I didn’t realize porcupines ate pine needles, but I can imagine how frustrating it is having an animal ruin your trees! Is it possible it has a nest up the tree, and is “programmed” to go back to it every year? Surely there’s a wildlife authority in your area, that can make suggestions for your property to be less attractive to the porcupines .. and would relocate it if trapped?

When I lived in north Jersey, and was feeding the raccoons at night, I’d regularly get a skunk too. It never sprayed, even when I had to go out on the deck to leave it a little more food, because the raccoons had already eaten everything. I’d go “plate first” slowly, so it knew I was bringing food. It would go to the far side of the deck, but didn’t run away or “turn tail” on me. When the skunk finished eating, it would sit down & relax by the sliding doors, where my cat would come over inside the house, so she could “visit” with the skunk. The cat hated the raccoons, but liked the skunk .. go figure!

Be careful about relocating any trapped animal yourself, because there are often rules about which animals you can relocate, and where! I'd be happy to pick anyone up at the airport, if you want to send your critters to me in NJ! (LOL)

Oh they destroy the entire tree. I've looked all around for a nest. At present there's a good 18" of snow making it a little tough. When it melts, I'll really go on a hunt, any nest is outta here!!!! Even deer have eaten all the needles off the pines, for as high up as they can reach during harsh winters. I hear the needles are a sweet treat for them, can't imagine.
Astraea, your skunk never sprayed?, what the heck is mine spraying all the time for. Mostly in the middle of the night, good thing Hogies inside. Yes, the wildlife/ fish and game borrowed me the trap. They won't help any further than that and asked that I kindly don't release it in the town........

Anyone see the looney tune who's pet monkey escaped the vehicle and was walking around in Ikea. I'm embarrassed to say she's Canadian, just in case you thought I do strange things!!!!

Feeny was that decaf, 1/2 the caff, whole milk, skim. Snorting... way too funny, at least for hours every time you inhale through your nose the fragrance will be lovely.

Afternoon decaf cappuccino, 1%, chocolate on top. Fully snorted. ;-)

Ok.. I leave for half a day and feeny's snorting coffee and olldcan is harassing a porcupine and cavorting with skunks.

Nope, never sprayed! Thought I'd share 2 favorite photos of my friends from north Jersey! They're more photogenic than I am!

I was gone all day and I have to say that reading this thread has me worried about us. If a stranger fell into today's convo, the white coats would be at our doors right now.

I love IKEA for kitchens, some of their drapes, occasionally the fabric by the yard, and the new white dishes. I have fallen in love with these. Large dinner plate with a large rim. Perfect for spaghetti or a stew. And when you go, bring a cooler and get the Swedish meatballs, the lingonberry jam and the packets of the gravy mix. Of course, I can't leave with out having lunch in the caf and a piece of the apple cake. There are some pieces of the wood furniture that are really great and great looking.

mp, which curtains did you get? I bought a two pairs for one bedroom slider, so doubled them up and they look custom.

Astraea, did you tell us that you had some kind of a topper for your mattress? Brand, please?

Also, someone mentioned a while ago, about a HGTV show about copying an expensive room for less money. ????

Any one live near a Target? Try Giarda's tomato and basil sauce and doctor it up with some sweet Italian sausage.

Enjoyed the porcupine, coffee snorting, purple crocs, Black Russian, home made bread, and weather reports.

feeny, VERY IMPRESSIVE, I've only done it with Corona and only once.

Astraea, that's crazy, there in the house!!!!! Here, the only time you see a raccoon is on someones back, in the form of a coat.

creeser and judyg, see what happens when we have no adult supervision!!! Maybe this is all your fault ;)

Adult supervision? You're talking to the wrong person. *L* I remember a bunch of kids playing at the house and my nephew coming in and asking me where I kept my water balloons and super soaker. After getting him hooked up and showing him the best spot to ambush the others, it hit me.. how did he know I had that stuff???

Judy, did you see Darwin the monkey at Ikea? Here's the link, what a nut!!!

