I've been off work for a month and a half and I feel awesome about what I've managed to accomplish. I've been on a cleaning and purging binge, which, while still incomplete, has resulted in four carloads of donations to St. Vinny's, my old car finally getting donated, an almost humorous surge in our trash and recycling output, and five boxes of books waiting for me to drop them off at the library later today. Closet by closet, room by room, I'm managing to cull an amazing amount of things which are no longer useful to me. Of course, I'm about to embark on a trip halfway across the country to bring more stuff into the house... but these are meaningful, quality items, and Steve assures me they will either prove useful, or be given away. Steve's mom's estate has finally been settled. Later this week I'm flying to Atlanta, renting a truck, unloading a storage locker, and driving his heirlooms back to Wisconsin. I've managed to make arrangements to stay or visit with no fewer than eight people on my way back. (Including Jan & Robin.) It'll be a fun 4 or 5 day adventure... I'll be driving no around 3 hours at a stretch between visiting people. I'm still not sure on all the arrangements. Scheduling is a little tricky. My friends all have their own lives, and I'm counting on them not only being available, but being so in a sequentially convenient order. We'll see how it works out, but it should be an adventure! Oh, I got to see a local resident critter close up yesterday. Yes, they're supposed to be nocturnal, but they will move around in the day if they're cold, hungry, or if their house has been disturbed. Plus, I guess it's possum mating season, so he/she might have been looking for a date too. Regardless, rabies is exceedingly rare in possums because of their unusual body temperature, so I'm not worried and just enjoyed watching the little bugger. He almost came to our patio door before he noticed the dogs and I looking at him, then he toddled off to the neighbors. Isn't he cute?

you guys are great!i cherish laughter above all so this has been a hoot. for serious, we find trash can lids too flimsy for big digging projects/holding dirt(like bulb trench planting; for that, we use large thick mil heavy plant pots), but great for small amounts of dirt.but they are way too flexible to carry an armload of plants; for that, i use my ubiquitously useful rectangular bins (Rubbermaid, box stores; about 28"L x 20" w x 12" H). best, mindy www.cottonarboretum.com/ and christin, can i put your photo on the tools pg. i'm doing for our website? That is just BRILLIANT.

Hello neighbor. Utica, N.Y. here. I am a long time woodsman, hunter, Husky owner and gardener. Currently I have 1 Siberian but in the past I ran a sled with 9 dogs. As for the mystery critter that the dogs killed. From your discription I assume it was either a Muskrat (doubtful unless you have a lot of water around) or a better option is an Oppossum. The Oppossum can squeeze thru some very narrow spaces. They do have a rat tail. They will eat most anything tho I haven't heard of them eating roots. Plus the scent of the dogs would keep them away normally. Since you actually saw the dead critter it may have been rabid accounting for its bravery entering the fenced area. I hope the dogs shots are up to date with rats and Oppossums around. Don't acquit the dogs so early. Since they are using the trees as a urinal there may be a dominance fight going on. The ruling male may pull up the tree to eliminate the others using "his" place. The Geraniums may have succumbed to doggie play. Huskies are very social and playful dogs. I had 2 males as wheel dogs who ran side by side just fine but argued over the use of a rose bush so often they killed it. I like the scent of Geraniums myself.The dogs may like the smell too. What can you do to be sure? Go to a hunting supply (Walmart) and get some "FOX SCENT". Put that around the trees. If wild critters are doing the damage they will not go near the Fox scent. Its a good way to keep porcupines away from the dogs also. If the damage continues you have to find the dogs guilty. The dogs may be telling you, "its our yard what the heck are you doing planting those trees here?" They could be playing with the trees after seeing you "playing" with them and pulled the trees out by the top. Hence no flying dirt. Dogs in general are chewers. Chewing is fun. It passes the time. We've seen dogs eat grass and they will eat dirt or roots for the same reason. But simple play chewing would make quick trash of the roots. Thats a fairly good case against the dogs. The missing bark is a mystery. Are there teeth marks? Rabbit teeth? Is it possible the bark came off naturally? A Rabbit would chew the bark but not in the summer. Any critter may have entered the fence without the dogs barking. Generally Huskies DO NOT bark. However I can't see an Oppossum, Muskrat Rat or Rabbit pulling up trees. Theres nothing in the roots that they can't get easier elsewhere and with less danger. A slight case that critters did it. Appointing myself judge and jury: I'm sorry but the Huskies are guilty as charged. YOU started "playing" with the trees . They are just following your lead. The trees are broken because CHEWING IS A REAL FUN PASTIME. What else do they got to do all day? The roots are missing from the chew play. But I'll be easy on the dogs this time because there is a slight case that an Oppossum or Porcupine did it. No jail time. LOL!!! Recently my Husky was on her chain. Hearing a yelp I went to the door to look. She had Quills all over her snout, mouth and feet from a Porcupine. The critter wasn't very scared of the dog. That cost me $378. Then a week later she got skunked. Try the fox scent to be sure. Aren't Siberians great? Mine is 18 months old. Her mom was typical coloring and so was the dad. But this one is all white with a dime size black spot between her eyes. Odd but true. Great temperment in Huskies, playful, great with kids. But if they get off the chain they gone for days. But they fun. and rarely bark. Try getting 9 huskies in a car for a trip to the vet. LOL!!! have a nice day. The dogs did it. Toss some old shoes from whichever family member the dogs are closest to in the area. They will chew on those instead of the trees.

