! Hide traps behind stove or something. Darn mice, there never is just one.....

 

[CometKeith]

JW, Thanks, Colleen the best steak on the grill is hanger steak cooked slow over indirect heat. It can take up to 90 minutes to cook at temps not more than 250 degrees. It needs to be marinated first and turned every 30 minutes. You know it's done when it is about 160 degrees on the inside. Then you cut it into strips like beef tenderloin. It has to be red in the center when it is done otherwise it is overcooked. The advantage of cooking this is it gives you plenty of time to hang out by your pond while you are cooking and enjoying your favorite beverage!

 

[callingcolleen1]

Never heard of that steak steak but it sure looks yummy with the blackened edges!

 

[j.w]

Yum nice and rare! I've never heard of it either.

 

[CountryEscape]

Nope, me neither, and I'm in Illinois, too!!! Hmm ... I think it's Keith's own description, as he likes to "hang" as the steak is being cooked.