OLM,   Sprouts, referring to seeds or plants sprouting from soil.  It's a health food chain of stores here in California.   It opened a few years ago in hopes of competing with Whole Foods, but it  doesn't even come close as to quality and freshness.  The only reason I occasionally go there, is because they carry the brand of vitamins I prefer.  Whole Foods carries them in their larger stores, but not in the little WF near me.   

That does make a lot more sense.

Is JaneS still having computer trouble? Haven't seen a post from her since the beginning of the month.

Mechanicsburg just reported its first murder here in 20 years. I think it was near where Jane's relative lives that she comes down to visit on occasion. The accused was sitting in the front yard waiting for the cops. He is apparently claiming self defense.

I think we are done with our afternoon rain. Not expecting any more for a few days.

MarsGal -  Thanks for asking about me in SS.  I rarely post there, so I didn't see your message until late today.  I've been a bit "under the weather" lately, but will be back to regular posting soon.

Thanks for checking in, Marilyne. I am sorry that you are feeling up to par. Hope you feel better soon.

I've been feeling a bit "off" myself, and this morning, my back is acting up again. That is probably because of the weather front we going through overnight and this morning. I had been hoping to get over to my sister's place today to pick up a bookshelf, but that won't happen due to the rain and my back. I also wanted to re-place my knitting and needlework books onto the bookshelf that was in my bedroom and was moved to this room when I got the new bedroom furniture.Maybe I can at least get that done.

Oh, heavens it seems it's gone a bit silent in here as well as in SeniorLearn.org site. Are we all over wrought with the extreme heat this summer?  I get out early in the morning and weed my flower gardens and back in the house before the humidity & heat zaps all my energy.  It's been a very disappointing summer this year...first so cold we thought it would never warm up and then the 90s-100 degrees came and stayed all through June and July here in Ohio.  My flowers have tripled in size with the rain and extreme sun, but it seems we are wilting with each week.  Where did the days go that I could sit outside and read my book and enjoy the summer breeze?

I've noticed many are not feeling well, I hope you all are doing better.  Barb has not returned to either of these sites, I'm hoping her lung issue has gotten better.  Only 3 more days of July and August 15th the kids return to school.  I remember back years ago schools never reopened until after Labor Day.  Everything seems to be in such a rush now.

Okay, thought I would drop in to see how everyone is doing.  Have a great day!

Good morning Ciaobella, and everyone, coming later. We have alternated between seventies and an occasional day ending in the eighties this summer. But the rain has stayed with us, winter and summer, but mostly during the night.

Most people hunt in the fall to argument their winter food supply, so those children won't be in school until after Labor Day. They allow for this by starting later. However, I've noticed that nationally, there has been talk of school going all year with occasional breaks.

I, too, hope Barb is doing better and Marilyne as well.

Ciaobella, Patricia, anyone, --- I think the heat has knocked us all down a bit. I don't think we've had more than a couple of nights when we went below 70° in the last two months. And now more days in the 90's.
As far as school starting, I thought there were States that started early, and then had a break during harvest time.

A good Tuesday HELLO to ALL 💐

Once again, I am playing catch up with our group after having issues with our internet.  My email has been messed up....my cell phone keeps being selective about whom it is going to allow to ring through‼️ I get so frustrated and I soon find myself just trying to deal with all of it and nearly give up😩😤

In addition to this craziness I have been dealing with dizziness and extreme fatigue for quite sometime.  A visit to my internist this past week to see IF there is a reason for this, and so far the answer is that my thyroid is fine and I am not anemic‼️. He did say the new med he put me on for diabetes is known to cause dizziness.......but he asked me to continue taking it and see what the labs say.  I see him again in a week or so....

This past week we have been busy as can be going through the process of buying a home in Arizona. Thankfully our youngest son lives close to this home and has happily stepped up to be our representative.  We felt totally confident to go through with this purchase with him being our eyes.

