[The Melting Pot questions :)]

I have the Melting Pot cookbook - this thread just helped me decide what to make for dinner!

[Cartop cargo soft carriers anyone?]

http://www.roofbag.com/Car-Top-Carriers.asp

 

We have this one for our Highlander, and have been using it for many years. It holds a LOT of stuff, too. When we first got it, we had a minivan that didn't have roof racks, and it snapped inside the car and the doors closed on the straps. It has huge clasps that snap inside (or outside) so you don't have to tie it. Just snap and pull it as tightly as it'll go. 

[For those who eat a whole/real/no processed foods kind of diet...]

Mission flour tortillas - so yummy! I have a tortilla press, but they're so nice to have around, and the possibilities are endless. 

[Moving Beyond the Page - great stuff]

There is a great Facebook group called Differently Schooled who use Moving Beyond the Page. There are quite a few members, and it's a great place for ideas and advice specific to MBtP. 

[Amazon package MIA. What to do?]

This is happening to me right now as well. I ordered a book on the 2nd of January. The tracking number from USPS states that it was shipped priority mail and is estimated to arrive at my address on 9 January. I've called the post office and was only able to get through the automated system once - that was on the 11th. They told me they would assign an investigator, and call me back in 2 business days - nothing. I filed another complaint via email the following week. Again is stated they would call me within 2 business days - nothing. My tracking number states that my package is still being processed in the city of origin - which USPS seems to think is acceptible.

 

I received a generic email from USPS yesterday thanking me for using their email inquiry system and that they hope I was satisfied with my reply... ??

 

When I phoned in, I even double checked to make sure that the package wasn't in a location that was delayed due to winter weather - that would have been understandable. They assured me that it wasn't, so I don't know what's happening.

[New dog - need advice - Update]

I'd get him in right away.  Selfishly, because I'd want to do everything possible to avoid any marking issues.

 

Good luck!  I think it's a very kind thing you're doing.

 

 

 

Thank you, and everyone else for that matter, for your kind words and suggestions.

 

dh and I were just talking about this, and figured it would be best to get the surgery over first thing. Then we can just get all of the stressful stuff over all at once. Not to mention your reason, too. I'd certainly like to avoid marking as much as possible. 

[New dog - need advice - Update]

Can the dog visit your uncle in hospice?  I've heard of such things and wonder if it might help the dog with his anxiety.

 

I'm not sure if they were able to bring him in to say goodbye or not. I'll be heading to Palm springs in a couple days to see family and pick up the little guy. We haven't heard anything about Uncle yet this evening, so I will certainly pass it to see if they can work it out. 

 

Thank you for your suggestion!

[New dog - need advice - Update]

I am so sorry about your uncle. :grouphug: And I agree...it's so lovely of you to offer to take care of him. :hurray:

 

I agree with Ripley and was going to suggest similar things...a favorite toy, his dog bed or a bedding situation similar to what he had at your uncle's, a t-shirt or blanket your uncle might have used. Predictable (for him), gentle behavior around him and eat/sleep/exercise routine so he can ease into your lifestyle sooner. A detailed vet visit as soon as you can afford it as well.

 

I don't have personal experience but have read/ heard that while it can be tempting to show this little guy special treatment, it might lead to pickier behaviors in the long run and therefore, it might be best to treat him gently but as normally as you can. But every pet is different. Wish I had more helpful suggestions.

 

Good luck!

 

Thank you! 

 

I agree with the special treatment! That, I'm sure, will cause issues for both him and our Shih Tzu. I'll do my best - poor little guy. I can't wait to meet him. I don't even know his name yet! 

[New dog - need advice - Update]

I'm sorry to hear about your uncle! It's so kind of you to give him peace of mind and to take in his pup.

 

We had a similar situation, and had a rough few days of transition - our dog went from a very quiet, slow-paced home to a noisy, homeschooling one. He really needed his own space, not unlike a human might if making the same transition. He hadn't been crated before, but I offered him one in the quietest spot in the house and he took readily to it. We had the dog a few days before acquiring all of his "stuff" and once he had his familiar stuffed pet from his old house, he was able to settle in a bit more. I wonder if you can bring something back from your uncle's - if not something specifically the dog's, maybe something that has your uncle's (or his house's) smell to it?

 

I have no advice as to the rest, but I know there are people with experience and good advice that will have plenty to offer. :)

 

This is a great idea - Thank you! I have a large closet in the master bedroom that is a nice quiet place. I'll set up a kennel with a blanket to give him a "peace and quiet" option. My great aunt told me that if she's out of his sight for even a second he starts to whine and panic, so I imagine he'll be very needy for attention - I just don't want the business of the house to overwhelm him. They'll be packing up all of his things to come back with him. I did ask if they could find something that might smell like my uncle, like his pillow case or sweater. That might help. 

 

First, bless you for giving this poor little dog a new forever home.  

