Paid a Visit To Cindy

[Will]

The visit was great in almost every respect. My daughter Gabrielle and I drove down to Cindy's farm in Lugoff, to see her fish and ponds and filtration, and also to pick up some fish Cindy had offered to me (with her latest rescue fish, she was overstocked in a bad way, and I was nearby and in need of some great fish). We had prepared some small tokens to give to Cindy and her husband, Charlie, in return: two pounds of Miracle Koi, a Cheesecake Factory sampler cheesecake, and an original painting by Gabrielle of two of Cindy's fish that we had seen at the show last fall, when I met Cindy f2f for the first time.

Everything was prepped and ready, we left on schedule, got about 70 miles and remembered that we had left the painting on our kitchen table when leaving, each of us thinking that the other had gotten it loaded. So, I've got some photographs here for Cindy's first look at the painting. Unfortunately, the art is mixed media on wood, and pics never represent the true piece well, I guess the different textures just don't seem to be easily copied electronically. Here it is, though:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb375/Will_Schultze/Koi%20Paintings/KoiPainting009.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb375/Will_Schultze/Koi%20Paintings/KoiPainting009.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb375/Will_Schultze/Koi%20Paintings/KoiPainting001.jpg

A few different shots, so you can get a feel of it. Cindy, it's better to see it in person, or perhaps you can take better photos of it.

[Carolinagirl]

Will, I am blown away!!! Your daughter has REAL TALENT!!!! That painting is priceless to me. I am almost in tears it's so beautiful. the cheesecake wasn't half bad either. lol! I cannot thank you or your daughter enough. And thanks for giving those fish a great home.

[koikeepr]

Wow, you truly have an artist there! I can't imagine Cindy isn't going to love to get her hands on that. I wouldn't mind seeing those two fish fish in an actual photo! Yowza! Gabrielle has drawn them in such a way, that I can't help but wonder what the actual fish look like!

I love the fact that our members get together in this way. Clearly we've been successful in building a little family of friends here.

[Carolinagirl]

Lisa, these fish were both at the Greenville show, which is where Gabrielle saw them.
Here's the real fish....she did an awesome job!

[Will]

Are these recent pics? If so, that kumonryu has changed a lot, added a lot more orange. I thiought he still had the tancho-like spot when we were just there, but the pic has a lot more orange than I recall. The larger on hasn't changed much at all, though.

Thank you all, Gabrielle is very happy to receive positive exposure. Yes, she is extremely talented.

Those fish are some of the coolest I've run across, they halted us at the show long before I found out they were Cindy's.

[Carolinagirl]

This pic may have been from the greenville show in 2009, but they have really not changed much at all. The black may have drawn back on the pecs showing the orange more, but that's about it. It's pretty uncommon for a beni kumomryu to stay stable for such a long time. Since it has, it may not change at all which would be fine with me. The larger koi's pattern does not change. The gray background lightens or darkens with the seasons, but that's it....the pattern is stable.

[koikeepr]

They are two stunning fish! The kumonryu is extremely striking. What a totally lovely balance of color! The larger one has the perfect body wrap. Man oh man! Just outrageously beautiful.

[Kntry]

Will, the pics are gorgeous! What else does she paint?

[Carolinagirl]

yeah....I'd love to see more of her work. Your wife's work too. Pretty please??

[Will]

Of course. These are Gabrielle's first koi, in your painting, but she does do lots of other things. Mostly animal based. I'll start another thread when I have a chance, gotta do some watering now.

[Meganne]

art is always better judged in person, just like the koi are!
but it is easy to see this is VERY well done, it has a wonder feel and look,

[PaNancy]

Wow Beautiful koi both real and painted. :clappy:

[Will]

Thanks to all here, Gabrielle has asked me to relay her appreciation for the nice things said about her.

[Will]

Cindy, I finished my filter last night, and put the extra cycled media for other projects just tied to the side of the QT, under the filter outflow, to maintain cycle. Dechlored, refilled, and the Bekko pair and Kujaku (even the goldfish) got so excited, they had a surprise for me early this am when I went to check on them.

I caught the smell first, way too powerful to call it a "scent', it was a fishy smell. Can you guess yet? Then, I saw the water, foamy as hell, even though I did two 40% water changes yesterday, building and cleaning the filter of dust and fine sand. And the new gang splashing about, all around the pond. After QT, I'll have to keep those two Bekko in a separate springtime quarters, maybe in the QT until spawning is done.

Mismatched goldfish were getting it on, too. The poor showa was left out, with no one in the pond near it's size. Might name it "The Lonesome Loser", a neat old song by - get this - The Little River Band. Remember it? How appropriate.

[Carolinagirl]

Oh man.....they initiated their new quarters in a very big way, didn't they!! Well, that will be a mess to clean up. I am sure glad they didn't try that crap in the tank I had them in...it could not have handled the ammonia! Have fun Will!!lol!

[Will]

Been cleaning for 2 days now. Still smells. Damned horny fish!

[Lilylady]

LOL