Thanks, Mercy! I inquired at the vet's office yesterday when I took Shi in to be weighed. I actually called earlier this year and no one called back. So, I asked again yesterday and they are to get back to me this next week. The rabies will still be given. I just don't want to give her unnecessary vaccines if what she has is sufficient. Yes, 3 year vaccines. Thanks! I need to look at her records.

I should add this is not about "saving money". The titer tests cost money. Just trying to keep unnecessary chemicals out of Shiloh!

I thought I added this in my other Shiloh post but guess I didn't so here it is. We will always give the legally-required rabies BUT it seems you can request a "titer" test to determine if other vaccines are necessary. The pup goes in for an annual and year after year gets the vaccines and talk is that a titer test would show if the previous vaccine level is enough to warrant not giving another vaccine. I'm not sure which vaccines but I follow a Canadian holistic vet and would need to find his reel again. Still would like input here from knowledgeable dog parents! Thanks!

OK, thanks Pawz! Her annual is mid - Oct. I took her in today to be weighed but that was it. She's doing great at staying a steady weight. You know, no need to wait. I'm going to call next week and run this by them. We'll be traveling before mid-Oct. And, during her annual, I'll just follow up then.

I'm sorry to hear you also get motion sickness. Growing up, when my mom wore perfume that didn't settle well with me in the car. It was strong. YES, come to think of it I think I read an article that refers to this topic. I don't know If I can track it down but maybe. I'd like to do something natural though. She may be getting car sick which results in anxiety. Right, read above. I do think she Shi may be car sick b/c she IMMEDIATELY goes down and she doesn't move. Rare for her to move. Her annual is next month and I'll inquire then. Her panting like that is "only" when she rides in the car so we can rule out pain. Isn't there a natural something or other? No, haven't done that. It might be worth a try. Thanks! I will have to borrow a crate to determine and see if that's it before buying one.

It took a while observing and researching but Shi has car motion sickness. DH and I are quite active going here and there in the car for a drive, hike, etc. Shi lays down in the back of our suv. I've tried putting her in the middle row seating area, with and without a dog bed and she just has a hard time. She will pant, PANT and PANT. I like it cool naturally as I'm originally from the north so when temps are cool I barely run heat or only when needed or windows down a bit to get the cool, fresh air. Otherwise, in this HEAT, I have AC on in the entire suv to the coldest setting. I don't know temp as it just says "cold". It goes to 65 and below that it reads cold. My point is, she is not running hot, I don't think. Her belly is against the car fabric which might be warm. She will NOT drink water on a trip. We go on a 2 hour drive to mountains or a 6 hour drive and she won't drink while driving nor will she drink after we stop for a break. We do our thing and we offer her water. It's very rare she'll drink just a lap or two after stopping for a break. Usually she won't. This will be a challenge if dh and I travel in a trailer! So, do you agree she has motion sickness? What NATURAL remedy can I give her that's effective??? I hate to see her like this. In the middle row she will sit up but she barely looks outside when window is up or down. Our other 2 labs used to hang their head out. Not Shiloh! No concern there. Once we've stopped, she stands up again. When we put the car in reverse/drive, she IMMEDIATELY goes down. It's funny and sad. We NEVER hear from her again until we stop, unless we turn around and look back or stop. OK, what can we give her that is tried and true and effective? Thanks!

Yes, ranch is good. I just remember this recipe called for the little zest of Caesar. I enjoyed my pasta salad over lettuce. I did mix the salad together and let it sit for a few hours cooling in the frig. It was very good and such a change. A welcome change on a hot day. Same tomorrow!

Oh, love black beans too. And, pinto. What do you think about a mix of chickpea and black? Yay or nay? The dressing sounds wonderful. Looking forward to trying. Thanks!!

YUM! That's a new one on my list. Love chickpeas (and falafel!) and quinoa. Do you make the mustard dressing?

OK, I made the pasta salad "mostly". I'm going to just minimalize tonight as I just baked 8 dozen cookies for a law enforcement donation. After dinner I have yet to make a few dozen pinwheel sandwiches. Will make this again in the near future and perfect the recipe with suggestions above. I sampled it and it's good as is but I like the idea of what your suggestions are! The red onion is great. It's diced (not minced) but diced to be on the smaller side.

Oh, no, not homemade. There was a thread years ago that spoke to homemade salad dressings. I guess ranch is fairly easy and I keep saying I'm going to do it and don't. I bought the Trader Joe's Ramano Caesar dressing I think it's called. It's quite good.

