Gemma wrote: ↑Sun Oct 16, 2022 10:33 pm Speaking of loss, I no longer have a dog....not getting a puppy either even if it would ease the pain..nope! I have my parrot, 6 hens, my koi pond, and lots of wildlife around me so no more dogs or cats for me...it's not an easy decision though, if I come across the right puppy I will cave for sure

@brokensword how are your fish doing?

awww, sowwy; mrsbrokensword and I send condolences. Our cat crew is relatively new so we're still mourning the last of our first three. I'm sure if you DO 'stumble' across that rescue puppy, you'll do the royal thing and give it a good home! Or kitten; we be equal-opportunity pet rescuers, dontcha know!

No change re fish; the ones with what I think is koi pox are still acting normal, though now that I'm looking a lot closer on the UW cam, I can see it better. Probably because of the colder water (according to the research, it manifests easier then). I'm not looking forward to next spring as I fear it might get worse before getting better. The proform C was administered but no real change that I can see. Three fish have what I think are ulcers while several have 'nodules' in their tails and dorsal fins, which MIGHT be encapsulated parasites or just more pox; I'm not sure. I'm hoping those with the ulcers don't kick it during the winter (very very slow either progression or healing, depending on which fish I'm tracking). Not sure how such cold will affect those with the scale/skin loss. One gin matsuba has had such an ulcer since early summer and I THINK it's grown smaller, so hope for that one. Another, the butterfly ochiba has stayed about the same from midsummer. A couple others have smaller ulcers that also don't seem to do much either way. Definitely has me re-thinking koi, though. I love them but who'd have thought such would happen in my CLOSED system. The pox though would be genetic, I think, from what I read, with two varieties being fatal while the more usual one, more cosmetic and supposedly constrained by warmer water/temps. Again, still learning.

Thanks for the concern, though!

Gemma wrote: ↑Sun Oct 16, 2022 10:33 pm Speaking of loss, I no longer have a dog....not getting a puppy either even if it would ease the pain..nope! I have my parrot, 6 hens, my koi pond, and lots of wildlife around me so no more dogs or cats for me...it's not an easy decision though, if I come across the right puppy I will cave for sure

@brokensword how are your fish doing?

Very sorry to hear this sad news. I won't be getting anymore pets either. Going to concentrate on travel and it's much easier w/o them. Loved them all dearly and would have loved if they had never left but it is what it is and hope to see them all again someday.

Where the heck is everybody? We been stuck in the smoke now forever w/unusually high temps for us in the 80's. Had another fire up the road at the Jim Creek Navy Radio Station but that one was put out in a couple days by Navy fireman. The other Bolt Creek fire still burns on and gives us very unhealthy air quality. Taking care of the g-daughters cat Stormy again for a few days while they go to Disneyland. Have to wear an N-95 mask to go outdoors now as the smoke is so bad. Expecting rain on Friday which we haven't had any forever! Never thought I'd say I would be glad to see it come!
I know this post should prolly be in the weather thread but oh well life goes on kids

j.w wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 5:36 pm Where the heck is everybody? We been stuck in the smoke now forever w/unusually high temps for us in the 80's. Had another fire up the road at the Jim Creek Navy Radio Station but that one was put out in a couple days by Navy fireman. The other Bolt Creek fire still burns on and gives us very unhealthy air quality. Taking care of the g-daughters cat Stormy again for a few days while they go to Disneyland. Have to wear an N-95 mask to go outdoors now as the smoke is so bad. Expecting rain on Friday which we haven't had any forever! Never thought I'd say I would be glad to see it come!
I know this post should prolly be in the weather thread but oh well life goes on kids

I be here, checking ever day but not many are swinging our way. Sorry to hear of your continuing pyro issues, lil Queenie! And you thought Mi was a bit rough and tumble, hey? We've had rainy cold these past few days and one more to be had before our (possibly) Indian Summer gets here to grace us with TWO WHOLE days of nice weather before squishing us under Autumn's rigid thumb! We'll see, not like the weather peeps are very accurate but I've had to actually pay attention this year as they were more right than wrong. Two cold wet days cutting grass/leaves makes me cranky, ya know!!

