Maybe not related to your particular case (may be the tree itself or the mold), but many Christmas trees are sprayed with pesticides and blue-green dye. My husband and my first Christmas tree in Brooklyn smelled toxic. Used to fresh cut balsam fir from the back forty, I couldn't believe that someone would actually dye the tree, and continued refuse to believe it until I read about it sometime later. In some places you can buy organically grown trees. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/garden/04garden.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Of course bakeware and cookware are appropriate Christmas gifts. Show them the recent thread about the woman who is grieving the loss of her 23-year-old crockpot that she got for her wedding if they don't believe you. Also show them the Williams Sonoma holiday catalog. They don't put it out because nobody buys cookware for Christmas! A piece of heirloom quality bakeware or cookware is a gift that keeps on giving. Often these items are used every day, reminding the recipient of the gift-giver and the holiday throughout the year. Can the same be said for a piece of jewelry worn occasionally? If they don't go for it: tickets to a show or a day doing something unusual that you've always wanted to try: horseback riding, scuba diving, skeet shooting, snowmobiling, etc.

My avatar is a pitcher plant in a secret bog location somewhere in Maine, a.k.a my lair.

My son loved Michael Clay Thompson's Ceasar's English and Word within the Word series. Begin with Caesar's English I. You need the student and teacher edition for the newest version. If you can get an old version used, you only need the teacher's edition. http://www.rfwp.com/series/vocabulary-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-caesars-english-i-enhanced-teacher-edition My daughter loves the flashcards from English from the Roots Up. http://www.amazon.com/English-Roots-Up-Flashcards-Vol/dp/1885942133/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387428658&sr=8-1&keywords=English+from+the+Roots+up+flashcards+vol.+1 http://www.amazon.com/English-Roots-Up-Flashcards-Vol/dp/188594229X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387428712&sr=1-1

My son (13) completed Mapping the World with Art during 7th grade, independently. He enjoyed it greatly as he loves to draw and he likes a quiet break from other schoolwork. I don't think it is designed for retention though, rather exposure. If you want retention you need to practice the same maps over and over and over as described in The Core until you can draw them from memory.

Are you thinking of a percale weave? I think they are quite crisp and were popular when I was growing up. I have never purchased them so can't speak of their quality but Garnet Hill uses "crisp" in the definition of their percale sheets. (FYI: They have a larger selection of prints in percale than what I linked to below.) http://www.garnethill.com/hemstitched-supima-c2ae-percale-bedding/bedding-bath/sheets/percale-sheets/221425

If the stiffness of some line dried clothing (towels, socks, undies) bothers you, throw these items in the dryer for 10 minutes and then hang. They come out much softer. I've found that indoor hanging results in softer clothes than outdoor, but they lack that lovely scent.

6. Follow the children around all day turning the lights and devices off after them. 7. If you have electric hot water heat, those instant on-demand water heaters that are installed in the bathroom use less electricity than keeping a big tank of water warm all day. 8. Motion-sensor outdoor lighting rather than having a light on all night. 9. Do more cooking prep by hand. Eliminate kitchen gadgets (except maybe in emergencies like preparing big holiday dinners) such as mixers, electric can openers, food processors and the like. You will also gain nice arm muscles mixing and kneading the bread by hand! 10. A very small idea, but nice. Dinner hour by candlelight. No other lights in the house. 11. Large capacity front-load washer. Save up your laundry until it is full. 12. Doing dishes by hand. (Might not help if you do it under perpetually running water.) 13. If your oven is electric, do all your baking for the week on the same day or two days. Fill both racks in the oven. Make double or triple batches to freeze for future meals. I always recommend Amy Dacyzyn's book, The Complete Tightwad Gazette, in these threads. The figures are out of date as it was written in the 1990s, but the advice is timeless. http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Tightwad-Gazette-Dacyczyn/dp/0375752250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387176090&sr=8-1&keywords=the+complete+tightwad+gazette

1. Line drying your clothes can save 50 cents or so per load (depending on the efficiency of your dryer and your electric rates). 2. Unplugging electronics instead of just turning them off saves energy because many new electronics (TVs, game systems etc.) are electricity vampires. They are always using a little energy so they can turn on instantly when you hit the on button. If you are old enough (like me), you will remember that old TVs from the 70s took time to "warm up." 3. Newer refrigerators and freezers are more energy efficient than their still-working but old counterparts. 4. Ceiling fans and attic fans are cheaper than a/c. 5. A system of waking very early in the hot weather and opening the windows and using box fans to bring in cool air, then closing the windows and drawing the blinds as the sun rises staves off the need for a/c until later in the day. Night use of open windows and box fans is also a good part of this routine.

