Once I'd removed the front stones around the pond, the dogs realized there was something moving in that water. Had to put them in the house to keep them from falling in.

The funny thing was that the day after the move I let the dogs into the pool area and they ran to the hole and just stood there for the longest time staring into it. "Gee, yesterday there was something moving around down there." I wish I'd had my camera for that.

You have all seen the old location. Here's the new one:

First "Gravedigger" Jon dug the hole. He dug the whole thing by himself this time. It went well until he hit the shale, clay and gravel. He had to work for those last few inches. Fortunately he had a level as the ground sloped and the landscaping timbers weren't level. I would have had one end 4 or 5 inches higher than the other :-)

The hardest part was catching all those baby fish. We'd think we had them all and one of us would look in the pond and say, "There's 4 more fish in there!!!" That happened about 4 times. We used the sump pump to pump the water into garbage cans lined with non-treated garbage bags.

Here's Jon catching fish as the water level lowers:

This is the temporary home we set up with tarps as shade. I will use this tank for lilies this year and hopefully lotus next year.

Once the pond was emptied we had to dig it out. In the process I fell and banged up my good knee on the deck. So I have no good knees left this week and am hobbling all over the place. We then put it in the new hole Jon had dug:

Pond filled and fish swimming around in their new home. I don't dare fill it all the way until I have the rocks on the edges as I did before. I am concerned they will jump out:

The most important spot is my "fish watching chair"!!!

I have a lot of dirt moving and decorating and replanting all the plants I have in pots scattered around. But the pond is moved!!
Anne

Can't wait to see your mermaid in her new home!
S

Great job so far!

Brenda