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Cat owners, I need some ideas....sm

Posted By: Pet mom on 2006-11-07
In Reply to:

My daughter has 4 cats that live downstairs with her.  One of the cats has become sensitive to the food they're all eating and we need to feed her different food from the rest.   Any ideas how to keep her out of the other cats foods?   This cat can't be brought upstairs because my cat that is upstairs dislikes her strongly and beats her up whenever she has tried coming upstairs.  Thanks for any suggestions you may have!




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No lease - have been here thru 2 owners, - sm
and am the only person left in the building who is still on month-to-month. Also, I never did sign any agreements with current management company - I still have my old lease from the original owners from back in 1990!
This site is now being run by new owners
The old owner of this site started her own board. There was a lot of posts about this before the list changed hands. It was also down for a few days.
Anyone else VW new beetle owners?

My husband just traded in my Miata (a birthday gift 2 years ago) for a VW Beetle for me. I loved the Miata, but I couldn't take my daughter in it since she's still in a booster and it only seats 2. What fun is that? I had been wanting a beetle since the new ones had come out and I can't believe he actually got me one! I love it. It's so fun to drive. Anyone else own one and how do you like it so far?


The owners who are not responsible are ...sm
the problem. I would be mad too if I went out and was approached by a pit bull who growled at me, and I own a pitbull. He should be kept in his owners yard or home. No dog, pit or otherwise, should be allowed to roam around the neighborhood.
I fully understand you being furious. I would be too.

Any bunny rabbit pet owners out there? sm
Our bunny has a malocclused jaw and therefore she has a front tooth that continues to grow, having to be trimmed about once a month.  The vet says there's really nothing we can do to prevent this other than continue to encourage the rabbit to eat foods that would have her using her front tooth.  Have you encountered this and if so, did you find something that helped slow down the growth?   Thank you!
DH and I are first time cat owners as of Christmas!

DH and I are first time cat owners as of Christmas! We love our Sophie, she is a great cat. Since we are new to this, I'm looking for some advise.


We are leaving on vacation on Feb 23rd for Ireland and I'm just wanting to make sure I have everything in place for Sophie. Please let me know if I'm missing anything.


MIL will visit every other day (maybe everyday!) for litter box cleanings and playtime. I'm going to leave out 2 litter boxes.


I'll leave out lots of food and water, MIL will refill.


Leave the TV or radio on for some noise.


She is around 2 years old so she is still quite playfull. She has lots of toys laying around.


So am I missing anything? I just don't want her to freak out, but I think she will be ok with the MIL visits.


Thanks!


That is true but the owners who hire them
should be held accountable. The American roofing/contruction co owners that do not want to pay their share of tax or pay a descent wage to a legal worker should be held accountable. The immigrants working illegal are just trying to make a living. (Yes it's stealing and wrong and I do not approve. Especially when they bring their whole families here.) The owners of these company are the real cheats though. They buy big vans and pick them up and drop them off. It's horrible wages are so low for hourly workers now. :(
Any VW owners know price of a radiator & fan? (sm)

My car broke down this afternoon!  I heard a loud noise like I had run over something, pulled over and saw all the coolant and water pouring from my radiator.  The fan broke and a blade went into the radiator.  I pulled inrto the nearest repair shop (lucky for me one was really close) and they gave me an estimate of $1200!!!!  My husband had it towed to a mechanic he uses, but I am curious since my car is a VW how much should it cost to get this fixed??


 


 


once again OWNERS, if only we could ask the cats, I think the response would be different, NM
z
For the pet owners: Is pet insurance worth getting?
I know there are a lot of pet owners on the Gab board so I thought I would ask. I am wondering if pet insurance is worth getting? I have one 7-year-old kitty, a 2-year-old Pomeranian, and a 4-year-old chihuahua mix. Princess, my pom, broke her foot a couple of months ago by jumping about two feet to the concrete from my lap. I usually don't take her outside, and I think she just landed wrong. It cost me about $700 get her to the vet and have a splint put on and luckily it healed and she didn't need pins. I am really thinking about it because I know pets can get pretty expensive when you have to keep taking them to the vet. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
They are very sweet dogs... it's all about the owners
That's what I think... ANY dog can become aggressive which is what I wish people would understand. Before we got our two current dogs, my boyfriend and I completely fell in love with a pitbull at the humane society. 3 days until I got my house, someone snatched her first. She was the most adoring, sweet dog I have ever encountered (besides the girl that I own now). But then one day we encountered a pitbull at the dog park, who had kind of "rough looking" owners, and my male dog went up to sniff the pit and kinda get playful, and i heard the guy snicker under his breath "you dont want to do that dog". like, telling my dog he doesn't want to mess with his. So I am a firm believer that it is ownership. You get the pit as a puppy and love it and cherish it and it and socialize it... or you leave it, hurt it, yell at it... it's gonna become what it knows...
To pit bull owners and defenders:

