New: Pet lover, homeschooler, former survivalist, veteran

Hi world. I homeschool my 12 yr old son and frequently tutor an 8 yr old that can't read. I don't buy a curriculum, so technically we are unschooling, I believe. He loves science so he concentrates on that area. He knows a lot of history but I am looking for ways to introduce more facts on cultures, government, politics, etc. without boring him or putting him to sleep. He will be taking the WASL this month, I think. He has one cat he rescued 5 yrs ago (she was a small kitten). He found her in the woods, tied up so she couldn't move. She hadn't eaten or had anything to drink in who knows how long, plus she had a swollen spot on side of her face that was infected. $150 later, she has been devoted to him ever since (acts more like a dog with him). She is all white, talks a lot (part Siamese?), and doesn't care about anyone but him.
I grew up on a small Texas ranch (about 300 ac.). Then I had horses, cows, chickens, even a pet pig. I rescued wild rabbits and birds, nursed them back to health, then released them. As a young girl I had a parakeet, hamsters, a rat, turtles, frogs, horny/horned "toad"(lizard), and a snake (at different times, not all at once). I was also expected to put dinner on table by hunting when necessary, using a .22 single shot rifle. In the Army, I got a medal for 'M16 sharpshooter'. We made our own lye soap, pickled lots of garden things, plowed a small area with a horse drawn plow, separated milk, churned butter, and made a soft cheese called smear case (cream cheese or soft creamy cottage cheese?) that went on biscuits with preserves made from local wild grapes.
I've been working paid or unpaid at one thing or another since I was 13. Rounding up cattle, taking care of elderly people that needed assistance when their caregivers (usually daughter and husband) went away for weekend or longer, driving kids to school, tutoring kids in math, and writing school/term papers (for protection in jr high, for money in college). I was a jr secretary or office assistant in high school and college. I have never been able to go to college longer than 3 yrs at a time. I also change my major each time I go back to college.
Right now I have a 10 yr old cat that is extremely emotionally needy. I got her at local Humane Society. Have a new kitten, 6 mos old, was dumped several months ago on our street when bitter cold out. Have a puppy, black Labrador retriever, born Nov 5. We got her from a parking lot seller last week in December. Also have a very sweet, well trained rat about 4 1/2 yrs old now. I adopted her from Humane Society 3 yrs ago. She loves to sit on my shoulder. Last month I took 2 rats from a neighbor that was moving, they are about 2 yrs old, I think. Within the last 2 yrs I lost 2 mice from old age, 3 other rats from cancer, and a cat with cancer. I rescued 9 ferrets from different owners that couldn't keep them. One got very sick and died. I took the remaining 8 to a ferret rescue association. I had too many pets and ferrets require a lot of attention: playing (imagine having 9 kids age 2 with ADHD), bathing (they are related to polecats - another word for a type of skunk), and expensive vet visits (if you can find a vet that knows and treats ferrets).
This is my blog introduction. Will write again soon, I hope. Thanks for listening/reading.