Can-Can is such a beauty! Look at those elegant legs. Boopster, I think you're right about my husband and our "foster" horse. When he called me at work to say she'd arrived, and breathlessly described her as "the most beautiful horse in the whole world" I immediately realized my Bronx-born hubby had just gotten his first horse. I'm glad to hear you don't think she's too thin. If memory serves me, the full-body photo was taken a few days after the stall shot, and it's possible she gained a little bit of weight during that time. She only looks ribby from certain angles and while flexing sideways, although the top of her rump looks thin to me. That might be her conformation, though. She's a big gangly thing.

I'm going to look for a poly one to expand my little shade tub garden. And I need another one for the lotus. And another one for tropicals (I forgot about your tropicals, Catherine!) and also for the plants that the fish find too tasty. Above ground is the way to go for me. I can get nose to nose with my babies plus the neighbor dogs can't get in to take a swim. I expect I'll have to drain the smaller ones but my 8 foot can be the winter home for most of the plants. I am going to have to prune off some pads, though. The poor fishies can't find me when I bring the food but I just hate to pinch off a perfectly beautiful pad! The fish think it's neat when I get my arm all the way in there to pinch them off, though. Fish manicure! I've got a nice pad drying between some weighted boards like you dry flowers but it seems a little juicy to work. Anyone try that? Oh, Goldtrap, mine's only been up since last summer but no problems with the metal yet. The ranchers here leave them out for years with out a problem so I don't see why we can't. Vanessa

Remy, got the email! I'm usually the one who never gets them, especially from you! Things are looking up! Got another number, too! Way to go April's-Little-Bingo-Number-Picker-Person. Christan, if you try to post twice in a row, the thread won't let you. So, if you forget to say something, or need to make a revision, a little trick I've used is to add a letter, or remove one from the title; i.e. instead of "bountiful harvest", delete or change a letter, as in "bountiful harvist". See? Then it will let you post a second time. Shirley, my shot-in-the-back experience was a one-time thing. Never had it before and hope to never need it again . . . but it was WAY better to have seven shots in the lumbar region than to carry on the way I had been for over a week. No contest. Hope yours never gets bad enough to need shots, but it's good to know they exist and will fix you RIGHT NOW if you ever do. Getting your box ready, Carol. Hope to be able to mail tomorrow. Good night, all. Dottie

Thank you all for your heartwarming words about Ruffin and the enormous milestone he reached today. My two angels are in bed (I also have a 3.5 year-old) and as I think about today, a date I'll remember forever (or until my brain gives out!), I just feel incredible warm fuzzies about his standing unaided and that step. The marble slabs / house remodel? Don't care. Doesn't matter. My sweet little button standing? I'm on top of the world!!! And you all totally understand. Thank you!!! Thank you, louisianapurchase, for telling me about your children and the work you did with your older son to help him overcome his fine motor issues. I just love hearing stories like yours -- I love hearing that children can and do get better. And thank you for writing that St. John (my older son) reminds you of your younger son! That's a nice compliment. mnhockeymom, holy cow that is remarkable about your son! Honestly, these medical professionals can scare the living daylights out of you (at least they have me with their earlier [mis]diagnoses of Ruffin) and to have heard the word "fatal" about one of your babies must have been incredibly frightening. I am so grateful your son is fine, healthy and "normal" for his age. When it comes to the health and welfare of our children, the world is a small place for people who care about children. I feel like holding hands with all the involved parents and singing "Kumbaya." I know it sounds goofy, but I just feel so connected to the other loving, concerned caregivers out there. I'm excited your countertops still give you a thrill -- since I am following your lead that'll hopefully be me later this year! katmandu -- I just have to tell you how much I like you! I'm so glad you joined GW. You wrote exactly what I'm feeling -- that Ruffin's steps are really all which matter to me. The countertops will be nice and the way this all happened (the rude lady, the "switched" slabs) was wrong, but keeping it in perspective, doesn't matter! Thank you, too, for telling me about when your children started walking. It is really helpful to my psyche to know that "normal" children (without delays / special needs) can and do start walking throughout their second year of life. Now about the marble: do keep it in mind when it's your turn. If it hadn't been for GWers who'd written out what to do for slab countertops (taking photos of your slabs as you pick them, being there when the templates are made, insisting on being there for the templates to be applied to the slabs and taking more pictures) I wouldn't have had the "proof" to both show others I was right as well as assuage myself! If I had to do it again you can bet I'd say to the first guy (with whom Ruffin and I selected our slabs): "Are you absolutely sure THESE are the slabs I'm going to get? Because THESE are the only slabs I want!" and then I'd check the claim tickets and make sure the numbers there matched up with the slabs I want. vwhippiechick -- reading your note brought (more) tears to my eyes! Bless you for all the incredible good you've given people. You truly are a miracle worker. I love (and I really mean "love" with my heart, not just a throw-away euphemism) all of Ruffin's therapists (physical, occupational and speech): these women, on a weekly basis, are vastly improving the quality of all of our lives (Ruffin's, mine, my older son's and my husband). You really are a miracle worker! You are 100% right -- marble? My little boy is improving!!! Your families are lucky to have you. Mindi -- you are so sweet. Thank you for your supportive words and advice. I loved reading your note, and a fine man like your son is exactly what this world needs! Yours is a kitchen I am going to be closely following -- you have such a fabulous aesthetic and with that marble -- that marble! -- it is going to be stunning. From an earlier note of yours, I want to say I can totally relate to your wardrobe: I pretty much live in black (don't feel comfortable in white -- I am incredibly fair and feel white washes me out, like a walking block of tofu!) and love "architectural" clothes (my mainstays are BabetteSF and Yohji, although since living covered by snot and cracker crumbs I wear more Eileen Fisher because I can wash it at home!). I think I'd love poking through your closet .... Ah Robin -- my virtual hand-holder. You give so much to so many of us here on GW. How are you? I worry that you don't receive as much as you give, and I don't want you feeling depleted. You are too valuable. You're too important to me! You have seen me go through it all -- beating myself up for yelling at my children, losing our beloved kitten (since, gratefully, found), getting a puppy (she's great!), these silly slabs, and now something wonderful: Ruffin! I'm so happy I could share something positive with you, friend. And thank you for the encouraging words about our kitchen. Listen, if my kitchen looks 1/88th as good as your kitchen then we'll be one lucky family! Maybe by virtual osmosis your good taste will rub off on me .... Hopefully the next time I post about our kitchen it will be to share pictures of things falling into place (doors / drawer fronts on, countertop installed, backsplash installed, appliances in / panels applied, and maybe one day, the whole kitchen done!). To a one, Thank You. -Brooke