pm2 - yes, even a 'failed' dog from Dog Guides is pretty amazing. The socialization they get during their puppyhood time in a foster home is invaluable - and something you can't replicate with your own dog. The Dog Guide puppies go EVERYWHERE with the foster 'parents' e.g. in stores, restaurants, offices; at all sorts of public events and public places, etc. etc. The foster process is designed to expose them as many new things as possible, as well as give them basic obedience training, so nothing bothers them and they are calm in unfamiliar places. One of Cole's issues is that he is still a bit too excitable and overly friendly (wants to jump up on people!) so he still needs training in that regard. He's still basically a puppy - he'll be 2 years old on the 27th of this month. When he first came he wasn't walking nicely on leash so we used the training collar combination that Dog Guides uses when the dogs are in training - a Halti combined with a martingale (the one with a loop of chain under the throat - not a full chain collar.) The leash gets attached to both collars - instant easy walking with none of the snaky, evasive manoeuvres you often see with dogs on a Halti collar alone. I'd never seen collars used like that until we started volunteering at Dog Guides. Cole now walks nicely (most of the time!) with just the martingale collar. This is what the arrangement looks like: If you're ever having trouble getting a dog to walk nicely on leash, try this arrangement! Dog Guides breeds their own dogs - although some are donated by breeders too. Cole is a miniature poodle although I think they may crossbreed the different sizes of poodles as there are some standards that are smaller than normal and some minatures that are larger than usual. They use a smaller one than Cole for a lot of HED but I think they're a bit bigger than 'toy' size so may be a cross with a miniature (?) If you love dogs, it's a fabulous place to volunteer! As for accomodating the dogs in the garden.... The main thing is to accomodate their need to patrol territory and explore and play so they aren't bored when outside! The path network in the backyard has paths along the side fences and near the back fence. Because of the 'wet corner' the back path does not follow the back fence and there is a short (6") iron fence (just a cheapie ornamental thing) along the edge of the 'wet corner' bed to keep them out of the mud in the spring - they recognize it as a barrier and stay out. On the NW side of the back fence there is a small bank against the fence so the path runs at the base of the bank and the plantings are tough enough there so they aren't damanged when the dogs visit with the neighbours' two through the fence... :-) traffic patterns considered in layout: neater version of layout: Callie doesn't dig - but Cole has started to excavate one place just off the patio recently! So we need to train him not to do that! Callie's breed does indeed include Cairn terriers in the mix - see link.... Noodle sounds sweet - pictures...? Do you still make her cookies? Cole eats commercial dog food - and we make the dog cookies in small training-treat size pieces to use when working on training (which is constant at his age....) thyme - we were posting at the same time.... thank you - and back at you re the gardens - I always enjoy seeing yours (especially the fall color pictures which have inspired me to pay more attention to that here....) This post was edited by woodyoak on Thu, Aug 8, 13 at 17:44

Morning all! Feeling much better but my mouth is still a bit swollem which make me have Julia Roberts lips. LOL I only had to take that one ibuprofer, as I have had absolutely no pain from the extractions, and minor swelling from the root canal. I don't think i'll be going out in public yet, because of the lip thing.LOL I started my chicken broth last night which means i'm already saving money. LOL And drinking tea too. Tam, I took Vicodin once and it made my stomach so upset it was more unbearable than the pain itself. The ibuprofen has worked fine, so will take that when necessary. I've had 5 childrem with the help of very little sedation~something was fastened on my wrist, I took a whiff when I had a pain, and that was all I needed. I had my first child when I was twenty, and back in my day, not too much was told to pregnant women, just to take your prenatals. My water broke, and when I got to the hospital upon examination, was told I was dialated to 8. Now not knowing anying, I asked 'how far I had to go'(thinking 20!)and they told me 10~my DD was born in 45 minutes, and i've never had over a 6 hour labor. As for the anxiety/anxiety drugs, been there, done that, and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! It stopped after menopause, as did migraines, and PMS. My youngest DD deals with anxuety alsmost every day, and does have to rely on drugs. Hopefully, hers will stop with menopause. Now everyone *really* knows me!LOL Karen, go on line and look for dentists and read their bio. I KNEW I wanted to go with implants, as I had a bridge in for over twenty years, and didn't want one again. I also know from being personally lax in taking care of my teeth, there was the possibility of more extensive work needed such as root canals, deep cleanings, etc. Find a dentist who can do everything so you don't have to be shuffled back and forth for various treatments. I liked this guy as soon as I met him, but maybe that's because he's old(62), like me. LOL he actually still teaches at the UofC and publishes on-line journals to help other dentist with implant surgery. He's had patients from as far away as Italy If you have any sort of insurance, get started now! Making that first appointment will boost your self confidence. If you would like to read about him, i'll give you his website. I don't know what that 'serious' birthday might be for you, but mine was turning 30. I'm twice + four that now, and feel better than I did than! There hasn't been a birthday I have been sad about! Life is a series of experiences, and there isn't one, good or bad, that I would change! I have truly been blessed.;o) patty_cakes

Angelaid, wish I could smell your house. Are you having Thanksgiving early? Sue, KFC is on my short list of things I'm eating first when I can finally eat!! Sounds like you had a great, but tiring, day! Glenda, your menu sounded like it was going to be a hit. I hope you nibbled a bit at home before you went so you at least got a taste. (It's your banana bread recipe :0 ) Mary, yummy! We're supposed to warm up, too. At least into the mid 80's. I've had the heat on the the mornings 'cause it's been so cold. Shirley, boy everything sounds so good tonight. Egg sandwiches are one of my favorite fast meals. Hope you'll have one more nice warm spell before November sets in. Hounds x two, the closest we have to a P.F.Chang's is in the frozen food department. Has anyone tried their frozen dinners in a bag? Just wondered how good they are. Georgysmom, you're killing me! Oooh, how I love fried oysters. You're on a little vacation, so no counting calories!! Just enjoy!! Sweet Betsy, that sounds like a delicious Southern Sunday dinner. Okra is so good fried, but I sure don't like it any other way. Just my personal quirk, I guess.

The closest PF Changs to me is at the airport, but I won't be going to the airport to eat unless I am flying. I will look for it the next time I am at LAX, however. In Los Angeles County, the best Chinese restaurants are in Monterey Park, and the last one I went to gave us the bill written all in Chinese. Chinatown here has some mediocre restaurants, and so I don't go to them unless I am in Chinatown to pick someone up at the bus station. I do like Chinese food, and there used to be a good Szechuan restaurant down the street from me in Venice, and we went there often because it was walking distance - about two blocks. We have a much better selection of Japanese restaurants here than Chinese, as there is a large Japanese population on the West Side. We also have a lot of Japanese markets - much more than we have of Chinese markets. For Korean food, we go to Koreatown. When I lived in San Francisco, the worst Chinese restaurants were in Chinatown, as they catered to tourists, and the best were in the Avenues, around Clement Street. Where I grew up in Texas (Temple) there were good Chinese restaurants. The town was started by the Santa Fe Railroad and some Chinese workers stayed there after the railroad was built in 1881. Temple TX was a junction of the railroad from Houston, and one branch went north to Chicago and the other branch went west to Los Angeles. The Santa Fe Railroad also built a hospital in Temple.