I haven't posted Dd's list for a few weeks. Here are her latest: 52) Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear 53) The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Coffer 54) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad 55) The Innocence of Father Brown by CK Chesterton 56) The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart 57) Slither's Tale by Joseph Delaney 58) Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear 59) First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde 60) Lost Man's Lane (Amelia Butterworth) by Anna Katherine Green 61) Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead 62) Five Red Herrings by Dorthy L. Sayers 63) Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear 64) This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart 65) Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 66) Kilt Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett 67) Fire Storm by Andrew Lane 68) The Documents in the Case by Dorothy L Sayers 69) Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett 70) Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn 71) Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie 72) Snake Bite by Andrew Lane 73) The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner 74) The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King 75) Til We have Faces by C.S. Lewis

You have had a really busy month filled with change. My best advice to you is take him to your library Tuesday morning and check out a few interesting books. We do this every year after we arrive in the US and are waiting for the Rainbow Resource order to arrive. My kids love the library week. Several great curriculum books have actually been found and tried for free by taking my "moving break". A week spent learning about something that interests him could be good fun for him and give you a chance to catch your breath. Plus you will all get to enjoy the holiday! (Meaning Monday) :)

I finished "Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs" by Molly Harper. This was the most interesting review I found. I liked the blog too. :) http://www.lovevampires.com/mhnicegirlsdonthavefangs.html This was a vampire book from the more romantic side of the genre. My best friend loved it so much that she mailed me a copy. It was a nice easy read that I really enjoyed.

The first thing we really need to know is which curriculum you have already ordered so people who have used it successfully can give you some advice. The second thing I would do is some serious reading. Go to your library and check out a few books so you know what style you are interested in. I would make sure "The Well Trained Mind" is one of them. I have loaned my copy to so many who need some direction. It has always helped. While at the library check out a wide variety of picture books. Reading to your 4 year old is the foundation for her learning to read. You could just do this with some creative projects from the books and have a really sucessful year. I would also see if you can find a homeschool group to try. Call your Church(you did mention Christian school) and see if they know of one. Keep coming here and asking your questions. Lots of helpful people with some great ideas. :)

To the how do you determine the setting questions.......this is what I do. -deflate the bed so it is way less than comfortable -slowly inflate, laying very flat which for me is one thin pillow -when the mattress comes up into the arch of my back, sort of lifts me up slightly under the hips I call it done. If you go slow you will feel it and know what I mean. For me that is always between 40 and 50. For my teeny tiny former neighbor her sleep number did that at 25 for her. Everyone is a bit different apparently. I hope this helps! :)

We have one that is 12 years old that we love. Ours is the least expensive model with a pillowtop. We actually think they are a breeze to move. We took the mattress apart and moved it in our airplane luggage accross the Atlantic. ;) Several bags but cheapest way.

I think the first post can be whatever you want.....something you are currently reading is good. I think many of us try to post fairly quickly so the thread is easy to find! I just finished a romance called "Code Name: Nanny" by Christina Skye. It was an easy read with Navy Seals and FBI agents. :) I thought it was a new release when I saw it inthe e book library. Seemed familiar and it could have been an unintentional reread.

I just went through my bookmarks hunting for this site for another thread http://bsapp.com/forensics_illustrated/index.html It has a nice introduction to forensic science text with activities for free. Fun stuff but maybe not "enough"......they would love a forensic class. That made me think of creating a fun elective involving Detective fiction using these techniques. Some classic movie suggestions would be welcome too.

http://bsapp.com/forensics_illustrated/index.html I have not used it but had it bookmarked. It is a class I want to do someday.

Yeah!!!!! Stacia, I am so glad you are finally going to be able to finish Angelmaker. :) As you know I really enjoyed it.

We used both books but they are currently packed away due to a house move. I read them to the children roughly 5 years ago. Our Island story was much more interesting, imo. My memory matches Laura's description pretty closely. Some children (9 and 10 year olds) in my home ed group have been reading it themselves recently and enjoying it. Story of Europe is more advanced as I remember it. Longer chapters with greater detail. I remember long battles. ;) It did a great job on Charlemagne I think. But we also read a SL recommended book about Charlemagne so.... Dd enjoyed both books. She knows an amazing amount about the Kings and Queens of England and OIS was her foundation. Ds liked OIS but part of that could have been the field trips because we were visiting places mentioned whenever possible because we had just moved here. Ds did not like the Story of Europe mainly because of the longer chapters but he was 8. I don't think there was much overlap between the books but really can't remember.

http://booktionary.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/review-strange-affair-of-spring-heeled.html This was my favorite review of The Stange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder. I enjoyed it greatly and really enjoyed a few of the unique characters. The book addicted head of the chimney sweeps made me smile. I already have the next in the series but will wait a few days/weeks. Relatively fat book with smallish print so I need a break.

