| Absolutely Beautiful!
Dick,
You have just articulated the core of the hobby for me!
The feeling of enjoying the pond and the wildlife it brings, the sound of the water, the grace of watching the koi swim. It's what brings us back again and again, even with all the problems and headaches that crop up.
What makes me read and learn to improve my pond, is the affection I have for the fish.
I've had some problems with preditors to the point that when my fish hear something unusual they hide and stay there...unless I stomp my foot in the way I do when I feed them. Then they all come rushing out...oooh it's the food person! I've even trained them to two stomps, 1-2-3, three times means " food", 1-2-3 just once means "no food, but it's just me, no need to be scared".
I swear when I do the second stomp they come out just to see, not as excited as the 3Xs stomp, but still relaxed and obviously realizes that it's not a raccoon or heron or even a stranger human, but the food person and a friend. I do the second stomp when I need to do maintenence and they don't get stressed. Maybe I'm fooling myself but they seem pretty well conditioned to my stompings.
Anyway, it's this affection for the fish that makes me clean the filter even when I'm tired and don't want to. Or to plan to spend a ridiculous amount of money to give them a better home! |