It’s actually been a while since I moved woodchips, but since it’s been too hot outdoors to make too much progress, here are some pictures. 

The woodchips after the latest work:

 

 

What the pond is looking like now:

 

The woodchips and some of the slate from the front (plus moss from everywhere) was used to make this little patio.  It’s not perfect, but at least we don’t feel like we’re going to slide down into the pond anymore:

 

A small sample of the numerous baby fish.  The big ones you see are the koi, Kyle and Sam, and Bruce, one of the shubunkins.  So far, we know there are at least 15 babies, but they’re small and fast, so we can’t get an accurate count.

 

And, of course, this is all incidental, because the real purpose of the pond (and, in fact, everything we do) is to please the cats.

 

It is supposed to be absolutely deadly today. And tomorrow. And Monday. I’m heading off in search of heavily discounted trees (we had two more taken down yesterday – mulberry trees are even worse than choke cherries; not only do they drop tons of berries that you can’t clean up, but they are beloved even above dog poop by houseflies. Ick.) There’s also a block party around the corner. Other than that, we’re staying indoors, probably will take the kids to the movies tomorrow.

Yesterday wasn’t so bad. Went to the Ocean County Fair, and it was quite fun for me and the kids to see all the animals. It really lets you know you’re in a much more rural area when you see a 4-H thing so big, and several of the chapters are right in your town. I feel bad for the kids and animals, though. Today and tomorrow won’t be much cooler under the tents.

Nothing right now, even though there’s so much.  We’re off to music lessons shortly.  I’m still achy from an endometrial biopsy – ah, the joys of getting older and needing more and more tests!  Thunderstorms are threatening, which is good, because the pond is a little low and it’s a day I’m allowed to water the lawn, so we won’t have to buy all that water.  After music lessons, we’ll start on some housecleaning and costume-making.

I’m investigating classes at Georgian Court University and Monmouth University – gotta get those Spanish skills back up to date, but also found out that GCU has a post graduate accelerated teaching certification program that gives multiple certifications, which would help quite a bit, if the schedule’s OK.  A fellow student in my Substitute Teacher Training seminar goes there and had a lot of good to say about the program.  I think it’ll come down to money as much as schedule, though.  When I went to college as an undergrad, it was $33 a credit.  It’s almost 200% higher than that in some places.  Pretty darned scary, that.