Can't believe it's been a week since my last blog. Things have been very busy at the store. Both of my pond cleaners gave me last minute resignations. I was able to get two new cleaners, but it took a few days. We are on track now, and the cleanings are getting done. That is a load off my mind. We have been getting our fish stock up. Slowly building it up so not to overwhelm the system. I had to drive to the Baltimore/Washington International airport to pick up floaters. They are now ready to sell, after three days of remaining in the shade. I just not sure the water is warm enough for customers to put them in their ponds. The bunnies are getting bigger. I saw one yesterday and it was double the size from a week ago. They really grow fast. Hopefully the weather will be ok today, as they are calling for possible rain. Love this busy time of year.

Another busy Saturday

Today is another very busy Saturday. Although it's cold and windy, it hasn't seemed to stop people. This week my 40+ year old fork lift died. I had to buy another one, fortunately I stumbled across a real good deal. I got it and was only without one for less than 24 hours. It's so much nicer than the old one-automatic, power steering, lights, back up horn, all the bells and whistles. All the baby bunnies left the nest this week. There are four of them. They have scattered all over the yard. They are so cute running around. Time to get back to customers.

Rabbits!

I was hanging up the "open" sign, and noticed at my feet, an interesting clump of rabbit hair. I knew right away what it was. Once again a rabbit built her nest right by the road. I took a stick and moved the mulch a bit, and all the little bunnies started to move around in the nest. Can't wait to see the little ones come out for the first time.

I love weekends!

We had a nice week all in all. Yesterday was absolutely crazy. From the minute we opened, to the end of the day, we were almost non-stop. The weather was perfect, and customers were out in droves. Four of us handled things fine, and we still were able to get to things done. I believe today will be the same, busy, busy, busy! I love it.

Mondays don't get me down.

Today I placed orders, cleaned filters, and cleaned out one of the greenhouses (all between customers). We are starting to work on plants. I had to pick up soil for planting purposes. It was a long day, but we got a lot done. Matt was off from school today, so we put him to work. Amy helped customers and worked in the greenhouse as well. Oxygenators are coming later this week, and hopefully floaters the following. Keep the warm weather coming!

First Week Down

It has been a great week for us. The weather was very cooperative, and it brought so many people out. Easter weekend helps too. The grounds are starting to look nicer, and so are the ponds. The fish are all up, and wanting fed. We brought in fish for the weekend to sell. I was amazed how many we sold today. The tadpoles and snails were a big hit as well. Everyone wants plants too, but it's way too early for most of them-a couple more weeks people. Tomorrow is Easter, and we will celebrate it at Amy's parent's house. Always good food to be had. Happy Easter everyone.

Opening Day

Today we officially opened. It was a beautiful day and it really brought out the people. We were extremely busy and the customer flow was almost non-stop. I love days like that. Matt and Nicole worked hard, and we got a lot of things done. We started an email mailing list. I'm surprised how many people want to be on it. Many are excited about our live web cams. I hope people enjoy viewing them, as I have had working on them. Tomorrow is another day...........

Final Preparations

Final preparations are under way. I finished up my last construction projects, and can now focus on the store. Today I have drive to Baltimore to pick up some inventory. The store is basically ready, just a few last minutes things to do. Both Matt, my son, and Nicole will be with me tomorrow to help get things off the ground. Ryan, my other son, will be going out with Larry, my pond cleaner, to clean a pond in Harrisburg tomorrow. I also need to pick new business cards today. Everything is coming together perfectly. I'm always very excited to get things off the ground every Spring. I really enjoy my job.

Temporary opening day.

It has been such a nice string of days, that I have decided to open the store tomorrow. I will still open officially on the 27th. Many customers have come in while I'm getting things ready. They are anxious. It's nice to make sales when we aren't even officially open. Let the wonderful weather continue!!!!!

