Also for me--no change.

I think this is true, perhaps especially of women. It seems to me that most of the women I know (online and IRL) will say at some point that they are the outsiders wherever they are. I've decided that we all need each other's strengths, so it's just as well. :001_smile:

I'm comfortable in our park group. But I can't say there's anyone else like me there. Most of them are unschooling hippies. I like unschooling hippies, so I'm happy, but I didn't start homeschooling because I wanted to fit into a crowd. I'm OK with not fitting in. (And when I attend the Christian group, it's just the same.)

I don't like Doug Wilson or TJed, but I did like Climbing Parnassus and Who Killed Homer?

60 is about average, but I've gotten over 100 before.

I would recommend a basic mechanical machine that is reasonably sturdy. I love the Janome Jem Gold for my daughters--it's simple and portable, but should last them through high school. I got it for around $250. Unless you're going to buy a used machine, you should expect to spend about that for a decent machine--those $100 Brother models at Walmart are junky. A used machine can be a great way to go, though. The older models from the 60's and 70's were often much more durable than modern machines. But I would tell you to avoid a Singer model unless it's a Featherweight--Singer went downhill in the 70's.

Wow, that is great! First she'll need to learn basic sewing. Have you got a sewing machine? I would suggest trying a pillowcase and a pair of pajama pants or a simple skirt, and then get into fancier things. This pillowcase tutorial is about right. And Simplicity 3553 is a pajama pants pattern for beginners with lots of instructions. You could also look for one or two books at the library or bookstore--there are a jillion pretty books out there right now that have instructions and lots of cute easy projects like head kerchiefs, hairbands, tote bags, etc. Tote bags are a good place to start too--easy and fun to embellish. (When you stick your own decorations on a basic pattern, that's embellishment.) There are also a jillion blogs and tutorials for creative sewists from beginner to expert. I read blogs by people who sew 30's dresses from vintage patterns, or who design their own stuff, all kinds of things. A good place to start is the Sew, Mama, Sew store and blog, which collects and catalogues a lot of the tutorials. She will have to be patient! A simple tutu is pretty easy, but to make it really good takes some skill. For elaborate costumey things, she'll need to work up to that--you can't just make a corset for your first project, you'll kill yourself with frustration. But if she is willing, she can learn fast and be doing amazing things pretty soon, esp. if she has a high tolerance for getting stuck and inventing solutions that won't match her first idea, but might be even better.

I don't think it has had a negative effect, but we have never been to PS so I don't have a control group. I also tend to focus more on my husband when he's home, since I do so much with the kids all day (he is very good about doing most of the evening stuff with them, and I'm not sure he would put that much effort into it if I hadn't already had them for the whole day, so there's a benefit). We have a weekly date night, which is wonderful for us, and in fact quite necessary. :)

Here's my post for the week; I read Sky Coyote and Does my head look big in this? I loved Sky Coyote but I put off finishing it because I was afraid of the ending. I also finished The Holy Sinner by Thomas Mann, which I don't recommend unless you're really into medieval legends or you like V. C. Andrews. Oog. AND, I'm publishing my review of SWB's new book today. Whew.

Danish people apparently say that American talk like their mouths are full of potatoes. (This from a language that takes place almost entirely in the back of the throat, mind you...) :D

I would totally move to NZ!

I read The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma and a great sewing book.

I really enjoy Secular Homeschooling (and I'm religious). It's very meaty.

Very true. I find they're sort of quick-and-dirty, but you'll get much better results if you learn better techniques that might take slightly more time but have a lot of payoff. A book I recently found that shows a lot of good techniques is The A-Z of Sewing. The A-Z series is from Australia, and has excellent photography and explanations. I too have learned a lot from heirloom sewing publications.

Yeah, I gotta say, if I could afford to take my kids to Europe I'd be there. It really makes me pretty sad that I can't, and I try not to think about it too much. I'm glad you can, but it would hurt a little to hear very much about it.

I like my Rowenta. I tried a Sunbeam (?) but it leaked and the cord protector broke in about 2 days. :ack2:

I, for one, would be happy to teach someone to sew in exchange for a service or something. So maybe you could find someone in your area to teach you the basics? I have learned mostly through books and trial and error.

I agree about reporting it to the police so they know what's going on. Also, read Gavin deBecker's books -- he has a good part in The Gift of Fear about overly-friendly strangers. (A good guy will be polite and distantly friendly, not over-familiar. A good guy who needs a cab will not ask a lone woman to do it for him.)

Sawdust.

Ha! Simulpost!

I KNOW! Why can't I just be grumpy in peace for once? No, if I get cranky, everything falls apart. :glare: It's probably good for me or something, but it sure is aggravating. :lol:

My husband's has changed, but not mine. Evidently they're rolling it out slowly.

Not usually, no. No one would ask. Except when dh was out of work last year and he finally got a job, my mom wanted to know if he'd be making enough. I wasn't bothered by that much, but otherwise, no.

:glare::glare::glare::glare::glare: Very skeptical, that's what I think. It's fun to have your spouse on your friends list.

I voted "until high school begins," but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to go all the way. It just means that my kids will go to school over my dead body before 9th grade, and then they get a choice.