Life in the Fishpond ...
November 26th 2007 03:53
For those of you who were here at the start of this blog, you’ll know it began with a tale of my fishpond ...and the tragic loss of life of some of the fish in it.
It all began when a Herron swooped in and ate all but three of our fishy family. We put up a shade sail the next week to shield it from prying air-born eyes.
It was a very sad day in our household and the flag was at half mast for a week.
Later, you’ll remember I murdered the new ones we had bought to replace our lost family, by entertaining the strange notion of suddenly using soap to clean the pond filter! I know now that that action resulted from karma - the result of something negative I had said? Certainly a momentary lapse of reason … why must the innocent suffer? Their sacrifice is not wasted though and still appreciated. We really must watch our dialog and thoughts, so closely.
Anyway, after a decent period of mourning and with only three surviving fish, Billy-Bob, Cocoa and Goldie, (all from the original ‘family’) …life has been good and I thought it time for an update from the pond, as we have some “developments.”
We have babies…
I cannot believe it, as the remaining three were females?
I have since learnt that fish can change their sex if they get bored … not a bad trick... I think our Matriarch (Billy Bob) has become the Patriarch of the pond?
I had heard too, that the big fish will eat the little ones - but this is not proving to be the case - and I’m thinking that perhaps that just happens in fish tanks? Either way, the babies are growing nicely, and I’m keeping the adults very well fed, just in case.
The plants around the pond have grown and the rocks have become a little mossy, and all is wonderful. The toads and frogs love to skinny-dip and practice their backstroke at night time …and we all love the sound of the waterfall (rushing brook) to sleep by.
Following is a pictorial history of our pond.
Gardens freshly planted and Ginger marks the Spot - May '05
The hole is dug - Dec '05
Getting Creative with Plants, Rocks and Bark - Dec '05
Baby Billy Bob's first swim - March '06
The Herron From Hell - Aug '06
Caught in the Act - Aug '06
Billy Bob Lives to Tell the Tale of an Extra Ordinary Life - Aug '06
One Year later ...
My Jungle emerges from the barren Suburban Plot . . .
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
I feel your pain (we have a feisty kookaburra who oggles the pond) - but rejoice in the new of a new birth.
Just be wary of over-feeding. I would refer you to that eminent fishologist - Dr Seuss and his journal - One Fish Two Fish
MNG
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
It is all just too exhausting some days ... *holds back of hand on forehead* however, we have trudged on and somehow triumphed.
/seriously/ what can happen if you over feed them ... is there more drama to come?
Lilla ...
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
oh my word can I pitch a tent in your back yard? it`s gorgeous! And the way you have designed it makes it look so much bigger too.
hhhmmm that nasty heron has been lurking around here again recently too! Me thinks a little love potion administered to a mate in Darwin is needed to solve the problem!
Beautiful pictures and well, well worth all your hard work. What a lovely place to be everyday.
Ash
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
...it is the best garden I've created yet... for sure.
I made little laneways between the beds and shrubs, so that you can walk around and their are "things" in the beds and at the end of each laneway to discover. Things like a garden swing, wierd little statues and bird baths, one has a Venus de Milo statue and there is a Fairy Dell too, where I go and chat with the earth faeries.
Now you know why I like to go out there so much and just be. Coming off a huge property, I honestly couldn't survive without it and the layering of garden beds and foilage actually muffles the noise from around the neighbours - not to mention gawking eyes.
The front is skirted by a six foot hedge all round and so our privacy is assured there too.
It was/is hard work indeed, you are right, so well worth it... thanks for visiting and taking a stroll with me... you'll have to come in person one day over the holidays.
Lilla ...
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
now you're playing tricks with my mind... I'm sure I saw the glass lense on the other side this morning????
>>>>>???
*scratching head*
*lol-ing*
Lilla ...
Comment by JoH
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
RAAAAAIN GLORIOUS RAAAAIIIINNNNN WWOOOO HOOOOO
have a good one x
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
What a magnificent tale! I love your pics! Its so beautiful, flourishing! Your nature loves you....
The first post of yours I read was - 'not much to laugh about, the cat died today, a question of euthanasia' it was in your heartfelt and heartbreaking story I met you for the first time, and cleaved to the others who felt the same as I did - Wendi Friend(who I still miss fiercely) and Ash.....I still thank Stroggy on a regular basis for bringing us together.
THIS is what I try so hard to impress on everyone around me! Before Magnus was gelded, both Mum and Peter were throwing their negative thoughts around. No matter how I begged tham to stop they wouldnt - they kept harping that something would go wrong.
Despite(or because?) being our most well cared for horse he was the only horse we have to contract a life threatening infection in the wound.
Still to this day I try and explain to mum what her pessimistic thoughts do to us, she doesnt see it. Like on saturday, when I thought the fence was cracking along, mums the one who moans "we'll be here forever! This is going to take all night!" and after thats said, every tiny thing seems to drag for hours.
