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RE: Sweet potatoes...am I late to the game?
I make SP fries from scratch, just peel and cut into your preferred shape. Place them in a bowl with a little bit of olive oil and the seasoning of your choice and stir to coat. Put them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake in a 450 oven until crisp. I love them with a bit of salt, pepper, garlic salt and a good dash of chipotle chili powder. The combination of salty/spicy condiments is awesome on the sweet potatos.
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juliev
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05/09/13 11:23am |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Excessive Vet costs?
Thanks for your ideas, folks. I did send an email to Banfield Corporate, we'll see how they respond (if they respond). I also have 5 pets, but no one around here will give me a "family" rate. (In the Rochester area). For checkups and scheduled care I have been driving 80some miles to my old vet in the Minneapolis area. If I bring them all at once for shots or whatever, then she charges me 1.5 office visit and gives me a discount on the rest.
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juliev
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05/09/13 11:18am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Potato Corn Cakes
Sounds great! I think I might try this and add a little bit of bacon.
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juliev
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05/08/13 01:18pm |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Excessive Vet costs?
1. Yes, the owner of the dog, that bit your dog should get the bill. Unless this was the result of a dog fight, and both owners were at fault.
2. If this was an emergency, there is usually an extra fee.
3. They should have talked to you about the estimated total and gotten your okay before treatment.
4. If you establish a relationship with a vet, before an emergency happens, you may have a better experience, than being at the hands of an unfamilar clinic.
By the way, the other dog was a stray that wandered into our yard. We are rural, so it's fairly common for dogs to get dumped out here. We're about 1/2 mile from the road so they usually don't show up in the yard. The stray is now trapped in my porch where she is being fed and cared for. She has no tags or chip. She is a nice dog, very friendly towards humans but definitly NOT towards other dogs. I am working to find her a home. I supposed I'll have to have her vetted first, but it won't be at Banfield! I will probably just drive her the 80 miles to our old vet in the city.
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juliev
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05/08/13 01:16pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Excessive Vet costs?
Thanks Dr Doug!
I thought the Banfields were franchises, didn't realize they were corporate owned. That explains a lot.
I did get an estimate, they quoted me $203.22 (and I paid that up front when I dropped her off). When I went back to get her they charged me another $752.00. They also pulled one of her teeth that was cracked (not with my approval!) and did a dental exam for which they charged me $300.00. I see online that the dental exam charges are supposed to include anesthesia, so I wound up paying for that twice - once included in the dental and another $260.00 for the anesthesia for the sutures. (I did not approve the dental exam or the tooth extraction- that had just been done about 6 months ago by our old vet) They claim that they tried to call me for authorization but my phone was in my pocket and never rang.
I also required about 25 stitches from this same incident. My stitches cost a total of $185.00, (no anesthesia) and that was at Mayo Clinic!
Banfield is a corporation, the individual vets most likely are employees and have little input as to prices, what is done, how it is done and charged and ultimate cost to you.
Just a couple of comments (I can't resist). There is no such thing as a little anesthesia. Maybe short in time, but invariably things that go wrong do so at the start. Many of the costs are the same whether it's 5 minutes or 60 minutes (preop blood work, catheter, induction drugs, inbutation,). About the only variables with time are related to personnel costs and inhalation anesthetic supplies.
That being said, last Friday I had a laceration in a geriatric patient with a severe heart condition that we thought couldn't withstand a general anesthetic. I did a local (very nice Chi believe it or not :B), cleaned the wound and placed about 15 staples. With pain meds and antibiotics she went home MUCH less that $1000.
Always request an estimate in writing before agreeing to any surgical or involved lab or medical procedure. If your vet doesn't provide it or cops an attitude, walk.
Doug, DVM
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juliev
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05/08/13 01:12pm |
RV Pet Stop
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Excessive Vet costs?
