I don't know where you are located, but my son participated in the "Do the Dig" archeology program with Prof. Geoff "Big Dog" Purcell for five years. We were in the New York area at the time, but I know some digs were held in NJ and perhaps CT or VT. It is a wonderful week long program for homeschoolers. The subject matter is different each dig (ancient Rome, Maya, Native American etc). The dig itself if simulated, Big Dog is an archeologist and has a large collection of artifacts and replicas that he buries in contextual strata which are excavated by the students. The morning consists of lecture and discussion. The afternoon of digging. http://www.dothedig.net/

A Tintin comic compilation?

Perhaps the food banks have hours that fit into your schedule. They are generally supportive places with friendly volunteers so you won't be made to suffer from any bureaucratic foolishness. Along with the food assistance, the extra from the food bank may help just enough so that you don't feel so stressed by the end of the month. I hope your garden is bountiful and that you have or can borrow the things you need to can or freeze your surplus for the winter months. Don't be down on yourself. You and working very hard for your family. The food prices have been going up at what seems an incredible rate ever since gasoline was over the four dollar mark eight or so years ago. Pay rates haven't really kept up. It is a real challenge, and you are making great choices (even though some of them involve jumping through frustrating hoops). I am sure you already are an expert at stretching a dollar, but in case someone reading this thread is not, I include a link to my favorite money management book, The Complete Tightwad Gazette, which should be obtainable through your local library. The numbers in the book (and her opinions on technology) are dated (written in the '90s), but the strategies and wisdom are timeless. Plus it is easy to read and funny. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Tightwad-Gazette-Amy-Dacyczyn/dp/0375752250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432066823&sr=8-1&keywords=The+complete+tightwad+gazette edited to add: I live in a very gossipy small town too. Think only of your family and do not worry about idle chatter. They are probably not mean spirited, just bored. Every thing spreads like wildfire here, and yet people are still friends and still work together. Otherwise drive to the next nearest food pantry!

This is an amazing opportunity for high school aged kids (keep it in your planning folder). I went in high school, and it was transformational. Breadloaf Young Writer's Conference http://sites.middlebury.edu/neywc/files/2010/10/NEYWC-Brochure-2015.pdf

Ibuprofen and a Pepsi or Coke (regular) immediately upon first hint of an aura then straight to bed in a dark room. That usually prevents the headache from coming on. I also have learned to identify my triggers and will take ibuprofen upon encountering them. Mine are dramatic changes in weather (increase in heat/humidity/possibly barometric pressure) and visually overstimulating environments (once it was a flourescently lit stationery store with hundreds of patterns and reflective plastic wrap on anything another time it was a crystal clear day, breezy, with the autumn leaves moving against the blue sky. Weird, huh?) So if I know the temp is going to rise dramatically between one day and the next, I might take a preventative Advil. I can't generally predict what my brain will conside a visually overstimulating environment though!

Do you eat an excessive amount of fish? Predatory fish like tuna, shark, mackerel, etc. bioaccumulate mercury, and high mercury levels can make your hair fall out.

The state of Maine has over 100 game wardens. They are fully certified peace officers (police officers) and are law enforcement personnel who carry weapons. The preferred way to become a game warden in Maine is to attend The Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro, Maine. Park Rangers also carry weapons but they are not police officers. They are concerned with visitor safety as well as protecting the natural resources of the park. Park Naturalists are wildlife educators who do not carry weapons. Park Naturalists present educational programs, lead hikes, do trail maintenance, monitor wildlife populations, etc. Here are some links. You should be able to find similar links for your state. http://www.gamewardenedu.org/requirements/ https://www1.maine.gov/ifw/warden_service/note.html http://www.parkrangeredu.org/maine/ http://www.parkrangeredu.org/

Water Buffalo Days by Huynh Quang Nhuong The Land I Lost by Huynh Quang Nhuong Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton* (nonfiction, autobiography)

Royal Fireworks Press booklets on famous speeches. http://www.rfwp.com/series/self-evident-truths-series-statements-of-equality#book-free-at-last-the-language-of-dr-kings-dream Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric (uses excerpts from famous speeches to demonstrate tropes and schemes and a variety of rhetorical forms. More for you to draw from than for the students to use.) http://www.amazon.com/Farnsworths-Classical-English-Rhetoric-Farnsworth/dp/1567923852/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430226584&sr=1-1&keywords=Classical+ENglish+rhetoric

You may now walk the candy aisle with glee: http://www.oldtimecandy.com/walk-the-candy-aisle And buy a marathon bar! http://www.oldtimecandy.com/walk-the-candy-aisle/curly-wurly-marathon-bar

Brach's Ice Blue Mint Coolers Pixy Stix Lime flavored Charms Lollypops (now the green ones are watermelon, yuck!) Lipsticks (Hard flavored sugar in plastic lipstick shaped case) Gold Nugget Gum Hershey Bars when they had one letter of the word Hershey on each square (and were bigger) The old Wrigley's gum chicle gum not plastic gum and more natural flavors Teaberry Gum LifeSavers Lollypops in Lime and Cherry I go into the candy aisle now and can find NOTHING I like. Thus I must buy many many bars of expensive dark chocolate to make up for my disappointment.

