My doctor, whom I adore, tested me to see what I was allergic to. He discovered I was a 4 out of 6 on a gluten test (I have no idea what its real name is), and told me that I couldn't have gluten anymore. This was last summer, and I'm still eating wheat. I've read that this is the "undiagnosed epidemic" and 40% of the population is celiac or gluten sensitive. I have had no symptoms. No IBS, no pain, no gas, no nothing. I have no motivation to go gluten-free. I'm not the kind of person that can willingly give up food. I just don't wanna. So, give me some motivation. Please.

I love the look of pressed metal tiles for a backsplash, but just don't want to spend the money on it. Do ya think the embossed wallpaper, painted silver (possibly with a wash on top) would work? I painted my backsplash a vibrant red, and probably will have to apply a primer so the paint doesn't bleed through.

There are so many choices for wrinkle treatment and aging skin and it boggles my mind. I'm a little hesitant to use this sort of thing because of the chemicals. I've been using a combination of jojoba and sweet almond oil for moisturizing, but am wondering about alternatives. I've used Philosophy, DHC, Oil of Olay, Neutrogena, and the more expensive department store brands. I can't say that I dislike any of them, but want to know what really knocks people's socks off. Do they really make a difference? What's your opinion?

I use Neutrogena Age Shield Face with an SPF of 90.

I don't care about the uniboob, either. I would rather have immobility than attractiveness. This is the only bra that did it for me, because I'm fairly chesty: http://www.titlenine.com/product/sports-bras-and-undies/medium-high-impact-sports-bras/313801.do?sortby=ourPicks Good luck!

Not to mention food cravings in general. I'm 43 and never had much problem maintaining my weight till this year. I've gained ten pounds since summer, on top of the extra ten pounds I was already carrying. I've never really monitored my food intake, and when I gained some weight, I'd do WW and take it off in a few weeks. At night particularly is when it hits me. The almost overwhelming crazy desire to eat everything in the house and to you-know-where with the rest. Mostly it's for sugar. Anything sweet. And sometimes if I don't have it, I make it. I almost never buy sweets because I know I'll devour everything. I've never been the kind of person who could take 'em or leave 'em, and if there's a box of frosted (they have to be frosted) Pop Tarts, I'll eat the whole box in a day. Or Oreos, or GS cookies, or M&Ms, or Strawberry Fields cereal, or whatever. I guess you get the picture. My doctor says it's a mineral deficiency. I need to take my minerals. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to regard sweets and their ilk with an uncaring attitude. It would be wonderful to be able to say, "Nah..." to the Thin Mints on my counter without having to mentally wrestle with myself. Know what I mean? How do YOU cope??

If the USDA allows Monsanto to mess with alfalfa, we can kiss our organics goodbye. Let your voice be heard! You can sign online petitions at http://action. fooddemocracynow .org/cms/ thanks/make_ a_stand_for_ organics? action_id= 226812&akid=.111538. jZp68y&taf=1 and http://action. freshthemovie. com/p/dia/ action/public/ ?action_KEY= 1753. PLEASE pass this on to your friends and family. ~Rachel www.kyfarmgirl. com The following is from Wood Prairie Farm in Maine: On Dec 14, 2009 the USDA released its draft Environmental Impact Statement on GMO Roundup Ready Alfalfa, grudgingly forced by lawsuit and the courts to carry out this legal requirement. The USDA draft EIS is an outrageous snow job that negates any environmental or economic impact caused by GMO alfalfa. The draft EIS clearly backs Monsanto and works against the best interests of the public and organic and non-GMO conventional farmers by completely deregulating GMO alfalfa and allowing its unlimited planting nationwide. Alfalfa is the United States' fourth most widely grown farm crop and it is a critical feed for livestock including organic dairy cattle. Because alfalfa is insect pollinated it will become impossible to prevent alfalfa seed contamination by GMO pollen, thereby resulting within a few years in the GMO contamination of all alfalfa fields, organic or otherwise. The USDA must be stopped from this insider GMO-precedent establishing whitewash and we must protect the consumer's right to choose food that is free of GMO content. Written comments are urgently needed that counter the USDA draft EIS. If you write only one letter this year to help protect our planet and our children from a dark Monsanto-GMO future, this is it! Please do it today! Comment deadline March 3, 2010. Thanks! Jim Click here to get background on the GMO Alfalfa issue. http://www.non- gmoreport. com/ArchivesTwo/ org&nongmo_feb10. pdf Click here to learn specific talking points and where to address your letter http://www.seedalli ance.org/ Advocacy/ alfalfa-alert/

Can't you get to a walk-in clinic? IMO, this is not something to wait on. Get it treated ASAP!! I've dealt with lots of these and never let them go that long. In the meantime, drink lots and lots and lots of water.

