If you have parasites in the pond then you need to treat the pond. If any of the fish have ulcers, fin rot, or other infections, then you need to remove them and treat with antibiotics. But the pond itself needs to be treated for parasites. I like Proform C myself. But it really helps to know which parasite you are dealing with. Any chance you own a microscope and know how to use it? Or by chence you you belong to a koi club that has member who could help out? If you have no way to determine which parasite you have then you need to treat for ALL parasites. Malachite Green and Formalin will treat many, but not all. I would also use PraziPond to treat for flukes. If those two treatments don't work then we need to step it up a notch.

I'm glad Moe likes them! I realize they suit my taste for less sweet, more tart jams. It's been fun making them. I have peach puree ready to make into jam in the freezer when I have time and peach-nectarine-ginger butter cooking in the crock pot now. It smells really good!

I remember something with a similar name that they were marketing for marble -- to prevent etching as well as staining. I went through a lot of chasing down and persistent asking to get a sample treated with it, and I was really glad I did. The treated honed marble felt like a laminate -- it coats the surface that much. I would have paid (in my case and back then) $500 to have my stone feel like plastic. The stuff I was looking at also had to be touched up or resealed by a certified applicator -- no homeowner DIY. I can't tell you for sure that is the same, but I would urge you to have a sample of your stone treated with anything you might be considering putting on it before you make a final decision. A good penetrating stone sealer will prevent stains and the etching isn't that big a deal on a honed surface. I suspect that is all you need, but test your stone and the sealer you plan to use.

DH is doing all the cooking tonight. DS would help but he is not very good at it. We are having 'Surf n Turf'. He picked up top sirloin steaks which he is cooking on the grill, giant crab claws, fresh asparagras, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and some homemade sourdough bread I made today. For dessert we are having killer Trader JoeÂs Ice Cream Cake. He picked that up yesterday. It is a layer of rich chocolate cake, topped by a layer of the chocolate-est of chocolate ice creams, topped by a layer of crunchy chocolate cookie crumbs, topped by a layer of creamy chocolate chip ice cream, the outside of the cake rolled in more chocolate cookie crumbs, and decorated the top with rosettes of whipped cream. Just hand me a glass of wine and I will be all set. Oh, almost forgot, he made oatmeal pancakes for breakfast this morning. And I got to goof off all day. Clare