Technically, It's not my fault

Technically, It's not my fault: Concrete Poems by John Grandits is a title of a book I purchased for the Hibbing Public Library a while ago. I had a reference question about concrete poems and this title caught my eye, and so it was added to the collection. The title of this poem has become my mantra when I travel. I recently went to Front Royal via Interstate 95 and then U.S. Highway 17 and then Interstate 66. The trip took about three hours and I arrived in time to attend a preschool program, lunch with some very nice people, and a tour of the library. I learned about the new library being built with a plan of opening the summer of 2009. It was so nice talking children's books and programs with the staff that I left later than planned. "The traffic will be bad, here is a better way to go" I was told. With less then a half a tank of gas I took the backroads back to Richmond. I saw delightful towns, some gift shops I have to find again and a place that offers glassblowing and another that offers homemade jams and baked goods. It was wonderful to be off the highway and travel up and down the hills of Virginia. Then I met some construction and got turned around. Technically it's not my fault. I challenge anyone to read a map while nagivating the turns and twists in the Shenandaoh Mountains. Besides, the back roads in Virgina require commitment. There are very few places to stop or turn around. A few hours later I was once again headed towards Richmond with the gas tank quite a bit lower. I did find Culpeper, but not Highway 615. Lucky for me, I saw a sign for the Culpeper Public Library. I quickly turned around and with map in hand I went to the reference desk and got directions to a gas station and Highway 3. With a full tank of gas I then set off again. This time to Fredricksburg with a phone call to Terry when I got off the wrong exit, then back to Interstate 95. The three hour tour was completed four and half hours later when Terry picked me up at the Enterprise car rental office at 8:00 p.m.

Gardening

One of the traditions of gardening clubs in Virginia is to host tours. This is part fundraiser and part social event. As this is Historic Gardening Week, communities in Virginia are hosting several walking tours and single house tours. For anywhere between $5.00 to $45.00 groups and individuals may tour the homes and lawns of historical homes that are now museums and/or family homes. The project began in 1928 with a group of determined people who wanted to restore some of the area's historical landmarks. The project was successful and over the years funds from this project have been used to restore the properties once owned by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Woodrow Wilson, Patrick Henry, Robert E. Lee and George Mason.
There are of course rules to attending gardening clubs, which the local newspaper was kind enough to print.

• Rule one - wear nice clothes. Ladies are to wear flats as high heel shoes are murder on historical wood floors. Women should carry small purses unless they want to risk breaking (insert brand of pottery worth more than college tuition).
• Rule two - no taking pictures, making notes or doing drawings.
• Rule three - no peeking into cupboards or opening doors to rooms.
• Rule four - this is a high pollen program, bring your own tissues and take an antihistamine.
  

On our own front, Terry and I are taking part in Historic Garden Week by trying to identify the plants we have in our yard and the plants and trees we see in the neighborhood. Thanks to tutoring by Donna and the Hibbing-Chisholm Gardening Club and a gardening book, I have identified some of the plants in the area. In the front of our house are hostas, azaleas, a holly plant (the Hibbing Public Library has one of these, too), and two types of plants I have not been able to identify. The neighbor down the road has a bridal wreath, and another has salvia (these are both part of the Hibbing Public Library garden). The library's children's garden area had sunflowers last year. They were so big that Donna and other members of the gardening club had to use a saw to cut it down. Birds like the sunflower seeds, as we have cardinals, blue birds, robins, chickadees and a woodpecker. I plan to plant some sunflowers to provide a treat for the birds.

Terry found this photograph by Fedrus at http://pixdaus.com/ I thought I would add it to the blog for I am flying to Little Rock this week to attend a conference of the multi-state summer library committee. My trip will begin at Richmond, then I bounce to Houston and then bounce again to Little Rock.

Another site Terry found is http://dir.salon.com/topics/garrison_keillor/ .
This site has columns by Garrison Keillor. I think it is fitting as the posting of this week is about Northwest Airlines, which according to the newspapers is being taken over by Delta.

Back in Virginia

Terry and I left Minnesota last Sunday. We missed the snow in Minnesota and the tornado in Illinois to arrive safe but slumberous in Richmond late Monday evening.
We will be sending thank you notes soon, but in the meantime thank you for the wonderful smiles, hugs and the talks (both the fun ones and serious ones). We both wish we could have stayed longer, saw more people and visited more. Which makes us grateful to the people who took the time to visit with us.