1. Books, books, books, and more books. I have "read out" several tiny local libraries and then have to wait for the new releases to trickle in. 2. Highlighting genre fiction that is mixed in with the regular literature with a sticker on the binding indicating it is a mystery, sci/fi, fantasy, romance etc. or grouping these together by genre. 3. Highlighting really great books in creative ways. Perhaps by pulling interesting quotes from literature every week, printing them out, and affixing them randomly through the stacks with the call # to lead patrons to the book (making sure you have several copies!). This could also be done with trivia questions for nonfiction. Anything that symbolically "opens up the book" to the patron and makes them not only aware of its existence, but also intrigued enough to find it. 4. Separate quiet areas and conversational areas if there is room in the building. 5. "If you liked this book, then you may like these others as well" displays. 6. Drive-up book returns. 7. Librarians who actually have time in their lives to read, and who can personally recommend books to patrons as they get to know their interests. Monthly book review written by the librarian and posted in the library or in the newsletter. 8. Children's "twaddle" character books, spine out on the shelves. Good children's books face out. 9. Many, many detailed booklists in the children's section in a binder or posted on the wall for parents to view, "Books for children who like cats," "Books for children who like space travel," "Books for children who like the Middle Ages," etc. 10. Book displays (especially nonfiction) in the children's section that include real examples from the subject. E.g. The Eyewitness book: Crystal and Gem surrounded by a dozen crystalline rock specimens that the kids can handle. (Again, just another way increase patron awareness that a book exists.)

Buying a pasture raised turkey from a farmer (even better, a heritage breed) will yield a better bird. Of course it costs a mint and they are hard to come by, but if a bird needs to be heavily altered (brined or whatever) before cooking to taste good after cooking, it was of poor quality to begin with. (Yes, yes. I know. $$$ and scarcity, but if people start asking for pastured heritage birds, local farmers will raise them.) I'm thinking of raising my own in the not too distant future! Bourbon Red, anyone?

I am from Maine and can't wait to be moving back to western Maine in 2014. Bangor is much less "downtrodden" than it was when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. There is a wonderful Children's Museum, a fantastic folk music festival, a University with an art museum, and all sorts of performances and attractions, plenty of shops, galleries and restaurants, and a wonderful town nature park that houses a "National Unique Area" called the Orono Bog. Bangor has playgrounds, a good farmer's market, and great baseball (thanks to Stephen King). I wouldn't worry too much about the "stats" mentioned in some posts above. I am sure you will chose to live in a very family-oriented area. Mainers are down-to-earth, and a bit reserved, so while you won't be smothered with southern hospitality, you also won't feel any pressure to keep up with the Joneses. I am sure it will be different from what you are used to, but there will be plenty to keep you occupied. Plus you have Baxter State Park within easy reach to the north and Acadia National Park nearby to the south. The mountains and the sea. What more do you need? http://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org http://www.americanfolkfestival.com http://www.oronobogwalk.org http://www.collinscenterforthearts.com/season.php http://www.umma.umaine.edu http://www.bangormaine.gov/feed.php?num=6&news_id=255&feed_id=59 http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/index.htm http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

I just Googled "Five paragraph essay samples." Amongst some links to the worst-written student essays, I have ever seen, I saw this blog post from a teacher with his argument against the 5 paragraph essay. He suggests substituting instead a Aristotelian model of argument (such as found in Lost Tools of Writing or Writing with Skill). http://www.chicagonow.com/white-rhino/2012/05/if-you-teach-or-write-5-paragraph-essays-stop-it/

It might be difficult to find them, because the 5 paragraph essay doesn’t really exist outside a school setting. If you are interested in a program that delves deeply into the invention stage and focuses on developing a thesis statement and supporting points and arranges them much like a 5 paragraph essay, Lost Tools of Writing is a possibility. It is like a whole-to-parts version of Writing with Skill, a short-course in invention and arrangement. It does require a great deal of teacher preparation to use properly. You must listen to all the DVDs or CDs and go through each lesson before you start to teach it because the presentation is ungainly. There may also be some Christian content. Here is a contemporary persuasive essay that clearly demonstrates the use of supporting details. The author persuades herself (over a number of years) to change her position on something near and dear to her. Agree or not, the argument is clear and backed up with strong supporting details, thereby making a good teaching sample. Note: if your kids are sensitive. It might be too sad for them. http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/animal-lovers-dilemma-sustainable-farming.aspx#axzz2jBbRScZM

I couldn't help myself. [side note, this video was posted to YouTube by someone with the tag "parrothead." Can there be more than one?]

