My uncle (avid gardner & hunter) leaves a radio on low all summer long in his garden. It sits on a chair, covered with wheelbarrow. He says he's seen deer walk into his garden, and then out--without eating anything because they're too nervous about the people noise. Its on, but you can't hear it unless your standing right there in the garden. Bunnies, that's another story. He takes a roll of chicken wire, or small holed cattle panel stuff, and bends it into a bottomless triangle. He places that over the row. His garden is beautiful.

I remember this too. We'd been gone 4 years. Google "Third Culture Kids." There's a ton of information out there to help you and your family find a smooth transition. You're the ones who have to change, again. No one really wants to hear about your experiences. Well, maybe one sentence. But that's it--forever!

That sounds yummy! We have a ton of vines. I might have to add this to my list to try. Wasn't that what Anne of Green Gables friend got drunk on? :))

The smell has cleared. No I haven't thought of mead. I do keep bees so that might be the next step!

My first attempt is on the stove top being boiled with the sugar and other ingredients. I'll let it cool, add the yeast, and let it sit for 10 days. My kids say the house smells like puke. Is that what is supposed to happen? Dandelion Wine making is on my bucket list so I'm not too upset if it doesn't turn out. It's just one of those things you read about in historical fiction that makes you curious. I'm going to try elderberry too later this season. What other home brewing can I do this summer? They might make interesting Christmas presents too this year. :))

Eat your protein with Fat or Carb. Eat every 3 hours one of those combinations. Don't mix fats and carbs. That puts on the pounds

:thumbup1: My poochon (Poodle & Bichon mix) likes curl up and snuggle. When it's cold, he gets in the middle and lays on his back and snores. :))

My Grandpa was notorious for nicknaming everyone, Foxy, Booger, Toad, Boney, Spider, Pidge, Shorty etc, Those were nicknames for his wife and kids. I NEVER knew their adult legal names until I married and had to address invitations, "Mom, who is Lorrayne?! Aunt Pidge, really!" Haha, personally I"ve never used my legal name beyond paperwork. I have had at least 3 different nicknames that have been used over the past 40 years. Depending on who I was with my name changed. Not drastically, but different variations. When I turned 40, I picked one of those nicknames and worked hard to make it stick. Only my in-laws are having issues. :)) Only a couple of my kids have nicknames. Maybe I need to change that. :)

Our bad odor was a can of cat food one of the kids had lifted the tab on but didn't pull the lid up and off. EWWWewwww! It took me forever to figure out what and where. I always smelled it in one location. I just started moving & opening stuff until I found it. They'd stashed it under our big sectional. What were they thinking?

Also add Oregano essential oil. Put a dab on the soles of the feet, and behind then behind your ears. That's worked here.

Her name is Violet. :))

Yup, food and I don't get along. Truly frustrating. I can't eat too many greens, I can't eat sweets, I can't eat carbs. Those foods send my blood tests up and way out of normal ranges for everything. I was doing Paleo for a while. Then I started Trim Healthy Mama because it's opened a whole door for the right kind of sweets and carbs that my body will tolerate in small doses. Some of those were on the Paleo diet, but I didn't try them until recently. Since Feb. the scale has started moving down again. And I've got more energy than before. And my blood tests are getting so close to being normal again--instead of just improving. :)) Its all about tweaking until we find what works for us. Individuality is more than just skin deep.

I have to buy some canvas -- purple is the color of choice. We're making bridle bags. :))

Her claim to fame is in the Zippo line, I've been told? I am so totally clueless to all this horse stuff. I'm learning. I was hoping you'd chime in Remudamom! :)) She comes back from the trainer end of the month and hopefully by then we'll have it figured out something different. She's not known for a fast lope so calling her Zip, Zippy.... might earn a few chuckles that might make my kid think they're laughing at her not the name contradiction. :))

It's down to Indigo (Indy) or Violet (Vivvy) Still don't feel like we've found it. But that's where we've come

Buckskin or Dun -- we might have to do a hair test. Her papers say Buckskin. Her butt stripe says Dun. Yes, there's a nice black stripe down her back all the way to her tail. Our trainer/horse-mentor friend suggested the hair test to confirm. Half the folks who see her say buckskin, the other say she's Dun because of the stripe. Sigh, I don't really know. I'm just the mom.

