Another Tennessean here :) Jupiter is what you are seeing rise in the east around 11 p.m. CDT. You can check out the free program Stellarium to locate objects in the sky based on time/location (http://www.stellarium.org). I have no idea what you are seeing going "backward" along the ecliptic, because Jupiter should not appear that way. Maybe Stellarium can help you figure that one out.

Kate, the college opportunity sounds ideal! The 10x50s are about the "largest" binoculars you can get without needing to mount them. They still would be a little heavy for the kids, though. The 7x35s are standard "nature" binoculars and would be more manageable. The experts say you get what you pay for when it comes to binoculars. I got a cheap pair of 10x50s at Wal-mart (Simmons), and they have worked out fine. Sure, it isn't high quality, but it gets the job done. I bought them before I got a telescope so I could start learning how to locate deep space objects (the brighter ones appear as blurs). Personally, I think you are better getting a cheaper pair that you aren't afraid for the kids to use than putting down a huge chunk of change for something you don't want them to touch. If you decide you want something nicer, you can find more specific recommendation at http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php/Cat/0/Board/binoculars. Usually, the major makers of telescopes (like Orion) are also quality places to look for high-scale binoculars. I have an 8-inch Orion Dobsonian reflector. I opted for it over the 10-inch mostly because of the carrying issue. I wanted it to be as grab-and-go as possible. I'm also relatively short (5'2"), and getting one much bigger would mean I would have to have a stool or special chair to use it. My 8yo can almost "steer" it, but it may be another couple of years before she'd be big enough to do it comfortably. ETA: When using binoculars, it is important to teach kids (or anyone) to look at the object with their eyes and then bring the binoculars up to their eyes without moving their head. It takes a little practice, but they can usually get it after a few tries. Start with the moon as a big target :)

Jenny, this is only my fourth year of homeschooling, so I don't know what it was like before. I've registered locally every year, super easy and no hassles in my county (although I've heard it was different in the past, and some counties are more problematic). You don't even turn in grades.

shehmeth, My first instinct is to say reflector, only because you get more bang for your buck. At your kids' ages, they are probably only going to be able to see "brighter" objects like the moon and planets, just because it is difficult for them to look in the eyepiece the "right" way (plus they will need a step stool). It is usually easier for younger children to use binoculars rather than a telescope because they can use both their eyes, though. The attention span for this kind of thing is usually relatively short. Unless they have an extreme interest in astronomy (or you do), I would probably just stick with a pair of binoculars and try to get out to a local star party to have them check out views through a telescope. At this age, they are going to get more out of "naked eye" astronomy than anything. Check out the free star maps at http://www.skymaps.com, which is updated monthly. Learn the prominent constellations and visible planets and watch them move across the sky, check out meteor showers, study the moon phases, etc.

Dawn, what is your price range and what are you wanting to observe? If you are serious about it, I would recommend the biggest Dobsonian telescope you can afford (starting around $200, really nice ones starting around $350). Cheaper than that, you may be better off going with binoculars. Your best bet is to go to the closest "star party" to check out the views through different telescopes to see what your best fit would be. Most "cheap" telescopes are such an aggravation to use due to shaky tripods and poor optics that they aren't worth the hassle. I've heard the Galileoscopes were supposed to be decent, but I have no experience with them. If you just want to look at the moon, a cheap telescope (or binoculars) will be fine. If you want to locate anything that you cannot see naked eye, it is probably a waste of money and time.

I emailed tech support and they said the book had been fixed on the purchase page. I checked out the site today and it is listed for $14.84, about $8 cheaper than it was a couple of weeks ago. I bought it, and it is the right edition! Yay!

You DO NOT have to register with an umbrella school in TN. You can register with the local board of education. You just fill out a very simple application and turn in attendance (calendar with circled dates) at the end of the year, 180 days at 4 hours a day. Standardized testing is required in 5th and 7th grades (and possibly 9th grades, depending on interpretation), to be taken at the school you are zoned for. http://www.tennessee.gov/education/homeschool/ Welcome to the Chattanooga area :)

We have been without satellite for over a year now. We do hulu.com and netflix, but we also have a digital converter card + computer to record over-the-air like a TIVO (with no subscription costs). It works out great for us.

Thanks for the update, Dana! Gulp...I'm just not sure I can handle buying this book a third time. When I contacted customer service about returning the book when I bought it last week because it was the wrong version, they didn't say anything about being able to get the 3rd edition. Are you *sure* the recommendations are the new ones? One easy place to check is the history recommendations for logic stage.

Yes, Dana, you have the 2nd edition. It has the older recommendations in it.

Don't buy it. I just did and it is still the 2nd edition :( While the sample says 2009, the book that actually downloads is still 2004. I really wish they would fix this.

I just downloaded the sample, and it would appear that they have updated it now! The copyright date is listed as 2009 now instead of 2004, what it used to be. It may not be a coincidence the price has gone up $5, too. However, prices on amazon.com seem to fluctuate a lot.

Last time I checked, this still had not been resolved. You can download a sample of the book, and it still has the old copyright date. I really wish they would upload the new book.

I have been using this with my 4-year-old (almost 5), and she loves it! I didn't get the writing book because I thought it might be overwhelming for her, so I can't help you there. Your girls should be able to share the main book as long as they aren't practicing on two different pianos at the same time.

Usually, all the mainstream events are broadcast on the main network channel while some of the less popular events, preliminaries, etc., are on the non-broadcast channels. I'm guessing it will be the same this year.

We rarely go outside for very long if it is under 60 degrees *runs and hides* In all seriousness, my oldest doesn't have a cm of body fat on her and cannot tolerate cold weather for very long, even with layers. I'm such a bad mom...

I couldn't make myself get through the book a couple of years ago. I'm glad to know it wasn't just me.

I mostly use Stanza and download from Project Gutenberg.

My DH recently built us a "DVR" using Windows Media Center that comes with Vista. It has the features of Tivo and no monthly fee. I love it!

I have been busily downloading those that have been recommended :) Runway Louvre Farm Frenzy Stanza Kindle Facebook NYTimes Accuweather and The Weather Channel Sudoku iBird Holy Bible Dictionary.com ShopShop NASA

After reading a lot of complaints about the collapsible crates breaking, I ended up getting a small suitcase/computer case on wheels. It is super sturdy, but it just barely (and not always) holds our 30-book limit.

Mario Party works like a 4-player board game where you get to play a short game altogether after each person has a turn. Wii Sports will let 4 players take turns playing bowling, golf, etc. Those two with Mario Kart are our favorites.

My grandmother's recipe is White Lily self-rising flour, buttermilk and either lard or a part animal/part vegetable shortening. She uses about a golf-ball size of shortening to a cup of buttermilk, making a well in the center of the flour. Just mash the buttermilk and shortening around in the flour until you end up with a workable dough. She cuts the biscuits out with an old vienna sausages can. I think she bakes them at around 400 or 450 degrees. I know it doesn't sound like much of a recipe, but that's what she does :)

I guess no one else bought this? Amazon.com refunded my money and sent the issue through quality control. I had someone from the WTM site forward the issue on to the publisher since it is responsible for the Kindle edition of the book. I'm bummed because I really wanted it on Kindle. Amazon said it didn't have any kind of system in place to let me know that the ebook was fixed. They said they would let me know what quality control ended up doing, but I've yet to hear from them.

I've mentioned this on the board a couple of times, but we all had something that was pure evil in March. My youngest ran 105 fever and I really wondered if she was going to make it. She was tested for the seasonal flu, and it came back negative. It is probably the sickest I have been in my adult life. I was in the process of a miscarriage before I got sick, but my body still thought it was pregnant at the time.