From Newboro to Westport Part 2

Off to Narrows Lock Part 1 

We continued on our drive. Overhead, a big RCAF helicopter. That got my attention.

Ukrainian Flag – there have been a couple of Ukrainian Festivals nearby. Canada hasn't forgotten Ukraine.

A couple of new homes. They overlook the water.

Westport! 

New builds and old in Westport.

Onward ho!

🐠P.S. Sept. 24

Joe and I were watching Game Change (2012), a docudrama of Sarah Palin's demise. Joe'd read a book about it, and likes the ins and outs of politics. 

I was out tweaking the position of a trailcam, just as dusk approached. 

Anyway, as I walked past the goldfish pond, I noticed another goldfish! It hid well. I scooped it up with the fish net and clutched its cold little body in my hand. It was popped into the fish tank indoors. I now have eight goldfish in the tank! 

Next year, I'll have to remember write down how many I put out in May!

Black Squirrels, Bullfrogs, Goldfish

 We are officially in Autumn, meteorological fall. The autumnal fall is officially Sept. 22. Close enough! 

The light levels are interesting.

We've two black squirrels now. They were arguing over food. We released three in June. Crumbly Acres Squirrel Release!

They wasted time fighting! I imagine this is two of the three we released. They are more bold than #75 was.

The Rose of Sharon is in bloom.

We have two ponds. The goldfish pond I hand dug. And the vernal frog pond. 

The news is the fishies are in from the goldfish pond. First job was to move the two bullfrogs to the frog pond. They were quite happy to jump in. I spotted a painted turtle a few days ago. It is a great pond. 

LEMME OUTTA HERE!

He is a big one!

The frog pond is quite full this year, with all our summer rain. In August we had 141 mm. In September, we're only up to 25 mm. I did water the front garden, with my new plants.

My second task was to drain the goldfish pond. Cinnamon helped. 

I spent some time digging out the sapling, as I found that one wall has collapsed. Cinnamon christened the hole for me. I chased him off. 

I'm not sure what I'll do. I'd like to fix it, but need to figure out a plan.

Once I got the water level down this far, it took time to get the fish out. The more you fish for them, the wilier they get.

 

That task is done!

🐠🐟 The 8 fishes are in!

Yes, YAM, it's truly Autumn... 🐠🐟 The 8 fishies are indoors for winter! It's too shallow a pond for them to overwinter. 

I DID IT!!! We did research, checking the forecast. The nights were getting rather close to freezing. Not good for the fishies. I wanted a warmish morning, followed by a couple of days of rain to refill the pond from the water barrel and eavestrough.  

I began around 10 a.m. Sunday, by starting to drain the goldfish pond. I counted about 8 frogs, including the bullfrog, and the fish were hiding.

After an hour draining...

By noon, I was good to net them.

Non-mental note: I have to wash the pump and put it away. 

After an hour of drainage, out I went. I snagged 2 almost immediately. They were easy. Except for the holes in the two nets. You should check your tools before you begin a project! 

It's intense work, even with a supervisor... Two of my nets had holes, the other fell apart. While I have 8 fish, I caught three of them twice, which means 11 captures!  Repairing them, just tying them up, I went back at it. I'll have to look for a new net in the spring.

Bullfrog took umbrage, and hopped away after I left. I could see he was trying.

There was way too much action for Bullfrog. I tried to tell him, there isn't much water around. Finally, at 3:30, this was the last hold out! I waited and waited. It was well-hidden in the mud. 

With great surprise, we finally had rain, as predicted. About 10 mm so far (0.38"), not much... but better than nothing. We timed it perfectly. The pond has refilled some, and my water lily will be protected.

Bringing in the goldfish

Yes, Yam, it is that time of year! It is officially Autumn.

We've 16 frogs in the goldfish pond. It freezes and thaws over winter, what with climate change, which is bad for the froggies as well as the tropical goldfish. This is why I take the frogs down to the wetland. It's horrid taking the little bodies out in the spring, smelly and rotting.

