Migrating ducks have rested a spell on their way through the neighborhood, but few geese have landed, perhaps afraid of Daddy Swan who will tolerate few feathered landings in his territory.

      It's spring you know, and he has an expectant wife to protect against all who would invade his home waters.

      Sam and Rollie, the two dogs, sense that things are changing too. As the snows have declined, they've had more time to romp around the farm and enjoy watching the comings and goings of the fishing and horse families.

      More fish than usual spent the winter at the farm because Mark and Jean ordered a late shipment to accommodate all the people that stopped by in September. The trout are a little bigger than usual for this time of of year, averaging between 13 and 14 inches.

      And they're hungry too, perhaps tired of the "trout chow" they've endured since most of the wiggly worms and soft sweet corn disappeared in October.

      Mark and Jean are looking forward to seeing everyone as the weather moderates. The cold spring water produces a fish that is particularly flavorful, whether baked, broiled or grilled. Stop by whenever you can get away!

Families enjoy trying their luck at the Century Trout Pond.

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Swans build nest, prepare wooded site for new family

      As she does every year, Jean hauled a bale of hay down to the nest site so that the two birds could properly build up a nest for this year's batch of eggs.

      Mother swan laid four eggs before deciding that she had enough to begin incubation. Temperature seems to play an important role in their family planning. A cold snap in late February persuaded the mother bird that it was time to stop laying and get to the business of keeping her babies warm.

      The baby swans--or cygnets-- are expected in May.

1996 Record Trout Measured 20.5 inches       The big fish caught in the pond last year was caught by Perry Johnson of Stoughton, Wisconsin. His female rainbow measured 20.5 inches. Accompanying Perry were Allen Nelson and his son Cody.

Allen Nelson, Perry Johnson and Cody Nelson with their record 20.5 inch trout.

What do you do when you know your pond needs cleaning, but you're not sure how to do it? You call in a group of four SCUBA divers with a huge vacuum pump and let them go at it. That's what Mark and Jean did, at least. And go at it they did last summer. Where the pond was once eight feet deep, you now go down 13 feet before reaching bottom.      And if horses could grin, Sandy and Vicky would be all teeth because those gallons of sludge became fertilizer for their favorite pasture.       Now that the pond bottom is cleaner, Mark and Jean hope weed growth will be reduced. The water is more transparent than it has been for some time.