sometimes they quit laying when it's really hot. Sometimes it's when the days get shorter (not enough daylight). I just know ours go through phases where they stop laying eggs, unfortunately :) Alison in KY

Leila, I want your muffin recipe please. Is it with fresh milled wheat? Alison in KY

Wow, Dayle's post said it so well.

I haven't looked at very much of the political threads here. Lack of time and the knowledge that I tend to get bent out of shape keeps me away. However, I know exactly where you are coming from. In my area and I guess I assumed it was everywhere, if you are a Christian then you should also be a Republican...like you cannot be a Christian and be a Democrat. I do not understand that. I am not a well read very involved in politics person, however it just always seemed to me that Republicans are Christian because they are against abortion and against large government telling you how to behave...but then Democrats are the ones trying to "save the earth" (and we all know who created the earth) and diminish or put limits on guns (which can kill you and that's obviously a sin). I know that's generalizing the issues but that is the way it appears in my neck of the woods. I was just telling my husband last night how frustrated I get when I hear people like Sean Hannity slamming others, making fun, etc....when he's supposed to be a Christian man. It all just gets ridiculous and is a big turn off. Okay, I can't even think of what my point is in all of this. I guess I mean that those who are speaking up and claiming God should not be worshipping anything else, including political parties...and that's the way it tends to come across to me. We need to represent our faith better, but I guess it's always a work in progress (at least I am a work in progress). Alison in KY

uh notebook? what are you doing exactly with a notebook? My kids are 9, 7, and5. I don't even think my younger two will half listen to RA's, but I'm going to try. I was just going to do the RA's with SOTW 3 and CHOW, plus a scarce few RA's I can get fromour library. Then maybe a timeline and showing them on the map where everyone was coming from and going to. Anthing else that a more creative person can come up with?

How do you lay out a general plan for going through a book in one year? I'm not big on planning. I'm looking at their American History for young students 1 and it has 51 chapters/main subjects to cover. There is so much here. I'm not going to make out a plan for each week, because I find that it will be just time wasted since I'll get off track so quickly. I'm just looking for a general idea on what has worked for some of you. Thank you, Alison in KY

I'm certainly no expert so take it for what it's worth. A good friend last year was complaining that her daughter hated doing their phonics program. She was in 1st grade and was reading Charlotte's Web :) I have a 9 yr old who still can't read charlotte's Web. I guess that their reading would be my gauge. I personally thought phonics was simply a means/aid to help children learn to read. If your kids can read okay and they don't really enjoy doing the phonics program then I'd drop it. Some kids are natural readers and I think they never pick up a phonics program. Somewhere in there your phonics rules basically become spelling rules anyway, so spelling lists will cover any loopholes. I'll be curious to see what some of your answers are. Alison in KY

Thanks ladies, looks like I'll have to bring in some extra practice to let this sink in. Alison

My ds who is 9 has just completed his first Handwriting Without Tears cursive book. I know the writing looks quite different but it didn't bother me because everyone makes cursive their own at some point. And I believe he could read this cursive style easier. However, it doesn't stick with him. What do you do to get your kids actually writing with cursive? Do you print off extra sheets and have them practice extra in this case. It seems like he's fine when he copies it, but he can't come back and do it without a model. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you, Alison in KY

We sailed through primer for awhile. I really thought it was a wonderful math book. It looked way easy in front, but it really got involved towards the end. IMHO what will slow you down is that when you get about halfway through alpha, before you start subtraction, Mr. Demme suggests you make sure your kids know their addition facts. Math facts always slow us down. IF I waited for my kids to know them perfectly I'd still have my 9 yr old in alpha :glare: but at some point you just decide to surge ahead. Alpha is good stuff! Alison in KY

Uh Remuda mom, how do I gird up my loins...I'm happier just hearing that even though I'm not quite sure what it means... Yuck, that's how I feel. To top it all off, no, my kids don't really like this woman and a couple of her kids either...and I really, truly, honestly don't think they have ever heard me say anything negative about her. I keep that stuff quietly between dh and myself. Plus, this woman is quite outspoken and a take charge type, so even though there are tons of sweet sweet women involved it still doesn't seem to equal out:tongue_smilie::tongue_smilie: I know I sound like a ninny...but but but it's like future television and you just picture how bad it can be because you've been there and done that before. You've been grumpy with your kids because you instantly get stressed and tense when she's close by. I know it sounds crazy. I have never ever felt this way. I've not really cared for people, but I've never felt like I need to put on a suit of armour to deal with someone. Our preacher has spoken about "representing" by being very good, even if your boss, etc is being a jerk to you. Like who should be able to get you down if you are heading to Heaven, etc. I guess that's my answer, but I don't like it...instead of run Forrest run, it's run Fleshly-Self run! Alison in KY

If you were considering an activity for your children, then you see the one person in town that you feel like you don't get along with, would you chalk it up to being a God lesson and handle it as well as possible and go forward with joining, or would you just not do it? I felt really excited today about starting something with the kids, then the other mom walked in and I felt deflated and just bad. I don't want to feel like this, I don't want to feel chased away, I want to be a big girl and make God say well done....but I really don't want to get involved. Call it self defense but I just have a hard time being around this person. There is bad history there and while I think she isn't evil or anything she is just one of those people I feel like I will never see eye to eye with. There will always be those comments in the back of my mind, etc. that she has made, and she can easily dominate a meeting, etc with her outspokeness. Am I a whimp or smart or what? What would you do, is there anyone like that you know...in your Christian homeschool group no less. Thanks

bump

Thank You!

