I love cats! In my experience it would be because you had been trying to make friends with the cat for several weeks and having barely made it to a commercial break just before the last crucial shot in the men's world curling championship desperately needing a pit stop, said cat decides right then that you are the most wonderful thing since catnip was invented, parks itself in your lap purring like a lion and trustingly falls asleep(belly up, with all four paws akimbo)but with one eye just a tiny bit open....and that eye says with with undoubtable certainty that this is your one and only chance to be its buddy. Thats a cat, LOL, M

Paid $300 today for a Bob Cat to come in - he was already going to be in the neighborhood so he said he'd cut me a deal (no charge for bringing the truck out...) - the "show" I think was well worth it (seriously, who knew concrete excavation could be so entertaining?) but knowing it would cost $50-70 for the jackhammer rental for the day and my husband has a slipped disk in his back, also helped us decide to hire it out. The guy we worked with was SUPER nice too which always helps :-) I'm not sure how big of a "deal" it was but it was well worth it to us - job done! ;) Attached is a pic of the largest footing (I had NO idea they could be so big given our deck wasn't that large...) as well as part of the stairs that they ripped out. Thanks for your response - I appreciate the information!

Few gardeners can envision a proper summer vegetable garden without tomatoes. With their abundant green foliage and ripe red fruits tomatoes are as much of a visual delight as they are a culinary delight! Fortunately, they are also easy to grow and thanks to the vast variety of tomato types, there is a perfect plant for everyone regardless of your space constraints. Many people mistakenly believe that tomato plants are near impossible to start from seed and that the only way to have tomatoes in their garden is to purchase potted plants from their local plant nursery. While buying already growing plants has its benefits, starting tomatoes from seed really isnÂt as difficult as you may have been led to believe. By starting your own seeds you open the door to a much greater number of plant types, as well as the ability to start your seeds in exactly the manner you wish them to be grown (1000% organically for example). To begin, you need to select the absolute best seeds possible. Buy seeds from a reputable seed catalog or local grower. Avoid seeds that show signs of damage or deformity, or those that have already germinated. Seeds should be nearly perfect for best results. Since there are so many varieties of tomatoes, pay close attention to the plant description before you purchase it! There are three main varieties of tomatoes: cherry tomatoes, determinates, and indeterminates. Cherry tomatoes are small, bunching tomatoes that are prefect for salads or snacks. They are extremely easy to grow, and are the most tolerant of the tomato types. They are also excellent for container gardening. Determinates are often called bush tomatoes because they remain small and bushy. They are generally early crop tomatoes making them ideal for spring gardens. Because of their smaller, bushy size they rarely need staking or caging and make excellent plants for container gardens. Indeterminates are later crop vine tomatoes that will grow and grow until they are pruned back. They require staking or caging. Once you have your seeds, you need a place for them to grow. Any manner of pot or planter can be used, however, keep in mind that your seedlings will eventually need to be transferred into a garden (or bigger pot if you are container gardening) so ease of removal from the pot you start them in is important. Your growing place will also need to be compatible with where the plants will reside. A narrow planter is excellent for a windowsill; commercial seed starter flats are practical for growers who utilize grow lights. It is also important that any container you choose for your tomato plants provides good drainage. Seeds and containers canÂt get much done without a good soil, and a good growing medium is critical to starting tomato seeds. Tomatoes are a bit picky about the type of soil they grow in. Like most vegetables they like a slightly acid soil. If you have rich garden soil available it is perfectly acceptable to use your own soil....

Thanks, will keep in mind the UTI issue - so far only at this one place. And for the moment, problem seems solved - her sleeping box moved and she is now enclosed in the stairway/part of hall in basement for nights. Even though less space, she seems to prefer it - even heads down there during the day to sleep when she wants to be left alone. And no incidents since this change-up. Only disadvantage (for me) is that when she does get to howling, she's closer and louder and the sound carries; that said, she is making less noise over all. I am left with the conclusion that she just didn't like being further back/'deeper' in basement and was acting out.