This is what I've been doing to keep my mind clear
 

Since coming home from vacation I've been building Jim's pond with my boys and neighbors. It's helped immensely to have something to keep my mind busy and off all that has happened with my mom. I think she'll enjoy it if she comes up to live with us. The pond is right off our bedroom so Jim can enjoy it and hear the water. Very therapeutic labor. :wink:

The pond is now finalized except to add the color disc's to the lights. Our neighbor has a friend who wants to submit the pond for his magazine and website. Apparently a pie shaped pond is unique. :D

The hole:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...d/102_0583.jpg

Installing the liner:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/Pond/037.jpg

Fish caves:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/Pond/038.jpg

Neighbor contemplating what is the next step:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/Pond/039.jpg

Pavers in and mulch laid:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/Pond/001.jpg

Final product with plant boxes attached to deck, plants planted and water features going. Oh and yes, that is Chicago Cubs Ivy growing on the spindles :D:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/Pond/013.jpg

Night time view:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/Pond/011.jpg

simply beautiful. simply beautiful.

Sandy it came out beautifully! It must be nice and relaxing just sitting near it and enjoying it.

I want one!! :hissyfit: :D

Really nice job! It sure would be a good place to relax.

gmi

Sandy, you and your boys did a wonderful job making this pond! You must be so proud! I'm sure Jim loves it and it means even more to him because you and the boys did it. Thanks for sharing it here with us. :)

I just love it Sandy....I hope you two have many an enjoyable morning/evening, contemplating your beautiful pond..:)

Oh that's just beautiful Sandy! You and the boys did a great job!! :hug: Are you going to put some fishies in it?

Very nice! :Tip-Hat:

Wiz, there are 36 goldfish in it now to help get the biological stuff going. It was expected that some would die but none have yet. The neighbors think we have blessed water. lol

lovely, just lovely..........good job Sandy!

Big thumbs up for your finished pond! Love the froggie!

Beautiful...want to come do one for all of us? lol

I have a granite supplier...

Beautiful, Sandy! I love your pond.

What can I say? I think others have already said it! It's just beautiful, Sandy! Congrats to you and yours. Enjoy it!

Water features have been done to death. But yours is really outstanding. I like the way the color of the brick compliments the color of the deck, how it sits right off your seating area, and the shape of it. Not too big, not too small.

Looks like it was meant to be there. Very well done. And the plantings are just right, too.

Are you gonna have a pond party, to show it off?

:cool:

How fantastic. well done. it's beautiful. really really beautiful. :hug:

:D Well, I can be persuaded. :D

Oh and those pavers? They were discontinued and only cost 85 cents each! Loved that!

That froggie has been named Jeremiah. :p

I'll bring some 'brats' for the grill if you can rustle up someone to cook em...

I said uh beef hot links! I said uh beef hot links!

:)

I guess he's bringing the wine then.

:cool:

I must admit that I first thought the title said you have been doing this to keep your mind clean....

I do love the pond! I wasn't sure how it would turn out when I saw the pie shaped hole, but it is gourgeous. You are quite an amazing lady, do you know that?



Jeremiah was a bull frog, he was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said but I helped him drink his wine

I'm singing joy to the world....

BTW, we saw Three Dog Night live in concert on the 4th of July. They are still quite amazing.

Thanks! We haven't had any frogs yet but my neighbor said that is a sign that the pond is nature approved. We're waiting patiently.

COOL!!! I love it! What a great place to sit and relax.

*tkrik calling airline to get tickets to Sandy's to sit by her pond to relax and enjoy.*:D

We'll leave the light on. :D

My DD has had a few frogs in her pool..:D

How nice! You did a great job!

Wow Sandy very nice.....I just called hubby in to show him the pics. He said, " guess thats my next project?" I told him ofcourse! He walks away saying "gee thx Sandy" lol...he's gonna start on it next week. We have a huge catfish pond on the back of out property (5 acres) and I love to hear the frogs croaking at night or after a rain. You'll probably get some cute little rainfrogs soon.

:p:p:p:p Tell him he'll love it! The same thing happened to me when I saw my friend's pond in Kentucky. :p

If you don't mind me asking......about how much $$ does it cost to build one of these ponds? Can you get everything you need from a Home Depot or Lowe's store?

My youngest son loves doing things like this and we have the perfect place for one.

Thanks! :)

I don't know about cost, but I have seen pretty much everything you need for pond making at Home Depot and Lowes. At our stores, they have a whole section in the nursery area.

It cost me more than I wanted but that's what happens when your neighbor says to buy this, but that. LOL

The main items you need are liner, pump, pavers and decoration. I got my pavers for 85 cents each. BIG bargain. Buy a little at a time. I bought here and there. That's why it took so long to get it done. I spent a total of $1450 (all materials, plants and fish) for mine but like I said it can be done much cheaper. My liner and pump are top of the line and that's where your money needs to go. I needed a good one because of how cold it gets here. You can probably get a hard liner or soft since it doesn't get as cold there. lol Mine had a thickness of .45ml and was made by Firestone.

You can get everything you need at Lowe's or Home Depot and that's where I'll be going from now on. My neighbor had it in his mind that certain things needed to be bought on line so I didn't know better. lol Oh and get your plants early in the season. Our big box stores didn't have anything good left for perennials so I had to buy from a nursery. Ugh.

I caught part of a show one day where they were buying koi for their pond. I could not believe those things were so expensive - did they say 30 bucks each or did I hear wrong?

:eek:

I'm sorry, no way could I pay that. A goldfish is a goldfish. I'd go get feeder fish for a dime a piece. Saves them getting eaten by an oscar. And they'll get just as big.

I have simple goldfish, no Koi because of that. I would die if one died after paying that kind of money. lol My goldfish cost 27 cents each. :wink:

Kitty, I forgot to mention you can do a simple rock pond too and you wouldn't have to really dig much. You can also make the pond ground level and only need one layer of pavers. There are so many ways to do it at a reasonable price. We did ours the way it is so Jim could roll right up to the pond and enjoy it from the deck.

I'm thinking how lovely it would be to have one of these in my yard to sit and enjoy. While it's true that you can have someone build one for you, how much time and effort has to go into maintaining this pond?

I would have to hire someone to maintain it..:eek:...Same thing with a pool. I hate this disease..:mad:

From what my neighbor told me daily feeding is the most you do. The filters are simply taken out and rinsed once a year or twice if it's nasty. BUT, you have to lay across the rocks to grab the filter in my pond. You can dig the hole with a ledge though so the filter can be placed on it to make it easier.

I added clams and snails yesterday to help clean up the murk.

We used to have a 40 gallon aquarium with two goldfish (Goldie and Elmer) they were the Walmart 27 cent type. :) They grew to be mammoth in a few years, about six inches long each, like a small lake bass. :eek:

We also had two bottom cleaners (Hoover and Kirby) that ate all the poo and scrubbed the sides of the tank.

Goldfish can be mess makers since they grow so fast, so you might want to clean the pump twice a year. ;) :)

Hoover and Kirby!! :ROTFLMAO::ROTFLMAO::ROTFLMAO:

Sandy,
 

Just now reading this thread. So happy for you. You are so lucky to have your boys to help you. It is beautiful! :hug: