A little birdie told me to make these, so I threw two as a prototype. They aren't glazed yet, but I think they turned out well.
What are they?
Why...sponge holders, of course!
On Reading and Recipes 2011
13 years ago
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Seniors Do Leftovers
What to have for dinner after you have spent four hours enriching and rototilling the vegetable garden? Well, we had some leftover round steak. We searched Kitchen Stadium and took it from there. We created:
Huevos Rancheros Pizza
With a wheat Boboli crust, we spread just a bit of organic tomato paste, then topped that with Newman's Own Black Bean Salsa (Medium Hot). We chopped the leftover roundstead by hand into a fine chop, and spread it on the pizza. We sauteed chopped onion, mushroom, tomato and spices, and when the onion was transparent, we added four organic farm eggs and cooked that mixture until 'almost done'. The veggie and egg mixture was spread onto the pizza next, and topped with four different cheeses. We cooked the pizza for about 12". What a way to do leftover round steak!
Life and food are fun! Use your imagination!
The Seniors Rototill the Garden
Oh, Boy! What a day! We actually got the vegetable garden rototilled this afternoon. First, we dumped a load of sand and spread that around. Then, we dumped about 280# of Composted Manure on the garden and the sand, and spread that around. THEN, we opened four huge bags of Peat Moss, and spread that atop everything else, and started the rototiller to work all the 'goodies' into the ground. We are done, and we will be planting as the weather permits. Can't wait for all the GREAT veggies to come.
The asparagus continues in super fashion, the strawberries are in bloom, and...check out the photo...we have harvested our FIRST stalks of rhubarb!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Today, my DIL (at her house) and I (at mine) both battled Dandelions.
It's not an easy battle. I have actually set aside a 'sanctuary' where they can grow (birds like to pick at them and their seeds). The sanctuary is in my 'wild garden'. But they do NOT stay there. I do the usual: Weed N Feed, Scott's Step 1, 2, 3, 4...but they creep over from other areas. So today, I went out, trowel in hand, and waged a battle.
Years ago, I wrote the following poem to Dandelions. Hope you enjoy it:
Dandelion
Call me common.
Curse me, step on me, poison me,
label me a weed unwanted!
I’ll return.
I am your yellow reality.
© Phyllis A. Natanek
Bartlett, May 2002
published Moon Journal, Spring/Summer 2003, pg. 10
Call me common.
Curse me, step on me, poison me,
label me a weed unwanted!
I’ll return.
I am your yellow reality.
© Phyllis A. Natanek
Bartlett, May 2002
published Moon Journal, Spring/Summer 2003, pg. 10
Spring Frenzy
It's Spring in full swing, and we are trying to 'get 'er done' in between the raindrops. The hawthorn trees are in full bloom, and so is our beautiful, delicate serviceberry. In the woods garden, the Virginia bluebells are making a BIG statement in this, their third year.
All the cabbage babies have been transplanted to containers on our upper deck, as has the cilantro. Everyone did great! The tomato and basil babies are growing like weeds in the greenhouse, but they will have to wait just a bit before going outside.
More pictures will be posted this week.
All the cabbage babies have been transplanted to containers on our upper deck, as has the cilantro. Everyone did great! The tomato and basil babies are growing like weeds in the greenhouse, but they will have to wait just a bit before going outside.
More pictures will be posted this week.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Seniors Do Friday
Friday, April 24th, 2009
7 am. Up a bit early. No Pooping Raccoon last night. Life is good. Usual breakfast...yada, yada and Benefiber.
It's SUCH a great day! We had a lot of thunderstorms last night, but today the sun is shining and it is WARM. We have our tee time for 10 am, and we are resting in the Great Room when the phone rings at 8:15. It's our Golf Club! We can't golf today because the course is too wet! R promptly makes another tee time for Saturday at 10:40, and we take five to dream up a Plan B for this morning. Weather happens.
