I want to make a trial run at a crocheted bag (think D&D dice) for dd1, then if I can get the shape right do it again with silvery metallic thread. Pattern is shaped like a dragon's egg with scales. Knit a soap saver bag, washcloth and make some fresh soap to enter in the County Fair in March. Learn to use the fancy electronic programmable embroidery sewing machine I picked up on Craigslist. Make a set of panties and maybe a bra.

I am a leaf on the wind

'Oh Captain, My Captain" while standing on a desk

so sorry, but may I say your comment made my evening? :laugh: My husband has many many gifts, laundry is not one of them.

I don't believe anyone's 100% a d**k. (I wasn't sure on the board's position on that word so I erred with caution, I didn't want to be a d**k :lol: )

Ask at your local extension office, they usually have good information on all kinds of local pest control. Or ask at a reptile based pet store, (not a generic store with puppies, kittens, etc). You are right that many snakes act as snake control, snakes can be relocated and some reptile shops might be able to set you up with local herp-lovers. I would not advise using dogs as snake control, they don't usually have good snake sense and have heard of way to many people having to take dogs into the Vet ER for snake bite. Cats, on the other hand, :thumbup1: seem to have excellent snake sense. My guys have brought several impressively sized snakes to the back door. Mostly teach the kids cautions since even the best control program can fail and it is better to learn to avoid snakey places. ETA: sorry MeAndTheBoys, we seem to be on opposite tracks. :) We may have had different experiences with dogs and snakes... ha OP: best to ask local folks who know the critters in your area.

My goodness 67_others have you been following me all my life. :lol: Your post is a long list of been there/seen that/done that for me! Yes, to the teachers that don't actually teach them the basics (seat, legs, hands) Yes, to the wild and various ways some people violate basic safety and common sense. and yes to the fact that my dd learned a lot from each of the situations she was in, both the good and the 'good grief what was I thinking" places. I started to underline specific sentences and say 'I agree' but decided to just :grouphug: the whole post.

Safety! Are the students required to wear shoes at all times around the horses and helmets when riding? Believe it or not this is not always the case. Care for the animals! Are the horses well fed and tended? Do they receive vet care? Stalls or some kind of shelter not just open pasture? Are the facilities clean and well maintained? Style, teaching - What are your dd's interests? Western trail riding, English, Jumping, stable usually have a focus. Your dd's preference is quite likely to change. We started with a fun ride western stable and ended up in a very demanding Hunter Jumper Show stable. Do not buy a horse or commit to a lease for the first few years until she knows what she prefers. :glare: We ended up owning a sweet, smallish trail ride quarter horse and paid boarding at the same time that our daughter was leasing and riding a huge warmblood jumper (the dude in the picture). We had tons of different experiences, 4H, Girl Scout Horse Camp, trail rides, gymkanas (spelling?) and formal shows. Yes... it was worth it.

In my experience, it lasts... sigh and :laugh: I was a horse kid and my youngest dd is a horse kid (that is her in my avatar) You can do occasional trail rides and camps for now, and start lessons etc when she is 11 - 13. Most serious trainers around here prefer students to be at least 12. There is an amazing range of price/time/commitment. From 4H clubs and fun shows to Hunter Jumper Equestrian. Start casual and find her interests. Set a budget, this is a hobby that can eat up your life and money but it can also be very very worth it.

Thanks for the clarification. Sad about not finding a tarn expert. ha :) The studio and dyeing and spinning sounds wonderful. I tried a beginner's spinning class this year. (My friends thought I meant the stationary bicycle class - I nearly died laughing). I am stilling finding my way around textiles and fibers, I keep getting distracted by how many beautiful options are out there. Thanks again. :)

Arctic Mama - may I ask what you did with 'production levels of tarn'? I find the idea of tarn making fascinating but am not sure what I would do with it afterward. I have considered crocheted rugs but would love more ideas. Also, can you use seamed t-shirts for tarn or only the seamless kind?