Two weeks ago in my city, an elderly demented man was found dead at home by his daughter's boyfriend when he returned home from work.  Autopsy confirmed that his death was caused by his daughter's and her boyfriend's 3 pit bulls. I'm sure this lady loved her dear father and believed the dogs were companions to him as he was home alone during the day.  


I just can't understand the loyalty to this breed.  Why take chances when the outcome can be deadly?  This woman will be blaming herself for the rest of her life. 


All dogs bite, but pit bulls don't stop until they have killed. 


Small dog owners Please Read my warning

Yesterday, a lady was driving down our hill with her little doxie in the front seat of the van. I don't think the dog was even a year old yet. Anyway, she sideswiped a telephone pole which put her out of control, her airbags went off, and she couldn't see with all that white powder flying around, and she wound up in a drainage ditch. When the airbags went off, they struck her dog and killed him. Although our neighbor is a nurse and tried CPR, the poor thing had broken ribs which probably punctured his lungs.


So, what I'm saying is if you're going to take your dog for rides, please put them in the back seat, preferably with doggie seat belts, not the front seat.  I could barely sleep last night over this.  I feel so bad for the poor dog. It didn't have to happen. The lady was so upset over it and feeling so guilty, it took us over 2 hours to get her calmed down.


Dog owners - recognizing partial seizures
After losing Misha to a brain tumor, I decided to post this to help others with dogs (sorry cat lovers - I did not research cats). Seizures beginning when a dog is young are almost always due to epilepsy, and it is very treatable. Unfortunately, seizures that begin when a dog is 5 or older is almost always either a brain tumor or some sort of serious infection in the brain. Either way, recognizing it early will help you have the confidence to insist on early treatment for the comfort and health of your pet.

Everybody knows the signs of a tonic-clonic seizure, but subtler seizures can confuse even vets. Know the signs of even focal/partial seizures:

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/CanineEpil.htm

Business owners are usually private citizens
and as such have right of refusal - I sure did when we had our own business.  If you see a potential problem you want to get it back out that door pronto.  Maybe the owner knew his clientele would not stand for OJ sitting in the restaurant and being served, etc., and believe that is his choice, his call.  If he has other patrons of different races, religions, etc., can't see he would be concerned about a law suit.  This is not even a religious matter or sexual discrimination - which is protected by law - OJ is hated still by many - his problem. 
Yeah, poisoned by the owners, the sun and heat - sm
what total i*d*i*o*t*s - don't they know an autopsy will prove them wrong. I hope they owners both get locked up and heavily fined to boot. My own dogs are out a lot but I am home and when it is too hot they are in. Neither has ever had heatstroke. They have plenty of shade (they go under the deck sometimes and lay in the dirt, nice and cool down there) and water when they are outside. My neighbor has a boxer and has to be real careful with her dog, she has had one attack of heatstroke already this summer. Luckily she knows what to do as it happened once last summer; but it comes on very quick with boxers since they have such short snouts. Let us know what happens to the owners.
It was the OWNERS' fault for allowing the dog to run loose.
The fact that you didn't see him and ran over him was an accident. That accident wouldn't have occurred if those people had been responsible dog owners and kept him in a securely fenced yard.
Dear Owners of Aggressive Pit Bull:
I've already called animal control on you once and reported him for cornering, and then trying to bite me.

Well guess what. I bought mace. Not the wimpy dog-park spray, either. This is law-enforcement grade. It's the real deal.

