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Chari
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St. Ann wrote:
I read that someone is teaching their children german. I can't find the post right now, but if your children want to write to a german speaking child online, maybe we could be of help. |
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Hi, Stephanie! I did not know that it was illegal there to homeschool. How hard that must be! What happens if you get "caught"?
Also, are you German, or, an American family living in Germany? I realized I just took it for granted you WERE American.....now I realize how silly it is for me to have just assumed.....
please forgive me if this has already been asked.........I am slowly working my way through this thread that took off like a wildfire! ....but, I do not want to be left behind.....so I will plow through! 
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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MicheleQ
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Chari wrote:
| Also, are you German, or, an American family living in Germany? I realized I just took it for granted you WERE American.....now I realize how silly it is for me to have just assumed..... |
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I am curious too! I have talked to you on the phone so I know you have perfect English (and sound American to me) but I have met other Germans who speak English quite well too so I don't know. 
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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Chari
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4mothermary wrote:
I have been here for a bit, reading everything! I do have to admit to a feeling of not belonging though. I do not have a college education and do not "know" any of you IRL. I felt like a 3rd wheel. Plus, my first couple of posts regarding home learning/home education...well, it was obvious I had not read Elizabeth's book yet  So I happily read the boards daily soaking up all the wonderful information, the beautiful crafts, the thoughtful book suggestions, and praying with and for you all. |
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Welcome, Jenny! I am glad you are here! What a great way for you all to have your farm, such a blessing, your arrangement. We live on two acres in a rural area and love that my kids can have the freedom to move. It is such a blessing.
Oh, please do not feel like a third wheel here! Many here have not read Elizabeth's book, and, all questions often bring up new and refreshing perspectives. Please do not hesitate to ask away! There is always someone here to share! And, besides, there was always someone else wanting to ask your question! 
As for knowing anyone in real life, I bet most DONT....and as for the college education...well, there are LOTS of homeschooling moms who have not graduated from college....most of the time, the college education does not add much more to the hsing, except maybe life experience......and at the worst, some of the hsing moms have to "overcome" their education
I do not know anyone on these boards in real life because they live near me (except Shawna who I invited here last year).........I know the good ladies of these boards because I put myself out there, looking for opportunities to meet, visit, chat on the phone or camp together! It comes with time. Do stay for a long visit with us, let these ladies be your mentors, and someday, you will be in their place, mentoring the next generation!
Thank you for praying with us! I join my prayers to yours!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Chari
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alicegunther wrote:
Darling Erica, you are a perfect example of a person I do not need to know personally to love!
Would that I were there right now! |
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Well, Alice, I DO know Darling Erica, and I just love her! The kids and I were just talking about it the other day! They adore her, too!
As for you, well, YOU are another example of a person you do not need to meet in person, to love.
I would like to remedy that "in person" thing......maybe I will see you in NYC this summer???
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Chari
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Maria B. wrote:
I have lurked here for years ... always wanting to join in, but wondering if I should "start something else". I realize now that this is not "something else", but a circle of friendship that I wish I had joined in earlier.
So happy to be here!
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Maria, do we "know" each other, from way back when ....when I actually got that newsletter out on a regular basis? Not an in person thing, just a name thing.
Glad to have you here on the boards! Looking forward to getting to know you better!
When I need to cut back on something, I never let it be my "circle of friendship" as you so aptly put it. ....you are so right, it is not just "something else"
Blessings!
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Taffy
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Umm, is it too late to poke my head in and say "HI" to you all?
It's been so nice to read through this thread and "meet" everyone all over again. So, I guess I'll take the plunge and chime in too...
I'm Taffy, a Canadian mom to three boys living in the Canadian praries - southern Saskatchewan to be specific. We don't farm though I do have dreams of having a little homestead one day. In my former life, I graduated with a degree in Agriculture and I'm also a certified veterinary technician and I do miss the farming lifestyle.
My husband is a high school math, sciences, history teacher. The school he teaches at is a K to 12 with only 45 students so, yes, he really does get to teach all of those subjects throughout the course of a week. 
