Pond in the foothills

[cas]

I hope you are able to start the pond next year.

 

[RobAmy]

There are flurries in the forecast

Oh no. Do not even say that. Not good at all. Once you get it, then it come this way

 

[cas]

Haven't heard from you. Are you too busy working on your pond?

 

[MitchM]

Our local pond store is just now starting to get plants in this month, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for asking. I would really like to move the fish back outside. They do much better in a pond.

 

[Lisak1]

I was just wondering about you too @MitchM ! Glad to hear from you! I think we're all hoping for better weather soon! This has been a challenging spring so far!

 

[MitchM]

Last winter we had 9 months with snow here, so the window for me to get things done outside is pretty tight.
I've been reading about your challenges down south as well.

 

[Lisak1]

Last winter we had 9 months with snow here, so the window for me to get things done outside is pretty tight.
I've been reading about your challenges down south as well.

Right now in the Midwest it's our farmers who are suffering - the fields are too wet to get anything planted and the rain just won't quit. Plus it's been unseasonably cool, so nothing will dry up even when it isn't raining. Usually they're praying for rain... right now we're all praying it stops.

 

[j.w]

Hey @MitchM good to see you........................................ but not your smoke
I don't really see any here yet but we may. Bright and sunny and clear today.
How much smoke do you have around you now?
Hope you can get all your pond work done but then if you have a ton of smoke not good to be out there working in it.

 

[MitchM]

Hi jw.

Yesterday's smoke was the worst, our air quality measured 640 PM2.5.
At a reading of only 22, it's the same as smoking 1 cigarette during a day, so it was really bad.
We visited the museum in Calgary for the day because they filter the air inside.
Today is great, the wind is blowing the smoke towards the Arctic Circle.
You can follow the smoke direction at www.firesmoke.ca , it covers your area as well.

 

[j.w]

Thanks @MitchM but I couldn't see where it showed our area is effected. I just see a box around the Canadian area effected and nothing coming down our way. I looked around a bit too and couldn't find anything. Maybe it does not show smoke coming down to us cuz it's not yet? Sorry you are being so effected by it and hope this does not last all Summer!

 

[MitchM]

If you click on the Canada forecast, it shows a 2 day forecast animation that reaches down south as far as Salt Lake City.
Today we're in the clear, but it does get updated every few hours.

 

[callingcolleen1]

It's really smokey here in Medicine Hat too. Yesterday my lungs were sore working outside in yard. Today my one eye is blood shot, maybe rubbing the eye too much

 

[j.w]

If you click on the Canada forecast, it shows a 2 day forecast animation that reaches down south as far as Salt Lake City.
Today we're in the clear, but it does get updated every few hours.

Yep I saw the whole map and I guess I just assumed I should be seeing some smoke floating down southward to the U.S. So it's working fine just no smoke in our area to see yet on the map except a few dots over to the east. Sure wish it would stay that way. Glad you had a clear day yesterday. Today I see some to the north of you. @callingcolleen1 your area doesn't look to bad either today. Clear here also.

 

[Himkad]

Good news, the bentonite finally came in from a mine in Medicine Hat (where Colleen lives)
Bad news, the landscaping company can no longer help me because of personal issues. I hope that doesn't mean like prison or something. Hopefully he'll get back on his feet again. I've got lots of work available for someone.

The pond hole has lots of weeds growing in it now and you can see how much smoke we're getting from forest fires in British Columbia. Compared to previous pictures, the hills on the other side of the valley are not even visible. You can really see the smoke effects if you walk around in the dark with a flashlight. It's like you're walking around in a fog. Our eyes and lungs are not enjoying this.

I wound up ordering the bentonite from a ceramics shop in Calgary.
When you compare the cost of lining this pond with bentonite ($650) vs what the original liner cost, ($2500), it's one of those cases of "if I knew then what I know know", I would have gone with bentonite in the first place.

Here's the 750 lbs of bentonite (excuse the cardboard recycling stuff) and what the pond hole looks like plus how smokey the valley looks today.
The bentonite I bought looks a lot different than what I've seen on Youtube. Youtube examples are not as fine of a composition.


View attachment 114594

View attachment 114595

View attachment 114596

 

[Himkad]

HI @MitchM , was checking out your sealing method that j.w referred me too. I have a bed of solid pennsylvania blue stone with cracks and faults and am wondering how you choose sealants being there seems to be different varieties.