Judy - Both of my mattress toppers come from www.MyRest.com; the first one bought in 2006 .. 3" thick, memory foam. The second one was 2010 & 2" for the guest room .. slept on it during the hurricane, and it was comfy too.

olldcan - Of course in the house; I wouldn't want to sit outside all night waiting for them (LOL)! Hey, once when one family group came in the morning, and there wasn't any food outside, I let them follow me into the kitchen, while I prepared some! (really!)

As you can see, I love animals .. but I never confuse them with people or "children". I would never try to make a pet out of the baby raccoons I've fed & pet .. they deserve the right to grow up & be real raccoons in the outdoors. Monkeys - like people - can have their own minds, and get vicious.

astraea, you are so right. Wild animals are wild. Period. It's wrong to try and make them into pets. Protect them, yes. Care for them, yes. But not pets.

You gals are a hoot!!!!
Gotta go finish making diner. been nursing this spaghetti sauce all afternoon. TTYL

Morning all, got a terrible fright this morning when I came online and there were no emails of any posts from you. Now realised I hadn't commented last night, which I normally do before going to bed so I have the email links.

Stone the crows, you mob have covered an encyclopaedia today!!!!

Olldcan, our possums LOVE magnolia tree buds and many a year I have no flowers at all. I can't do much with mine as it is too near the house, but they recommend we put a metal skirt near the base of the tree so the possums can't climb it. Wonder if this would work with your pineypork.

I think we should change your name of Annie Oakley - honestly a grown woman picking on a lil bitty creature with a BB gun. Worthy of a cartoon.

Lisa, your comment re hosing the house out really brought back memories. I knew a woman many years ago who always insisted on having an afternoon nap, she couldn't cope otherwise, so one day while she was napping her 3 year old decided to "help" mommy and hosed down her whole kitchen. Cost a fortune to have the whole kitchen replaced. Mind you anyone who could nap with a 3 year old on the loose deserved it. She was one of those totally useless types but the b****h somehow snared herself a hubby who did everything for her and had the money for whatever she wanted.

I often wonder what my life would be like if I had been born useless????

We have 2 Ikeas in Sydney, the smaller one about 40 mins away and a HUGE one about an hour away but it is across the CBD and just too much hassle to get there. Was near the huge one the other week so stopped to take a quick look at a bed - QUICK IS NOT IN IKEA'S VOCABULARY!!! I had to 'follow the yellow brick road' around 4 football fields just to get to the bedding, by which time I was over it and gave up, then had to ask directions 4 times just to get out of the place and ended up being let out an emergency exit to save me another 15 min walk to the normal doors, which were in the opposite direction to where my car was parked. What do these places think they are achieving??? They will need to put in motorised scooters for oldies at this rate!!!

Smaller one is an easier drive but the parking is a nightmare when you get there, it is a no-go zone on weekends particularly. Do you guys get charged for parking in shopping centres? I absolutely hate it, you get 2 hours to shop free and after that it is an arm and a leg and I refuse to pay for the privilege of giving businesses my money. When it comes to places like Ikea 2 hours goes nowhere.

Their meatballs are yummy but absolutely full of crap, we try to avoid them as much as possible.

Finally we have internet again! R installed the Apollo 11 ceiling fan and the power's been off. Racoons and possums and monkeys! Holy moley!

Got caught up on NFL, Ravens in, Redskins losing, not good. Do not like the Seahawks!

Roo, you have to tell me, don't you ever run out of steam? Are you still painting? I washed down 2 walls in the dining room this morning to paint tomorrow. Five loads of laundry (where does it come from?) and a partridge in a pear tree kind of day. Poor R installed the remote controlled ceiling fan and forgot to install the receiver before he put it all together, now it has to come apart. Next weekend!

I totally agree with all the IKEA comments. Did you notice there are no windows in there? I had a panic attack thinking I would never get out. Seriously!

Bobbi, of course I run out of steam, that is why I am sitting here on the computer talking to you guys - much more fun than housework anyway. I've done some vacuuming today and am watering the garden to give it a good soak before our predicted 43 deg tomorrow, so that has me up and down, and done some 'styling' in my bedroom - in other words trying to put things away again, with limited resources until I get new furniture. Builder is here today finishing off the bathrooms so that limits me a bit as he keeps calling for my opinion on things - which is good he knows how things are best done but knows I am nothing if not decided also so likes to double check. We pretty much agree on everything anyway, which is good to know that my idea is the best practical way.

