Here in Southern NH we have many Black Bear... as a matter of fact, one just recently totaled my van! Here I was just minding my own business and driving up the road, when a big Black Bear ran from the woods and straight into the side of my van! Our country roads often do not have a breakdown area as they are just too narrow and, therefore, the woods area meets almost right up with the edge of the roadway. It was dusk and I guess that this guy had a place that he wanted to be in a big hurry. As soon as he banged into my van, he did a couple of somersaults backwards and ran back toward the way he came. No blood or anything just some fur left in the damaged area of the van.

As said before, regardless of how sweet a dog I believe I have, she would never be left alone with anyone. Human visitors are as unknown in personality as a dog is in various situations. It is wise not to take a chance and sad we are at a point of animal ownership to bring about this caution and fear. Gail, sadly the dog parks have headed downhill. Ours was selected as the Dog Park of the US. Now though, try and find an exact owner to dog. They found that dogs were being left there alone while owners went shopping. How far can ignorance go? And I am cautious about walking too. We have a leash law, but people are all over walking with 2 and sometimes 3 dogs (depending upon size) off leash. It doesn't matter how well they are trained....anything could cause them to get hit by a car, I have to swerve around them on the street driving home...no sidewalks here. And if not looking could drive into dog and owner. They can run up to anyone, bark at nonsense. I just don't appreciate any breed running up to me and freedom does not mean you can do as you please. Mail carriers unite. No mail will be delivered here if a carrier is considered unsafe to do so and shouldn't be expected to. This reminds me of a telephone guy on my property. He told me that they had a significant increase in dog bites and found it was the leather belts they wore. A change to cloth reduced this. There are other service people put in jeopardy too. As a whole, we are exposed to so much irresponsibility... this conversation could go further to texting while driving, walking into me while on the phone and not paying attention to anything else around (I'm too old to fall on the pavement, even children are at risk), etc. "Excuse me, I'm sorry"...oh, they were talking to someone else on the phone, not me. I may also be too old to accept the changes in our world. Cannot fathom the pain the woman must have and the future she will be dealing with. Let us all hope that what is known is a small percentage compared to the wise on this thread.

There is one machine called an alpha sew that is a reproduction of the featherweight. I bought one and sold it because I later bought a real FW. I thought it sewed fine but was not as quiet and it just wasn't the ral thing. Colleen

nita - i was just thinking the bathroom scene might illicit questions that vannie might not want to be the one to educate her about that topic. as for the other.......the "eat my s--t" might be a bit strong for an 11 yr old. she has surely heard the word but that sentence was used repeatedly and was pretty gross even though i am an adult who is certainly not a prude!.........lol. i just thought i would lay it out there since she asked. it might not bother her at all...........