As some of you might know I have been looking at properties for quite sometime.  We spent 6 months last winter in Prescott AZ near another son and his family.  We loved it there, however the altitude in Prescott is near the same as Denver.  I must admit that we both feel much better at a lower altitude. Hence purchasing a home in the Phoenix area. 

Now comes the time that we have to start the big clean out of accumulated stuff after living in this home for 21 years😩🤪. We are not going to have to push ourselves to the extreme HOWEVER that being said, we are old and do not perform like we used to🤪🤪. Many might think we have totally lost it to be doing this but we found the home that we have continued to look for and when it presented we had to jump on it‼️‼️

When all is said and done we both are comfortable with our decision and know we will be happy in this new life adventure.  We are extremely sad to be leaving our son and family here as well as our home and friends, but one adventure can not start until the current one ends🥰

Today is our 58th Wedding Anniversary.  We are so blessed to have enjoyed this wonderful life together and we plan to have many more years to come, God willing 🙏

Have a good day and keep cool as you can....there horrendous temperatures across our nation are awful and concerning. 

Hello Everyone!  So nice to see some messages here in Bait & Tackle.

Ciaobella,   Yes, this Summer has been an unpleasant one. The weather has been too hot or too cold, or too much rain . . . bringing the tragic floods in Texas.  My daily news programs and web sites are full of alarming accusations on all sides, and yet nothing ever seems to be resolved?   Personally, I long for the years before the turn of the Century in 2000.   It's been a downhill slide for 25 years, and I see no end in sight.

Jenny,  so good to see you checking in here.  Wonderful that you have decided on a house in AZ., and will be moving soon!  I know you've been looking for a long time, and that you've wanted to move away from the high altitude in Denver.  Living in the AZ, will help with your dizzy spells, and any breathing difficulties.   
Happy 58th Wedding Anniversary Today!   Wishing you many more up ahead in your New Home!

Mars -  Hope you're back to feeling better, and that goes for Oscar too!   I think I left you a message in Library a while back, but don't remember what it was?   Not much reading going on around here this Summer, so K have very little to contribute there.

Rick,  Nice to see you checking in.  Sorry those muggy 90 degree days are still hanging in there.   Our electric bill will be low this month.   So many days that we haven't had to turn on the AC.  Sounds good, and it is pleasant, but somehow it doesn't seem like Summer when you have to wear a sweater!

Hello to Patricia, and OLM, and Jackie, and anyone who looks in!  \

Good morning, all! 

Patricia, I have not heard of school changing to year-round nationally. I pray that does not happen, as a former teacher I can tell you by the end of May as the days got warmer the kids were so restless in class it was difficult to keep their attention. Teachers need a summer break to refuel and prepare for a new year. Working with 20+ children regardless of their ages can be overwhelming yet very rewarding, but year-round with intermittent breaks would seem very taxing. 

Rick, I suppose heavily agricultural states would need to take time off for children to help with the harvesting.  Being from Michigan/Ohio our schools did not begin until after Labor Day, due to no central air conditioning in the buildings and the heavy number of vacationers which brought in a lot of income for local businesses and the state. Now they begin mid-August even though many school buildings still have no central air conditioning. 

Denver, I do hope your doctor is able to figure out what is causing your dizziness and fatigue.  I have never had high blood pressure but back in December when I went to the ER for food poisoning and they found a small scarring on my liver the GI doctor sent me home with a blood pressure med. I was feeling very dizzy after taking it and so he lowered the dose, and it seemed to help.  My primary care physician was surprised to see I was taking blood pressure medication since I had NO history of high blood pressure. It seems everyone I talk to is on blood pressure medication even my 40 yr. old daughter in law. Makes me question why...  Your move sounds like a bittersweet change in life for you and your hubby.  Happy 58th Anniversary!!  It was 54 yrs. for me and my hubby this past May.

Marilyn,

QuotePersonally, I long for the years before the turn of the Century in 2000.  It's been a downhill slide for 25 years, and I see no end in sight.