The next time that sorry, un-neutered son-of-a-biotch comes anywhere near me, he's getting not just a warning squirt, he's getting the entire bottle in his face, maybe enough to close up his throat and kill him. I sure hope it does.
I live in Louisville and restaurant owners all over town are
applauding him for having done it. The restaurant he went to right after that was just around the corner and the owner there said he didn't have guts to not serve him.
Just moved to new house. Previous owners had dogs that
used the basement for a bathroom!  It smells to high heaven!  Anyone know what I can wash the concrete floor with?  Would bleach solution help with the smell without causing a chemical reaction with the concrete?  Local building store employees just gave me a blank look.  TYIA.
Carfax relies on owners of the cars to report problems

We bought a "perfect" car, ྙ Olds (in 2000) that only had 45,000 miles on it. Loved that car but it was a flood car.The engine was still good but everything power plus the frame gave out in 5 years. Wouldn't pass inspection and had to junk it.


Nothing on Carfax had any of this info. So I'll never pay for a Carfax report again.


A few ideas

Shed not for her the bitter tear,


Nor give the heart to vain regret;


Tis but the casket that lies her,


The gem that filled it sparkles yet.


 


Her children rise up and call her blessed.


 


Amiable, she won all; intelligent, she charmed all; fervent, she loved all; and dead, she saddened all.


Ideas..
How about the pastry puff (hot dog, potato, beef) hors doeuvres by Cohen. Frozen aisle, just thaw and bake. They are delicious! Spinach dip in a bread bowl. Chicken fingers. Shrimp cocktail. Stuffed mushrooms. Prosciutto and melon, fresh mozzarella. Deviled eggs. Enjoy the party!
Any ideas???
You all are always so creative and imaginative - please help.  I need to buy gifts for my BIL's girlfriend and SIL's boyfriend, somewhere in the $25 range.  I have no clue what they like, and asking BIL and SIL is like asking my keyboard - they are no help at all.  Thanks in advance!
some ideas...
Although this is from a nominated student themselves you might pull some info from it. Had the pleaure of being a memory and it was indeed an honor.
associatedcontent.com/.../how_to_write_a_successful_national.html - 35k -

Give applicant name and school name, your relation to applicant, how long you have known them. Some of the criteria it is based would be maturity, dependability, motivation, compatibility, integrity, compassion, particpation and attitude.
here are a few ideas
There is a web site that is legit that can help with small amounts. It may not give you money in a short time, but it can help within 30 days. www.modestneeds.org
They even help show you how to write a request that will get approved.

For help with food, try angelfoodministries.com . For $25/month, you get almost $75 worth of food.

For help with any medications, try www.needymeds.com . The drug manufacturers help people who fall between the cracks and cannot afford medicine by providing it for free or for a minimal fee.

Also contact your state's Vocational Services Department. If you have ADHD in my state, they will pay for your schooling and medication and doctor bills and you don't pay it back after school is done.

Don't be afraid to contact your local resources - churches, food banks, Salvation Army - for whatever help you can get. Some of these will provide one-time assistance or every-other-month help.

I wish you well. I only know about these because of I have needed to use each of them at one time or another, and continue to need them.
My ideas

Do you have wood heat?  My sister's red setter had thyroid problems that made it itch and loose most of her hair as well as being allergic to wheat in the dog good and the only food that could feed it was Friskies cubes.  Allergy testing sometimes is not that expensive.  And it might be worth your while and cheaper than  going through all the medications and remedies to not have them work and then do the testing.  I have found that specialists sometimes are less expensive than the regular vets and they can pinpoint the problem faster and less expensive.  So call an allergist vet and ask what it would cost to get him tested.  I was scared to death about the expense of taking my dog to a neurologist when she was having seizures and it cost me less than a regular visit to my vet and he spent over 30 minutes with us explaining things.  And he knew immediately what to do.  But beware of the steroids as I feel that is what caused the seizures in the first place and will never put my dog on them again.  Too  many side effects.  Good luck. 


Some more ideas
Summer's on the way, here are some quickies for dinners. Except for rice and baked goods, I do not measure. Ever. It's all in your tastes and preferences. You just put the stuff together until it looks/smells/tastes right to you.

When you have time, simmer a large amount of boneless, skinless, quartered chicken breasts in water/broth until they are just done and still tender. Drain and cool. Shred, dice, chop and use throughout the week. Roasted chicken/turkey is great to use, too.

If you like ham, bake a big one. Have a ham dinner one night, then save the rest for later in the week. Chop it in a food processor for chopped ham, slice it for sandwiches, dice it for soups, wraps, omelets, etc.

