[Image]  So it was still March, but the kids wanted to swim. My husband had just dug out the settling pond, which is a place for the mountain water to slow down and for sand, sediment, and rocks to settle out of it before the water goes down a pipeline to the pivots to water the fields. We also use it as a swimming hole. And the kids couldn't wait to try it out. The temperature was in the high 60s, which apparently was good enough for them. There was a lot of pond scum, but they didn't care. So we went over and they gave it a try, first on a kayak.

Then Desert Boy had to try to run down the pile of sand (left there by request) and jump into the pond. I had him wear a life jacket because the water was cold and I didn't want to have to jump in after him.
[Image]
Splash! He got out fast. And then since I didn't get a photo the first time, I had him do it again. Ha! [Image]
The other kids were content to stay on the edges or on the kayak. [Image]
 The kayak became more popular when the second time we went Desert Boy figured out he could go through the culvert on it. We love our red-neck water slide!

[Image]

He even cleaned out most of the cobwebs.
[Image]
Another time we went the excitement was seeing a snake. Of course the snake kids wanted to catch the little garter snake.
[Image]
Isaac's a pro.
[Image]
Then his sister caught another one. Garter snakes like water, so we see them by the pond a lot.
[Image]
We like seeing them, but they don't seem to like seeing us so much, and they swam away and hid.
[Image]
The day was a little warmer, so the kids got into the water. We can still see the snow on the mountains a few miles away, and that's where this water is coming from. I guess they will be tough!
[Image]
The boats have been really popular. Desert Boy wanted to make his own raft. So he stuffed life jackets into a pallet. It worked, sort of.
[Image]
 I can already tell that we're going to be spending lots of time at the pond this summer! Now if I can just figure out how to rig up a hammock, it will be perfect.