I was going to ask if there have been any studies done on the overall health and longevity of cats that are fed a raw diet. I can't seem to find anything. Did read this from UC Davis: (linked below) As with many frontiers of science, the public is often ahead of the game in their desire to provide more natural diets with less adverse food reactions. Many pedigreed cat breeders have long supplemented the diet of their cats with up to one-half horsemeat, noting benefits in growth, muscularity and coat quality over feeding commercial diets alone. Many pet cat (and dog) owners are now advocating feeding their animals a diet rich in "bones and raw food" (also known as "barf" diets). "Biologically appropriate raw food" diet is a more scientific name; several other less commonly used acronyms exist. One only needs to search the web using the keywords "barf diets" to get an idea of the immense following these diets have generated. People who feed these diets report that their pets have better coats and are more active (signs of better general health), with far fewer intestinal problems. With the increasing popularity of barf diets, it is time for a word or two of caution. None of these diets have been scientifically studied in domestic cats, a species known to have rather exacting nutritional requirements. And this review from The Canadian Veterinary Journal: Raw food diets in companion animals: A critical review Here is a link that might be useful: Role of diet in the feline intestinal tract and in inflammatory bowel disease ... UC Davis

Al, thanks for this excellent tip. I always knew there had to be a better way to drill drain holes in hard ceramic, but I never managed to figure it out. I have spent many hours swearing and sweating trying with a variety of carbide and diamond tipped "glass/ceramic" bits that were recommended to me by local hardware stores, but it never worked out well. I gave up on buying cute little dishes with the hopes in converting them to usable plant containers some time ago. So after reading this tip, I took a trip to my local big box and pick one of these bits up. Was about $15 for a 1/2" "lenox diamond hole saw". Seems like the correct term (at least when searching online) is "diamond hole saw". The right thing looks different than a normal bit or hole saw - in particular it does not have anything resembling saw teeth or a normal drill bit at the end, but what looks like chewed up metal (which I guess is impregnated with diamond, and works by grinding rather than cutting). I just made a perfect 1/2" hole in the bottom of an old coffee cup, and it took only a few minutes and wasn't difficult at all, at least as compared to my previous attempts with the wrong tool. I used wd40 as lubricant - maybe not ideal but it's what I had handy and worked alright. The only hard part was getting it started, it's absolutely critical that you hold the work piece to be drilled securely, ideally in some kind of vice. And while this may be obvious, GO SLOW, especially as you reach the end of the hole, or it'll probably make a bigger hole than you want by breaking out the back. Anyway, this is just great, and thanks again. Daniel ps, here's what I got basically, so you can see what it looks like: http://www.lowes.com/pd_511346-28303-121096DGDS___?productId=50325481&pl=1&Ntt=lenox+diamond+hole+saw, though I got a 1/2" one.

Well....after looking at more pictures online and talking to my wife, I think we've determined a Natchez variety will be too much for our front yard. The height doesn't worry me so much....it's the wide canopy spread. I'm afraid it will make the ground around it too shaded, and will kill off the Bermuda grass. This happened near our pear tree, and since the ground is already sloping down, it has caused erosion issues. So now I'm steering more towards an upright growing Crape.....I have been looking at Tuscarora or Miami....I am also looking at Sarah's Favorite. It's so hard to tell what information to trust, because if I look at 10 different sites describing the different varieties of Crape Myrtles, none of them will be consistent as far as how tall/wide a tree will get. I had one site say Sarah's Favorite doesn't shed bark, but others say it does. I really had my heart set on a white flowering variety, but it seems like Natchez or Sarah's Favorite are my only choices for the size of tree I want.....I can't seem to find Byer's White anywhere online.

Lisa, What hoops we jump through in our dedication to our rose avocation. Thanks for the shot you took of Edith's Darling and its tag information. Your growing year is under way now. Your enthusiasm and excitement are obviously at a peak, and are contageous. The growing season for rosarians here begins with spring pruning which doesn't start until mid-April, 90 more days! Usually, nurseries here are just ramping up with potted stock a week or so before Mother's Day, in early May. Can you imagine the amount of frustration we here experience when we hear of your rose season starting now. We will survive, somehow! I suppose Edith's Darling will be promoted and marketed heavily until and if it becomes a favorite among rose gardeners, or fizzles out if its assets are far outweighed by its liabilities. My inclination, at least this time anyway, is to wait a while and see how she spans out. I, 'take the bait,' too quickly on a new rose. You would thing my old age would have tempered my impulsiveness. I have been using the lame excuse that my years ahead are few, and I don't have the time to wait. I have to force myself to practice restraint. This is a good opportunity for me to mend my, 'must have that rose now,' ways. I'm usually frugal with all other things, both by habit and necessity. With roses it's, 'get out of my way....I'm headed to the checkout with this cartful of roses....stop me at your peril!'. Time for my behaviors to match my white hair. Moses