On Opperman's Pond : 23: Only Good Things

On Opperman's Pond : 23: Only Good Things: Greetings OP fans! Although Scout and I haven't posted for a while it doesn't mean we've abandoned the pond or the keeping of it...

23: Only Good Things

Greetings OP fans! Although Scout and I haven't posted for a while it doesn't mean we've abandoned the pond or the keeping of it...we're just lazy bloggers. The winter is upon us and the pond is very active. From the town Zamboni (actually a John  Deere tractor with a plow) to all the pickup hockey games and new skaters. Plus Scout had a Monty Python moment with a cat. Always a little clean-up, so I'm going to request that the town put the trash containers where people actually leave the trash. Maybe magic will happen....

New Skater

Opperman's Zamboni at work

Puck Action

Through the Trees

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow? 

 

On Opperman's Pond : 22: Pond Keeping is Contagious!

On Opperman's Pond : 22: Pond Keeping is Contagious!: Greetings OP Fans! It has been a little while since I've posted but it doesn't mean things haven't been happening at the pond. I...

22: Pond Keeping is Contagious!

Greetings OP Fans! It has been a little while since I've posted but it doesn't mean things haven't been happening at the pond. In late Spring we had a tree fall across the path and our good friend, Steve at Mt. Pleasant Parks and Recreation answered the request to cut more disks. So!!!!! what happens next??? Another Pond Keeper made a path with the disks! Scout and I were blown away in a good way that other people were taking an interest in making the OP better.  

Fallen Tree

Sorry tree but you fell 

Scout on a new path!

 This was excellent news and then...and then...Steve and Matt (self-proclaimed "best looking guys in the office")  from the Highway Department fix the crumbling culvert that drains OP into the Saw Mill River which I suppose is named after the parkway.  

Steve and Matt fixing the culvert to the
Saw Mill River!

Who throws a pane of glass away
at a pond? And misses the garbage pail? 

And then there is still a little clean-up required such as a shattered pane of glass, assorted beer cans, articles of clothing and assorted other items if you were interested forensics.
Two strange items; an MVP hockey puck and a rock with a painting of a fence and dog house. Why and how these are forgotten...makes me wonder...were all the other hockey players really bad so the MVP award is a dubious achievement...and does the other kid paint so many rocks that one more or less won't make a difference and they keep falling off the fridge anyway.        

Found this...maybe next season! 

....maybe next season, too!

Rock art left at the pond

On Opperman's Pond : 21: A New Path

On Opperman's Pond : 21: A New Path: It's been a very wet Spring which had slowed the process of installing the refurbished dock as a raised path through the wetlands at OP....

21: A New Path

It's been a very wet Spring which had slowed the process of installing the refurbished dock as a raised path through the wetlands at OP. The area we refurbished was a mess. People used whatever wood and rocks they found to try and make it passable but it is a major runoff point to the pond and borders one of the natural springs (yes! there are actually 2) that feed the pond.  

Replacing this 

SUV packed and ready to go

I bought river stones at Home Depot to bring to the pond - as if there weren't enough rocks. I mean where else do you go for river stones - why look around a pond?  Also picked up landscape fabric. So the foundation underneath the path is landscaper fabric, river stones and mulch. The mulch was already at OP so I used it.    

It was a mucky job, clearing, digging, regrading, then layering the fabric, stones and mulch. Scout opted out of this adventure.

Overall, I'm happy with how it turned out.

Scout watching from a cool, safe distance
...smart pup 

I've been back to check a couple of times and the drainage is working and the discs used to hold the decking are still in place. Even after yesterday's heavy thunderstorms - all appear sound. Until next time...keep your pond clean

Not exactly level...
we'll let nature do a little work 

20: The Monster Fish of OP

I guess the monthly posting cycle continues but that doesn't mean things have slowed down at OP. I'm getting ready to install phase 2 of the walkway over the muddy part of the path. This winter really did a number on our discs so we have a new solution!  I refurbished parts of my old dock which were replaced a couple of years ago. I replaced the old pieces because they were very splintery for bare feet but thought I could use them for other things (i.e. I made a picnic table out of one - actually it's an extra large table for holding drinks while playing corn hole, wiffle ball or frisbee). Don't judge me.

Refurbished dock ready to go!

  The weather has not cooperated for the installation and then my SUV's rear driver's side suspension dropped off (cudos to Honda - no cost and thankfully it happened when I was alone on a slow turn. Negative cudos to Honda - my freaking suspension fell off!).
However, wildlife abounds at OP.
I had heard the rumor of a 40 pound carp patrolling the pond. Back on April 30th when Scout and I were on our late afternoon walk, we took the video below. I was very excited and saw a Dad and his son fishing on the opposite side of the pond. I asked, "Did you guys ever hear about or see the giant carp of Opperman's Pond?" The Dad, very knowingly, said; "Yeah...I seen it." The throw-away attitude kind of took away the excitement of wanting to show them my video. Then the Kid said; "Hey Dad! You caught it once...right!?" Dad, somewhat deflated, replied; "Nope."   And then they walked away without looking at my video.    

 There have been more families at the pond on nice days which is great to see and the amount of excess trash (I suppose it is excess because it is not placed in the bins) has reduced dramatically! I can barely fill a standard sized grocery store bag when I used to fill an entire 30 gallon trash bag. Progress!    Next time: the tale of the new walkway...

Families enjoying OP on a beautiful day 

1st catch Blue Gill...always a barbless hook
for easy release

Gillie school

Ever the watchful turtle