Mystery Solved

Well I hadn't seen the one of our fish in a few days and this morning walked up and saw this.....

Guess I know where he went.
I have mixed feelings here as I fill up the tank so there is water for the birds etc. to drink, but I am not offering up my fish as a snack.
I have asked Michael to make a screen to put over it at night- we will have to see how that works out.  I have a Dwarf Papyrus in there and a lily pad that blooms (hence is not flat) so I need to allow for that somehow, perhaps a net of sorts?
I had a similar problem in my fountain in Houston.  I had this beautiful Italian fountain I got at Thompson & Hanson and filled it with the prettiest little fantail guppies that were so fun to watch, then one day there were like three.  Michael devised a screen that was "raccoon proof" and solved the problem.  Luckily they reproduce rapidly.  Before long there were several swimming around again.  Those little fan tail ones are really pretty, though I preferred the blue ones. Now to wait and see what he comes up with for the tank.
Hopefully everyone stays down until we get it sorted out.  

Loving the Clouds!!

Who knew that a few clouds could make such a difference.  It was so much cooler this morning and I finally was able to get out there and take a few photos.  

The Caesalpinia yellow Pride of Barbados is blooming and they are so pretty.  The regular ones are blooming as well but I only photographed this one as I thought it was so different.

The bark on the Arbutus Madrone 'Marina' is so captivating.  I love how it is red and it peels.  I think it is such a neat tree, someone came in the other day and said they had grown up calling it a Strawberry Tree, as the fruit it sets resembles a strawberry.  (but does not taste like one.... I tried it....).

I have finally been able to capture the fish.  They seem really happy as of late and the lily pads have a really pretty bloom that has opened up. 

 These two little ones (Huey and Duey) love to come up and say hi.  I know they think every time they see me they are going to get fed.  Such is not the case.  Luey did not make it as I reported earlier in a post but these two guys seem happy as can be.

 Cleo has finally warmed up and comes up to the top now.  I will admit I had to throw a little food in there to get her to come up, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 Here is a shot of Cleo and Alex.  Alex is still realllllllly shy and comes up for a SPLIT second and whoosh is gone again.  This was the best shot I could get.  They are so much fun.  If you have not been to The Austin Aqua-Dome, I highly recommend it.  It is a great place for the fish, lily pads, plants for the pond etc.. and they are so helpful.  (and patient I might add....) I had a lot of questions as this was my first little fish pond/tank and they could not have been more helpful.