When in season, use grapes or sliced fresh fruit such as apples, to serve with some dinners or put in salads. When it's there in front of you, all sliced and pretty, you eat it. Great way to get fruits into the family's diet on the sly! They'll make faces and think you've gone all Martha Stewart on them, but they'll eat it. Same thing with some veggies. Slice cukes lengthwise, slice carrots the same way, put them on the table with a little dish of something to dip them in - some dressing or yogurt. Make them easy to pick up with finger.

Some dinner suggestions using the above:

1. Sandwiches. Any kind. Make them interesting - different breads you slice yourself, bulke rolls, pita pockets, etc. Fill with roasted/sauted veggies, with leftovers, cukes, shredded carrots, etc. Use dark-colored greens or raw spinach instead of iceburg lettuce. Raw spinach goes a long way when using for sandwiches, wraps or rollups. That chicken made ahead can be mixed in with any type of salad dressing or marinade, with salsa, with cranberry relish, etc., gives much more flavor than mayo and a lot less calories. Make wraps and rollups. Add lots of different seasonings. Experiment! Try turkey bacon for BLTs. Serve with roasted potato wedges: slice baking potatoes lengthwise into wedges. Brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with seasonings of cohice. Cayanne pepper, salt, dill, tarragon, anything that smells good will taste good! Bake in shallow pan about 45 min. until tender on inside, crisp on outside.

2. Tortillas/buritos/tacos. Fill with chicken, beef, veggies, anything! Experiment. Use the taco seasoning packets you can get at the supermarket to add to cooked lean ground hamburger or cooked chicken. I usually use half as they are quite salty. You can always just wing it yourself by adding cumin, tomato paste, salsa, cayanne pepper, etc.

3. Quesadillas. Brush large frying pan with olive oil. Place soft tortilla in pan, fill 1/2 with filling of choice - great with summer squash, zucchini sauted ahead of time and a bit of cheese. Fold over and cook on M-High heat until golden brown and crisp. Flip and cook other side same way, make sure cheese melts. Slice in wedges, serve w/salsa.

4. Rice. Cook a pot of Basmati or Jasmine rice, makes a huge difference in texture and taste than Uncle Ben's. It's more expensive than regular short grain/long grain rice, but this is your dinner, and the most expensive part of it if you are using leftovers. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon, alspice, clove to rice before covering to simmer for 20 min. Add cooked meat - chicken or hamburger. Another suggestion is to cook some rice, add some sauted garlic, veggies and some lemon-pepper seasoning. Serve with salad, cut up veggies and spciy ranch dressing, slices of fruit with cheese, etc.

5. Cook up some pasta. I know, more pasta, but this is different! Noodles works as well as angel hair. Cook ground hamburger. Mix pasta, hamburger, jar of spaghetti sauce together. Put in deep casserole dish that's been brushed with olive oil. Top with shredded cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese has melted. Careful not add too much sauce - you can always add more at the table. Best to keep an extra jar of sauce handy just in case.

7. English muffin pizzas. Let the kids make them.

8. Soups. Maybe not in summer, but on a cold night they are great. My favorite for this time is year is with veggie broth, summer squash, zucchini, finely chopped carrots, mushrooms and garlic that were sauted in olive oil and butter, caramalized onions, chunks of red potatoes with the skins on, dill, tarragon and a lot of fresh ground pepper. Add some shredded chicken if you want. Ham is good with this, too.

9. Sort of Shepherd's Pie: Brush casserole dish with olive oil. Add a layer of red skin smashed potatoes (always leave the skins on), a layer of canned corn, a layer of cooked hamburger, ham or chicken. Repeat, be sure to end last layer with the smashed potatoes. Bake until top begins to brown. Make gravy or use the jar/canned gravy if you'd like.

10. Dinner Pockets. Pillsbury crescent rolls in the fridge section of market. I don't know how many you are feeding but I believe one can makes 4 of these. Unroll the dough, separate along perforations to make rectangles, NOT triangles like you would for the crescents. Place each rectangle on a cookie sheet you've sprayed with veg. oil and make sure the perforated seams are pinched together. In the center of each rectangle, put in anything that's already been cooked. Any kind of meat and/or veggies. Top with shredded cheese if you want. Pull up the corners to the center and pinch closed. Bake according to directions on package.

