Loving these projects! Whimsical hats, pretty hair things, clever pencil keepers, comfy warm everything.

Wow, Rosie. Those are really nice. And I thought Lucy in Australia's "Suck it up, Princess" was good...;) I love the "starched green-leaf dresses" and the "rumpled as an unmade bed".

I say go for it. Amtrak was a pleasant experience for me, and I think everyone that's interested should hop a train at least once in their lifetime. My daughter (age 10 at the time) and I travelled from Michigan to New Mexico a few years ago. Perfect age to be on a train, as is your own daughter. They're old enough to move around between cars to explore a bit, and it can really feel like an adventure if you look at it that way. We had a sleeper car because we had a 36 hr. or so ride to our destination (so I realize we had our safe little "cocoon" to retreat to) but really most of the time we spent in the club car with everyone else enjoying the scenery. We took pictures, talked with all kinds of friendly strangers, played cards and yahtzee, and just enjoyed seeing the countryside. Not all routes are going to be scenic in the same way, of course, but there's always something to look at. Besides your own food, bring ear plugs, favorite electronics, pillows and a small blanket. Also, your own water! Little cups and spigots are available but yucky, and bottled is expensive and not guaranteed to be available. Overhead luggage area is surprisingly large and open (no duking it out with fellow passengers IME.) Bathrooms can be gross. Explore the cars to find the least used bathroom, which can be handy for doing a little freshening up. The loud, brash, beligerent people that end up getting kicked off Amtrak make the headlines. But let's face it, airline travel has become unpleasant for the same reason. I will pick train over plane any time I am not in a rush. I've mentioned some negatives here and I'm deliberately leaving out some of the pleasant little surprises we found with train travel because you may find your own and I don't want to spoil it for you. :001_smile:

I'm here. *ahem* I'm here. 98% sure we are homeschooling next year. My daughter just assumes we are continuing this adventure we started when she came home from PS at the end of 4th grade. It's me that's having doubts. When asked by friends "You're going back for highschool, aren't you?" she tells them "Nope! I'm staying home until college!" I don't know whether to be pleased or petrified most days. I have 3 grown kids, all PS from start to finish. So I have the confidence that comes from knowing I have at least had some exposure to things like driving lessons, college campus tours, and FAFSA forms. I have an inkling of what a few local universities are looking for. I know a tiny tad about education now, being in the trenches and not watching from the sidelines. BUT, I realize that's the tip of the iceburg. I have never had to feel the full weight on my shoulders before this child #4. My older kids had so many opportunities through the local highschool that are no longer available because of budget cuts. Enrichment programs were in place, meaningful competitions were available, dual-enrollment was available, and wonderful mentors hadn't taken early retirement yet. blech... I'm still having trouble accepting that it's a tough new game for any of the kids around here, not just my youngest. I will be more confident when I fully realize I may really be my child's best option. Can-do attitude coming soon, I hope! Plugging along, and grateful for the Hive. ETA: Good grief. Should I be homeschooling at all?? I can't even flip my avatar around correctly! LOL

I finished a couple of quickie projects, and I have one giant Incomplete. All the projects came from links on these monthly craft threads, so thank you Hive Crafters for the ideas! Grandbaby turns 3 today, and she is getting a new copy of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and some felt playthings to go with it. (She had a boardbook copy, but it had an unfortunate accident during potty training and her mama felt better tossing it than cleaning it up. :tongue_smilie:) The mouse hand puppet was purchased, of course, and hopefully Babe isn't frightened off my his rat-like appearance. I made another book/felt toy set for her Christmas gift, based on Pinkalicious. Not my favorite book, but Babe checked it out of the library so many times I figured she might want her own copy. The felt cupcakes were fun to make, and this kit, also, has several purchased items included. My incomplete project is one of those ticker-tape quilts. LOVE the look, but oh my heck what was I thinking?! I can barely sew, all the experienced quilt bloggers warned to make one of these in doll-size only, but NO - I just had to try a queen size! Of course it doesn't fit through my machine. I have set it aside for now until I decide how to repurpose the materials. Anyway, I'm not a big crafter but I love looking at and hearing about all your projects so thank you for sharing. Will try to do attachments in case anyone wants to copy what I've already gleaned from others. ETA: The last photo is a ticker-tape quilt in its infant stages. Sometimes I don't think past choosing colors! LOL

Yipes! I'd knock the point off that pointy part for starters. Then maybe break out the pink dye to go along with those sequins. Oh, Amazon Santa! You can be so unpredictable at times. :lol:

Sadly, I had to vote "yes". An extended family member served time after being found guilty of a crime that turns out he did not commit. The accuser recanted their story as an adult, came clean with the family members that mattered, and received the forgiveness of the person sent to prison. It sure took a toll on the incarcerated person, though. It aged him terribly, but thankfully did not make him bitter.

