The pond was wonderful fun, however we sat around for 3 years and thought about it before we actually picked up the shovels.  We started by getting out the garden hose and laying out the basic shape we wanted.  We had hot pink spray paint on hand to paint the shape onto the grass.  Then came hours of digging and leveling.  Gary put a large shelf at each end of the pond for the plants to rest on, and there's also the obligatory large rock for all the toads and frogs we were hoping to attract.  We bought an 8'by6' pond liner and anchored it with retaining wall block.  The reading material we had suggested that you fill the pond two weeks before adding any plants and an additional week before adding fish.  The fountain was added about a month later.  It is absolutely relaxing to close your eyes, listen to the babbling water and make believe you're sitting beside a brook....at sunset.....in the middle of the week.  That's as good as it gets.