Dennis had a cardinal in love with the image in the mirror of his work truck last year. So, when ever he was driving in the area he decided to leave bowls of sunflower seeds on his hood. One day it was raining, and he left the seed on his truck seat, it was a light drizzle so he left the back slider window open. When he went back to the truck, there was the bird on the front seat eating seeds. Dennis stepped away from the door, and the bird hopped up to the back window and flew to a nearby shrub. He spilled some seeds on the ground for his new pal before leaving. He also left loose seed in the bed of his truck. That bird hung with him and looked for his truck every day for months after that. He said it was like having a quiet little assistant on the job!! He never bothered the mirrors again. Try leaving some seed, they think the image is a possible mate or threat.

We have Cardinal Climber here every year and I have only had to plant the seeds once or twice in 15 years since they reseed so abundantly. So, I consider them to be somewhat invasive, but it just depends on where they are growing and what else is around them. I just yank out the seedlings while they are still small if they are someplace where I really don't want them, but otherwise leave them alone. The hummingbirds love the flowers and I like that the foliage is unique. Often, the volunteers sprout very early in the season and get killed back by late freezes or frosts, so that helps keep them from overpopulating and driving me nuts. They do continue to sprout sporadically over the summer, and often I won't even notice they sprouted and grew someplace...like in the midst of other vining plants or climbing tomato cages or cornstalks or something....until they start to bloom. If the cardinal vine you are talking about is cardinal creeper instead of cardinal climber, I haven't grown that one. Dawn

Heather, the subject of inflammatory breast cancer came up during a discussion with my endocrinologist one year. She is very firmly convinced that the more women know about their bodies, the more proactive they can be in taking charge of their own health. It was sort of along the lines of 'and another thing that many women haven't heard' type of topic...And I do pass this kind of information on to family and friends but that's a very small group compared to women nationwide. She also believes very strongly in the importance of listening to your own inner sense, and not allowing yourself to ever be brushed off with your concerns by a doctor not taking a worry seriously. That when something is wrong, if you aren't burying it in the back of your mind somewhere, but paying attention to what your body is telling you, you can be treated sooner and more easily for many things, including cancer. It sounds like that is just what you did, so you must fall into that group of very bright and informed women that my doctor would like us all to be. Please stay well!

Elly-there has been nothing out of the ordinary going on in my home.No kids here,no other pets that haven't always been here,same litter after trying different ones that didn't make any difference.I tried confining her,no luck there either.Tried Nature's miracle,washed everything I could that she has peed on but she goes right back and pees again.If I put litter boxes in every spot she has peed on they would be lining the walls and on the furniture in every room!LOL We keep the doors to the bedrooms closed and DH normally closes his at night but left it open the night she peed on his bed because it was hot in there. Livvysmom-,I really don't think the Cat Attract litter would help.She uses the litter box ALL the time for pooping,just not all the time for peeing.I do confine her to my bedroom,bathroom and computer room at night and part of the day(they are all connected).Her litter box is in the computer room which is the only feasable place for it.She pees under my bed and in the bathtub at night or if she is confined to those rooms during the day.If I close her up in the computer room she howls and scratches on and under the door all night.She has even pulled up the carpet under the bathroom door because I locked her in there one night!I have even tried taking her water up at night thinking if she doesn't drink water she won't pee.WRONG!!!!LOL I am in the same position as your sister.I can't afford to replace furniture and carpet and as bad as I hate to I may have no other recourse but to put her down.I thought about trying to find her another home but who else would want the problem? I will call the vet Monday and ask about the antibiotics. Anyway,thanks everyone for all the advice and keep the suggestions coming if you have more.......Lillie