P cleans up the house a bit while thinking. Then we both go down to the Studio to glaze some pots, before P heads up to the deck, and plants the cabbages and cilantro. Those babies are ready to be outside now. The tomato and basil babies need to be in the greenhouse a bit longer.
(Factoid: when to plant tomatoes outdoors. Old farmer mom used to sit on the ground. If her derriere stayed warm and dry, it was time...).
The decision comes to us like a bolt of lightening: it's time to go to Ganz's Greenhouse in nearby Marseilles! A quick call to our friend Kathie (we promised to call her if we were going there this week) and we're off. Almost. First we stop at the other place to check the asparagus bed. The first shoots are READY! P gleefully harvests just enough for the weekend, and we both look forward to an orgy of asparagus this Spring.
A few minutes later, we get to Ganz's Greenhouse, and Kathie is there to meet us. We are all three Morris Garden Club members, and this trip is like a Spring Rite of Passage. Ganz's has been in business since heaven knows when. It's a set of greenhouses on Route 6 where they have been spending all Winter planting and starting their own veggies and flowers! They are only open from April to June. And...if you don't get there early, the best goes fast! The three gardeners saunter through the many aisles, and we all come up with a plethora of plants for our gardens.
We have: broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, big tomatoes, sweet peppers, and annuals. Kathie has overdosed on basil, tomatoes, and annuals. We all leave, happy.
Once home, we place our new plants in the garage until tomorrow. Many of them will go into the greenhouse until they can safely go outside. And right now...we have to go to work selling our pots at Starved Rock.
Off to Starved Rock State Park! We are participating in the IVAR fundraiser (Illinois Valley Animal Rescue), and we hope to sell some pottery as part of the Arts exhibit. 6 other artists, all fellow members of Ottawa Art League, have chosen to participate in the event, too. And there are booths of dog and cat specific all around the Starved Rock Room. It's a nice show, and the dinner is good. IVAR makes some money toward their new building, and we are breaking down the booth at 9 pm...right on schedule.
Home by 10. The totes are placed in the garage, and we head upstairs to the Great Room to have a glass of red wine, relax, and ... then to bed.
That was Friday!
7 am. Up a bit early. No Pooping Raccoon last night. Life is good. Usual breakfast...yada, yada and Benefiber.
It's SUCH a great day! We had a lot of thunderstorms last night, but today the sun is shining and it is WARM. We have our tee time for 10 am, and we are resting in the Great Room when the phone rings at 8:15. It's our Golf Club! We can't golf today because the course is too wet! R promptly makes another tee time for Saturday at 10:40, and we take five to dream up a Plan B for this morning. Weather happens.
P cleans up the house a bit while thinking. Then we both go down to the Studio to glaze some pots, before P heads up to the deck, and plants the cabbages and cilantro. Those babies are ready to be outside now. The tomato and basil babies need to be in the greenhouse a bit longer.
(Factoid: when to plant tomatoes outdoors. Old farmer mom used to sit on the ground. If her derriere stayed warm and dry, it was time...).
The decision comes to us like a bolt of lightening: it's time to go to Ganz's Greenhouse in nearby Marseilles! A quick call to our friend Kathie (we promised to call her if we were going there this week) and we're off. Almost. First we stop at the other place to check the asparagus bed. The first shoots are READY! P gleefully harvests just enough for the weekend, and we both look forward to an orgy of asparagus this Spring.
A few minutes later, we get to Ganz's Greenhouse, and Kathie is there to meet us. We are all three Morris Garden Club members, and this trip is like a Spring Rite of Passage. Ganz's has been in business since heaven knows when. It's a set of greenhouses on Route 6 where they have been spending all Winter planting and starting their own veggies and flowers! They are only open from April to June. And...if you don't get there early, the best goes fast! The three gardeners saunter through the many aisles, and we all come up with a plethora of plants for our gardens.
We have: broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, big tomatoes, sweet peppers, and annuals. Kathie has overdosed on basil, tomatoes, and annuals. We all leave, happy.
