jeanner: Yes, that's my top pond in the fourth pic down. Here are some pics of my water lillies in the top pond. These were taken over the weekend. The most blooms I have ever had open at one time: 9: These were taken at around 9 a.m. before all the lillies opened. These were taken around noon after they all opened. Here is one of the many pond spiders that live at the edge of my pond. I absolutely hate, hate, HATE spiders. I was shaking so bad when I took these pics some of them are blurry. Was trying to get my floating duck and ducklings unstuck with a stick when I hit the web and noticed it. Wonder how they get that web spun from one floating planter to the next without going into the water. This spider is so colorful I couldn't resist. After I took the pics I was shaking so bad I had to go ay down after I hurled. I still get the creeps looking at it. My son can't believe I did this either. What we won't do for our ponds!!!! Lol Enjoy. Jenny

hmmmm interesting..so I probably wasted my time, lol. Well, I'll give it awhile and see what happens..if nothing I'll just re-use the soil. I DO have 2 plants together in the same pot. The second one just started its 'bloom' about a week ago, way behind the 1st one. Is there any way to tell if its a male or female? Wouldn't it be nice if I had one of each lol..too bad its not an obvious sign like on humans, lmao, that'd be scary. But, if they aren't really 'flowers'..how would they get pollinated? I assumed because of how they look, the are self pollinating type things...I mean really, they are just tiny balls the whole time. So how would one get pollinated?

If it's any consolation, I have the same problem with my own puppies! And it's gotta be tougher when you have kids! I have fostered and treated many different pets over the years and it doesn't make any difference to me whether it is puppies, kittens, foals, or even baby birds, it is always tough to let them go! The only thing I can offer, other than to let you know that I know exactly how you feel, is to pass on my selftalk. I start repeating to myself, about a week before they go, all the reasons I decided to breed and why I foster in the first place. I love animals, I love being a mom, I love to be a part of this incredible chance to pass on this love to others who feel as I do and most of all to trust that another person or family needs this love in their lives as much as I have it to offer in the form of these beautiful little creatures. Most importantly, to trust myself that I have done my best and it is in their best interest to have a family of their own to love. Cry a while, hug the kids, and let them be a part of the offering, then get prepared to do it all over again knowing it will be repeated with the same care and emotion necessary to grow a life from the start. :) Thank you for being a foster mom! Ginny A poem from a breeder, when I question why I do this, as tough as it is. It makes me cry everytime but I'm gonna cry anyway. Tears are healing.:) It means they are loved! I Love My Little puppy..... I love my little puppy, she makes my house a home. She always is my best friend, I never feel alone. She makes me smile, she makes me laugh, She fills my heart with love ... Did some breeder breed her, or did she fall down from above? I've never been a breeder, seen life through their eyes, I hold my little puppy and just sit and criticize. I've never known their anguish, I've never felt their pain, The caring of their charges, through snow or wind and rain. I've never sat the whole night through, waiting for babies to be born, The stress and trepidation when they're still not there by dawn. I've never felt the heartache, of a little life in my hands, This darling little baby, who weighs but 50 grams. Should you do that instead of this ....or this instead of that, Alone you fight, and hope one day, he'll grow up big and strong, and bring joy to another being, and make a house a home, You know it's all just up to you, you'll fight this fight alone. Formula, bottles, heating pads, you've got to get this right, Hand feeding for this tiny guy, throughout the day and night. In your heart you know, you're almost sure to lose the fight, to save this little baby, but God willing ... you just MIGHT. Day one he's in there fighting, you say a silent prayer, Day two & three, he's doing well, with lots of love and care. Day four & five ... he's still alive, your hopes soar to the heavens, Day six he slips away again, dies in your hands day seven. You take this little angel, and bury him alone, With aching heart and burning tears, and an exhausted groan, You ask yourself "Why do this? ... why suffer all this pain?" But see the joy your puppies bring... it really self explains. So, when you think of breeders and label them with "greed", Think about what they endure to fill another's need. When you buy a puppy and with your precious dollars part, We only pay with money ... they pay with their hearts.

Yeah to that. I think its simply because the dog is on a garbage diet probably made up of the leftovers of roadkill, leftover grain huallings, pts shelter animals with the killing drugs intact, and even poop/cancerous tissue, not to mention corn,grains,which will cause serious health/dental issues in a carnivorous animal, sadly in the pet food world a garbage diet pretty much sums up a good 70% of what is out there in wal-marts, supermarkets and vet offices. To buy good pet food you pretty much have to go to just natural pet food stores. I'd try a raw diet, but this has to be researched,vets BTW most of them do not approve or support it because the pet foods are way ahead of us for hosting vet schools, and their reps to desensitize every buddy to believe the lies that we are told on TV,ect. If raw is too much, too expensive or if you have a disease like HIV/are elderly/ have young children, go try innova evo, Ziwi Peak or Orijen. Stay away from brands like old roy, purina, Iams, science diet, eukauiva, alpo,mighty dog, beneful, old yeller. S/D/ect Type in" what goes into pet food", online if you do not believe what I'm saying is true.