Cool coop, Jennifer. Could you keep the main elements of the design you like, but have it butt up to your garage or other outbuilding? I like things handy when I'm traipsing through snow. (We'll get some eventually, you know!;)) I'd find a local handyman* that's looking for work and have him bid on the job. Show him the photos, and tell him you want to run electricity to it and have it insulated. If he's also a chicken owner, well so much the better! One thing about coops in harsh winter areas - it's nice if it's done right the first time. *man, woman, kid, whatever

Yes, my Roth, some certificates of deposit, a savings account, and the internet bill are in my name or have me listed as primary. Two cars are in my name only, but just by oversight by me - I should've had MrTea listed as well. He gets the utilities to himself, and we share two houses and a mortgage.

So very, very nice to hear. You have worked hard, and deserve every bit of recognition, celebration and good job offers that come your way!

:blushing: I wonder if my inlaws were saying essential tremor and I was hearing central. Oops! Sorry if I am confusing anyone's research.

We have a few "shakers" in our extended family, including two of my girls. It's minor (not real noticeable and doesn't keep them from doing anything), but shows when they are doing small, focused work like art. One nephew, however, does have noticeably shakey hands and has been diagnosed with something called Central Tremor. I've sometimes wondered if the lesser shaking is just a really mild version of CT.

My hair's so short and straight that it dries on the way to the store. ;) But for you gorgeous curly-headed people, never fear - if you are out and about with wet hair, I might think you've just come from a pool, a run or your work, and wanted a shower afterwards. Nothing more than that. I live in the midst of dairy farmers. Evening meetings tend to start at 7:30 (no matter the organization) to accomodate milking times. The dairy farmers tend to show up with wet hair, and I think it's rather thoughtful of them to jump in the shower after chores are done!

I had to ask the resident experts at my house (one daughter, one husband). Both voted for Popular Science as the best choice for a MythBuster fan. I'm with Dad4 here. Wow! Only $5? I just finished placing an Amazon order but I'm heading back there to see about ordering both! And to answer your other question, no, no experience with the magazines through Amazon.

Jean, I was just diagnosed this week. Symptoms: A sharp, bruise-type pain about the size of a quarter close to the center of my chest, but just to the left. The pain comes and goes, does not increase or decrease with activity, and responds to ibuprofen and rest. My pain showed up 2 weeks after a recent surgery (hysterectomy), and because it was in the heart area I assumed a surgery complication or heart attack. My regular doctor sent me for a heart stress test (treadmill, myoviews) which showed a strong, healthy heart. She declared the pain "muscle or bone related" and suggested ibuprofen and yoga. At my post-op follow-up visit this week, I mentioned the chest pain to the surgeon. He started pressing around, was able to pinpoint the sore area and told me exactly why he thought it was costochondritis after he found out I didn't have any other symptoms other than the pain. Location and size of the pain, along with lack of other symptoms like vomiting or fever, is key to diagnosis from what I have learned. He guessed before I even told him that my regular doctor ordered the stress test without ever palpitating (is that the right word?) my chest. He was spot on. He also said ibuprofen, rest, and stretching exercises like yoga was the key to getting the swelling down. webmd.com and the mayoclinic site have excellent articles explaining costochondritis. I am a textbook case. It's really not a bad pain, but hopefully it goes away soon.

Oh, yes! I clean like crazy before a vacation. Grass gets cut, floors get mopped, beds get made (unlike most of our days). I figure there's enough to do once I return just getting the car cleaned out and the vacation laundry done.

Thinking of you and your family. Take care. :grouphug:

:iagree: Yes, my daughter (age 10 or 11 at the time) made a call to their customer service dept. to ask for a replacement part once. I listened in on her end of the conversation. She and the customer service rep. had a long, lively chat about the project she was making that day! She also received her part at no cost a few days later. So cool for a kid to be treated so well. They made a loyal fan that day - smart business move on their part!

Those pictures are sweet! Welcome, Baby Boy, and congratulations to Mom, Dad, and siblings.

Congratulations to the family!

What a handsome little pencil! Congratulations to the family.

:iagree:and also when the opinions from here mean more than those found on other websites. Oftentimes I will attach welltrainedmind.com/forums to my google searches because I figure the subject has been discussed intelligently on here and I just want to cut to the chase and listen to people I "know".

My Golden Seabrights laid light brown eggs.

Oooo...Love your fall colors! Breakfast was scrambled eggs, courtesy of my chickens. (Well, I had to help scramble them.) I also had cottage cheese and peaches. My girl had yogurt. Lunch is right around the corner, I hope. We are both starving. I wish it was a big old hamburger, but it might have to be more leftover bean soup. My least favorite subject to teach is probably health because I go in all directions, pulling from a few good sources but sticking myself with some lame ones that I feel obligated to make work. It's just an uncoordinated plan that needs revamping. My favorite subject to teach is still math, because it's the one I have to work the hardest at to make sure I'm doing a good job. Blood, sweat, and tears and all that, so I'm attached to the subject emotionally. ;)

Happy Birthday, MrsMungo!