My neighbor had an accident and because he had been smoking mj he was given a DUI. He was able to take he same diversion classes just as if he had been drinking alcohol. (It is important to note that the accident was deemed to be not his fault, and no one was injured). Thiis is in Oregon, btw, where everybody is pretty lenient about it all. In fact, if I were found with a small amount, say, in my hand in a public place I might be given a citation similar to a parking ticket, but generally no worse.

A similar thing happened to me. I contacted the seller directly, and they were very helpful. They refunded my $$, and let me keep the book. Apparently they had so many books for sale that they sent me the wrong copy. It was cheaper for them to refund than to pay for all the shipping to exchange. You might try it; most sellers are very protective of their reputation and will treat you well.

I am headed to town today- thanks for the tip!

I am so glad you posted this! I was scared to read the (mostly-negative-so-far) reviews. I was such a huge fan of the series. In fact, as a poor young in-college married couple X-files served as our weekly date. We would get a cheap-o pizza, one Dr. Pepper and one beer (the only ones we could afford for that week) and watch the show. I am hoping to recreate that vibe (our 13th anniversary approaches) with pizza at an upscale restaurant (and considerable more beverages), then... oh bliss... hangin' with M & S. (((((Thanks for putting up with all my parenthesis!)))))

If you have a local college, there is usually an art store nearby. Even in my tiny town, with a community college, there is a local stationary store that sells the art supplies needed for college classes. Gouache is a "first year" item, so should be find-able there.

Thank you thank you thank you. I so totally agree. What's next? Sex in the City diaper covers? Hostel Megablocks?

Technically it means not using public elecrtic company; i.e. not being 'tied in' to the electrical 'grid'. This is often expanded to mean someone who uses no other public services as well, often living a homestead/ rural life. Interestingly, some of the most radical off-grid folks I know live downtown/ urban! I think most off- gridders are rural for a few reasons: in the city there are all sorts of building requirements and restrictions that make self-power difficult, and regular ole' electricity is so cheap that it makes coughing up the $$ for a self power system seem extravagant. My friends own a home in the city, so they generate powere via solar panels. They are still "tied in" (hooked up the company) so that they can sell excess power back to the electric company. Yep, they get a *check* every month instead of a *bill*!! Their panels were mostly purchased through tax credits and local incentives, so they were low cost. We are off-grid because the nearest power line is 3 miles away :). I think we would be off-grid anyway, but the absence of power availability forced our hand sooner. We lived with no power (kerosene lamps) for about 2 years. Solar panels quickly rose to priority status on our list!

Exactly! There are some beautiful picture-books on Amazon (search off grid home) that have lovely tx homes... it's all about the design.

Oops! Forgot to add my 2 latest favorite resources about this: "Create an Oasis with Greywater" by I-forgot-the-author and "Gaia's Garden: A guide to Homescale Permaculture" by Hemenway. Right now our water just runs in to the yard above the garden, but I am in the middle of designing a wetland-type patch that will clean it , then send the water to a mini-pond, that will route into a larger fish pond/ swimming hole. Doesn't that sound cool? I have always wanted a swimming pool, but dreaded all the energy of cleaning it. I am going to let nature do all the work for me! It's all about making each element perform many functions. Oh yeah, i am really into permaculture right now. Don' get me started!!

Thanks for PM'ing me! I sent you one back- please feel free to e-mail (or pm) anytime. I love to talk this stuff!

Ya know, I do believe it is possible, but required different design. There are a few places I know of in the Hill Country that do it. They utilize traditional building styles: stone, thick walls, orientation towards the breezes, etc. that make the AC unnecessary. Just think, so many people lived there hundreds of years very simply... of course, they weren't trying to AC their four car garages, either! The key would be to research what is going on in your region. Water is your major consideration (though I know of some NM folks that got there property cheap due to *no* water, and do just fine with their intensely designed catchment systems). There is likely a great deal of climate info through the AG extension agent or something, where you could get very specific info for your area to help in designing your system.Many of my neighbors have solar powered wells. You have so very much solar exposure in TX that you can do about anything. Even run an AC, though you would have to have big $$ to have enough energy system to run it! I would just do some local research- googling off grid texas gets you some good info to start with. Most of the stuff is around Austin because that is where the designers and industry is, but that does not mean you have to be in the Hill Country to do it! I am curious to what you find out, do let us know! BTW- did you know Pres. Bush's TX ranch is off the grid?

