Catfish Party! - August 12, 2023
On Tuesday mornings we often have our two-year-old grandson Walter with us. And last Tuesday was a perfect day to go to Happy Rolph’s – a mix of an animal farm, a bird sanctuary, butterfly and bee plants, and playground equipment.
Walter loves seeing the horses, cows, goats, and chickens and yells “Hallo!” to them. But the favourite part happens at the larger of the few ponds there.
Nope, it’s not feeding the ducks and the geese birdseed – though that is a big attraction. It’s feeding the frenzy of catfish, sometimes a goldfish or two, and the occasional turtle.
We would never have know that there was underwater life there except that one time, instead of bringing birdseed, I brought cat kibble. I know – there’s a bit of a difference. But my memory and judgement isn’t what it used to be – and it was never very good.
It was a few years ago when we had Jasper with us – Walter’s older brother. Walter was a baby at home with his Mom. Laur and Jasper and I threw cat food to the ducks and geese; they weren’t having any of it.
But all of a sudden the pond started churning, and up popped the ugliest and coolest fish I’d seen in a long time. We told Jasper that these were catfish and he yelled, “It’s a catfish party!” And indeed it was.
We went early this year with Walter, but the fish weren’t biting. We don’t know why. Possibly still buried in the mud, waiting for the warm weather. But this time they went crazy. And a turtle slowly made its way over and gulped down what it could, but the catfish and goldfish (glorified carp) were a lot faster. Yee haw!
*****
Both Walter and Jasper enjoy the company of pond fish. Sometimes when we have both Walter and Jasper for an afternoon, we go to Rice Road Greenhouses where they have tanks of koi (Japanese goldfish) for sale. Jasper is fascinated by one that is at least a foot long. The greenhouse owner lets the boys give the pond fish a snack of fish food. Most of Jasper’s food goes to the gigantic one that I call “Fishy McFishface.” (There is a story behind that name.)
Jasper wants to bring Fishy home. I told him that he didn’t have a pond. Jasper said that his Dad could build one. Could and would are two different things. So I then explained that Fishy costs $499.99 – and he does. A bit expensive for what could end up as racoon food, in my humble opinion. That total didn’t phase Jasper at all. He gave me his best frowny face. “I want to bring Fishy home!”
Hmm. So I told Jasper, when he was older and if his parents would allow it – always nice to have the parents to blame – I’d help him set up his own aquarium and he could have his very own goldfish. (The $1 ones, that is.)
I have a lot of experience with goldfish aquariums. Years ago when I worked occasional part-time as a student counselor at Laurentian University, I ran two of them. One in my office for regular goldfish; one in the waiting room with fancy goldfish. The goldfish in my office were for students who were lonely but couldn’t have a pet. So I sent them off with very large jar-bowls, a fish or two, gravel and toys, and fish food.
The only requirement at year end was that they didn’t flush them down the toilet. No goldfish came back to me except one I hadn’t given away in the first place. A story for another time. https://sunshineandapurpledress.weebly.com/one-eyed-jack---feb-23-2021.html
As for Jasper and family, I guess if their goldfish outgrew their aquarium or their interest, there’s a pretty nice pond at Happy Rolph’s for them. Not that I encourage anyone to do this. But it would keep Granny Jan entertained. Physical activity (an hour’s walk) paired with a brain activity (remembering to bring fish food)! Enough to keep me out of the Memory Care Unit for another year. Maybe.
Walter loves seeing the horses, cows, goats, and chickens and yells “Hallo!” to them. But the favourite part happens at the larger of the few ponds there.
Nope, it’s not feeding the ducks and the geese birdseed – though that is a big attraction. It’s feeding the frenzy of catfish, sometimes a goldfish or two, and the occasional turtle.
We would never have know that there was underwater life there except that one time, instead of bringing birdseed, I brought cat kibble. I know – there’s a bit of a difference. But my memory and judgement isn’t what it used to be – and it was never very good.
It was a few years ago when we had Jasper with us – Walter’s older brother. Walter was a baby at home with his Mom. Laur and Jasper and I threw cat food to the ducks and geese; they weren’t having any of it.
But all of a sudden the pond started churning, and up popped the ugliest and coolest fish I’d seen in a long time. We told Jasper that these were catfish and he yelled, “It’s a catfish party!” And indeed it was.
We went early this year with Walter, but the fish weren’t biting. We don’t know why. Possibly still buried in the mud, waiting for the warm weather. But this time they went crazy. And a turtle slowly made its way over and gulped down what it could, but the catfish and goldfish (glorified carp) were a lot faster. Yee haw!
*****
Both Walter and Jasper enjoy the company of pond fish. Sometimes when we have both Walter and Jasper for an afternoon, we go to Rice Road Greenhouses where they have tanks of koi (Japanese goldfish) for sale. Jasper is fascinated by one that is at least a foot long. The greenhouse owner lets the boys give the pond fish a snack of fish food. Most of Jasper’s food goes to the gigantic one that I call “Fishy McFishface.” (There is a story behind that name.)
Jasper wants to bring Fishy home. I told him that he didn’t have a pond. Jasper said that his Dad could build one. Could and would are two different things. So I then explained that Fishy costs $499.99 – and he does. A bit expensive for what could end up as racoon food, in my humble opinion. That total didn’t phase Jasper at all. He gave me his best frowny face. “I want to bring Fishy home!”
Hmm. So I told Jasper, when he was older and if his parents would allow it – always nice to have the parents to blame – I’d help him set up his own aquarium and he could have his very own goldfish. (The $1 ones, that is.)
I have a lot of experience with goldfish aquariums. Years ago when I worked occasional part-time as a student counselor at Laurentian University, I ran two of them. One in my office for regular goldfish; one in the waiting room with fancy goldfish. The goldfish in my office were for students who were lonely but couldn’t have a pet. So I sent them off with very large jar-bowls, a fish or two, gravel and toys, and fish food.
The only requirement at year end was that they didn’t flush them down the toilet. No goldfish came back to me except one I hadn’t given away in the first place. A story for another time. https://sunshineandapurpledress.weebly.com/one-eyed-jack---feb-23-2021.html
As for Jasper and family, I guess if their goldfish outgrew their aquarium or their interest, there’s a pretty nice pond at Happy Rolph’s for them. Not that I encourage anyone to do this. But it would keep Granny Jan entertained. Physical activity (an hour’s walk) paired with a brain activity (remembering to bring fish food)! Enough to keep me out of the Memory Care Unit for another year. Maybe.