"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Favorite Things


Well, after much gnashing of teeth, I have finished the goldfish pond at the city house.  I'm going out for some koi today to put in it.  It was filled with a million billion mosquito larvae and I had to move quickly and this time I didn't swallow the swill nor larvae.  The pump is hooked up to the fountain, so that should keep the pesky mosquitoes out till the fish arrive.

I have had this old fish bowl with observant children for quite some time though no fish.  Too many animals to take care of, but I lugged it to the city house and got the little black boogley-eyed goldfish.  Sadly, it didn't last long.  I'm going for a betta today.  I'd like to get two, just because, but I won't.  I've bought and sold several of these goldfish bowls and wish I had them back. One was a black cat looking down and another a Cheshire cat.  Another was terra cotta with two children that had a fountain hookup on it.  I love this kind of thing.  I think I payed the most for this one.  A whopping $35.00.  The younger generation just don't appreciate old things these days, a win for me, but wait, I'm still trying to get rid of stuff, so never mind.

49 comments:

helen tilston said...

Hello Donna,
It will be exciting to have your pond stocked with koi fish. Like you, I find myself purchasing items, like your beautiful gold fish bowl, when I have just offloaded sacks of items to the charity shop. You don't have to explain to me. Ha Ha

Helen

jerilanders said...

Donna, The youngsters certainly do not appreciate our antiques. I just don't know where all our stuff will GO to after We are GONE. I have never seen a gold fish bowl like yours, what era is it from?

RachelD said...

How fun! I love the old sentimental sweetness of it, too, when all children could go barefoot by choice, and it always seemed sunny and clear.

And a little BETA! Chris got me one the first year we were married, and I just loved that little fellow. So blue and beautiful, and occasionally we'd drop him a mosquito that we'd swatted. Every time, he'd gobble it down, with the little legs sticking out for a moment like wee whiskers.

I covet/absolutely don't want your pond. Figure that one out. The beautiful of it, and the quick companionship when they learn the YOU of you and come flirting at your feet, but all that WORK---oh, my. You're a younger girl than I am, Gunga Din.

rrrrrr

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Adorable fish bowl! I have never seen anything like it. Have fun with your fish!

A Brit in Tennessee said...

What a lovely and unique fish bowl !
When we had more than one betta fish, they fought until death.
Glad your pond is finished, what a job....
~Jo

angryparsnip said...

Very lovely. But only one Beta two will fight to the death.
If the water keeps moving the mosquitoes can't lay eggs
or they won't hatch something like that.
Good Luck !

cheers, parsnip

donna baker said...

Yes, there does come the day when we have too much stuff. Helen, I am just so excited at all the news you have. Can't wait to see it to fruition.

donna baker said...

The terrra cotta one was the oldest and the cat one looked like a carnival win from the 40's to 50's. One reason I think no one notices them is because they usually don't have a goldfish bowl with them and are overlooked. Surprising I had four as I don't see them often. When I used to do Marburger Farm at Round Top, one like this would sell for $350.00.

donna baker said...

Oh, I can figure it out Rachel. I have one ten times bigger at the farm that needs cleaning out. No, I am old and decrepit and need a couple of servants. I am going to get a blue one and will remember the mosquito trick.

donna baker said...

Yes, they usually don't have a bowl with them and nobody knows what they are.

donna baker said...

That's what I heard Jo, you naughty girl. I just thought about it ;) They say they live in puddles of water in Asia. I do love nature and am out on the back porch enjoying it when I should be planting.

donna baker said...

That's why I was in such a hurry Gayle. It was full of little larvae and I needed to get all the mud and dirt out to start the filter and fountain. I wasn't going to do koi but goldfish. The koi eat all plant matter and I'd like to have some water plants, but I can't have everything.

Sandra Cox said...

Way to go, Donna! Glad you didn't swallow any swill this time:)
Lovely fish bowl.

Out on the prairie said...

It will be fun to get your pond working.

Tom Stephenson said...

Rain drops and Hollyhocks and dog bites and bolly-ocks...

La Table De Nana said...

Oh my gosh..I love it..I would even put a fake fish in it:) That's how much I love it..at first I thought it was a Bénitier..I don't know the word in English..but within 10 seconds..I got it.
You have amazing things!!

Elephant's Child said...

It is a glorious thing. And we all need things in our lives which make us smile.

Michelle said...

Looking forward to seeing the stocked pond. I have a fountain....sadly no fish!

donna baker said...