I have been gone for a while, and did not notice the thread had new posts. Sorry that it has taken a while to get back to it! I think your plans sound lovely! They are totally do-able too. Something we learned from other homestead folks is that a place does better with multiple systems.. that way when one has a problem the others take up the slack. An example is our water system. We have a copper coil that goes through our woodstove; as the water is heated it rises naturally to a tank on he second story. Our second system (for days when we don't need a fire) is an outdoor collector that heats via the sun. But what to do on cloudy summer days (no fire, no sun?) We have a tankless water heater for those days that runs on propane. I *really* dislike propane so we try to schedule high water-use days so that we can minimize propane use. So- 3 systems means that we are never short of hot water. Mind you, this took 10 years to figure out! I have gone many days without hot water. The key is knowledge, you know? I am really into permaculture ideas right now, so I am looking at systems that require little outside-energy input. Lots of design-time upfront makes for sustainable systems down the road. For exampel- having the shower *in* the greenhouse is a great solution: in a hot greenhouse the water does not have to be heated so hot, the excess water feeds the plants, etc. etc. Whew! Permaculture might be another thread! That leads to toilets!! If you can find it in your library, check out "The Humanure Handbook". It is way cool! I think it might even be readable on line. We have a few different toilet options. We have an outhouse outside, the... um... product is deposited, then covered with woodstove ash and peatmoss (absorbs moisture, eliminates smell, and changes the pH to be unattractive to pests). This is emptied once a year and put into a compost pile. After another year it is spread around trees. Our second system (made when I was pregnant and could not make it all the way out to the outhouse) is the same system but in a 5 gallon bucket (hubby made a groovy toilet seat thingy out of a regular seat and a bucket lid). This obviously has to be emptied more frequently. SO- one big chore or lots of little chores. It is a very fulfilling chore though, emptying that bucket... I feel very vital and real doing it. (It is not smelly or gross like one might think. You would be pleasantly surprised). There are some very amazing composting toilet units that make the "chore" part unnecessary. Biolet is one that comes to mind. BUT the units are so pricey that we can't justify it yet. Perhaps someday, our squeamish visitors say... OK- off to make more coffee.. feel free to ask more!

OH, Cactus Pair!!!! This is exactly what I wanted to know. our situation sounds very similar, down to dh's reading style (hee hee). I am going to order this today. I will let you know how things are going with it. Thanks again!!

After reading this I read the reviews on Amazon, and I have a few questions, if you don't mind. Do you use the workbook or just the book? How long have you used this system? Have other family members read it? Thanks!!

The above reasons are why I no longer buy from WP, as well as the fact that my backordered items *never* came. I know that they were dealing with unexpected load of new customers when I purchased, but their poor customer service about the issue cost them my business. In the long run it worked out well for me, as it drove me to the WTM and subsequently different and much more appropriate (for me) curriculum choices. It did take me a while to get over my frustration. I was not even able to read posts about WP for a while! I am glad I feel neutral about them again! :)

OH, fabulous! Thanks!