11. If you can grill outdoors, there's a whole new world waiting for you! Marinate something the night before, grill along with veggies and/or potatoes. No mess to clean inside.


ideas.
Can't beat a BLT or hotdog and chips. Tomatoe soup and grilled cheese. Chicken wrap or tuna salad wrap. We even do BLT wraps.

Last night we had grilled pork chops with a broccoli slaw and grilled apples. When I grill I try to cook extra for another night. I did chops and then fresh sausage dogs for lunch.

What ya got and I'll give you some ideas! Would have rather been a chef than an MT but oh well!
Try this ideas -
Get a Scat Mat. Put it where they want to claw on the furniture and crank it to the highest level. I bet after one buzz on their paws they move on. Are you able to spray them in the act of scratching? Set a water bottle on stream, squirt them the very second they start scratching and say "no." Do not hit or scream hysterically at them. If you cannot secure a Scat Mat then get a carpet protector (you know, those plastic things sold in strips that you place over carpet to protect it - maybe like in front of a door) and turn it upsidedown so that the pointy part is sticking up. They will not want to walk on that, I will bet money on it. I have had 11 cats in my lifetime and they all kept their claws. Try different things until something clicks. If nothing else works then try the Soft Paws, but retraining CAN be done. Good luck. Let us know what happens. :-)
Please, any ideas on this??
I have worked in this field for over 30+ years. I have an aunt that I am very close to. I have been suffering very severly with rib pain (have fibromyalgia) but I told her I went to 2 doctors this past week, my regular and then referred on to rheumatologist and neither basically helped me. I ask specifically to my PCP if I might have costochondritis (would rather have had that then other things worse) so he never said anything 1 way or the other. In telling her today I finally resorted to getting 1 of the medicated back patches from the drug store and how I had had to help myself she told me "well, the doctors really do not want you to tell them what you think it is or what to do for any ailments." I know she is old, but right now I am supposed to go visit her this weekend and I am blowing steam from my ears. After doing the 4s for years and years and also working part-time in all other speciality offices including ortho, neurologic, gynecological, internal just to name a few,  I have gotten to where I know a LITTLE about your body. I do not want her to say something like this again and for me to just overlook but my gosh, even after saying possibility about infection in the ribs, I am still NOT checked out for any possibility ??? When you go to your physician do you ever say it might be this or it might be that and what kind of reply would you have for this much loved aunt (although right now has really stepped on my toes). Oh by the way, this is not the first time something like this has been brought up between the aunt and myself. Not working in the medical field she sorta views the doctors as, well you know these holier than thou are folks and would NEVER question their authority.
Thanks everyone for the ideas! (nm)
x
Thanks for your ideas sm
I am very grateful for your ideas and did a little extra shopping for the future yesterday. Last evening I offered ground sirloin mixed with ground turkey (they did not ask) and made some tasty meatballs and patties. I offered them a choice, which they loved. One had a meatball sub, the other two had the cheeseburger choice with low fat cheese and when one finished, he wanted what his sister had, could not resist the smell of the meatballs. I allowed him both. He has quite an appetite! We had fun. I also introduced baked sweet potato fries. They made their own deserts with chocolate low-fat yogurt which they called "ice cream" with a cherry on top and a few chocolate sprinkles (they loved doing their own). Made their own low-fat chocolate milk shakes. Overall, the evening went very well. I added some of your suggestions to my cupboard for future visits. I am the "Grammy" and sometimes I get very tired. I did offer them "two" choices which they (being siblings) seemed to be attracted to. I have to remind them and myself that I am not a restaurant, a bank or a hotel. When the food goes well, the rest of the evening is pretty easy. We watched "Home Alone," played cards, Chutes & Ladders with the little one and had fun together. Thanks for the future menu ideas. Ages 5, 9 and 11, all different kiddos. You know how it is. : )
Thanks nm You have the best ideas about everything!
:>)
Thanks for the ideas, everyone!
It's cool out today, so I think I'll hang it outdoors.
2 ideas
Get a little Skookie cast iron pan (they have them at Sportsmans Warehouse). Make the Skookie once and then you have the pan. (If you haven't had one it is a huge cookie or brownie baked in a small cast iron pan. Get those bags of pizza dough mix (Martha's or whatever - they have it at Wal-Mart) and make it up (you just add water) and press it into the oiled pan. Bake 10 minutes and then add on a spoonful of sauce or olive oil and garlic and 5 cheese Italian blend and some parmesan and bake it again until brown and bubbly. Lunch. Save the dough for tomorrow and do another kind! Like Canadian bacon and pineapple. These are really good. The crust comes out just right like brick oven pizza. If you are really hungry or you have company, get a big cast iron pizza pan and do the same with the whole batch of dough. The leftovers are soooo good.

