Sweet Maggnolia

Aug. 21, 2008 - Discussions with a Purpose~ Dating vs. Courting

This is a little late for the Discussions with a Purpose discussion, but I thought I would still share what I thought, here. Check the blog out if you want to see this week's discussion.

Dating vs. Courting

       When deciding what is a more Christ- centered way of romance, we must first know what the words mean. I am not against either. But first let me explain.

       I have heard about and read of couples that say they 'dated', yet when they described what they went through, how their dates went, and who was involved...it sounds like courting, and then when some couples say they are courting, and yet the way they describe their romance is almost embarassing. So I believe you can call it one thing, and behave completely different...as if you use the word 'courting' and whatever you do is okay.

    However, most dating, in the secular world, involves one girl and one guy. No advisors, mentors, or parents. No one is to mess up their chance for romance, and yet the maturity level is completely exhausting because they are not even able to handle some of the situations that they get into.

    On the other hand, courting, is where the couple is advised, watched, and guided by people who have experience and are overjoyed at the path where the two love birds are headed, and are able to give direction from the heart and also find faults which might come up later in life.

     Why the results of a true courtship are better than a solitude dating:

                   ~Those who are advisers and mentors in your courtship process can see traits, both good and bad, that you were not able to see in your relationship...in a one on one relationship...one might overlook a trait that is not desirable, but when with others are involved, the flaws and faults that can be corrected can

             ~ Having relations and mentors, they can keep you firm in your decisions of physical contact, hours, time spent together, and whatever your convictions will be before you marry. One on one can secretly deteriorate your convictions slowly and surely.

             ~as Joshua Harris states in 'Boy Meets Girl' ~"Our problem today is that we've allowed the importance of privacy and personal choice to cause us to neglect what the Bible teaches us about our need for fellow Christians in the local church."

             ~Courtship can also show us reality. When we date we make believe that everything will be perfect, "Just the two of us, together on dates, we both know our strengths and weaknesses and such." But when two people are to prepare for the future...that means more than seeing if you can hold your temper, and balance a checkbook, but it also means that you two can raise children together, keep convictions, maintain maturity in difficult situations, and apply themselves to the Word.

             ~With courting, pleasure is not the main reason. Of course one wants to be happy with their future spouse, but the first thought in Christian courting is how to please God with their marriage.

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Aug. 18, 2008 - ~Get Married ~

Posted in Respectful Reviews

I recently read a book titled Get Married by Candice Watters, about how to view marriage and even live like you will be married. Mrs. Watters address how to be firm and witness to others by staying content and just telling people your true dream of being a wife and raising a godly family.

This is a quote from the Ladies Against Feminism blog on Get Married:

"When Candice Watters boldly declares that women need to get serious about marriage and pray for it to happen, it might seem a bit pie-in-the-sky to jaded women who’ve nearly given up. But Mrs. Watters doesn’t just cast the vision; she provides practical, biblical steps that single ladies can take in their quest to become a "Mrs."

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Aug. 16, 2008 - ~Tagged by Anna93~

Posted in Tactful Tags

I have been tagged by Anna93.

1. What's your two favorite movies? I have plenty of favourite movies, but I will name only two: Pride and Prejudice (either new or old), and probably Road to Avonlea, which is really a show from a while back.

2. What's your favorite food? I really enjoy chicken fajitas

3. What are two of your favorite songs? Hans Zimmer is my favourite composer of the modern age and all of his songs count as one, and probably 'Summer' by Vivaldi

4. What are your two favorite books? The Bible, which suites ANY situation and of course is our 'letter' from the Creator to His children, and...oh....Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, currently

5. What's your favorite color? My favourite color is probably a lovely feminine lavender

6. Did you enjoy this tag? Yes, I enjoy almost all tags

7. Am I going to tag? I will not be tagging anyone this time. Sorry...

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Aug. 14, 2008 - ~Supers!~

Posted in Busy Bees~ The Tales of our Beehive

We have added a super to our beehive, which is basically another level to make the honey in. It is a little late, for September and October are usually harvesting time...and we will be photographically documenting.:)
We received the utensils in the mail to make a new super with the frames and foundation.

