Yeah, Jan, makes me wish I knew how to rollerblade (better) too! I'm really kind of rusty (and very wary after that serious accident ten years ago), hence, all the protective gear. I might replace my (circa 1992) blades if I can find some with better braking technology. Surely they've improved by now? In the meantime, I just slow down by going in the grass. I haven't allowed the kids to do it because it does take a good deal of attention to detail to ensure that there's no slack in the rope so Izzy doesn't get tangled in it and get hurt, and to deal with her occasional tendency to run next to and behind me. Also, I have to be 100% certain they'd choose to crash before they bladed into my dog. None of my young playmates are coordinated enough to accept this amount of responsibility... yet. Andie, nah. Though I've seen him do it, I was really just looking for another way to harness Izzy's desire to pull. My summertime choices were bike and blade. (Pulling small kids in a wagon leaves too much opportunity for the wagon to crash into her unless I owned a different harness set up, and I don't think she's big enough for this.) I've done both with my whippet in the 90's, but one time I had my whippet run next to me while I rode my bike on a blacktopped trail and he tore up his foot pads pretty badly in the process... so I nixed that idea pretty quick. I'll never allow a dog to hurt themselves like that ever again... The nice thing about the tow rope is... if she goes in a really stupid direction, I can always let go and she comes back to me... also, it's long enough that I can accommodate for a direction change, but still keep her close enough to ensure her safety... It's a learning process for both of us, but we're learning to work as a team.

I just thought I'd revise this thread since we are in the depths of spider mite season here . . . again! I've grown dahlias for years and the mites are my worse problem. Oh yeah, the earwigs eat holes in the leaves and then wreck the petals but the mites have even killed my plants! This is a hot, dry part of the country and the Colorado State U website TrowelGal recommended comments on the problems with mites in those conditions. Also, they say that Isotox is effective. I've been using that pesticide weekly and still the mites always show up in a major way. (Suspect that Cheryl would NOT want to risk her toads to Isotox for good reason.) I once worked in a rose greenhouse and the head grower was convinced that washing the plants did nearly as much good as spraying them with a miticide. But, it was in combination that the system worked best. Blasting the mites off the plants with water, allowing the foliage to dry, then spraying was most effective. It works fairly well for me also probably because the mites on the ground nearly always get sprayed whereas the mites under the leaves may be shielded. Contrary to what may have been said about my aim - I can hit the floor with both my hat and the bug spray. My question, is there anything else I can be doing? Unlike Lola, my experience using neem was absolutely unsatisfactory. And Cheryl, did you give up on dahlias? Look, I've battled the mites on dahlias for well over a decade and still put out hundreds of tubers each year. I don't think a self-respecting toad would come anywhere close to this arid landscape so I don't have them to worry about but, gosh, seeing those bright, beautiful blooms every year is worth an effort. Steve

I am so sorry you're having to go thru this. We are redoing our kitchen due to a leak - FWIW, we had the insurance pay out what it would have cost to put it back "exactly the way it was", while it was somewhat a pain to have to quote stripping and replacing wallpaper and rebuilding up the floor to the original height, this allowed us to take that money and our own funds and gut the kitchen and do it the way we wanted. Yes unplanned remodel has been a huge inconvienence and unplanned expense - but it also allowed us to remodel the way we wanted and for quite a bit less of our own money than if we had done it later. Something to think about. I'd also highly recommend getting your own contractor you trust - dont use their people unless you feel 100% comfortable with them. Have your contractor quote what it would be to put it back the way it was - have the insurance pay you out and then decide what you really want to do. Have the contractor quote it out Firm Fixed Price (FFP) for the insurance. It really sounds like you should also fight to have the cabinets declared a complete loss -- uppers and lowers due to the mold and moisture - likely less expensive too to replace with new rather than having something custom made to match the existing. if the cabs need to come out to ensure it gets dry (likely if they were in contact with the wet floor -- water seeps up boxes and damages them - then they need to take the counter out too and are likely to replace that as well. Good Luck!

Feel free to copy Pinch Me! I showed pix to my friend today, who is my ex-box, who is an architect. He nearly fell off his chair lol. He assured me that it can be cleaned up, and said that it needs to be regrouted, but certainly should be kept by all means. His opinion was just find a solid tile which matches one of those colors to finish off the floor where there is none, and don't worry about it - so big deal it won't be perfect. I agree. It will be part of the character of the room. My BF is all excited to get cracking and try to clean it up now. We're going to just try some liquid Lysol, diluted first (Architect's suggestion), and gently scrub if necessary. We'll see how that goes. As for regrouting, I'll have to have a tile person come in for that, I don't think either of us is equipped for that chore (me for sure - I have two bum knees).