Once home, we place our new plants in the garage until tomorrow. Many of them will go into the greenhouse until they can safely go outside. And right now...we have to go to work selling our pots at Starved Rock.
Off to Starved Rock State Park! We are participating in the IVAR fundraiser (Illinois Valley Animal Rescue), and we hope to sell some pottery as part of the Arts exhibit. 6 other artists, all fellow members of Ottawa Art League, have chosen to participate in the event, too. And there are booths of dog and cat specific all around the Starved Rock Room. It's a nice show, and the dinner is good. IVAR makes some money toward their new building, and we are breaking down the booth at 9 pm...right on schedule.
Home by 10. The totes are placed in the garage, and we head upstairs to the Great Room to have a glass of red wine, relax, and ... then to bed.
That was Friday!
Oh....look! It's the first asparagus of 2009! Yum!
Don't the stalks look perfect?
And, you know why? This asparagus was given to us by our dear DIL (and son, but we know she's the one who thought of it!) four years ago, and you should see the harvest coming up this year.
We hope we have some left to share with them, but ... well ... we have been known to be asparagus piggies before!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Introducing: The 'Plant Babies' in the greenhouse!
Soon, these little wonders will be going to live in the big, garden world
Meanwhile, they have been coming indoors at night and going out into the greenhouse in the morning.
Today, they will get new friends as we go to the nursery to buy some other varieties of plants.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Seniors Do Thursday
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wake up at 5 am. R is out on the deck with a flashlight. It can only mean one thing: THE POOPING RACOON IS BACK! Yes. The Pooping Raccoon was indeed visiting for the third time (that could be a play on words, but I will ignore the possibilities for now). We understand animals, but we do NOT understand this one. Can ANYONE explain why a perfectly healthy looking male raccoon climbs up onto a second story deck, backs his derriere up to one of my oblong flower boxes, and poops into the flower box?? How many people have tried and failed at training a domestic cat to use a litterbox, at training an intelligent dog to go outside, at training a 2 year old?? But we have this Pooping Raccoon who can skillfully plop one into a long, narrow flower box! Gentle readers, I have not photographed the result for you...suffice it to say that the raccoon in question is LARGE, and is no longer constipated, if indeed he ever was.
So, R came back to bed. We went back to sleep, but had to rise at 6:30 to eat early so we could be in ‘fasting mode’ for tests later.
Breakfast...yada, yada, yada. And Benefiber.
Cleaned the kitchen and hall floors, vacuumed and did some other household chores. P dislikes being the maid and does this stuff as seldom as possible.
Home office to check Facebook, email, etc.
At 10:30, I began walking over to the hairdresser for our 11 am appt. R came at 11 with the truck for our day of multi-tasking. Hair done. We DO look good...for today.
Off to Morris for LifeLine Screening. Hence the fasting. We will have our tests for blocked arteries, abdominal aortic aneurisms, and other artery screening. We are there for 1 hr. and 10 minutes. R has not eaten since 7:30 am and is quite peckish.
Off to Jimmy Johns for a healthy, late lunch at 1:30. Great, healthy sandwiches like at Subway. Good spot to stop. And...they are CHEAP!
Then its to the Nursery for a huge scoop of sand into the bed of our faithful truck (Dooley). We need the sand for our Veggie Garden this year, and we will rototill it in next week, along with peat moss and manure.
On the way home, stopped in at Snowdance...our mechanic’s place...to let his wife know how much the sand cost ‘cause they need some.
Home, and R goes off to our other place to empty the sand out of the truck and into the Veggie Garden. P gets down to work on the remaining piles on the desk, and actually makes more progress.
Dinner is a healthy affair: Large salad, citrus/mango chicken (pan-seared, with a mango reduction), polenta with parmesan, and steamed broccoli. We finished the fruit salad tonight, too. And Benefiber.....
Right after dinner, P packed the totes for the show tomorrow night, and R packed the car for golf in the morning.