These are fantastic places to start! Thanks so very much! I will get on these pronto and write in with more questions. (Those who have not yet posted, do not take these thanks as an indication the thread is dead!! Please do add your thoughts :))

I am looking for a resource that would introduce my family to the liturgical calendar. I know such a small amount about it: I personally use an Anglican prayer book, my husband used to attend an Episcopal church, and our children went to Catholic K5. We are currently attending a Orthodox Presbyterian Church and, though we like the church, we *really* miss the beautiful rhythm of the liturgical ways. The OPC (our church, anyway) seems to be lacking in it's acceptance of the Transcendant Real, so we would like to insure our children have balance in this area. IOW- We need more mystery here, folks! :) I am currently looking at "Catholic Mosaic" (rec. in the LCC curriculum). Are the Anglican/Epicopal and Catholic calendars so different that we would not understand this resource? If so, do you know of a suitable resource for protestants? I have no problem with doctrinal differences, as I am comfortable using them as points of open-minded discussion. We do not have our church as a resource for these matters, so I am counting on you, wise and knowing board members!! Thanks!

Our doctor actually suggested we try duct tape before he would use the chemical stuff. It worked, but took a while. I have one on my toe that I want gone, but I will wait until sandal weather is over. Can you imagine a big hunk of duct tape with my sandals? It would be worse than the wart!

Thanks, Aubrey! :)

I am too scared to! :lol:

Ahh, you all have so many good points. I knew I could come here! I think I should be more clear too about the fact that I think buying books and curriculum is *great*. I am just startled to see what is underneath that- motive wise- for *me*. While out walking, i remembered too that some of this started for me when I began to realize my ds might have learning issues. Maybe adding books to my shelf was how I dealt with the emergence of that then-scary realization... that's where the 'insurance' analogy fits. Now that I am more confident, like WTMindy said, I should be able to let go of the behavior that does not serve me well, right? This is just that moment of vulnerability as i let go of the old and the new is not-yet-establidhed... right? I just want to stop hyperventilating every time I pass the Rainbow Resource catalog! :001_smile: You ladies are awesome!!!

Oh my. I forgot about adding in my school supply hoard. But when glue is 20 CENTS A BOTTLE it is a sin *not* to buy it! Even if your secret stash is full of glue! Seriously, I am the first to admit that a clean sheet of paper has a magic quality to it- so much potential. I love school supplies. Period.

I have a very generous home school budget. My usual pattern is to look at all the catalogs and choose what I like, and see what I can get based on my budget. Now that I am moving steadily towards a less-is-more approach (LCC) I am noticing something strange, and wondering what you all think about it. I am having great difficulty buying less. I mean actual moments of sweaty panic. In thinking about this, in sorting out the reasons *why* I buy so much, I am coming to some uncomfortable realizations. First, I buy curriculum like an insurance policy. Somehow spending that dollar eases the unacknowledged fear that my kids might not meet my academic hopes. I have though about this before, but it is really showing itself now. If I *buy* that rigorous book, then somehow it guarantees we are rigorous. A least it comforts that dark worry place. Does that make sense? Second, I must think quantity= quality. Frankly, looking at the LCC reading list scares me. There are less books that the two other programs i was planning on! Never mind that I feel I am very smart and I have read very few of these books. Never mind that I intellectually agree that one book read well is better than 10 books skimmed. Somehow I look at a program that offers no whirly-gigs and I struggle with wondering if it is enough. I am embarrassed at my obvious raccoon-like tendency to gravitate towards the shiny. Third- I have dispatched consumerism in so many ares of my life, but buying books is an "approved" consumerism that I let myself wallow in. Spending money feels good! So I can be proud of not using plastic bags, and having fewer shoes, and meanwhile my shelves are bulging. (On a Christian Content note our pastor was talking about wealth (from the book of James), and I was agreeing with him wholeheartedly until he threw the word "books" into his sermon. I stopped cold. He considered books wealth! He told me to consider giving away books I don't read! I did not hear the next few minutes of the sermon as I frantically thrashed in justification mode. I guess that is what started all this. No one else remembers him saying 'books' which is even more freaky.) These are just a few thoughts over my second cup of coffee. I am wondering if any of you have been there done that and have a few words of comfort? Advice? Tomatoes? I think I need to go take a walk.

Plaid Dad! I am *loving* the recommendations so far. Thanks for your work, and for being willing to answer questions about it.