What a difference a day makes

[Jackie Ramo]

Yesterday the pond was fully open. Well today speaks for itself and yes it is that dark out there this morning

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/DSC00347.JPG

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/DSC00348.JPG

[Terri]

B-brrrrrrrrrrr

it's about this time of year I wish I lived someplace warm - really warm LOL

[clm]

Jackie, have you ever had trouble with your dogs wandering out onto the ice? Mine's covered this year, so no problem, but in previous years I've always had to fence it off so the dog wouldn't wander off on to it. Mind you he's a spitz type breed who loves the cold, but it didn't help him any when he went through one year and the hubby had to get him out because his fur was weighing him down to much to get out himself.

Cindy

[flywheel]

Too bad the pond can't look like that without the cold, say maybe 85 and sunny sippin' a pina colada. :frisbee:

clm, my goldens had to be taught the pond is off limits, only because they were spooking the fish. I let them go in any water with ice but no current and they always get right out, different coat type though.

Ron

[Jackie Ramo]

Buddy went in twice last year when we first got him. Thought he'd take a short cut across the pond to chase the birds. Because he was new I was outside with him. He got to the middle and splash!! He tried swimming back but the ice would not break. I decided to lean out and break the ice for him while leaning on a rock at the edge.... My hand slipped and I went in up to my shoulders, man that was cold but it broke the ice enough for him to swim to me and be pulled out. We spent the morning by the fire warming up.

Silly dog in the after noon went in again. Trying to again take a shortcut but this time to me. He did not go across the middle this timebut around the edge. Almost made it but went in near the skimmer. Only half waythis time and he was easily rescued. He looks at the pond now but I've never even seen him drink out of it :lol:
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/buddy.JPG

Skipper OTOH hates the cold

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/skipper.JPG

[Jackie Ramo]

Ron,neither of these 'waterdogs' like the water but our oldgirl Amber loved to swim it was hard not to let her go in the pond. She'd cry at the edge when I went in. That was a signal that she could go in our friends pool, once some one went in she could go but not without a human.

[clm]

Cute dogs Jackie....I'll post a pic of my Yogi when I get home. Yogi will drink out of the pond, but doesn't like swimming....my first dog, same breed, also didn't like swimming. Supposed to be "Dutch Barge Dogs", I guess only for staying on the barge, not swimming behind it LOL. I'm surprised your poodles aren't water nuts. That's a good thing though....I'm sure the fish are a whole lot happier our dogs don't like swimming.

Ron, Yogi knows the pond is off limits, but all his training goes right out the window if he thinks he's not being watched or no chance of getting caught. Quite funny to watch him when he's trying to be sneaky. Always looks so surprised if you catch him when he was so sure you weren't around.

Cindy

[clm]

Here's a pic of Yogi. Not a great one, but the only one I can find right now.

[Jackie Ramo]

What a handsome guy!!! I think that fur would drown him in the pond though. I can see why you kept it fenced.

[marla]

Well Jackie, looks like you got what we have. Been snowing here all day, but not accumulating to much, which is fine by me. More snow to come the next few days off and on maybe. Cute pups everyone, even though I miss ours, I'm not sure I'm ready for another yet, the 3 remaining cats keep me busy.

[Jackie Ramo]

3 kitties are a handful. It was a beautiful day here today, nice sunshine and a touch above freezing. A hole in the ice so I could peak at the fish. Algae grew over night again it seems.

The dogs had chicken pizza to celebrate Skippers 13th bday and Buddy's one year adoption day.

[flywheel]

Here are my non-ponding goldens. Of course they will still try to sneak in if they think I'm not looking. I finally bought them their own kiddie pool which seems to help.

Ron

[clm]

Your goldens are very pretty. I wish I had room for more dogs.

Marla, I have cats as well. 4 of the little monsters. 3 adults and 1 around 6 months old that's a real handful.

Can't wait for spring to be able to spend more time with the wet pets though.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

A handsome pair Ron. Goldens are great dogs. The biggest problem is that tail... knocks over the wine glasses on the coffee table :grin:

Where are the kitty pictures ladies????

[clm]

Ok Jackie, here are some cat pics, Squeakie the brat, Gabby the tabby, Max the knife and the neighbors cat who eats and sleeps at my house, Crystal the pistol and my sweetest cat Mookie the brick.

