Been busy these days with the weather and trying to maintain the yard and garden, have some projects to finish and prep the house for painting this year.. Taking this time to do a small blog about my ponds, something I haven’t done in awhile…. Sooooooooooooo, put your troubles aside, pull up a chair, turn on the music and visit a spell..

.. I got interested in home ponds in 1994.. Home ponds was in it’s infancy and it was hard to find information on them and a lot of what I learned was by trial and error.. I wasn’t on the internet then and even the internet was in it’s infancy compared to what it is today.. I had made some phone calls in the area and they directed me to the Corps of Engineers.. Laughing.. I told the people I was wanting to build a small pond in my backyard, not a manmade lake.. Did find a book by Lilypons on the subject, dug a hole in the ground and started.. Most folks these days have what is called a “ornamental” pond.. Mainly for decorative purposes.. Fancy stone is put in the bottom with a fountain or water fall… my ponds are working ponds… the bottoms of the ponds are just like lake bottoms.. Muck and mire.. I use layers of plastic sheeting (often called visqueen) for the liners.. I have two types, one is the pond with the goldfish and the others are called wetland or bog ponds.. Will explain as I go.. This is my goldfish pond..

This pond is roughtly 8 feet by 10 feet and ranges in depth from 9 inches to 36 inches deep.. It is controlled by a circulating pump and filter, it’s main purpose is to put oxygen in the water for the fish, as well as filter out dead algae.. The pump runs year around.. 12 hours a day during spring, summer and fall and 24 hours a day during the winter… the fish stay in the pond year around..

the fish I have, of course, is goldfish.. Some people chose Koi but they need a great deal of care and heat in the winter if they are to stay in the pond.. Goldfish, on the other hand, is hardy and just need to be fed.. Although I do keep an eye out for and possible disease..

and now for my wetland ponds… there are actually three small ponds but made to look like one large pond..

another view…

the maintenance of these ponds are by a natural biological process.. Although I do have a chemical that is environmentally friendly and will not harm animals, insects, fish or plants, it will kill mosquito larvae but I don’t use it unless absolutely necessary.. The west pond..

the center pond with a water lily blooming..

and the larger East pond which is a favorite of frogs and the like…

all these ponds, wetland and goldfish pond, is used by birds, animals, insects, etc.. Also a picture of the arbor I built this week for the wysteria..

and as a final note.. While putting water in the bird baths, etc. encountered this young robin, who evidently just left the nest and still didn’t develop the muscle strength to fly..

I made sure the little bird was put in a safe location and left to the little birds own devices.. Sure the fledgling will be fine… well, that’s about it for this time.. Going to finish up the weekend and get ready for another week, Soooooooooooooo everyone have a smilin' gooooooooooooooooood day full of Peace Love and Happiness and I'll see you next time if the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise....

Going to do a short blog for Memorial Day.. Separating it into two parts.. One the traditional, the second related to my war, Vietnam..

Years ago, when I was young.. I seen a couple of movie about the Charge of the Light Brigade.. I wasn’t into poetry but read the poem about the charge and memorized it… blunders, factors that take place, etc. happen in all wars and this was no exception.. But I thought the poem said it all about the courage and the loyalty of a soldier.. Little did I know at the time that I would have the opportunity to experience being in a position to see if I had that courage and loyalty, although not in a cavalry charge.. I will post part of the poem, the part that sticks out the most in my mind.. The excerpt is from the poem, The Charge Of The Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson..

“Forward, the Light Brigade! Was there a man dismay’d? Not tho’ the soldier knew Some one had blunder’d. Theirs not to make rely, Theirs not the reason why, Theirs but to do or die Into the valley of the Death Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley’d and thunder’d Storm’d at with shot and shell Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death Into the mouth of hell, Rode the six hundred..

I never rode in a cavalry charge but know all about “shot and shell.. That being said I salute all those who have served and/or fallen before me, I salute those who have served/or fallen today, and I salute those who will more than likely serve and/or fallen after me..

Arlington..

Flowers, to brighten your day

May you rest in peace..

and at this time to salute my American brothers in arms… that went to war with me in Vietnam, some who never returned.. Most were kids with dreams.. To be shattered in a heartbeat..

I was a 4 year regular, a volunteer in the United States Marine Corps.. The only branch of the service drafting was the US Army… I was going to dwell on the number of ways a large number of Americans, including leaders of this country past and present, used to avoid the draft and not go to Vietnam, but will not.. Have chosen to pay tribute to those that, unlike my fellow countrymen, went shoulder to shoulder with me in the rice paddies and jungles of Vietnam.. Their governments were not “officially” participating in the conflict and those young men and women were “volunteers” but like the poem.. They were there, maybe small in numbers but they were there..

