buffy

Purina has switched in the last few years to these woven nylon burlap-like bags. They've got a nice recycle logo on them with a 5 which would lead one to believe they are recycle able. but good luck finding anyone to take them. I have about a hundred of them from my horse feed and now realize Purina (the other one) is also making their dog food bags out of the stuff and the cat litter is coming in them.

I have emailed Purina and asked about recycling them - they sent me a neat little list of recyclers in my area. I've contacted all - none take their bags. I looked on Nutrena's website, they have an FAQ regarding it with a link to Earth 911 to find a recycler in my area, guess what? None in my area.

Anyone got any ideas about how to dispose of these things without a truckload of 'em going to a landfill?

There is a bush I've seen that I wish to identify so I can find such a bush to purchase. I've seen it grow maybe 10-15 feet tall. It does not have a trunk or a single point it grows out of the ground, instead it grows from a single 'stalk' - a bunch of these stalks grow closely straight up. They get flowers but the flowers are not thick and lush, they are random and seem to always be a pinkish or salmon color. The 'bush' has thorns but not like a rose - they are longer and sparse on the stems. The bush I have seen grows babies - they pop up in the lawn all over so it can be kept in check by mowing all around it. It doesn't grow up and out like a lilac, it just goes straight up and the top doesn't grow even. It makes a great privacy hedge - not too tall, not short, pretty much maintenance free except for mowing where you don't want it to grow. Can anyone help me figure out what it might be?

While working with a previous printing company with a Xerox IGen, we had access thru Xerox to some pre-die cut papers. They might have been synthetic papers. Now I can't find them anywhere and I don't remember how to get ahold of the contact at that company. Now working at a new company and have a customer inquiring about something I'm sure I could get before using these products from Xerox. New company hasn't heard about this stuff - anyone know whom to contact at Xerox about it? There were CD and DVD mailers, candy boxes and all sorts of stuff on 12 x 18 sheets that were pre-die cut. You'd image them, then punch them out and assemble them. Help??

This question is posed in hopes that Smokie, Rosi or others well versed in Natural Horsemanship will answer - no kids or folks out to diss....

- It will be hard to get a full picture of my ability from here but let's see if this helps. I have been a study of NH for about 6 years now. I know how bits work and I feel I'm pretty knowledgeable about the theories of NH but I would not say I'm a 'horsewoman' yet nor am I a backyard pony owner. I've had horses for over 40 years so I'm not a kid.

- I have two young horses I've worked with in the Myler Comfort Snaffle. We have stuck in the arena because I feel we need to be well controlled at the walk, trot & canter and able to perform basic functions (stop, turn, etc) on as loose a rein as possible before graduating to other things. I've been working on collection and trying to keep their heads down at the proper place (I've learned the value of keeping the head down to maintain focus and not spook).

- Here's the question I need help with - it's two part:

1. How do I know (or what goals need to be accomplished) when it is the right time to move to a different bit or headgear?

2. Which headgear would offer the best opportunities? I have a bosal that I plan to start/have started a young horse next year. I also have Myler Combination bits that can be used with varying degrees of leverage (reins can be hooked as a snaffle, short shank and long shank). (They work like a 2-rein )

I don't want to remain in the current headgear/bit and learn later that I would have been better served at a certain point to use something else to further our learning better. I know I can stay in a snaffle forever if I want to but my goals are to ride with the lightest hands possible, have a very responsive and light horse and eventually perhaps compete in something fun like mounted shooting or competitive trail or something as well as having fun riding on the trails. I've always just gotten on and ridden, never had to go back to the arena and train as I've not had such young inexperienced horses. I want to work right with them and I'm not in an area where help is close by - in fact, I don't know where in this state I'd find anyone with the experience I seek to help me learn and teach me in person.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Our company changed insurances - I liked my previous doc, but she doesn't participatein HMO. Chose a new doctor - don't like her at all - no compassion, no return calls, etc. I have had no payment issues with her either, have paid all bills at the time of service, so it's not that.

I have a list of doctors in my area who take new HMO patients. But how to determine whether they are good or I will like? I've had this cold now for over a week, nearly two - want to get a doctor who might be able to help and wish to change to a better doc, but don't know how to determine the next one will be any better. We must report our desired change of doctors to the insurance before switching, so just making an appt. with any of them and going isn't such an easy deal.

