Outdoor Wednesday...fish tales

These are what are left of my goldfish, they been dormant in a tank in the garage all winter but are starting to become more active. I checked the water and it is still very cold so hopefully they will slow down and wait for April to be fed. Yes, I said "to be fed" - did you know that it is harmful for goldfish to eat if the water temp is below 50-55 degrees? They have been in this tank since I took them out of the pond in mid-November and I haven't fed them since around the first of November since the pond was pretty cold then already.
Today's view of the garden and pond makes it look like...
they will have to continue swimming circles in the garage for a while yet.
It has been in the upper 30's & low 40's for a week so the snowpack has really gone done - I would say a foot or more already. Today it is raining so that should speed things along as well so hopefully in a month the pond will be thawed out and running. Looking back at last year's photos the pond was cleaned out and the fish were in by April 18th and green was popping out all over - I can't wait!
I began this post with "this is what is left of my goldfish" - last year my goldfish population took a huge hit - first I was visited daily for a week by this guy in May...
and in June a family of these guys must have had their fill because by late summer we couldn't hardly spot any fish.
There are only 3 large fish left that were part of the 40+ I overwintered last year. All the others you see in the above photos are last year's offspring and 3 of the 5 fantails Nathan & Tammy gave me for Mother's Day.

I know I said I just couldn't wait for the snow to melt and the garden to look like this in April, but...
who am I kidding - this is what I really want after such a long winter!
I'm joining in with our hostess, Susan, A Southern Daydreamer, for Outdoor Wednesday again today. Please click HERE to see her 61st OW post along with the 80+ others participating.

Outdoor Wednesday...a gift

Today is a gift:
A package filled with time,
Beauty, and love.
Inside are thousands of seconds
Waiting to be shared
With family, friends,
Co-workers, one's self.
Today is a gift
Filled with sunshine,
Smiles from strangers,
Tears of goodbye, and
Touches of love.
Today is a gift freely given
To you and to me
With no conditions,
Only that we cherish
And use it well.
(Today Is a Gift, by Vivian Doering)
Another beautiful albeit cold day, filled with sunshine and birds waiting in the early morning light for me to get out and fill the feeders.
Please head over to Susan, A Southern Daydreamer, to view the many other bloggers participating in Outdoor Wednesday. She has beautiful camellia blossoms posted, I just cannot imagine such beautiful blossoms in January!