I so agree with you.  With progress comes much change and although I am one who welcomes modern technology and progress, I can say I miss the days of yesteryear where life did seem a bit simpler and less hectic.  I don't watch much tv anymore because it can be so unsettling with politics, crime, opinions rather than facts being reported and the 24/7 nonstop news all throughout the day. I thought soap operas were complicated back in the days... I'll take General Hospital any time over this. When did journalism decay?  Years ago, you could get the news covering the standard basic journalism 101: Who, What, Where, When, and How with at least 3 trusted sources before reporting.  Now it's an unnamed source, photoshopped pictures, CGI and AI generated images, reruns of the exact same loop over and over again to sensationalize, and as we watch with our own eyes what is happening, we are told NOTHING here to see or worry about. I find keeping the tv off and taping my soap to watch later gives me much peace of mind.

On a more positive closing note...today is the last day of unbearable heat for us and we will be in the mid to high 70s for the next 5 days!  Hooray!  Everyone take care and stay cool.[/size]

Ciaobella, this is what I found, "Year-round schooling involves a calendar that includes shorter summer vacations and more frequent breaks throughout the year, typically structured as either single-track or multi-track systems. This approach aims to reduce learning loss and provide continuous educational support, particularly benefiting low-income students." or, https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-year-round-school-calendars

I, too, hope both MG and Oscar do better. It's hard when they can't tell you what's wrong, and you have to watch and interpret.

Marilyne, we also had an unpleasant summer. Either too hot or too rainy, but with fires throughout. This year's summer weather has been hard on everyone.

I don't think the news is so different, except there is better, faster communication. But, no one buys what's out because nowadays, sensationalism sells, and we've come to expect it. Everything is what's what's termed clickbait, truth is boring and not as exciting over coffee. What sells is five-minute soundbites. It's very similar to the 1800s, when there were often more opinions printed than actual truth.

Good morning everyone,😀
I look for "unread posts" each morning and hadn't seen any here until last night. It may well have been that when I was checking, I was in too much of a hurry. My internet in camp is so poor I've been having to take my ipad out on the trail when I "walk" the dogs. The hornets and yellow jackets are fierce If you stop, they come within moments to minutes. I'm pleased to see all your posts.🙂

I do hope both of you, Mars and Marilyne, are feeling better.

Ciaobella, the news hasn't been factual. Its been propaganda. In the 1950's Congress held "the Church Commission to investigate the CIA. Officers of the CIA testified that they had infiltrated every news organization and broadcast. They had numerous operatives imbedded and routinely manipulated the "news." Many of the tv reporters were CIA. Today many of our reporters were (possibly still are) CIA. Maddow and Anderson Cooper, are two that come immediately to mind. There used to be a law after that that said it was unlawful to lie to the American people. Obama repealed it by executive order. I doubt the CIA ever desisted from their propagandizing. Check out Operation Mocking Bird. There was a Congressional investigation on it too. There were a lot of Congressional investigations on things most people think are "Conspiracy Theories" that have been proven to be true in these investigations but have never been taken up and promoted by the controlled media.🤔

Good Morning all...

Patricia & OLM, yes, I suppose you are correct in saying the media has always been used to manipulate the American people. I am reminded of reading a book titled The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life and Legacy of Frances Perkins, Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, and the Minimum Wage by Kirstin Downey. I remember how Frances used the media to bring attention to the unfair labor laws.  "President Franklin Roosevelt appointed Frances Perkins Secretary of Labor in 1933 during the greatest economic crisis in American history-the Great Depression. At that time, women weren't supposed to have careers, or be outspoken, or be powerful. But that did not stop Frances Perkins. With her familiar tricorn hat planted firmly on her head, Perkins prodded, pressured, and persuaded businessmen, labor leaders, and politicians to respond to the needs of the American people and end child labor, establish safer working conditions, fairer wages, reasonable working hours, unemployment insurance, and Social Security. Dedicated, disciplined, often controversial, Frances Perkins exerted a far-ranging influence on twentieth-century America. To accomplish things, she said, ''You just can't be afraid.''" (Excerpt from the book A Woman Unafraid: The Achievements of Frances Perkins by Penny Colman)