My mom lived alone for a long time and she had the same problem and did not like fast food, so she would make a big recipe of enchiladas and then freeze them individually for her lunch. Yum. If you don't know how to make them post back and I'll tell you. It is really easy and so much yummier than PB&J or tuna.

I lied, third idea. Make tostadas. Fry up or bake a corn tortilla and spread it with refrieds and add cheese, salsa and lettuce, sour cream, or whatever. Instant lunch! Now I am ravenous and need to check the freezer contents.
Ideas
Here is a website where you can download and print out things (Christmas themes) such as dot-to-dot, word search, find the difference in the elves, matching game, santa's village activity page and Christmas coloring pages. http://familyfun.go.com/printables/season/specialfeature/christmas-printables-ms/

Oriental trading company has a holiday bingo game.

You might also want to check out www.enchanted learning.com. Tons of stuff on there for kids, not sure if they have Christmas stuff, but lots of educational things.
Any ideas???
My husband is turning 40 in a week and a half.  Any ideas on presents (i'm tired of giving practical stuff) and ways to celebrate?  My 6-year-old wants to take him out to eat but I feel we should do something more?? 
Okay, trying to think of other ideas for you - sm
Tell him all that you love about him but how sad it makes you when he does this, that, and the other. Spell it out to him. Men need VERY specific instructions sometimes. Try to keep it short and to the point. Sometimes they just think everything is fine and keep doing the same thing over and over. Maybe someone else has other ideas?? :-)
no ideas but
I don't have any ideas on what to get her - other than maybe take her out to eat somewhere nice? flowers or a plant maybe?? But I think she will be happy and touched that you want to do something special for her. .
ideas...
Those flowers made out of fruit or cookies are really nice, and did you try Hallmark? There is one by me that has tons of little gifts that say the most beautiful things.
Other ideas
Definitely try Lane Bryant.  Also many of the nicer department stores have plus size dress sections.  I found a site, www.tjformal.com and they have plus size prom dresses but depending on your age, style preference, etc. you might find something appropriate. Also I found something called VereNique Plus Size that has some beautiful gowns.  Also Venus Modest has sizes up to your size that are absolutely stunning.  I took your word that money was no object, some of these are upwards of $600 before alterations.  No store to go to unless you happen to live in Missouri.
Thanks for the ideas.
no msg
No ideas but I like to
and when I hear about a nice place to visit I go online to try to find their city website or visitor's and convention bureau. Many of these will allow you to get on a mail list and send you tons of free info, brochures, MAPS, and COUPONS! I have family that lived in FL, but just moved back, and I had been collecting a lot of info for those areas in hopes of planning a trip to see them next spring so I know there is a ton of info for Florida. You just have to do some research and visit a lot of websites and give yourself time to get the info in the mail. Even did it for my local surrounding areas where I live and was amazed at what I found.

Oh, and if you do think of camping go to the coleman website and those for other camping gear and many times they have checklists and such that you can download. Makes live MUCH easier, especially for first timers.
I think this would help anybody with ideas
thedollarstretcher.com

Need ideas please
Hey everyone.  I almost never do this, but I want to bake some things this year (like cookies, candy, etc) to put in Christmas tins to give to some people.  I need some ideas on what things we (kids 8 & 9 and I) can do together.  I already have this one chocolate cherry bars that my friend made last year and they were so good, so I am definitely going to make them, although they're not that easy, but I just need some ideas of some good (and pretty easy) things to make.  Would appreciate any ideas.  Thanks!
A few ideas...
Assuming you are looking for budget items:

1. 2009 calendars
2. Crossword puzzle/brain teaser workbooks (Large print)
3. Paperback whodunit (Large print)
4. Magazine supscription
5. Battery operated candle or night light
6. Lap/throw blanket
7. Warm knit hat, ball cap for men, gloves, scarves
8. Reading aids, i.e. battery-lit magnifying glass.
9. Designer luxury towel set
10. Assorted greeting cards they can mail to others
11. Books on tape
12. Skid-proof slippers
13. Sun-catchers/refrigerator magnets
14. Digital picture frame
15. Gourmet coffee/cup
16. Disposable camera
17. Gourmet jelly/jam (fig preserves was my mom's favorite)
18. Small clock or radio

Ideas

We are getting ready for a major snow/ice storm coming through Michigan late tonight and throughout tomorrow.  We try to be as prepared as possible. 


