One of our main activities, this late November, has been the construction of a small pond in our back garden.
This is one of those many things that Ross and I have been talking about doing for about five years now. Intially, it was all tied up with the development of the out houses. Ross wanted an outside studio with potter's kiln, etc. Frankly, I don't think that we are ever going to have the money for that sort of activity whilst we are here in Crosby.
So, we've opted for something a little less extensive and a little more achievable.
Given the light and sandy nature of the soil in this neighbourhood, digging the hole
presented few problems. It's not like hefting spadefuls of clay around the show. So,
my back survived the activity with little or no strain.
Jemima liked this game. She has great admiration for
the way that humans devise ingenious games for cats.
Nutkin kept a respectful distance and worried
about the change.
Once the hole was dug, we lined it with sand just as in the text books. Jemima liked
this game too. It was another wonderfully ingenious game devised by humans especially
to entertain cats. Nutkin kept a respectful distance and worried about the change.
Then we placed the pond liner in the hole and began to fill it with water. Jemima
liked this game too but was uncertain about the need for the water. Nutkin kept a
respectful distance and worried about the change.
Once the water levels had settled, we started placing stones around the edge of the pond.
We shall introduce oxygenating plnts at some point and some nice colourful plants around
the borders. I'm keen on cyclamens. We've introduced these elsewhere in the garden and
they are wonderfully bright in the winter gloom. Jemima wasn't too fussed by the final
product. Nutkin thinks that it is great. He is really pleased that we have produced
such a big drinking bowl for him and considers it to be a personal challenge to drain
it as soon as he can.