Attack!

One morning a week or so back, I took my morning coffee outside and sat on the bench next to the pond to feed my fish.  I immediately noticed that all of the potted water plants were upended, and all the floating plants were dislodged and had moved into the mouth of the skimmer.  There were roots and pieces of plants everywhere.  Absent was the roiling knot of fish that normally greets me as soon as the green fish food bucket is in sight.  I could see dashes of orange and black and yellow and white hiding under the water lilies, but not a fin or scale would venture out.  That damned blue heron - the one that tried to land on the porch roof last month - had surely paid a visit to my pond.  They never forget where to find a meal.  Most of my fish are now a good 8" to 10" long.  It's a wonder a heron would even try!

I tossed a handful of food onto the water. Eventually one fish dashed upward and snatched a mouthful.  Following suit, another whizzed across the surface and disappeared back to the lily roots.  One by one, they mustered the courage to come out of hiding.  I counted them. Two large fish were missing, and none of the little ones had appeared at all.  One orange fantail goldie was stuck on the bottom with only one side fin moving..  drifting off kilter, fluttering up an inch, and sinking again.  A puncture wound was visible on it's left side.  I was sure it was a goner.  It's months away from leaf time, but Hubby and I put the netted dome over the pond anyway.  It makes me sad to know the dragon flies can't get to the blooming pickerel weed, though I notice the bees and skippers have no trouble getting through the netting.  And the frogs just keep on croaking..  I think they can just crawl under if they want out.  (Yes "they".  There are now two of them.) 

The fish have recovered from their trauma.  I know this for sure because they are dashing out from under the lilies as soon as they see me with the green bucket. They following me around the edges of the pond until they form that tight ball of motion where I toss their food.  The rocks on the right side of the falls slid into the water, probably loosened by that big bird tromping around on the edges looking for a way in.  So I donned my highly fashionable waders, and into the pond I waded.  As soon as I was fully in the pond there were a dozen curious, brightly colored shubies swimming in and out of my legs and bumping into me.  I have to shoo them away from my arms and hands while I lift the rocks out of the pond.  Silly fish.  But the really good news is that one of the missing fish and all the babies have reappeared.  The other missing fish, a black fantail goldie that I had nicknamed "Ghost", is clearly gone.  The orange fantail goldie is back to her old self, though, waddling through the water as only a fat fantail can.  But now she sports a half inch long beak tattoo on her left side.

I am on a new kick..  a new knee thing.  I started using the recumbant bicycle to strengthen my knees when I discovered that biking on a real bicycle didn't hurt them, but in fact actually made them feel much better in the days after.  Walking hurts. Standing too long without moving them hurts.  Sitting too long without moving them hurts. Then I found this book by Richard Bedard called Saving My Knees; How I Proved the Doctors Wrong...    Now I'm not a doctor, and I can't say this will work for everyone, but wow!!  He is describing to me what I am finding through my own experience!  Only difference is, he didn't have the arthroscopic surgery like I did.  Still, I am hopeful.  In the last couple of weeks I've noticed a marked improvement, and I've started a knee diary.  Time will tell, but I'm very optimistic.  He also has a website and a blog..  I recommend anyone with knee pain to give it a read.  http://www.savingmyknees.com/