'I want to hold fish!'

Daughter is so excited about the new betta fish that she keeps yelling 'I want to hold fish!' all day. I keep explaining to her that we should just enjoy watching the fish swimming in the water. Now she looks forward to feeding the fish one pallet per day and laugh herself silly when the fish actually ate the pallet.

All living creatures need space to roam freely. Same goes for the betta fish that husband got for daughter. So last week I bought a 2.5 gallon fish tank as a new home for the fish.

To make the new and bigger living quarter more interesting for the fish to explore, I also bought a pound of blue aquarium gravel and silk plant. The little bottles sitting in the gravel used to store maple syrup. I cleaned them well and filled them with filter water. They look so cute in the fish tank and the fish keeps swimming around them.

I've also got really good tips on keeping the fish healthy and happy from these web sites:

Betta Fish Care http://care.betta-fish.com.ar/

How to Care for Your Betta Fish http://www.aquariumguys.com/betta-fish-care-article.html

Elmo Fish

Daughter has been bugging husband to get a fish like the one she sees in Elmo's World from Sesame Street.

Last Saturday they got a red betta fish at a local pet store.

4 years ago when I worked at Texas Tech University Libraries, I had a colleage whose periwinkle betta fish lived for almost 2 years. His secret was to feed the fish every three days with three or four pellets. He also used only filter water for the fish tank. I am so glad that I remember this tip from him.

Daughter has been asking to hold the fish, and I have to keep telling her that it has to stay in the fish tank. To ensure the survival of the fish, I have to make sure daughter doesn't climb in a chair to reach for the fish tank.

Well, there goes my restful afternoon nap time....

Accidental Adventure of Baby Turtle

Last Saturday husband wanted to do BBQ at the nearby park.

So the night before I marinated chicken meat in:
- soysauce
- rice vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- ketchup
- ground black pepper
- green onions (scallions)

To intensify the marinade I should have added minced ginger and garlic, but I omitted these ingredients. Anyway the chicken tasted really good (according to husband).

Husband grilled chicken meat, red+green bell peppers, mushrooms in banana leaves. Initially I thought of preparing kebabs on bamboo sticks, but decided that the banana leaves actually enhance the flavor of grilled food better.


While the food was left grilling on our portable grill, husband and daughter took a walk around the park's lake. They found this baby turtle lost in the park and brought it to me.

Daughter kept looking at it and wanted to play with it. I told her not to touch the poor little guy and thankfully she followed my instruction.

Well, husband wanted to keep it with my Betta fish to 'teach' daughter about wildlife, but I said 'NO!'

First of all, I don't want to get into trouble with the law for 'kidnapping' a wild animal.

Secondly, I don't want my Betta fish to be this turtle's supper [in case it got hungry, you know].


In the end, common sense took over so husband put the poor little guy back to the lake.

Before they had any chance of picking up 'lost' animals, I told them we need to leave before it got too hot. I guess I'll have to keep reminding husband about not picking up wildlife from the park.