My DD has never been interested in dolls. She loves stuffed animals. I loved dolls. I played mainly with Barbies, my favorite was Francie with grow and pretty hair. My DD is more like my sister who didn't care for dolls. I would have liked AG dolls if they had been around in my day. Oh well.

Parks are provided by a community. Public Libraries are provide by a community. These seem like things most people value and often take for granted.

Growing up my mom would put the food in serving bowls. We fill the plates at the stove, but we only have 3 in our family. I think if you have a bigger family, it makes more sense to put food on the table in serving bowls. We do have serving bowls that have lids and can go into the frig as storage bowls.

Awesome. What I would want to say to the nonparent, but would never think fast enough.

I was reading Barbara Kingslover's Animal Vegetable Miracle a year or two ago and my DD ask me to read it aloud. She was curious what an adult book sounded like. I was surprised how it sounded higher level compared to the kids books I am used to reading her. When I read for myself I don't notice the reading level. I think the key is to read a variety of books. Read both fiction and non fiction. If you can't read books, then read articles (pick periodicals like The Atlantic that are written at a higher level). Also reading older fiction or foreign fiction (such as British) will also stretch you.

One thing you can do when someone has lost someone close is to let that person talk about the person. I remember one mom in an article said that no one wanted to mention her son's name and that would have really helped her to talk about him. So be a good listener and give the person in mourning the freedom to talk and cry. Another thought is to reminisce about your memories of the person. The best thing my mom got after my Dad died was a letter from someone how told how my Dad changed this man's life 40 years ago. I think for those going through a rough patch it is just best to be a good listener and don't jump in with solutions.

My Dad paid for my mom, my sister and me do go to a consultant to get our colors read when I was in college. It made a real dramatic difference for my mom, she had always been wearing the wrong colors. She changed her lipstick and people asked if she had lost weight or changed her hair style. They couldn't figure it out, but knew she looked better. I would suggest that you drape something that is a real peach (not a pink coral) around your shoulders and see how you look, then drape something that is a true pink (no orange) and see how you look. If you look better in the peach you are either a Spring or Fall. If you look better in pink, then you are a Summer and Winter. The difference between a Summer/Winter and Spring/Fall is intensity. Summer is pale pink and Winter is Fuchsia. Spring is pale peach and Fall is Orange. Hope that helps. Thanks for the blast from the past.

A quiche A vegetable streudel A soup Salads - pasta, rice, wheat berry, etc.

I can understand why you would feel hurt. You expect grandkids will be so important in a GM's life. Maybe before the next visit you should spend some time discussing with GM some things that she would like to do. Bake cookies, paint pottery, visit museums, whatever. Don't expect it will happen naturally, because obvious it hasn't. GM needs some help finding ways to interact with your DD. This is probably because distance, but it can also be because of personality or expectation. If you can't get GM to connect, then it is her loss. (my snarky side would be saying 'well let see if the neighbors kids visit you in the nursing home one day'. But I try to suppress my snarky side).

Pinterest actually help me cut down on stuff. I used to want to buy the stuff to make cute craft I saw, but now I just pin it. When I have the time and need, then I can pick something to work on. So less stuff hanging around. I can see it could drive some people crazy.

I see projects on Pinterest with Milk Paint, but never tried it myself.

Resistance is still futile.

If there was someone who organized it, then you would try to say goodbye to that person. If there is not a "host", then I would say good-bye to the people I happened to be sitting close to or the people I was special friends with.

Thanks for all the feedback. It is very helpful. Now I just have to think of some brilliant characters, awesome plots, write it brilliantly and then I'll report back to let y'all know to buy it. Easy peasy. Truly appreciate the advice.

Common sense. Has your DH been to a practice and seen the area? I am just wondering, because if he hasn't then I think you are a better judge of the situation. I don't think it is a matters that she is 18. I think lots of women at any age don't like to walk to a car alone in the dark. Also it is great that you get to watch her.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess often the first book in the series might be free and the rest are .99? Are there lots of potential series for tween girls? I guess I'll have to do some research on that. This is the type of information that is very helpful in exploring a new adventure.

If you heard of a series of books that you could download from Amazon for 99 cent each, how likely would you buy one? Say you've heard another mother say that they were good. Or you read someone on this board refer to them as something their DD liked. Looking at a target market of girls ages 10 to 14 I read a great book about starting businesses and they suggest try to survey your target market to gauge demand before investing your time and money. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

It's in the Tag.

Regarding tests - At that age it doesn't matter if it is dementia from Alzheimer or dementia due to age, the doctor only need to asks questions to see that there is dementia. You may want to look for a gerontologist - a doctor who specialized in old people. They may be able to recommend facilities that specialize in people with dementia. I think you need to get your GM out of that situation as soon as possible. Make sure there are no guns in the house. The hardest thing to accept is that it won't get better, it will only get worse.

I walk the dog in the morning. It is just in front of our house. In the winter I wear something reflective. There are no sidewalks and the road is old and is barely 2 lane. I usually step off the road on to the grass when a car comes by.

For pure ice breakers, What subject do you dread teaching? What's the funniest thing your kids have said? What is the biggest/funniest misconception you had about homeschooling or parenting before you started homeschooling or before you had kids?

My regular MD recommended one that she had used.

I would try to get literature from the organization that helps families of drug abusers. Like Al-Non or Narc-non, I'm not really sure the title, but I'm sure a quick web search would find it. I would give the most pertinent literature to your DH, since you said he is in charge of decision making. I would want him to have all the best advice and information possible. Also I would gather information on drug rehab, counselors, hospital evaluations, and anything else you might need. I would also try to focus on your other children and make sure that they have fun and love and aren't dragged down by the situation. It sound like you can't change anything else, so I would focus on the things you can impact.

I don't think the buyer should assume either way. Unless the firewood was listed in the description of the house, there is no legal obligation to leave it. It sort of like furniture since it is not attached to the house or land. But I can't really see moving firewood either. ETA: people should not move firewood too much because of the Emerald Ash Borer

Feta cheese - it adds a lot of flavor to the pasta salad. I do a Greek Salad with Feta, red onion, kalamata olives, spinach, etc.