I love the 'herron from hell' dont you know, he needs to eat too! I have a terrible time here - keeping the magpie away from our Burra(who comes for meat everyday) keeping big black rakkas away from Burra, keeping Mynah birds(whom I adore) away from EVERYTHING......Mynah birds and big black rakkas go to war on a regular basis for unknown reasons. Mynahs usually win. Theyre better at forming ranks and attacking than humans are!
Loved every moment of this story Lilla!
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
That's a fair comment some days, although if you read my Homeschooling posts, you'll soon realise that there is much going on in the house too! *chuckle* but you are right, nature has a dramatic flair that we often fall short of understanding and appreciating.
I hear you ... so much out there is real life and death stuff...it makes our own little dramas seem so insignificant, doesn't it?
An 'active' growing, responsive garden, is a wonderful place to raise children. Not all kids take to it though - but they all do in some way, some just to enjoy, some like to plant, others just like to play in the fresh air and follow the life of bugs etc., Well with one exeption, my disabled daughter has a real aversion to nature.
Her response? (much LIke Melman in Madagascar - her fabourite kids film)...
"Oh nature, it's all over me, get it off!"
*lol* she cracks me up...
Thanks for stopping by,
Lilla ...
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Dear stroggy, how I miss her some days... we have all 'seen' her since then and know that she has moved on, happily. She communicated to me once (whilst still alive) that I was supposed to sell her as a kitten. Of course I went into denial and second guessed myself that she had communicated at all, but I knew it to be true. So, she has found 'her family' and we have had a couple confirmations, as I say… but she still visits in our dreams often… and sometimes we can hear her call or brush against our legs around the house, too.
I fully understand what are saying about your Mum, it’s horrible and makes life difficult in the extreme, but you know what they say ... you have to change yourself if you want your world to change. I guess for you in this situation it means setting up firm boundaries and not listening?
Call on Archangels Chamuel and Michael, they work to deflect this stuff and help keep your peace of mind, or help change the situation for you. She has probably just never caught herself… sage your house often and burn incense more often. She may complain, but ask her to go outside. You have rights too, exercise them a little in a loving way, enough for her to realise that she is transgressing her boundaries?
I have a similar background and really feel where you are coming from in this Kleo, my complete sympathies and blessings. Good Luck.
As for the Herron, I was glad he had a meal and lived another day, but very sorry for the fish that fed him. Once we have given names to living things, a part of our soul attaches to them, doesn’t it? We receive the messages they bring to us and the joy of life they offer… I couldn’t have hurt the Herron and acknowledge that it was nature playing out her role of eating herself, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
*lol* what a drama!
There are the cutest little Mynah fledglings currently up at the Buddhist Monastery (Chenrezig) where I often go to unwind on the weekend. Anyway, they also take on the crows, magpies and your lunch. They come right up to the table and steal your rice from the plate… they know they will not be harmed alright! Cheeky as…. I love to eat up there at the Big Love Café and share my lunch with them… it is truly a magical place. (a link on Ash’s recent post). Really Long Link
Nature often holds clues to our dilemma’s, Kleo and because you are also so closely bonded to her, I strongly recommend that you get a hold of a copy of Steve Farmer’s Blue book, Animal Spirit Guides (ISBN 978-1-4019-0733-4). It will reveal much to you, daily.
Many warm hugs
Lilla …
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
With Mum - lately Ive being doing what I did as a teenager. Cutting her dead, but a bit softer than I used to do it. When she starts getting worked up over things we cant control and may very well pound upon our heads since shes calling it down, I gently pick it apart. I work with more force on more important things. And the final, very loud - "Well a bloody meteor could hit the house and kill us all too!" usually does the trick.
She loves insence, shes magical too dont you know....Sagittarius, Queen of Fire, The Badb. Where I for now am Young Earth....I dont think I could burn more insence than I already do! Mum might get better soon, shes got a new job and a new outlook. Mums storys complex and its all tied in with little Raj.....I think the best post to learn about him would be
Really Long Link
Of course I understand with the Herron - I once raised a tadpole to a frog, and instead of releasing it in our backyard where there were tons of frogs I insisted on taking it to the local creek.....Guppies ate it. I still hate them!
Funny you mention Mynahs and 'cheeky as' Ive got a post coming up on Sunday for Najara the Binky as chick....Lots of photos!
I really will try and get ahold of that book. When I get time!
Thanks Lilla....
LUV
KLEO
Comment by sandeye
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
We get many hours of pleasure out of it and you wouldn;t recognise Billy-Bob these days - he/she is huge ... and has her own family "free born" in the pond itself. We have a whole gaggle of freeborns, native to their pond nowadays *chuckle* and they love it there too... no more nasty herron to bother them.
Thanks for stopping in.
Lilla ...