This is our standard salad dressing: Olive oil, Raspberry vinegar, dijon mustard, salt and pepper. We make ours really hot, but you can make it in any combination of ingredients that tastes good to you.

No. We've never "celebrated" Halloween. I just tell the kids "I can't see one redeeming thing about Halloween, and I don't believe it glorifies God". They're fine with it. That said..... We have always lived on remote ranches where it's easy to ignore all the festivities. This will be our first Halloween living in town. My 6 yr. old ds is ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATED by all the ghoulish "stuff" everywhere. I told the kids that we would rent a good family movie on Halloween, and enjoy a little popcorn. I'm just hoping that with most of the lights off, we won't be perpetually bothered by the doorbell!!

YES, YOU ARE COURTING DISASTER!! And I would take away every priveledge she has ever known until she stops such irresponsible behavior. (Sheesh!)

Gosh, there are many, many options here. Can you give us more information about the 15 acres? Is it fenced? Is it grassland, or forest, or rocky? What is your climate like? Is there shelter on the land? Would you be willing to build a shelter? How/where would you sell the product? We've done just about everything.....eggs, meat chickens, rabbits, sheep, cattle... You could also do goats, ducks, turkeys, etc. You need to think about where you're going to sell the animals, and how you're going to transport them. (Otherwise you just end up with very expensive pets.) Also, how will you feed them, and what are you able/willing to spend on feed. (Grains are very expensive right now.) My dc have raised many animals through 4-H, and it is a something they REALLY love. We've always made it very clear what will happen to the animal at the end of its life. But I've seen a lot of families have a huge problem with that part of it. So, these are just a few things to consider.... HTH, Jackie

Isn't it nice when sound business practices pay off? Good for you! I am so, so sorry this might happen. We didn't either. We got 1 1/2 more years of drought (the last of 8 years of drought). The range, which was already in tough shape, got even worse. We had to cut down on numbers (at a loss) which means lower income the next year (right now). I can so understand....I'm trained as a banker. LOL! We just sold our old trailer, so tht we could have some money to put down on a place in town....(closer to work possibilities). Yeah, us too. Hang in there. Jackie

Well, as I posted in another thread earlier on...... dh and I are casualties of all the turmoil in the economy. We bit off a big hunk 2 years ago when we bought a bigger ranch. It has always been our dream and our goal to ranch full-time. We have always ranched on a small scale, and finally made the jump to the bigger ranch. Although it's bigger than what we had been doing, it still isn't big enough to feed and clothe us, so dh continued working for a small manufacturing firm by tele-commuting and traveling often to another state. To make a long story not quite-so-long.... despite the best efforts of my dh and others, they will have to close down the manufacturing plant this week. Our ranch is too remote for either of us to make enough money to replace what has been lost. The dc and I have already moved to town, and we are now thinking that we will have to put the dc into school so that both dh and I can find jobs. We never thought it would come to this. We've been working toward this ranch thing all our lives. Tonight dh called from the ranch and is thinking we'll need to sell the cow herd. The whole mess disgusts me. In my former life (b4 kids), I was a commercial banker. I understand what all these knotheads did to get us into this mess. Good old unadulterated greed. There is truly nothing new under the sun. Now I get to pay for their completely ridiculous lending practices. I saved. I made significant down payments on real estate investments. I have never lusted after the big McMansion on the hill. It absolutely disgusts me. OK, so I guess you could call this the anger phase of the grieving process. HUMPH!!!!!

Chris Thanks for the excellent advice. You are so right about emphasizing the positive. I had not thought about that. I've been so wound up in my own little pitty party, that I haven't been thinking about how important my attitude is. Thanks for the "wake up" call. Jackie

Kathleen, You are SO RIGHT!! God has walked with me through so much. He WILL use this for good. Thank you so much for reminding me of this promise, Jackie

Doran, How comforting it is to hear your story! Right now, my dc have no idea that very soon there will be big changes in their lives. As I watch them doing their school work today, I realize that it's the closeness I will miss. I love being home with them, and having them around me. I have to admit, though, that it will probably be easier for me to go to work each day, as opposed to teaching 4 very different dc, with four very different learning styles! :) Guilt, guilt, guilt! But we have to make those ends meet somehow. I also hope, as I watch my dd study her Latin, that it hasn't all been for naught. I am so encouraged by your dd's progress. Thank you for taking the time to share some of the details of your transition with me! I feel like a bit of a baby, right now, so maybe your "wailing posts" would be helpful. Do PM me with those. Thanks again, Jackie

