I used two spaces for years and although it was challenging, I did manage to change over to one space in a pretty short amount of time. Now I don't even think about it. It's all a matter of how important it is that's all. If you want to create more attractive documents, then you just have to bite the bullet. If it doesn't matter, then who cares anyway? BTW, if anyone is interested in Robin Williams' book, The Non-Designer's Design Book, I highly recommend it. Blessings, Lucinda

Those are great options to consider. Thanks so much! If anyone else has an option, please do post. I'd like to see what all there is to choose from. Blessings, Lucinda

I voted yes! I had flourless chocolate cake for my birthday and thought at the time that it would be delicious with raspberries or raspberry sauce along with the whipped cream. Of course, I love that combination anyway. Right now I'm drinking coffee with chocolate/raspberry creamer and loving it! Blessings, Lucinda

I haven't read all the posts, but thought I'd add my two cents worth. When I went through graphic design training in college we were taught to use one space after each period. The reason behind this is that with the electronic age, our fonts are calculated very specifically to mathematical formulas and take up less width than they did in former days. You see, before our electronic fonts were available, printing presses used slugs for each letter that were the exact same width, and typewriters also used the same width per stroke. (Think of the Courier and other monotype versions of fonts you've seen.) That is when the practice of using two spaces began to be taught in typing classes. With our modern technology, the kerning between letters and characters is much more precise. When you use two spaces between sentences it is wider than necessary and creates what is called "rivers" of white space within the body of text that can be glaring and more distracting than when the separations are narrower. One space between sentences is the same equivalent now as two spaces was in former days. So adding the second space makes the gap even wider. The idea is to pull the text together so it is easier to read, more concise, more attractive, etc. If you are interested in this, try typing a full page of text using two spaces between sentences and then a full page using just one space. Compare the two pages visually and decide which one you like the best. Can you see "rivers" emerging between the words? So, you see, this isn't just a "style" per se, there is a reason behind the rule. Blessings, Lucinda

This may be a bit too advanced for a second grader, but do keep Cribbage in mind. We are teaching our 4th grader and she really enjoys it. You would need to get a Cribbage board for two (or even a three-handed version) and a deck of playing cards. Blessings, Lucinda

Surely there are some Mac users out there in the WTM community that have dealt with this. :) Anyone? Lucinda

I have been using Homeschool Tracker basic and it is great, but I am in the process of converting over from a PC to a Mac laptop for homeschooling purposes. I have been looking for a similar software to HT that is compatible with my Mac, but can't seem to find anything so far. Does anyone out there have a recommendation? Although the HT website says that the newer based Macs with Intel processor have been compatible with their software, you also have to buy yet another software to go with it to make it work. I'm not really up to having to do that...so here I am looking around for another option. I'd like to get this in the works so I'm ready for a complete switch at least by summer. Thanks for any suggestions or input you may have. Blessings, Lucinda

I was a single mother with three little boys when I went to college. I was a full-time student and worked part-time as a gift wrapper/shipping clerk for a fancy jewelry store. It was a very fun job that I still think of with fond memories. Before that, I was in retail sales and floral design. Blessings, Lucinda

We are going to pay off some bills, buy a new stereo and take a real vacation for a change. This will be the first real family vacation we've had in years. I think we'll be going to British Columbia and the Puget Sound area. Blessings, Lucinda

I have been overseeing basic subjects from the couch and plan to make up the rest later. We homeschool most of the year anyway, so can afford to take a more leisurely pace. Thinking of the many situations we all represent, I thought it would be interesting to see how others deal with the issue. Stay healthy, everyone! Blessings, Lucinda

In fact, this year is a real treat. My husband is on an overseas trip, so I don't even have to deal with it for a change. I usually find something fun and special that I love to do on that day while he watches it very enthusiastically. Tomorrow dd and I can watch a movie in peace and quiet. Blessings, Lucinda

I'm just curious how things go at your home school. Please elaborate if you wish. Blessings, Lucinda

We've always spelled it M-A-M-A in my family...Most books I've read spell it this way as well. Blessings, Lucinda

GD is based on the classical italic style of handwriting, but with a clean and modern flow to it that is easy for children to learn. It is also much, much easier to read than loopy cursive. I've seen my daughter's handwriting improve a great deal each time we complete a workbook. I also teach part-time at a private classical school where students learn the GD method in the early grades, so I see a lot of student handwriting. I am really in love with this style! Blessings, Lucinda

I am laughing my head off as I read your post. :lol: I'm very addicted to that word game myself, and I sit with my laptop in the living room while dh watches tv, etc., etc. Other than that, I am on facebook to be connected with a number of my friends. I find it to be a lot of fun. Blessings, Lucinda