I'm currently only "home schooling" my oldest who is now 10. He is our challenge as he has real communication difficulties due to his PDD (a form of autism). I've found the special needs threads here a real help in this regard. My middle child is 7 and he attends school although I would MUCH prefer to teach him at home as well. My husband insists on his attending school though as he feels that our older boy needs more attention and that the school is quite strong academically. Our youngest boy is 3.5. He seems to be learning through osmosis!
I've been trying to get more involved here as I've gained so much from reading everyone's writings. Like many others have mentioned, I do feel like a bit of a misfit. Many of the wonderful learning ideas just don't work well in our situation. I'm working on it though...
I wish I'd be able to meet some of you in real life one day. Now that there are fellow western Canadians here, maybe I will one day! If any of you are ever in southern Saskatchewan, feel free to stop by!
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Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
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insegnante
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JennGM wrote:
But their food is so good...and they have big tables to accomodate our crowd of family. Wanna make a Tony's meet-up date? |
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Sounds like fun to me! I don't know when next is a good date for us, as my MIL keeps making tentative plans to come to town (currently for next weekend,) and I don't drive. DH works from home though so we are not strictly tied to weekends and evenings for outings with him driving. Days lately are busy though. But if you and/or anyone else want to talk about planning a Tony's outing in PM or on the board let me know
Theresa (with two boys, almost 5 and almost 2.5)
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Maria B.
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Chari wrote:
Maria B. wrote:
I have lurked here for years ... always wanting to join in, but wondering if I should "start something else". I realize now that this is not "something else", but a circle of friendship that I wish I had joined in earlier.
So happy to be here!
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Maria, do we "know" each other, from way back when ....when I actually got that newsletter out on a regular basis? Not an in person thing, just a name thing.
Glad to have you here on the boards! Looking forward to getting to know you better!
When I need to cut back on something, I never let it be my "circle of friendship" as you so aptly put it. ....you are so right, it is not just "something else"
Blessings! |
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Don't know if we have met or not?! Thanks for the welcome!
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Maria in VA
Proud Mom to 10 Great kids!
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Elizabeth
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Real Learning
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4mothermary wrote:
| Someone mentioned here or on their blog that they wear an Our Lady of La Leche Medal. Where did you find one? I have looked, but to no avail. |
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I have a medal. It was a gift of MaryM. PM her .
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Paula in MN
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I'm just going to chime in. I only joined this forum two months ago, but I have really come to depend on the advice from all of you wonderful members. I have posted a few times, but I am soooo glad you started this topic. It can be very hard to be the new guy trying to fit in to an existing group. I haven't had that experience here .
I started homeschooling 2 years ago, and it is going well. This year I was able to join the *local* homeschooling coop, but that is not going well. There are only 25 families in the group, and only one of them Catholic.....guess who?!
It is a VERY small community, and EVERYONE knows each other. We meet one day a month for 3 hours. That's it. I know they get together for outings, field trips, etc. because I hear them talk about them on Coop day. I have stated that we would love to go with on the next trip, and I get a (somewhat) positive response, but we never get called. Maybe in 20 years we'll be included!!
I really enjoy and appreciate all the support I get here. You are all wonderful. In the words of my almost 8 year old ---- YOU ROCK!
And I do coffee, not tea. Preferably breakfast blend. And I make yoummy scones and muffins....
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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St. Ann
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MicheleQ wrote:
Chari wrote:
| Also, are you German, or, an American family living in Germany? I realized I just took it for granted you WERE American.....now I realize how silly it is for me to have just assumed..... |
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I am curious too! I have talked to you on the phone so I know you have perfect English (and sound American to me) but I have met other Germans who speak English quite well too so I don't know. |
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Yes Yes, I am american. I was born and raised in rural Illinois, where Catholics were and are a minority, therefore I graduated from Catholic school 5th grade in a class of 8 students. That is homeschool size for some of you moms out there!
When I was 16 my family (I am the oldest of 6) moved to the southern east coast of Florida. After college my first job was working with street kids in Covenant House in Ft. Lauderdale and then in NYC. Young, adventurous and debt free I took off for Europe!
Michele, thanks for the compliment about my English, but I know that my English is lousy. It has improved since I started having contact with americans on the internet, but I have spent most of my waking hours emerged in the German language and culture for the last 17 years! Dh is german but is a teacher for English and also for Catholic Religion. We do speak English at home too, but only on a very simple , everyday level with the kids. When we talk about our Faith , politics, things happening in school...German.