I saw Heather asking for meal ideas and I always feel like I'm in the same rut. 3:30 arrives and I have no idea what we're having for supper. I'm tired of the same old thing, but so many of my cookbooks just aren't simple enough. I want basic ideas plus some good simple recipes. I really like the hillbilly housewife, but most of the things I've tried there my family doesn't like. Does anyone know of a site like this with recipes they like better? I can't even seem to do a stir fry without overdoing things, and I can't do a simple gravy, so basics would be great. Alison in KY

I lost the link when my computer died, can someone help me with the WTM kitchen?

I'm coming in on the middle of the conversation, however, I just wanted to add that using progesterone cream for mood swings (as in my yelling at my kids and just waking up mad at the world) did help, but it wasn't enough for me to start using it at X number of days. I basically started using it a day after my period and then stopped when I had my period. The brand I've used is xymogen and it's called progensa 20. I also can tell a difference when I take something called 5-HTP. I use it at night. It should be at a health food store. I take two pills, but I don't remember how much is in the pill...with one I couldn't tell, but two I can. Both help me to not feel "ugly" at times. Now I'm going through a phase where I don't need them, but I'm having other issues. Anyway, this too shall pass, really it will. Alison in KY

anyone else? I had an endo on Wednesday. It's probably coincidental, but I'm really starting to feel rotten. I assume it's a new reaction to my bad gall bladder. I've looked at flush and other diet changes, but then the doctor told me I'd better get it removed...that if I messed around with foods and such there was a chance my gallbladder would still go bad and it would affect my pancreas...which is much worse than just removing your gall bladder. Thank you, Alison

Can you share why they are anti-Catholic. I have a friend who homeschools and she is sooo upset at protestants for their anti-catholic opinions. I guess I'm missing what the big deal is. Someone insinuated to me that they thought it was because Catholics worshiped false idols...I still don't agree with it, so I'm really curious. Alison in KY

That's funny about the sludge. I was an environmental major and sludge was a topic often used. My friend and I used geeky slang to nickname each other...like sludge mamma. Can't remember anymore, but it was goofy and funny.

Why can't you eat beef? What are your food restrictions after having it removed? I've read some websites that say you can actually get IBS from having it removed. I've read other places that say you can eat certain soluble fiber foods and have your function restored. I don't have any problems with stones,that they've seen at least. I just have,um, morning stomach issues. It tends to put me in a bad mood when I'm running to the bathroom all morning...when I need to do the dozen things on my list plus teach my kids something. I also have diverticulosis, which I thought was the problem until I recently received news that my gall bladder was working at 16%. They think that's bad. Does anyone know if I can get that percentage raised? Obviously surgery freaks me out, plus I'm worried that I could actually be no better after surgery with the stories I've seen online. thanks, Alison

Were you better while you still had it, or after? I've been struggling with stomach issues (I'm only 38) since April when I had a 2 day stay in the local hospital for diverticulitis. I thought my stomach was still messed up from that, but I just recently found out that my gallbladder isn't functioning at a high enough level. It's working at 16% as of last week. My doc wants me to see a surgeon and have it removed. I get more confused when I get online and look and the people who are saying yes have it removed and no, that they felt better with it in. It seems that so many people still have stomach problems with it removed. I'm just confused and if I can do something naturally I would prefer that. Thanks for any advice, Alison in KY

Go for the workbook. If you want to know the master plan, the what's and whys then buy the textbook. However, if you trust SWB then save yourself money and reading time. Buy the workbook which has all of the directions in it. It's like a teacher manual and workbook in one, just without the why's. I personally haven't read the text yet. I did enjoy listening to her writing cd. When I skimmed the text it looked to be a more in depth discussion on that. Now that I know where she's coming from, I'm very happy just going along with her workbooks. Alison in KY

If you haven't really done alot of writing, then IMHO it's totally okay to do WWE level 1 for a 7 yr old. We just started it with my daughter who is 7. My son, who is 9, will hopefully be doing WWE 2, simply because I haven't done any writing with him, except a handwriting notebook. I'll work on level 2, along with doing Learning Language Arts Through Literature which will also have some writing in it. You have my permission. Alison in KY

Yes, the Paducah City DPP asking for more than required is what started my post, however, I've always been curious. Alot of homeschoolers in the area use and endorse HSLDA, but not all of us of course. I'm in the county by the way, so I haven't heard of anything different going on here. Are you close Jen? Amy? Sorry, how quickly I forget names. Would you mind sharing your problem and how HSLDA helped you. And FWIW, I've never heard of anyone having a problem in our area either. I have heard of local cases, like we are experiencing now, however none of that has turned into an actual investigation of anyone that I know of, or at least I haven't heard of an investigation in the past 4 years since I've been homeschooling.