[Things to do in Hunstville, AL and Nashville, TN]

Activities my family has enjoyed in Nashville:

Everything mentioned + Tennessee State Museum (First people until 20 th century).

If you are into American History: Fort Nashborough, The Hermitage, Fort Negley.

We also liked the Lane Motor Museum.

[Anyone willing to share their migraine tips?]

I am so sorry. I know how debilitating migraines can be. I take prescription medication for mine. Over the counter stuff stopped working for me. Taking magnesium everyday has decreased the number of migraine I have. With everything you said on your post, my advice for you is to make an appointment with your doctor, as 10 days is a long time to have a migraine. I hope you get relieve soon.

[January 2023: What are you reading?]

I just finished a thriller by Rosie Welch (The Love of My Life). First time reading one of her books. I enjoyed it, so I am going to look for more Kindle books by her at my library next 🙃

[January 2023 craft]

Baby Shower Gift done!🤗

[January 2023 craft]

1 hour ago, dirty ethel rackham said:

These are gorgeous.  I have a bunch of yarn that I'd like to use but I have trouble keeping my stitches even.  

Thank you!

I have been crocheting for a while, but when I started I also had trouble with tension so I made myself a "Tension Regulator" and used that for a while (I just did a quick search and I am including a YouTube video--There are many). There are also "Tension Rings" you can buy (Amazon, Etsy, etc...) that are supposed to help with tension too. I have never used one. Like everything else, practice makes perfect. Crocheting can become addictive, so watch out!

 

[January 2023 craft]

There are so many talented people in this forum! Although I am not very active here, I enjoy seeing everybody's projects each month.
A few things I have finished: I crocheted Hats and Cowl sets for some of my extended family for Christmas (I made four, but I only took pictures of two...Christmas time tends to be a bit crazy around here). I finished two sweaters for myself. I had some leftover yarn from other projects and I crocheted the striped one to go over leggings. I am thinking about modifying the front of the open cardigan (crossing over and adding buttons). Right now I am working on a little hoodie as a baby shower present (will post pictures when done).

[Week long cold, tell me about diffusers and vitamins]

12 hours ago, sheryl said:

OHHHH, I was wondering about this too.   Hmm, I wonder if I should make an appt next week.  Are you better now?

Yes, thank you for asking 😊 with meds an a few weeks of rest I am back to normal.

My insurance lets me talk to a nurse first if i am not sure if i need an appointment with the doctor...if you are not sure, can you something similar?

I would recommend going to the doctor if your symptoms do not go away. I hope you feel better soon.

Edit: I did go ahead and got the pneumonia vaccine after my recovery.

[Week long cold, tell me about diffusers and vitamins]

6 minutes ago, Terabith said:

With no fever or any systemic symptoms?  

After several weeks with a cough (no fever, or at least not high enough for me to notice. I have bad allergies so I am tired all the time); A spot on my upper chest started to hurt when breathing deeply. It was weeks of coughing before it started hurting. Doctor told me to come sooner next time a cough doesn't go away for weeks.

[Week long cold, tell me about diffusers and vitamins]

37 minutes ago, Terabith said:

 

I got a virus right before Thanksgiving (see the part about working with kids).  It was not the flu or rsv or covid, just a bad cold or flu like illness.  I had a low grade fever for like a day, but not like real flu.  But I am still coughing three weeks later.  It's driving me crazy.  I feel 100% fine and have since like day four, but I sound terrible and am still coughing up junk.  I think these things can just happen and coughs in particular can linger.  

A month and a half ago, what I thought was a cough lingering after a cold turned out to be pneumonia.

[December craft thread]

These are done (one for each of my two daughters). Now I am working on one for me.

[Mum died last night]

I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers of peace and comfort for you and your family.

[What were you almost named?]

Ruth.

I am Catalan-Spanish and the way we pronounce this name is very closed to the word "Burp" in Catalan, so my grandmother convinced my mom to name me something else. I am very glad she did. 

[October craft thread]

I finished two outfits for the doll I made last month, and I finished the crochet toddler blanket too. I am crocheting hats, cowls and scarfs, as x-mas presents now.

[s/o shampoo thread]

"Two ingredients in particular, Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone, also known as the “itchy Ms”, are often the culprit behind an itchy scalp. You may also be allergic or sensitive to something else in your products if those aren't present.." quote from Naturally Curly. I avoid products with the " ichy M's" because the bother my scalp. I don't follow the Curly Girl Method 100% but I use CG approved products for my curls (avoiding different chemicals, waxes, alcohols, etc).  You can use https://www.curlsbot.com/ or http://www.isitcg.com/ to check ingredients. There are many blogs with lists of CG approved products-- many work for straight hair too (for all budgets). We love Tresseme Botanique conditioner at our house. We use Love Beauty and Planet bar shampoo and love it too. Both are drug store products, and both are "clean" products. I have found many affordable, "clean" hair products at Walmart\Target that will not make scalps ich.  Not Your Mother, Sheamoisture are a few. Good luck.