[Koidaddy]

A handsome pair Ron. Goldens are great dogs. The biggest problem is that tail... knocks over the wine glasses on the coffee table :grin:

Where are the kitty pictures ladies????


... and trust me, that would be a problem for Jackie!

KD
:smile:

[Jackie Ramo]

:lol: Absolutely, after all the rule of the house is, If you spill it you get no more!!!

[clm]

Well, with all this really cold weather, and neighbors who don't have much sense when it comes to their cat, I've had to deal with all 5 cats that I've posted pics of on page 1 inside the house for most of this week, and unfortunately, they don't all like each other that much. Mookie, Squeak and Gabby are purely indoor cats and love each other, but Max, who is at least twice the size of all the others, doesn't like other cats, so he has an apartment set up in the basement with a litter box and a couch with a down blanket, plus loads of food and water, boy can that cat eat.
The neighbors cat Crystal, I've set her up with her own room upstairs with her litter box and a bed and again loads of food and water.
The outdoor kitties are both pretty tough, but even they can't stand the cold, I have 3 outdoor houses for them too, each with a down or velour blankie in them too, and they use them if we're out and they can't get in the house.
One of them actually has a cat I haven't seen before sleeping in it tonight, my husband will flip if this one decides to call our house home too. :eek:

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

Is Crystal just vsiting or has she moved in. Maybe the neighbour will take the new cat

[clm]

For now the neighbours still take Crystal for her vet checks and shots, she comes and goes here as she pleases. I've had these neighbours for over 20 years and they're not pet people, wonderful neighbours though....it was one of their adult kids who moved back home that got Crystal. I think it's all the little grand kids that come to visit there that drive her away most of the time...most cats find the high voiced active kiddies too much.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

Many cats find any visitor too much. :wink: unlike dogs who love visitors, well mine do at least.

I wonder how my parents are doing. They are moving today and have the cat in the car for a couple of hours journey to the new house. Notice, I did not volunteer to take him. I gave him to them years ago and he even hides when I visit. This cat lived with me and the dogs for over a year while a kitten.

[Peg]

Talk about what a differance a day makes? Yesterday no ice on the covered pond. To day the pond has a nice clear layer of ice. still open around the de icer and bubbler. Temp was sitting at about 4C or 38F. Love to see all the critters, keep the pics comming.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

I thought with the warmer temps yesterday the ice on the waterfall would melt but it thickend!

[clm]

I can see inside the cover enough to see that the water level is still fine and that there's just a smidge of thin ice around the front edge. Looks like we're going back into the deep freeze for a while. At least we have snow cover for the garden.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

Just interested in whether the water is still open under the cover after the last deep freeze.

[marla]

Got home last night, after a long cold 4 day weekend in upper Michigan with my sisters and a daughter ( our annual scrapbooking weekend) just as cold there as here. Was late and dark, and the pond had lightly frozen over the bubbler, I know I shouldn't have, but I gave it a quick tap with the flashlight to break it, it was late and I was tired. Today I went out with the boiling water twice and opened it up more (now a good 1 1/2' circle), hoping it will be good through the night. Today's low was -19F( is that like -30 something celsius?) and that's not with a wind chill. Going to stay like this for the week.

[Jackie Ramo]

If it would break with a tap of the flashlight I doubt any harm was done. Its banging away with a hammer that shocks them and stresses them. Although I've read of folks cutting out blocks with a chain saw with no ill effects to the fish.... I think it depends on how healthy the fish are to begin with.

It sure is cold. Need I remind you I hate winter !rofl

[Peg]

WOW! want to talk about the differance a day makes. Yesterday we got 1 1/2 feet of snow. This morning we got a good 3 feet. Dan went to the pond to check the fish for me and the snow on the back deck was to his waist and hes a good 6 feet. The fish are doing good. The pond is still not frozen over completly under the cover. Heres a few pic of all the snow. Its Free! Just come get it !rofl

[Jackie Ramo]

I was thinking of you while Owen Sound weather made our news tonight. Nasty white stuff, keep it. :-P I also found out that Baffin Island was 5 degrees C warmer than we were today. Doesn't seem right.

[Terri]

Holy crap Peg!!! I won't complain then about our 1/2 ft of snow !rofl oops sorry

Ahhh *sigh*,... winter sucks when you're all grown up :( Spring, I want spring, green grass, blooming flowers, and even the rain.