Of course, I routinely give new undershirts to my husband. I buy a nice mid-range brand not super cheap. After Christmas the new one go in the drawer and I sort out the ratty ones. My girls get pretty things from Victoria's secret or AE. I do not understand why people frown at practical gifts. One of my favorite gifts in the past was expensive sheets. I enjoy them every single day that they are on the bed. I want something I can USE that is a step or two nicer than I would buy regularly. :)

I know I am posting to an old thread, but I just saw this. This is me too! I actually had to sit one afternoon and weave and trim loose ends on a dozen projects I was sending out as gifts. One of the ladies at my knitting group has 'finished off' half of my projects. OTH I don't mind casting on or tying in new yarn.

and now another project for my list. I looked these up, they look wonderful. I seriously need to stop reading this thread, before I am booked up through NEXT Christmas

I had to look up 'flat rats' to see what you were making. So cute... I want to make these too.! Thanks...I really needed more projects right now (tiny bit of sarcasm, yet still delighted with the idea of a flat rat scarf).

Ruth Beechick's Strong Start in Language - the book is deceptively small and is theoretically aimed at K-3 but it contains some basic concepts that are really worth the time. Follow up with her " You Can Teach Your Child Successfully (all subjects 4th - 8th) and How to Write Clearly. Really though the Strong Start is probably around 20 - 30 pages and is extremely useful.

This is us. We put of the tree a day or two before Christmas (often on Christmas Eve itself) and leave it up through Epiphany. I have many friends that put their tree up the day after Thanksgiving and take it down the day after Christmas. I tell them 'I have a Christmas tree, you have an Advent tree" :) As far as Epiphany goes, I was told it marked the three Kings, but recently I have read that it celebrates Christ's baptism by John the Baptist and the appearance of the dove. Either way, my family has always observed Advent (lighting the candles each week) and Lent (special study or giving something up) as major components of Christmas and Easter.

Shopper caution alert! I used to recommend Prismacolor pencils. I bought them for my girls, they were a huge step up from 'craft supply' color pencils but were not as insanely expensive as the professional artist supplies. However! they have changed the formulation (no change to packaging or price of course). They are no longer as smooth and consistent. You are still paying above average price but no longer getting the above average quality. Don't bother with them anymore. Sorry, I wish I had a suggestion for a good student quality replacement.

I agree on the difficulty of buying s good quality used car. If you don't have the cash for one that works well you end up spending even more in repairs. You also run the risk of missing work due to an unreliable car and could lose your job. Therefore, people end up in debt and within a year the car is worth less than the remainder of the loan. We did find one solution for our daughter, we had a credit union that gave her (with our cosign) $3500 personal loan (5% interest). She bought a reliable older car and makes payments of $70 per month. We could not afford to buy a car for her, she needed to get to and from a job and school. She was only able to do that because we had been with the credit union for 25 years and could cosign. But it was a good solution to the "need a reliable car to keep a job, need to work extra to pay for the car" trap.

May I say Ford is my favorite. :) He took over after Nixon's resignation just as my interest in national politics was starting. He seemed like a kindly, inoffensive, gentleman type after all the anger of Watergate. I was young but interested in politics and tired of the 'hearings'. He wasn't destined for greatness but he was a good man. :)

I often buy shirts and tops at thrift stores. If they have been worn a few times and been through the wash and still look nice enough to buy that is a big plus. Too many of the shirts I buy new at the mall shrink, pill, fade or warp in the wash. This way I know they will last a while.

I go to a local assisted living facility and knit with the ladies there every Friday. We have coffee and chat and knit. :001_smile: Small of us work on our own projects but most of the ladies knit 6 x 6 squares that I (and some other volunteers) piece into baby blankets. We add hats and booties and donate the sets to one of the local high schools and to some area shelters. On my own projects, I am making scarves and fingerless gloves for one of my daughters. I also plan to make knitted cotton dishcloths, crocheted tulle pot scrubbers and lined sandwich bags for myself and for house warming gifts. I just took a spinning class and bought some wool roving and a spindle. That will be my next thing. ETA: In non-yarn news, I am also making homemade liqueurs, does that count?

thanks, that was fun

All my favorites! yay! Firefly/Serenity - sob Castle Dr Horrible Sing A Long Blog - watch immediately. Available on line in three 15 minute segments. Love Felicia Day

I am going to add the 'American Conservative' to this list. I am a political moderate with social liberal leanings :cool: , in a deep red religious conservative county. This magazine, print and online, has excellent writing and gives well thought out discussions of many issues. http://www.theamericanconservative.com/