Haven't seen the book you inquired about, but here are a few more botany books to check out. Prentice Hall Science: Parade of Life: Monarans, Protists, Fungi, and Plants http://www.amazon.com/Parade-Monerans-Protists-Fungi-Plants/dp/0139798161/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429975193&sr=1-1&keywords=Parade+of+life%3A+Monerans%2C+Protists%2C+Fungi%2C+and+Plants Shanleah's Quest: A Botany Adventure for Kids 9 to 99 http://www.amazon.com/Shanleyas-Quest-Botany-Adventure-Kids/dp/1892784165/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429975226&sr=1-6&keywords=Thomas+J.+Elpel Botany for All Ages http://www.amazon.com/Botany-All-Ages-Discovering-Activities/dp/1564402819/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429975307&sr=1-1&keywords=Botany+for+all+ages Life Nature Library: The Plants http://www.amazon.com/Life-Nature-Library-PLANTS-Frits/dp/B001P1LC8W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429975373&sr=1-1&keywords=Life+Nature+Library+The+Plants Wild Flowers to Know by Gladys M. Friesner (lovely vintage workbook, something you'd never see in schools nowadays!) http://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Description-Authentic-Drawings-Spring/dp/B0085WGGLW/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429975455&sr=1-2&keywords=Wild+Flowers+to+Know+by+Gladys+M.+Friesner Plants and Their Children by Mrs. William Star Dana (GREAT vintage read aloud! also available on archive.org) http://www.amazon.com/Plants-Their-Children-William-Starr/dp/B000GT0ZZK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429975747&sr=1-1&keywords=plants+and+their+children https://archive.org/details/plantstheirchild00pars Insects and Plants: The Amazing Partnership by Elizabeth K. Cooper (good vintage read aloud. May be online.) http://www.amazon.com/Insects-Plants-Partnership-E-K-Cooper/dp/0152387013/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429975896&sr=1-1&keywords=insects+and+plants+the+amazing+partnership A Golden Guide: Non Flowering Plants (good vintage kids' field guide to ferns, lichen, liverworts, club mosses, etc.) http://www.amazon.com/NON-FLOWERING-PLANTS--GOLDEN-NATURE-SPECIES/dp/B000N7XBZG/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429976088&sr=1-2&keywords=a+golden+guide+non+flowering+plants

When house hunting, I walked in the door of the house for sale to see a dining room complete with multiple bookshelves, a world map on the wall, and an elaborate pencil drawing of a Viking longship nicely done by the children. The titles on the bookshelves (vintage classic books) supported my initial impression, and the realtor confirmed that they were homeschoolers. In another instance, my then five year old was lying on the floor outside the pool reading a 200 page book while we were waiting for her brother to finish changing after swim lessons. One of the swim instructors, a community college student, took one look at her then looked at me and said, "Homeschooler, right?" I was very surprised and said yes. Turns out he was homeschooled too.

What about Super Friends from Saturday morning cartoons of the 70s?

The University of Maine has anthropology with a minor in archaeology. They offer a summer field course as well. This summer they are working on a dig in Croatia. If she is interested in museum work. The presence of a good natural history, art, or archeology museum on campus where she could work might be a deciding factor to add to your list.

We used these in middle school. The Annotated Arch: A Crash Course in the History of Architecture by Carol Strickland http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Arch-Course-History-Architecture/dp/0740710249/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428278188&sr=8-1&keywords=the+annotated+arch The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post Modern http://www.amazon.com/The-Annotated-Mona-Lisa-Prehistoric/dp/0740768727/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

DK Eyewitness Books: Crystal and Gem http://www.amazon.com/DK-Eyewitness-Books-Crystal-Gem/dp/0756630010/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428238675&sr=8-1&keywords=crystal+and+gem+DK Rocks and Minerals http://www.amazon.com/Rocks-Minerals-Eyewitness-Dorling-Kindersley/dp/0394896211/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=19Y77BMCP9VXDMWG6CKF Volcanoes and Earthquakes http://www.amazon.com/Volcanoes-Earthquakes-DK-Eyewitness-Books/dp/0756637805/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428238757&sr=1-1&keywords=DK+eyewitness+volcano Earth http://www.amazon.com/Eyewitness-Books-Susanna-Van-Rose/dp/1465408975/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0YWCFV5P9XXRX3DTH8BK The Field Guide to Geology by David Lambert 1988 edition with simple text and black and white illustrations. I used this one when my child was in 4th grade. http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Geology-David-Lambert/dp/0816016976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428239010&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Field+Guide+to+Geology+1988 The new edition. Cannot look inside. Don't know if the complexity of the text has been increased. http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Geology-David-Lambert/dp/0816065101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428238906&sr=1-1&keywords=the+field+guide+to+geology+lambert The Practical Geologist by Dougal Dixon http://www.amazon.com/The-Practical-Geologist-Introductory-Identifying/dp/0671746979/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1EH0JXX0ZTATFB545HFC

You don't need a fixative or varnish on a watercolor. Ask for archival quality framing. Frame under glass and look into the types of glass that protect the painting from UV light. Do not hang the painting where it will be in direct sunlight.

