Info AquaScape

Anne (aka A Gamer's Wife) here. Wow, you would not believe all that I've been through since last year. Here's a few updates: 1) My husband is trying to get out of the video game industry That's right, folks. After two decades of being a video game developer, first in art then as a designer, K has decided to quit his "dream job." Making video games is hard work, both for giant companies and indie start-ups, and in this season of his life, he wants to spend more time with his young kids and have more creative control over his work. K dreams of making comedy videos, creating YouTube tutorials for painting miniature figures, writing a novel, patenting his many ideas, and more. So we'll see what direction God takes us. I'm currently back to working remotely for a marketing company as a technical writer, and my oldest kid has just started school (what?). I think because I've been writing so much for my job, it's actually gotten my own creative ju...

My husband K has begun gleefully introducing our two-year-old son Dexter to all things geek. You cannot imagine how disconcerting it was for me to hear a two-year-old Dexter suddenly chirp up in the car, "Mommy, Enterprise shooting the Reliant" (from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan). Uhhhh, what? Anyway, DC comic book superheros have become another source of interest for Dexter, which is why I just had  to make him his own Superman cape. The persoalan is that my sewing machine and I don't quite get along because I'm, uh, not so good with making exact measurements. Luckily, a cape doesn't have to fit perfectly, so there's a lot of room for fudge. Here are straightforward step-by-step instructions you can use to make your own: Materials Sewing supplies Sewing machine Fabric scissors Measuring tape Pencil or tailor's chalk Fabric (I got regular 100% cotton from Walmart) 2 yards of fabric for the cape (each yard can be a different color if y...

(AKA How to Treat Ich or White Spot Disease in Freshwater Fish) Top Takeaways Ich is one of the most common freshwater fish diseases.  Ich comes from new fish and plants. It takes 2 weeks to eradicate it. Some of your fish may die anyway, depending on their immune system and how early you catch it. What is Ich? Freshwater ich, also known as ick or white spot disease, is one of the most common diseases in freshwater aquarium fish. It looks like little white spots or grains of salt covering your fish's body. Other symptoms include frayed fins and tail, respiratory distress, low appetite, and "itchy" skin (fish rubs against tank walls and ground). What Causes Ich? Your fish is infected with a parasitic protozoan called  Ichthyophthirius multifiliis . It goes through a multi-stage life cycle: The protozoan attaches to your fish, forms a white protective cyst, and begins feeding. Once it matures, it bursts through the cyst wall, falls to the ground, and...

(AKA What Do I Need to Know About Betta Fish Care?) Betta fish, also known as betta splendens or Siamese fighting fish, are incredibly popular with both first-time pet owners and and long-time fish lovers. While they're known for their vibrant colors, long flowing tails, and interesting personalities, most people don't know that bettas need more than a bowl to live in and pellets to eat. Follow this straightforward FAQ-style guide to owning a happy and healthy betta! Question: What Do I Need for My Betta Fish? Check out this shopping list of necessities for your betta fish: Tank: Your betta fish tank size should be a minimum of 3 to 5 gallons. A simple rule of thumb for small freshwater fish is 1 gallon of water per 1 inch of fish, and bettas grow to about 2.5 inches long. Also, the aquarium needs a lid/hood because bettas are suicide jumpers. (FYI PetSmart carries their own merk called the Top Fin 5.5 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit that comes with a lighted hood, filt...

I've always been a collector of new hobbies. I think it's because my parents were immigrants and they were fascinated by this American idea of "extracurricular activities." In their country, getting good grades was everything, so their days consisted of going to school, attending after-school classes for more tutoring, and then returning home to eat dinner and do homework. They never got to do anything! So once I was born in the United States, they signed me up for every type of class imaginable. One year of ballet and tap dancing, one year of gymnastics, summer camps for art and science, team sports like soccer, music lessons like piano, public speaking and second language classes on weekends, etc. Because of my parents' enthusiasm for making sure I was well-rounded, I developed a lifelong love for trying new things. As a child, I collected stamps, did cross stitching, and owned a parakeet. In high school, I listened to musicals, competed in science fair, and j...

I really, really like the Chronicles of a Yarn Obsession . It's such a staple in my pattern collection when I need a quick, cute gift for my cat-owning friends. Check out the changes I made to make a refillable catnip pocket that will truly drive your kitty wild! =^._.^= Materials: The materials needed for the Kitty Squid pattern  (scrap yarn, black yarn, crochet hook G, tapestry needle) Catnip Scrap piece of fabric (something to wrap the catnip such as a square of 3-4 inches in size, preferably a color that will blend in with the cat toy body) Sewable strip of Velcro (less than 2 inches, preferably white) Hand sewing needle  Sewing thread (pick a color that will blend in with the cat toy body) Instructions: 1) Follow the Kitty Squid pattern and finish making the squid body and attach the eyes, but don't stuff the body yet or sew it shut. 2) Flip the squid upside-down and open the base of the body. Cut a length of Velcro that will span the width o...

My 3-year-old son woke up one morning and said that he dreamed he had a little white dog in the palm of his hand. Despite the fact I haven't crocheted anything new in months, I was determined to make his dream come true. This is an English translation of Waldi by Conni Hartig , with some added notes that made things easier for me. Enjoy! Materials: 10 crochet thread (I used worsted yarn) 1.5 mm hook (I used a 4 mm size G hook) Polyester filling Back and red embroidery floss for face (I used 6 mm plastic safety eyes and a 9 mm nose) Tapestry needle Abbreviations: ch = chain dec = sc decrease  hdc = half double crochet inc = sc increase  rnd = round sc = single crochet sl st = slip stitch st = stitch Instructions: For the legs and the head/body, the pattern is worked continuously in a spiral; do not join. For the tail and ears, work flat and turn the work at the end of each row. Legs Magic ring , ch 1 Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6) Rnd 2: ...