Anything we have that is metal(except for one pair of expensive chaises from Home Depot) eventually chips and/or looks faded. We have a gazebo my father-in-law built... and we store our furniture in it all winter. It has boards that we put up over the windows during winter, which minimizes dust, etc. I recently purchased a set of dark brown "wicker"(synthetic) furniture at Target, and one couch on clearance somewhere else of the same material.. and I'm really impressed with it... it looks the same as the day we bought it! As far as spiders... I vacuum the things in the gazebo maybe every few weeks.. it doesn't get bad at all. And storing the rest of the outdoor furniture adds to the longevity. The cushions I vacuum or beat and store in garbage bags for the winter. I do bring them in during rain. As far as your gazebo turning into a bug haven... ours has great screens, and usually only a random bug gets inside.. it gets escorted out, or hit with the swatter we keep under the couch.. I love the huge spreads in Pottery Barn with the outdoor furniture with huge cushions...kitchens and rugs... but to me it's super unrealistic.. because anything outdoors will get buggy,bird pooped and dusty.. at least in our area. I would only splurge on something like that if I lived somewhere a lot warmer..

We had dirt sundaes.... vanilla ice cream with crushed oreos, gummy worms, and a cherry.... they were good at the time.. but re-reading my post makes me not want to ever make them again, lol

Paradise is a good city to stay... there is a hotel called the Magnuson Grand(which last year used to be a Best Western)...it has an okay pool and a small, clean sandy beach. It is close to the falls and Whitefish point is a good place to visit as well...If you stay in Paradise, and enjoy seafood, there is a fish place(you'd have to ask a local the name) that has wonderful whitefish dinners(super casual). Mackinac Island is a lot of fun(to me, lol) I would consider staying at least one night there if you are able..not sure about hotel recommendation there as we went pre-kids and stayed in B+Bs... but I know there are a couple that are very kid-friendly with pools.. Even cooler though, in the center of the island, is an inn(which now has more buildings/condos to rent) called Stonecliff.. Before the bridge, in the lower peninsula, in Mackinaw City, I know there are family hotels that have better deals... even one with a water park... but it's crazy busy in that area..it's so nice to sleep with your windows open on the island and not hear cars.. just the occasionally clip-clopping of a horse going by...

Oh I understand this! In school, people would stand over me, calling my name, and it would take several minutes for me to come out of my story world..(for some reason I'm not too bad now, probably from the kids and constant distraction) lol Glad your kitchen didn't catch on fire, eek! **I remember too, reading so much, words I didn't pronounce right.. but knew what they meant.. one day I came home and told my mom I was "naw-seat-ed" from the "chay-ose" on the bus... HAHA

My mom used to buy boxes of books for me at garage sales... I remember some of my favorites were the Nancy Drews( I wish I had saved them, ugh!).. but so many I devoured! I hope my kids feel the same soon.. We have a bookshelf in each of their bedrooms, a wall of books in the studio.. and go to the library a lot!

Thank you.. Which brand did you have?

Hello.. My children are ages 3 and 5, and we have 2 cats and 2 dogs! I have always been a bit of a neat freak.. and that right now is the only downside to teaching at home.. I have been slowly learning to let things slide, as long as the kids are happy! I am wondering if any of you have experience with robot vacuums(like the Roomba or Neato). Right now, I have vacuuming scheduled for 2 days a week(which usually once is all that happens, ugh) and I feel it would be a great help to have one of these things! We have carpet, tile, slate, rugs etc. I am leaning toward a Neato(specifically for pet hair, etc) on Amazon... but am wary. I know I would breath a little easier if I had clean floors the majority of the time.. and had those extra hours it takes me to do it the regular way! Thanks for your advice!

At this level, I would have her practice only the scales for the positions/keys she's learned, perhaps one ahead. Right now, it looks like C and G majors at least. She should practice them hands separate... and when she feels comfortable, contrary motion and parallel motion together. To avoid them seeming tedious.. she could do them with different technique(like legato, staccato) and also different rhythm patterns. We also have fun singing along with made up verses or just do-re-mi... For fun too... practice in the dark, or eyes closed.. For sure tell/ask the teacher about them.. but after a while, when you know many of the scales, it takes up too much of the lesson time to go over all of them except for the newest ones.. This book(if the link works) is great for her level! http://www.kjos.com/detail.php?division=5&table=product&prod_id=GP681

Our dog has similar wounds on her snout.. usually from fighting and killing various wildlife in our yard. She also is obsessed with the vegetable garden, and uses her nose to try to find ways to get in. We have 2 fences around it, but she still manages to squeeze/dig her way in, and then has a hard time getting out : ( She also has fair colored fur and skin, and was recently a bit sunburned, so there is damage from that. I hope it's all settled and you are all able to have a worry-free trip!

Not sure if it's still there... but we stayed at a B+B called "The Spanish Villa".. it was quiet, quaint and affordable... plus...there were great gourmet breakfasts.

Hello.. We are from Macomb County. Our son just turned 5, our daughter is 3. I'm brand new to this group. We've been learning all along.. but I haven't selected an organized curriculum or schedule( my daughter has a language disorder, possibly autism..so we go day by day). I am most attracted to the WTM and Waldorf styles.. We spend a LOT of time outdoors, growing, playing, learning... I love this time.. so full of laughter and excitement! Looking forward to getting some great advice and support here..

I feel I look a bit pale/tired in the winter... I've had a bit of luck with a product for the last few years by Benefit. It's called "Dallas" and I use it for blush and just a stroke on my nose, chin and above the eyebrows.. and it gives me just the right amount of color.. without using self-tanner or pinching my cheeks, lol.