Glad you are back!

I prefer Hamish Macbeth to Agatha Raison. I read them both but prefer the "straight man" detective with the odd and unpredictable villagers. There is actually an old TV series of his mysteries. Not accurate at all bookwise but the kids watched it last year when they were showing the reruns happily, while I had issues with accuracy and couldn't watch. ;) Most of the MC Beaton's have recently appeared on the kindle ebook list at my library. Maybe that will happen at yours too. If possible read the early ones first so you know the odd village characters -- the one I just read definately assumed the reader knew who everyone was.

One thing that no one has mentioned, I think, is we have taken advantage of are some community continuing education classes. Most of the people in the groups are senior citizens but my kids have been accepted after some initial surprise. ;) I take the class too, generally. Dd takes art lessons with one group. We have all done a fossil class, some archeology lectures, etc.

I couldn't sleep last night so I read "Death of Yesterday" by MC Beaton. It is the latest in the series, I think. I love being able to read on my Fire and not wake DH. Even though I am tired today at least I accomplished something. :) I am working my way through "The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack". It is a Stacia recommendation which I had a really hard time locating through libraries. It finally arrived. I am enjoying it but the print is a bit tiny. I feel like an old lady but I can only read it with good lighting so going a bit slow. :lol:

Welcome!

I just read the rest Daisy Dalrymble mystery by Carola Dunn. It was set in England post WWI. I requested a few more and noticed they all were in large print and meet your other criteria. :) Our librarian recommended them for dd. The Cat who......mysteries by Lillian Jackson Braun might be good too.

My friend knew the walk so I didn't even look at it until posting for you. :) The only thing I can think of is it was very much a deciduous forest. My friend actually did comment that the conifers in one area were interesting. Generally pines are all together for lumber purposes here. Clumber Park near us has several pine forests but they are separate. Even though it is National Trust they are harvesting the lumber actively. Generally not intermingled possibly because the pines have been harvested. I am curious and will ask but I think inappropriate really meant unusual in this case.

Of the "50 must reads" I have only read 2. I get 9 more (mostly children's) when I add in the recommended ones. A couple are in my infamous pile. An attempt at "Oscar Wao" needs to happen soon because the renewals are ending. I went through the college settings list while sleepy last night. I don't think I have read any but several look great. :) More for my list. I was very good over the weekend and picked a few out to return. I read 30 or so pages of my more questionable ones(as in why did I want this book) and moved it to the return stack if I didn't really like it or bottom of the list if readily available at libraries. The kids thought I had read them all last weekend and were briefly amazed! I did finish my kindle prime book "Trail of the Dead" by Melissa F. Olson. That was the second in my "null" series and not as good as the first. It lack the laughs then I read that the author wrote it while on bed rest with hyperemisis(sp. ?) and then became impressed she managed to string coherent sentences together. I could barely read much less write! I will give the third one a try if and when it becomes available.

I thought some of you might like to "see" the walk we did yesterday. It took longer and seemed to be a bit more rigorous then advertised. Hebden Bridge was picturesque even from the British perspective. Property is pricey there! We took the bus back to the village. You should have seen the look on the bus driver's face as 6 departing home ed children told her a heartfelt thank you on the way off the bus! :lol: Considering she managed to drive a bus down a winding hill with 2 inches on each side she was most deserving of everyone's thanks. http://www.hbwalkersaction.org.uk/walks/5.html

I did do a search of my libraries for " My Viridian Rose" because it appeared to be the most readable of the ones listed in Goodreads. I really don't get how a green rose is romantic so was interested but viridian is a really fun word per dd which might explain the title. At least I am sorted. I have Stacia's Viridis ready on my kindle. We are off to spend Bank Holiday Monday with my WTM real life friend and her family. :)

http://www.cengage.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=0155050907&discipline_number=436 Gardners's Art through the Ages is fabulous. We have not completed it but purchased this book and study guide used. Honestly not sure about using this website but it looks great so I could not resist linking it. There are lots of "Quizlet" sets etc for picture study that we did look at. Many schools appear to use this text for AP so extras are out there if you look. Dd hasn't had time to do it consistently. First two chapters done. Annotated Mona Lisa and Sister Wendy are also very good. We loved Sister Wendy!

Considering my interest in steampunk I will try it. My kindle says I already own it. Thank you!

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Viridian.html?id=6QJA1gaabHAC&redir_esc=y There is actually a book by that title. Our library system has seven copies available. Seven all at branches. I do not understand. Anyway look at the cover and glance at the description. Dd was laughing loudly at the though of my reading that. I think I will have a look at the green idea. Two books with red in my stack....I should have asked my other child!