In a wave of unfinished projects getting finished, I managed to knock two off my list this past weekend! Yay me!
First, those who have visited our house in the last 10 months may remember an aquarium sitting on our mantelpiece. Due to a combination of cost, time, and fear of the unknown, I’ve been putting off setting up the aquarium with its rightful residents since I got it for Christmas last year. Well, I finally decided enough was enough, hoofed it over to the nearby (live) fish store, and got all my supplies in order.
Thus, unfinished project number two comes to the forefront. When we first pained the living and dining room, I had this idea that perhaps it would be nice to paint the small walls jutting out to separate the two rooms a different colour, to visually separate the space even more. Thus they sat, primed but unpainted, for close to 2 years. The key was that once we got the aquarium filled up, it would be immovable. And since the plan was to leave it on top of the fireplace, it would block access to one of the walls in question. So I had to do something about it, and quickly.
Over the summer, I’ve slowly come to the realization that because of the faux finish on the walls, a solid colour on the separator walls would look out of place, and a different faux finish/colour would look to busy. So this weekend I finally finished what I started two years ago, and in the same fashion – same faux finish on the unfinished walls as I did in the rest of the room in the first place. Now, I just hope that next time it doesn’t take me two years to make a decision like this.
Here’s the final result, first with the light on and then looking out into the living room. Note the nicely uniform wall colour behind the aquarium. I can just imagine how nice it will be to curl up on the couch, with the water bubbling in the background and colourful little fishies darting around in the background.
But of course, that has to wait. First I have to let the (good) bacterial cultures establish themselves in the fishtank. To that end, I’m using this wonderful stuff (300 m bacteria in every teaspoon – the breakfast of champions!)
Once they do their magic for a few days, I’m supposed to get a couple of trial fish. If they survive a few weeks, with no signs of discomfort, then I can start stocking up! With all the additives, fish (some of the more extravagant ones are over $60!), and filter and heater running all day, I have a feeling this is not going to be the cheapest of hobbies. But think of the calming effect! At least on me… I expect to have more than one entertaining post about kitties and fish!
Read Full Post »
I often catch her lying up there, next to the aquarium. Sometimes she’s looking at them curiously, others she’s gazing off into the distance – maybe they calm her, as well! What I didn’t manage to catch on camera, by the time I went upstairs to get it, is that sometimes the fish seem to be just as curious about her – when I looked over the first time, all the fish were clustered up against the corner of the tank, around where BB was sitting. Cute!
I think he’s trying to give me the evil eye, but he’s too sleepy to succeed at it. I’m a little bit worried because today I caught him sitting on top of the aquarium cover. When I was a kid, we had a cat who liked to do exactly that – until one day, the lid folded inwards, taking the cat for a dip in the tank. I don’t think she sat on top of the cover after that – but I sure hope Shakey doesn’t have to learn that lesson the same way!
