Debbie--They are single petal reds-- one was a tea rose that evidently went back to its root stock--with all this rain they are going crazy--some of the new shoots are bigger around than my thumb and are way over 5 foot tall--I looked for your email but its not listed--hope you stop back here and read this!! Jeanette

Am I the only one who would just buy more juice? I think that teenage boys require a whole lot more food than a 10 year old girl does. I've always had lots of food in the house. Fruit and veggies cut and ready to snack on, various chips and snacks and I usually bake cookies or brownies once a week. There is also a big bin of candy in the kitchen. My kids (girl 19, boy 15) have always just sort of balanced their own diets with the choices we have day to day. I always ended up tossing their Halloween candy at Christmas, their Christmas candy at Easter...etc. That said, I think If their habits were different I suppose I would limit some things. My son right now is just about to turn 15, he is 6'2" tall and weighs in at about 150 pounds. I'm trying to find ways to get him to eat MORE! Nothing like making French toast every morning at 5:45. He probably drinks a half gallon of OJ a week, a big Powerade every day, lots of water and about a half gallon of milk a week. (he plays football). For lunch he has a big turkey sub, chips or pretzels, a cookie or brownie, red peppers cut up, a granola bar and DH usually tosses in a snack sized candy bar. This has to last him from lunch until after practice, when he usually has something small, then we have dinner around 7. It's been funny over the years when other kids visit they don't quite know what to do. But the carrots and red peppers go just as fast as Chex Mix and chips when they're playing football or swimming. The cookies are another story. In the summer when all of his friends are around I make about 2 dozen a week. Beth P.

As I mentioned in the eccentric thread, my cat sucks his tail - just as you describe yours do with the "blankie". He goes crazy with happiness and purring. I always assumed this behavior has something to do with being separated from his mommy too soon - though I don't know if that was the case since he was a stray. Maybe "too soon" is different for different cats.

Thanks Plasticgarden, I'll try doing that; I checked on the Net and got to know that giving them something soft to chew on should help too, as they're teething. I'm gonna stuff some old socks with pieces of soft cloth and freeze them for a while and give them that for chewing. It's supposed to relieve the pain/irritation that goes with teething. Sheltiemom, thank you for thinking of us! Although I don't post here all that much, I think of you quite often, and Jas and Coco know that you're the one who gave them the name Pumpkinettes :) I hope your babies are doing well. Yes, we found good homes for the other five in Dubai, and Mum is in Abu Dhabi (we shifted here from Dubai about 3 months ago); she's with a colleague of DH's, and is doing really well. I love that lil girl. We boarded them all for 4-5 days when we went to Oman - and they returned with a giardial infection; was a nightmare pilling them - only Coco takes her pills without fuss. When Pumpkin was nursing the little ones she got real thin, but after we got her spayed and the kittens weaned, she's put on weight and looks awesome now. I'll upload some recent pics and post 'em soon. Jas-purr has been having problems off and on after the Flagyl treatment; now Jas's stool has been sent for testing for Tritrichomonas foetus (there was blood and mucus in the stools), Coco has been throwing up and getting the loosies too after the spay procedure - she was on Metacam, and that's probably what's doing it. Well they're both on probiotics and chicken&rice meals and I'll start giving them a bit of pumpkin from today onwards; I'm really thankful to Lisa for the info on pumpkin therapy for cats. She has started a separate thread for it, it's right on the first page. Hmm I don't usually talk so much in the mornings LOL - but just wanted to tell you, I got a job at the vet's clinic just yesterday! I'll start on Sunday - can't wait!!