After this is posted, P is going to go upstairs to commisserate on the Cubs loss, and watch a little TV and have a glass of red wine and go to BED and listen with one ear for the POOPING RACCOON!
Wake up at 5 am. R is out on the deck with a flashlight. It can only mean one thing: THE POOPING RACOON IS BACK! Yes. The Pooping Raccoon was indeed visiting for the third time (that could be a play on words, but I will ignore the possibilities for now). We understand animals, but we do NOT understand this one. Can ANYONE explain why a perfectly healthy looking male raccoon climbs up onto a second story deck, backs his derriere up to one of my oblong flower boxes, and poops into the flower box?? How many people have tried and failed at training a domestic cat to use a litterbox, at training an intelligent dog to go outside, at training a 2 year old?? But we have this Pooping Raccoon who can skillfully plop one into a long, narrow flower box! Gentle readers, I have not photographed the result for you...suffice it to say that the raccoon in question is LARGE, and is no longer constipated, if indeed he ever was.
So, R came back to bed. We went back to sleep, but had to rise at 6:30 to eat early so we could be in ‘fasting mode’ for tests later.
Breakfast...yada, yada, yada. And Benefiber.
Cleaned the kitchen and hall floors, vacuumed and did some other household chores. P dislikes being the maid and does this stuff as seldom as possible.
Home office to check Facebook, email, etc.
At 10:30, I began walking over to the hairdresser for our 11 am appt. R came at 11 with the truck for our day of multi-tasking. Hair done. We DO look good...for today.
Off to Morris for LifeLine Screening. Hence the fasting. We will have our tests for blocked arteries, abdominal aortic aneurisms, and other artery screening. We are there for 1 hr. and 10 minutes. R has not eaten since 7:30 am and is quite peckish.
Off to Jimmy Johns for a healthy, late lunch at 1:30. Great, healthy sandwiches like at Subway. Good spot to stop. And...they are CHEAP!
Then its to the Nursery for a huge scoop of sand into the bed of our faithful truck (Dooley). We need the sand for our Veggie Garden this year, and we will rototill it in next week, along with peat moss and manure.
On the way home, stopped in at Snowdance...our mechanic’s place...to let his wife know how much the sand cost ‘cause they need some.
Home, and R goes off to our other place to empty the sand out of the truck and into the Veggie Garden. P gets down to work on the remaining piles on the desk, and actually makes more progress.
Dinner is a healthy affair: Large salad, citrus/mango chicken (pan-seared, with a mango reduction), polenta with parmesan, and steamed broccoli. We finished the fruit salad tonight, too. And Benefiber.....
Right after dinner, P packed the totes for the show tomorrow night, and R packed the car for golf in the morning.
After this is posted, P is going to go upstairs to commisserate on the Cubs loss, and watch a little TV and have a glass of red wine and go to BED and listen with one ear for the POOPING RACCOON!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Seniors Do Wednesday
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wake up at 7. Take meds.Yawn.R leaves to get the paper in town. Hear him come back at 7:45. Yawn. Get up. R has put together Senior Breakfast ... yada, yada, yada
Go rest on couch in Great Room. Read funnies in paper. Read rest of paper. DONE WITH CURRENT BOOK! WOO HOO! Remind self that Book Club IS TONIGHT!
Get up off couch at 9:30. Tidy the kitchen. Make the bed. Clean the coffee pot. R showers and is off to a dental appointment.
Check on the Veggie Babies. Nice day, so put them in the Greenhouse, and wish them a wonderful time outdoors.
Downstairs to the Office. Tackling the pile of work that needs to be sorted. Get done about Noon. R comes home. 2 cavities. Bad boy! P freshens up and is out the door to meet with a girlfriend for lunch and writing discussion.
Meet at friend’s house. Stopped at Subway to pick up healthy lunch sandwiches: P has a Veggie on 8 grain, no cheese, and a V8 juice to drink. Very pleasurable time at the girlfriend’s discussing art, writing and whatever else comes to mind. Planning to start a Writer’s Group. Leave about 3.