Also, what's the difference between an "MD" and a "DO"? Is one better than the other for routine things like colds, respiratory infections and normal yearly physicals?

Ok - so I'm sick today. Saturday I started out with what seemed like a sinus infection. Sunday, it grew into stuffy nose, blowing nose - basic head crud. Monday my nose was really stuffy and i had to keep blowing it - the people here at work love me right now. Today it's turned into a cough and stuffy nose.

I read over the weekend in one of those 'Organics' magazines of how people have used Onion to combat sickness. One excerpt talked about the flu pandemic of 1918-20 - it stated how a doctor entered a home right in the middle of sickness but none in the home were sick. He asked how that could be and the lady of the house stated because of the onions she had sitting around in bowls. He took and onion, tested it and found it to be full of the flu virus but no one in the house was sick. Another person had added their 2 cents that when little their grandma had made them eat a slice of onion with salt on it when they'd begin to feel ill - the next day, they'd be well.

I thought that by the time you felt the effects of illness (nasal congestion, etc) the virus was already thru your body thereby being too far along to beat with something like eating onion.

My boyfriend's father eats onion regularly - loves to eat it. He hasn't been sick in the 7+ years I've known him and he swears it's because of the onion he eats. I eat it a lot too, but usually cooked.

I've realized I get this crud every winter - sometimes twice. There's really no rhyme or reason why or when, but it does seem like when we get a warm up like we've had, I'll get it. I'm trying to figure out something to do to thwart it in future or get rid of it now. Drugs don't work except Nyquil at night - nothing stops it other than that and that only suspends it for a while.

Looking for experience or words of wisdom here on how to get rid of this crud and keep it away. Heck , I'd gladly force myself to eat a full slice of raw onion once a week if I thought it would keep this sickness away......

I have a mare that's got a bruised sole on her front hoof. she's ouchy but more ouchy than lame. The vet said if she's still ouchy this week to consider putting shoes on with pads to protect that sole from the freezing ground. I was thinking a pair of those boots are expensive but I'd spend as much or more on shoes and pads for her. I'm concerned about leaving her unattended while wearing them while she's turned out and I'm at work all day.

Any experience from folks would be appreciated.

This is hard to get across. My personality style is VERY detailed, big picture and perfectionist. ie, judgemental, opinionated and quick.

I have been told I'm VERY good at quickly surveying a situation and thinking of solutions and the affects of all parties. I'm good at teaching technical skills and detailed, complex things (like mail requirements and printing technology) - and that I have high expectations and an ability to set clear expectations and manage them consistently. Also that I have an ability to consider other people's personality styles and drivers. So I've had some great successes at leading operational departments and processes.

What I lack, however, is the ability needed to excel in a sales function. I show frustration readily when it's evident, I tend to solve problems that may not need to be solved, I lack confidence in approaching customers that haven't requested my shpeel and I lack the ability to say somethings in a 'politically correct' manner. I'm pretty black and white and can be abrasive sometimes and taken wrong - although I CAN read people and learn their personality styles, it's not something I can pick up on quickly within a few moments as a good sales person can. I'm not talking about wanting the ability to sell ice cubes to eskimos. What I'm talking about is getting across sticky subjects with finesse. The ability to 'sugar coat' without seeming like I'm sugar coating.

Can any of you suggest on-line classes or places to look or titles of classes - I'm unsure what to call it. "Interpersonal Communication" classes such as offered by Fred Pryer or Career Track are ones I've taken, but they're pretty general and often for people just beginning to learn to interact on any level or needing improvement. I need a more specialized way of being coached perhaps over time.

Apologies in advance if too much detail and too many questions. We planted grapes a few years ago. Not sure what kind, have been told they appear to be concord. This year we got a 5 gallon bucket plus two ice cream buckets - probably 7 gallons in all. Mashed the grapes with a potato masher then got VERY confused by the instruction booklet that came with the new wine making kit. Put in 4.5 c sugar and a campden tablet with the pulp and juice in the plastic primary fermenter pail and put the lid on. Next day, called the store where equipment purchased for further instructions. Removed pulp and juice from plastic pail for primary fermentation - wrapped the grapes in cheesecloth and squeezed them to get all the juice my hands could squeeze out - about 1.5 gals. Figured there's 2 gallons with the juice still in the grapes. Added 2 gals well water filtered thru 2 filters; Pectic enzyme per recipe in book, yeast nutrient per instructions in recipe and 1 campden tablet for additional gal. over 1 gal (already put in one tablet the nite B4) + 13.5 cups sugar. Spec. gravity measured a few times appears to be about 1.100. Stirred well and put the grape pulp back in the bucket with the juice solution (want dark, pink wine)

We like sweet wine- really sweet wine. Not puckery dry stuff.