OK, am I nuts or did I just get totally ripped off by Banfield Pet Hospital? My rat terrier, Annie, got bit by another dog yesterday afternoon. I took her to the local Banfield since that is the closest vet office to me. She required about a dozen stitches, plus some antibiotics and pain meds. They gave her a little bit of anesthesia so they could clean the wounds and place the stitches. All in all she was there for a few hours. Total bill (so far) was over just short of $1,000! Plus I have to bring her in next week to have the stitches removed.
I have a niece in CO who is a vet. I could have driven Annie to CO in our camper for less that what the local vet cost me.
Sorry, just ranting - but is this cost excessive or am I just crazy?
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juliev
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05/07/13 06:06pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Can we talk about LIMA BEANS, please
Can we please NOT talk about those icky beans? LOL
WoodGlueAgreement here!
Same here, there is NO way to cook lima beans that will make them edible.
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juliev
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05/07/13 04:50pm |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Our new pup
Looks like the pup is going to get lots of attention from his new boys. Congratulations!
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juliev
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05/03/13 10:51am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Something besides banana bread......
Thank you guys! I'm going to try the peanut butter banana cookies today. I think my grand kids would like those. Keep the ideas coming!
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juliev
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04/06/13 10:05am |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Backcountry Boondocking Pics-Class B?
Here's our favorite, Hatch Point in Utah.
( will repost after I re-size)
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juliev
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04/05/13 09:29pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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Something besides banana bread......
Just came home to a weeks worth of very ripe bananas left sitting on the counter. I usually make banana bread or banana cake, but we're sick of both. Does anyone have any other great reicpes using ripe bananas?
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juliev
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04/05/13 09:23pm |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: Home With The New ERA
Congratulations! Sorry we missed you on the road. We can't wait to check it out in TX in a few days!
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juliev
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04/05/13 08:27am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Spring time!
Cold here in MN too! Getting ready to head to NM/AZ on Friday. Had to use the hair dryer to unfreeze the locks on the motorhome so we could hook it up to shore power and start thawing it out today.
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juliev
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03/20/13 09:08pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: My coyote story
Plenty of them here in SO Minnesota too. We're on a few acres of woods surrounded by corn and hay fields. I haven't seen one, but we hear them frequently. My dogs do not go out unattended - even in the fenced yard.
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juliev
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03/15/13 11:56am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Soft crates
I've been looking into those canvas as well. Do they work for a dog who may have an anxiety problem? I don't want her to be able to dig her way out while we're going down the road. (Haven't tried this dog on a long road trip yet) But, the plastic crates are a PITA to store over night in a Class B.
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juliev
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03/12/13 09:19pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: How Many is "Too Many"??
Like Lasparrot said, I don't find walking multiple dogs any more work than walking one or two. It helps to have a leash coupler with swivels so you can keep them somewhat untangled. I also let them walk ahead of me when I'm walking more than one so I can see who's going where at all times. Mostly we walk for fun - not for obedience - so I like to let them enjoy the discovery of new territory. It makes me slow down and enjoy it too.
I've also found that the dogs are great ice-breakers with other campers. We've made friends from all over - camping with the dogs.
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juliev
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03/12/13 09:15pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Pleasure-Way non starting problem
If he doesn't have the Owner's Manual, it's easy to find online. Just do a google search for "XXXX Dodge Sprinter Owner Manual". That should be able to answer just about any questions for him.
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juliev
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03/12/13 09:10pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Sprinter owners in Minnesota - Wisconsin - Iowa
Nice for you folks down there my parents have a Freedom serenity III had a couple small issues but from here they are closer to the factory than Rochester MN.
It's been a long time coming down here. We've been servicing our Sprinter at a local Freightliner shop that does it grudgingly....
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juliev
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03/03/13 08:17pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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Sprinter owners in Minnesota - Wisconsin - Iowa
New Mercedes dealership opening in mid-March. They will be selling and servicing Sprinters in Rochester MN, just a few miles north of I90. At last!
Mercedes Benz of Rochester (Minnesota)
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juliev
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03/03/13 07:59pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Making Toast
I just use a fry pan. Butter the bread a little on each side and fry it for a minute or two in a dry pan - just like making grilled cheese only w/o the cheese.
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juliev
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03/03/13 01:41pm |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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