January 7 - The United States has just had two of the coldest months in recorded history and zenpond was no exception. Both ponds were frozen and john placed cattle tank heaters in them to keep holes in the ice to allow for fish-generated gases to escape. If this is not done, the fish die from suffixation.

A heavy blanket of snow and ice covered everything until two days ago when the temperature got up to 50 degrees. A new, mild front came through today bringing 28 degree temperatures, but not before most of the ice and snow had melted.

joyce and john are spending time in front of the crackling fireplace while enjoying great company, wine, fondues, racklette and the tuckmeister (zencat) purring loudly with all four feet in the air and eyes closed. tuck can remain in that position for hours or until a nearly empty ice cream dish is offered him for cleaning.

john is just putting a finish on his new computer desk which will be put to use starting tomorrow. The first thing he plans to do at the new desk is to finish the drawings of the desk and place these drawings and photos on zenpond, so others can build the desk if they wish, free of charge, of course.

Next month, joyce and john begin looking forward to the first signs of Spring: The Flower and Garden Show. Meanwhile, they plan to enjoy the snow and ice "Specials" that Winter has lined up for January and February!

January 24 - the ponds are still quiet. john's cattle tank heater broke when he tried to melt a hole in the ice again. He placed the heater on an unlevel spot and the heating element was not against the ice in one spot, so it overheated at that spot. john then purchased two new pond heaters (1250 watts each), but when he got home he realized that you must have these in the pond before the ice forms. The cord enters from the bottom of the heater and the plastic float turns the heater over so that it is always in the water. Fortunately, the next day was warm enough for john to put them into wet areas of the ponds.

john had two nice experiences yesterday. joyce and john's friend in Thailand, Ronachuck, sent an excellent Christmas/New Year's card and a book on Buddhism for john. john and joyce think about Ronachuck all the time and would like very much to visit him and his beautiful family in Thailand sometime. john also received an email from Beth in Knoxville asking for help with her pond pumps clogging all the time and asking also about meditation. Beth had simply searched the web for help with pumps and came across zenpond. john, again, does not claim much knowledge in either area. Filtration and meditation are two of the toughest subjects around. Actually, they may be related: one is clearing the pond and the other, clearing the mind.