Holy smokes, Jess, I'm glad I checked in again. You look like a little garden gnome among the giant plants. Looks like you will be all set for Halloween. I will have to post a picture of my one and only tomato plant. Poor thing. It has three tomatoes on it. One the size of a marble and two ping pong balls.

Hello, My name is Sylvie, I bought my first home a year ago. I have been having major problem with the house so far. whenever it rains, water comes inside my basement from under the toilet. I have pumped out my septic 3 time in less than a month. actually I just pumped it out again on Thursday and today is Friday and its already fill up again. according to the county, my septic tank are only 3 years old. there were installed back in 2015, however they have no record on the drain field. I applied for a work order permit to have them come out and check the problem. the county came with the same contractor that installed the septic tank and did a perc test. the couldn't locate my drain field (not sure why) according to the county, the recommend a mound system because where i live, the water level is so high. I decided to temp turn my septic tank into a holding tank because whenever they come out to empty it, you can hear the water gushing back inside. the other contractor that came out emptied the tank and turned it into a holding tank, however i can still hear little water coming inside, but the guy told me it was the water from the top and it should be fine. they did said something to me that was kind of strange. they said my septic system didn't have a filter and something else didn't install properly. my questions: 1- how can i get someone to check the field to find out where my drain field is located 2- how much will it cost? 3- why the company that installed the septic tank didn't even know where the drain field was located. 4- was turning the septic tank into a holding a good idea? since it only take 1 days to get fill up? any help or idea will be greatly appreciated. I'm at a lost when it come to Septic. have no Idea what to ask or to look for.

Why then do the real estate companies tell buyers that one of the main reasons you use a real estate agent to list and sell your house is that the agents pre-approve buyers and won't bring unqualified buyers to your house? That is their sales pitch for why you shouldn't FSBO afterall. I was surprised my agent hasn't asked for pre approval, but we got pre-qualified anyway. In Maine where we are moving, the contract requires a pre-qualification letter within X days of contract acceptance. I think that is a smart move and now that I am going to do FSBO I am going to require the same thing and the house will stay on the market until I have one in hand. My real estate listing has expired with my realtor and I decided that I wanted a quick sale so I am cutting the commission out of my listed price and hope that will generate interest. At least more than I have gotten with the agents. But all the FSBO sites suggest strongly that you require a buyer submit a pre-qualification letter with or close to an offer. That makes sense. If they can't then you haven't lost anything. I think a lot of people who buy FSBO houses are savvy enough to know what they have to do. I'm probably wrong on that though. Human nature is so odd sometimes.

Westwinger, I feel for you!! My guess is that the children's father may not have been abusive either... My DH's ex took the kids from him and moved back in with her parents. Then she started making up allegations of abuse. After I came into the picture, she accused him of sexually abusing his daughter and drugging his son. She has since married and had a child with her new hubby. He thinks that my DH is an abusive/child molesting b*st*rd, and he (ex's hubby) helps her keep the children from my DH. (He hasn't seen them in nearly 3 1/2 years.) When things go down the toilet with them (which I'm sure they will) he will be in for a rude awakening. My Hubby is much like you, a hard working, good man who just wants to come home at the end of the day to a clean house and a hot meal (and a happy, well looked after family). Some women just suck. (To put it really eloquently). If she is already making those types of comments (about abuse) be prepared for anything. Consider keeping a running log of your activities (where you are and when)...especially if you split. You never know if/when she might accuse you of something, and if you keep a clear/concise log, you will be able to show it to police/judges if necessary. I really do mean be prepared for *anything*. In the last three and a half years, We have received over a dozen calls & visits from the RCMP, because of her false accusations. (Everything from child abuse (at the last visit) and stalking, to arson and B&E (we both got finger printed for the B&E). She even got an emergency protection order against him (including the seizure of his hunting equipment) based on false pretenses...he was away working, when he was "witnessed" at her house. If it does get that messy (I really hope it doesn't) remember to always be polite/respectful to the police (DH appologizes to them when they call, and explains that he's in a messy access dispute, and every time we get close to going into court, she does this..."I'm sorry that she is doing this again. I know how busy you guys are already."). The police are smart...if you are decent to them, they get to realize where the problems lie. (They still have to follow up on every complaint...but they get to be very good to deal with. They also understand that it's very frusterating for you.) Whatever you do, don't move out. (It may be tempting, but it weighs heavily against you when/if you go into court.) It may also be helpful to get a mini recorder and keep it with you. (Check your local laws, for useability.) In some states/provinces recordings are admissible as long as one party involved in the conversation is aware of the recording. In other states/provinces, both parties must be aware for it to be admissible. If only you have to be aware, then you may be able to get some good evidence for court. You might be surprised what stupid, self incriminating evidence can be said in the heat of the moment. If you do get something on tape make sure you log the date and time when the conversation took place. (DH's ex told him she was going to make him pay, make him hurt, that he was never going to see his kids again because he didn't deserve them if he wasn't with her, and when she accused him of sexually abusing his daughter she said expressed her anger (with colorful language) at his decision to file for joint custody, and then tacked on the accusation. Unfortunatly, we learned too late that we needed a tape recorder, and never got any of it...without a recording, it's just a bunch of 'he says/she says' and the courts, almost without fail, go in favor of the mother. You have an uphill battle ahead of you, no matter what you decide, but I'm glad to hear you have such good support from your staff. They must really care about you. Take comfort in the knowledge that you are a good man. Things may get worse before they get better, but they *will* get better. With kind thoughts, Verena "It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words, 'And this, too, shall pass away.' How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction." -Abraham Lincoln, addressing the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society in 1859.