So far I have not had a deer problem, but the hab comment reminded me of something else. Squirrels aren't such a big problem now but for a few years they were terrible. If I would till anything, they would walk it up and down with their nose to the ground like a bloodhound and I suppose it was because they had nuts buried there and knew that I had disturbed them. I guess I wore them down because I don't see many in my garden. However, they would not leave my bird feeder alone and I just couldn't keep it full. It was hanging from a shepherds hook so I mixed hot chili pepper with Crisco and covered the pole. The squirrel jumped from the tree onto the hook of the pole and started down the pole. As he hit the shortening he started to slide and he slide to the next rung of the hook where he caught on for a minute, then continued to slide down. When he got to the ground he started licking his paws, then he started shaking his paws. He would go back to the pole, then sit on the ground and shake his paws again, walk a few feet and shake them once again. It didn't cure the problem but it sure did provide entertainment. We probably have 20% of what we once had so I would guess someone is eliminating them.

Just think, LindaC, you could teach her to pick up her own toys! I taught WonderWeiner, I'd just tell him to pick up his toys and put them in his toybox and he'd gather them up and put them there. If she's already "hoarding" toys, it should be a lot easier, LOL. Ashley's fiancee has a GoldenDoodle, I'm sure I don't know why, but he's allergic to dogs and someone convinced him it was hypoallergenic. Anyway, if Buster comes to the house to play with Cooper he picks up all of Cooper's toys and chewies and puts them into his own kennel, a canine kleptomaniac! So maybe that IS a poodle trait. Annie

I agree with lovehadley. There's no point in worrying about what might happen later on down the road. Your husband has likely already considered that because he is only willing to adopt. I agree. What state are you in? In CA, if you obtain legal custody, it can be very difficult to change the custody order unless there is a significant change in circumstances that affects the kids. You can talk to a family law specialist in your state to find out what your rights are in the event anything happens to your spouse. The courts are reluctant to rip kids away from a stable environment (at least in my state) and if you are the only stability they have known, it might be hard for mom to swoop in and take them away just because you are not biologically related. I think you need to speak to an attorney before you take on another child and speak to a counselor before you cut off the grandkids altogether. I understand you want to protect YOUR emotional well being but in the process, you may harm THEIRS.

Pathological Liar A pathological liar is usually defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little concern for others. Pathological lying is often viewed as coping mechanism developed in early childhood and it is often associated with some other type of mental health disorder. A pathological liar is often goal-oriented (i.e., lying is focused - it is done to get one's way). Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others. A pathological liar often comes across as being manipulative, cunning and self-centered. Compulsive Liar A compulsive liar is defined as someone who lies out of habit. Lying is their normal and reflexive way of responding to questions. Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large and small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable while lying feels right. Compulsive lying is usually thought to develop in early childhood, due to being placed in an environment where lying was necessary. For the most part, compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning (see, Pathological Liar), rather they simply lie out of habit - an automatic response which is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is a mental disorder. It is defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: "The essential feature for the diagnosis is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood."[1] Deceit and manipulation are considered essential features of the disorder. Therefore, it is essential in making the diagnosis to collect material from sources other than the individual being diagnosed. Also, the individual must be age 18 or older as well as have a documented history of a conduct disorder before the age of 15.[1] People having antisocial personality disorder are sometimes referred to as "sociopaths" and "psychopaths".[2] Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are usually separated by periods of "normal" mood, but in some individuals, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. The disorder has been subdivided into bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia and other types, based on the nature and severity of mood episodes experienced; the range is often described as the bipolar spectrum. Data from the United States on lifetime prevalence vary but indicate a rate of around 1 percent for Bipolar I, 0.5 to 1 percent for Bipolar II or cyclothymia, and between 2 and 5 percent for subthreshold cases meeting some but not all criteria. The onset of full symptoms generally occurs in late adolescence or young adulthood. Diagnosis is based on the person's self-reported experiences, as well as observed behavior. Episodes of abnormality are associated with distress and disruption, and an elevated risk of suicide, especially during depressive episodes. In some cases it can be a devastating long-lasting disorder. In some cases, however, it has been associated with creativity, goal striving and positive achievements. Many factors contribute to the development of bipolar disorder, including genetics, life experiences and neural and psychological processes. Bipolar disorder is often treated with anti-manic, and sometimes other, psychiatric drugs. Psychotherapy may have an important role, as well as personal recovery work. Depending on the jurisdiction, in serious cases in which there is a risk of harm to oneself or others involuntary commitment may be used; these cases generally involve severe manic episodes with dangerous behaviour or depressive episodes with suicidal ideation. There are widespread problems with social stigma, stereotypes and prejudice against individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Also called manic depression or bipolar affective disorder, the current term is of fairly recent origin and refers to the cycling between high and low episodes (poles). A relationship between mania and melancholia had long been observed, although the basis of the current conceptualisation can be traced back to French psychiatrists in the 1850s. The term "manic-depressive illness" or psychosis was coined by German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin in the late nineteenth century, originally referring to all kinds of mood disorder. German psychiatrist Karl Leonhard split the classification again in 1957, employing the terms unipolar disorder (Major depressive disorder) and bipolar disorder. I agree with Sylvia that only a professional can diagnose a mental disorder/condition. My SD's mom has many of the 'symptoms' listed and it's my opinion she's a liar.. partially pathological & compulsive. She lies about stupid things when there is no reason to lie. She is very cunning & you would probably believe every word she says, she's good. SD is starting to lie the same way... then changes her story when you point out facts don't make sense. It's like she's perfecting the art of lying instead of ever coming clean. That's their story & they are sticking to it, even if the facts of the story change or don't make sense to anyone but them.