Dh and I are a casualty of this darned economy. Without going into ALL the details.... I will just say that my dh has worked (tele-commuting + a lot of travel) for a small manufacturing business for over 20 years. The product is linked to the housing industry. This work has kept us all fed and clothed while we tried to build the ranch to the point that IT could feed and clothe us. After doing ALL they could to keep the plant running, they have finally decided to shut it down. Many long-time employees will lose their jobs. Many of them have no other skills. I pray they will land on their feet. For us personally, this means that both of us will have to go to work off the ranch. The ranch is extremely remote, so dc and I have already moved to town. Once my dh finds work, then I will be able to decide what kind of job I can do. My dh might have to work in Denver, and only be home on week-ends, for example, so in that case, I would have to have a traditional job. My dh is an accountant, and computer guy. In my former life, I was a commercial banker. (yeah, right! Lots of jobs for THOSE out there). Except for my 2 sons having tried P.S. once, for one semester (bad experience), my dc have always been homeschooled. This will be such a shock to them. First, moving off the ranch to town, then having to go to school. The bad experience that my ds had was in a small country school. Now that we've moved to town, he would not be going to that school. He is African American.... the only one in the school. He is also a late bloomer. He didn't speak until he was 2 1/2. He had extensive testing done for potential hearing problems, etc. His birth mother had no prenatal care, so we don't know anything about that period of his life. Anyway, the diagnosis was that everything was fine. He's just a late bloomer. He is also so sensitive..... So when the PS teacher saw that he was behind in math and reading, she immediately wanted to place him in special ed. classes and do an IEP, and all that. I can still get furious just thinking about it. Ds also experienced some bullying there from (I'm sorry but this is just an apt description) the son of a red-neck rancher. He is such a sensitive child. This was VERY hard for him. Ds is doing much better now, but is still behind "grade level" in reading and math. How do I find a teacher who will accept him where he is? Who will appreciate him for who he is? So, a smooth transition is all I can hope for.... There are 2 potential schools, one regular public, and one charter school. I have heard great things about the charter school, but there is often a waiting list. My idea is that I would visit both of them next week, see what their kids are doing, and then come home and try to get my dc ready with respect to curriculum. Does that make sense? For example, we use MUS, so I know that my 3 youngers will be "behind" the other kids. I know the charter school uses Saxon Math. My heart aches at the thought of all the changes my dc will have to endure. My heart REALLY aches at the thought of "turning them over" to the PS. Add to that the fact that dh might be gone constantly..... If I had a couch, I'd cuddle on it all day with my dc...... but we left our only couch out in the ranch house. Any words of wisdom out there? Any pointers for making this as easy as possible for all of us? I keep telling myself... "There are worse things that could happen! It's just public school!" But, all of you know it is much more than that.... It is a life change. It will be a watershed for my dc. I covet the prayers of those of you who are so inclined... Jackie

I haven't read all the posts.... and granted, it's late afternoon and I've had a full day and still have "miles to go before I sleep", BUT...... A kid that's "pi*sy" about the meal being served? Zero tolerance here. Nip that 'tude right in the bud! Respect is in order and must be chosen. Scrambling to find what dd wants instead is just an exercise in futility. How do I know this? BTDT. Sheesh! And now I'd best go get some coffee......

Yikes! Any talk of orgies would be a definite deal-breaker! Can anyone clarify?

