Om my God Jojo!!!! Look at the picture someone posted in Tuscon! Ice fron their fountain? You poor thing! Look at all that work you do to take care of your babies. I am so thrilled to see that and actually quite impressed. Look like you have it all to a science. I think you need too since something is bound to bet neglected if you stop for just one minute..lol I have seen your crafts, birds, kids, plants, dogs, and yes the gritty mix, and I must say..HATS OFF TO YOU!!! What would all those people and things do without you, just exactly what I sais to Jodi the other day. I swear that if you too were to switch places for a day, you might be able to do each others work loads with no problems..lol. You guys certainly amaze me! If I ever found my slef a gal like that, one that doesn't mind getting their fingers dirty, hard work, and loves all the laife has to offer, except the cold though, I would be so lucky. I hope the hubbies see all thses wonderful qualities in you! They are so lucky! I must say, so is my dad, very lucky!!! By the way..Mom just loves you all. It means a lot to her when you ask for her and send hugs. She is going through so much and it certainly tickles pink. Thank you! She has ask3d me if you both could post a couple of newer pics of your dogs to warm her up. She loves them. And I, I would love to see more pics of the birds if at all possible. Jodi. I honestly haven't got a clue how you do it either!!! You must be running on caffiend or adrenlinine! How in the world to go go through all that snow and carry all that water to your barn? That much water might I add? They should make a NG documentary about you since the Africans do that kind of thing, and that is in the nice weather!lol The drifts here are just stupid! I have been so sick, and I still have to get out there and shovel at 5am in the morning so mom can get her errands done taking foster grandchildren and daughter to work and schools. If it weren't for her, no one would. Those kids have no one. No relatives. Their relatives are all on drugs, in jail, or the father is married to 2 other women to those kids, that my foster sister just found out. He provideds nothing and has no interest in them at all. Thank God for my mother. She also drives 30 miles each way twice a week to take her uncle to the hospital, even in bad weather. She needs a break. The drift are high and the pop up almost buried but still working..lol My mother has been going out every two hours or so to take teh heavy snow off the top for me so it doesn't collasped. I buy her a coffee everyday for this and take her out to eat. The temps in there average i the 60's now, even when outside temps are in the teens. I think the soring equinox is finally here. The sun is feeling a lot stronger and warmer now..Yahoo! Al says my Figs are going to make it. The pots froze in my shed for a day or two and they were completly dormant. Please keep your fingers crossed for me since I just spent 100 dollars for the best shaped ones I could find.;-0) I am proud to know the women I know here and at home, since they are tough and strong Mike

Duh, Now I see the confusion about the lights. HUGE difference in heat output between the two types. It probably takes 10-15 of the ones shown in the picture to equal one of the old style I was talking about. The big issue I see with the little ones is that they are wired in series and one bad bulb causes the whole string to go out. A single 13 watt CFL causing 15 degree temp rise makes sense. It might raise the temp more in our lower humidity. 5-1-1 sounds much better for holding some moisture than Gritty. I'm making Gritty work for succulents out of direct sun but everything else needs more water retention in my sunny/hot/dry climate. When I had 30 plants in black plastic pots this Summer, I struggled to keep them happy. Putting them in a East-West line and shading the end pots helped a bunch. I think the low humidity makes a big difference because the sun bakes plants here much harder than my previous house on the beach. Our average rainfall for June, July, Aug, Sept is a TOTAL of 1/4".

I have recently purchased a 3 yr old home in western Virginia. It has a covered deck/porch which appears to be PT lumber with a stain applied(has a orange appearance). I have noticed that water drops will bead on most of the surfaces. However, it is absorbed on the more exposed areas such as steps and perimeter. I cannot do a complete cleaning and re-staining this year, but will next spring. What can I do to the deck now to help get through the coming months. Thanks, Jim

I've been the victim of three crimes - all preventable. 1.) Being assaulted by a man while walking with a friend down a dark street to an unlit parking lot after Fiesta in San Antonio around 2am. I was 19 and clueless. We were more mentally harmed than physically. 2.) My brand new '98 Thunderbird was broken into while parked on the street in front of my house. It was locked but I should have parked in the driveway and not under the shadow of a large tree to the side of the house. 3.) My sister and I were at a salon in a mall and I was getting my hair cut while she was waiting. A guy with a backpack sat next to her and secretly fished her wallet out of her purse. I had just paid her a few hundred dollars because she was going to stay with me for the summer, babysitting my son. Of course her purse was on the floor, totally laid open with her wallet in plain site. The things I do to keep myself safe: -keep all doors locked all the time - security system - keep lights on in the house (even at night) and have motion sensor flood lights on the exterior - big dog who is encouraged to bark - TV stays on when not at home - reporting suspicious activity - being aware of my surroundings and not putting myself in precarious situations