The Pond

I'm not sure if anyone is still checking this blog, since it has been so long since we have posted. It has been a busy year. We are going to attempt to start blogging more regularly. In September of last year we put a pond onto the property in the foothills. We still haven't decided on a name for it. So, we just refer to it as "the property". I know, we are a creative bunch.

The boy in front of the excavator bulldozer that was used to make the pond.

The dig site for the pond.

The excavation.

The start of the pond.

Since we are in the midst of a drought, we didn't know if the pond would fill in this year. We had them dig on a natural spring on the property and it ended up almost filling it in it added some water, but the winter rains that run off from about eight acres of field above it filled the pond. The pond is 2/3 an acre. It is teardrop shaped with a shallow area that gradually gets deeper until the deepest point at 13" 11" (the top of the dam is 13 feet). It isn't a large pond, but since our place would make a great giant rock farm, it's as large and deep as our spring and wallet would allow.

Last weekend we went to a fish hatchery that is open to the public once a month. 

We purchased 500 mosquito fish, 15 bass and 35 blue gill.

The boy got to feed the fish.  The girl was busy reading a book.  

They give you the fish in large, plastic bag they fill with oxygen and seal.  We put them in coolers for the trip to the pond.

On the way back from the hatchery, we stopped at our favorite nursery and picked up some water hyacinth.  They will help create 

a habitat for the fish.  After the fish were put in the pond the kids went around placing the plants along the shore.

Nothing better than cooling off in a cool pond after a busy day.  Deacon loves the water, as long as the kids are in it.  

At this point after looking at the pictures, you may be saying to yourself, "I thought they had two children"? Did they lose one along the way? Or, are they clearly showing favoritism to the boy? The answer to your questions, thoughtful blog reader is 'no" and "no". We in fact are currently in possession of a "tween" daughter that has decided she no longer likes to have her picture taken...unless it is her idea. Don't worry, I will post some pics of the girl I managed to sneak by.

A pic with the girl in it!
Edits for facts made by the actual fat dad