A lot of good advice, thank you. She is quite fearless, and definitely is not my highly sensitive child. (The sensitive once made me remove a book from our house once because he couldn't stand being in the same house as the picture of the scary troll.) She had no trouble with Rick Riordan because the good and evil characters were very distinct and the events within were so over-the-top she would never take them seriously enough to be upset by them. Harry Potter does sound different in tone than that and I am not sure how she'd react to a dark psychological storyline versus the violent heroes quest type storyline that she finds entertaining and not at all upsetting. Because of all of your good advice, I think what I will do is get book four and pre-read just that one to see if it would be okay for her, and if it is stop there. If it isn't, I will leave off at book three. She can always reread the beginning of the series when she is mature enough to complete it. We are out of the country in a place with limited bookstores, and Harry Potter was something they actually had in stock. I was hopeful it would last us a while.

I have heard that at some point in the Harry Potter series the maturity level and content take a leap upward (I assume as the character matures). I have an eight year old who has read the first three books and is eager to continue. Any advice as to where to pause for a while? She is not an easily frightened child, and has read all the Rick Riordan books. Or should I let her progress through at her own pace? I, have to admit, I am not a fan, and the idea of pre-reading the series is not on the top of my to-do list.

Quill, you can use kaolin clay instead of insecticides on apple trees with good results. http://www.groworganicapples.com/organic-orcharding-articles/surround-kaolin-clay.php/

I can, but I haven't had to since I was in grad school which was the last time I heated with wood. Steel-toed boots might go a long way toward assuaging your fear.

Your DH should insist on deadbolts. Have him explain that if anything ever happened to his family because of the substandard locks in the house, he would consider the landlord responsible. The mere presence of a dog should be a great deterrent, so let that comfort you. Consider him your knight and protector. I also realize intellectually that there is very little chance of someone breaking into our house, that doesn't stop the emotional response though, and I too have had some late nights patrolling the premises! Make a routine that comforts you. I would have a routine like this: lock doors and put chairs in front of them (if I had no deadbolts), lock windows, turn on security system (once you get it), leave lights on downstairs and the TV (sound off), Then I would bring my cellphone to bed with me (and if I had an older child I'd leave one by their bed too). I would leave my shoes and pants beside the bed with my car keys in the pants' pockets. Somehow this comforts me. Add in your dog, and you should be able to talk yourself down when you get worried. You have taken all possible precautions. Also, would it make you feel better to have the kids sleep in your room and install a bolt lock on the inside of your bedroom door. Don't lock it in case of fire (far more likely than a break in), just have it there for peace of mind that you could instantly create a safe-zone (at least for a few minutes). (Perhaps escaping down the fire ladder out your window?) Once you have your safety routine in place, go pat your knight and protector on the head and tell him you trust him to look after the family. Then go to sleep.

I've been some habit training books. One of which is The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg There seems to be two main points in all of them. 1. Write down what you are going to do every day. 2. Replace your nonproductive habit with your desired habit by keeping the trigger and the reward the same but changing the activity in the middle. So what are you doing instead of the dishes? Reading a book? Watching TV? What happens right before that? Identifying that thing will help you figure out your trigger. What happens immediately after the things you do instead of doing the dishes? That might be your reward. So right now you might be: (Trigger) Clearing the plates--(Habit) Watching TV-- (Reward) Cuddling with Kids or DH on Couch. You need to keep the trigger and the reward the same but substitute a new habit (this will actually rewrite the pathway in your brain, however the old pathway is always there in the background, waiting to trip you up! Especially when you are stressed. This is where following the to-do list comes in handy.) New series: (Trigger) Clearing the plates--(Habit) Do the Dishes--(Reward) Cuddling with Kids or DH on Couch.

Wasn't Bakers the brand that advertised ON ITS PACKAGE that it contained twice the amount of chocolate as its competitors?