Been edumacating myself re koi pox and I'm trying an experiment in the basement with one koi I feel might not make it outside in the cold water. Supposedly if you raise the water to 80F, this will go away. We'll see, am working the temp up slowly. Fish is a lot larger than on the cam, coming in at over 11" (tis ANOTHER butterfly version!). Supposedly too, this won't kill them but IS contagious, so I guess ALL my fish will eventually get this as I'm not going to euthanize them. Sucks but not much I can do. One or another of the new fish must have been carriers and this is noticed when the water temp goes cooler, which is when I started noticing this on more than a few fish. The ulcers, I'm not sure (see, I think there's more than just one issue, sad to say) how/what is doing that. I've got 4 fish with these (they act normal at least) and I doubt they'll heal before winter, so that's why next spring is worrisome.

Outlining my next novel in my free time now with less pond responsibilities. A good warm inside job, methinks! My aim is to actually FINISH this winter for a change and not let it go into next winter, but when I get writing, I don't stop the story just because I'm running out of deadline, I just keep on keeping on. The story is over when it's over, and not until then!

One more week after this re my lawns, then a break until the leaves ALL have fallen, then another week cleaning up those that hire me for leaf mulching. All will be done before Thanksgiving, that's the aim.

Keep us updated on how smokey the bear you are up there in yer widdle Annex, hey?

Smoke so bad again today that I think it is up over the 300 range of air quality! Can't see our mountain behind us again today. Praying we get a good smooth, not too heavy rainfall starting tomorrow. Too much and it will flood and wash trees over and create a big mess on the roads.
Woke up this morning coughing up stuff from my lungs. I know I prolly shouldn't be out there riding my bike, I do wear my N-95 mask the whole time and I can't just sit in here. Too boring and soon the rains will come and I won't be riding much as I don't want to get the royal bike wet and rusty. I'll turn to walking when the rains start. Taking care of my g-daughters cat Stormy for a few days as they take a trip to Disneyland for a few days. Have to ride my bike up there to feed and give him his meds while I'm out there riding today. Tomorrow when the rains come I will walk up there.

I'm so very sad this is happening to your beautiful fish. I pray there is something that will help them to survive. I know you are heartbroken but doing the best that you can for them.

Enjoying reading your book and hope you have fun and a relaxing time writing your new one over the winter. Will be nice for you to get that break from all the work you do outdoors. Maybe soon your retirement will come and you can do what you like anytime you choose!

j.w wrote: ↑Thu Oct 20, 2022 5:00 pm Smoke so bad again today that I think it is up over the 300 range of air quality! Can't see our mountain behind us again today. Praying we get a good smooth, not too heavy rainfall starting tomorrow. Too much and it will flood and wash trees over and create a big mess on the roads.
Woke up this morning coughing up stuff from my lungs. I know I prolly shouldn't be out there riding my bike, I do wear my N-95 mask the whole time and I can't just sit in here. Too boring and soon the rains will come and I won't be riding much as I don't want to get the royal bike wet and rusty. I'll turn to walking when the rains start. Taking care of my g-daughters cat Stormy for a few days as they take a trip to Disneyland for a few days. Have to ride my bike up there to feed and give him his meds while I'm out there riding today. Tomorrow when the rains come I will walk up there.

I'm so very sad this is happening to your beautiful fish. I pray there is something that will help them to survive. I know you are heartbroken but doing the best that you can for them.

Enjoying reading your book and hope you have fun and a relaxing time writing your new one over the winter. Will be nice for you to get that break from all the work you do outdoors. Maybe soon your retirement will come and you can do what you like anytime you choose!

well, some would say I 'can do whatever I want anytime I choose' now, ya know? heh heh. I've had winters off for quite a while, so I don't complain about my work. I like keeping busy and that's part of the reason I didn't retire earlier; just don't want to be bored. I have some project that'll keep me occupied enough, initially, and we'll see as I can always 'go back to work' if I want (self-employed) but I'm not leaning that way. My dad died at 66 and for some reason as I approach that, I'm dreading that year. I take better care of myself than my dad, but I just can't help thinking about it, ya know? So, part of me retiring is getting at least some bit of 'summers off' in my life again. In 42 years, I've only taken ONE week off for a vacation. I've taken 3 days sometimes but nothing longer except for that one year. Working by yourself doesn't give you such options, though as there's no one to cover for me.

Glad you're reading the novel and hope you find it entertaining, at least. When I started doing fiction (from poetry), I was better at descriptive passages. After the first two, I dedicated the third to getting better at dialog and the whole book is more or less talking. Helped a lot and now, with this next one, I'm actually thinking it'll be less dialog and MORE descriptive, which will be a change. Gotta sharpen my poetic chops a bit, I'm thinking!