We are lucky in that we have a wood stove, so that keeps us plenty warm.  If you are using kerosene, use precautions for fire safety.  To keep say just the living room toasty, hang sheets in archways and such to keep the heat in. 


We also keep extra jugs of water in the basement for the toilet.  If I know in advance a storm is coming, I will also fill the tub up with water, LOL.  My husband makes fun of me every time (I do this for thunderstorms as well).  You can also melt snow to use if you run out or do not have a supply.


Prior to storms such as today, cell phones are charging as well as any rechargeable flash lights, kids handheld games, etc.  Candles are being put out as well. 


We make sure that the propane tank for the grill has some in it in case we lose power for days and days and need to start cooking mass amounts of food.


I always make sure that we have bread, cheese, butter (grilled cheese), peanut butter and jelly, milk (can stay outside if need be).  Grilled cheese and soups are easy to cook on the woodburner.  Make sure to have drinking water.


I try to make sure that laundry is caught up including extra blankets from storage. 


We also make sure we have extra gas because of course we will be snowmobiling! 


Two ideas
First idea is I would tell my sister its none of her business how much money my mom has. That's is moms money and moms business to do with what she wants and as kids we have no right to expect anything from mom (I'm kind of talking as though I'd be talking to my sister). I would say to her if your so bloody interested in how much money mom has why don't you come out and ask her and then while you're at it tell mom what exactly it is you want. I'd say to my sister the truth is you don't know what she has, what her bills/expenses are, if she owes people or what and I think it's horrible that you are thinking more about moms money than mom.

A second thought I have is all depending on what kind of a relationship you have with your mom. If your open enough with her like I was with my mom I would say. You know mom I have to talk to you about something that is bothering me that so-n-so keeps harping on me about. She keeps talking to me about your money and it's driving me crazy and I'd like it to stop. I don't know what to tell her but I don't want to hurt her feelings. Your finances are your business and yours alone and what you want to do is fine by me.

As for your moms husband that is a tough one. If your mom is worried about anything I would definitely have her file for a power of attorney/executor in charge of her estate. My mom didn't trust her husband at all so she put my sister and him both with dual whatever it is called. That way he could not do anything without my sis' knowledge (they live across country so I couldn't be on it). If it was my mom I would just say to her that if you are worried about anything talk to a lawyer and make sure papers are drawn up so that your wishes are abided by.

But I think it depends on your relationship with your family. If it was me and I didn't care what my sister thought I would tell my mom what she is saying. If I didn't want to hurt my mom's feelings I would tell my sister that maybe she should go have a sit down with my mom and tell her why she is so interested in her money. Especially since mom is getting up there and whatever she has may be needed to support her for the rest of her life (especially in these economic times).

I wish you the best. Money and family matters are never an easy thing to discuss.
Thanks for all the ideas!
I think we have it priced to sell. We bought it for $52,000 two years ago and since then we have cleared the land, put on a new roof, put in a new A/C unit, painted, redid the bathroom floor and put in a new sink a cabinet, repaired a lot of structural issues (thank God my FIL owns a construction business!) and then some other little things here and there. We have priced it at $65,000. We had a realtor come out at one time and talk to us about selling it and she said she would put it at $70,000, but my DH wants to try to tell it ourselves first, so we priced it at 65,000. Oh and the land is fenced in for 1-2 horses.

Considering two houses down from us the house is on a half acre lot and priced at 115,000, i think we're about right, or at least I hope so!
Looking for ideas for my own son's

graduation from high school.  I'm looking for any ideas.  My son will graduate this May.  He will have a job waiting for him in the police department.  Not going to college (yet).  Hoping to get his own apartment over the summer.  My parents are giving him $1,000.00 for graduation which is far more than I can afford. 


Any ideas?  If you say monetary gift - how much??


TIA - I'm afraid May will be here before I know it!