[Looking for a Particular Kids Phonics Book *Long shot*]

There are three books in the Alex and the Cat series. Only about 50 pages, though -- but maybe?

[Reaching the next level in Spanish...]

Telenovelas!

 

Seriously. Simple plots, recurring characters, but fast speech.

 

Also the news. You usually have a good idea of what the story is about which helps decoding.

[Vegetables for breakfast]

Most days I mix equal parts canned pumpkin and yogurt together for a yummy breakfast. That may be more sweet and/or carb-y than you're looking for -- but it's really good!

[Nature photography - what accessories are good to have?]

I agree. Only reason I would have a flash is that inevitably we are stopping to see friends on the way on our travels...and then it does help. :0)

 

A pop-up reflector set like this is handy for flowers and other small still things -- and those friends! (Park them outside too so you never need a flash...)

 

Tamron and Sigma are both excellent and comparable (or near comparable) brands if the Nikon lens you want is out of reach. I agree with a long telephoto lens for birding, but the really good ones are SO expensive. You need a low f-stop on it to be able to get enough light in for fast shutter speeds for sharp images, and that, plus VR and just length/range make them $$$. You might find that an affordable one works just fine for your purposes. If not, try renting a high end one to try -- or at least when it really matters. 

 

After very disappointing results from a once in a lifetime whale photo safari, I got rid of my telephoto and decided to just rent what I needed for special occasions. Eventually I decided that having the range for everyday shots was worthwhile -- knowing in advance that I wouldn't be blowing any shots from that lens up to 20"x30" or anything. 

 

I love my Lowepro sling bag and moved to it over my previous backpack. But a backpack is invaluable if you're hiking.

[Nature photography - what accessories are good to have?]

What's your budget? Do you have any lenses already? If it came with a lens, what lens is it?

[@ your Co-op - What is used for grade and assignment tracking/ mgmt?]

Because of that, ours switched this year to NEO (NEO Learning Management System, I believe).

[Ethical dilemma: extra item in with order, send back or keep?]

I truly can't imagine that even a very intentionally evangelical business would add a $55 item into an order, unrequested, as a means of proselytization.

 

I mean, it's still a business with a bottom line to attend to. A tract, maybe. An inexpensive flyer/booklet, yes. (Although these approach seem quite likely to create ill will rather than softened hearts, and I would guess most wise business owners would know that.) A moment of prayer over an order, yes. But not a high-end Bible.

 

Besides, what would they do to choose who received their evangelistic efforts? Run some sort of complex (expensive?) algorithm on customer purchase lists to determine who most likely isn't a Christian? :-) I think Occam's razor on this is inefficiency or inaccuracy in the packaging/shipping process.

 

I'm glad you were able to find a return box without too much headache and that they are sending you a label. I have had return situations that have been IMO unfairly onerous or expensive to me and it IS frustrating.

 

 

[Idea for water theme fiction]

What about one of Holling's books: Paddle to the Sea, or Seabird, or Minn of the Mississippi? Really more non-fiction but IIRC there's a storyline to carry them. It'd be fun and easy to do as a book club because you could track the journeys, add in some geography activities, etc...

[Bravewriter Online: Graded or Not]

Thanks to each of you! Your thoughts and experiences were very helpful to me. I'm glad to know the grading is gentle as that's what we'd need in this situation.

[Bravewriter Online: Graded or Not]

Title says it all, really. Have you had your high-schooler receive a grade for a BW course? If so, what did you think of the grading?

 

My teen is taking a BW course for the first time, and it's mainly to get over an enormous mental hurdle of getting.words.on.paper. So I'd hate to derail or upend the process by worry about grade instead of focus on process.

 

OTOH, a grade is handy for record-keeping and grade legitimacy.

 

So what have you done, and are you glad with the choice you made?

[Recommendations for best home waxing product for hair removal]

I like Parissa's Wax Warmer and Studio Warm Wax, both available from Amazon.

[Fewer junior year credits]

Nm

[Academic Planners With Vertical Columns (not appointment)?]

We use this one from Rainbow Resource. Simple AND cheap, no clutter, VERTICAL. I'm with you -- it's gotta be vertical. 

[looking for earth science/astronomy/creation resources- no Apologia or Answers in Genesis]

Castalia House's high-school level Astronomy course is a secular course (using a college text called Astronomy Notes), but includes an optional Biblical supplement from a Christian/theistic evolution POV.

 

We're only through the first chapter of the textbook and the first section of the Biblical supplement but we are really enjoying it and I'm very impressed with it. 

 

Actually the  "Six Days of Genesis" presentation that the course schedules is available at sixdayscience.com. It's a Powerpoint presentation based on material "inspired by The Science of God by Dr. Gerald Schroeder, a book we highly recommend."