Thanks everyone, for your quick replies. It is so nice to have a place to ask these types of questions. My daughter will be happy to have a brand new trilogy to start! Thanks, Jackie

What are your thoughts? My dd age 13 is a Tolkien nut, heard this book is good, and would like to read it. Hey, I admit it, I'm really picky about what my dc read, but I don't have time to pre-read this one.... Your comments please, on the appropriateness of this book for a young girl .... Thanks, Jackie

Jane, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I have experienced the same thing with my dc. Sometimes they are just so mean to each other. It actually gives me a pain in my heart. About my 8yo ds, my mil said, "it's just his age". I tried to be tollerant and hope he would grow out of it..... But in the last 6 months, I've had a complete change of heart. My policy now is absolute zero tolerance for mean-spiritedness. Different things work with different kids, but the thing that has worked with my son is isolation. If he is mean, I ban him to the stairs, or his room, or outside, etc. Just wherever there is no-one else at the moment. Not only does he have to deal with the isolation, but it also lifts him out of the mix so that the rest of us can continue on with our day. I've decided that this is what happens to us as adults if we act out inappropriately. We are #1, separated from God because of our sinful behavior, and #2, separated from others because they can't stand to be around us. I've decided he might as well learn those hard lessons now. I also sound like a broken record with respect to the topic of emotions. Emotions can be wonderful, and when we allow ourselves to experience them fully, they can enrich our life. But when we allow our emotions to drive our behavior, we are NOT behaving, and we'll have to live with the consequences. If any one of my dc choose to spend so much time in isolation that they don't get that days school work done, then they have to do it in the evening, when everyone else is relaxing and having fun. If they don't get their work done before the next extracurricular activity, they cannot attend. It may sound harsh, but it really has worked for me. You must be consistent though. One of the side benefits to this technique is that I no longer "brow-beat" my dc about being mean to each other. My discipline is carried out in a quiet voice. They know what to expect. They know they better "get it together", get their emotions dealt with, and come back to class, or they're going to miss out on some fun down the road. Are my kids still mean to each other? Sometimes. But at least they're not getting off scott-free. And I have actually seen that they are really thinking through their emotions and choosing to be sociable rather than nasty. That, to me, is one for the "win" column. I also have zero tolerance for disrespect towards me. No griping, complaining, or yelling. I give them other ways to express themselves. I listen when they want to talk (not yell). I praise them when they are kind. It is a constant battle. But I think it will pay off in the end. I wish you well, Jackie

Oh, Thank goodness! I FEEL MUCH BETTER NOW!!!:lol:

Of course, you are the best judge as to what will work with your student, but I know that with mine, if I asked her to outline, Science would definitely "slip through the cracks". But my daughter has this uncanny ability to remember everything she reads. (Oh if only I had been so fortunate in my school days....) No, I don't. So far, she has been able to do well on the study modules and the tests. (We've only done one module this year, but she did well last year in general science). I'm expecting things to get more difficult though, so if she begins to have trouble with retention, I will ask her to do some additional work with the parts she's having trouble with. I won't ask her to do the entire chapter and all the concepts, because that will just come off as "busy work", and our schedule is too tight to allow for that. I'm a big fan of incorporating art with science, so when we get to a part that she has trouble with, I will ask her to diagram the concept. That will look like fun to her, so she'll give it a lot of thought, which will hopefully result in better retention. I think that as homeschool teachers, we have to be aware of our students' learning styles. What is it that clicks with your daughter? If I ask my daughter to simply outline, she will dutifully do the work, while at the same time having her brain in a completely different place!:tongue_smilie: And while all of that probably makes it sound like I'm really on top of things, the truth is that I really understand my oldest dd, but I have 3 other dc, and for 2 of them, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT MAKES THEM TICK!!!!. Sad, but true. Best of luck to you, Jackie

I'm also about 800 years old and have a 1st grader! ;)

I was pre-reading a book for my dd. It's called "Do Hard Things", and is written by twin teenage boys who were/are homeschooled. Chuck Norris wrote the forward for the book. There's a lot more to the man than meets the eye. I like him.