Today with newspapers almost obsolete due to the internet and streaming on tv people are watching far less mainstream media. The once trusted news stations and reporters are now being exposed and losing their jobs costing these stations millions of dollars for their bias, and untruthful remarks.  George Stephanopolous and ABC News just recently agreed to settle a lawsuit for 15 million dollars for libel. CBS has a lawsuit pending in Texas for alleging that the network had engaged in deceptive editing practices during the Harris interview. I'm glad they are finally being held accountable.

Our 90s temps have finally broken here in Ohio and it's a nice 70 degrees this morning with a high of 76 expected!  The next week is going to be in the high 70s and low 80s so we can finally enjoy being outside again. OLM I can't imagine getting swarmed by hornets and yellowjackets.    Y'all have a great weekend. 

Good morning, I have one last thing to add to the news. Sensationalism, soundbites, money and politics. They all play a part and remember the old sayings in politics and in the news. Follow the money and the art of the deal. And last, never believe everything you hear.

Patricia, excellent point and I would like to add that it's not a coincidence that the mainstream media gets their talking points each morning to fit their narrative and then no matter which station you tune into the people use the exact same words of the day. I don't place my complete trust in any source anymore. It's much more difficult to manipulate people with an open mind today because there are far too many resources to gain information from.  Obviously, there are those who will always go to the sources that fit their mind set and political ideology. Money, money, money, money!  Always the grease that turns the wheel.

Nice, informative discussion Patricia and Ciaobella.  👍

Ciaobella, Its not a swarm of 10s or 100s, thank God.  Its usually scouts and typically 3-6. One's bad enough. There's usually 2-3 yellow jackets at the same time. I was on a video call a couple of weeks ago and the caller could hear and see them, as well as me. She kept saying, "oh! Look out! Be careful!..." We decided we'd postpone future calls until the vespids were less cranky. Now that I had that rattlesnake in camp, I'm less stressed about the hornets, more concerned about why I had a snake down here for the first time since I've been here.🤨 As in, can I expect more?

When are Yellow Jackets not cranky? 

Finally saw the groundhog again. Now that I got a better look at it yesterday afternoon down in the middle of the grass patch, it is larger than I original thought. Sue has been seeing more and more deer in her area over the years. They have been browse her hosta. She no longer likes to drive some of the roads after dark. Coming back from the vets a few days ago I saw four deer just hanging about and casually crossing the road in front of me, not seeming to care that I was coming around a bend and could have nailed one of them had I been going faster.

Nothing special going on today. I've been enjoying the nice quite, sunny morning.

Good Morning everyone:  Lots of interesting messages  here  to comment on: 

OLM,   Yes, I think you can count on seeing more rattlesnakes.  Only a week or so ago, someone on my Next-Door, took a few pictures of a rattler in their back yard!  This was only a few blocks from me.   They live in all sorts of terrain here in California.  Desert, mountain, foothills and neighborhoods.    They like dry climates,  and California is about as dry as it gets!   We haven't seen a drop of rain  since April, and won't be seeing any until Oct., or even November!  However, they need water, like every other critter, so they come looking, and often are seen in neighborhoods where people water their lawns.

Mars,   as I mentioned back when Pauxatawny Phil, was making his yearly prediction, we don't have ground hogs here in CA.  However, we do have plenty of gophers and moles, that tear up the backyard lawn every Spring.  We live in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains, so we always have to be on the alert for deer.   Also the unpredictable Mountain Lions, (cougar) and the sneaky and mean, coyotes!