This is what the hive looked like with one super, on top, and a brood box, on bottom.

It came looking like a puzzle, but we soon figured it out, and were on our way.

This is a frame, not put together, is what the bees start their cells off of.

This is what the foundation looks like up close. These are small ridges in the shape of a Hexagon, which the bees then start their cells for honey and offspring.

Frames are almost there.

This is what the new super looks like, all completed, without the honey that is.

We are smoking the bees, and are about to add the super. And this photo may seem different because we are not dressed in a devouring white bee suit. And we will take precaution when we harvest the honey, but if you dress light and move slow, bothersome bees should overlook you. Of course, we think our bees are just too sweet and full of honey. :)

When we peeked in, they were busy little ones, and just happy to be buzzing around.

And with the newest super, the hive now looks like this.

The Bees and I

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Aug. 14, 2008 - ~Olympic Homeschooler~ Becca Ward~ Women's Fencing~

Posted in Anxious Announcements

Becca Ward is a homeschooled sabre fencer who has gone to the Olympics and has won a silver medal for the United States. You can read more about her here. It is very interesting to hear about a homeschooler competing in the Olympics. I just hope that encourages some of us out there.

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Aug. 10, 2008 - ~A New Side of Life~

Posted in Livin Lovin Life

For a few years, this has been the siding of my bathroom. We added it on to my room, and haven't quite gotten around to completing the outside. Now we have taken another step forward. We have the siding, and now the rest of the outside of the house will need to be done. But for now this is just fine.

Dad and I holding the siding down for a very quick jab with the nail gun. And of course I just couldn't sit still and not try it.

I really didn't do anything but pose for a picture. I look very not- professional.

It is finished...and looking very new and respectable. We hardly ever get new things, so when something new comes along...look out! We start getting excited as if we were experiencing our first snowfall. It looks very well, does it not?

And what does a homeschooler do with the extra siding? She paints them and turn them into sign! We now have a nifty little sign for our egg production, and the one in the back says, "Maggie's Boudoir"...I am going to put that in my room.

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Aug. 7, 2008 - ~Natural Nature~

Posted in Priceless Photographs

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Aug. 3, 2008 - My Parents

Posted in Priceless Photographs

I thought I would post a picture of my lovely, godly, fun parents.

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Jul. 29, 2008 - Penelope... Movie Review

Posted in Respectful Reviews

Penelope, starring Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Richard E. Grant (the Scarlet Pimpernel) and Reese Witherspoon, finally came out this summer after a somewhat long time after filming. We had been waiting for it for maybe close to a year after we first saw the preview...but it took a while to finally appear in DVD form.

So we rented it, and watched it...everyone with eager spirits since it has James McAvoy- we really enjoy his acting in Narnia as Tumnus, and in Becoming Jane as Tom LeFroy but those are the only movies that I recommend of his.

Surprisingly, this fairy tale was sweet, romantic, and humorous. Honestly, I was tired of the silly, frivolous movies and was hoping that this movie would be refreshing and it was. Of course it has the guy-girl relationship...but it is sweet and driven by honest love not zealous lust.

Now for the story-line...Penelope is the daughter of a wealthy family who has a curse upon it. Back in the 19th century, her great- great- etc. grandfather fell in love with a servant and had a child with her, but when he introduced the notion of marrying this poor woman his family twisted his mind and had him marry a more suitable woman, and he never spoke to his first love again. One reason is because the woman, Clara, was devestated and threw herself off a cliff (don't worry...no gory scenes) And then Clara's mother, who just so happens to be the town witch, puts a curse on the family....and she made the first daughter born into that family have the face of a pig, but the curse would only be broken if a high society blue-blood (one of her own kind) to love her until death do them part. And it also just so happens that Penelope is the next daughter born and has the very same face. But that is all that I can say for that would ruin the whole movie...for it has a very interesting twist.