For a place that is always reporting rain, sure can't understand what's happening there by you in the Annex; do you get such dry/smokey/fire spells periodically? Saying a prayer for you and the PNW! It probably ISN'T that good for you to be out in it, mask or not, yer royalty highness majesty! Do be careful, huh? Wouldn't want to have to eat ALL that Godiva by meself, now wouldst I???

The experiment is proving out what I read, so far, as I see some of the pox breaking up/loose. If all goes well, at least I'll know it's not fatal, but my koi will probably have it on them in spring and fall, before the water warms up. I can't possibly heat the pond, which would solve THAT issue. Koi pox looks like waxy spots on the fish and if I'm understanding correctly, nodules in fins and tail. That's the part I'm watching most as I am not sure I have that last part correct and it's not really some parasite encapsulated under the skin/tissue. But the heat seems to be melting those too, so looks like it may be the pox. After he 'heals', then I'll have a problem as I don't want to take him from 80F water into 45F water; for sure that would cause a lot of stress and I'd lose him anyhow. So, it may be he goes into the turtle pool for the winter, or he stays in the aquarium. Thing is, I don't have filtration for it and he's a rather big fish within only about 40 gallons, so the pool prob will be his winter home this year (water there is only 64Fish though, so...

Thanks for the concern, thought; it's mightily appreciated!

Hopefully just one more trip tonight out in this smoke on my bike as I have to go up and feed Stormy his dinner soon. Then the rains will come hopefully tomorrow. We don't usually have this much trouble w/fires but this Summer we had a lot of hotter days w/o much rain at all. Today looked like this in our back yard. !st photo shows there should be a mountain in the background and 2nd today w/all the smoke (no mountain). Reminds me of that old Donavan song "There is a Mountain".






Sounds like your fish might make it! Yay I hope so!

j.w wrote: ↑Thu Oct 20, 2022 11:46 pm Hopefully just one more trip tonight out in this smoke on my bike as I have to go up and feed Stormy his dinner soon. Then the rains will come hopefully tomorrow. We don't usually have this much trouble w/fires but this Summer we had a lot of hotter days w/o much rain at all. Today looked like this in our back yard. !st photo shows there should be a mountain in the background and 2nd today w/all the smoke (no mountain). Reminds me of that old Donavan song "There is a Mountain".






Sounds like your fish might make it! Yay I hope so!

YIKES!

Joy, joy and more joy! It's raining and not just a fine mist! It's a nice steady type and the air looks and smells clean today! Hope it helps put out that darn Bolt Creek Fire now!

j.w wrote: ↑Mon Oct 17, 2022 1:50 am

Gemma wrote: ↑Sun Oct 16, 2022 10:33 pm Speaking of loss, I no longer have a dog....not getting a puppy either even if it would ease the pain..nope! I have my parrot, 6 hens, my koi pond, and lots of wildlife around me so no more dogs or cats for me...it's not an easy decision though, if I come across the right puppy I will cave for sure

@brokensword how are your fish doing?

Very sorry to hear this sad news. I won't be getting anymore pets either. Going to concentrate on travel and it's much easier w/o them. Loved them all dearly and would have loved if they had never left but it is what it is and hope to see them all again someday.

Thanks!You should travel this way...I would give you a very pretty rock if you came over

I'm still working in the yard, we've had a few very nice days here, I'll have more time to check in once the weather gets too cold to be outdoor
ps Does anyone here know a HEALTHY (that actually taste good ) recipe to do with oatmeal?

Gemma wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 9:27 pm

j.w wrote: ↑Mon Oct 17, 2022 1:50 am

Gemma wrote: ↑Sun Oct 16, 2022 10:33 pm Speaking of loss, I no longer have a dog....not getting a puppy either even if it would ease the pain..nope! I have my parrot, 6 hens, my koi pond, and lots of wildlife around me so no more dogs or cats for me...it's not an easy decision though, if I come across the right puppy I will cave for sure

@brokensword how are your fish doing?

Very sorry to hear this sad news. I won't be getting anymore pets either. Going to concentrate on travel and it's much easier w/o them. Loved them all dearly and would have loved if they had never left but it is what it is and hope to see them all again someday.

Thanks!You should travel this way...I would give you a very pretty rock if you came over

Lil Queenie has BEEN ths way before, ain't that riight, yer Mageristry??? And if ya DID wanna slip into the mitten state again, fer sure ya better plan on visiting the humble abode of your lackey knight, brokensword, and of course, your CHIEF mopper, Gemma-du-jour!! snicker snicker!

But, park yer royal coach here in the SUMMER, when we can show ya some fish!! Among other things, hey @Gemma ???