You are lucky R can put your ceiling fan in, I still have to get one in the lounge room, DD thought I would need two but electrician said one would be fine. He has readied all the wiring when he did my new lights, which I had him do when he was here to rewire and connect things in the bathroom but it will cost me $70 call out plus labour to get him back, once I find a fan I like at a reasonable price. We aren't allowed to DIY electrical here because we have 240v.

I would like to be able to finish the bathroom painting tomorrow, but not going to attempt it in the heat, might go shopping instead (thinking air con) and get tape and supplies to finish my curtains.

Is your Apollo 11 wood or metal?

roo, it's made of metal. I tried to attach a pic but Houzz pic attachments hate me.

roo, what does your hubby do while you are doing all this painting and housework and gardening? Does he keep busy too?

Apollo 11

You girls need to take a lesson from me…play dumb, play incapable, play whatever it takes. You all work too hard. I have a great Brazilian fellow who can do it all. If you pay for his flight, he is yours.

Astraea, thanks for the info on the bed toppers.

Do not let those raccoons wander in your house. Should they tinkle or poop, you won't ever get that smell out of your home. They also carry rabies. Just be careful.

OLLDCAN, that video is going straight to my daughter. Do not let Astraea see it. She will bring the little guy home with her. :>)

judyg, you have no idea how right you are. I have so much ahead of me this year it's exhausting me just thinking about it!

bobbi, he mows the lawns, has a smoke, cleans things outside, has a smoke, mows the lawns, has a smoke, supervises my painting, has a smoke, cleans everything up and puts away after I paint, has a smoke, mows the lawns, has a smoke, finds all the things he puts away that no one else can ..................... The neighbours are insanely jealous of our lawns - seriously. Oh, I forgot to mention he is also the official native bird feeder - another good excuse to sit outside and smoke. At the moment he also keeps the smoking neighbours entertained, since we put the old lounge out in the carport it has become quite a meeting place. Two more weeks and it all goes.

Ummmm, I probably shouldn't say this now you have your fan installed, but for future reference, researching for a fan for my loungeroom I found out that metal ones aren't good - I was hoping you hadn't bought one. I initially was going to chose one thinking it would be easier to clean, but the blades actually "cut" the air instead of swishing it, making them less effective, and build up static electricity, which will of course attract dust and dirt to them. I was surprised in one store I went to the sales lady even warned me of it, normally they don't give a damn, they only want the sale. Hope your's is ok. I love some of the creative fans but they are all in the $500 - $1,000 price range - I can do plain.

I wish you hadn't have mentioned about Ikea and no windows, you will set me off now. When I think about it though all our shopping malls are windowless, hadn't ever considered that, I more look for exit doors or am too busy looking for what I want.

Geez, Judy, you are really giving away your secrets now!!! A Brazilian no less!! Made me laugh though I immediately thought of the cabana guy in Legally Blond.

I can assure you I have a really good dumb broad act I do in service stations and hardware stores, in fact any male dominated place, my age helps a lot with that too, the young guys can't do enough to help 'granny'. Just doesn't work on BH, he is too used to it.

Bobbi,
We just put this up in our bedroom, replacing an oversized, outdated fan with five horrible, movable spotlights beneath it that the previous owners had put in. Hubby insisted he still wanted a fan with a light on it since there is no other overhead in the room. I argued they were all ugly. I lost. So this was the best we could do. But I keep saying to him that the new one looks a bit too much like a flying saucer. We bought a simpler one (no light fixture) for our sunroom, and i'm much happier with that one.

Actually the blades are plastic, the housing is some kind of metal. I found the coolest, most awesome cleaning tool at church, it's meant for ceiling fans but it's the perfect height and material for cleaning the top of the baseboards!!! I think the fan was around $175.00, probably the most expensive one in the store but whatever. I'm surprised to see how many boob lights they're still selling. Who buys those???

