Wonderful English muffin selection from Wolferman's. I learned about their website last year from this board, and they are good enough to be going again this year to four different lucky recipients! Michelle T

My 13 year old DS would also spend every waking moment on the computer or playing video games. Some other options he enjoys: making videos with his Flip camera, or the built in camera in the Mac watching football games setting up little soldier guys in complicated war scenarios playing with our dog listening to music on his iPod Shuffle texting or talking to friends on the phone I would love to get him involved in more hobbies, but he is extremely resistant to anything hands-on. Michelle T

with a fairly large card selection would have something like that. Heck, even a place like Target might, if you look in the section with individual cards, not the boxed holiday card area. Michelle T

My MIL sends lots of odd, unwanted gifts. I just take them all to the Goodwill for donation. I can't imagine throwing them in the actual trash. Michelle T

Those of you who have used SOTW 3 and 4 with upper elementary or middle-school age kids, how did that work out? Did they enjoy the books, or find them juvenile? At what pace did you read through the books? What additional books or materials did you use? The SOTW tests? Is the AG worth it for this age group? Any other suggestions on using SOTW 3 and 4 with older kids? TIA! Michelle T

I can assure you, anti-semitism is alive and well in this country. You would not believe how common it is, actually. There is absolutely no shortage of Christians who hate Jews. You would not believe the stories I hear from other Jews on the Jewish homeschoolers list. Michelle T

Her name is Cornelia, but we usually just call her Snakee. Don't really know if it is male or female, but since it is a very pretty snake, I think of it as female. She is all orange, even her tongue and eyes. Cornelia was just a little skinny ribbon when we got her, she's about 4' long now! She has never shown any sign of aggression, and is easy to hold. It sounds like you have everything you need. I use the frozen mice too, no way I was going to feed live mice. You will be starting with the pinkie mice, our snake eats adult size now. Corn snakes are easy to raise, and interesting to watch. Michelle T

Martin Luther was intensely anti-semitic, and had no problem suggesting Jews be put to death. Since he was the founder of Protestantism, in a sense that entire branch is "tainted", although I am sure there are individual denominations more current that aren't specifically anti-semitic. Catholicism certainly has a hardcore history of brutality against the Jews. Pope John Paul II tried to reach out and amend that, but you are asking about history, not just current. Michelle T

I'm using it with an older child who needs remediation. He is enjoying it fairly well. I do not assign all the various dress-ups, I just discuss ways he could add more interesting words to liven up his writing. It does seem pretty light, it isn't much writing on its own. My DS has other writing each day, usually a paragraph related to science or history, or a freewrite. I am adding in a lot of extra practice with some of the supplemental material IEW sells. I like it well enough that I will probably use another of their theme books when we finish this one. I don't have the TWSS, but am managing to understand well enough without it. Michelle T

I'm Jewish. If I received a proselytizing letter from a friend, it would go into the trash, and I'd be hesitant to spend time with that person. If you are sending it to fellow Christians, maybe it would be great. Michelle T

Other than Sonlight cores 6 and 7, what history curriculums schedule the SOTW books? Especially for older elementary age? Michelle T

I'd consider them tacky, suggestive, maybe risque, but not p0rnographic. It's hard to define p0rn, as different people have different attitudes. I'd generally define it as something that shows graphic s*xual action, and is intended to have a s*xual response. The term "soft p0rn" is often used for material that isn't hardcore, graphic stuff, but still intended to arouse. Michelle T

I'm contemplating using Sonlight Core 7 with DS, 13, next year (starting in March). I'd love to hear from anyone who has used this core. What did you think of the readers and read alouds? Interesting? Age appropriate? How is SOTW 3 and 4 for this age group? And what about reading through them so fast? What is the language arts like in this core? I know it is included. Is it mainly grammar, or also writing? Are the writing assignments clearly explained? Any other comments? TIA! Michelle T

Thanks for the suggestions! I have written them down, and will be heading to Target today to start looking for relief! I am also going to find the humidifier packed away somewhere in the garage and start running it daily. It is miserable to be so itchy! Like torture at night. Hopefully one of these moisturizers will do the trick. Michelle T, covered in scratches

