Thanks again, We had a disgusting explosion of large grey moths about 2 weeks ago. I literally couldn't turn a light on outside without them bouncing off my head- they covered our courtyard. Our garden has been up and growing (and expanding) a little over 2 months now and I have yet to see a hornworm. We were out there pouring over the plants every day- especially after the moth invasion- and we were unable to find one little bugger... until we found the three cutworms. Here's the funny thing: we didn't have any damage to the tomato stems (our stems are quite massive now, I don't know if that was the reason), but we cut milk cartons and gingerly stapled them around the base of our Early girls (the plants we had all the holes in) and the holes, for now, have stopped multiplying. I assume that, what ever it is lives in the soil. Today, however, I was frightened to see tiny holes riddling our Marigolds. I think my worst fears may have come to fruition- I believe we, once again, have Tobacco bud worms. Some gardeners on GW talk about TBWs like there normal little garden pests, I don't know if maybe the climate here is more conducive to the (#%&*) grey moth that spawns them or what... but I have never met a more disastrous foe in a garden. I just dosed the Marigolds, geranium buds, and borage in Safer brand BT. I hope to God this year it works. I hope to God that they are not responsible for the holes in out tomatoes... because, in my experience, they are hard to find and harder to kill. Thanks so much, again, for all of the information. I'm going to look into D. Earth... maybe it will help out with TBW should we have them again. It's the only thing I haven't tried. Darcy

Juat remember your dog can not defend itself against other creatures which may come into the area. I just want to relate the story of my friends dog who was chased out of its yard by a dog pack. When it tried to get back in, it was shocked. The dog was stuck outside all day. WHen the owners came home and figured out what happened they brought the dog in. Now the dog will NOT go outside, it refuses unless someone is with it. The dog has been traumatizes beyond belief. If you have the money to spend, get a treadmill, your dog can get use to running on the treadmill everyday, if you can not take it for an off leash run. By the way. I have a tip. Have a friend go walking with you, get one of those really long leashes or use a small rope. Tie it to your pup and when you see that your pup is not paying attention to you go hide. Have your friend ask your dog, Where is daddy, or whatever you want to be called. This game of hide and seek should be rewarded with a bit of a treat when your pup finds you. I have done this with my dog and my friends dog when they were puppies. Now we dont have to worry about the dogs taking off, they watch for us in case we hide. Which we do now and again to keep em fresh.

I had been trying to re-connect with a friend by emailing her and arranging lunch dates. I was always the one to initiate. I kept it up for several months. When we saw each other it was always really nice. When we ran into each other at church there were always big hugs and "we have to do lunch again soon !". The only way that was going to happen was if I initiated. I stopped. For good or bad I don't think that it can be one-sided. I have given this a lot of thought. I have always been a loner and I believe I always will be. I have had one good friend at a time for years and then it would end and I would have another. I seem to be able to manage that and nothing else. I believe that if I really wanted more I would do more to aide the process. DH and I are really close and do a lot of things together and separately. He has no close friend either. But that is nothing new. Looking at it dispassionately it is the way we are. I no longer think there is something wrong with us. Everyone finds their own way of carrying on. My way wouldn't work for someone else and their way wouldn't work for me. When I am on a bike tour for months at a time I do enjoy being with others ...up to a point. All of us on the trips agree that our tent is like a return to the womb :) When I get home I really relish the lack of stimulation from others and go right back into my solitary ways. I have meditated at length on this and on my original thread that spawned this thread. I am what I am and that is all that I am. Peaceful is how I feel ...not lonely or alone. c

The training of the pro will always dictate the level the product will perform. Loba products are very expensive. As soon as a pro uses it exclusively then you are working with a HIGH END pro with outstanding training. No one voluntarily works with **EXPENSIVE product if they can't get it to work. The hardener is the stuff that makes things cure quickly. The faster it cures the faster it becomes 'tough'. In theory, Loba 2K Supra AT can be used without the hardener but it takes over 1 MONTH to reach final hardness (2 coats = 30 days; 3 coats = 60 days or more). If someone believes they can make something 'go further' by mis-managing the LABRATORY produced mixture is often considered a pretender. That being said, there are MANY uses for the products without the hardener...but only the very well educated high-end pros (the one's who made it through College or University but chose to work with their hands) will grasp the subtleties of 'off-label' uses.