I am very thankful that dd1 loves to read, also in English. She has read most of the Little House books in both Eng. and Ger. , and we are reading the Martha books together....its the Scotish that gets us! Somehow, this is very important to me, being able to share things in English with Hannah and her sisters. Dd2 loves listening to the "Sound of Music" CD to relax.....
Regarding homeschooling in Germany: Fathers have been imprisoned, fined... for not putting their children in school. The cases I know of were Baptist families, which is a minority religion here in Germany. I have never heard of Catholics trying this and being arrested. Religion and State are not separate here, so you would never find support from your diocese to homeschool. There are Catholic(?) schools almost everywhere which cost next to nothing, because they are State funded... it is very difficult to find a difference between most(not all) of these Catholic schools and other State funded schools, because they have lost their souls. It is a rare case to still find a religious (Nun, priest or brother) directing or teaching. If you find a school run by nuns, then you have great luck!
One thing to remember about Germany today is that we have very many muslims here. The State is having great problems integrating them into German culture, so they don't want to open up the possibility that the muslims leave their sons &daughters all at home to "HOMESCHOOL", which would make the integration almost impossible. The muslims would be the first to leave their children at home.
I have rambled on long enough, so I think I'll make a cocoa for dd1 , who is being tortured by Math right now. She needs my help.
__________________
Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Diane
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St. Ann wrote:
| After college my first job was working with street kids in Covenant House in Ft. Lauderdale and then in NYC. |
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Stephanie, we definitely have to meet before I leave Begium. I worked at Covenant House after college too. In the summer of '88, I did my formation in NYC and then lived in the community in Toronto.
St. Ann wrote:
| Michele, thanks for the compliment about my English, but I know that my English is lousy. |
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Well, your English here on the boards is excellent!
And thanks for your insights on the Muslim dimension to restricting hsing in Germany. It's interesting to hear that point of view.
__________________
Peace,
Diane
Mom to five fair lasses and one bonny prince
The Journey of a Mother's Heart
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St. Ann
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Diane, oh my gosh, I was living in CH community in NYC from Jan '88 to Aug. '89. John Green was the community Director and after him Alec Aspinwall. Was Karen Schmelzer your Formation Director? I began working in Child Advocacy and then later moved on to Moms and Babies... We spent at least 3 weeks together in NYC while you were on Formation. I am tall - 5.11' and have freckles .
Tell me more, tell me more!
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Chari
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Maria B. wrote:
Maria, do we "know" each other, from way back when ....when I actually got that newsletter out on a regular basis? Not an in person thing, just a name thing.
QUOTE]
Don't know if we have met or not?! Thanks for the welcome!
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Oh, Maria! I figured it out, I just saw your name on the happyisthehusband list. I knew I had "met" you somewhere!
I thought you were a certain Maria B who was on the mailing list for THE CATHOLIC FAMILY HOME newsletter..and maybe you are, but I do not want to put your last name on the list.
Anyway, nice to see you here (again) 
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Chari
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marychris wrote:
This is so funny! When I first moved to Virginia I refered to driving on the freeway (instead of beltway) and people always knew I was from the west coast! I agree driving in L.A. is the pits.
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Is it the pits driving in L.A. becuase you never actually do much DRIVING????  Just sitting in your car, chatting with kids or, like most of the single drivers there, chatting on the cell phone???
Two years ago, I was sitting on the San Diego freeway (which never actually goes to San Diego), I called my dad and THANKED him for moving us out of L.A. when I was sixteen (I had a temper tantrum when he moved me to Tahoe )............it took us twenty minutes to go six miles.........arggh! 
Then, on the same trip, my husband left me a message on my cell phone: "I am a little uncomfortable with you calling me on the cell phone while you are on the freeways in L.A. and San Diego."
I called and left him a message: "It is actually more dangerous for me to talk on the cell phone when I am driving in Mount Shasta than on the freeways in Los Angeles and San Diego.........because in Mount Shasta I AM ACTUALLY MOVING!!!"
Mary Chris............I cannot remember if we ever decided if you went to Osage Elementary School in Westchester, CA? When are you coming back to CA for a visit? Anne really looks forward to seeing you again! She just loved you! She really wants Mackenzie and Maddelyn to meet!