Let sit a day - added the yeast per packet instructions by putting in 2 oz. warm water, letting sit to 'wake up' for 15 mins then pouring into bucket and stirring. Bucket is covered with the lid it came with and a dry washcloth over the hole to keep fruit flies out.

This morning it's not fizzing. Shouldn't it be fizzing or bubbling? What did I do wrong? Everyone says how wine making is easy but it's a little stressful this first time worrying if you've just wasted all your grapes and not knowing what to expect..... I've looked all over the net, all different SG readings are provided but how can they be helpful unless one knows what the outcome will be from a reading? One person's successful SG might be another's puckery wine.

I know that when the primary fermentation stops, it's time to siphon off into the carboy, cap and put the water lock on. but I'm a little lost between now and then - please help?

My Dad goes to Holiday FL for the winter. Trying to think of a gift to get him. He likes to eat out but doesn't always have a lot of money so I was thinking of buying him a coupon book for dining and entertainment in the Tampa area. But if Tampa is like an hour from Holiday, I don't think he'll use it.

Any other great ideas for a gift he could use during the winter while in FL if Holiday is too far away?

I can and freeze all the great veges from our garden each year. I used to make Fruit Salsa from a Ball mix packet. The packet was yellow and you'd use part tomatoes and part canned fruit - cook it then can it. Ball doesn't make that mix anymore and we all loved that stuff!

Does anyone know of a recipe that sounds like this that I can make and can? It wasn't hot and spicy nor too sweet. I made it with peaches and pears which seemed just right but I have no clue what other spices were in the mix I bought. Of course, Ball's not making it anymore but they won't share any information.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I only have 3 jars left from the last mix I found. If any one has access to a stash of that mix, I'd be interested in knowing where to get it too.

Please define for me what these things mean:

"Left" or "Left-wing"

"Right" of "Right wing"

"Conservative"

"Liberal"

I hear these all the time and just when I think I understand them, someone uses them in a context that throws me for a loop. Help me get what they're all about.

Thanks!

Yesterday I got a horribly sore throat, my sinuses were draining down my throat and I had a bad headache. When I started experiencing dizzy spells, I thought I better call the doc. I felt more awful than I've felt in a very long time and it came on faster than ever before. This question is two-part:

1. Doc looked in my throat, nose and ears and said it looked like I have a sinus infection and prescribed some sort of Amoxycillin. (Not sure what the exact name was). Are these types of infection related to allergies? If they're not viral and not passed thru a virus, how does one get this? I'm trying to figure out what I did and what I need to avoid in future. I have allergies to about everything in the outdoor world but practically live outdoors. Also, with all the H1N1 flu scares if I just cough or blow my nose at work now everybody is anxious - a sinus infection can't be passed right?

2. The doctor said she can't see in my ears due to the wax to see if there was an ear infection. I clean my ears all the time with a Q-tip. They seem to get a lot of wax and sometimes get itchy, I assume due to allergies. What's a better way to get rid of the wax and will doing so open me up to more problems or does the wax buildup play a part in allergies or this infection somehow?

Any help is appreciated.

Not sure if I have that spelled right. We're not supposed to re-fill those water bottles we buy our water in and drink repeatedly from them. Why is that?

I recently bought a couple really nice water bottles by Thermos brand. They say they are "BPA Free". What does that mean?

I was trying to tell my significant other yesterday that I wish he would drink from these new water bottles rather than re-filling his purchased bottles like the Ice Mountain and Dysani water bottles. Personally, it's because he uses them over and over and they're just nasty. I tried to tell him he's not supposed to drink from them like that because of something in the plastic. He came back with "Well if that's the case, isn't what we're not supposed to get in there from the first time we drink from them?" I was stumped.....