We have a long standing tradition of clam chowder on Christmas Eve. It is always part of a smorgesboard of food, but the main dish is the chowder and little oyster crackers. Blessings, Lucinda

I'm very picky about the quality of my art projects, and I have successfully used watered down Elmer's followed by coats of matte or satin finish varnish. This method also works beautifully. If you have it on hand, save yourself some money and a trip to the craft store. But otherwise, Mod Podge is a great product. I am an art teacher and also worked for a few years in a craft store where we used it, recommended and sold a lot of it. OP - be sure to use a good brush, whatever product you choose too. A light sanding with fine sandpaper between coats will help as well, especially if the grain of the wood rises after the first couple of coats. I hope you post a picture for us to see! :001_smile: Blessings, Lucinda

That would work just fine as you described. There is also a product called Mod Podge available in craft stores that works nicely, but if you can't get to the store right now I'd go for the glue and varnish. I have done it both ways and it works. :001_smile: Have fun with your project. It sounds like a great one! Blessings, Lucinda

I had to say I tried it because I'm not going to lie. My parents both smoked and a couple of times I tried to light up cigarette butts from the ashtray when I was home alone. That, plus one time when I smoked most of a whole cigarette with one of my girlfriends while hiding out in the bathroom with the fan on, was my attempt at smoking. It was simply AWFUL, DISGUSTING -- SICKENNING...and I can still taste the foul flavor and smell of burning tobacco in my mouth and up my nose. I was twelve at the time and trying so hard to be a rebellious child, but for the life of me I could not pull it off. I just figured that if it tastes and smells so nasty, it wouldn't be worth the trouble. I'm so glad, so VERY glad that I didn't go any further than I did. My elderly mother, bless her soul, lives with me now and suffers from Emphysema. Blessings, Lucinda

:iagree: I agree with this poster. We used Saxon last year and it was not a good fit for dd. In fact, I think it was a wasted year. Thankfully, we switched to MUS in August to do some catching up, and it has made a huge difference. We moved through the Gamma level in three months and are now starting the next level, which is Delta. DD went from hating math to loving it and understanding concepts much more quickly. She loves the DVD instruction. We also supplement with Calculadder drills, which are great too. (This combination of math studies is what is used at the classical private school where I teach art and was highly recommended by elementary teachers there.) Blessings, Lucinda

That is great information! I appreciate it. I currently teach art to K-8th grade, so am there part-time, but after Christmas break I am cutting down to one day so will only have 4th-8th from there out. My elderly mother lives with us and it is getting harder for her to oversee dd on the two days I am gone. Next year I plan to organize private art classes from my home studio, particularly aimed at the needs of homeschool families. Thank you also for your offer to join your HS group. I would love to do that if it weren't for the miles. (My husband works out of Silverton and our gas budget is already stretched.) Blessings, Lucinda

I am on staff at "that" school you mentioned, but testing is not available for my daughter. I checked with the headmaster last year, and he said they don't have the same type of testing as homeschoolers are required to take. Thus, here I am posting with questions on the WTM boards. Haven't been to GFU library yet, but will be checking it out. They also have science programs for homeschooled children, which I think will be great for dd up ahead. Blessings, Lucinda

We sent our letter of intent the summer before we started homeschooling, so all is in place regarding that. We live in rural Yamhill Co. btw, between McMinnville and Newberg. We were informed by 2-3 different sources that there is no requirement for testing during the first 18 months of homeschooling in our area. I believe, if I understand correctly, that she will need to be tested in 5th grade. That's why I'm thinking about it now...we need to be prepared. Thank you both for your input. Blessings, Lucinda

We began homeschooling nearly 15 months ago, and dd is currently in 4th grade. If I understand correctly, I don't think it is a requirement for her to have standardized testing until 5th grade. Am I correct in that assumption? That is my first question....but I have more: What type of standardized testing do you use? Where do you purchase it? Who administers the test for your dc? We don't belong to a co-op or HS group of any kind, so I'm really hoping you all (and I know you are out there) will be able to give me some guidance. Blessings, Lucinda

Lip gloss is fine in my humble opinion, but beyond that I think make up should be saved for being just a bit older. I have a friend who took her daughter to a nice store to have a facial and instructions on how to correctly apply makeup, curl her eye lashes, etc. They did this on her birthday when the daughter turned 14. They had lunch out, went shopping, etc. It was kind of a rite of passage thing and was very special. I thought this was a wonderful idea and plan to do the same for my dd when she is that age. Blessings, Lucinda