Tour de KRL

Today we participated in the Tour de KRL. With our Passports in hand we visited all the libraries in the Kitsap Regional Library system. We left the house at 9 a.m. and headed to Poulsbo first to pay a visit to Sluys and get a pastry. Then we headed to Bainbridge Island.

In the passports we were asked a question and we had to discover the answers while at the library. I decided we'd mark the occasion by taking a photo at each location! Here the kids found the window through which a rock protrudes. They built the window around it! Just outside the window you can barely see a glimpse of the Haiku Garden.

We walked through the Haiku Garden, reading the haikus written on marblesque tablets on the ground. They were written in either Hiragana or Katakana and English.

Onward to our second stop in Little Boston on the reservation. They had to find a whale! There were several throughout the library, too. While we were there Ethan spotted a national magazine with a photo of an Arab woman whose nose was missing and he asked about it. So, we read part of the article while we were there. She had been mutilated by the Taliban because she ran away from her husband and his family because they beat her and abused her. Of course, she was not believed. They tracked her down and while her husbands brothers and uncles held her down, he carved off her nose and ears. She was left for dead. US forces found her and she is in a shelter for other abused women like this. We didn't read the entire article. It was really getting to Evyn.

We then forged on to Kingston. Sadly, they were not open. We could hear voices inside and the sign read they opened at 1 p.m.! I had been so sure we had picked a day when they all opened at 10 and there was NO way I was going to just sit around and wait, NOR was I planning on returning. Amber knocked! One of the librarians opened the door and I apologized and she said it was no problem, and she stamped everyone's books. We answered the question, which was about what natural landmark could be seen from their east window. The answer was Mount Rainier.

We then returned to Poulsbo, where they kids had to find a little friend with whom to read! Here she is! We tried to return to the downtown area so we could eat lunch, but after driving around the parking lot a couple times, I called it quits and told the kids we could maybe find a spot in Silverdale.

However, on the way we were passing Bangor, so I drove in Trigger Avenue gate and took the kids to the recreation area and we had an impromptu picnic. I had prepared sandwiches, brought leftover carrot and apple muffins, and a container of strawberries. Evyn finally had a chance to eat his goody from Sluys, which he declared was his new favorite and he wanted another the next time he should return there.

After lunch we hit the next library on our list ... Silverdale. The question was about what Russian Fairy Tale the mural had been taken from. It was from "Finist the Falcon." They had a laminated copy near the mural, so we had a small story time and read the entire story. It was pretty long. Ian's pointing to the feather which was a key element in the story.

Amber also discovered some interesting puppets in the Silverdale children's section. At first she thought they were hats. Ian announced they were puppets, and we had to take a couple photos.

Then it was off to Sylvan Way. It is THE biggest library in the system and the headquarters for KRL. It was huge. They had to find the "Dance in a Quiet Place" reference ... and so they struck a dancing pose for the photo.

Onward we drove to Downtown Bremerton to find the King of this branch. Evyn located it on the outside of the building ... Martin Luther King, Jr.

We were finally done on that side of the pond and headed back to our stomping grounds and passed our library on the way to Manchester. They had to find the flying fish! This one holds a masquerade mask in front of it's face. This library started as a chicken coop! They have a stuffed chicken inside behind the desk as a reminder of their meager beginnings.

Last, but certainly not least, our beloved library. They had to decipher the nautical flags on the mailbox. The boys had it figured out before we had even left Port Orchard. It says, "READ!"

For their efforts, each of them earned a free library bag. It's big and roomy. Great for hauling loads of books ... or groceries! They also had their names put in for a drawing. We don't know for what ... but we each had our names put in.

And that is our Tour de KRL adventure. We pulled into the driveway just after 4 p.m.! Phew! What a day! I was glad to be home at last (and our doggies were glad we were home, too!).

Zumpkin ~ Pucchini ~ What???

Okay, so we had this mystery volunteer plant and we have waited quite a while to discover what it is and then Ethan and Amber picked this today. We have another about the same size, but I had them leave it.

Anyone know what it is? And, if you do know what it is, do you know any recipes for it? Not a single soul in our household (besides me) will eat zucchini, so I can't really serve it as a veggie. If it's like a pumpkin, then can I make a pie? Should it stay on the vine longer? If it's more zucchini, I could still shred it up and make chocolate zucchini cake and/or zucchini muffins.

Any and all suggestions are highly welcome at this point!