I know vitually nothing about computers. Up until recently, a computer was a way to play Peggle, IM my best friend while she's at work, check my email, and visit a small handful of favorite sites. Now that I've entered the world of blogging I'm interested in learning more. I've been considering a couple of books like HTML For Dummies, but am not sure what would be best. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

My mother asked my sister how to access my new blog. She then sent me an email expressing her many concerns about my posting all kinds of information on the internet. Among her points were: using real names, showing the road on which I live, I do my a.m. barn chores alone (barn is a mile away from my house on someone else's farm), having pictures of my family online... I don't completely disagree, but considering how many millions of bloggers and websites are out there, is it any more risky than going to the grocery store and having someone decide to follow me home?

In case anybody is interested: www.kyfarmgirl.com

http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1753 We've got to stop this craziness! Thanks for your support.

It's time to plan my second annual girlfriends' vacation (dh & ds are Scout summer camping). Last year we stayed outside of Georgetown, SC at the Litchfield Inn at Pawley's Island. Food was excellent everywhere, and we ate in Murrell's Inlet three or four times. It was wonderful. While we didn't have a view of the ocean due to the placement of our room, the beach was still within a short walking distance. The drive to Charleston took about 1.5 hours, which was kinda long, but no complaints. We'd like to stay south of Charleston this time, so we can visit Savannah as well. I've been looking at Edisto Beach.... Any suggestions? I'm WIDE open.

Lodge enamel cookware IS NOT the same exact stuff as Le Creuset. My LC pot has had hard, constant use for 17 years, and though the inside is stained, there's been no problem with it. My Lodge cast iron enamel Dutch oven I've had for a year. Enamel has chipped off the edge of the pot and on the lid. It also scorches/burns milk based soups and my cream candy. My LC has never done that. I've used my LC on a ceramic top stove for years with no complaints.

I am a long time TMobile customer and have been considering switching my land line to their @ Home service. The $10 per month price certainly beats the $80+ I'm paying with AT&T. Has anyone had experience with TMobile @ Home? Other suggestions? Rachel

Yep. My first ever thumb hole. Thanks muchly for the help!

I've worked the following pattern to the part about working back and forth. Keeping the work on the three dpns, I turned it inside out and am prepared to just go back and forth, as instructed. I'm stymied, however, and the "slip 1" part. Do I pass that stitch from the left needle to the right needle without working it? I'm kinda confused. Directions Cast on 30 stitches and distribute evenly around three needles (10 stitches on each needle). Work Twisted Rib for 3â€, or about 15 rounds. Knit 3 rounds in Stockinette stitch. (You will now begin working back and forth in order to create the hole for the thumb) Turn work, sl 1, Purl to end of row. Turn work, sl 1, Knit to end of row. Continue to work back and forth in Stockinette stitch, slipping the first stitch in each row, until the thumb hole is 2â€, or about 12 rows (you will end on a knit row). Join to begin working in the round again and work 5 rows in Stockinette stitch.

Yes! I joined Ravelry.com ages ago, but kinda forgot about it and haven't been on there in months and months. I will definitely start looking there.

[ I have made that exact same beret from Crazy Aunt Purl! It's great. I actually was making it to be a stool cover but DD loved it so she kept it, and I knit another. :) I love Crazy Aunt Purl! Those gloves look like I could do that. Problem is, I'm using Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky and am not sure how that'll translate to the pattern. I'll be investigating further...

I guess you could say I'm still a beginning knitter. I've progressed from scarves to the cutest little beret, and thought the combination would make great Christmas gifts. I found a pattern for easy fingerless gloves (http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/fjord-kidm-fingerless.html), but I'm really interested in actually knitting the finger holes, so they're more like "real" gloves instead of just a tube with a thumb hole. http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2008/01/supersimple_fas_1.php With this beret, the first time I made it, I went all the way to the end and thought it was a little too pointy. One my third one (the second one became a whole 'nuther creature, but still cute), I started at about the 5th row from completion and just decreased stitches on it and the remaining rows. It made for a much flatter, more attractive (IMO) beret. Anybody have suggestions for nice, easy, fingerless gloves? I may just stick with what's easier. Thanks!

Thank you, Lisa. I have ordered the whole of SWI-B and am looking forward to diving in. Oddly enough, I have a degree in English, but teaching writing has been my biggest homeschooling dilemma. I just need something that does a little more handholding.

Angela, thank you for the help. Would you recommend NOT using the history-based in conjunction with the SWI? I supposed it would be better to focus on the basics and keep it simple. :)

Is anyone using this curriculum? I'd like opinions, if possible. Thanks!

It's nice to know I'm not the only one worn out by CW. I really wanted to use it because I think it's a great program, but it's just too much for us. It wears me out, and I have no enthusiasm for it. As a result, he dreads it, too.

I thought the history based looked very interesting and I do want to use it. We're doing medieval history right now, and I didn't know if the IEW history is a year long thing. So do I get the TWSS and the medieval history writing course? I don't need the IEW SWI B?