Ciaobella and Patricia -  Journalism, and lack thereof, is one of my favorite subjects.  Important facts deliberately left out of news stories, so that the reader never gets a clear or true picture of what's really happening  out there.  So much information left out of a news story now, that you're never sure of exactly what you just read, or saw?   Everything twisted and manipulated to fit the Right or Left wing agenda of the writer or the publication.   
Obvious to any person with common sense, that a whole lot of information  is being kept from the viewer or the reader.  YouTube used to have some good informational videos, but now it's a bunch of made-up junk.   
I could name two BIG important stories that broke in the past couple of weeks, that were ignored by the Main Stream Media.  The sad thing is that nobody cares anymore!   

I subscribe to a free newsletter that is straightforward, no seemingly clickbait, entertainment gossip, or political bias other than an ad about a product or similar. Its called 1440.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/1440-newsletter/

Good morning ladies, et al,

Mars, YJs are not as cranky when its cooler. Then theyare just irritable. The heat makes them agitated. When I got up this morning 2 does and a late fawn were right outside. The fawn was sneaking up on the UTV. Good thing I hadn't let Kato out yet. I opened and closed the window. They left.

Marilyne, I've lived here for 8 years. I've never seen a rattler here. My daughter saw one up on the west fenceline, where the best cell signal is, 2 years ago. It didn't come for water. I have multiple ponds. If it came down from the ridge it would have had to pass a couple. I once thought I saw one, it was a black and white 8ft long king snake. They eat rattlers. Anyway, since they aren't typical here, and I smelled a trespasser the evening before very close to camp I'm unsure wether rattlers have moved in, or someone dropped him off. Every year before and during archery season I'm subjected to lots of malicious mischief and suspicious activity. This is pretty extreme if it was human caused. Not saying it couldn't have been just a wandering snake. Its just not inside the normal parameter of occurrences.

I read they get their moisture from their prey. Gophers don't drink, they get their moisture from the food they eat. So watered lawns... I haven't read up on the diets of other rodents. So the snakes go where the rodents are. We do have a lot of rodents, but lots of garter snakes around camp, including a couple of larger ones.

I took Ron out past where I dumped the rattler's body. It was gone, but a pile of bear poo was left in its place. He/she had been eating pumpkins. That bear travels. Its miles to the nearest garden.

We had really good rain 2 days ago and a very heavy, but brief, shower yesterday. The high was 72°F. Its 55°F currently. Showers expected.

Have a great day everyone!

Oh, my goodness I am just amazed at the different creatures that you all have to deal with.  Rattlesnakes would scare me the most.  My daughter lived in Georgia and there was one in her toilet.  The police came to her home and captured it.  My son lives in a subdivision in Perrysburg, Ohio and was just telling me they are having a skunk problem.  There have been many sightings in their yards and on their front porch.  The skunks have been spraying the dogs causing the residents to keep their pets inside.  A friend's two dogs got sprayed and I guess you can't bathe them with water it only worsens the smell.  There are deer that come right out in the open and eat people's flowers living in subdivisions.  Have we upset their natural habitat to the point it is driving them to become domesticated?  My hubby and I were having a picnic lunch on a blanket in our local park and a deer strolled right up to our blanket.  We offered it an apple, and it stood just a few feet away and ate the apple as I videotaped him.  He was not the least bit skittish.

Mariyln, I have to confess I have become a political junkie in the past 20 years, and you are so right in your assessment of the amount of information withheld and the reporting is to fit to either party's narrative.  Common sense seems to be the one thing people have got so little of lately. Not to mention these podcasters who hook followers by swearing they have inside sources and know what is happening, yet when it doesn't happen as they say it was supposed to, they have the same responses...you have to trust in the timing. And don't even get me started with how the word "discernment" has been overused.

Patricia, I am going to check your link out.  I think what we have to keep in mind is we have to research the researcher.  lol

I was just talking with my hubby this morning at breakfast about how I research authors who have been given such prestigious recognition and their works labeled "classics" because such authors like C.S. Lewis, Truman Capote, Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, Harper Lee, and many others when researching their childhood, adolescence, and adulthoods I am learning of very unsavory behaviors which in today's world would be considered criminal and most certainly mentally ill. So now I question who decided their works should be held in such esteem back centuries ago?  What's that famous quote "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." from Sir Walter Scott's poem "Marmion," published in 1808.