Have you seen donna young's web site? www.donnayoung.org She has a complete schedule for Apologia Physical Science. I follow it every day, because it enables us to stay on track. She also includes notes about the modules and the experiments so that you can know ahead of time if one exp. might take more time than usual. If I knew how to link you directly to the schedule, I would. Alas, I am severely challenged in this area..... So, click on Science, then apologia, then Physical Science. I also print out the lab. report sheets from Donna's site. Dd uses them for every lab. My dd works through the book almost completely on her own, and comes to me is there is something that doesn't make sense to her. She writes out the answers to the study modules, and we go over each question together. This is how I really know if she's understanding the material. We spent about an hour on this yesterday. She was trying to "short-cut" the math work in the 1st module, so we had to go through those problems. :) Then she went on and took the test. Usually she wouldn't take the test on the same day as we review the module, but she wanted to start a new module on Monday (she hates to get behind, because she knows how that just snowballs). We also try to have a list at the beginning of the week, with all the experiment supplies she'll need for that week. We haven't been 100% successful there, but we're working on it. We used this system last year for General Science, and it went really well. So, if everything is going well, I spend about 1 hour/week with her on science. Hope that helps, and good luck with your homeschooling! (Maybe some other kind soul who knows how to link, will step in and provide the link for you.) Jackie

My goodness! The reading required with Omnibus is amazing. I would never have been able to do it :001_huh:. My 4th grader is already asking, with a fair amount of trepidation..... "Am I going to do Omnibus some day?" And honestly, their program is not for everyone. I think that my 2nd dd might be able to handle it as a Sophomore or Junior in HS. And that's just fine! She is such an avid actress, she will probably just sing and dance her way through school. :rolleyes: Thanks for your post, Jackie

Well, I would say that her week days are very structured. I give her a list each morning which tells her everything she needs to complete that day, and also schedules her breaks. She likes this structure, and seems to flourish with it. Week-ends are pretty free. We both need the break. She does outside things, and occasionally sees friends. Yes, I'm really going to have to try to integrate some of the writing instruction into Omnibus. I think that writing is such s critical life skill! Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate your ideas. / Jackie

[ She probably averages about 7 1/2 hours/day, including piano. She gets a 15-30 minute break in the morning, and a 1 hour lunch break. These are included in the 7 1/2 hours. Her school day is basically from 7:30 am to 3 pm. Week-ends are free, unless there's something she absolutely MUST work on. And that just doesn't happen very often. But she does a lot of her Omnibus reading during the evening and on week-ends. We absolutely take the summers off!! That's fun time with horses and 4-H projects. :D I would be interested to hear what you think of Scholars Online Biology. How do you do the labs? Thanks for your help, Jackie

Yes, you're right! When you do both primary and secondary, it's a lot of work. But I've spoken at length with the Omnibus instructors, and they have convinced me that, in order for the course to be really complete, it is best to do both the primary and secondary readings. The primary readings are heavier in Theology and History, and the secondary readings are heavier in Literature (which she LOVES). The two, taken together, really do complement each other beautifully, and provide a very thorough study of the period. You know, that's really a good point. When dd took Omnibus I classes last year, I really didn't pay much attention to her writing assignments. I left it between her and her instructor. And Omnibus is not a writing course. For example, the instructor would assign a certain type of paper using the progym format, but he really didn't critique the writing. He only checked for her comprehension of the material covered. I think I'll try to incorporate some writing instruction into her Omnibus papers this year! (She'll love me for that!:tongue_smilie:) You're also right about Latin. I think that Classical Roots is such a neat way to tie everything together, but it would just be adding one more thing. I have high hopes that she'll continue French through high school, since it is an important part of our family heritage. The Greek, she'll probably have to do in college or something. quote] It does help, and thanks!!:001_smile:

My dd is a bright, hard-working girl. But we're 2 weeks into school, and I feel like if we even have a slight hiccup, we're going to be behind on everything. Am I asking too much? Here's what she's doing: Wheelock's Latin (Regina Coelhi online) Omnibus II primary (VP online) Omnibus II secondary (VP online) Lial's Algebra 1 Apologia Physical Science Introductory Logic French 1 (So You Really Want to Learn French) Art: Visual Manna Piano (Pretty intense classical and jazz. 1 hr./day practice minimum + lesson) Geography Trails Swim Team 4-H (Raises her own sheep) Ranch work from time to time If I push pretty hard, we get all of the above done at some point during the week. But I cannot seem to fit in: Spelling Workout, Vocab. from Classical roots, or Classical Writing. I feel the worst about the classical writing. She is a good natural writer, but she still really needs some structure and instruction. Also, she wants to take Greek, and I just can't see how we'll EVER get that done! Any advice? Thanks, Jackie