Hey Mike.....thanks! I'm going to take some pictures from the 3rd floor....I hired someone new to do the pond...it's almost done...he's done a fabulous job.....but at a price that was not too long ago my annual salary OUCH . No luck....I think I know more than the Dr's do.....I recently went to Duke for a test....all clean. But that doesn't stop the pain. Still working on it. Any suggestions for a good gut Dr? PS I just made my first order to the nursery you reccomended..his prices are extremely reasonable. Awaiting my first shipment.

DH, I don't know how much you may look around the 'net at other vivaria, but your cage design with it's aluminum frame looks very much like what is called a "European" cage. I've seen some vivaria on a few sites (all European) showing cages made using aluminum tubing with plastic connector sections. Additionally, ZooMed now makes a Euro cage unit although it's really pricey at nearly $3000 (I think). Anyway, I've toyed with constructing cages using that same method however I've found that the resulting cage is far more expensive than building with more traditional materials and methods. I'm revisiting this issue again because I'd like to build my own vivaria without having to use glass aquaria or wood-based materials (for hopefully obvious reasons). Anyway, aside from the fact that you probably get a pretty good price break on your materials, do you know of a cost effective way to construct cages from aluminum tubing while keeping cost managable. Let me say that my figures showed making a 4'x2'x2' cage using aluminum tubing and expanded pvc panels would have cost more than $400 while buying a pre-made hdpe cage from Vision would've been cheaper by nearly $150.

Another brain freeze, that little one upside down is a Bonnie original rather than a YB. Musta been thinking of the little YB I planted upside down in the bucket the other day. ~~~ Yeah, I can see you lounging under a tree tomato juice dripping down your chin ~~~ Now I won't get all of the stone walls finished if I do too much o that! ~~~ When I bought my home I had to decide trees or garden so I have 17 acres of open (windy) land. ~~~ Way in the back of the second pic is a 100 tree Walnut grove I planted about 20 yrs ago. Probably 50 different pines, firs and spruces around the joint and an equal number of shrubs. I'm enjoying the gardens but I love the trees, their protection and shade. Can't be finicky about having turf that anyone would want to put on the cover of a magazine though.

What a gorgeous home for a beautiful member of the family. My 2 Golden Retrievers sit up on the bamboo patio furniture in my patio and stare in at me (like I am a rock star) most of the evening...LOL...I agree it is funny when they do that.