Simple Ways to Welcome the New Neighbors

We have been in our new home for almost a month and we have met exactly one family. Didn’t it used to be protocol to come over and greet new neighbors. I think I even remember a Rugrats episode when Susie’s family moved into town, all the neighbors brought Jello molds to their house the mother couldn’t even find room in her fridge for another leaning tower of Jello. Thus far, we haven’t even gotten as much as a wave except for one family.

In my old neighborhood, I defined neighborhood very loosely. Neighborhood didn’t just mean the six houses on my cul-de-sac, but basically any house that I passed getting to the main road. Whenever we noticed a new family move in, a batch of brownies or muffins went in the oven. Within the first two weeks of their arrival, we would pop by and say hello. I personally think greeting new people in the neighborhood is not from etiquette books of past but an important role that we can all fulfill.

Some great ways to introduce yourself:

The old fashioned dessert hello – Like we did, bake a batch or cookies or brownies and bring them by.

When the moving truck pulls in, offer to give a hand. Maybe you’re not strong enough to carry their piano or they have professional movers, but perhaps you can offer to take their kids over to your swing set or watch them outside at their house to free up the new neighbors to move in.

Jot down information about the closest grocery store, vet, and movie theater. Give them information that they should know about their new neighborhood.

Have a reverse tea party. Boil some water at your house and bring it by in a carafe for a get to know you tea that the new neighbors don’t have to do any work for.

Invite them to something you have going on. If you already have a picnic or party planned, be sure to drop off an invitation. Maybe the guys have a regular card night or game day planned, why not invite the new man in town.

It really doesn’t matter how you do it, but take the time to do it. Moving is stressful and difficult especially if they have come a long way. Take a little of the stress out by welcoming them like long time friends.

Sites to See in Central Massachesetts

Yesterday, we explored a little scenic culture in this new town of ours. We rambled up to West Brookfield to enjoy the Asparagus Festival and then ambled down to the Brimfield Flea & Antique Market. What a crazy day. I truly enjoyed the Asparagus Festival. I imagine it is somewhat like what our old hometown fair was like 100 years ago. There were just a few vendors spread across the town green. There were plenty of people but not so many that you couldn’t get into the booths to see people’s wares. We even got to enjoy a cup of Asparagus chowder. My girlfriend, Shirley, had heard that there was to be asparagus ice cream, but we didn’t find it. I’m not sure that that was a great loss. The festival was small enough that we had time to head down to the Flea Market too, so we rallied up and headed down.

The Flea Market was absolutely overwhelming. I don’t think we saw even a 10th of it. It did make me happy that we avoided Brimfield in our search for a home. Coming from a town that is completely overwhelmed during our annual fair, I did not want to move to a town that had this three weeks a year. I may as well have moved to Disney World or into the city if I wanted that. We wandered in and out of some of the tents looking at all of the interesting items for sale. I think because I just moved my view point was a little bit skewed. All I kept thinking as we walked around was how difficult it would be for these vendors to pack their items up – especially the China dealers. I didn’t buy anything except for a cup of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, but I’m going to make sure I’m ready for the July & September markets. I think that this might be a great place to go Christmas shopping.

New Town, New Rules - Writing a Homeschool Education Plan

As many of you know, we have moved from Connecticut to Massachusetts (which I am proud to say that I think I can finally spell – who needs graduation test with words like Massachusetts – if you can spell it, you pass). This move has brought not only the many common moving problems like boxes and space, not being able to find things that you packed, learning new roads and how to get the grocery store, but as homeschoolers it has brought new regulations.

We are very lucky in Connecticut to have the right to educate our children as we see fit. There is recommended additional bureaucratic paperwork set out by the Department of Education if you see fit to complete it, but there is no legal obligation other than withdrawing officially, being enumerated by your school district (i.e. being counted as a homeschooler), and properly educating your child so that they are employable in the future. In Massachusetts however, paperwork is mandatory and so is the annual review. So I am busy now trying to fill out the children’s educational plan.

I didn’t think that it would be difficult to fill out a plan, but I must admit, I feel a little tied down. We are eclectic homeschoolers. We have a core curriculum that I follow for each child, primarily from Alpha Omega’s LifePac series, but then we also supplement with a variety of other materials. We often go on tangents, down side roads, and basically explore the world. For example, during the move, I’m not sure how many “official” homeschool books we opened, but this does not mean we did not learn things. How many kids can explain about down payments, participated in home inspections, and had closing documents explained to them by a lawyer? Certainly this experience has been an educational one, but how would I have put that in their educational plan a year ago?

In our first year of homeschooling in Connecticut, I had filled out the letter of intent and expected a portfolio review at the end. In fact, I kind of looked forward to showing them that I accomplished what they could not (we pulled our kids from public school in 2nd and 3rd grade). But then when I wasn’t called in for the review and opted to just withdraw the kids the following year, I never expected to have to face Big Brother again. Here we are though, in Massachusetts, with a whole new set of rules and an annual review again looming. I’m not so cocky now. I don’t need to prove anything anymore. In fact, I am a little concerned that our definition of education has pulled so far from society at large that it may be hard to explain our accomplishments. I no longer look at their quiz grades to tell me that we are successful. I wait for the times when they come up with an insight or an idea that may never have occurred to them before. I wait for the times that my daughter shows me a political cartoon that makes her laugh because she understands all the concepts behind it. I wait for the times that my son comes up with a better way to do something than either my husband or I. How am I supposed to record and show these moments? And frankly, given the public school’s track record are they the ones that should be judging?