Christine- you saved a life! Not many can say that! I like to think I'm the type that won't panic but since I've never been in a true life threatening situation, I can't know for sure. I was an athletic trainer in high school, in football country, so I've had my fair share of calming injured persons down. This is completely anecdotal but football players are WAY more "sissy" than softball/volleyball girls. I had to restrain several girls and tell them "NO, I need to look at that ankle!" while I had to tell at least one football player to get up and get off the field! The closest "panic" experience I've had was when my 2 year old severely burned herself. I only had panicky feelings AFTER she was at the hospital. During the moment, I was in the moment, using the skills and knowledge I had to help her. Did I ever mention my original "when I'm grown up I want to be..." was a doctor? Probably helps that my dad was a first responder and I remember sitting around the dinner table and him telling about reaching into a guys broken leg and pinching the femoral artery shut. When we were at a family gathering later and he was sharing the story, others were disgusted and couldn't finish their meals!! That's when I learned that other people have a different tolerance/panic level than we (my family) do. Marrying ketshup....EWWWW!!!!!!! Look, I'll save the old, almost empty bottle (in the fridge) to use next time but mixing them? Bleh!! Shaken, not stirred? All juices, salsa, ranch, BBQ sauce, basically all condiments, chocolate milk, tea. I'm a southern gal but growing up my mom only drank unsweetened tea. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I learned that southern iced tea is generally sweet tea. Still can't stand it to this day. IF I'm going to have tea it will be iced and NOT sweet! Also, no one else has said it but can I just say that canned veggies need to die a horribly slow painful death? The only veggies I got growing up (remember mom HATED cooking) were canned. Canned corn (Meh, OK in a pinch) canned peas (SOOO mushy!!), canned carrots (OK, if I can't have fresh I actually do prefer canned to frozen), canned beets (BLEH!!! Still my most hated veggie to this day) canned green beans (THIS is LITERALLY the worst!!! Salty, limpy, bad flavor yuckiness put in a can!!!) The only one I actually liked and still buy/stock my pantry with is hominey. My canned goods storage is very different from my moms. Her pantry was/is stocked with canned veggies, soups, beans, etc. The cans in my pantry are generally tomato sauce/paste (hoping to start growing my own next year!!), and prepped beans. Pinto, black, refried, black eyed peas, etc. I really want to start my garden next year and grow tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and herbs to start with. Hopefully, years from now, my daughters will talk about mom's atrocious pantry with ready made foods because they have grown accustomed to having fresh food. :)