Beginning of Game Fun

Started our first "after school hour" board game fun despite the fact there wasn't any school (due to the MLK holiday). When there isn't school we don't usually get as many children as on school days. That is ok though as those who do come still enjoy the popcorn and dring along with whatever activity is planned for the day.

Seen here are children playing two of the many games that were made available. I even prepared a special "hot chocolate" marshmellow treat and then forgot to read the story that went with it because we were all having so much fun playing games that the time got away from us!!

"Piggy Bank" Window Display

The "theme" of this month's library window display is to make a new year resolution to "save money" - thus these interesting banks belonging to a collection by board president Judy Kramer and her grandchildren. However, the little small one between the yellow and blue bank on the top left shelf is actually a 75 year old bank belonging to her husband. May we all have a more prosperous 2012!

Warm January day-2012

Unbelievable!! I was literally outside this a.m. SHOVELING leaves with my snow shovel! I filled 4 bags of leaves that didn't get bagged earlier this year. As you can see that both the back and front area of my lakeside home look more like an autumn day rather than a winter day in January!! Had a call from my daughter in Miami saying that she was "freezing" down there! Of course, Floridians think they are "freezing" if the temps gets lower than 70 degrees!!

Snowy New Mexico -2011

Just returned from my trip to Carlsbad, N.M. where they had the snow we usually have here in Iowa!! I was meant to take this trip as the weather for this time of year was most cooperative with sunshine the entire trip and no road issues (except all the wind on my return trip). These pictures just show a few of the snowy scenes I saw which include snow in Carlsbad AND up at Ski Apache at Ruidoso, N.M. One of my friends is sitting next to a snowman (slightly smaller than its original size) that she built over the Christmas weekend. Unfortunately for the snowman he was melted away by midweek as was most of all the other snow. Even up at Ruidoso, the 60 degree weather didn't leave much snow in the town itself but fortunately for skiers there was enough snow up on the mountains for them.

Iowa Dec. 2011

December in Iowa of 2011 may well go down in the record books as unusually mild. This picture off my lakeside deck shows the mere dusting of snow received just 3 days before Christmas!! It was almost all melted by noon!

The beautiful "trees" can be seen in an Omaha mall and the Nativity scene is in my home. I thought the two house plants really added a "realistic" touch. I hadn't used them in that location before and am glad I made that change this year. Also, if one didn't know, the 3 wise men really didn't see Baby Jesus in the stable but about 2 years later in a home in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:11). They had a long way to travel and over the most desolate area of land which is part of the reason.

Christmas in L.V., 2011

What a difference a year makes!! Last year at this time our first "Candle walk" and special Christmas events were cancelled due to a terrible blizzard. This year was totally different with sunshine and much milder temps. Lots of goodies were available for purchase at the local American Legion Bldg. along with this special visitor. The traditional horse pulled wagon rides were "braved" by many despite the rather chilly breeze. Since I had company from out of town coming to my home in the evening I didn't get to the other events but heard that about 25 young people did take the the candle walk from the museum to main street and a lot of fun was had by those who attended the bingo later in the evening. Lots of great prizes were won. I will have to make a better attempt to attend that next year.

Snow Fun at the Library

Our first snowy day of the season excited a few of our library "locals"! Between checking out their Facebook news and playing some Wii games, these energetic girls decided to make a minature snowman on the library's front lawn. As a reward they were treated to popcorn. Today's snow is the gentle, pretty kind one wishes would fall on Christmas Eve! Will have to wait and see what actually happens on that day this year.