Home, and into Home Office. R has left for Golf with the Buddies. P works on more ‘stuff’ that is waiting to be done.
Garden. Take the flower stalks off the three rhubarb plants. Pull about 6 dandelions from the North Perennial Bed.
Quick Dinner snack. Wednesday is a no cook ‘girly night’. Peanut Butter, Yogurt and a big Iced Tea. With Benefiber. Of course.
Book Club at 6:30. Remarkably, P is not stoned for scheduling a book of 840 pages, and almost everyone read it and enjoyed it! Wow! New member of Book Club shows up, too. Nice evening. Next book is: Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Everyone seems relieved that it is only 356 pages. Home by 7:45.
Walk around neighborhood. Quick walk to enjoy the nice night and get some exercise. Bring in the happy Veggie Babies. Heirloom tomatoes, Cabbages, Cilantro & Basil. Notice that our lettuce is up!
Back to the Office. Work on Cow Picture for friend at Farm. Check email once more time.
9 pm. Upstairs to comfy couch. Glass of red wine. R the golfer home. Watch a bit of TV, and call it a night!
The Seniors Do Tuesday
Tuesday, April 21st.
Wake up at 7. Take meds. Yawn. R leaves to get the paper in town. Hear him come back at 7:45. Yawn. Do some bone-clicking stretches in bed. Get up. R has put together Senior Breakfast ... yada, yada, yada
Go rest on couch in Great Room after breakfast. Read funnies in paper. Read rest of paper. Read current book. Remind self that Book Club is Wednesday night. Have about 300 pages to go.
Get up off couch at 9:30. Tidy the kitchen. Make the bed. Clean the coffee pot, yada, yada, yada.
Head Down to Home Studio. Trim two bowl forms. Admire both forms!
Stop in office to check email and pile of work taking up entire desk. P will think about all this work after she FINISHES THE FDR BOOK!
Shower.
We attend the Senior Luncheon and Movie at Seneca Public Library. ‘Marley and Me’. Subway sandwiches for all. Good company and movie is great. Best of all, it’s all FREE!
Back home. Try to finish Book Club Book Selection for discussion tomorrow night. As moderator, vow never, never again to choose an 800 page biography, no matter HOW good it is!
4:30 pm. Begin healthy dinner. Big salad! Pan-seared Tilapia with chef’s special rub; rice pilaf from last night; steamed broccoli; fruit salad. Benefiber.
6:30: Leave for meeting of Morris Area Garden Club, making sure to use a LOT of mouthwash to deter the garlic that seems to be the chef’s specialty.
Garden Club runs until almost 9 pm, due to incredibly enthusiastic, in depth speaker who waxes non-stop eloquent on the subject of growing orchids. R only has time for two cupcakes after the meeting, because P wants to get home to FINISH THE #&*!! BOOK!
Home at nearly ten.
10 pm. Finally sit on couch. Catch the end of the Cubs game. One glass of Pinot Grigio. Stay up for the news, then sit up until God Knows When finishing the 800 page bio of FDR! Having re-lived the Great Depression as well as WWII, P stumbles to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Flop into bed.
Shower.
We attend the Senior Luncheon and Movie at Seneca Public Library. ‘Marley and Me’. Subway sandwiches for all. Good company and movie is great. Best of all, it’s all FREE!
Back home. Try to finish Book Club Book Selection for discussion tomorrow night. As moderator, vow never, never again to choose an 800 page biography, no matter HOW good it is!
4:30 pm. Begin healthy dinner. Big salad! Pan-seared Tilapia with chef’s special rub; rice pilaf from last night; steamed broccoli; fruit salad. Benefiber.
6:30: Leave for meeting of Morris Area Garden Club, making sure to use a LOT of mouthwash to deter the garlic that seems to be the chef’s specialty.