I use an inexpensive moisturizer made for acne prone skin. Then I use a little bit of Mineral Veil as a prep, then the mineral foundation. I use the BM concealer brush to dab tiny bits of foundation on any acne spots or dark areas that need cover up. Then a bit more Mineral Veil over the top. Takes very little time, unless I have a lot of pimples that need covering! I don't use blush anymore, but did not like the BM blush back when I did. Warmth was too dark for my skin. I would say you do need a kabuki brush, and a brush for the Mineral Veil. I have both of those from BM. I also have their concealer brush. Michelle T

At Hanukkah/Christmas (we celebrate both in our house) I often order or buy my own gifts, and then hand them to DH to wrap up and "give" me. Or if it is something I don't need to try on or buy myself, I will give him a list of very clear, specific items to choose from. I've been known to hand him the sale flyer from Target with desired items circled in red. I learned years ago that this was the best way to actually get something I want and like. DH does usually get me a couple of small things he chooses on his own, too. I recommend you telling your DH (in a loving way of course, not rudely) just what it is you would like, and even where he can buy it. Michelle T

For the past few years, my skin has been itchy in the winters. Very annoying. But this year it is driving me INSANE! My arms are so itchy I actually have scabs and torn, red spots all over. My legs and stomach itch and also have actual scratches. I am unable to sleep at night, the itching is so bad. I've been using anti-itch lotion on my arms, but still no real relief. I hate the feel of greasy moisturizer/lotion on my skin, but I am desperate. Help! What are the best brands of moisturizer that don't feel horribly greasy or sticky, but will help with this winter-dry, itchy torture? Michelle T

LOL! I was actually reading my RR catalog in bed last night, placing sticky tabs on quite a few pages! Wasn't planning on ordering for a couple months though.... maybe I will have to rethink that decision! Michelle T

How religious is MC? Is it very easy to adapt for secular use, or is the religion a fairly integral part? Michelle T

The Wii is more child-friendly, lots of games for the younger crowd, and lots of movement involved in many of them. Wii is not particularly spectacular in the graphics department, which doesn't bug younger kids as much. My DS is 13, and begging for an XBox 360. He is not thrilled with our Wii. Michelle T

Around 15 years back, I developed HORRIBLE pain in my side, could barely breathe, hurt to move, etc. Doctor first thought I had inflammation in my breast bone, but after pain just didn't go away, I had a bone scan done. Turned out I had two cracked ribs on my right side. All the doctor could think was that I had broken them coughing, as I had done absolutely nothing else that might have caused it. Anyway, no, nothing was done, other than pain meds as needed, and trying to be as careful as possible about not stressing the area. I did use a big ACE bandage to provide pressure, which helped a bit. Hope you feel better soon! Michelle T

It's a very common problem with bird feeders. Rodents have no problem generally in getting to the feeder itself, or else they feed on all the seed that invariably falls out and lays on the ground underneath. I now keep just one platform feeder. Each morning, I put a handful of food in it, and the birds easily finish it off before afternoon. That way, there isn't food sitting in the feeder overnight, when the rodents are likeliest to roam. This has solved most of the problem, although there is still some seed that scatters on the ground. Michelle T

We have a Horizon Elite 1.3T. I am thinking it cost less than $1,000, maybe around $600 or so? It's been a couple years, so I've forgotten. We got it at a exercise equipment store. I admit, after the first several months, I rarely used it, and in fact it's probably been close to a year since I've been on it. Michelle T

dusty olive sounds like a warm-based color, and blue-grey a cooler color. I wouldn't mix warm and cool colors where the rooms will all be seen, I think it might clash. I'd either stick with just the olive in some rooms and the yellow in others, or if I really wanted a third, I would find a blue with a warm umber to it. I would not do a fourth color, no more than three. And I'd keep the trim the same throughout the entire house. My house is mainly a buttery yellow, with a soft green in the bedrooms. White trim and ceilings throughout. Michelle T

We will be starting some sort of new writing curriculum to accompany the tweaked version of IEW I use. Teaching Textbooks 6. Finishing up our U.S. history studies, and then starting some sort of world history. Starting up a year or two of religious studies, Judaism in our case. Michelle T