Have a blessed day!
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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gracie4309
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Just jumping in here to say this is a beautiful thread. Thanks, Alice for thinking of all us newbies! It's nice to hear from more experienced members (avoiding the word "older"''), too. I haven't had a chance to read all the posts yet, but hope to soon''. I'm so happy to be in the forum. Everything I read reminds of why we chose to homeschool in the first place!
Grace
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alicegunther
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gracie4309 wrote:
Just jumping in here to say this is a beautiful thread. Thanks, Alice for thinking of all us newbies! It's nice to hear from more experienced members (avoiding the word "older"''), too. I haven't had a chance to read all the posts yet, but hope to soon''. I'm so happy to be in the forum. Everything I read reminds of why we chose to homeschool in the first place!
Grace |
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Thank you so much, Grace and everyone here! It is a joy to hear from you and read little tidbits about your lives.
Say a prayer for me--I am supposed to be de-cluttering the house this week, but I can't resist popping in on my favorite party!
BTW, the accomplishments I made today remind me of a diary entry I overheard my (then) six year old dictating about a year ago.
Dear Diary,
Today, Mommy vowed to clean all the rooms. Unfortunately, she did not get very much done.
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
 
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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Paula in MN
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Alice, the diary entry sounds like my 7 year old!
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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alicegunther
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PaulaL wrote:
| Alice, the diary entry sounds like my 7 year old! |
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LOL, Paula, they are cute aren't they?
Surely this party is not over, is it dears? Please don't leave yet! Tell us more about yourselves.
How has your school year been going? How long have you been home educating? If you could choose a caption for the green emoticon on the left of the "Post Reply" box, what would it be? (Personally, I think the red guy at the bottom did him in in a fit of rage).
Oh, and if you asked something earlier in the thread and it somehow was passed over, please repeat it! Sometimes it is hard to hear at a party, but I suppose that means everyone is having fun.
There's no worry about coming late either, so if you are a new member (or any member in the mood to chat), please drop by!
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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Mary G
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Alice,
I'm an oldie, but I don't know if y'all know my hs background. I was a woman of the 80s -- MBA from William and Mary, climbing the corporate ladder at Delta Airlines and then my husband of just a few years died of cancer. At the time my oldest boy was a week from turning 3 and my daughter was 11 mos old. Mike died 4 days after his 31st bday.
After about 2 years of continuing to work and having the kids in DAYCARE -- I decided I needed to be home with them and jumped the corporate ship. After a year of bouncing around with them, including doing the craft fair circuit, I began teaching computers (K-8) at the parochial school where they were. I also decided that year (almost 5 years after Mike died) to jump start my life by moving from Atlanta to Raleigh, NC. I got a job at the parochial school (again, teaching computers) and met my dh there -- a wonderfully Catholic man who was teaching middle school science and had his own corporate jump to teach in the Catholic schools.
About 2 years later (and 2 babies ) we decided Rick really needed to study theology at that truly is his love! We moved the now-4 kids to Austria for 2 years while Rick got a Masters in Theological Studies (with a concentration in bioethics studying under Janet Smith) -- during this time in Austria I started our homeschooling journey (finally), Joe was 7th and 8th grade, Cate was 5th and 6th.
When we came back to the states, I hs'ed them one more semester and then they went to a private, Catholic school (where dh taught) and which quickly went the way of many private Catholic schools -- secular! Academics, sports and "theatre" were more important than Catholicism. Rick quickly soured of this, Catie came home for 9th grade and Joe came home for the last half of 1lth. By this time I was hs'ing Thomas and Maggie (and JP, subconciously).
We then decided to try to go back to Austria for Rick to get a PhD in bioethics, but the Austrian govt said we couldn't get a family visa so we ended up here in Denver! What a wonderful way God has of working! This place is amazing -- we've got a few 4realers here, LOTS of Catholic hs'ers (especially when compared to South Carolina!) and Rick's got a great job at the local diocesan high school.
Joe will head to cajun country next year to attend LSU (God willing -- he's been accepted, now he just needs the $), Cate will probably attend the Catholic high school for her last 2 years, and I'll be learning and living and loving the last 3 littles ones!
So..... that should give y'all some things to chat about!
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Candleside Chat
