Answer to Jim: Thank you for your offer to get me some Pik Red seeds. I went ahead and ordered a couple packs from Ed Hume Seeds. This way I will probably get periodic adverts from him, and since the W. PA climate although colder in winter that you experience is just about as short a growing season as Washington state. All Hume's vegetable selections should be ideal for me here for that reason. By the way, Pittsburgh and Seattle vie for the distinction of having the most overcast days per year of any cities in the USA. Look it up if you find this hard to believe. Pittsburgh is the first large metro area South East of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie being the closest, that lies at the Western foothills of the Appalachian Mountains (they start about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh). The mountains act as a roadblock for weather froths coming through. Low hanging overcast weather fronts that come rolling in off the great lakes in a traditionallly South East direction are blocked by the Appalachian mountains and jam up over us here, giving us our abundance of cloudy days. Then as these moisture laden weather fronts are pushed by the wind from the North West, they must gain altitude to pass over the mountains. As they do they grow colder and are then forced to release their mositure as rain/snow. This is the reason so many people around here are cranky and iritable all the time. Few sunny days to lift up the spirits. Rootman thanks you again, for your kind offer.

I believe Linen and Things carry them as well. I know I tried one of them and had to give it away. They didn't fit over my cabinet door. The space where it hangs wasn't wide enough to fit over the door of the cabinet. I use a little towel stand I picked up at Linen and Things that is normally used in a bathroom for hand towels. I have it on my counter since there is no place to hang a towel rack in my kitchen.

I use a Waterpik WP-100 Ultra Water Flosser. If it broke today, I'd immediately buy another. I had never used one until about 2 years ago when my hygienist commented that I might have to see a periodontist. All along my checkups had been "fine" so this was totally unexpected. That's when I got the Waterpik. I use it, an electric toothbrush, and also do manual flossing usually twice a day. It's also helped with my diet because after I've gone through my routine, I don't want to eat and have to do it all over again! The Waterpik came with six tips, four of which I've never used. The other 2 are identical and are the "classic" tips. It also has 10 settings for adjusting the water pressure - #8 works best for me. These settings are on the tank and not in the handle. As you can see from the picture, a tank holds the water. I'm methodical about going along the gum line and each tooth space so I need about 1 1/2 tanks for each session. It's also refreshing to rinse the top of the mouth and the soft tissue between the mouth and both upper and lower gums. This is a plug in model, not battery. There's been no further mention of a periodontist for me and the dental areas of concern have lessened in number and severity. Your query did cause me to look at other models available and I see that there are several tank types. I see some offer a "massage" option and with one the water pressure adjustment is on the hand unit. Personally I wouldn't opt for the cordless "professional" one with the water "tank" in the handle. Besides being awkward and heavy, I would have to refill that one multiple times! Here is a link that might be useful: Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser

we live in a split level and we have the dog's bowl at the bottom of the steps on lower level with a pet mat underneath b/c she is such a messy eater and drinker. the cat gets fed on top of W/D b/c dog will eat his food ASAP... so no food bowls in my kitchen. i was always knocking the water bowl pre-reno and did want to deal with it in new kitchen. so sorry for everyone's loss. it is just heartbreaking to lose your pet. we lost two dogs some years ago and we still miss them and talk about them. our dog now is going on 13 and really slowing down... thinking of rescuing another soon. i would just hate to something to happen to her and then have no dog at all.....our cat is going on 11 but still acts like a kitten, so hopefully he has alot more years in him. he is indoors only, so i think that really helps further his life. he was a rescue. we found him at 6 mos of age on the jetties in cape may, nj. brought him home and have had him every since. he's is just awesome, more like a dog than a cat. always the first to greet you at the door, we all just love him so much. we always wondered what made someone dump him, but their loss was our gain. here's a pic of Tori, just taken this morning and Jetty, taken 4 yrs ago, he looks the same!!