He is discovering the basics of phonics and spelling rules. He must be good at attending to detail. Many of us went through school without ever being introduced to a complete phonics course. The author of Uncovering the Logic of English has a number of wonderful videos for you! Most of the English words make perfect sense once you learn all the sounds of the letters and letter combos, learn the spelling rules, and understand the morphemes (and understand that English adopts words from other languages with different phonograms and spelling rules!) Watch this first. If you get hooked, watch her teacher training videos. Teacher Training video number one. The rest are on The Logic of English channel under teacher training videos.

We included it with the things we did first thing in the morning. So during the first 30 minutes of the day we'd have a read aloud, art appreciation, read one new poem, and did poetry memory work, and other memory work. We could take two weeks to memorize a poem (The Raven in 7th grade took a month), but the daily investment was only a few minutes.

Diagramming Books: Rex Barks Diagramming Step by Step Drawing Sentences Diagramming Sentences 60 percent of English words have Latin or Greek Roots. A deeper understanding of English is an immediate benefit of Latin and Greek study. Though you can achieve this by studying Latin and Greek roots instead of the languages. The study of Latin is considered one path to logical thinking.

I am not familiar with the author, but now I am intrigued and will put the author on my list for the future. The quote reminded me of the definition of a word I fell in love with last year: Saudade was once described as "the love that remains" after someone is gone. Saudade is the recollection of feelings, experiences, places or events that once brought excitement, pleasure, well-being, which now triggers the senses and makes one live it again. It can be described as an emptiness, like someone (e.g., one's children, parents, sibling, grandparents, friends, pets) or something (e.g., places, things one used to do in childhood, or other activities performed in the past) that should be there in a particular moment is missing, and the individual feels this absence. It brings sad and happy feelings all together, sadness for missing and happiness for having experienced the feeling. wikipedia.com

In terms of housing: short, flat driveway with room to pile up the snow. Unless you are doing your own plowing, budget for several hundred dollars a winter. I think we spent around $800 this winter at $40/visit. House with a simple roof. Multiple rooflines from dormers or other structural features trap snow and ice, form ice dams, and cause leaks! Simple roofs can be cleaned of snow much easier. Don't let it pile up! We had to spend $240 to get someone to remove our ice dams. Older houses can be poorly insulated resulting in higher heating costs. Do not buy a house with a driveway that slopes down into the road unless you are willing to go out there every morning to shovel, sand, and salt. Multiple times I have had to hold my breath and hope no one was coming as I slid out into the main road where I used to live. A mudroom is a great feature to keep the wet outerwear from muddying up the rest of your house. Basement. Snow tires (also called winter tires) will serve you even better than four wheel drive (though both is preferable). Budget around $600 to $800 for each car about every two years (snow tires are made of a softer material that doesn't last as long as that in regular tires). L. L. Bean and Land's End kids outerwear is worth the price. Keep an emergency kit with blankets and warm clothes and flashers and small shovel and salt in your trunk.

Come to Maine and I will introduce you to quite a large number of Americans who add r to the end of words ending in a, sounding like /uh/. Deanner (Deanna), dramer (drama), Acadier National Park... The only mention I have seen of it is in The ABC's and All Their Tricks in which the author very briefly comments that it is suspected that this pronunciation is a remnant of a particular British dialect (I assume a holdover from colonial times). Just an interesting tidbit.

The Reluctant Dragon Kenneth Grahame The Wanderings of Odysseus Rosemary Sutcliff Black Ships Before Troy Rosemary Sutcliff Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson The Tough Winter by Robert Lawson Cinnabar the One O'Clock Fox by Marguerite Henry Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry Babe the Gallant Pig by Dick King Smith A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys by Nathaniel Hawthorne Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne Riki Tiki Tavi (unabridged) by Rudyard Kipling The Book of Three (Prydain series) by Lloyd Alexander Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang by Ian Flemming The 101 Dalmations: The Original Novel by Dodie Smith Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth Homer Price by Robert McCloskey Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey Catwings (series) by Ursula K. LeGuin My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett Five on a Treasure Island (Famous Five Series) by Enid Blyton The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carson Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright The Arabian Nights Illustrated Junior Classics Grosset and Dunlap (abridged) Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lingren The Borrowers by Mary Norton Henry Huggins (series) by Beverly Cleary