[Desperate for prayers, advice, hhugs]

I am sorry you are not doing well. I agree with previous poster that you should go to the ER. Praying.

[What are your goals for your kids, as far as college?]

As a homeschool mom I always felt that my job was to prepare my children to go to college. Academically, they had some say in high school, in what to study (not everyone wanted Calculus for example), and I let them choose history, literature, extra science-or not- based on interest. They choose extra curriculars and where to volunteer, but I required them to do both because I knew it was important to be competitive if they wanted to go college and receive scholarships. All three did very well on their ACT test and received good scholarships. The choice of going to college was up to them, but I wanted them to be well prepared if they decided they wanted to go. All three did. Each chose very different Universities-- One highly regarded and selective here in the south-- which  helped her get a job with the hospital with the same name as a Psychiatrics Nurse Practitioner, one is graduating this year from a very small Christian University with a double major in Chemistry /Physics with the intention of doing some kind of master next (she is still narrowing it down), and my youngest just started sophomore year in Architecture school in our big flagship university. Both my husband and I have college degrees (and up) but we both choose what I call "serving" careers. I was a teacher and my DH managed a Christian Retreat and Summer Camp for twenty years (we are both retired now, although we continue to volunteer in our community). I want my children to be happy and  if they had wanted to go another route we would have supported that too.

[Funerals…..does anyone else hate them?]

4 minutes ago, Bootsie said:

I grew up in South Louisiana (but not New Orleans), and attended many Catholic funerals, which I would not classify as "somber".  My family was United Methodist and we never had Jazz style music or dancing.  so, it is very regionally dependent. 

I attended the Catholic funerals in Spain for family members, so it could be that (cultural/ regional ?). My UMC has done several " Celebration of Life" type funerals for several congregation members that have included the Jazzy ( what I call New Orleans style funeral, for a better definition, based on what I  have seen in movies ...I don't have any experience with Catholic funerals in Lousiana) music, including the dancing and the clapping with the happy music. I am not opposed to people celebrating the life of a departed loved one (each person/family, can choose whatever service they want),  it is just not something I had experienced before I became a member of this church and it is not be what I would choose for my loved ones. 

[September Craft thread?]

17 minutes ago, purpleowl said:

That looks fabulous - the doll and the clothes! At one point when DD#1 was younger I got materials to make her a doll, but I chickened out and bought one instead. 😄 I am very impressed!

Thank you! The first time I saw a Waldorf style doll, I fell in love with them. I learned to make them when my girls were little. I used this book: Making Dolls by Sunnhild Reinckens. If you ever decide you want to learn how to make them, there are a lot if good videos on Youtube to teach you (they helped me to make better dolls.😜).

[Funerals…..does anyone else hate them?]

39 minutes ago, kbutton said:

I think the New Orleans jazz music is a specifically New Orleans funeral tradition. 

Yes, but I am in Tennessee.

[Funerals…..does anyone else hate them?]

1 hour ago, stephanier.1765 said:

I have told everyone in my life that I don't want one. Cremate me. If it helps, you can always spread them in a place you know that I love. That's it an no more.

I have said the same thing to my family.

I have attended Catholic funerals for family members, and Methodist funerals at my UMC for church members. Loosing someone you love is always harder than loosing and acquaintance, but my first Methodist funeral was a shock. I was used to somber (what I think as respectful) Catholic funerals and my United  Methodist church does something called "Celebration of Life." Think New Orleans "Jazz" style music that includes some dancing by a few members...I am told not all UMC do this. 

I don't want a service.

[If you're willing to identify your denominational or religious affiliation or lack of one...]

32 minutes ago, Frances said:

I was raised in a very devout Catholic home and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of Catholic summer camp. I didn’t even know it was a thing. What part of the US did your grow up in?

I grew up in Spain (Catalonia).

[If you're willing to identify your denominational or religious affiliation or lack of one...]

Christian.

I was raised Catholic, as in my grandparents made sure I was baptized, learned Bible stories, attended church during important holidays, and attended catechism classes so I could go through First Communion. Growing up I went to Catholic Summer Camp every year until I was a teen. I never attended church every week, or went thought Confirmation. My mom was/is an atheist. 

My husband was raised Baptist, but as an adult joined the Disciples of Christ Church.  We both   joined the United Methodist Church when our children were little. We raised our children in the UMC and we are still members of the this domination. 

[New covid booster with flu shot or separate?]

I plan to do both at the same time this week. I did that last year and I was fine. 

 

[September Craft thread?]

I am working on Christmas presents.  I completed the doll a few weeks ago, but I am slowly building her a wardrove (undies and sleeping gown done last week). I just finished the coat, hat and boots this week. I learned to crochet a year a go so many people will be getting hats, scarfs/cowls, fingerless gloves, (etc) for Christmas 😆... I am working on a Toddler crochet blanket for a family member right now. 

[What’s the vaccination rate in your county?]

Fully vaccinated

My State: 38.5% (Tennessee)

My County: 36% (with some neighboring counties higher and others in their 20s).

People refuse to be vaccination, still believe the virus is a hoax, and do not were masks anywhere ;(