My neighbors, their dog, the darn soccer ball that frequently ends up in my gardens (deliberatly kicked over the 8 foot high cedars in their yard). They don't understand the concept of put the dog on a leash and that my gardens are not your dogs prsonal toilet. Have it pee in your own *&^% yard! What's worse is it isn't even down at the end of the lawn, it is up right near my front porch. I have even been out gardening and had the dog come running up and pee next to me! It has knocked my niece over several times. The neighbor got upset when my sister yelled at her to come and the dog after it had just knocked over my 2 year niece (and this is a woman in hr 50's). Doesn't understand why no one wants her dog running all over the place 5 houses away. Hmmm, we all either keep our dogs on a long leash, have underground fencing, or (and I know it's a radical thought but..) TRAIN your dog to stay on the front lawn! Finally got the dog sorta dealt with. She got the hint I think, when one of the other neighbors (who also has a dog) told her to get the d@@M dog on a leash or he would call by-law on her. Now we get to have fun with the grandchildren who live with her. (It is the grandmother, mother, brother and mother's 2 sons who live together). The 2 boys are a human demolition team. If they look at it, it is broken. They are forever climbing on our fence (already cost me $200 to have a section repaired), tormenting our dogs, walking into our fenced in backyard to get the ball the uncle purposely kicks over the fence. I have told them I don't know how many times, one of our dogs is 13, deaf and doesn't like strangers. If he is in the FENCED in yard and you go back there, he will not hear you, you will surprise him and might get bit. SO STAY OUT OF MY YARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess on Friday they kicked the ball so hard against our house that things fell off the wall (my brother actually hid the ball in our shed after that. They came into our backyard when we weren't home and searched til they found it) If I had of known that, I wouldn't have given them back the ball on Saturday. Then I discovered that at some point they have been jumping the fence to get into my backyard, because every hosta all along the fence line is nothing but broken stocks now and the ball landed in my grandmother's peony. I have babied that bush for years to get it to a good size. It is highly sentimental and not replacable (same with some of my hostas, came from my nighbor who is noe deceased). They got told in no uncertain terms if the ball comes into my yard again, you will get back with a steak knife in it as I tired of having my property damaged (and no, talking to the mother or grandmother does no good whatsoever). Wanna guess what came flying into my backyard on Sunday afternoon? And landed in my fern? And whose mommy told them they would get it back later when we weren't home? ANd whose mommy got told if I caught her in my backyard I would charge her with trespassing so stay the hell out of my back yard? I feel like I have to fortify my house just to keep them out of my yard and to stop having my stuff damaged. I am so tired of spending my weekends repairing things the precious little darlings break. I think I am going to set up a video camera, keep a running tally of all the damage they have done to my house and give mommy and grandma a nice bill for what it has cost me so far.

Karen, thanks for including me on the list. Sherry, no I am not in the hospital, thank goodness. Just having some issues with some hematomas and decisions re surgery vs. risks and keeping the blood clots at bay. Ellen, I am glad your dad doesn't have pneumonia, I hope he gets well enough to go home soon. Nancy: I hope your Mom's shingles get better soon. I hope she got the shot within the time limit that is supposed to help, as it certainly helped DH not so long ago. Annie: I hope Elery's stepmon gets better soon and I'll add special prayer for his dad too as caregiver/spouse. Stacie: I hope things are getting better for you, as you've had a tough go of it. Lee: I am looking forward to see you posting and that you are doing well. cloud Swift: I am so glad you are half way through the chemo. Hang in there. Karen: I am so glad you are recovering well, I'll look forwad to an update on your progress. Thanks for continued thoughts/prayers. Brenda

Stacie, I love that your kids are such good eaters. Ilene, I could be wrong, but I thought that it was best to avoid peanuts and peanut butter during pregnancy. There is some connection to Asthma and peanuts, peanut butter and other nuts as well as causing an allergy to peanuts. I think there are a number of ways to add vegetables to baked goods, but i don't think it is ever okay to sneak them in and lie about them being in there. If I know someone hates zucchini or carrots, or squash, I would never serve them something with those ingredients with out first telling them. Here are a couple of recipes to use up some zucchini. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ======================================================= Adapted from: Krinos Foods (The original recipe called for a large can of tomatoes and did not include garlic or oregano.) Green Bean, Zucchini and Potato Stew (Fassolakia Iadera)This is a traditional vegetable mixture that is often eaten cold, accompanied by hunks of country bread and feta cheese . 1/4 cup olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 ounces zucchini, cut into 1-inch-thick slices 8 ounces russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes 3/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh oregano chopped (or dried) 1 14 ounce can of Italian-style tomatoes, chopped. 1/2 cup chicken broth . Heat oil in heavy large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saut5 minutes.Add Garlic and green beans and sauté until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini, potatoes, cayenne pepper, parsley and oregano. Pour tomatoes and their juices over vegetables. Add chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring frequently, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Can be prepared 1 day ahead -- cover and refrigerate. Serve warm or at room temperature. 6 To 8 Servings Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ============================ These can be made earlier in the day and heated for dinner. Tomato and Zucchini Tambourines 2 zucchini 2 Tablespoon butter 1 garlic clove, finely minced 4 teaspoons finely minced shallots 1 tomato diced salt and pepper 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese . Preheat oven to 400 degrees Slice zucchini into 1 1/2 to 2inch chunks (little logs) In a saucepan filled with lightly salted boiling water, cook zucchini pieces for 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain Scoop out pulp, but not too deeply,leave 1/4 to 1/2 inch bottom. Chop pulp and set aside. In a skillet, melt butter and cook zucchini pulp along with garlic, shallots and diced tomatoes until liquid has completely evaporated. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Stuff each zucchini tambourine with filling and heat in oven for 5 minutes and serve.

i hope i didn't offend anyone. I really liked breastfeeding, for me, it was the best way. But I was also young and healthy. I wasn't rushed back to work, nor did I have other stresses on me. The LaLeche League is a group of women who have successfully breast fed and hope to teach new mothers how to do it. There is certainly a place for formulas, if the mother can't or doesn't wish to breast feed. For example, if the mother and baby need to be separated. Plus it's the ONLY method that can involve the father in feedings. I thought it was great FOR ME AND MY KIDS. I remember the nurse telling me that Natural Childbirth is best, too, but as long as you bring a healthy baby into this world, it doesn't maytter how he/she got here. As long as your baby gets enough nutrition,that's all that really matters. On another topic, my MIL was strange in many ways, one of them was she didn't think breast feeding was good, too primitive, too animal, I don't know. Once I went to a restaurant with MLL and SIL (her daughter) with my first born. She was maybe three weeks old. I was wearing a nursing dress, very loose but with two slits in front, disguised with pleats. As we sat in a quiet dark booth, I started to nurse her. MIL looked shocked, said "That's disgusting, you better do that in the ladies room." I was embarassed, turned beet red, and ran in the bathroom. There was no special place to nurse, so I went in a booth and sat down, and locked the door. It smelled bad but I stayed and fed her, all the while crying. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. Since then, I have always seemed to look for evidence that "validates" my breast-feeding. Sorry about this, I just had to "get it off my chest". And isn't it typical that MILs and DILs don't get along?