the Pond Girl will not be stopped

Yours truly has been spending all this gorgeous March weather inside due to infectious disease. So it had to be really warm out before this pond girl was going to head outside and get things fired up. When the outside temperature hit 20C, and the pond girl's temperature dropped below 99F, it was time for some fresh air and relatively easy pond start-up activities. The meticulous cleaning and storing of the pond equipment certainly paid off. Yes, I know my way around a pump housing, and the tools required to re-assemble it. Having it all ready to go was a real time saver.

Good thing I also stored the manual in there: I forgot that the centre screw is reverse direction. So much for righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. I know tools, and I like to get messy, but I'm still a girl and can say 'righty-tighty' if I want to.

Plugged it in, dropped it down, then drained 25% of the over-winter water. A piece of old eavestroughing works well to get the water where it's needed. And away from anyone with a sense of smell. Mine's not working yet, which at pond start up, is a blessing.

Topped it back up and will continue the 25% water changes over the course of the next 3 days.

Final task was to remove (and store properly!) the rock heater that keeps a hole in the ice over the winter to let any accumulated gases escape. It hangs from the 2x4...also now removed.

Enough for day one. As usual, I overdid it and am exhausted. Too much, too soon. But hoping this weather holds until I'm at full recovery. Don't know about you, but when the temp heats up, I'm outside until November. I have no time, or clearly--patience--for illness!