.. I would like to take this time to thank those men and women who were there with me and to their families for the sacrifice they made.. There may have been others represented but I knew these were there because our paths crossed.. In recognition and to honor them I would like to play their national anthems..

Great Britain..

Austraila

New Zealand

Canada

To those Americans that served and died in Vietnam.. Those from other countries that joined us in battle, served and died in Vietnam.. I salute you!!!!!.. May you rest in peace…..

So, with leaving a song I heard many a time in Nam, I hope everyone, wherever you are, have a wonderful weekend and may it be filled with peace, laughter, love and happiness..

Why are we all gathered around the bird feeder??… We were discussing the holiday you humans use to celebrate the fallen soldiers who have died in wars… Why do humans go to war??.. Let me put some music on, Mrs. Sparrow I will try to explain..

You see it is mainly a clash of ideologies.. Oh they use some grand name to call it to make it a noble cause, to dignify it… that is so it will justify what happens to war in the eyes of many.. An image if you would… to defend democracy, the right to vote, etc… but how is it started???…. Well, Mr. Squirrel, it is usually started by someone who thinks they have superiority over another.. One who is incapable of using diplomacy , usually arrogant.. let me give you an example.. There was a clash of ideologies in a place called Vietnam.. A corrupt government there couldn’t overcome the peoples forces so that government enlisted the aid of a super power, the USA.. Well, thinking of their superiority against someone who fought in black pajama’s and shower shoes, shouldn’t be any problem.. So in they went.. Overtime the USA got a little help from “volunteers” from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, a few Brits and some others.. We thought we where fighting a “noble cause”…. What happened then????… well, Mr. Mouse, the opposing forces seeing the build up against them enlisted aid of their own.. The Soviet Union, China, North Korea to name a few.. Vietnam became a battle ground for opposing forces who could care less about the welfare of the people in that country.. Wait a minute and I’ll put on some more music….

Now where was I???.. Oh yes.. It now became a testing ground for weapons.. Upgrading the club, if you would.. And as the war continued it would become harder to withdraw from the field of battle with honor.. Creatures on the ground, soldiers and civilians alike where to become “cannon fodder”.. And it would drag on because not one of the so called defenders of freedom, those back in the safety of their homes had the backbone to declare a halt to the carnage… so the killing and dying went on.. A war that should have never have been fought, as all wars, the only thing left to determine was how many would die, how many lives would be torn up before the last round was fired.. All war does is spread the seeds of hatred and anger, seeds planted for a war to come in the future.. You can never achieve peace with the use of a bayonet.. All one has done is set up the next generation to have to repeat what the previous generations have done… Will humans ever learn??.. Funny you should ask that Mr. Robin, us humans have asked that same question…

Is there any answer???…. I’m sure there is, Mrs. Cardinal.. Don’t know for sure where it’s at, maybe it’s in the..

Anyway my back yard friends, until us humans realize we cannot achieve security and peace by bombs, bullets and cannon shot.. The dying of many unable to defend themselves will continue,, “in the name of something”.. A cause created by a very few that will destroy the lives and dreams of many who was not given the option to have themselves heard and their beliefs respected.. That sounds a lot like Iraq doesn’t it???… Yes, Mr. Bluejay it does, doesn’t it.. And for generations those that supported war, supported going to war against Iraq, will have to try to explain the justification to the tens of thousands who have suffered and will suffer.. A war that should never have been fought.. A war, started without justification, by and being fought with “arrogance and stupidity”.. And now it’s all about image.. How do we leave the field of battle with honor???..

With all the wise and intelligent mortals we have had over the centuries who could have done so much to help mankind, all we have managed to do is ‘upgrade the club”.. So sad.. Yes, there will be tears shed this coming holiday, not only for the loss of loved ones but especially because for most there was no justification for them to die…

but all is well in our world is it not, my friends???.. Sunny skies, gentle breezes so let’s enjoy it shall we.. It’s off to the garden we go.. Oh, and Mr. Squirrel.. When you bury you food avoid the Grannie’s Bonnet please.. Thank you…. For you know in our little place in the Universe it’s a….