Oh... I could go on and on, but I will spare you all and end my rant. lol It just befuddles me how people are so gullible, and ill informed. 

1440 is a news app. The link I posted about it is from a media bias site. You can look up many people or sites on it and see their bias ratings.

Ciaobella, counting my blessings that the rattlesnake I encountered was not in my toilet!!!🤯

Good morning to all who look in!  Slow going here today . . .  I see it's almost 10:00, California time, so some of you are well into the day.  Patricia, is the only one who gets a later start than I do.  (time wise I mean)

That reminds me . . .  Patricia,  Thanks for posting the link to the 1440 Newsletter!   Wow, there's plenty to explore on that site!   I now subscribe to only two newspapers on line, plus the daily San Jose Mercury/News, that gets delivered to my driveway seven days a week.   It's not my favorite, but keeps me up on local news, as well as their slant on what's going on in the World.

Ciaobella,   I can tell that we think alike on Many different subjects, both old and new. Your mention of Sir Walter Scott's quote from from Mormion, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive,"  is ringing true  right now in politics!
So many memorable  quotes from Sir Walter.   One of my favorites is:
Breaths there a man with soul so dead who never to himself has said, This is my own, my native land.  There's something about it that always makes me pause and take a deep breath and be grateful.

Also, I laughed when you said,   "And don't even get me started with how the word "discernment" has been overused."   I agree on that one, but my most  hated "new" word that we hear every day is Influencer.   All these young people who acquire a podcast or a YouTube channel, and suddenly they become an Influencer!  The sad part it that they really are influencing a whole  generation of young adults . . . those who have never never watched the news or read a paper or even studied history in school!

I had a whole other subject in mind to bring up today that I think is interesting and bit more lighthearted.  I hope to get back later this afternoon.

Marilyn, yes, "Influencer" is the word of the times, and yes, they most certainly do influence so many people who are not willing to do any research on their own.  My 17 yr. old grandson spent the night on Monday, and we sat and watched a documentary called "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us" the event's creator, Matty Roberts, had just assumed it would be a meme and nothing more when he posted on Facebook as a joke about finding out what the military is hiding about aliens. Unfortunately, Roberts didn't expect people would actually show up at the base, but around 150 people did. Thankfully, it wasn't the millions that responded to the event, but it was enough for it to become newsworthy.

It caused a major concern for that military area and the FBI became involved. It is worth watching finding out how it ended and the enormous cost to our government due to this one person's "influence" on social media.

My 30 yr. old granddaughter is an influencer on Tik Tok and is making over $15,000 a month.  I was in complete awe, she has been approached by tv producers, authors and companies of products asking her to promote for them and that too has brought in even more money.

It's a whole new world! 

Good morning Marilynne and Ciaobella!
I don't have much to add to you discussion, other than 👍 Its sad that our society is now being influenced by so many people who lack depth of character, experience and maturity. They are more than willing to promote the views of their sponsors. At least there are some good ones out there, if one truly has the wisdom to find them.

I've been lucky to get some cooler weather and have been hard at work cleaning the forest. It rained hard in the night. I'm giving it time to dry out a bit before getting back to work.

I can't remember if I mentioned the timber company was going to spray behind me on this thread? Anyway, I finally found a lawyer who will take my case if his Ag forensic scientist finds that the probability of drift is high. So that is looking up.

I hope you both are well. Have a great day.   

Hi Bait & Tacklers!   I see that my message yesterday was "all over the place".   I always have a lot to say, but I think I tried to cram too much into one post, so it came out in a sort of word jumble. 