Some hints: this movie is clean, except for some minor slang words, a split second somewhat scary image...well it frightened me but my cousins thought it hilarious, and some quick kissing.

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Jul. 27, 2008 - Emma- The Matchmaker of Jane Austen

Posted in Respectful Reviews

As I have stated in my summer post, I have started and long finished the masterpiece of Jane Austen; Emma, yet it has taken me a while to finally post this post. I personally like Emma, for she has a mistaken character, which she recognizes rather late, and then deals with her consequences. She acts impulsively, but deep down she is a clever girl.

    Emma Woodhouse is born into a wealthy family, and to loving parents. She has one older sister, Isabella, who has married by the beginning of the book. She married John Knightley, and has a few young children.
    Emma's father is cautious but concerned for everyone's health, and is not fond of marriage, for it takes away young people from their previous family. He is widowed and loves his two daughters very much.
    The book starts out after the wedding of Mrs. Weston (previously Miss Taylor), Emma's former governess who is almost her sister. She married a Mr. Weston who has one son from a previous marriage.
    Mr. Knightley, John Knightley's brother, was thrown into the close affections of the Woodhouse family when his brother married Isabella Woodhouse. He comes into their home in ease, and is the only person who dares find fault in Emma, in joke and in seriousness.

    Soon, Mr. Weston, Miss Taylor's new husband, receives a letter from his son, Frank Churchill, who was raised by his late wife's family, acknowledging his visit. So that throws the town into fits of excitement and gossip. A Miss Bates is introduced as the town silly and talker.
    Another key figure is the gentle Jane Fairfax, the ever talked of niece of Miss Bates. Jane is not much liked by Emma for personal reasons and is considered a fine lady by the rest of the community.
    A few more characters are Harriet Smith and Mr. Elton. And now for the plot.

    Emma, is a woman of certain skills and is greatly admired for she is the daughter of a wealthyman, and has beauty as well as a good countenance. Yet, Emma can become mischievous rather easily, and after the wedding of her former governess, of which she believes she deserves the credit for she introduced them, decides that the vicar, Mr. Elton, looked as if he would very much like a wife. And then the arrival of Harriet Smith- a woman more pretty than clever- throws into Emma's head that the two would be a perfect match.
    So, after throwing them together after many little scenarios that she planned secretly, and hinting softly to Mr. Elton, Emma believes that Mr. Elton is vastly in love with her dear Harriet. Yet, after the Christmas ball, Emma finds out that Mr. Elton really loved HER! Emma can not believe that she could've been mistaken and harshly refuses Mr. Elton- still sure that he had too much punch.
    Mr. Elton then leaves the town for a while- to nurse his wounded pride- leaving Emma to nurse her memories. Soon she realizes that all of his small hints had been towards her and that she had deceived herself into thinking that he was for Harriet.
    Poor Harriet is depressed, for Emma had even made Harriet believe that Mr. Elton was for her...Emma had actually persuaded Harriet to refuse Mr. Robert Martin who had proposed earlier. Harriet at first loved Mr. Martin...but a little conversation with Emma on the weak minded can turn anyone's thoughts.
      And Mr. Knightley, Emma's severest critic, believes that Emma is mistaken in supposing that Harriet is good enough for the vicar, for Harriet is the daughter of 'no one knows who'
    Soon, the son of Mr. Weston, Mr. Churchill, finally arrives and also starts the tongues a waggin', for he himself is handsome, witty, and agreeable to the ladies. Emma befriends him and she soon finds herself liking him more and more each day.
    A few months pass, and Mr. Elton returns from his trip into town, and come back with his very own wife. Mrs. Augusta Elton, a woman who is from a somewhat lowered high society who makes everyone a little more than anxious. She is outspoken and is very eager to play the 'higher role of mother' to all of the young ladies who show some prospect.