Garden Club runs until almost 9 pm, due to incredibly enthusiastic, in depth speaker who waxes non-stop eloquent on the subject of growing orchids. R only has time for two cupcakes after the meeting, because P wants to get home to FINISH THE #&*!! BOOK!
Home at nearly ten.
10 pm. Finally sit on couch. Catch the end of the Cubs game. One glass of Pinot Grigio. Stay up for the news, then sit up until God Knows When finishing the 800 page bio of FDR! Having re-lived the Great Depression as well as WWII, P stumbles to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Flop into bed.
I know you are all waiting to find out how to best live the retired life. Wait no more! Upcoming is Senior Week in Review.
Monday: Wake up at 7. Take meds. R leaves to get the paper in town. Hear him come back at 7:45. Yawn. Get up. R has put together Senior Breakfast of High Fiber cereals (we mix about 5 flavors), served with Light Soy Milk, Pomegranate Juice, coffee, vitamins and Benefiber in the cereal. Eat and enjoy.
Go rest on couch in Great Room. Read funnies in paper. Read rest of paper. Read current book. Remind self that Book Club is Wednesday night. Have about 350 pages to go.
Get up off couch at 9:30. Tidy the kitchen. Make the bed. Clean the coffee pot. Put away four loads of laundry washed yesterday.
Grocery Shopping in Morris, IL. Get to Jewel about 10:30. Check coupons. Check grocery list. Get everything on list, especially coupon items. Check out the ‘Bargain Carts’. Find three marinades marked down to about $1. Buy ‘em all.
Home for Lunch. Put away the groceries. Lunch of sliced leftover Chicken breast on High Fiber bread, on a bed of romaine, tomato slices, dill pickle and mustard. Water with Benefiber.
Go rest on couch in Great Room for 30 minutes.
Pottery Time: Empty the Kiln. Marvel at our talent!
Run out to Farm in Ottawa where we pick up our monthly CSA share of meat. Have engaging conversation with farm wife while standing amid 50 odd chickens running around.
Back home to put away the Meat Share. Ooh and aah over the selection.
Begin cooking healthy dinner. Salad of 7 different greens, scallions, garbanzo beans, avocado, carrots, finely chopped broccoli, napa cabbage,tomato, and a touch of gorgonzola cheese. Low fat dressing. Main course: Ground Beef Quesadillas (our grass fed, organic farm beef) with smokey chipotles, onions, tomatoes, finely choppped celery and garlic, and low fat shredded cheeses on whole wheat Tortillas. A side of Rice Pilaf, home made with our own veggie stock, scallions, garlic, and turmeric. And benefiber.
After dinner, get out huge pot and begin making veggie stock for upcoming week from saved, frozed veggie scraps.
Down to the Studio to trim newest pots, and add handles to leather hard. coffee mugs.
Back up to great room. Turn off stock. Set aside until morning. Shower.
9 pm: Finally sit on couch. Watch Hawks game. Drink one glass of red wine. Go to bed at 10:30
Monday: Wake up at 7. Take meds. R leaves to get the paper in town. Hear him come back at 7:45. Yawn. Get up. R has put together Senior Breakfast of High Fiber cereals (we mix about 5 flavors), served with Light Soy Milk, Pomegranate Juice, coffee, vitamins and Benefiber in the cereal. Eat and enjoy.
Go rest on couch in Great Room. Read funnies in paper. Read rest of paper. Read current book. Remind self that Book Club is Wednesday night. Have about 350 pages to go.
Get up off couch at 9:30. Tidy the kitchen. Make the bed. Clean the coffee pot. Put away four loads of laundry washed yesterday.
Grocery Shopping in Morris, IL. Get to Jewel about 10:30. Check coupons. Check grocery list. Get everything on list, especially coupon items. Check out the ‘Bargain Carts’. Find three marinades marked down to about $1. Buy ‘em all.
Home for Lunch. Put away the groceries. Lunch of sliced leftover Chicken breast on High Fiber bread, on a bed of romaine, tomato slices, dill pickle and mustard. Water with Benefiber.
