The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

Yep, going to clean everything up tomorrow evening. Not sure what my temp is going to show, as my in/outdoor thermometer is not working the last couple of days (probably needs a new battery outside), but it was 57 degrees when I left work at 5 tonight, and when I was driving home 4 hours later, it was 61! Supposed to get up to 70 tomorrow, and I think it will! Then, I think the high for Wed supposed to be in the a.m., with steadily dropping temps all day.
Took my Boston to the breeder this evening and she would not have anything to do with the male. She gets to stay there this time, instead of me driving back and forth, hoping she will breed in the next couple of days. Time will tell.
Oh, and that sheet of ice on the waterfall end of the koi pond is still there, under the water. Strange! And, I started up the big pump, and it started to run, then nothing came out. So, I pulled the piece off of the top of the Skippy, remember I cut and fitted 2 sheets of foam insulation board? Well, it's still frozen under that! It's really pushed in there solid, so will have to try to get it loosened up in the a.m. so that can thaw out. THEN, if I get the pump taken apart and cleaned out, hopefully I can keep the water flowing even if it gets cold. We shall see!!! Guess that insulation is doing it's job after all, if it's 60 degrees outside most of the day and it's still frozen in there!!!

 

[CountryEscape]

Got my waterfall running this morning. Took off the 2 sheets of insulation board on the top, and sure enough, there was still ice in there, but it had melted from the sides, so I tried the pump and voila! I'll pull the pump tonight for sure to take it apart and see if there is anything in it that is obstructing water flow. Temps supposed to start dropping again tomorrow, after a high of 70 today. What crazy weather, but I appreciate the reprieve to clean filters and pumps! Thanks, Mother Nature. :razz:

 

[CountryEscape]

Pulled the pump in the koi pond that runs the waterfall/Skippy, and all that trouble for nothing. There was not a thing caught or clogging the impeller or whatever it's called. There was some algae on the outside of the cage that goes over the whole pump, but other than that, it was clean. Cleaned off the cage rinsed out the pump, and put it back in the pond. That was the biggest chore, because it did NOT want to drop to the bottom with the milk crate under it, kept trying to roll over. Finally figured out that the pipe maybe had air in it, causing it to pull the pump sideways. Messed ... no, wrestled with it for about 5 minutes to get it upright. Finally plugged it in, then made sure it stayed in the correct position. Whew! Bring on the cold air. Not that I want cold, but we do still need some cold to kill off things, refresh everything for spring.
Saw robins around the last couple of days. Wonder where they stay when the ground freezes back up? Snow geese were in the fields near my house this evening, settling down for the night. I could hear them if it was not so darn windy from the south tonight. One more warm night, then dropping temps tomorrow, snow by quitting time at work tomorrow.

 

[j.w]

Well darn that you did all that for nothing. I'll take the warm air and give you cold..........we aren't that cold but I cold sure use something up there in the 60's. I love the Snow geese and the Trumpeter Swans that come to the fields around here. Something was killing them for several yrs. Think they thought for awhile that it was lead shot from guns or something but don't know about what's going on w/ them now.

 

[CountryEscape]

I think the Snow Geese are a nuisance breed. If I remember correctly, someone told me that there is a limit to how many Canada geese you can shoot in a day during hunting season, but no limit on the white snow geese! I went outside this morning and listened to them. Love that sound. If they were to land in the field next to my house, Yukon sees them, goes running like a big pup getting ready to bust apart a sand castle! He loves to see them fly away. LOL But, with the muddy fields, he has no desire to make the trek right now. They are at least a 40 acre away from my house, so that's farther than he wants to "romp".
Must have gotten at least an inch of rain, maybe more. Sure glad I didn't top off the koi pond last night! It's overflowing still this morning. My power went off for 5 hours, and sure was glad it wasn't during 10 degree weather! Heard the electric company truck zoom by at 3 a.m., as the house past me is the "end of the line" for our area. Power came back on shortly thereafter. Heard it was a sub station that had problems, and it was quite a ways from where I live, so that means a HUGE amount of people were out of power, not just a couple of miles worth. Furnace never kicked on during the night, it was still so warm outside. Dropping now, though.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Well you are lucky to have such nice weather, but I just heard on CNN that there was tornato warnings and big storms some where down south, would that be near your area at all? Got to get my map out so I know where everyone is located! Not very good with locating some of the different states....

 

[CountryEscape]

I'm pretty much in the middle of the US, Colleen. No tornado watches for me, but very high winds all day, 25 mph at least. Yesterday they were saying snow by 5 p.m., when I leave work, but now there is only 20% precip predicted this afternoon, so think I'll take the chance and drive my car ... Charger. It does NOT do well in snow or ice, so hope I'm not making a mistake. It gets 25 mpg on gas and the truck gets more like 14. Yuck! Try to drive it only when absolutely necessary, but sure don't want to get caught in another ice storm with my car like last year this time.

 

[rebelangel_3733]

Here in the southeast part of Nebraska we have oh bout 4" as of last night/this morning of snow. Pretty white wet stuff though and we need the moisture! However my fishies are just fine in their aquarium on the porch happily swimmin around abit. It was 53 here two days ago...thats nebraska wait a day and it'll change! Saw about 30 robins in a yard not far from here...boy are they confused! Let alone the geese and ducks in flocks have been flying north this week too.

 

[CountryEscape]

Rebel, I'm hoping those birds know more than us, and they are right on track, telling us spring really is right around the corner. I sure hope they are right!

 

[callingcolleen1]

We have Robins up north here in Medicine Hat that never flew south like they should! There were chiping like mad last week when the weather was nice... don't know where they are hiding right now, cause it is cold and blowing snow! Temp right now is 0 F.

Today at the other doggy park, didn't let puppys out too long, cause yesterday it was so cold that Poppy's feet were cracked and one paw bled a bit from walking out bare pawed on the ice and snow with extreme wind chills.., I am a bad mom! How could I let this happen to my only Poppy! She's fine now, curled up in bed and snug like a bug!

 

[CountryEscape]

Couldn't put the floating heater on the ponds tonight, because the one has the coil below it, and I don't want it blowing to the edge and getting too hot on the liner edge. So, will have to wait and see how much things freeze tonight and add the heaters in the morning. I can see better then, too. LOL Hating the winds ... as usual! Very windy, pretty icicles on the waterfall, thinking the water flow is slowing again, so the pipes must get somewhat froze up or something. Still haven't figured that out! Maybe because the water lines are on the outside edge of the "hill" the waterfall is created on, they are freezing sooner rather than later, not sure. To me, moving water should mean it doesn't freeze, but so far it's not working that way. Will know more by morning.

 

[CountryEscape]

This morning sun was shining, everything was running in my pond, and the temps were close to 40 already before I had to leave for work. Feels like spring, just waiting for the plants to start coming up and flower blooming. Can't wait ... well, I can, but this next week of 40-50 degree temps is sure going to tease the plants into wanting to start their growth. Here are a few pics I took this morning. Almost all ice gone on the koi pond now.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Yes me too waiting for spring! Your ponds and stream look real good CE, if the weather stays nice you should have plants coming up soon!

 

[callingcolleen1]

I also see you are currently 10 whole degrees warmer than me! Must be nice!!

 

[sissy]

bad doggie mom colleen .