    Frank Churchill, meanwhile stirs Emma's heart, and she then matches Harriet with him, and Mr. Knightley notices an affect upon her that he does not like. But it all comes out in the end...Emma does not love Frank Churchill- as she thought she did for a while- and that he was actually engaged to Jane Fairfax for many months but was kept secret.
    And after a quick surprise by Harriet who confesses that she was now in love with Mr. Knightley, Emma goes into despair for she realizes that she herself loves him. And prays to God to let her have him, and he does-well Miss Austen does.
    Then after their marriage, Emma and Mr. Knightley live a good life with her aging and somewhat depressed father, while Harriet finally accepts Robert Martin's proposal of marriage-and Emma acknowledges her fault and hastily apologizes to everyone.

I would suggest the 1996 version of the book Emma, with Gwyenth Paltrow, as a very adequate film...just if you don't want to read the book. It portrays everything properly...if I can recall...and is great in the casting.

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Jul. 23, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday

Posted in Wordless Wednesday

This picture is of my nephew, Maddox, who had so much fun with the hose the day we babysat him. So I snapped this picture, and it looks as if he is waiting to give the death grip to the water when it comes. That kid is hilarious!

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Jul. 19, 2008 - Gardening...A Skill We Should All Know

Posted in Generous Gardening

Gardening is a great way to learn homemaker skills, provide for a family, and have the joy of growing plants and being keepers of the earth.

Proverbs 31: 16, "She considers a field and buys it, and out of her earning she plants a vineyard."

Genesis 3:19, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.."

Proverbs 6:8, "Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."

Nowadays, people don't really keep gardens, except for those who need homegrown food to provide for their families, or hobby farmers, or even the families who want to know that their food is healthy for the family- like us. But it is not hard to keep a garden, and people who don't have room only care for two tomato plants which give enough tomatoes for a small family. Some use the tomato plants that they hand upside down in a soft little chute thing- Mom and I are not the upside down growers- we like our plants upright and in the ground- though people get great success with the newer ways for growing plants in a small area. Clay pots are great for any plant, and are also a space saver for patios and such.

We keep a garden every year, and some years are not very good- due to weather conditions. We always plant tomatoes and green beans...and a few others that we plant some years or not. Sunflowers, cucumbers, and cabbage are some of our other plants that provide nourishment for the family. And this year, we have given some land in the garden for my aunt and uncle for their own first time hobby garden.

As women and keepers of home, gardening falls right into our path. There will be a time when as mothers- we will need to decide between store boughten vegetables when we can grow our own healthy produce. A young lady, should know the basics of gardening...for when she needs to know the proper skills she will not have to guess too much on how to handle seeds, watering time, and extra care for their garden.

Planning a garden, what plants grow best together, when to plant in the year, when to weed or hoe, space needed for a plant, and the proper care for each plant- when a plant needs to be trimmed, supported, and so on are some things that we would need to know.

Tomatoes need some help when they start to grow down to the ground, and when their limbs extend to the ground when they become full of healthy green tomatoes. Also one needs to be searching for tomato worms...disgusting worms with a horn on its rear. You can spot a worm by looking underneath the plant and checking for its bowel deposits, and then look upon the plants leaves and stems. Usually it is easy to find such creatures- for their destruction is everywhere.

Green Beans will need some hoeing, and plucking of weeds, and a smart eye on the look out for those that are ripe, for one day one can be ready, and one day later it is already bad because it became overripe.

This is our first basket of green beans this year. Mom picked them and then we came inside and snapped them while we watched Penelope. Snapping green beans is a fun exercise that makes you feel as if you should be wearing a long skirt, and a lace shirt with puff sleeves. Therefore gardening does have its advantages, and I thoroughly believe in everyone having a garden-whether small or large, for benefits come everyday, and the thrill of growing your own food lengthens your neck to hold your head high. No more market veggies for us!

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Jul. 14, 2008 - What I've Done for the Month...