The goldfish population has changed over the years! Shirley was a favourite. I think I made it up to Shirley 5.  There are so many varieties of goldfish.

 

I'm down to 5 goldfish. Oops, I was preparing this post in early October, and October 6th another one died. We are at 4 goldfish.  With the pandemic, I cannot replace any I've lost. The supply chain just isn't working for them. There are three orange ones, as well as one white, having lost its colour.

The big one is like a piranha! I call him Percy, after my ex-late FIL's Percy Piranha.

One year the fishies had dozens of babies. The kids took some home, we brought ours in with the adults, but they all died. I was surprised last week. I was watching the goldfish, prior to their traumatic pond removal. There were two 8 cm babies! I was so excited. Can you see one in the middle?

I began watching them, feeding them fish pellets to get them a little friendlier. Babies! We have babies! goldfish  

 

It's a big decision when to bring them in. I usually have to drain the goldfish pond, that means risking the water lilies if it gets cold.  I want the goldfish pond to be able to fill back up, for the water lilies.  This looks good for a weekend fill up. It can be cold working on the pond, 

I'd best do it this week! It's no fun playing around in the water when it is cold.

I filled the 60 gallon tank with the garden hose on Monday, Oct. 11th. The well water is so cold. It takes a couple of days for the water to warm, as well as for the water to clear up. It needs to get that balance of pH and all that. 

Oct. 12 it was still cold, and there was lots of condensation. By Wednesday things looked good.

I woke bright and early on Thursday. This was the day! I skipped my workout, I knew it'd be a long day. First step was to drain the pond. I've learned my lesson. It's just easier to find them when the pond is drained.

I got bored waiting for fishies, so I fished out some frogs. The first lot I had 7 of them. I tootled them on down to the wetland. I had a lid for this, as the larger ones jump out. They sat together and thought about it before they moved off! They need the wetland in which to hibernate, under the water and mud.

They landed together and sat looking at me.

I kept draining the goldfish pond. The fishies kept looking at me, teasing me.

The blue bucket held the frogs, the metal bucket was for the fishies. Two frogs jumped into the fish bucket instead of the blue one. Sigh!

The water kept draining. I made four trips down to the wetland to deliver a total of 18 frogs. The sun came out. It was a good day to do this. It was easy to spot the fish. 

Fishies in, I began to fill the pond up from the water barrel. I couldn't figure out why it was filling so slowly. Turns out a dead chipmunk was plugging the drainage hole into the pond. I'd pulled it out with my hand, thinking it was just debris. Gross.

They are all tucked in, and rain is on the way to fill the pond back up and I'll be playing with frogs for while. FIVE BABIES!!! Percy is huge. I shall have to work on proper photos, but I am weary.

I started at 9 a.m., after a failed attempt to get a flu shot (long story), and finished up at 2:45.  I found a part from my pond pump that had fallen in. I nearly fell in getting it out. It's very slippery. I had to stand on the cement blocks in the bottom. 

After this, we went out for a last meal on a patio. Things are closing up, and it's getting cold. It clouded over, but no matter. A good day had by all. We came home and I put Dr. Ho's thingies on my thighs. I was sore!

2021 – 9 goldfish in for the winter

• Percy
• sickly white one
• 2 older orange ones
• 5 new babies

Over the years: 

October can be too cold to be playing in water.

Oct. 7, 2020: Cinnamon was harassing them! 

Oct. 1, 2019: Fall chores; Twas a frosty morn! (Indoor pump broke that year, 11 fish)

Oct. 4th, 2018: Bringing in the goldfish!

Oct. 12, 2017: Autumn chores: goldfish are in!
Sept. 18, 2016:  The goldfish are in!

Oct. 7th, 2015: The goldfishies are in!
Oct. 4th, 2014: Fall chores: bringing in goldfish
Sept. 28, 2013: It's that time of year: come on in, goldfish!