:D:D:D

Audrey, are the stars lining up in certain way the past few days??? :blink:

Hello Julie and welcome. I would think it can be very normal to have anxiety about making this decision. We used a charter school our first year home, and the following year when I decided to make a go of it 'on our own' I felt like I was jumping a long way down into the dark unknown. I was scared! But it really all works out. My DH was iffy on the whole idea of homeschooling to start with. He agreed to it because our middle son was really struggling at PS. We needed to try something else. Now he panics if he thinks I am having a meltdown and considering PS again. :D You might find that after awhile, you don't want to be accountable to something like that PS system. :tongue_smilie: I won't sugarcoat it, it is a ton of work. But it is oh-so worth it. Our family does have the additional chore of animals to care for. Sometimes the housework or laundry doesn't get done when I would like. There are ways to help yourself stay accountable to your plan. Last year I used a notebook method- each day I wrote the date and what each child did for that day. It was a handy reference and did help keep me on a track. This year I changed some things up and went a little different route that suits our life a bit better, but like those merits of that notebook idea. I have a headache, so hopefully I am making sense tonight. :grouphug:

I think Adam is munching under the troll bridge. :toetap05:

A new normal is :thumbup: Sending more good cyber thoughts! :grouphug:

OMG These had me literally laughing out loud!!:D

:D :thumbup:

Thank you, you said it much better than I!

Yes it does. I do know that hunting dogs often view cats as potential prey animals. Hope that clarifies. ETA: Our experiences are with coonhounds. They will view cats as prey as well as racoons and unfortunately, act accordingly. :(

Sorry, maybe I wasn't too clear. I wasn't trying to cause you more pain, in fact, my heart goes out to you. I never would say it was only a cat. :grouphug: I said I felt the dog should put be down and was a danger.

Do I think that a dog chasing down and attacking a cat predisposes it to attacking a human? Even a small human? No. Remember, there are many, many hunting dogs bred even to this day for this purpose. It was the original purpose of man using dogs. My DH owns several hunting dogs, and our kids are right there when they go hunting. (Not something I do, but DH's thing). That being said, this dog did show aggression toward humans, it clearly was acting threatening toward the older lady, and I think I read toward another person in the neighborhood? So in this case, I agree that the dog needs to be put down. Do I think all Pit Bulls are just like this one? No. But it is a breed that I have my guard up around at all times.

This is late Dec-Feb :willy_nilly::eek::crying::smash::cursing::smash::willy_nilly::willy_nilly: Deep snow. Mud. Losing my mind. Going stir crazy. My brain going in circles.

Thank you for this forum.

Thanks ladies. I am able to go to Lehman's on a somewhat regular basis and have looked at all the models in the showroom. Often used ones come up for sale around here. This would be a backup plan for heat, cooking and hot water. We use an outdoor wood boiler for the house heat, so a seasoned supply of various types of wood is always available. I have read there is a long learning curve, and then read that some women just jumped right into it, I would probably fall under the long curve. :D My watched my great grandmother use hers and Dh's great aunt, but I did not help with the actual cooking ever on them.

Absolutely. There are many many breeds that have attacked humans and pets, some you would never have guessed.

Eventually I want to add a wood stove to our kitchen. I am considering it being a wood cook stove. Once a while they come up on cr*igslist here, and I would love advice and opinions. Right now a Knox Mealmaster ad is up, but I read the firebox is too small. Any thoughts?

The owners offering no apology and no concern for your family is telling as to the type of people you are dealing with. I am sorry for irresponsible dog owners. Many cyber thoughts for your family and your children. :grouphug::grouphug:

I always wondered how to do this also, thanks!

LOL I did too :lol::lol: Will do!

LOL Denise, you have a good memory! Thank you, you are so sweet! :grouphug:

Awwwww! :001_wub:

Awwwe thank you! I usually feel pretty invisible here! :grouphug:

Ah well crap, I am still a larvae. I was really hoping that 700 mark would make me evolve. :tongue_smilie:

he he he DH calls that 'putty' on the trunk (auto-body tech term :D ) as in, he is glad to see I have some putty now... (that can't be good) mmm.... wonder if that doesn't fall under derogatory..... :leaving:

:lol:LOL I fell for it while I was scrolling down. :D