live fish swimming in the winter pond

Exciting news! we went above 60f on Sunday and look! The fish came up for a look see. The whole school is alive.

So I think they might last the winter. But the water is a long way from 50f yet so no feeding them!

The pump is running again. The heater and the bubbler are still working. And let’s hope that really nasty cold does not come back.

Isn’t that great!

I did have to scoop out a few big dead frogs but no dead fish. Our native fish might be ok down there too! I saw no bodies. If all goes well those fish will be huge when I am back for a break at the end of summer.

John is under strict instructions to maintain an open hole in the ice. That’s all they need. Just one little hole to let the gases out. I worked hard on keeping the ice broken in that terrible cold last month and to see the fruits of my labors before I leave is a real bonus.

The hay is flying out of the barn.

There is more on the other side – I think Our John is going to bring it over as they need it.

Last night there was another possum in the hen house but I left her there. I don’t think it will attack laying chickens (they move too fast) and I did not want Boo to see it.

There is evidently a rise in the tick population along with the rise in temperatures – though I have not noticed more ticks here. But with the rise of ticks so too is there a rise in Lyme Disease. So, we may as well hold onto any tick killers we have.

But try to tell that to Boo.

Cows.

And Tima.

I am working on getting someone to routinely take farm photos to show you while I am away so we can have a farm day at least once a week.

We won’t do archives this Friday so I can get a last shot of each animal for you.

---

Chapter NINE of Wind in the Willows. Poor Ratty is feeling restless as he watches all his friends go South for the winter. Beautiful descriptions of the autumnal landscape.

Tomorrow we go find Toad again. Just loving this. I love how this book is following the seasons like we all do. So natural. Yet fantastical.

I am recording Chapter TEN today for publication tomorrow.

---

Now. It is cold again. The temperatures will hover just above and below freezing for the next ten days and there is icy rain in the forecast for today. Which is fine. I am not going anywhere!

But so far there is no sign of that horrible deep cold we have been enduring.

Have a lovely day.

Celi