I'm so happy ya'll are enjoying the pics. Mary Ruth - A big WELCOME aboard!!!! Nona - so good to have you around again. All your puter problems taken care of now?? June - those are definitely double petunias. I also have the MW geraniums, though. I've put a link below and the pics of 'doubles' are at the end of that page. Jeanne she is a God-send. I don't get to go there much because she's about 40 minutes away and the price of gasoline has not dropped here yet, it's still about $5.40 a gallon (was around $6) so we don't drive around too much. Laura and Luna - THINK WARMMMMMMM LOL Here is a link that might be useful: petunias aplenty

Today arrived. My husband asked that we do the exploratory last night to give him more time. BY bedtime I had dosed my friend with two tabs of tramadol. This was the start of a really bumpy night. I picked him up to enjoy the comfort and smells of the bed but he could not settle and jumped off to vomit for the last time. We had to give a second dose of tramadol sooner then allowed along with a dose of ace. I had asked for rimadyl hoping to pick it up this morning. There is no need for the rimadyl. We all are at peace. My husband collpased in the garage as I was gathering feed for the chickens. He finally understood . He slept on the bathroom floor with my boy . As much as he drives me crazy I have a good hubby. I knew I would find peace once this all ended. I have done it before. For those looking for help ...... you need to be the voice of your pet. YOu need to stand up and take control when the vet still pushes his agenda. I refused exploratory surgery cause his tongue was already showing anemia. I did not want him in pain from his illness and the surgery. I am pissed that I did not have a stronger pain med. Last night was horrific. I found that keeping a journal of his food,medicine and activity helped me to make decisions. I cringed seeing the clock strike 5 knowing I only had the internet for comfort. It was the internet that told me about cat food and baby food to be offered if a dog refuses his food not my vet. So a warm huge hug to those who post their troubles and woes since it lays a path for those who follow. There is no high jacking of this thread. We are all searching for how to make the best choice. I made the best choice early this morning. I am crushed , beaten but at peace. I thank you . To arkansas-girl........... My first dog was also a labrador retriever. She presented with chronic ear infections and ruptured eardrums. In fact our local vet told me after the third ear rupture that he can not help me. I asked who should I go see and he said "IDK". SHe also licked her paws raw and had her skin turn black along her abdomen. After many months we ended the process with her being placed on allergen shots and prednisone. I would record your dog's food and her activiities and health history such as her skin condition, ear issues, weight gain or loss. I would also change her diet to simple protein such as deer, bison, or rabbit feed. Do not feed her any pork, beef, chicken and turkey or lamb. The former all eat grass where the latter all eat corn. NO store bought treats ,give veggies and fresh fruit instead I would apply A&d ointment to her paws and then place socks over them using vet wrap to hold in place. You could even use baking soda or epsom salt washes by letting her stand in a warm pan / bucket or bathtub. I would treat her paws as if she has a chemical burn and allergies. When a dog has pain they lick the site...... her feet hurt. This is not a simple fix and the allergy testing is not cheap . I would change the diet to the above mentioned. YOu need to be diligent cause some of the above diet has potato as a starch which is also an allergen. It sucks to have a problem and no solution. It is maddening to be so vocal and have no one listen. I hope what I post helps.

Vicki I also appreciated your QOTD posts. I must say that I gained some new insight on some answers and learned a few new things along the way. It is hard to come up with questions and must say you thought of things I never thought of... wonderful job you did. The idea of one person who comes up with a question is a goodie and calling it a QUESTION FOR TODAY is a nice title. This is the season most of us begin to do so much outdoor work, and have a tough time getting the necessary sewing projects done. Thanks for your post, and if I think of something I will also add a line or two. Have a great season. hugs around, BARBARA

I guess I should have explained better. The neighborhood has gone seriously downhill since the housing collapse. I had equity once but now owe twice what its worth. Anyway we are the stepchildren of the city, crime is going up and the residents don't take an interest, for the most part. The whole thing has turned into a nightmare really but to make a long story short I can expect no help from the city, been there and done that. The neighbor's yard is huge and this sedge has had years to get well entrenched - if that doesn't get me then the crabgrass will. I used to hoe like crazy this stuff out but then the crabgrass moved into the bare ground, its amazing how that stuff can move a foot or so a night in expanding. Anyway on account of the financial thing I have very little funds to work with and so sodding is out of the question. My neighbors are very unpleasant people so no I don't talk to them. I wish I could move my house and my garden somewhere else, its a simple house but I've done tons of work in landscaping and added a nice big covered patio. If I move I'll never be able to afford another place - it will be to an apartment with a postage stamp deck and I live for summer and my garden. You know if it wasn't for the mud thing I'd almost so OKAY I give up - I don't care what grows here as long as its ground cover so I can quit with the mud tracking in the house. Its really, I guess, a no-win situation. I could get rid of my dogs that would solve the mud problem but I was brought up in a different age/mentality I guess where the person who was screwing up was the one who had to change, now I find myself constantly lowering my standards - and why should I have to lose my dogs, not fair to them for sure. I have puzzled over this and all it does is depress me. The way it is my garden is where I spend most of my time and as long as I don't have to go out into the neighborhood I love it there with my birds and squirrels and flowers and stuff, but the outside keeps working its way in. My children, lke I said, are frustrated with me because grass is not high on their list. It's like they take good care of their cars so how would they like it if their car was always muddy even though they just cleaned it - that might get thru to them better. But the city and my kids and the neighbors have come to an agreement - I'm the problem. Because I want a nice garden. I'm getting depressed thinking of it. As for the tilling, I really didn't mean tilling, I think it just said work it into the ground so that what's down there but not emerged gets exposed to the chemicals. i will try to found more information or find someone in the business who knows, it all gets confused in my mind. I did put down annual grass in the spring and it took over fast but died about July and then I was back to the bare ground. The problem in the fall is that I have lots of trees and about the time its time to do the seeding the leaves start falling and smother any new growth or make it so I can't water. I can't rake the leaves away because the grass seed would go with it. I have spent a fortune on water and seed and I have the ugliest yard to show for it. Maybe I will just put the sedge down I think it said a month before you put down seed and see what happens and if it doesn't work then I either need to adapt / or move. I did try out front putting down some ground cover which survived but it would be very expensive and take years. I dunno. I dunno but thanks for your suggestions I will read again later when I'm not so discouraged. All I want for Christmas is to know I will have my lawn back in spring.