My biggest beef is our disgusting lawn. When people walk around the garden to look at roses, I fear for their lives. Awful pot holes and sinkage and tree roots sticking up. We built our house fron scratch and carved it out of a damp forest. When we prepared the back and sowed seed for the large lawn, we had it levelled nicely, and it looked wonderful, though we had a bit of a grade. But it has deteriorated quickly over the years It is now like the surface of the moon with huge pot holes. Springs have re-surfaces, even though my husband trenched and diverted with rocks and Big O beneath......and we have squelchy boggy areas. It has turned out very poorly and moss and weed ridden. It will take a fortune to fix it. So I try and ignore it and tend to the roses. Anything else, especially now we do not have deer in the back is negligable. Pauline.

I thought I responded to this post. Anyway, I am surprised to learn of this scooter... sounds fantastic! An added bonus is that electric vehicles *should* require far less maintenance and *should* be far, far, easier to repair (and with much less mess!). Alas, I can't stand wearing an helmet. I'm vain, and my hair becomes unalterably messy after wearing a helmet. I might have to wait for the perfect car. Perhaps the Toyota Prius will fit the bill in a couple more model generations.

We have a pop-up camper. We've camped in several western states at various campgrounds including national parks, forestry service, BLM and a few others. Most are a lot less expensive than the KOA costs mentioned above. Most have cost $15-$25 per night. Some spots are even free. It all depends on your wants and needs. We have a generator and don't necessarily have to be attached to water or electricity. If you're going to be camping in certain states on a regular basis, it would be worth it to buy a couple of books that detail the campgounds within a state, their views, amenities, comfort, etc. You can also look up some info on-line so you know what to expect. My dh always likes to plan his trip before we go. Sometimes we get the campgrounds we want and sometimes they are full. Some campgrounds are reservable and others are not. The book can usually give us ideas on other areas to look. It will also let you know if the camping area is big enough for your RV. The books are also good for sightseeing ideas that we would have otherwise missed. There are also on-line forums for those who like to camp. It's nice to have a first hand account on whether an area is worth your time or not.

Go for simplicity! At the young age of only 1...though he may be walking, running, jumping,,it is best to give him the chance to CONTINUE building his motor skills, both large and small...non motorized are best, aim for ride on toys that require him to push himself, etc.. Little Tikes makes a GREAT simple ride on toy, selling for about $20-no pedals, push only..Our son LOVES it! He now also has the Police Car version of the COzy Coupe..and spends HOURS pushing it around the house! Happy Toddlers ! ~JEN, Early Childhood Specialist and mom! 28wks preg w/#2