My triggers include: Heat (especially a sudden change in the weather or barometric pressure change) Overstimulating visual input (a gift shop with many shiny patterns, an autumn foliage walk on a windy day) As soon as I notice the zig-zags (they are usually preceded by a spacy kind of feeling), I remove myself from the visual input (leave the store, put away the book, etc.), take advil or excedrin, drink a caffinated soda, and try to fall asleep in a cool, dark room. If I can do these things and fall asleep, the pain/nausea part of the migraine can be averted. Occasionally days just "feel like" they are going to be migraine days (weather change, upcoming trip to the mall, or that "spacey feeling"), and I take some preventative Advil.

Think outside the X-Box! What about getting Minecraft books and accessories in place of more software? My kids have read and re-read Pokemon and FInal Fantasy game books until the spines come apart. It doesn't replace their other reading. It seems to replace game time! Plus the accessories are all under the topic the child is interested in: Minecraft. So it will seem like you are respecting his true wishes for Christmas without just handing over more software. Just one of the many books on the topic: http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Players-Guide-Minecraft/dp/0789752239/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383904137&sr=1-8&keywords=minecraft There is a calendar too. http://www.amazon.com/Minecraft-2014-Calendar-Trends/dp/1438826486/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383904374&sr=1-1&keywords=minecraft+calendar Here is a minecraft Lego set http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Minecraft-The-Nether-21106/dp/B00EJOCB4G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1383904407&sr=8-3&keywords=minecraft A minecraft T-shirt http://www.amazon.com/Minecraft-Adventure-Youth-T-Shirt-Large/dp/B009OLG1WC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1383904407&sr=8-4&keywords=minecraft A minecraft wall torch (maybe they can explore outside at night with these) http://www.amazon.com/Minecraft-Think-Geek-Wall-Torch/dp/B00B0FV4FE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1383904407&sr=8-7&keywords=minecraft And a minecraft foam sword (to play outside with along with the torch!) http://www.amazon.com/ThinkGeek-8EA12-Minecraft-Foam-Sword/dp/B007BYEF5E/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1383904407&sr=8-8&keywords=minecraft

Zoobie is spot on. I remember the excruciating feeling (very similar to a fight or flight response--elevated heart rate, flushing of the skin, trouble breathing) of having to hand back all the scripted responses as an extremely introverted and shy child and young teen. The reason saying "thank you" for a gift is the easiest to work on is because the attention is directed toward the gift. When "you're welcome" is required chances are the person will be looking right at you. You are center stage, usually in a group, and they want something from you. That is the worst position for an introvert to be in. If the person then responded to my shy mutterings or non-response with what the OP's sister-in-law did I would have crumbled into tears. I would have also avoided that in-law whenever possible. Given that the SIL must have known the OPs children for a long while, one would think she would be sensitive enough to know them as people and not as etiquette automatons. I have also observed with some relatives that they delight in catching children in etiquette errors and pointing it out to the group. As, you know, shaming is such a good teaching tool! I believe these folks may be highly socially attuned (unlike my introverted self) able to monitor social situations to the degree that they catch any hint of anything being "off" and respond to it. It seems as painful to them not to hear "you're welcome" as it is to say "you're welcome" to the introvert. This kind of hyper-sociability is a very bad mix with introverted types. I try and protect my introverted child from these people as best I can. My extroverted child has no problem negotiating their social world and needs no protection. I help my introvert by extra practice in meeting the persons needs right before they arrive. Something like, "You know Auntie is particularly attuned to etiquette, so let's practice our please and thank yous before she comes." Then when the event that will trigger the tongue-tied shyness is about to occur, I whisper in their ear what is coming so they are prepared with the answer they know they are supposed to say, but that doesn't always come out of their mouths. I have also noticed in some (apparently not the OP's case) that this "calling out" children on manners is a type of parental one-up-manship. In at least one case, the offending relative clearly wants to demonstrate the superiority of her children's manners over my mom's. Ironically, while I was generally a thankful, polite child (even if my shyness sometimes made it hard for me to demonstrate) and a well behaved one, her outwardly polite children had character flaws of epic proportions that led them to self-destructive behavior in high school. Not that it is an either-or case, but in this one instance, a lighter hand on the public manners might have left this parent some energy to deal with far more important character issues. And I would never force a child to tell anyone they loved them even if they do! This is a set-up for future relationship problems and a circumvention of the natural "gift" of love. It is not a gift if it is coerced. p.s. By the time I was a middle to late teen, I was able to give back all the correct responses. It is a process. Give people in the learning process some grace.