Tracy, I used to have all kinds of trouble with pillbugs and sowbugs eating every single thing I planted. They'd start eating bean seedlings (and others too) as soon as they emerged from the ground and they'd eat their weight in garden produce all summer long, including munching on tomatoes, muskmelons, canteloupes, cucumbers and watermelons. I bought and used Slug-Go (iron phosphate in a pelleted form) after someone on GardenWeb mentioned that they used it for snails and slugs, but noticed after using it that their pillbug and sowbug problems went away, and so did their cutworms. After seeing many similar anecdotal reports, I bought the Slug-Go to use on sow bugs and pill bugs and found it worked wonders. I was so excited. In the meantime, these anecdotal reports reached the manufacturer and they worked to improve the Slug-Go to make it even more effective on sowbugs and pillbugs by adding spinosad, and the result was Slug-Go Plus. In my garden, Slug-Go and Slug-Go Plus seem equally effective, as do any of the similar organic snail and slug baits that contain iron phosphate as the active ingredient. Since I started using them I simply don't have problems with roly polies at all any more, nor do I have cutworm issues. I've never had snail or slugs most likely because my clay isn't high enough in organic matter to be attractive to them, but we've always had tons of roly polies under the mulch. Now we don't. If you can't find Slug-Go or SLug-Go Plus in local stores, they're widely available from online retailers. I buy some before the start of every season so I'll have it at planting time. Whether directly sowing seeds or transplanting, I scatter the Slug-Go Plus on the soil surface following the label directions after I've planted and watered in whatever I planted. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Sluggo Plus

To start, let me say this: I am in the middle of a complete DIY kitchen remodel which I designed, planned and made my dream come true (yes, little ole 58 yr old woman, me!) And I couldn't have done it without this website and your blogs!! Thanks to all! To those who wonder why use a pot filler because the pot you fill with water will have to eventually return to the sink for draining anyway, I can say this: for me who has carpel tunnel and arthritis in my hands and shoulders, just cutting one trip to the sink (my cooktop is opposite the sink several feet away), justifies the need for a pot filler. Also, I chose a single bowl 33" sink (9" deep) and this will reduce "inconveniences" at the sink when I try to fill a pot while my son (or husband) is cleaning or draining something else. I chose a deck-mount pot filler (great price on the net) which requires just an extra hole in my new granite and no drilling or worries about something being installed on the back wall. This also means simple install because all I had to do was ask my plumber to draw a copper line horizontally from my fridge to the cooktop with a shut off valve, and then use a flexible heavy duty hose from the valve to the pot filler (easy access because I just remove the drawers under my cooktop to install it). And as I am one of those people who change their flexible water lines from the washing machine and dishwasher once every 5 years, I will add this line to the list. This way, no worries about leaks! Thank you thank you thank you to those who suggested Never-MT and Plugmold items. Wow! This is the type of convenient items I searched for on the internet all day yesterday! Love you guys!

Thanks, socks, I will try the elderstore.com. that makes total sense to me; makes me hopeful to find possibilities. I followed Susan's suggestion and I have been searching for catalogs. I have found several and many that I have saved to my bookmarks for later use. I am sure that something is out there...even if I have to come up with a design myself. It does not have to be big, fancy or even completely fashionable. It just needs to hold her money, a few credit cards, be easy to open and be light enough in color on the inside that all does not get lost in a black hole. Easy Velcro, no zippers. Thanks for the link to the health boards. I should be able to find some contacts there. As I said in my OP, she is not the only one out there having these issues. There must be an answer. Thanks for your suggestions and your help. sooey

You put railing around the lower portion correct, between deck and ground? So no one can run off the edge anymore? If your baby is developmentally average this is the perfect time to teach her "on your belly, feet first" or to bump on her bum off the low step. Really it will take no time at all to learn. And think how much fun it will be for them to feel really adventurous as they go up and down that little stair! And in a year, to hold hands and jump off it... Don't throw the baby out with the bath water, I see this as a *perfect* set-up for Littles because they can move their bodies in a way that requires spatial relations and courage but it is a completely safe area. Especially if you do paint the line, they will memorize their environment so fast you won't believe it. Just my parenting perspective.