Homemade Stitch Markers

These were an attempt to try something new. I made some Shrinky Dink stitch markers with a Harry Potter theme to send to someone. I made some other ones for Ian today as well. His swap partner has a critter themed package, so he chose some Harry Potter critters which we made into stitch markers as well.
These are Ian's critter markers for his swap partner. I think they came out cute. He designed them with the beads, I did the Shrinky Dink part and the assembly of the markers.
These are made from the little charm pieces I found at either Disneyland or Disney World. The one on the right is a bee (from Pooh). I had trouble with my Mickey head and hand, and Pooh's honey pot. May have to make a trip to the bead shop to see if they have an idea. Minnie's shoe is the first wrap I've ever done. not sure I did it well, but it works for now!

The other two markers are a pewter bear charm I found, and a Peruvian ceramic turtle. I think I really like how that one turned out.

Surf Sweets - organic snacks/treats

A friend sent me these and they are simply wonderful. All natural colors and flavors and made with fruit juices ... no color dyes!

They do not sell these locally. Wish they did. They really are a great little snack and would be perfect for Evyn ... I LOVE them!

There are other items as well, but I'm not going to picture them. I found this picture online so if there is anyone who finds them and aren't sure what to send the kids (or me) ... they'd know what to look for ;)

Nutcracker Results Are In!

The much awaited Nutcracker results are in and the kids have the following roles:

Ian - understudy for the Prince and Lead Soldier

Evyn - Rat King

Ethan - Fritz and Evil Rat

Amber - Angel and Lamb

As usual, I will volunteer as a parent. I had a lot of fun doing that last year and I hope they will allow me to be a part of that again this year.

So, there we have it!

Kids Can Sew Fashion Show

This year the kids all took a class with Laurie Davis and her new business, Kids Can Sew. Each of them learned how to thread a sewing machine and bobbin, cut patterns, sew straight lines and then curved lines, make hems, casings, make elastic waistbands, and more. She really encouraged them to be creative.

Last night was their Fashion Show. They were to model one or more items they created during this sewing year.
Amber is fashioning her denim skirt, a peasant blouse, and matching hair scrunchy (you can't see it). She also made a matching peasant blouse for her bear.

Evyn's modeling his black shorts, which began as pants. The pants were completed, then washed, and then shrank. So, they became shorts. He also shows his work with knit material, his green shirt. That collar really gave him a go-around, but he got it!

Ian is sporting his knit yellow top. He used all the yellow material, so scrounged green fabric from Evyn to make the collar.
Evyn really got into the spirit of things. Ethan is not seen on the runway because he moved too fast and I just couldn't take the photo fast enough. But, you can see his outfit in the photo below. He modeled his flannel night shirt and camouflage shorts (which you can't see, but he is wearing them beneath his nightshirt.

This is Laurie Davis (mom to their friend, Aaron), and the Bartlett kids after their runway performance. It was a great experience. The boys have decided they might sew again, but only at home. Amber, however, has asked to take the class again this coming school year.
The graduating Kids Can Sew class.

Plarn and other things

In the spirit of being "green" and recycling and helping the environment and making gifts, I have embarked on a new crafting adventure. I'm reusing plastic bags and making plarn. I found a pattern for a crocheted market bag and I thought the idea was both hilarious and resourceful. In the spirit of creativity, I'm giving it a go.

As Evyn has broken either his toe, toes, or foot, he lent a helping hand for a couple bags, and then meandered away. Amber has also stepped forth and helped open some of the pieces. I've decided to make a white/off white ball, a brown/beige ball, and a green ball. I have less green bags than I do anything else, so that may just have to be for creative accent when the time comes.

I need about 60 bags prepped before I can begin the project. I lost count on how many I've cut up. I think between 30 and 40, but who knows? This shall be interesting.

On another note, Daryn's been bit by the creative bug as well and made a beautifully hand-crafted chair for the front porch. He plans on doing another, as this one is a bit narrow. Geared for smaller people, it's 16 inches across. The next will be 19 or 20 inches across.


This brings us to some of our hopeful summer projects. Well, for Ian anyway. He's beginning a new curriculum next year and I think summer would be a great time for him to do the first couple carpentry projects. Maybe with help from visiting Grandpa? We are hoping. He needs a separate bookcase, a light box, and a supply box. He also needs to work on a carpentry merit badge. I thought these projects would work perfectly together. Even if they are assembled, he can complete them later as assigned. I know they will take more than a couple hours each, and I'd like him to do a good job.

Well, back to the kitchen and my boiling chicken and my ball of plarn.