I like that idea. Don't have pine nuts but have plenty of sunflower seeds as its a regular here. HA! I know! This is literally almost to the day mid-summer. The "dog days" of summer. I've been inside all day. Was out yesterday and will be tomorrow. Forecast says partially this week and next extremely high temps here! But, look at the nationwide map! YIKES! Virtually the whole country is in the heat zone now. Stay cool! Yes, I was debating between whole and halved grape tomatoes. Will do halved. I don't have cucumber but do have mini colored bell peppers so that would work. I don't have fets (just remembered). I wonder if "shaved" parmesan would be a good substitute. Love the idea of fresh basil. YUM!

Several years ago I was given a pasta salad recipe. Can't find it but here are some of the main ingredients. Would like to know what you would add/pair with it. It is mid-summer and HOT here in NC so while dh and I prefer a "hot" dinner, I'm making a cool one on a hot day. Very busy today but please suggest and I will check back in. Thanks in advance! Pasta Boiled chicken, rotisserie would would Caesar dressing *** Note: Entire pasta salad on bed of lettuce and served with Texas Toast homemade There were other foods mixed in but I don't remember. How about: Spinach, fresh ?? Grape tomatoes Sun-dried tomatoes Black olives Feta cheese crumbles Onion (red maybe) Artichokes And, maybe a nut or dried fruit like raisin, cherry or cranberry ??

I posted a year or more ago and am doing so again. If you need QUALITY pillows (toss and sleeping), contact Continental Bedding! We ordered 3 Euro sized pillows for our king bed last year and chose the 50/50 blend (down/feathers). What a treat. Hands down the BEST quality and customer service. I've spoken with them many times for each order and have gotten to know them by first name LOL! They are the real deal and I highly recommend them. 🙂 this is not an advertisement nor was I paid. just want to share a rec for excellent quality pillows if anyone is interested.

Right. Belmont and McA are too small. All of this is leading me to realize we need to talk, discuss, research, etc. much, much more. We're not in to those. It works for some but we're just not interested. Thanks for the input!

See one of the problems (my definition) is the layout of this city and the lack of suburbs. They exist more on the north side and I'd move up there right away but dh refuses b/c the congestion and traffic flow is beyond ridiculous. And, he's right. But, I keep thinking alternative routes but he's right again that others think of that and those become congested. So, north side is out. On the south side there is very little "city" (separate municipality) but it's basically Charlotte b/c where one ends the other begins. I'm reviewing the map. Maybe I'm feeling this way b/c we did move to a new church. Will need to talk with dh and our real estate neighbor.

Yael, that's like once every 18 months, approx. average. It sounds like you move globally so those would be big moves! Where do you "feel" most home? Thanks! I hear you. That's why I'm asking folks here. I'm not sure it's the right or wrong decision to move. I see pros/cons split down the middle. My sister and bil have been planning to move here to Charlotte. Their dd (my niece) and her dh, their baby live 5 miles from us, just down the street. And, of course we live here. They would be moving from Detroit to Charlotte. That's a big move. That's what dh and I did 33 years ago this past weekend - move from north of Detroit to Charlotte! It's a big move not only to another state but it's a different "region" and there was cultural shock. Things/people are different region to region. I don't want to regret not moving or regret that we have. My Mom always used to say, "when it doubt, don't". Also considering just moving out of this neighborhood. Maybe that would suffice. Yes, 33 is a good history. Wish I knew up front if it would be a better move or not to do so. 🙂 Sounds like a lovely old house. That's good advice to preview the community before hand. People come and go and I'd hate to move and have a newly developed friendship dwindle because she's moving. Oh, so many things to consider.

Right! We're plugged in to Charlotte. If we did move to another city in state it would still be "starting up" again which is time consuming for me. I had my pcp for 21 or 22 years until he retired in 2021. I get that. I'm looking for it all. Would not want to move to a great city and not like the people and vice versa - can't see moving if we could know in advance the people are great but the city not so much so. I know Greenville SC that a pp mentioned was a topic of people several years ago, hitting the bells and whistles but we're staying in NC.

Got it. I'm down the middle. I'm a homebody and love my home and hearth but I do like to socialize now and then. Social opportunities are varied though. That was being neighborly when you helped your neighbor. I, too, was in that position with Edith up the street before she ended up in a nursing home. But, I'm talking movie, lunch, etc with a friend or two. Yikes that warm but here we are almost 11 pm and it's 77.

IDK. I've thought about it for several years now. TX would be great if it was geographically up this way LOL! Too hot for me. But, have you made any "close" relationships?

