I've met some lovely people at the yarn aisles. When I was shopping for yarn this last time, I was just looking for weight and color and one nice obviously disabled lady pointed out that I could save by looking at the ones on sale which I had overlooked. She was so sweet to bring it to my attention. We chatted a while and shared notes about our projects. That's the same kind of experience we had when we shopped for yarn at Michael's when they had a sale after New Year. So many knitters and crocheters there willing to share their knowledge with you. Lots of nice people doing yarn work.

It's sad the way some folks treat their animals and have the nerve to say they love them. Pets/animals are so often seen 'as easy come easy go' and it's g-d's will, etc on how long they'll live, and how they die. But pet ownership is very subjective. The way I treat my pets may not be your way, and it's hard not to judge others. When they allow their animals to be in harms way or dangerous to their own community, well then I feel I can judge. But my friend who has 3 dogs, I know she loves them, but they're untrained, and so filthy, it's sad to me that she has them. Yet I have a hard time saying she shouldn't have them all (and the 5 cats, ugh too many pets in one house for me!) It's awful to think those horses could get loose, and break a leg and suffer yet the owners are so...casual about it. I bet they'd get another horse to take its place too. Pity the person who finds the injured horse though, that would be traumatic to experience. What about carrying some yummy smelly treats for the dog? Try to get it on your side. I know that may be encouraging it to come over but it sounds like that's going to keep happening anyway. Good luck, that's one of the drawbacks of country life I guess. I wouldn't know, being a city slicker myself:)

***holes,that really burns my britches when they do stuff like that.Too bad you didn't open the door and let the dogs at'em.Hope you find out who did it,and make them pay for them. Kathi

I don't think a chair rail is sufficient - my opinion. Some people would not be looking at the walls when entering a home and even if they saw the chair rail, it might not register as meaning there was a step down. I really think an attractive hand rail is the only safe solution - because it is a universal signal to everyone that there is a step and because it provides a necessary aid to any visitors who need a rail to help them go up and down a step. There are some people who have difficulties going up and down a curb without some form of balancing aid - your step is pretty much the equivalent of a curb.