Posted in Livin Lovin Life

This year at the fair I entered seven projects in six 'project categories'

Photography-
10 Black and White- Blue Honor
Experimental Salon- State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Weather-
poster on Cloud Seeding- Best of Show, State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Beekeeping-
poster of 10 pressed wildflowers- Best of Show, State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Food Preservation-
canned tomatoes- Best of Show, State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Food-
whole wheat yeast bread- Blue, Honor

Crafts-
Reed Craft- State, Reserve Grand Champion, Blue, Honor

We attended many shows- Beef, Dairy, Poultry, and Swine- my favourite is the Beef show,
and after the Poultry show, a gal we know was selling her very highly placed exhibition Leghorn (you pronounce Leg-urn), and Mom- loving Leghorn eggs- she snapped it up for $5! Our other Leghorn having been distraught for months after a horrendous encounter with a stray dog...but she is well again!
However, there was one small problem...we didn't expect to buy a bird? How were we going to transport it home? Well, Emily Rose volunteered to hold it in her lap all the way. Some people looked into our small car to see three girls, and a chicken! We even had to stop at the grocery store on the way home, and the bird accidentally got loose in the car...but no harm done- just some fun!

Oh, and the gal who we bought the bird from-her last name is Green, and we wanted to name it after her so we christened her Olive...a form of green!

I also did other things beside 4-H, amazingly :), and I had my spring piano recital in May.
My two pieces were, Tell Me Now by Hans Zimmer from the soundtrack of King Arthur, and Edelweiss by Rodgers and Hammerstein in the musical The Sound of Music. Breezy and Emily also had their two pieces.

And all three of us with our piano teacher, the lovely Mrs. Jones

We are also having fun with those bees! They are so cute, and are helping all of our neighbors' gardens. If you look closely you can see them gathering on the outside of the hive. They truly are busy! I shall have to give a post with information on bees for everyone, for it will certainly help me.

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Jul. 10, 2008 - I am come back...into the world of blogging!

Posted in Anxious Announcements

       Our computer is fixed and it was all covered in the warranty, and on Monday morning around 9 o'clock, we will have high speed internet and I can check everyone's blogs faster and more often. Yeah for me!

       So I will post on Monday on everything that has happened since I left. So I will be gone for a few more days, but will still be dropping by others' blogs.

    Everyone have a Great Day!

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Jul. 1, 2008 - A Thought...

Posted in Livin Lovin Life

I am using a relative's computer to post a thought.

Last night I was laying in bed after I had watched a movie, and then I had a thought about Hollywood. And here it is...

"What is Hollywood, but to assure us the bad guy always loses, the good guy triumphs after saving the damsel, who is never happy unless in distress, and that no matter how tangled characters may get, at the end of two hours, it was only a misunderstanding."

But there is the exception of a few movies. :)

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Jun. 27, 2008 - Once Again An Apology

Posted in Anxious Announcements

    Everyone who has read my blog, will know that we are having problems with our computer and I must again announce some very sad news.
    I am my cousins' home, using their computer for we have just came back from the computer hospital after our computer was knocked completely senseless during a very powerful electrical storm last week. So, we took it to the doctor's office, and then we heard that it was covered in the warranty so we did not panic. Yet we have heard that the starter strip thingy will take two weeks to fix, and that we will have to wait*( what a sad and powerful word) to have a computer again.
    As much as we are excited about not paying for the costs, we will be giving up everything that is on a computer for two weeks. Then the hurt of losing a friend, I am positive we will see happiness come in from another source. A great way to do all of the things that we need to do!

    I shall return and see everyone in two weeks!

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Jun. 22, 2008 - I am begging the pardon of all of my dear fellow bloggers...

Posted in Livin Lovin Life

       I am extremely sorry...my blogging schedule has been thrown to the moon and brought back in a state of confusion. 4-H began in the beginning of June, and then it started, and then it ended, and we are still in the 4-H mode. We went to almost every livestock show; Swine, Beef, Dairy, and the Poultry Show. We are avid farm wanna-be's, and we fantasize every time we go, especially me, but it is a good way to practice my contentment state.