[Peg]

I'm with you on that Terrie. We hardly got any winter till now and I'm sick of it already.I want to play with my fish :sad: Nasty white stuff is right Jackie. Should be called nasty white S#&T :grin:

[marla]

Warmed up here a bit, only about 1F(-17C) with the wind chill at -9F(-23C) it seemed like spring. The large hole I melted stayed open through the night, but did get smaller. Melted more before and after work, shoud be good through the night. As cold as it has been, it's been trying to snow, all of maybe 2", glad it wasn't as much as you got newbie. We should be up in the double digits (F) by Mon.

[Jackie Ramo]

We got a few flurries as cold as it is. The wind is terrible. The dogs are restless and can't understand why I won't take them out.

The mourning doves huddle at the back door under the covered patio overnight to keep warm. Sheltered by two walls and the roof with a nice little rug to help keep their feet warm. Stupid squirrels are still up and eating the sunflower seeds.

[marla]

Not much moving around here, crows and I caught this pair of juncos near the feeder, pretty glooming this morning
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/grandmavis/Jan07002.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

You're brave to venture out Marla. But you pic reminds me I need to go out and feed the poor birds and check the suet. Sunny here but cold

[marla]

Not so brave Jackie, I was half inside the front door, just opened it a smidgen. Sunny here also cold, but not to bad back up in the double didgits, 11F. Heating some water going to make the pond opening a bit bigger, really not necessary but makes it easier for the birds, deer etc. that visit, I'd rather not have them walking on the pond, standing on the outer edge is enough.

[Jackie Ramo]

I'd certainly not want deer standing on the pond. Its funny to see the squirrels and mourning doves with their heads inside the skimmer to get a drink

[NaturesCall]

Not much moving around here, crows and I caught this pair of juncos near the feeder, pretty glooming this morning

I think they ar ethe cutest little things...that and chickadees...:)

[Peg]

These first 2 pics are in the summer. The next 2 are taken from the same spot to-day

[carcha koi]

Peg I Like The First 2 Pics, The Other 2 Remind Me Of Home. When Is It Going To Stop Gd Snowing?

[Peg]

Here is the pond cover in December and to-day. the next 2 are in side the cover Jan28th and to day

[Peg]

My poor babies :( I'm with you Chris, we've had snow non stop now. It started Sunday, and from the pics you can tell it's still SNOWING. I've had enough, It can stop any time now :mad:

[Jackie Ramo]

In spite of the cold and snow the water is still mostly open. I'm impressed with just that bit of plastic.

[Peg]

I have to admit, Jackie so am. as you know it has been very cold a night -17
-20 and the wind has been wicked. Turned out to be a good winter after all to test it out. Looks like hell in the yard but it will go up again next winter thats for sure. will be interesting in the spring to see how much it helps warm the water.

[Jackie Ramo]

I'm sure it will extend your season by a few weeks. Ice will clear faster as it won't be as thick.

[Peg]

Well after plowing (more like swimming ) through almost 5' of snow and moving 3' away from the cover I got in to check the fish to-day. I can't see them as they are at the back under the ice. I am however impressed with how well the de-icer and air pump have worked this winter. The hole around the de-icer has closed a little more, but not by much & considering we were at -20C yesterday & -30 with the wind chill I have to say it was a good investment to make. I hope everyone is doing OK with the cold and snow. Hang on it won't be much longer now :)

[Jackie Ramo]

Oh the joys of living in the snow belt!!! We got 6 inches but it drifted making it seem so much more. Course every Toronto driver completely forgot it was winter in Canada and there were accidents everywhere.

Pretty even so
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/birdbath.JPG

Yes, there is a pond there somewhere
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/pond2%20feb%2014.JPG
http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/pond%20Feb%2014.JPG

[carcha koi]

HI JACKIE
NICE PICS. BUT THAT ISN'T SNOW, WE CALL THAT A DUSTING !rofl !rofl

[Jackie Ramo]

So true Chris, but note, I wasn't complaining, I was bragging !rofl It was melting today!!! more bragging :smile:

[Peg]

I wish we were that lucky. It was melting here today as well, just not fast enough for me. Came late, hit hard and can leave any time now.

[Jackie Ramo]

Sprng is coming!!! just wait :smile: