You described our upcoming trip perfectly! I generally don’t like cooking on vacations either, but DH smoked a pork butt a month ago that I froze for this trip, and we’re taking shrimp to sauté another night to top spaghetti Alfredo. Easy meals with salad & berries. We’re looking forward to a few restaurant patios like we enjoyed on a recent business trip. The boys will go zip lining & they’re masking up for a museum they don’t want to miss. I’ve got a hike picked out for all of us. We’ve had a farm emergency, so our daughter must stay home - I’ll miss her company while relaxing at the cabin, but I just started two books. Along with the crochet I have going, I’ll be occupied happily - we’re pretty boring, so more boring elsewhere suits us haha. Opportunities to play cards & pool with our young adults over snacks & brews in the evenings are rare times indeed, so that’ll be fun.

Goodness, that is a mess waiting to happen! I think that relaxing in our cabin, playing games & enjoying the view seem like the best course of action. I am sorry about your cancelled trip @school17777

We are thinking of venturing to the mountains. We could simply relax in our cabin and take some hikes, but we are wondering about other things of interest. Cades Cove drive is such a crowded drive usually - how is the traffic now? We imagine that other venues will be closed, limited, or of no interest to us right now, but still wondering what is the current status of the place. Thanks!

I am once again brainstorming life after homeschooling! If you are a bookkeeper or do payroll, can you describe your education and job to me? (I have a bachelors degree is a field that requires licensure that I do not have, can no longer obtain, and does not lend itself to other fields. And, it is old. Very old) How much education do you have and how did you obtain it? Do you work freelance or do you work for a firm or solely for a specific business? Full time or part time? What are the good aspects of your work? The frustrations? Feel free to PM. Thanks so much!

Just brainstorming ideas for you that I have used/read about through the years: One thing that has always helped me function better is to follow the principle of only keeping out/insight/readily available items that are currently in use - it helped me keep my sanity and peace. Then, add to that the organizational trick of thinking “outside the box”for a storage area of labeled boxes or bins to fit that unique storage area. For example: go through art supplies and only keep out what is currently in use. Then, look up or down for spaces to store the ‘someday’ stuff. Can you add a shelf up high in a closet that can hold labeled shoe boxes of that stuff? Can one low kitchen cabinet hold extra art supplies? What about under a bed? As long as it is labeled and everyone knows where it is, overflow can be stored unconventionally. The most import thing, though, is to go through one category at a time and honestly ask yourself if you love it or use it. Getting rid of excess is all categories will bring some peace. So, in essence, maybe keep your dining room a functional homeschool space and think in new ways about where to store the extra/not currently in use items. Another example along these lines is the category of homeschool books. Again, only keep what you will use that year or reference often. Then, think of unique storage places/boxes that can hold stuff in waiting or past items...under bed long flat bins may be for clothes, but why can’t they hold future resources or homeschool archives? Hope some of this helps! It is so easy to become overrun with homeschool stuff.

While checking out the recommended Garfield book (that looks very good), I found this wonderful sticker book to complement any Shakespeare version you choose. I wish we had done more Shakespeare! https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Timeline-Stickerbook-performed-Theatre/dp/0995576688/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2QGCGIOWYW27H&dchild=1&keywords=shakespeare+at+the+globe&qid=1592508353&s=books&sprefix=shakespeare+at+the+g%2Cstripbooks%2C211&sr=1-3

I just thought I would add our experience for you, @drjuliadc. We had the strictest screen-time rules of almost any family we knew, and we knew a lot of screen-limited families! Motivation was for our dc to develop other interests. FWIW, the rules never changed, and they had a lot of hobbies, so they never missed it/complained about it. Actually, now they thank us. They were allowed ½ hour of 'junk' computer games a week during school year, 1 hour in summer. Junk was computer football game, spore, or something silly along those lines. They were to set a loud family timer and walk away when time was up. I didn't want to be the police for it. They usually used their time on Monday, right after school. But, we allowed free use of word processing, modeling, programming, photo editing, etc. Well, within reason. I would get sick of the computer time and boot them off after awhile, telling them, "Hey, that's probably about enough of that for now." They developed amazing computer skills this way. Eldest DS, particularly, learned enough Adobe programs, Maya, etc, to earn a half credit for computer programming in high school (I also had him write a paper). He also got super into lego stop motion animation and spent thousands of hours making elaborate and amazing movies. We still marvel at what he made. He went on to independently make a documentary about our parish history that was completely professional and raised a lot of money for them. We allowed our youngest to use Instagram (in, gasp, 11th grade...we never would have thought we'd allow social media=) to begin marketing her business. These lessons that computers are tools, not playthings, has led all of our children to shake their head in wonder at the hours their now-adult peers spend playing computer games. (I never addressed other people's houses. We didn't have the concern of neighborhood children, living in the country, but at friends' houses there was some pressure. We chose to set limits on ratings only, since the interactions were not that common)

The beginning was eldest going off to college. His college was a small one with a lot of things on paper to make the most concerned parent cozy with the choice. I expected normal young adult antics, and DS found that, too. But, I could not convince him that I understood what he was witnessing/taking part in. It took a year of so for him to realize that I understood, and he opened up more. Also, there was the beginning struggle of him returning home and finding out how house rules pertained with him older (another topic, there), but the best convo we had was on his first break: He was defensive about (of all things) me suggesting he make his sandwich on a napkin/plate instead of the counter. He quipped, "I've been taking care of myself for 3 months, don't you think I know how to take care of myself?" Of course, I was thinking, "yeah, having cafeteria food at your beck and call 24/7...", but instead I said something along these lines, "You are changing and growing up at the speed of light. We all get that. I am not changing or growing up. I'm just Mom. I will continue to be Mom. The same Mom you had at 12 you also will get at 20. No apologies, it is a fact. So, don't take me Mom-ing you as an insult, a threat, or a sign that you need to shut down. Just know that I am not changing much, but I accept fully that you are." I couldn't believe how his attitude changed after that! Still very, very hard to be aware of some choices. I like the separation of college/living apart IN MY MIND. My heart hates it, but accepts how it makes it easier to not know many small decisions that would bug the daylights out of me. I am thrilled when asked for advice, and often I am asked. I give it. Then back away. Lots of practice of turning off my mind. Practice distracting yourself, even at 3am, and you will get better at it.

My daily smoothie varies little from this: plain kefir a whole orange or a little OJ frozen kale/spinach mix that I buy fresh from Costco & stick in freezer frozen blueberries, wild purchased frozen from Costco a small handful of pecans a tsp of flax seeds a tsp of almond extract (I may also add a banana, a jalapeño, frozen melon if I have some from Costco, some sunflower seeds, or whatever I decide to throw in there)

First real employment was at a small neighborhood movie theater - did everything from sell refreshments to run the films (films on reels). Began at 18 as soon as I graduated high school, as my mother didn't want me to have a job interfere with my high school studies. Beginning at eleven, I babysat a lot and ran errands for a sweet old lady on our street. I was a strict babysitter, known for getting children to bed successfully. One couple would take a long walk on Friday nights, while I stayed at their house just to put the children to bed. Many couples, of course, were out the whole evening. I was still fast and successful at putting children to sleep. I was motivated by wanting time alone to talk on phone, drink pop and eat Doritos! I never paid attention to what I was paid. As long as there were snacks, I was happy!

Need a fire lit under me - what a slow Monday! If I get my closet floor/chair tidied 100% and the kitchen “company ready” before I head to noon Mass, I will count this AM a great success, despite the slow start. I have spent a lot of time with the dog, that was well spent. This afternoon, I hope to: catboxes/birds get emails to zero develop a plan for basement place grocery order reschedule dentist appts for DD & me make dinner

I share four of these items with you. Wish one of them was Pool!! Catboxes/birds Weed Form burgers/other dinner prep Play with dog outside (on leash. Have to keep her on leash until the ground nest of baby birds grow up) Go through donation items gathered during stay at home Continue basement organizing project Clean bathrooms YNAB List 10 books on Amazon Walk

That is great to hear - hope it was a renewing trip!

I ran into grocery Wednesday because my pickup order lacked a needed item. DH worked out of town last two days. A family of 8 came to visit our farm yesterday, and today I have been invited to a picnic on another farm (been days of gorgeous weather here). Then, this evening, we are having another family over for homemade pizza. I really do not know local conditions exactly, but it has been low and I believe cases are lowering. Basically, I run into a store if I have to, visit with others when invited, but avoid public as much as possible...just as much because (my perception is) people are stirred up right now in their hearts as avoiding germs. Our children are adults, staying low but beginning to venture out for small social gatherings, Mass, and work/internships as needed. Oh, yes, we are attending a Latin Mass in a nearby diocese in a beautiful church with low attendance (relative to size of church). That has only been started up for three weeks. It has been sublime!

Nutritionally, soups and smoothies are such a good choice, but you just shouldn’t go without comfort foods! How about mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and tomato soup? ETA - completely agree with @City Mouse

Last question first: I have no idea about curves. Yes, we (DH & I and adult/single children) are renting a cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, and we are driving together as a family. We are venturing out to hike while there, and DH will go zip lining with our son. We are playing other activities/eating out/etc by ear. I am happy just to soak in the view, share simple meals and enjoy one another's company.

Never in a million years would I have thought of grilling watermelon. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks

That is beyond adorable. I have never seen a wombat face in that type of context - just precious. Makes me think of an old favorite children’s book Wombat goes Walkabout.

You are all making me very hungry! @Frances do I need to poke holes in the foil to cook with foil on grill (newbie question, certainly=) @PrincessMommy I’d also like the Chicken Slouvaki recipe. Do you just put the chicken strips on grill grates or use foil? ETA - As a Father’s Day gift, I just went to Amazon & ordered DH a stainless grill pan (11” square). Hopefully that is good (and not superfluous) for at least veggies & small pieces of meat.

Debi Gliori's Bedtime Stories. We still quote from this!

Particularly veggies and seafood ideas, but any recipes welcomed. Thanks!

I got DH a cute little gas grill for his birthday; we haven't had a grill in almost 20 years! So far, we have had steaks (reverse seared...yum!), hamburgers, and brats. Can you tell me what you like to grill and how? We would like to do veggies, corn, other meats, and seafood. Do we need special pans for anything? Thanks!

Our new grill has porcelain coated cast-iron grates. I am seeing recommendations to avoid metal brushes and use nylon. The brush that came with the grill is tough nylon, I believe, but I also bought DH a wire one, so I went looking into which to keep.

It is the game referenced in that article, namely GeoGuessr.com Thank you!

Found this in my screenshots - would love to find it again. Wish I had taken a bigger screenshot! Anyone know what website this game is from? Thanks!