The fish come outdoors for the summer

Spring! We cut the grass for the first time this year, went for a walk in the sun, and brought the pond fish upstairs out of the horse trough in the basement and into their little summer pond. A new filter filters the whole pond a couple of times an hour, if my math is correct, and the new plastic frog that spits the water across the pond is spitting along perfectly so far.

The white fish with pretty red spots, our first "free" fish born of the original group, came out into the sun with orange tinting that wasn't visible in the artificial light downstairs. At first I thought he/she had some sort of odd disease, but then I realized he's part goldfish, so he's probably developing his adult coloration. Very cool! (Two of our original six(?) fish survive after almost 10 years, and we have seven of their descendants roaming around the pond.)

All eyes (or at least my two) were on the little guy who spent a good part of the winter on his side looking like he wanted to die. I'm not sure if the newly visible red spots around his face, and the two pink streaks down his back, are nature's colors or a side effect of his ailment. But I do know that by the way he's darting around the pond, having a grand old time, if I told you one of the fish was sick this winter, you couldn't pick out which one it is, and you might be surprised when I told you.

The world is full of sad news and death and destruction, so I'm always tickled when someone or something beats the odds and stays alive for another season. This 5-inch-long fish is the smallest hero I've ever had.