Gosh, Katkin, I sure didn't mean that you shouldn't protect your dog or your property, so I hope I didn't sound like that. I try to live and let live with whatever wanders through my yard, but if my pets are in danger, or my grandbaby, you can bet I'd take action. And I'd try to find a way to keep my plants from being decimated, too. As I mentioned above, it is always possible that the bobcats are having trouble finding enough prey in their territory, and you are certainly right to chase them off and be watchful of your "baby." My comments on building on barrier islands are just my opinion about something that is already pretty much a done deal. I think it's wrong to use those shifting islands for homes, but the horse is pretty much out of the barn in that regard. So now it is a situation of how best to protect what wildlife and natural lands we have left, while learning to live side by side with animals that have nowhere else to go. Sometimes you can accommodate the animal, and sometimes you have no choice but to try to protect your home and family, including your pets. Marcia

I have a carport (who in the South doesn't?) attached to my house. I refuse to let my hubby put a car in there though because I use it like an outdoor room. I put a pretty light fixture in the ceiling and I got an old, not-good-enough-for-indoor oriental rug to cover part of the poured cement floor. Where we live it's between two mountains so the ground is really hilly. The front part of the carport is at ground level and it's about 2 1/2' off the ground at the back side, which contains the door to my mud room. It's really cute and cozy out there. I have a rustic loveseat and an early American end table out there. I use four strings of Hallmark Boo Blinker pumpkin lights to string around the outside edges of the room and the two support pillars I cover with cornstalks. Then I put pumpkins and three big (10") pots of mums at the bottom of each cornstalk pillar. I buy all different color mums. I think it looks nice with the variety of colors instead of sticking to certain ones. Then I get two bales of hay and use one to make a scarecrow (and my hubby's old jeans and flannel shirt) and the other for the scarecrow to sit on. His head is a pumpkin. I also have other cute little Halloweenie decorations sitting around and then after Halloween is over I bring in the ones that are very obviously Halloween and leave the rest out there till Thanksgiving. (Don't get me started on the rest of the house we'll be here forever!) Then like a couple of big overgrown kids on Thanksgiving weekend my mother-in-law and I spend the weekend taking down the fall stuff and putting up the beginning of the Christmas decorations. :)

I see that also. our neighborhood posted a map for those that were giving out candy. Parents are leading and directing the children. To much traffic and people just not wanting to partiapate. I had 2 friends go to dinner so they didn't have to deal with it. .

Tammy, glad you liked the package, and it arrived safely. It was scheduled to arrive wednesday! I swear I couldn't fit one more item in that box, it was stuffed! I can't post pictures either on houzz lately. I tried to post a few, and they don't post. Anyway, I hope everyone had a fun summer swapping. I tried to bring back a few old favorite (swap themes). :) I had fun! Thanks to those that joined in on all the fun! And thank you, Susan for posting all the pics- in all my swaps. It helped keep the thread going and alive, while I was so busy. Next, summer things will be better for me. I won't be as busy (with my MIL's house anymore, it should be sold by then!)