Go rest on couch in Great Room for 30 minutes.
Pottery Time: Empty the Kiln. Marvel at our talent!
Run out to Farm in Ottawa where we pick up our monthly CSA share of meat. Have engaging conversation with farm wife while standing amid 50 odd chickens running around.
Back home to put away the Meat Share. Ooh and aah over the selection.
Begin cooking healthy dinner. Salad of 7 different greens, scallions, garbanzo beans, avocado, carrots, finely chopped broccoli, napa cabbage,tomato, and a touch of gorgonzola cheese. Low fat dressing. Main course: Ground Beef Quesadillas (our grass fed, organic farm beef) with smokey chipotles, onions, tomatoes, finely choppped celery and garlic, and low fat shredded cheeses on whole wheat Tortillas. A side of Rice Pilaf, home made with our own veggie stock, scallions, garlic, and turmeric. And benefiber.
After dinner, get out huge pot and begin making veggie stock for upcoming week from saved, frozed veggie scraps.
Down to the Studio to trim newest pots, and add handles to leather hard. coffee mugs.
Back up to great room. Turn off stock. Set aside until morning. Shower.
9 pm: Finally sit on couch. Watch Hawks game. Drink one glass of red wine. Go to bed at 10:30
Saturday, April 18, 2009
It's happened. We've been gradually overtaken by the critters who live around our little house. From our Upper Deck, where we keep bird feeders, to the hickory trees, where we station squirrel feeders, to the woods, where we keep a mineral block for the deer, our 'critters' are getting closer and closer to moving in with us.
Check out the SLIDE SHOW for some views of our furry and feathered friends!
Check out the SLIDE SHOW for some views of our furry and feathered friends!
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Story of Orca and Blue
Ah, Spring! The jonquils are blooming, the Siberian Iris are celebrating, tulips and rhubarb and just everything is coming back to life. That includes our little pond.
Over Winter, the inhabitants of our pond hibernate. In Spring, as the water temperature warms, they realize: we haven't eaten in MONTHS! Ravenous mouths greet us in the morning. Like Hoovers, the Koi skim the surface looking for morsels, and like back up vacuums, the goldfish cruise, waiting for goodies to come their way.
We've had these scaly pets for 5 years now. The koi (who were formerly called Jesus and Lazarus...more on that later) are now named Orca and Blue, because they strongly resemble large whales in the pond. The herd of goldfish are called: The Herd of Goldfish. Orca and Blue are VERY large now. Very, very large. Actually, so are the goldfish. We estimate Orca and Blue, purchased as babies of 3" or so, to be 20" long. If they were bass, they'd be 'keepers'. The goldfish, purchased for $.10 each when they were about 1" long are pushing 10". These are our original purchases. Not one fish croaked. Miraculously.
Orca and Blue have always had tenacity. When the 'pond gang' was new to us, and much smaller, we decided to net them out in Autumn and bring them inside to their Winter quarters: a child's wading pool that we kept in our basement. The wading pool was heated and filtered, and the growing fishies were blissfully happy throughout the Winter. We did the same for the second Winter, even though our two Koi, who were nameless at this point, were quite a bit larger. Larger fish can leap, and that's just what the two koi did during their Winter vacation: they left the safety of their pool to test the land. \
The first time this happened, we were right there, and were able to scoop up our would-be amphibians and put them back in the water. The second time, the koi were not quite so lucky. An unknown amount of time passed before we discovered both koi on the basement floor, dry to the touch and seemingly quite dead. Sadly, we placed them into the pool, barely hoping. We wiggled them back and forth to get their gills moving and ---VOILA! They began to swim, slowly and weakly, but they were alive. That is when they became Jesus and Lazarus.
That same day, we placed netting above the swimming pool to keep our adventurous koi in the water.
The following Winter, we tested their ability to survive as koi are supposed to over Winter. They did swimmingly, and they grew SO big, that their names have been changed to: Orca and Blue.
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