 

Dog anxiety - I have two schnauzers that suffer from anxiety, but that is mostly when they see other dogs.  Right now with all the craziness of moving to a new home, our dogs were in a tizzy, so I gave them a doggy-downer.  They are nice and calm now and I wish I had thought of it sooner.

 

Before you get on the road, ask your vet if they would give you a few pills in case the dog has issues while you travel.  It might not hurt to give one to your dog for when you get home and the two of them are learning to be friends, but again, your vet can give you better info.

 

I wanted to add that our two dogs love each other so much.  Yes, they are litter mates, but they play with each other and sleep with each other.  I hope your two dogs will learn to love each other too.

 

My pooch is the same - she isn't aggressive toward other dogs, but she definitely doesn't like having them around. I think the pills might be a good idea to have as an option. My dog is going to the vet for her annual check up, so I will inquire. Thanks for the idea! I will be bringing him for a checkup when he gets home - I wonder if it would be best to get him in and get him neutered right away, or give him some time here before I add one more thing to his plate. 

[New dog - need advice - Update]

I've had some very unexpected news today, and I could really use some good ideas.

 

I found out that my great uncle is in Hospice care, and not expected to last the night. Since being taken into the hospital, he has been distraught about his beloved dog. I told my mother to let him know that I would take the dog to ease his mind. He's so relieved now knowing that his pooch will be with us. 

 

I've never met the dog - all I know so far is that it's a sweet tempered little terrier who is very attached to his owner. He's about 3 years old. His shots have been kept up to date, but he hasn't been neutered. This pooch has lived alone with my uncle, who is in his mid 80's his whole life. So, he's used to a very slow paced, quiet environment. 

 

My uncle was taken from his house quickly and unexpectedly. The dog was moved to his sister's house and is extremely stressed out. He's at a house that he visits regularly, but everyone is tense, and his master is missing. I will be traveling to Palm Springs to pick him up and bring him back to El Paso with me. This will be his first major car ride. I also have 3 kids and another dog who has anxiety issues. 

 

So, I'm hoping for some advice to help make his transition easier. The little guy is so stressed out right now, and I'm bringing him into an environment that is completely different that what he's used to. I want to help him get settled and comfortable as quickly as possible, while causing as little transitional stress as possible for both him and the dog we already have. 

 

Thanks in advance for any ideas! 

 

**update**

 

I drove to Palm Springs last weekend to pick up this little guy. His name is Harley, and he looks to be a mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Chihuahua. He is a sweet dog, and seems to be doing well with the adjustment. I was able to get a shirt that belonged to my uncle, and I made him a quiet place to retreat. He's not quite ready to trust the kids, but he seems interested in them, and he is not aggressive. I've had them just pretend that he isn't here, and give him a chance to approach them, instead of them approaching him and making him fearful. It seems to be working quite well. Our Shih Tzu seems to have accepted him - that is still shocking to me, because she gets so anxious so easily, but such a relief. He's at the vet today to be neutered - he's in recovery now, and the procedure went well. 

 

Thank you all for your great advice and sweet words. My uncle passed away early this morning. I'm glad to have had an opportunity to help give him peace of mind, and to have a new family member that seems like he is going to fit in perfectly. I tried to post a picture, but it won't allow me to anymore. I'll try to figure it out. 

 

[You are all going to be SO jealous of me]

How fun! We lived in a cul-de-sac a few years ago and all the other families homeschooled. I thought they were poking fun at me at first when they started introducing themselves, but they were all serious. It was a lovely year living there - the kids had a block party every evening. There were 22 kids from 2-15 years old.Thanks to the military, we all had to move on.

[Who is Older-- You or Your Spouse?]

I am older than my husband by exactly 2 weeks. He enjoys poking fun at me for the 2 weeks that he's still an age behind me between our birthdays.

[Lots of Lego questions!]

I tried to post some pictures of our Lego room, but it wouldn't let me. My dh manages the Legos - he has a method to his madness. He has some big drawer bins, and he keeps sets stores together by colors and sets. So he has a drawer set for each type that the kids collect: Lego City, Friends, Star Wars, Monster Fighters, Hobbit, Marvel Heroes and whatever else they have that I'm forgetting. Each section is then broken down into color, special parts (like wheels), etc, etc. 

 

We built long, skinny tables that go in rows in the middle of the room where the kids build - they generally do entire collections at once. Right now they have the Lego Friends collection built and set up like a town in the room. We just ordered all of the new Disney Princess sets that were released on the 1st of January - when they get here, Friends will get taken down and put back in their bucket section so the new sets can be built. 

 

Our youngest also collects Duplo. We keep those in big buckets sorted into blocks, people and animals. They're a lot easier to sort and put together because they're so big, so they aren't as organized.  

 

My husband keeps up with the Lego room. If it wasn't for him we'd just have a big room of blocks that the kids could go swim in. 

[Lots of Lego questions!]

