Barter could be a great thing for the common citizen. I injoyed the few local exchanges I've attended over the years. Were my plate not full already,I would love attempting to establishing a first Sat morn exchange at the nearby farmer's market. If you all are referring to Keurig,we have used one since Christmas. We toss them into empty 2 LB coffee containers that I saved in the past. Occasionaly I empty several by ripping away the foil cover and plunging needle nose pliers to the bottom and pulling out both, filter and coffee. I normally have enough material but here is how I handle the waste veggies from the supermarket when I need them. I carry a step ladder,an open top 55 gal barrel,rubber gloves and a trash pick-up tool in the truck when going shopping. As I leave the market I pull by the dumpster. 90% of the produce waste is in wood shipping crates and if not covered very deep can be pulled to where I can grip with my hand and remove from dumpster. Everone understands that part but what about being questioned about the act? I say that I'm aware they don't give the stuff away and I plan leaving the place as clean as I found it. Were anyone to start non-sense about liability of me becomeing sick from eating it,I will show them the groceries and recept to set them at ease. I only had to deal with that issue a few times in 30 years. The employee never pushed the thing except one time. I didn't remove any more nor put any back when she threatened calling the cops. I apoligized for upsetting her then left. Were the police ever involved and gave me a ticket,I plan asking for a jury trial. I fully expect the city would drop it but if a jury found me guilty,I've had worse happen. I know some would be crushed over a scolding for dumpeter diving but I have fairly thick skin plus a real dislike for how liability is over the top and become a monkey on our back at every turn. Does anyone believe a street person can get a judgement against a store because he ate spoiled food from their dumpster? That's why the manager can't invite you to take the stuff but isn't likly to prosicute you for taking it without permission. Just don't create a mess,that's mostly why dumpster diving is frowned on.

Give it time. It may send out a second flush of growth on the stunted side yet this year. Then after it blooms next year do your shaping.

A fence could make you and the dog lazy. Walking the dog on leash is the start of all training and the dog learns to control impulses and work with you. That doesn't happen when the dog is 'let out' in the yard for potty and left to entertain himself there. Plus, most dogs don't get the exercise they need if they have a yard. A little sniffing and chasing objects through the fence is not the same as a good brisk walk with sights and sounds and new things every day. Walking socializes your dog to other animals and people. So figure out if you have time for a dog in your life and don't worry about a fence. You only need a leash!

I want to say this one thing because I have witnessed it and been a part of it my whole life: You can't make up for what one kid lacks by spoiling them or spoiling another child. Example #1: When I was pregnant(about 6 months), we found out that my 15 y/o sister was pregnant. Supposedly it was her first and only sexual experience. Well the father disappeared and wanted nothing to do with the baby. My sister was bulemic before she got pregnant so her body wasn't really heathy to begin with. My son was born in January a healthy 7 lbs. 3 oz and 8 days late to a two-parent home. No complications with delivery (rather boring actually). Her child wasn't due until July. She had a strong support group of friends and family and we all pitched in to help. In May (6 weeks early), my sister developed toxemia and was going into seizures. They had to take my niece(already gestationally small due to my sister's unhealthy body) by c-section in an emergency operation. She was born 3 lbs. 11 oz and lost down to 3 lbs. She was so tiny, but ate well and was generally healthy. She had to be in the NICU for 2 weeks until she gained weight to 4 lbs. I think my parents tried to compensate for my niece's rather tumultuous arrival into this world by babying her. As the kids grew up together (just 4 months apart), the babies became almost like siblings. If they ever got into trouble, my son would be punished and not my niece. She learned this and her behavior got worse. Finally, when the kids were about 2, they were playing in our bay window and they both pulled the curtain rod out of the wall and onto themselves. My son got swatted by my father, but nothing happened to my niece. I had had enough and I told my parents that I was tired of them showing favorites and that they can't compensate for her lack of a father by not punishing her and making my son take all the blame. They were hurt at first, but soon realized they had been doing exactly what I said. They apologized and we haven't had the problem again. Example #2: My FDH has a son from a previous relationship. His mom got pregnant because he was breaking up with her and she wanted him to marry her. So she lied and said she was taking the pill, but really had been off it for a while. When he refused to marry her, she went on a tirade. She kept the baby from him for a year until she filed for CS. So FDH went and had visitation drawn up and started seeing him. During that time, he was dating his future ex-wife (FSD's BM). She was great with the boy and FDH thought things would go well. They moved because of her job and that left FDH several hundred miles away from his son. The day of their wedding, the SF brought the son to town to be in the wedding. SF let it slip that FDH had told the mom to have an abortion. Not the case at all. Then SF asked FDH to give up his rights because he and the mom couldn't have kids of their own and he wanted to adopt the boy. FDH was like no way. So after that, the mom started slowly making the son unavailable for visitation. Then FSD was born. FDH's X basically told FDH that the only child that mattered was FSD and that she would not allow the son to come anymore. She would also grill him every time he talked to his son on the phone. FDH (I do not agree with how he handled this situation) kind of let both moms have their way and went several years (like 4) go by without seeing his son. In the meantime, his guilt was causing him to over-indulge FSD. He spent so much time with her that BM actually wrote a letter telling him that she feels that the only person in his life anymore is FSD. Later she divorced him and FSD was indulged even more. FDH told me that he felt that if he spent more time with FSD that it would make up for what happened with his son. I told him it doesn't transfer like that and that FSD causes jealousy because she is a symbol of what the son didn't have. Holy cow! That got long! Sorry bout that! *blushes*