Do you think that I could get away with “Educational Plan – to live in the world, to search for new experiences, and to participate in society so that it is a little better because we are here.”?

The Power of Prayer - Praying for Those in Need

The power of prayer is very controversial. Some people believe without a doubt and others think it is coincidence at best. I think that prayer is very powerful and that we should do it more often. In our family, we have begun a practice of praying for others during our family prayers. Just like the pastoral prayer at church, we name each person that we have heard is in need; lifting their needs to God’s ear.

Prayers our difficult because we have a tendency to not leave the need in God’s hands, but to request or expect specific resolution. If Susie is sick, we expect a cure. If Johnny lost his job, we expect a new one. Certainly though we should have learned through our reading of the Bible that God does not do our will, but we should do his. As Jesus prays in Gethsemane, knowing that his death is near, “may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42) As Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

As you begin a personal prayer list, be careful to name the person in need and perhaps even mention the specific need, but leave the “cure” to God. His solution may surprise you. And even if his solution does not appear to meet your earthly needs, remember His view is broader and His understanding of what is right is greater.

10 Things to Remember When You Move

1. The adage ,"you can never have enough", is WRONG! Keep in mind with every purchase that you make and every gift that you get, some day you may need to move it. If that doesn’t curb your enthusiasm on the new whatchmacallit, then you haven’t moved enough to truly understand the implications.

2. Furniture is way overrated. The 1st apartment décor of a couple of milk crates takes on a new allure. At least I could have flipped them over and used them to pack things in. (No more solid wood furniture)

3. Hire a mover. They are worth every penny. Instead we are paying with my husband’s back. Two prescriptions and back exercises later, he still isn’t walking quite right.

4. Put the cat in the carrier first thing in the morning. Moving is as tumultuous for animals as it is for humans. The difference is that we can’t hide in small unreachable places. It is very awkward to have to go back to the house after you sold it to try to coax your cat out.

5. Start saving boxesnow even if you don’t have a move planned. It seems to me to be the epitome of waste to buy boxes, plus it is an added expense when every penny counts.

6. Leave one box unopened from every move and then when you move next time it will be like Christmas. We found one such box. My son said, “Mom, why didn’t you tell me we had this?” As if I remembered that I had it from 12 years ago.

7. Don’t pack too early or risk your husband stripping open all of your nicely packed boxes looking for something or the other option is don’t make ham so that he doesn’t need the KitchenAid meat grinder. And in this market, if your house is on the market longer than you expected, you might need your winter jacket again.

8. Label everything. Dear Husband was pleasantly surprised to find the meat grinder neatly labeled in one of the “kitchen” boxes. He apologized for opening the other 15 boxes without reading what was written.

9. Call the people that offered you help. People will offer help and you will nod acceptingly knowing that you would never impose on someone. Note, they are offering because they have moved and done the same thing and have paid the price.

10. Think small. Instead of trying to conserve boxes and fit more in less, fit less in more. Your back will thank you.

11. Reconcider the move.

Reading Challenge 2009 - The Total Money Makeover

I finished #11 of the Reading Challenge 2009 – A book that claims it will make your life better because you read it. I checked out our new library (which by the way is very, very small- we’ll need to work on that) and took out Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover. In these difficult financial times, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on your finances. I’m sure just like a food diet certain plans work for some and other plans work better for others, but Dave Ramsey has certainly put together a plan that can help anyone on the road to financial success. The most important message in his book is that it is ok to be debt free.




Can you imagine what a different society we would have if the idea spread across our nation? Instead of a nation of spenders, we would have a nation of savers. The sad truth is that even our nation’s capitol now thinks that spending is the answer. Perhaps I should send a copy of this book to our congressmen!

Let me hear from you guys. What part of the challenge have you undertaken?

Want to Turn Your Husband On - Get rid of Romantic Flavors and add some food

Men are very funny. As a woman, I spend money and time picking out all sorts of wonderful sents from Bath & Body: Cucumber Mellon, Black Amethyst, Cherry Blossom. My daughter and I spend endless time smelling all of the different products. Well, I have learned that all that time is worthless.

As many of you know, when you are moving things have a tendency to get misplaced. Needless to say for the first few weeks in our move, I could not find my body washes so I was forced to use my daughters “gingerbread”, I have never had so many complements on how I smell. My son noticed it first. “Mom, you smell good.” I didn’t think anything of it. Until later, my husband said the same thing. There are a lot of complements that my husband gives me, but “oh, you smell yummy” is not usually one of them. I dismissed it at first. The next day came the same compliment from my husband, “You smell really good.” I couldn’t disregard it this time. Clearly “gingerbread” was a good choice. So out goes Wisteria and in comes Chocolate Chip Cookie, Brownies, and maybe Fudge.



What sents of body gel do you like?