Ok, I found this little bit of info to explain:

 

 

• The LEGO brand name should always be written in capital letters
• LEGO must never be used as a generic term or in the plural or as a
  possessive pronoun, e.g. “LEGO’sâ€.
• When the LEGO brand name is used as part of a noun, it must never
  appear on its own. It should always be accompanied by a noun. For example, LEGO set, LEGO products, LEGO Group, LEGO play materials,
  LEGO bricks, LEGO universe, etc.
• The first time the LEGO brand name appears it must be accompanied
  by the Registered symbol ®.

 

 

 

[What to do in New Orleans?]

I have family in NOLA, and we spent a couple weeks there every year growing up. We brought the kids a few years back for 2 weeks at Christmas and had a blast. They really enjoyed the dinner cruise on the Steamboat Natchez. 

 

http://www.steamboatnatchez.com

 

Make sure you stop by Café Du Monde in the Vieux Carré: http://cafedumonde.com

Oh, and be sure to stop by the praline shop for some samples  :drool5:

 

My kids loved the Insectarium, too - we even braved the chocolate covered grasshoppers. 

 

Jackson Square, WWII Museum, cemetery walks... So much to do! 

[Realistic amount of clothing per child]

This is my mother. Every time my kids go see her, they come home with new clothes and shoes. She buys so much, she does't even remember, so I don't have to worry about her asking why the kids have never been seen wearing a specific outfit. 

 

I try not to be irritated by it though - I'm not a shopper, and she's doing me a massive favor by keeping my kids well supplied. I rarely have to go clothes shopping - hurray! I just pop into their closets every couple months and toss aside anything that looks like it's in bad shape, or that I've never even seen. If it's been in there for more than a month without seeing the light of day, odds are it never will, so off it goes. I try to pass on what I can to families that are in need, the rest goes to Goodwill. She knows we don't need the help, and she knows that it's in excess - but it's her money... I'm just happy that she's well off enough to do as she pleases. 

[Who Else Opens Gifts Today?!]

We have our family gift time and big meal on Christmas Eve. My parents should be here any minute, actually. I should stop being lazy and start making the stuffed shells! The last of my chores before I can relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

[What is your 5-7 year old girl getting? Significant other?]

Calico Critter sets - 3 families and 3 furniture sets. :-)

Our youngest is nutty about the Calico Critters! He has a few families and he carries them around with him everywhere he goes. He's getting the treehouse, camper, car and several families from us. My parents bought him 6 other families and accessories, so he's going to be loaded! I'll have to get him a carrying case to carry them all.

 

Our 6 year old dd asked for barbies and baby dolls this year. So, she's getting a Barbie house with a whole mess of dolls (collector dolls from grandparents) as well as a bitty baby from AG with some accessories and a crib. She's getting Lego Friends Dolphin Cruiser, and some smaller books and puzzle type gifts as well.

[Quick - stocking stuffer for dd - finding hair chalk]

My mother bought some for my girls - she got them at K-Mart.

[Anybody DESPERATE to take off next week?]

Yes! No more school until January 6th. We're off for a pre-Christmas trip to Disneyland. I really should get back to packing! 

[Disney imagineering DVD question]

We bought a bunch from Amazon. My kids really enjoyed them. Most do have 2 or 3 little experiments in the extras section of the DVD - nothing overly exciting, but fun ideas that focus on the key concepts taught in the video. They also include PDF teachers notes with little quizzes. I haven't really looked through them, so I can't tell you much there.

 

The videos are nicely done, and it helps keep it interesting for the kids by learning about rides and attractions that they've been on and can identify. We frequent the Disney parks, so they like seeing their favorite things in the videos, then tell me about things they know about the rides while we're actually there riding them.

[What dog for my family? Want a cat-like dog, I think!]

I have always heard that if you want a cat in dog's clothing, you need to get a greyhound. (But, we have only cats, so I'm definitely not up on all the various dog breed/type info.)

I used to have a rescue greyhound - she was a great dog. Lazy, lazy. I used to take her to a little baseball diamond that was all fenced in, and I'd take off her leash - she'd run one lap, and she'd be spent!

 

The only issue with the greyhounds is that they can never be off their leashes. The smallest thing could set them running, and ones they take off, they're gone. They also require special collars so they don't injure their necks.

 

Awesome dogs though, and fantastic with kids!

[This is the face...UPDATE on new faces :)]

She's too cute! My girls wore that same dress for their Christmas photos a couple years ago.

[What dog for my family? Want a cat-like dog, I think!]

I had a long post typed up, and my computer deleted it. Anyway, I was recommending the Shih Tzu breed. Other than the grooming, they meet all of your requirements. We have a girl thats almost 3, and she's the best! Can't imagine our family without her. I groom her myself, and she does great with it. 

 

She isn't fidgety, like the Terrier breeds tend to be, no barking at all, unless someone knocks on the door. She is fantastic with the kids. She goes outside and plays fetch and chase with them, but she's perfectly happy laying on the couch with them while they read. 

[Jim Weiss audiobooks]

Homeschool buyers coop has 'A Christmas Carol' for free right now.