I had an early 1980's 8 HP, 28" Hi-Vac with grass catcher. I loved the performance, simplicity and readily available parts for this machine. Its biggest drawback was an overly sensitive (and dangerous clutch). However, the clutch design rendered the mower able to climb a hill like like a bulldozer. When it finally died about 20 years ago, I replaced it with a Snapper 14.5 HP, 33" Hi-Vac. What a mistake!! This mower is obviously a product of some CEO's family member's freshly minted, clueless MBA. (check this out) The addition of poorly engineered safety devices and other basic modifications have reduced Snapper rear-engine rider mowers to the classification of "junk". The corporate CEO's should be castrated for reducing the once-iconic, highly reliable Snapper rider into a cheap pile of useless junk. All of the foregoing is based solely on my experienced-based opinion, FWIW.

Sorry about the Pachy confusion..Actually, I meant Pachypodium seeds..the species is P. lealii. Warmth and Superthrive hastened germination. I've sown other Pachypodiums before, under lights and heat, yet they never sprouted this fast. Sage, when you say you water with a spritz of water, (soak a paper towel and squeeze) were you talking about seeds/seedlings? or mature succulents? Wannabe..you asked if Opuntia's are hardy, if you can keep outside year round. If Prickly Pear goes dormant, I don't think it's for long. Wannabe, it's best knowing which species you've got there..Seems to me Opuntias prefer cool temps, even as low as 30, but before planting them in the ground, find out which type/s you have, research and/or ask around. Google, purple leaf optunia, see what it says about your Prickly Pear. Where do you live, which state? One thing you can do is, say you get several of the same type. Plant a few in the garden when weather permits, and pot the others. After your pp matures, post pics or research opuntias. Some sites list numerous types/colors. Someone on Ebay had a purple leaf optunia on auction. I don't know if it's stil available, but when I check Ebay I'll see if I can find it..sellers usually list zones plants are hardy. Do you know your zone? There's an online nursery that sells cold-hardy cactus and succulents..Opuntias, Sedum/Hens & Chicks, etc. Hope I saved it to favorites..if I did, I'll post the name/addy. But it's important you know your zone. BTW, keep a journal. You don't have to buy anything expensive, even a notebook will do..Jot down name of plant, date sown, progress/date and height. It's so much easier going back to your notebook for info. I love my journal/s..lol.. I jot everything down. Places and dates plants and seeds are purchased. Size of plants upon arrival. Dates plants are fertilized, Superthrived, etc. Names and dates plants flower or berry. And so much more. It's really important when sowing seeds. Keeping track when you sowed, how long it took to germinate, size measured once a month or whenever you choose..One thing great about keeping a journal is going back to the beginning. Especially several years back. Good luck, Toni

So now who is going to make the Paprikash????with the little dumplings?????? I'm willing to send you my mother. She's half Hungarian and very stubborn!!! Kristi

I have a year old female (born in the "wild") we started feeding her mama last year and about a week or so after she got food again, her milk came back in, and then appeared out of the weeds, a very small kitten (her's) and she weighed a pound! I took her in immediately, she was not more than 4 weeks old, half way weined (more out of survival than anything, since her mama had no food and hence no milk to nurse her). Anyway, this cat has had the life of luxury, she's got full run of the place, other cats around, NO KIDS, a big 75 lb pitbull she loves on relentlessly, we have a very quiet home. Nothing to startle her, except the dog barking when the door rings, that sort of thing. She to this day runs away when my husband attempts to pick her up. And it's rare that she lets me pick her up without an attempt to bolt. There is no good or logical explanation for it. To the contrast, 2 of the other ferrel cats (her mama and one younger cat) have also become part of our cat family, they stay inside at night and sleep on the deck during the day, never out when it's cold or rainy etc. They BOTH will come up to us and "ask" for affection, no running, no bolting etc. The younger cat was so wild when she firt came around that you could not get close to her at all or she'd flee. Forget about touching her...now, she sleeps on the bed between us... meanwhile the pampered puss is a fraidy cat, go figure.