I read the story late last night when I was tired and vulnerable...and I admit I was moved by it and saddened. But I did not post at that time, because tugging at the corner of my mind, my sceptical side was trying to get my attention. So I waited and read it again this morning. And I agree with Sharon... it does seem contrived. For someone with no money to spend - not even $10 - the author seems to attend a lot of auctions. Even gas these days is expensive. Why does she go, when she so clearly hates the whole process? And lo and behold, every time Elmer winds up at the auction, there she is to note his condition and comment on the folks who bought him. I write fiction. I know the process of weaving a fragment into a story. Maybe the author attended the one sale where her neighbour was selling Elmer the first time and while there saw another billygoat in very poor condition and thought: "That will happen to Elmer too." And went home and wrote the story as a cautionary tale. It doesn't matter. The message is just as valid regardless of the veracity of the story. We all need to take responsibility for the animals in our care -- AND their offspring. I'll get off my soap box now!

We have a pool enclosure and I have plumerias around the pool. If someone leave the enclosure door open, hummingbirds usually come in to feed on the plumeria blooms then get so tired flying around to find an exit. We usually pick them up and lay them on a bush outside the enclosure or net them so we can set them free. We also net or pick exausted butterflies and bees from the enclosure so now we try hard to remember to close the door. Next year we're planning on putting the plumerias outside in the garden to save these wildlife from stress and exhaustion. Your hummer is a darling and you are so kind.

Very cute...I have a huge doll collection. I love collecting the babies like this one. I finally packed them all away after I never got a granddaughter yet. I wanted them to go to my first born granddaughter....well I decided to protect them until then!

Deva, I have been doing a lot of repotting myself these past couple weeks. I had some Kalanchoes that were in regular potting mix and the soil was so compacted it felt like concrete. I am happily converting all my plants to gritty mix. I really like your Lithops. How long have you had it? I just got 4 of them after killing 2 previously. All of them are almost done regenerating now. I was thinking i'll give them a drink as soon as all the old leaves are off. Is that what you do? I just tossed my K. tomentosa :(. I had no other place to put it but close to the floor near a window and it just didn't do well, obviously. I think there also may have been a pest in the soil and my cat kept biting some of the leaves. It was just a mess. I saved one of the leaves for propagation and my cat bit that one too. There are tiny little fang marks in it but I think it's fine. I think those are C. perforata 'string of buttons'? I have those as well that I need to trim down pretty soon; they grew like crazy last summer. -Erica