Ciaobella -   Your mention of  "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us",  makes me want very much to see it and read what they have to say.  I have about a zillion relatives living in Nevada, so I'm familiar with area 51.  All fenced off with a sturdy fence that goes on forever, so of course you cannot get in.  The closest NV city where you can see anything, is Tonapah. (I use the word "city" loosely).  Big billboards along the highway saying,   "Welcome to Tonapah! Home of the Stealth Bomber," showing a a couple of huge drawings of the bombers.   My granddaughter and her BF were there last year, and took some pictures, so if I can find them, I'll post a few.

More power to your granddaughter for making a career out of being an Influencer.   I've never seen a video or podcast by any of them, but I hear there are thousands?  You wonder how they can all do so well, but they do?

OLM - looks like you're having success with "cleaning the forest",  plus finding a lawyer who might take your case regarding the spray and drift.  Good luck with cleaning the forest, a big job where you have to stay on top of it all the time, or it quickly gets out of control? 
Glad you've had some rain to clean the air a little.  Wish you could send some our way.  Dry an smoky here, with lots of big and small wildfires burning in  all directions.

More message later I hope.

Good morning all... we have returned to heat and humidity after a reprieve for a week. I see some of you have not had rain in ages, unlike us we have had plenty of rain to the point my flower gardens are triple in size.  I pray you will get rain soon.

Marilyn, I have no doubt you will find the documentary interesting along with frustrating to see how just one post on social media can cause so much chaos and safety to a small town who does not want any part of it.  Interesting how you have relatives living near this site, the small town it took place in is Rachel, Nev where the military site is located.  Here is an article about it.  https://people.com/what-was-storm-area-51-true-story-11780039

My granddaughter doesn't rely on Tik Tok for a full-time job, that is a side thing she does, the income was not expected to be this profitable.

OLM, I am so glad you got rain and have found a lawyer willing to take on your case if need be. My neighbor wanted to spray a weed control next to my fence and I asked her if it is harmful to persons or pets and she said NO. I was not at all convinced but there really was nothing I could do to stop her since it is her property.

Well, I finally got my tooth pulled on Wednesday and am feeling less soreness and swelling today.  I have such anxiety going to the dentist, but thankfully this new oral surgeon was quick, and it was out in 5 minutes.  The post care is essential to prevent infection, so I've been a bit low key for the past few days.  Hope you all have a great weekend! 

Good morning Bait & Tacklers,  I like that!

Marilynne, It will take me the rest of my life to "clean the forest." No fire fuels reduction was done on this property, at all, before we purchased it. Though a few people in the family took firewood. All the trees are gnarly and have branches grown (dead) or growing from the trunks at ground level. The previous owners rented it out for cattle grazing which does take care of under brush. I began removing dead limbs etc in and around the camp as soon as we closed. It gives me something worthwhile to do.

Thank you both for your good wishes!🙂

Ciaobella, the EPA states that all pesticides are poison and it is unlawful to say they are not harmful. FIFRA, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act, governs the use of all pesticide, including herbicides. It states it is unlawful to use a pesticide in anyway not in compliance to the label. Every label must state that it is a poison, it is unlawful to use the pesticide in a way that the drift, wind or volatized, is allowed to drift off the property or off target, or to cause harm to people, livestock, animals plants, building, or equipment. All pesticides drift and many have been documented to drift in excess of 4 miles even given optimal spray conditions. Tell her that cleaning vinegar plus salt and dish detergent have been found to be as effective as either glyphosate (Roundup type products) or 2,4-D. It did not harm the soil biota (and Ph can be remedied with garden lime), nearby aquatic life, and was not harmful to wildlife, people, pets or livestock. The USDA did a study. Its on their site. She can also use Firehawk, a natural biocide that is not toxic and has a similar 1-2 hour burndown as the vinegar mix. And its also cheaper than the toxic herbicides. It comes in a premixed consumer spray bottle. The harm by glyphosate and 2,4-D are well documented and are known to harm applicators...

Need to get back to work. Have a great day all,