Going to do a blog here while waiting for the temps to warm up.. Saw these two doves out on the fence yesterday

love is in the air and I thought of this song.. Sooooooooooo everyone get on board, pull up a chair and visit a spell..

got a picture of this young dove yesterday before the sleet storms…

and speaking of sleet storms…

going to talk a little about “Turkey shoots” today.. One doesn’t actually shoot turkeys.. One shoots at clay targets and in the good old days when it was first started a turkey (already butchered) would be given out as the prize for the winner.. Today it is usually used for charity events, everyone pays a fee.. The competitors compete for bragging rights and some charity or someone in need gets money, food certificates, etc.. Everyone gets something out of this and no one gets hurt.. Here is a picture of a clay target.. It is a little larger than a hockey puck…

these are used as targets… each target has a degree of difficulty.. And some are timed.. One of the difficulties is the plexiglas obstacle..

I have to apologize for my art work or lack of.. The idea, of course, is to put a projectile through the hole and hit the clay target, attached to a wood pin behind it without hitting the plexiglas.. It can either be stationary or swinging like a pendulum, hence it’s shape.. Most of the time firearms are used but of late to make it more of a challenge, archery has come into play.. Now in the past, I used what is known as a compound bow.. Here is a picture of mine..

I made my own arrows, the ones in the quiver are Port Orford cedar.. I have the equipment to do that.. And the fletching (feathers) are manufactured plastic.. Real ones do not last and are not allowed anyway… well, do to arthritis I can no longer pull the bowstring safely … so the compound is put away… the choice of weapon in it’s place, you ask… give them a hint, Giocchino Rossini, conductor.. Those that remember the Lone Ranger would say it is his theme.. actually it’s the William Tell Overture.. hint hint..

that’s right folks, the crossbow.. here is mine…

the object; to stand 15 paces (45 feet) away from the target and in the offhand position.. Picture below

put the bolt cleanly through the hole and hit the clay target behind it, the result; some needy person or persons will be helped in some manner and I will not only have helped but will have bragging rights.. Everyone is a winner..

Well better get some things done and finish the day.. Here is a recipe if anyone is interested…

Soooooooooooooo everyone have a smilin' gooooooooooooooooood day full of Peace Love and Happiness and I'll see you next time if the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise....

and me and Mr. Stevens agree on this…

Getting ready to get the day started so thought I would post a short blog so you folks didn’t think I got lost or something.. going to have Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong start the show with “Summer Time”, a laid back easy listening song that’s pleasant to listen to in the evenings of summer..

Sooooooooooooooooo put your troubles aside, pull up a chair and visit a spell…

Have been busy these past few days with the pleasant weather slowly helping bring the yard and garden back to life… this will explain why I’m not on here as much.. that and walking and fishing.. Here is a picture of the tulip bed that is coming to life…

and here is a close up picture of some early tulips.. There are a number of different varieties there….

I dig them up about every 3 years, thin and replant… there is 1 ornamental goldfish pond and 3 “bog” ponds.. The fish pond it between 1 foot and 3 feet deep and has live fish in it (as you have seen in previous blogs) the bog ponds are around 10 to 12 inches deep overall with a 18 inch hole for the water lilies… here is a picture of one starting to come up.. these are hardy lilies and stay in the pond year around..

going over to the veggie garden briefly here is a before and after picture of the onion bed that I have been working on for the past couple of days…

I use raised beds in all my gardening because it is easier for me to maintain and I can get a better soil mixture… here is a before and after picture of the potato bed.. You can see the little green stakes that mark the locations of the “hills” so I don’t happen to pull one while weeding when the plant is quite small…

pressing on here is a update photo of the tomato plants I started from seed..

been getting the plants use to the great outdoors before planting them.. That plus the weather we have been having the last 3 days or so is warming than normal… and it will get cold again, after this weekend.. People get in a big hurry to plant because it is warm only for it to get cold and then they have to go to great lengths to protect delicate plants until the warm weather comes back and stays.. There are more plants than I will use so I usually give the left over plants to Shirley, John or someone who wants them… will plant cucumbers and green peppers in about a week, green beans in May.. I will also plant cayenne peppers where I plant my beans, potatoes and tomatoes and the peppers while help keep harmful insects and other creatures away and I don’t have to use pesticides.. I never eat them, too hot for this ole Marine…

here is a picture of a pair of yellow finches at the feeder.. they just showed up the other day..

here is a picture of a cardinal taking it’s turn at the feeder.. There is a red finch and another yellow finch waiting for their turn…

and of course the ground feeders doves, sparrows and other birds right below waiting for the spilled seed to fall to the ground..

Well, I had better scoot.. have things to do before 4 PM when my day is over, all is quiet and I can entertain thoughts and ideas about the past, present and future… Soooooooooooooo everyone have a smilin' gooooooooooooooooood day full of Peace Love and Happiness and I'll see you next time if the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise....

and I disagree with Pat Boone that April Love is for the very young.... I think love is ageless and for anyone… but it is April and love is in the air…