I planted about 100 heritage raspberries 6 years ago. They are always very small and crumbly, no matter how much compost and hay I put on them. Never had a decent crop ever, and the soil isn't bad. They aren't worth harvesting because the berries are so crappy. I've also gotten white 'bits' on mine this year, not sure why the loss of pigment however. I'm tempted to have my hubs just mow them all down, since the only thing growing well there are the weeds! On the upside, some 'wineberries' that showed up gave me a nice crop this year! And, they are red, though they also had some white spots of non pigment this year, but it was mostly the later berries. I don't think it's got anything to do with sun exposure or sunburn.

raised bed = plenty of drainage mounding = plenty of drainage gravel under the rootball = plenty of drainage Any combination of two or more from above list = what, are you trying to grow Saguaro cactus? Much of the Puget Sound area has glacial gravelly till soil which has all the water retention of aquarium gravel. What are officially classified in soil surveys as 'excessively drained' soils. Unless you're in a pocket of clay or peat, and sometimes even then, you've got enough drainage for all but the most demanding plants from dry climates. Raspberries don't qualify for that group. They're a weed here. If water doesn't stand for long periods during rainstorms then you've got adequate drainage. Last winter doesn't count - after a couple of weeks of nonstop rain we had standing water in places water never stands normally, and then it kept raining. and raining. and raining... for 2 months. Nothing could drain, the soil was totally saturated long before it stopped raining. Where are you getting your gardening info from? sources intended for a national audience are worthless on the west coast. Everything is different here. Soil, precipitation, climate, everything. Stick to sources written specifically for the west coast, or the British Isles. They have a similar climate at least even if the soils are different. So plant your raspberries in the raised bed and call it good. It will be plenty good enough.

It could get very complicated if you are wanting to record tv on both a DVR and a DVD. Do you know for a fact that your DVD recorder has it's own tuner? If it does not, you will only be able to record the channel that your Dish box is tuned to if you can connect it to the Dish box. If it does have it's own tuner, then perhaps a splitter would do. To me, installing an amplifier/splitter on the incoming satellite feed would be the best way to approach this. Each device could then be programmed and controlled separately. We still need to know if there are enough inputs on the tv to accept multiple devices and what type they are. It might be possible to accomplish this with a splitter only, but you might need a satellite tech to determine if the signal loss by being split would be detrimental to viewing/recording.

"The cat isn't fixed and he sprays everywhere." Is this what you saw (the spraying) or what you were told. I have four male cats (3 outdoor) all of whom spray whilst outside, but do NOT spray indoors. If they go in the house, they use the box like gentlemen. Sadly, IMHO, if the owner were looking for him, you would see some activity on his/her part. All of the people know of the cat, etc., but the correct number isn't on the collar? Something is rotten in Denmark. Poor cat. The distant neighbor is feeding him and in touch with the owner, yet the owner hasn't come to get his/her pet? WTH? People who own an animal then let them loose (for whatever reason) in the hopes someone else will take them in should be strung up. I would call the no-kill shelter if you're not planning to take him in. Is there really such a thing as a no-kill shelter anymore, and are there even any open spots left? We always end up taking in the ones when they show up. Pretty much how we've gotten all but 1 of our fleet over the years. This last one, "Miles" was a big project. Besides the behavioral issue toward the dogs, which we were able to overcome, he was a mess. We had to invest some $$$ to get him "house ready", neutered, shots, shaved (matted beyond belief), but he has turned into the most loyal well loved member of our gang. It has now been over a year and we are so happy we took him in. Funny thing, he is such a people cat (or I should say DH cat) as he follows DH everywhere. Shower, out to the pool, back and forth from his office to other rooms of our home. He sleeps between us on the bed every night. Love him to pieces. I hope someone with a heart takes this poor cat home and gives him the proper care. Too bad you live so far, or I'd come and get him from you. Sad that none of these people you've talked to has bothered to give this guy half a chance of a proper life.