I don't have any particular fondness for rodents, but I just don't have the heart to kill an animal. For me "exclusion" is a much easier method. I just keep all my roses in gopher cages, and have no problems. But I do laugh when I see a ring of gopher mounds around a caged rose. On a related subject, I was going crazy with my son's cat who is a rat killing machine. There are weeks when I end up with 2 or 3 dead rats in the house, or patio. So, I came up with a new program called "Rats for Roses" Each time the cat brings me a dead rat, I bury it under one of my rose bushes. I have about 30 roses, so I just keep buring them , eventually all 30 roses end up with a nice little bonemeal/bloodmeal treat. By the time all 30 have been given a rat, the first rose is ready for another one. It's good for the roses, and it gives the little fellers a decnt burial.

Love this show! I wouldn't agree that it is free of made-up drama, though. There are loads of memes out there regarding the somewhat predictable format the show can take. https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/this-is-what-every-episode-of-grand-designs-is-like https://www.buzzfeed.com/tabathaleggett/jokes-about-grand-designs-that-are-true-af Everyone watching knows these are pretty spot on, lol. But still a really great show. With so many shows on HGTV and the like, it's a shame there aren't more that follow an entire home build from start to finish.

Bea, Aren't they cool?!I often wonder why some cats have such weird/unique patterns. What could this saddle possibly be used for? Unlike many cats, they aren't very specific on what they eat. I have found them eating my succulents in past years (see pics). They will give very nasty stings, so wear gloves anytime you're near them.

The castigation can end over the wrong word choice. A quick word choice perhaps better replaced with something else. Let's call it an "annoying, unwanted nickname" that for whatever reason is disliked. Your name is Allison, you hate being called Ally, and your siblings do so when they want to annoy you. I think that's what's happened in this thread. I didn't make up the issue, it's there. I pointed out that it was odd for a local to use it. Those making a weak and childish effort to be annoying by insisting on finding multiple instances of use (that everyone knows about) are welcome to do so. It's not particularly clever but the word doesn't bother me. Call me Ally if you want. Like most people around here, I don't use "Frisco". If you want to, go ahead. What is annoying is people making an effort to be annoying.