Thank you Sandra. It was get her done or go outside in a mosquito suit, if they make those. One thing checked off the never-ending list.

donna baker said...

Yes, I hope I can find some pretty koi.

donna baker said...

Those are favorites too Tom, but not the bites and what's it.

donna baker said...

I knew you'd love it Monique. Will try a few more fish, and then, I'm not sure.

donna baker said...

Child, I still like my things, just need less likes.

donna baker said...

Hope I can find a few pretty ones.

ellen abbott said...

yeah I know. I'm still kicking myself or not buying that lamp at the estate sale even though I have absolutely NO use for it.

angryparsnip said...

Sound like you have it all under control

Ry @ Sotto Il Monte Vineyards said...

Lovely fish bowl🙂 I love the sound of a fountain, very soothing. Your pond will bring life to the garden. I hope you can keep out the dirt digging critters!

donna baker said...

It's the ones I regret selling that haunt me.

donna baker said...

I have a few more pieces of hardware cloth to cut and lay around the outside of the pond. The critter will have to be smaller than a quarter inch to get through and luckily not even a mouse will dig through.

Sandra Cox said...

Hope the beta enjoys its new home.

Sandra Cox said...

Did you get your koi?

donna baker said...

A royal blue beta is enjoying his new home with me. I've been to two stores and haven't found koi yet, but I know a place that does. I've been putting off going there because it's farther away, but from what I remember, they have all sizes so I should be able to find some I want. I started thinking about the Great Blue Heron that fishes in the lake and am wondering if I should put netting over the pond for a while at least. It's always something.

Sandra Cox said...

Happy Earth Day, Donna.

donna baker said...

You too Sandra.

Frances said...

Dear Donna, I have been trying to catch up this evening on blogs that I have been neglecting.
It is wonderful to learn that your daughter's eyesight is returning. What relief you all must be feeling.
I'm also glad that you have sorted out that fish pond...and added yet another skill to your long resume.
The vintage fish bowl vase is a gem. I don't think that I ever knew anyone who had one of these in their home, but must have seen one before...perhaps in a black and white film?
xo to you and yours.

donna baker said...

Frances, thank you. Her eyes are still hurting (nerves still inflamed) so she'll be on steroids longer. Very relieved, but still worry that we don't know what caused it. She is relieved and started back to work on Friday. I too had never seen one of these aquarium holders, but many goldfish and little painted turtles in bowls. Actually, the victorians started the aquarium craze and if you look up some of those, you won't believe how beautiful they are.

Share my Garden said...

Dear Donna, I am just back home and on catch-up with my computer. What a panic for your daughter and all the family, I'm so relieved that things are improving steadily for her. Schoolchildren, a new baby, a return to work, life sounds quite stressful, I do hope that she will take enough time to regain full health.

Sandra Cox said...

We want to see pictures of the goldfish pond since it's finished:)

Sandra Cox said...

I bet that beta is gorgeous.
Sounds like netting might not be a bad idea.

donna baker said...

It was the worst of times Rosemary. I think she is just so happy to see again, everything else she can handle. Except, she and new baby have a cold now; they told her her immune system would be compromised because of the high doses of steroids. I went out and bought her every vitamin that helps immunity and have her drinking lemon water first thing each morning. I'm kind of desperate to help her in some way. Thank you for your comments.

donna baker said...

Haven't found koi yet, but did find two ducks bathing in it :(

Debbie Nolan said...

Dear Donna - I so love seeing your favorite things. I have never seen such a lovely fishbowl. Just adorable friend and worth every penny of $35.00 I am sure. Hope your daughter continues to get better...still "Looking Up" for her and all of you. Hugs!

Sandra Cox said...

Bet the Cheshire cat and black cat bowls are awfully cute:)

donna baker said...

Thank you Deb, so much. Her face has plumped up due to all the steroids and she is not happy about it, but over the moon her sight is back. My new beta is hanging in there and very cute.

donna baker said...

They are, at someone else's house.

Bea said...

Oh, my goodness, I keep donating items to charity shops only to replace said items by purchasing 'new' items from charity shops. It's really a revolving door of object movement. I mean, like, do I really need a metal coffee grinder from pre-WWII Germany? Probably not.

donna baker said...

Yes you do Bea. I have a red and wood one in my booth;)

Sandra Cox said...

Hope your week is wondrous.

donna baker said...

Thank you Sandra. Yours' too.