For about the last two years I've had problems with infrequent nosebleeds. At the time I got the first one two years ago, it was quite a gusher. I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary, just pulling weeds in the garden one late spring morning. Hadn't had a nose bleed in a long time since a kid. Ended up going to emergency to get it to stop. No idea why it happened. Happened again in a few days - made Dr. appt. after that. She asked all sorts of questions. I take vitamins, BC pills regularly. I had been taking a supplement for weight loss that I really liked at the time, also had been taking fish oil at the Opt. Dr. suggestion to combat dry eyes, had been taking Claritin for allergies. The dr. said it couldn't be any of those things and I shouldn't change anything but rather put vaseline in my nose at night to keep it from drying out (t had been quite dry) and use Nasacort at night. I did this for about a week without success - ended up with bloody vaseline all over my pillow in the morning. So I decided to quit all medicines except BC pills. The bloody noses went away soon after. I chalked it up to the caffeine in the diet pills and perhaps the dryness the Claritin seemed to cause. Haven't taken any of those since.

Come winter, I thought the dryness in the house would cause them to start again. They never did. It wasn't until late spring/early summer last year when the allergies start that I noticed dryness in eyes and nose that I seemed to have slight nose bleeds again but nothing to the extent like the year before. I started taking Honey grown locally in place of sugar to try to help the allergies and Magnesium to combat the allergies as well. The allergies subsided greatly and I've noticed when I run out of magnesium after maybe a week or so, the allergy symptoms come back en force. Last night I got quite the nose bleed again. Today it's coming and going. I can feel the back of my nasal passage get gooey.

The bleeding isn't coming from the nasal walls close to the surface - like right near the holes in my nose - I can put tissue there and there's no blood, but if I roll the tissue and put it in there to try to get rid of the goo (can't blow it, then it gushes) the tissue comes out soaked - it's like the blood is coming from WAY back in my nose somewhere.

I plan to get more magnesium tonite in hopes it will subside when I get taking it again - this will be the only change I'll make so if it gets better, I'll know it's related to my taking that magnesium.

But I'm still worried that it's being caused by something else - anyone got any experiences or ideas to share about it? Is there something else that can cause these that's dangerous? Is Magnesium dangerous if I take too much?

Ideas please and thank you for your time.

We are getting ready to plant our garden this year. We've had the garden in this same spot for about 6 years. It seems that each year, the thistle grows thicker and thicker - last year I pull everyone I could find out by the roots when I saw them and took them out of the garden for disposal - then this year it seems we have more than ever before.

Any suggestions on what to use to get rid of them? They're growing in the strawberries, asparagus, onions, rhubarb and grape and blackberry vines - I don't know what to put on the garden that won't harm the other plants or the veges we take from the garden that will kill those thistle. The darned things can be totally gone, garden pristine when I go to bed one night and the next morning they're popping up everywhere! Help!

Can't find a TV station to watch it on.

any one know where I can find it on TV

I have 42 panels coming 12' long. I'm trying to decide how is best to set them up.

What are your opinions on:

Square vs. round corners in an arena?

Square arena vs. oblong?

The area will be used for working on starting young horses and exercising - no jumping of anything like that. I ride primarily Western but hope to learn English one day.

One of the panels is crunch pretty good from a falling tree - so really is only useful as a gate - so figure I've got 41 good 12' panels and a bow gate.

I could make the arena 10 panels each side, or I could make it oblong with 9 on each end and 12 per side.

Any suggestions on a good size? Either way I've got room for a barrel pattern of standard size per AQHA regulation....

Too excited - too much to think of.

Anyone know when this movie will be on again and on what network? I caught just the end of it on the SciFi channel last night - didn't know it was going to be on, can't find when it might be on again.

I'm in Michigan if that helps - thanks for any help you can give me finding it airing again.

especially if you're a carded judge, please help the community understand the rules - what show circuits do you show in and what are the "rules" regarding bit usage?

I am curious as to why a person can't use a direct bit in many of these classes but they can in English. Not being a show person, I get asked often in my work what can be used for show and I know the rules are different depending on the series, breed rules or circuit, I usually tell them they need to consult the rules for their particular show. I'm thinking hard, and I can't think of any show that you can use a snaffle in for Western other than Snaffle Bit circuit shows (and I know I'm not getting the teminology right here - I'm not stupid, I'm just ignorant of show rules not being a show person but trying to help those who do show).

Please give us any knowledge you have regarding this.