I completely agree with moving into a 4H group and joining the Horse project. My daughter's lesson teacher is a former 4Her. Lessons are affordable. And no lease! For the 4H shows we have slowly been accumulating show clothing. When we don't have the teacher lends it to her for the show. I love having a horse-mentor person! This year we took a giant leap and bought a western pleasure horse. Our teacher helped us shop. We're thrilled. The plan is to keep our horse here at our place and either we or the teacher will trailer her to the Fair/drill team practices. At the end of last year's Fair season our trainer suggested a horse of our own since our daughter was stepping up her involvement. The trainer's horse is doubled-up with kids in two different age/grade groups. But this year those kids will all be in the same grade so they can't "share" him at the Fair. Usually different grades can use the same horse because they show according to grade. We don't have show tack...... yet. :)) This year will be all about adding that. But the network within 4H is huge. :)) People who's kids are moving off to college sell their stuff used. You know it's OK. We bought our daughter her show chaps this way recently. We spent $50 vs. $250 for them. Call your local extension office and talk to the secretary in the 4H office. She will get you contact information for the folks in Horse project. Since you have land, you might consider getting involved in the dog project too. Another animal to train. :)) Lots of fun. A good extension of his interest in animals.

Our virtual charter school is moving towards project based learning. For each of my kids grade levels I got a list of projects Each quarter is a different area of science. And there's a list of 1-8 projects in each. Stuff like building models, mixing chemicals, following a sythnetic item from creation-trash-recycled, experiments with force & velocity...... I am thinking a chemistry set will set me up to do most of their projects. And when I was looking around I saw physics, life science, and earth science kits too. Lots of options, but I didn't know which has a good rep or not. Literally I'm looking or k-12--I have kids in each level. Thanks!

Mango wants to name her new horsie, accidentally double posted the same thing, didn't know how to delete, so put a nm instead! Sorry, way too normal.

nm

She's a buckskin, or a dun. It could go either way. Dark/black mane and tail, light red body. Her barn name is Sissy. Registered name is Zipped Up N Shiney. It's my daughter's new horse for drill team & 4H Fair. The names we've come up with aren't good enough. Do you have some suggestions? Spirit Penny Pepper Stella Tootsie

Trim Healthy Mama I did paleo or a couple years. I always struggled because I just couldn't maintain it. I lost 30 lbs following paleo and then stalled. THM is a marriage of a lot of ideas but somehow seems more manageable and sustainable for the long haul. I really love the Singing Canary drink that's made with turmeric. There's a ton of support on their FB site and they also have a forum. It's a lot to wrap my head around, but one step at a time.

All sorts of snarky comments I could write for you to say to your MIL. Children are a blessing, period. We are an adoptive family so my blessings arrive differently. But I can tell you our last, unexpected, daughter has been the hugest blessing in our family. I cried the weekend she was born and we were told that we'd been given first right of refusal. I already had 4 children and it was so hard already! A medically fragile preemie was just about enough to put me in crazy land. DH and I went to see her at the hospital -- it was love. She's a perfect 6 year old. :)) I am still smitten. All of us are. Your life isn't your MIL's. It's OK that she feels uncomfortable with some of your choices in life. There are a ton of other decisions that would be worse. Maybe remind her of those! Alternatively, smile and say something like how hard it is to refuse her son when he gets that particular twinkle in his eye. Like the last time he chased you around the car in the garage/backyard/kitchen because you wore his favorite red dress/nightie/lingerie ...... Get all dreamy eyed and put your hand on your chest and sigh. Then pat your tummy and say, "It's so worth it!" :))

Do you do Netflix? I've enjoyed Land Girls, Call the Midwife, and Flyboys recently.

Has our TWTM principal mom checked in?