Poor Glo. She has acquired the unenviable job of being John's "pond minion". Because she has such an intense interest in nature, and in our pond specifically, John recruits her to not only do the fun jobs associated with the pond, but also the not-so-fun jobs.
We have lost several fish this winter, due to the extreme cold. Despite the fact that we have a floating heater in our pond, it hasn't been enough to save all of the fish. In fact, there have been times when we have had so much snow, that we can't even SEE the heater.
At one point, the pond was pretty much defrosted, but we could see what looked like fish "cubes" in the water. Our beautiful koi, frozen in blocks of ice. It's been so sad.
The other day, the heater reappeared, and the temperature actually climbed into the 30's. We could see the fish, sitting underneath the heater, hanging out, but we could also see the tell-tale sign of death: fishes laying on their sides, floating on the top of the water. Ugh, it just makes us sick, thinking of these fish dying. We have had some of them since the year we built the pond (2010), and they have done a lot of growing in that time. To replace them would cost several hundreds of dollars, simply because of their maturity. We know that we will have to start out small again. Double ugh.
John, being just one day post surgery, used that excuse to send Glo out to scoop up the dead fish and pitch them. She balked at the idea, not really wanting to deal with death itself....in Dr. Seuss pajamas
. However, she's a good obedient girl (aren't ya, Glo?), and she headed outside.....with the Chuck-It in her hand.
Know what a Chuck-It is? It's a long stick that holds a ball on the end. It allows the thrower to "chuck" the ball much further than one could with just an arm...provider you aren't some kind of professional baseball pitcher.
She wasn't going to listen to her father and get the actual 6 foot pond net that we have for just such occasions. Oh no.
You don't know how much I was banking on Glo falling through the ice as she trudged out to the pond in her pajamas, her glasses, her Crocs and no coat! Seriously, I had my camera ready.
Nor surprisingly, the fish were bigger than the cup on the Chuck-It, and she couldn't "fish" them out.
Small reminder. John was not 24 hours post op from the scope on his knee. He couldn't stand the fact that Glo couldn't get the dead fish out of that hole. He took matters into his own hands.
First, he too walked out onto the ice (you can see his bandaged right knee) in shorts and his Crocs. You'd better believe I had the camera SET!
He tried to tell Glo what to do by pointing out the dead fish, because she obviously couldn't see the fish herself, judging by the blinding effects of the snow.
Finally, he just took the scoop himself, and Glo walked away relieved. You better believe that I was praying to the fish gods to please let John fall in. It would have made for the BEST picture, and it would have been a piece of sweet revenge for Glo.
Nope. The winter has been too harsh, and that ice is just too thick. John scooped out the dead fish, pitching them almost to the trampoline, compliments of the Chuck-It, and walked back up to the house.
Mission accomplished.
We have lost several fish this winter, due to the extreme cold. Despite the fact that we have a floating heater in our pond, it hasn't been enough to save all of the fish. In fact, there have been times when we have had so much snow, that we can't even SEE the heater.
At one point, the pond was pretty much defrosted, but we could see what looked like fish "cubes" in the water. Our beautiful koi, frozen in blocks of ice. It's been so sad.
The other day, the heater reappeared, and the temperature actually climbed into the 30's. We could see the fish, sitting underneath the heater, hanging out, but we could also see the tell-tale sign of death: fishes laying on their sides, floating on the top of the water. Ugh, it just makes us sick, thinking of these fish dying. We have had some of them since the year we built the pond (2010), and they have done a lot of growing in that time. To replace them would cost several hundreds of dollars, simply because of their maturity. We know that we will have to start out small again. Double ugh.
John, being just one day post surgery, used that excuse to send Glo out to scoop up the dead fish and pitch them. She balked at the idea, not really wanting to deal with death itself....in Dr. Seuss pajamas
Know what a Chuck-It is? It's a long stick that holds a ball on the end. It allows the thrower to "chuck" the ball much further than one could with just an arm...provider you aren't some kind of professional baseball pitcher.
She wasn't going to listen to her father and get the actual 6 foot pond net that we have for just such occasions. Oh no.
You don't know how much I was banking on Glo falling through the ice as she trudged out to the pond in her pajamas, her glasses, her Crocs and no coat! Seriously, I had my camera ready.
Nor surprisingly, the fish were bigger than the cup on the Chuck-It, and she couldn't "fish" them out.
Small reminder. John was not 24 hours post op from the scope on his knee. He couldn't stand the fact that Glo couldn't get the dead fish out of that hole. He took matters into his own hands.
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He tried to tell Glo what to do by pointing out the dead fish, because she obviously couldn't see the fish herself, judging by the blinding effects of the snow.
Finally, he just took the scoop himself, and Glo walked away relieved. You better believe that I was praying to the fish gods to please let John fall in. It would have made for the BEST picture, and it would have been a piece of sweet revenge for Glo.
Nope. The winter has been too harsh, and that ice is just too thick. John scooped out the dead fish, pitching them almost to the trampoline, compliments of the Chuck-It, and walked back up to the house.
Mission accomplished.
Thank the fish gods they aren't real gods and don't answer prayers
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