We have a game we play for eating out in which one person chooses 3 options and the other person selects from those 3. Maybe something like that for flooring? I hear you on the practicality and the challenge. I personally think the person who has to clean/maintain and see a furnishing the most is the one who should get to decide how it is, unless one of the people is an interior decorator or something and has a strong and excellent sense of style.

This is an epiphany for me. I've been trying to figure out why certain authors bug me, and this is absolutely the reason. Thank you! :party:

I'm still working on Independent People and really enjoying it, although Jane was correct in saying I would learn more about sheep farming than I ever wished to know. Still, an excellent book so far; I am only about 15% of the way though, asI'm a slow reader and all my free time has been spent following the news and reading related articles. I'd like to hear what you think about the Southern Reach trilogy when you're done. I read it a few years ago when the first book popped up on the Indiespensable subscription from Powells books. It's quite different from anything I had read before or since.

Speaking of ILADS, the former president and current board member, Dr. Stricker, has a practice in SF.

Agree on making sure she's getting enough K2. Is she getting enough good fats? Many Americans have a 6:3 ratio that's too high and causes inflammation. Is she getting enough olive oil/fish/grassfed butter? Chicken is also fairly high in Omega 6. Here are some ratios for common foods.

I missed whatever happened on the boards. I do think that there is a diminishment of the base of common facts from which citizens can launch productive discussion. This erosion, whether intentionally implemented by outside forces and a reduction in the quality of education, or incidental via factors such the growth of online identities, a diminishment in the value of the liberal arts, etc, is causing a weakening of the "town square" and an inability to work together. And make no mistake, Congress has held open hearings for the express purpose of making the American public aware that we are under attack in a new way. When we spend so much of our lives online and geographical locations don't matter, it was only a matter of time before governments would use the Internet to foment unrest. I don't have a solution and I feel powerless in the face of insidious propaganda and interference in such a high volume.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I'm sorry you've not been able to find a path forward since we last spoke.

As far as more kid-friendly, paleo is. But it's really adjust keto if you want to eat keto and still have it be easy for kids by adding healthy carbs such as fruit, higher-carb veggies, honey, and higher-carb dairy. Or you can turn keto into a traditional diet but healthier foods than the SAD by adding soaked grains and legumes. Or if your kids eat outside the home often, then you can eat keto at home and they'll get enough carbs elsewhere. We have had times where we had keto at home but between the kids eating snacks and meals at the homes of friends or relatives, pizza parties for classes, potlucks, ice cream socials, etc they got a fair amount of carbs anyway. You didn't mention cost, but either of these diets can get pretty pricey for multiple people. I found keto to be more expensive than paleo.

:grouphug: I'm sorry.

I have to put them in today. I put it off because I opened the crock with my string beans int it and it smelled terrible, like acetone. So I popped the lid back on and went to bed. I was way too tired to deal with that. I'm going to have to clean all that out today. :ack2:

Speaking of Jane Austen, I've been meaning to post this link for anyone who will be in Oxford between now and October.

Yeah, I think I heard about this on the news. That's a lot of water! I think we would have added a cup at the most.

Tress, I'm sorry about the diagnosis and am sending hugs. Kareni, I hope things work out for your mom. :grouphug:

Thanks for the update! You mom sounds like a lovely person.

You can list it while he's there, but in this particular case I would not. He has an incentive to keep it from selling and he's behind it rent. Agree with checking with a lawyer.

Mom-ninja, I love the photo! Swoon. I ordered Just Mercy, which has quite a wait at the local library. I admit I'm nervous to read it, though, based on your experience. Still, it sounds very important so I'm in. As for Wrinkle in Time, I re-read it a few years ago as a pre-read for DS and it was completely different to me as an adult. I don't know if I could say whether it held up or not, but I saw it through a completely different political lens (the novel having a Libertarian bent) that whooshed over my head when I was ~10 years old. I think it stayed with me because for the first time my idealism about reading everything along with the kids for discussion was tarnished. Or rather, it was badly dented. :)

I'm trying the mouse melons this week. Maybe with mint?

DS has this, although it's declined through the years. I had him evaluated twice for autism (once through the school district and one through a private neuropsychologist) and both said he's not on the spectrum at all. The neuropsychologist considered it a tic and diagnosed it as such. (At that point he was also blinking a lot, but that's subsided naturally.) She also predicted at some point in his teens he will probably find it more socially undesirable (he's 13 now, 10 when tested) and at that point she will refer him to a behavioral therapist so he can learn to substitute another behavior that's more socially acceptable. She said he will probably always feel the urge, and mentioned that she has anecdotally found rubbing the edge ridged of a quarter to have been the most effective substitute, with training.

You made it further than I did. My son was reading them and I wanted to be able to discuss with him. Let's just say an attempt was made and leave it at that. :)

Thanks all for the warm welcome! Jane, I ended up going by the library and popped in to pick up Independent People. They had the actual 1946 printing, which was surprising. It definitely looks dense as far as fiction goes.

:seeya: I've been taking a break from the weekly thread for a few months, or maybe more than a few. Lately I haven't had much time for reading. I'm spending most of my days decluttering and organizing (konmari style) and the rest of the time planning out this upcoming school year. That does involve a lot of reading, but mostly about different ideas and things we might use. I am reading SWB's History of the Ancient World in anticipation of making a history decision for DS for 9th grade. Hopefully that counts! Put a hold on this at the library. The excerpt is right up my alley and I still have Iceland at the top of my list to visit! I didn't even know there was a follow up, but had I known I probably would have made an attempt but I think I'll skip it based on your review. I like science and technology just fine, but it has to be the right amount and the right placement. This sounds like neither, which is too bad because I really liked The Martian.

I had to kill 9 hours once at Heathrow with an 18 month-old. Which is definitely easier than 4 kids, but it was after an 11-hour flight and before a 7-hour one. Ugh. Bring a read aloud. Find a place where you can watch planes take off and land, if possible. Pack a few surprise snacks or small toys (cheap new or used, but new to the kids) that you can pull out at strategic times. A deck of cards is useful. Make sure you can re-charge batteries. While books bought at the airport are not as cheap as used, at least the price is on the cover so it's not 3x expensive like other airport things are. The two oldest kids can go explore stores and gates on their own as long as you remind them not to go out of secure areas. (Show them the exit to baggage claim.) Spend a lot of time at the play area. The Airspace Lounge is $25/person instead of $50. Description: Entry fees start at just $25 and no membership or long-term commitment is required. Entry includes complimentary espresso, cappuccino, Peet's Coffee and Tea, soft drinks, small snacks and fruit, printing and scanning, use of house computers, Wi-Fi, use of private restrooms and shower facilities, plus a $10 credit to purchase items from Airspace’s premium menu including alcoholic beverages. ETA: That was a cut and paste, I know you don't drink alcoholic beverages. :laugh:

I've made the carrots with both fried and fresh oregano. I think if would pick fresh if I had both. I bet you can get away with the wet ginger if it's not preserved. But I think the oregano is sounding better to me. I went through a phase of adding fresh dill to all my ferments and I later regretted it as their flavor profiles were too similar.

Another option is a Mexican-style carrot pickle with a spicy pepper and oregano.

Had to look what "manky" means. No Google, I don't mean "lanky". Is it powdered? Wet or dry?