[Family Boat Vacation]

What about a sail on a schooner? I bet your son would like that and it would be educational. They feed you, you help sail the ship, the scenery is great, and you don,t have to know anything to do it.

 

Nan

 

That sounds fabulous too, and we historically are more saltwater people than fresh. How long would/could a sail like that be? I'd love to play with that idea some more.

[Family Boat Vacation]

Y'all are really making houseboats sound appealing! :-) The Canal boats especially strike a chord with me. I'd thought about a European trip but I'm not sure that's in the cards -- so I was really excited to see the Erie Canal option. But canal boating in England sounds so amazing! I could combine with my bucket list trip to Canterbury and some moors hiking... Oh wait! It's supposed to be ds's trip... :-)

 

 

 

 

[Family Boat Vacation]

I asked my kid who'll be all grown up soon and presumably out of the house in a couple of years to tell me what his dream/bucket list family vacation would be before he flies the coop.

 

He said, "Something on a boat." He likes the idea of sailing, but it doesn't necessarily have to be that. Just boat and water.

 

Now, I don't know if it's actually going to be a real possibility to do anything -- it will depend a lot on dh's work schedule, when we move next, if dh has to move alone and we have to keep up 2 households for a year... And of course on how much we can save.

 

And even in a best case scenario, we're still looking at something more akin to "budget travel" than "luxury accommodations."  

 

(I took a peek at some yacht charter companies and the drop-down menus for price range *started* at close to our max and went up to "I've bought HOUSES for less than that!!")

 

With all that said, I'm looking for some creative ideas on various kinds of family boat vacations. Things that would appeal to a wide age range. Something that would allow for some learning/skill building/new experiences. Maybe some cultural/educational opportunities.

 

Any ideas? Thanks!

[Oh man, what have I agreed to? (Update in #218)]

Yes, you're out of your mind. And your post made me feel infinitely better about the schedule I've agreed to for this semester, which I only *thought* was insane until I read your post. :-)

 

That said, in your shoes I'd ask your son to see if he could pay someone else to drive him some. Does he have a co-worker he could give gas money to for rides home late at night? Could he set up a recurring Uber schedule/driver for rides home? That would be money *well* spent!

[Middle names that go with Rose?]

(not from your list, lol!)

 

Rose Elaine

Rose Arabelle

Rose Lenore

 

(Although I'd probably go for Rosemary instead)

[Banana bread fail? What would you do?]

Have you seen that video circulating on FB where Bobby Flay toasts slices of banana bread in a waffle iron, then tops them with bananas foster? It looks crazy good and decadent and would solve your problem! :-)

[Suggestion of Ocean or Nautical Themed Poetry for Co-Op Class]

There's a nice selection of "in the sea" poems in the Nat Geo book of nature poetry.

[History is just okay - should we press on?]

I understand your perspective exactly. I've actually used Notgrass for middle school US history and now we're starting From Adam to Us. Notgrass got annoying -- it felt light, non-cohesive and *too* Christian. 

 

However, it offered some important positives for us: My very visual daughter really appreciates the photographs and artwork. She can and does read the text herself, and then does the workbook questions, which is really good practice for her in careful reading for content and comprehension.

 

But having done it for US history, I knew it just didn't offer *enough* overarching.... timeline?... of history. So we are intentionally splitting up the one-year program into (at least) two. Alongside Notgrass, she listens in to CHOW with her younger sib. (Her choice; I also offered her  - and may require by next year - reading and/or listening to SOTW). And I'm really pondering the Great Courses "The Fertile Crescent to the American Revolution"  for some visual/lecture type of instruction. (I know this seems like quite a list but remember I'm spreading it out!)

 

And with younger sib, we're doing the fun hands-on things our family always does as we work through world history. So we're embarking on our third time through making papyrus, and we'll mummify an orange, and make togas and mosaics and... We also have a standard list of read-alouds we do (mostly drawn from Sonlight) like Detectives in Togas and Mara, Daughter of the Nile. All those things *really* bump the fun factor and make it meaningful.

 

(Don't forget about field trips either!)

[Something that will sleep two adults and takes up very little room]

Oh! So - when you pull it out, the 2nd mattress goes OVER the drawers (so the stuff can still stay in the drawers?). Oh, my goodness, I need one or 3 of these.

 

Yes, the drawers are still usable when it's pulled out.

[Something that will sleep two adults and takes up very little room]

Yes, the Hemnes pulls out to a king -- it's a twin in its daybed position, and then you pull out the extension that's the same size, so you end up laying two twin mattresses side by side.

 

IKEA calls it a "double" because, you know, Euro-speak....  :-)  For Americans, two twins = king!

[Visually, which bedding goes better together?]

That pottery barn one you just linked would be *very* nice! It also has the great advantage of being a very non-feminine floral IYKWIM, if that's a balancing act/issue for you.