12 days and closing

I have less than two weeks to get the store open. Most everything is priced, stocked and ready to go. I have to get the fish system up and running, and the quarantine system as well. We've had four days of rain, and I'm quite tired of it. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get some things finished. The fish started to feed the other day, and you can see how they have become active on my web cams. The water is a little cloudy, due to the rain, and things generally getting stirred up. This issue will clear up hopefully in a few days.

Not far off now!

The water temperature is starting to warm up. One can tell because today is the first day the fish are starting to swim around the whole pond. It's great to see them moving around after a long winter. The snow is melting, the ground is sloppy, and I'm happy to see all of this. I even had a customer call today to meet me for a purchase. Sweet!

It's nice to walk through the greenhouses and see all the life coming up through the water. The frogs jump from the tops of the pots, back into the water. I love that. There are three very large bull frogs in one of the pond skimmers. I will be taking them out and putting them in the greenhouses. They will be happy to know that Spring is just around the corner. I can't wait for Spring, it's one of my favorite seasons. My busy season is just upon me.

Spring time clean up continues

Today I finished fixing the shed, almost like new (at least as good as it's going to get). What a pain. The lower grounds are nothing but a swamp right now because of all the melting snow. I'm glad it is melting away. It will soon be time to start trapping cats again. My next repair project because of the snow: repair the fish system shelter that almost fell over. It's currently being held up with ropes, a tree, and a come-a-long. Matt, get the concrete!

Shed Raising

Today I spent about an hour trying to rebuild my structure that collapsed from the weight of 3' of snow. I was able to get it up again, but it will need some further work. At least I can now put my tractor back in it.

The turtles, in the big tank inside the store, are glad the store temperature is warming up. They are starting to feed again, as well as the Koi that are in there. Only a few more weeks until opening day. Hurry up Spring!!!

I spent the day getting the last of the boxes unpacked and placed on shelves. Hooked up the second pump, the waterfall pump, the other day. It's nice to see the waterfall running again. Now most of the ice is melted. I hooked up the overview camera so now everyone can watch the fish as they come out of hibernation. I'm excited to see this and hope my customers are also. Hopefully, no more snow will add to the 3 1/2' we got recently.

Clean up.

Spent a couple hours getting the big pond up and running. Had to dig out the skimmer to hook up the pump. Then add water, of all things, to keep the skimmer full enough to keep running. I want to get the pond thawed, running the water will be the best way to do it. I think the real cold temperatures are over for the winter of 2009. One more week and it'll be March. I also had to knock the snow off the overhang to the ice doesn't rip off the gutter. It already has damaged two gutters that I'll have to fix in the Spring. Ugh. Maybe next week I'll start up the big pump that runs the waterfall..

Let the games begin!

Four more pallets of inventory now set inside the store. That makes a total of 12. What a mess. Now the fun begins. Where will I put all of it? Yesterday my son and I worked for over an hour to upright the leaning structure that protects the fish system. Three feet of snow is a lot of weight. We had to use ropes and a come-a-long to get it back to it's original position. What a pain! Only 5 weeks until opening day. So much to do.

Inventory is coming either today or tomorrow. I still need to get the forklift to run, something is wrong with the gas pedal. Friday brings even more inventory. I guess I know what I'll be doing today. At least there is no snow in the weeks' forecast. I'm trying to get my websites wrapped up in the next couple weeks, because when the Spring finally gets here, I won't have the time.

All the snow took it's toll on my shed. It's one of those pole/tarp kind. It collapsed (Picture to come later today). We will go out and try to get the snow off of it. I suspect the poles are bent and will need straightening. Hopefully I can rebuild it. I want spring!!!! Hurry up.

Fish Sense

Today the fish have become much more active than I would expect for this time of year. They are all a-buzz about something. Perhaps they sense the warmer weather coming. That would be ironic since we have received close to 3 1/2' of snow in the last 5 days. You can see the activity by going to my underwater cam at www.justin.tv/gettysburgwatergardens2 Enjoy the show!