Thank you much everyone for this very interesting, educational, humorous thread!!! I came searching, as all I've had to deal with all my years, were tools of mowing engagements! Having grown up in as asphalt jungle (not the movie!) I fell in love with the smell of fresh cut grass! Am 4'10" (now I was told grew older to less1" ~ just my luck!) & for years before the advent of electric mowers I used to hop on top of the darned machine just to be able to start it ~ nearly lost my fingers reaching for clogged grass etc etc ~ didn't want to start machine over & over! So now you know ... I am that *priceless* image Carl18 vividly etched in your mind ~ *73y/o lady wrestling w/ Sawz-All* (by the way I think I'd love it!) Oh & I can always count on ken for injecting a bit to laugh! All I know about Ornamental Grass is admire them on people's landscape & am now for the first time brain-storming about what to do w/ a NE corner after cutting down a very old limb-dropping/breaking Crabapple tree where all the large Hostas now burning! No, not the regular Pampas ~ I know enough to avoid! I couldn't find the young neighbor to ask, what he planted that looks neat, upright, columnar, tallish & offers privacy (for me a blind from the dogs behind)! I googled & marked *Morn' Light, K Foerster, Heavy Metal, Dallas Blue* ~ any pros & cons would be appreciated! TIA!

I have tried growing seeds in milk jugs for a few years not and wow is all I can say. I put them out starting in Feb and march with the annuals in april. I think my last frost date is after may 8th here and seen it as late as may 18 hit us. Normally go by the Iris in my yard as a indicator when to plant out the tomato seedlings with out protection. Got a new fertilizer producer last year and my grass is greening up from the chickens. My tomato seedlings are not up yet but expect them soon. ML

Unfortunately, rain isn't a friend of homeowners who live in close proximity to beautiful streams, etc. When there aren't storms, it is a beautiful setting, but when we get heavy rain, it's been a huge problem. Over-building in a formerly farmland-type area has left little in the way of "buffers" that has protected us from this kind of flooding (have been here 25 yrs.), and it has only been in the last couple of years that we've encountered this level of flooding when a nor'easter blows through. I get that everyone wants to live in a rural area, but once the developers buy loads of acreage on which to build custom McMansions with substantial sized lots, along with many nice sized housing "developments", the former attraction is really lost. Watching the weather closely, I know we are in for alot of rain here in the Mid-Atlantic. While we thought Irene was awful, this storm is alot different, and will inflict much more flooding. joshuasamah, ugh, that picture makes me ill. I have a very good friend who lives on SI. She a child with serious healthcare needs which require being able to access medical equipment in her home. Going to a shelter would be a nightmare for her family. Don't get me wrong, the fact that there are shelters for the displaced are a lifesaver, but when you have to deal with having a child with a need for medical equipment, it is really tough. We've moved everything possible to our 2nd floor. Irene flooded us badly, but it didn't flood our first floor. Realistically, we are unlikely to escape that luxury with Sandy. Oh, and to make things a bit more complicated, my closest neighbor has decided it's been fun to watch 3 beavers build a dam and lodge on her property. What she and her DH don't realize, is that her entertainment has the propensity to put us in a bigger quandry than we are already. Another story for a different thread, lol. Everyone please stay safe!

I think I should get my head examined for watching these stupid shows. But hey, who doesn't like a good train wreck now and then, metaphorically speaking of course. I would love to see Daneille and Kelly have their own show. There must be one of the OC gals that could go nuts with them. Oh no, don't give them any ideas. Really D & K are really too unbalanced and need some serious mental health care, it is really sad and disgusting how these shows are making a profit on these unbalanced people. I wouldn't be surprised if something serious happens to them.I would hope whoever is in charge of these shows offers free mental health care.