If hubby cleans up after you paint he's worth his weight in gold! I hate that part. I know disposable brushes and rollers are not good but I use them anyway. And if I know I'm going to be painting several days in a row I will put them inside plastic bags, saves me from washing them everyday.

Feeny, that's not so bad! I've seen a lot worse, including the ones with boob lights. And it being white does it blend right in? I was just telling R I wish we had put a ceiling medallion up before he installed it. Hindsight being 20/20 but he's saying we can still do that since he has to take it down to install the receiver.

And ladies, I don't have to 'play' dumb. I don't get much stuff as it is!

I was just thinking....sometimes you just have to laugh at what you can't control and move on (like your ceiling fan, feeny). Back in the 80's my girlfriend had her husband measure ALL her windows for mini-blinds, she wanted to install them INSIDE the window casing. She special ordered them to find out he did not measure one window right. So she installed them OUTSIDE the casing and went searching for giant toenail clippers thinking they would be the perfect trim tool.

Oh, bobbi, I am so glad you have the plastic........... phew!!!

Yes definitely having a Mr. Clean up for the painting is a HUGE bonus. He is meticulous to the point of being ARGGGGGH, but I just leave him to it and move on. Of course many times I will start to clean up and if he has anything to say then I get to do the "do it yourself then" comeback. Refreshing change.

Feeny - movable spotlights in a bedroom???? What did the previous owners get up to - the mind boggles!!!!!

Yes, the new white one disappears into the white ceiling, Bobbi. But one of the next paint jobs we have planned is to repaint the bedroom the same color blue-gray, but this time paint the ceiling a lighter blue-gray too. Maybe that's a bad plan. Then the flying saucer will look like it is about to land on us out of a blue sky!

Exactly roo! When my father-in-law first visited our house and saw the old bedroom fan, he said it looked like it belonged in a porn film! But really, that's the design of LOTS of fans, and it's a really stupid design.
Imagine this one with five movable lights hanging down instead of three and you have our old fan:

That's a good point, feeny, I think you should save yourself the work!

Change of subject for one minute. Does anyone have a panini maker? Do you like it? What brand? Do the plates come off and go in the dishwasher, or how hard is it to clean? I'm thinking about buying one but I want one that will make two panini's at a time and is SUPER easy to clean. Thanks!

Bobbi, we have one, it's by Black and Decker. Nothing fancy pants, super easy to clean we just remove the plates once they've cooled and put them in the DW. There's a button to press that releases the plates. We used it a lot when we first got it about 2 years ago. Now we maybe only use it every other month, cause we were eating too many grilled panini's :( and had to control ourselves.

feeny, why not paint the blades of the fan to match the ceiling once you repaint it the blue colour.

What is a panini??? Or am I better off not knowing.

Well ................... FINALLY .............. builder has finished both bathrooms, just waiting on everyone to go back to work so the shower screen can be done, but a different guy will install that. Hope I can have the painting finished before that is done and it will be a huge cross off my list.

Quite a day of achievement really, finished getting my new lounge room lights up too. I think I mentioned the packaging said "Some assembly required"............ SOME being 588 pieces!!!! When the electrician put the first one up he put an odd globe in it he had that is really nice, has a creamy yellow light to it. The new globes I bought seem to be more pink and of course I have absolutely no idea what globe he put in it. Will put them on tonight again and have another thought. Just wish I could find my camera battery charger, would so love opinions.

olldcan, thanks! Black and Decker, I didn't know they made one but it sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. I love anything that goes right into the DW. I think we'd use it on the weekends, something easy for dinner. Any favorite recipes?

roo, that's great! Both bathrooms! What is a shower screen? 588 pieces??? Is this the light with the flowers that you had to go back to the store for? It sounds too complicated for me. Are you seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?

Shower screen ............ ummm, this is so funny trying to think of how to describe everyday things. In the ensuite I just have a glass door with a small fixed panel across the opening to the shower and 3 walls of tiles. We used to have a wall in the main bathroom dividing the shower from the vanity area but it had to come down so now we are replacing that with glass and then it will have another fixed panel and glass door across the front, so there will only be two tiled walls - the glass is what we call a shower screen.

