@Aunt Kathy – she has written a lovely note of apology and now I need to get my ass over and talk to her. We’ve been actually doing a World Religion study this year – right now we’re on Hinduism (we’ve done Islam, Egyptian Gods, Jainism, and a Z-one). We’ve got more DE sprinkled around here than I can believe but I’ll put some more down. I think Jamie is bringing some big guns with him but we can’t use that in the recamera (geckos) and we’ll keep Kilo out of the trailer if we use it there. So far, it is looking like we might have dodged the flea bullet.

@Chris – you need a dog.

@MCM – thanks so much. We had stopped the flea baths once I got online and figured out that any bath will work – even just salt water – the fleas seem to flee (hee hee) the water. So far it is looking like the Frontline is working well.

@Jody – you ALWAYS have my back, don’t you? Will you marry me?

If you go over to see those idiots take some burning white sage with you. Also spinkle cinnamon and sea salt around your palapa. Idiots like those people are psychic vampires (and I don’t mean they are psychic – they drain positive energy from people).

If you haven’t already done so, have a discussion of all religions with the kids. Without knowing what to expect from other people, they may get sucked into something that is not to their benefit. Letting them know what you believe in also may help them to know there are people who are good and believe different things and morality and goodness of spirit are not defined by any one religion.

I was thinking – maybe the kids could do a project asking people they (and you) know and respect about their beliefs.

About the flea stuff – mcm is right. Be careful with that stuff. Small animals like your puppy could have a bad neurological reaction to all of the chemicals. http://www.greenpaws.org/_docs/GP_ToxicFactSheet.pdf
Cedar, eucalyptus, and diatomaceous earth can help – http://www.richsoil.com/flea-control.jsp

Love,

Aunt Kathy

You must go talk to them. It is just not right.

When my kids have others spend the night on Saturday evening, I always ask the parents permission for them to come to church with us.

Christianity, to me, is someone who believes in and practices the loving ways of Jesus. I am a firm believer of this saying “Preach the gospel at all times….use words when necessary”. In other words, live the word, don’t spew it. KWIM?

I am envious of your running….I have MRSA in my foot now and my heel is flippin’ rotting off, so no running for a bit for me. Blek.

Honey has fleas as well. Bill is outside spraying the yard as I type this. We tried everything prior to spraying, (because of the tree frogs and other creatures) and nothing worked. She was covered in them. I have an organic shampoo that I am using, and it works somwhat. The deer are pretty thick here, so I suspect that is where they are coming from.

Kathy, argh, I would be so seriously ticked about the family trying to influence Ellen, have you talked to them about it? It’s not fair to mess with a little girl’s mind! For the fleas, you can get flea powder in addition to the baths, it worked on the cats, they were infested when we first got them. Keep up the good work with running!