Heading North

We will be heading to Minnesota and plan to be in Hibbing on March 23 and 24. I have a conference to attend on Tuesday, March 25. Is anyone interested in getting together? Please join us at Zimmy's at 5:00 p.m.

Hitting the road

One of my projects is to create a winter reading program. This is not a new idea. The Indianapolis Public Library hosted a "Read Around the House Reading Program" when I was in graduate school. The idea was tweaked by Linda Fox at the Cloquet Public Library and myself several years ago. The idea was further tweaked by Rita at the Arrowhead Library System in Minnesota. I am now working with a graphic artist and several librarians to tweaking it again for the libraries in Virginia. With all this tweaking, sometimes the process becomes paramount and the project loses focus.

When this happens, and it has, it is time to hit the road and visit the people I work for. Sometimes Terry comes along with me. This is a good thing, for I can get lost in a closet. Terry gets me to the library on time and then will find a place to sit and read. With Terry driving this allows me to relax and focus on the visit rather then worry about directions or the lack of them.

I have been impressed by the libraries I have visited and the librarians who serve their community. They care about their community, proactive in meeting the needs of the community and proud of the things they have accomplished. This is not a false pride, either. The librarians have done some fantastic programs. In the comming months I would like to find a way to recognize and celebrate these accomplishments.

The consuction paper artwork is from the Fauquier County Libraries.

A Mostly True Event

While some people are readying themselves for that most sacred of days,“Super Bowl Sunday,” I cheer another sport. One that is older than football. I am of course talking about the game Dog and Squirrels. This game is played across the United States, but the first game in this country was held here in Virginia. In 1607, over 400 years ago three ships, Discovery, Godspeed and the flag ship Susan Constant, led by Captain Christopher Newport (who only had one arm) sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. The 105 passengers and the 39 seamen who landed in Virginia on Sunday, April 26, 1607 began exploring the Chesapeake Bay and were met with misfortune, one of the passengers died. The settlers withdrew to the ships and then explored Virginia Beach on April 27. Two days later, on a Wednesday, the settlers traveled to a site known as Cape Henry and erected a cross and gave thanks to God. The next day, it was a Thursday, the three ships, with 104 passengers and the 39 crew meandered up the James River and began a settlement in Jamestown on May 13, 1607. It was in the forest of Jamestown, over 400 years ago, near the first English settlement in the new world, a Dog saw a Squirrel, barked and gave chase. Thus the game began. There were no cheerleaders, no instant replays, no fouls and no first downs. Yet the game did begin. This great game continues in our backyard and in our neighbor’s backyard. On this most scared of days. If you go outside, you will hear no cheers of “Who let the Dogs Out.” The Dogs are down 3 to 3,655. The Squirrels Rule!

The facts came from Jamestown's Story Act One of the American Dream by Parke Rouse, Jr. Compiled and Edited by Wilford Kate.

2008

This has been a quiet weekend. One of contemplation, reading and movie watching. Last week was the beginning of the new year. Although Terry and many others do not make resolutions on January 1, I do try to think of something to do to improve myself. So I do make new year's resolutions. My resolution this year is to find something in each day to be grateful for. The first day was easy - Bron and Glenn called. Another day it was a phone call from Bob and Mary; another was letter from Rachel, a college friend, and still an another day a letter from Jen. I am, of course, very grateful for our friends, but to grow in gratitude, I think I need to look further.

The car is now in the garage. Believe it or not, this is something I am grateful for. This has been a goal of mine since we moved to Virginia. This does not quite translate to all the boxes being unpacked and everything put away, but it is quite close. There are a few pictures to put on the wall, and a few things to put up in the attic, but the house does feel comfortable now. If you are headed this way, please stop by. We just need a few hours advance notice so the guest bedroom will be ready.

For Christmas, Terry received a book lover's calendar and a gift card for purchasing books. He is quite content and grateful. I received a late Christmas present for which I am very grateful - notification that I may attend the Public Library Association conference in Minnesota in March. I also received permission to drive our own car. If approved, I will take a few days of vacation and swing up to Hibbing before the conference.

Julie should be receiving the Judy Moody book soon.

Gratefully Yours,
Enid