Like this -

[houzz=]

Yep that is the lights. Fortunately the instructions were really good, they were over 3 nice glossy pages with photos, diagrams and written instructions, all in clear English, it was really foolproof, just damned fiddly and slow, but I quite enjoyed it. I learned from the first one and put most of the flowers on but left some handling space before I attached the shade to the fitting. I still managed to knock a few off in the process, got them all back on again, except for the bottom row so I could see to put the globe in but still knocked more off again, but on the final go it all went well. I bought two new matching globes for them so will put a new globe in the first light tomorrow and see how they look. I'm still favouring the globe the electrician put it but have no idea what brand it is and the amount of globes we have to choose from now is absolutely ridiculous. I'm really loving the lights though and my neighbours and DDs are just rapt in them. Even the builder commented on them today. Makes you feel good.

Yes, there is a bit of light at the end of one tunnel - just have a maze of tunnels to negotiate. Baby steps, baby steps. Waiting to see what tomorrow brings with the weather, I am very concerned about the possibility of fire, although all the danger areas they are identifying are on the south side of Sydney. Have had the house wide open to the cool air tonight but have now closed it all up to hopefully keep it as cool as possible tomorrow. The humidity is supposed to be down to single figures so am rather looking forward to that aspect, it has been so long I have forgotten what a hot dry day is like.

Panini is Italian bread rolls.
Ikea here has a large red button in the elevator and yes our boy pressed it. Alarm goes off and security comes- 'they all do don't worry'. Wonder why they don't move said button, it went off half a dozen times when we were there!
Lovely little bandits! Last time I heard possums mentioned it was by Dame Edna!

Thanks lisa, if they are Italian I'm surprised I don't know them.

I do NOT do elevators - instant panic attacks.

Dame Edna called everyone possums, maybe because they are such cute creatures "possum" is used quite a bit as a term of endearment.

Bobbi - be proud of me - I did 1/7 ALL MY BYSELF!!!!!

Roo - Panini is a sandwich that is grilled/pressed. I'm glad that possums are liked; here their naked tails aren't appreciated.

Astraea, our's are totally different to yours and they have lovely furry tails. Can't find any really good photos, these are about the best

http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/possums.htm

This is the little bloke that digs up our lawn every night. He is really cute too.

http://www.wpsa.org.au/pdf/school/Bandicoots.pdf

roo, I'm always proud of you! And yes panini is a grilled, pressed sandwich.

I wish you could find your battery charger! Although you do a great job with your descriptions, it's just not the same, is it? !!!

Roo - the bandicoot is cute, but they don't live very long, do they? The article said that the females only live 18 months, and males only a year "in defense of their territory"! Sad .. life's tough for those little critters!

Just found this article on 'possums, looking for a picture of what we see (ugly) in this neck of the woods. It's closest relative is the kangaroo! Who knew? :>)

I always thought the 'possum was related to the rat.
http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/wildlife/index.php?subject=Mammals&id=71

I am NOT a fan of the oppossum...never have been. They are not very cute to me. I love animals, but this is one that I can live without. The aussie ones are much cuter than ours! That rat tail gives me the creeps.
I am moving to today's discussion now..after reading. I miss so much! :)

Yes, that's a good picture of the possums we have here. They are usually gentle animals, and I like them despite their naked tails.

Bobbi, what makes me mad is that I have a photo of my old ensuite and THERE is my battery charger - I usually charged it on the vanity as it was the only accessible spare plug I had. Think I put it on the floor for the photo, but it only looks worse, but I had it there to keep charging the battery between photos.

OK - Another Houzz glitch - feeny your photo of your old fan took 12 hours to come through on here, it definitely wasn't there when I went to bed last night. So you mean those 5 lights revolved with the fan??? My head would be spinning with it!! I just put that sort of thing down to another stupid thing designed by a male.

Ah - ha - a Panini is a Cafe Sandwich maybe. We have sandwich presses that do that, although I wish the plates were removable, even though they are non stick, they still build up gunk over time as you can't scrub them like I would like to. Even to soak them would be helpful. I haven't used mine for ages as I have gone off bread a bit, especially now it is hot.