I could have written the above. All same here except I DO like winters and snow which we rarely get here in Charlotte. It sounds like you may have a bigger move. ?? Different state? That is a good idea to vacation there in advance. We would only be moving 2 hours away. LOL! DH does not want to leave NC. I like NC a lot. We have city, country, mountains and beach. We have it covered. LOL! But, the trip we took to Maine last Sept. Boy, that was nice. I bet VT is great too. A personal question and you already slightly touched on it but you'd be good with "starting over" in all those areas outlined above? Church, friends, etc?

Sorry to hear about your sister. That is one relationship right there and I'm sure you're grateful for each other. That's where I am, thinking/pondering about it all and that will lead to the where and such.

Your input is helpful. I'm sorry for the lack of connection. That is what I'm concerned with most. And, our church. Over the years here in NC I've had 2 good friends pass away. Homeschooling groups have all gone their separate ways. I know others experience the same. They don't want to spend the energy (physical, emotional, etc) energy to maintain those adult mom friends when kids graduate. Homeschooling chapter is closed. In your case, the pandemic probably didn't help. Will they come now? I had a friend fly from Milwaukee to visit me here in Charlotte years ago but we've lost touch. How does that even happen? People just get so caught up in other things that are a priority I guess. Family issues that stare you in the face vs. connecting with that friend. But, I maintain, that a simple phone call or text doesn't take that much. Oh well.... I'm thinking DH and I will take community college classes and maybe community classes like dancing. We took dancing in college so it would be fun to pick up again. Are you actively engaged in seeking friendships or have you given up? Awkward wording.

Good night! That's a huge reduction. Well, in my limited research on furniture design and manufacturing, American-made has the quality. But, it will also depend between manufacturers even within domestically made products.

DH and I are from the north originally. He is from WI and I'm from OH. We lived in WI, MI and moved to Charlotte, NC July 1990. In fact, that is 33 years we think this past Monday! Spent 6 months in an apt and bought this house Nov 1990 and moved in Jan 1991. Also, 3 months ago we paid off our mortgage! DD is out of the house so it's DH, me and Shiloh! We live in a smaller split level now. We'd actually like to increase our sq ft but not by much. Just a bit more will be good for us and a ranch! I asked and DH is not interested in moving away from Charlotte to a small mountain town. However, we've thought about buying a (secondary) small cabin somewhere in Appalachia Mtns/NC side. He doesn't want our house to be in a teeny, tiny mtn town. He'd like to stay in Charlotte I think. Not really sure. When I mentioned some other areas he said maybe to WS and GSO. We do NOT want to move to beach or any further south. Heat in Charlotte is hard on me as I prefer cooler temps. OPEN TO DISCUSSION - I'm torn. We've been in this city for 33 years (house 32 1/2). We WILL move to another house. Want to get out of this subdivision. Every single neighbor has moved since we've been on this street. Some homes have had multiple owners. We live on a cul-de-sac with 11 homes and we've been on the street longer than anyone else. The next couple has about 28-30 years in their house. So, if we stay in Charlotte, we're still buying another house. I'm trying to wrap my head around "leaving" Charlotte for another city. We are plugged in here. Homeschooling started and finished here. Stores abound and are no more than 10 minutes away. TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Goodwill, Publix, Earthfare, WF, TJ. We have our church we started attending around 1993 or 1994. Last year we switched to another church which was rewarding but "different". A good move! We have not made any friends at this new church yet b/c we were waiting to see if we were going to stay with this new church. We are and now we can get plugged in. Downtown is good with restaurants, cultural events, etc. We were invited to our neighbor's son's high school graduation. It was fun. Shi and I swim at another neighbor's house. DD used to pet sit yet another neighbor's group of dogs/cats (yes, plural) growing up. Is it easy to move from what is so "familiar"? It's starting over again in another city with house, neighbors, city, stores, church, events, new friends, etc. We are not kids. We not "old" but dh will be retiring in the near future. COLA as Pawz or someone else said in another thread is lower in her neck of the woods. That area would be one we would consider. How hard or easy is it successfully find your preferences? Think above with stores, friends, church, etc. Moving or staying I'm hoping dh will agree to a small cabin too in the mtns. It's gotten to be expensive with those long-range views (high elevation) and "hot spot" areas but something smaller and so on would work in our budget. Thinking if we want to rent out. Pros and cons to that but I don't think we will. Maybe to trusted family/friends to rent at a reduced rate. Has anyone here moved to another city or state after 20, 30, 40 years? What was it like for you? What do y'all say? Thanks!