In addition to paying attention to how tall your ceiling is, consider the diameter of the tree. We just went by how our tree looked in the store, and it was on display way high up, so we couldn't even stand next to it to get a physical sense of how wide it was. If I were buying a tree now, I'd measure in my house how much space I'd want it to take up, and then check the dimensions in the store (on the box or sign). Ours is not prelit, and is the type that you take apart branch by branch. Then the trunk is in 3 pieces. We had to relabel most of the branches--they're numbered, and many of the paper tags have fallen off over the years. We just replaced them with masking tape and numbered those. I grew up with real Christmas trees, so for a long time I really didn't want an artificial one. But it was dh's job to vacuum the fallen needles, and one year he put it off too long, and when he finally did vacuum them, it clogged the vacuum so bad (several times--he was able to unclog it), that it finally killed the vacuum. MY vacuum. The one I got for free before we met because of an awesome deal where I bought a sewing machine & got the vacuum free. And it was a good one.:glare: So no real tree anymore for us. :)

I grew up in small towns (populations were 447 and 461 at the last census). Mom planned ahead for big shopping trips to a larger city--usually 1/2 hour away. This included grocery shopping and any other errands/shopping that needed to be done. It was not about shopping out of boredom or buying unnecessary things. It was about going to better stores and getting it all done in one trip. I'd say she probably did this once or twice a month. Trips to a local grocery store (a couple miles away from home for the first town, and 2 blocks in the second), were for buying milk, eggs, cheese, etc. between big trips to the city. If I went to the mall, it was a special thing, and something that hopefully I had money saved up for. So I might spend larger amounts, but it was because those mall trips were generally few & far between.

Then I'd go with the appraiser. Seems more likely to do a quick pic and run. Google maps gets more photos of the street, anyway. Wondered how they got those shots--the camera on the car makes sense. Probably swivels around.

That's what I thought, but if you just moved, it could be appraisers also.

Some more reasons...

Here are some bits from another blog entry of hers (titled "More Clarification"): Point C especially shows why she didn't buy a week or more supply up front. I recall from some of her day-to-day posts that she had a store where she could buy things like salt in bulk--the type of bulk where you can scoop a bit and just pay for that (as opposed to buying a huge bag-type of bulk).

Since you mentioned it, can I ask--and this is just curiosity (I read your comment with a bit of the crazy person look on my face, but not thinking you're crazy, just trying to understand what you meant)--do you mean you're physically intolerant (get ill in some way or other), or religiously intolerant, or ethically intolerant? Does it include all mammals like pork? (which we don't call red meat)

Are you referring to the dollar a day project? I think she explains it in her blog, but I don't remember offhand the reason. In her "project rules" she says that she allowed herself to spend up to $2 the first day, and up to $1.15 each day after that, but still requiring that she stay within $30 total for the whole 30 days.

I'll say! We made one once and it was just about unbreakable!

There's a blog I used to read where the woman did a dollar a day project for 30 days (this was 3 years ago). She's the only one in her household, but it would be $1/person/day if there were more. It was a very interesting read. So she had $0.33/meal if she ate 3 meals per day. Here's the index of posts.

That would double my grocery budget, and we buy meat & veggies, and lately very little starchy/sugary stuff.

:grouphug:

I would never want someone to eat something at my house that they're sensitive or intolerant to. I'd be very upset that you 1) think it's ok to make yourself sick (migraine & stomach cramps counts as sick), and that 2) you think I can't handle you not eating something I served. ETA: I realize some people can't handle it (the same ones that don't think allergies exist, try to get you to eat something you're allergic to, or think you'll outgrow it), but don't do it (eat it) for them, do it (avoid it) for you.

She didn't say they'd be standing on the side. They'd still be participating in the cheer, but be moving from side to side during the cheer--you know, move their feet to move the whole body back & forth, instead of just the hips/butt.

This can happen when you suddenly reduce your carb intake. It's called the "low carb flu." If you slowly reduce carbs, you'll feel much better and your body will adjust to having a lower blood sugar.

Yes...think about it...what can corn be used for? Flour and sugar. If you consider it a sweet veggie, then don't eat it. Starch and sugar are both turned into glucose in the body. An excess of glucose is stored as fat.

I put mine on their tummies to sleep. With dd8 I tried to put her on her back, but it didn't work. She couldn't sleep that way. Before finally letting her sleep on her tummy, I would let her sleep in her infant carrier or a swing--propped up, she seemed to sleep better than lying completely flat, possibly because she spent 12 days in the hospital nursery propped up and got used to it. We also co-slept quite a bit. I don't know what age she was when she would finally sleep in her own bed/bassinet, but it was before 1 year. Don't know if that's much help. I let dd6 sleep on her tummy sooner, but also co-slept with her first.

Ruth, Rose, leeyeewah, anyone else... do you have science curriculum or other books that you'd recommend that teach science in the way you've discussed in this thread? (ones that do a better job differentiating between demo & experiment, for example)

15-permit, 16-license (in MI). I attended a private school, went to the local public school for driver's ed.

If there was a composite score for this test, she'd definitely be above the 25%. Yes, you still qualify for homeschooling in OH. Just copy it and send the copy in. They can figure it out at a glance.

I'm in Ohio, and we use the CAT. Both of my dc took the CAT last year, but apparently the kindergarten CAT is a little different than the older grades (both the tests and result sheets are different). Dd8's test results have a composite score; dd6's do not. I don't think writing to them would get you a composite score on that one--I don't think there is one. I just make a copy of the test results and send it in. I have heard of just copying parts of the result sheet--covering parts with plain paper, but I never have. Dd8 even has a low score in one area, but her composite score is good; the district doesn't say anything.

:iagree: Dh is in insurance too, and I believe they have a separate endorsement.

I would not call, I would send a typewritten letter detailing all of this and send it certified mail with return receipt. Definitely mention the dangers to both human & horse, as well as the cost of potential vet bills and liability issues.

No no no...you must have forgotten...you throw the napkins away in her kitchen trash. ;)

I don't know about Costco (don't go), but I typically find CO in more than one place in the grocery stores I go to. You may find it in the baking aisle, the natural foods section, and the pharmacy area (the supplement or diet section, I think).