miriamwithcats Member

Don't forget the biggest reason people don't know their neighbors anymore- TELEVISION! And now all the other electronics we have! I have a front porch on my house, and it sits very close to the sidewalk in front. And I do spend time sitting on my porch. I take books out there and read, my coffee in the morning, and often…

I cleaned out my small pond, refilled it, and got the pump and fountain going again. The birds and other animals, including people walking past, enjoy the sound and moving water. In a week or so I will add small goldfish. I usually put in a dozen, and by fall there are only a couple left. But they are fun to watch. Planted…

Joyce, it sounds like your husband and his sister actually do NOT come from the same family. What I mean by that, is that the dynamics changed when their mom had her breakdown and the divorce. In our family, the family was fairly functional during the oldest three's early childhood and teen years but by the time I came…

Yes, Barbie is right on about forgiving. I forgave my mom for her neglect and selfishness, but would not let her back in my life because those issues were causing my children pain. Forgiving, means that you let go of the pain and anger you feel towards someone who has harmed you. Holding on to those emotions only hurts…

http://www.learn2grow.com/problemsolvers/insectsanimals/animals/DeerResistantEvergreens.aspx A pretty complete list of deer resistant evergreen shrubs, includes Rhododendrons. (They don't grow well in Iowa, so I didn't think about them.)

DJ, Happy Birthday!

We went to church this morning. My youngest (8) did a karaoke solo "Sanctuary". And my oldest (11) and I sang in the choir. After church there was a free will offering luncheon to help out a family here in town. Mom is Hispanic, runs a small Mexican restaurant here in town. Dad works on a pig farm. Four kids, one of which,…

Michele in NC. Shrubs that stay green all year are almost all conifers. They do not have flowers. An exception is the boxwood, but its flowers are hardly visible. You will have to decide which is more important for you, flowers or green all year. Or you could have two rows of shrubs. Or alternate shrubs. If you have two…

Cheri, probably a squirrel, or maybe a chipmunk. Sometimes laying chicken wire over the top of the soil can keep them out. You have to carefully plant between the wires, using small plants. Or you can sprinkle red pepper all over but you have to replenish that. Another possibilities is birds looking for worms, in which…

Sylvia, it is just so great to see you up and about! Been so worried about you. Don't worry about the thirty pounds. You know what you need to do now. Just so glad you are doing well.

Thanks for all the support. It means so much to me. My cat woke me up at 4:30 this morning. The food bowl he prefers (one of three) was NEARLY empty! Not empty, mind you, just nearly empty. So this one cat thought he needed to jump on my belly to let me know! Normally it is another one that nibbles on my fingers at 5am…

Alco, there are DVDs of exercises you can do from a sitting position. Your local library may have one. If you are disabled, permanently or temporarily, most will deliver to your home. Or order from online. Kim, on SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance- what you pay in to on your paycheck) you basically lose a dollar…

Kim, crossing my fingers for you. Lisa, I love the hair! Looks darling! And is that your brother or brother in law? I gotta say, he is a hunk! Made me need a cold shower! I went to the Social Security office this morning for an appointment to get my girls on my SSDI. I had been told that I would get 50-80% more than what I…

Michele, how funny about your cat! I have had cats that lick off perfume or lotion, but never one that would even stay close to menthol. Does she do it immediately or after she has become accustomed to the odor? Chris, I am so sorry. Love to all! Missing hearing from Sylvia on a daily basis. Hoping all is still well with…

Lisa, I find that the creams that have Trolamine salicylate 10% in them, with or without menthol, do help my hands or other joints when they are really bad. Don't use one with menthol if you want your cat to be nearby. They hate the smell - a great cat repellent. Off to PT.

Dr Katiebug! Darling house! All the trees remind me of growing up in Nashville.

Yeah Katiebug! I can mow my entire yard in about fifteen minutes, and I have a good sized yard. But it is all in flower beds! there is a small patch of grass in the back for the dog, a circular-ish path in the wide side yard, and two swipes along the northeast edge of the yard. Flower beds require far less maintenance all…

I had a pleasant surprise last night when I got my mail. I use a credit card for gas and trips that is linked to reward gift cards at a certain woman's clothing store. The store had gone out of business, filing bankruptcy a year or so ago. I just kept using the card, figuring it was too much hassle to change it for a new…

KJ, pine straw is the old needles that fall. It is a great mulch since it does not decompose as fast as other leaves. But it does not make good compost because it does not decompose. It can be used as mulch around any plant. Also, remember that compost needs air, so after you roll your mini-composter around, be sure to…

It is the acidic soil under pine trees that azaleas like. Rhododendrons too. And some hydrangea (for blue blossoms).

Pruning. Sounds like some have questions about it. Pruning should always be done immediately after a shrub flowers, so that you don't prune off next year's blossoms. Cutting off the growth tip at the end of a branch will encourage the shrub to grow side branches, thus making it bushier and in most cases look better.…

DJ, you made me laugh out loud at your suggestion to stay away from ladders! Pip, we all hold you in HIGH esteem here. They always say words don't hurt, but they are far more damaging than anything else. I am so glad that you got positive feedback at the reunion. Katla, years ago I read a book that might help you…

For me depression is a total loss of energy, motivation, ability to experience pleasure, and hope. Nothing sad or grieving about it. The psychic pain can be incredible, which is why suicide can look like such an option. I am totally flat, but get irritable if people do things that will make me expend energy that I don't…

Katla, as far as I am concerned, "depression is anger turned inwards" is total BS.

Kimses, I hear you about kids that are thin. Both my girls are on meds now for ADHD/ ADD. The little one, who is already tiny with a tiny frame, lost three pounds when she first went on them. Now that the older one is on meds, her first checkup showed that she had lost SEVEN pounds but still grew taller. She is a bigger…

No, no, no. Sand and soil both allow water to percolate down. It is the resin/sand mixture that does not. Or cement. Crumbled egg shells make a GREAT addition to the ground around hostas, etc. The sharp edges cut slugs. Pine "straw" (needles" are also good to mulch hostas with. Coffee grounds, egg shells, bananas, any…

Kim, I am in total agreement about artificial fertilizers. Compost nourishes the soil, which then nourishes the total plant. AND runoff from artificial fertilizers is a huge problem! I am a bit of an environmentalist so when I hear of people using artificial fertilizers like Miracle Gro, I cringe. Far better to dig a hole…

CJ. I would not go. It does not sound like anything that would be fun for you, and if your friend cannot understand that, then she really isn't much of a friend. If you know the groom and have good feelings for him, you could send a card with a small gift of money, or a small gift, but just because you receive an…

I really wanted to work in my yard today, but I think I wore myself out yesterday and the day before. I kept wandering around the yard, puttering, but not really doing anything. So I decided to quit and come in, rest some, and try later. I did not sleep well last night due to aches and pains from overwork. This is so…

Marcelyn, I eat back some of my exercise calories. I set my profile as a sedentary lifestyle, since on bad days for my depression or arthritis I can barely move and will spend the day reading. So to motivate myself to be more active, I have to "earn" calories. I have not been focusing enough on my diet (major sugar…