The Pond

When you don’t have the resources to  have something to your liking, you have to make the best of what you have at your disposal.

That of course is true of pretty much anything. Houses, cars, computers, unfortunately this is true of mates and friends as well.  Sometimes.

So, when we built the new pond 21 feet deep and an acre of land, I just can’t put into words the excitement that brought.

My imagination began bringing me images of fishing, first of all.

A nice summer early, early morning 2 or 3 AM, I would go out with an empty plastic butter tub and flashlight and do a little worm hunting. Then about 6 AM go out and do a little bluegill or crappie fishing.  Even if I don’t catch any fish, the sun coming up and putting on its colorful show for me is enough to validate my early morning.  Then when the red winged blackbird starts singing it just adds to the peace.  Of course I could be mistaking their song of peace for one of anger at me stealing their wormy breakfast.  Nevertheless I still enjoy the sound.

Secondly there are my visions of swimming in my glorious pond.

I would build a floating dock to swim out to.  Relax in the sun all day.  The smell of the water.  Looking down into the summer water from my dock or inflatable, with the hope that a fish will swim by.

Thirdly, (and this might be the last point of my little story) I love seeing the little animal footprints.  Remnants that the woodland creatures love the new pond as much as I do.

I just love to see what footprints I can recognize and my imagination tells me the rest of the story.  I can see the little raccoon that walked up to the shore and took a little bath at the edge.  Or maybe he just stopped for a drink and got lucky and a fish swam by.  Enjoyed a little dinner as well as a drink.

The deer prints I see usually tell the story of mom or dad and baby deer.  I can just see them cautiously walking into the pond for a little swim and maybe showing baby.  Watching as baby slips in the mud.

These visions and others justify the money spent building a pond.

There is just nothing like a farm pond.  Not quite as dangerous as a lake, river, or Ocean.  Not as clean either, but  you have to make the best of what you have at your disposal.