A Fish Tale

Yes, the saltwater fish all died. So we have a goldfish...actually three goldfish! And we still have Mr. Hermit Crab and Sea Snail roaming through the tank. PetCO has tested our water three times now and seem to find something new and different every time. I don't doubt their credibility...I am at a loss to fix the problems. I have been able to maintain a proper salinity level in spite of a broken hydrometer. But the nitrates go up and down, along with other chemicals. Well, we are now down to nitrates...and they tell me a possible fix is clams! I must go to an Asian market(or a saltwater specialty store)and find live clams and put them in the tank. I inquired if our snail would not devour them, and was told most likely not since he has plenty to eat in the tank. And even he if did manage to eat one, if I put a dozen in they will likely eat up all the nitrate issues quickly and escape his appetite.

Next question: What do I do with the clams when the nitrate is all in balance? I don't particularly want yet another species to care for!

In the meantime, we have the goldfish. They are in three separate containers. One on the kitchen island downstairs. One in Handsome's bedroom, and one downstairs on another counter. Each being cared for by a different child. Of course, Girlfriend needs some extra help!

So, moving on in the Ocean studies...we collected, via actual trips to the Ocean, and yard sales, a nice variety of shells. We even have a cowry! Yes, we have clams and scallops and mussels. We have oysters and wentletraps and cone shells. We have winkles and possibly a slipper shell. Some are not so easy to identify, being the novices we are. But Handsome did his report on them and glued some into a box and labeled the ones we could figure out. We do have one we entitiled "Mystery shell". We have some clams that obviously fell prey to snails and have the holes in their shells to prove it. Those nasty radulas!

And Handsome has a 10 year old clam, age-identified by the clearly marked rings on his shell. We also have some real sea horses and sea stars! Quite the collection. We have decided that the shells are MUCH easier to care for and quite interesting and pretty! Perhpas we shall concentrate more on these!

For any of you desiring to study the Sea...when you reach the chapters on the shells...there is a wonderful children's fictional book called "Island Eyes" by Laney Lee. It is a whimsical saga of a King's Crown shell that begins with his original animal and continues with a hermit crab taking him on adventure after adventure...we don't know where it ends, as we haven't finished it yet. It is like a novelette for kids, but reinforces the facts about the life of a shell of the sea. I recommend it! Even Girlfriend will sit through a chapter, if I flex my voices with the various characters he encounters. The hermit crab, Maggie, makes it a nice mix of male and female fun as well! Hope you can enjoy it some day!

So, we shall continue on. This next week we will learn about sponges and sea stars and sea anemones...and more! This IS quite an adventure, even with the fish and crab, and snail, and...clams...

He Comes By It Naturally

Yes, I think Handsome comes by it naturally. It is in his blood; his genetic makeup! The "it" I am referring to is his instinct for gardening and caring for creatures. He cannot have a dog or a cat or a bird due to potential allergies or diseases. But he can have, and does have, fish! And a hermit crab! And a sea snail!
Even though the saltwater fish have all died, the snail and hermit crab keep him excited. He watches closely for their food levels, salinity levels, and water temperatures and levels. He now also has a gold fish in a regular aquarium which he monitors daily.

He also loves to garden! He has a tomato plant that we bought when he came to help me plant my garden. He monitors the water intake, its exposure to sunlight and wind, and its progress. He wants to get a bean plant too, really soon!

I say he comes by this naturally because of his heritage. I love to garden as well. And I love animals of all kinds...almost, anyway! But my father grew up on a farm. My grandfather was a farmer in Kansas and Oklahoma for a long time. My mother had a garden. My grandmother had a garden. My grandmother had an orchard as well. She cannned and froze fruit and vegetables regularly as I watched at her side before I could even read.

My father raised animals. I remember at various times having chickens, geese, cows, (both beef and dairy), hogs, sheep, and ducks. Some we ate. Some we loved. And we always had horses...I had my own "pony" from age five to about age 15. Her name was Patsy. She was ornery and tried several times to wipe me off by running under a tree. But she was my horse!

So, I say Handsome has gardening, farming, animal care in his blood! Our family roots have traced back to the days of Native Americans who lived off the land.

I am glad to have Handsome share this interest with me. It gives us something to talk about and share besides classroom topics. And, Handsome WILL eat what we grow! He also enjoys cooking...especially if he grew it himself!