        And then to make everything worse, our internet modem was knocked completely senseless by an electrical storm that blew threw a couple weeks ago, and that shut off our internet connexions. And surprisingly, we survived.

           In any sense, I am apologizing to all of my fellow bloggers on not returning comments, or visiting anyone's blogs. I have had quite a time with our computer, and will not be posting until the end of June, when we will have updated our internet speed, and we will have a high speed internet! I could, and am screaming with excitement. Which the speed of our internet was also messed up during the storm, and the time could've been beaten ten fold by a snail doing anything! It was lethargic.

       So I shall come back to the cyberpace party in early July. Everyone, have a great, blessed day, and when I return I shall present my 4-H awards.

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Jun. 4, 2008 - School's Over...What Now?

Posted in Livin Lovin Life

    Summer is a great time to have fun, and pursue your accomplishments, but when you are not looking, it can also be a time of idleness.
    In the school year, we have schedules, and stay on track (most of the time), and get things accomplished. Why should the summer be any different?
    Most people think that the summer months are there for only enjoyment and that there is a mandate that you can not do anything stressful or in the category of work. I personally like to busy my summer.
    You should pick a task that you wish to complete and then have a small schedule to go by.
    This summer can be great time for doing....

            Babysitting....a great way to accomplish and work on future skills, I may be babysitting for two boys down the road this summer when necessary for their parents

            Gardening...or anything that has to do with the outdoors and enjoying the summer in a more constructive way, we have planted a huge garden this year that will most definitely take up our time

            Start a good book, a novel, or anything that you have wanted to read but haven't had the time for previously, right now I have just started Emma by Jane Austen

             Take classes on a subject or a hobby that you wish to pursue just for the summer...I will be taking art classes from artmommy

             Be involved in a group for church, homeschool group, book club, anything! I will be finishing 4-H

             And the most important thing for summer....just have fun! Now I did not say sit on the couch until it begins to suck you in, while you eat cheetos and drink sodas that have a number of sugar too large to properly pronounce in one try. I mean do things that are fun, don't push yourself into any corners trying to fit in things in a schedule, but try new things, learn new things, and have an open mind when you are going towards something new. The Lord loves it when we take pleasure in our hobbies, for He gave us that love for certain things, and He gave us talents to be used for His glory!

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May. 28, 2008 - As Cute as a Kitten

Posted in Priceless Photographs

My beloved cat Peggy had a litter of kittens a month ago, and they were all black, excepting the few white spots on their bellies and necks. They were all so cute as kittens and have grown up into lovely black kittens. We think that there are two males and two females.
This is when they were almost a week old...

Their first trip into the great unknown...grass...

Still checking the perimeter...

Their second trip into the great unknown...the porch...

We have a few names ready, Horatio and Archie (from Horatio Hornblower), and Hyacinth (from the overbearing mother in Wives and Daughters) for one of the girls...I still have one name for the other girl. You can tell how creative I am in naming things. :)

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May. 25, 2008 - Recital Shirt...3887

Posted in Livin Lovin Life

For my piano recital which was a few days ago, I decided last minute that I wanted to wear the shirt that I had chose to make, when I attended. So we went to the fabric store and purchased a pattern by Simplicity. (I must admit that I stole the idea to make this shirt from a friend)

So we came home and sort-of started right away to make it..give or take a week:)
The fabric is cotton with a small floral design...and it is obviously red...for a reason I shall explain. Red colors...certain red colors look strikingly well on darker haired folk. If it is thought unbelievable...might I suggest a trip to the mirror in something red? :)

The shirt would have capped sleeves with elastic, along with a low scoop neckline. We were not expecting it to be so skin-bearing...so I am going to buy some white or red lace to go behind it...but until then I shall wear my hair down my front.
And to the left side of my shirt, a nice bright bow is situated. I personally like that touch, however sometimes it does get in the way.

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