October Snow, originally uploaded by melissajane307.

Hi, everybody!

You haven’t heard from me in a while, partly because so much has been happening that I hardly know what to start writing about. But, now that November is upon us, and most of the leaves are gone, I thought you might enjoy this photo of October snow in rural CT.

I’ll be back soon, with more pictures and lots of news!

In the meantime, enjoy!

Our simulcast session at the Mount Kisco Library this afternoon was amazing! Mo is even more charming “in person” than in his books. We had tons of kids there and they all loved it! Plus, they got to ask him a question! — well actually, I asked it for them….see?

Mo answering the Mount Kisco students' question!

Here is Mo, in his Tuxedo, on his special, handmade telephone.

Here I am, asking the students' question.

Yes, that’s my head on the pigeon’s body! The kids loved it!
It was an amazing event! And we learned so much about how Mo writes and illustrates his books! The kids left the library very happy today, and full of ideas for more books Mo should write!

We finally have new furniture in the Mount Kisco Library teen room!
Look! Isn’t it lovely?

Plus, we have a reference desk in the Children’s Room!

Isn’t it lovely, and don’t Lazy and Crazy look happy in their new home?

In other news, the latest library podcast episode is up! This episode features teen writers, inspiration, creativity, etc. We have two more episodes in the pipeline. The first one will feature an interview with Fidencia Solomon, who will read her poem, Looking For Change. Then we will have an interview with authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, of “Nanny Diaries” fame, talking about their work and introducing their new book, The Real Real! So, stay tuned! And in the meantime, I hope you enjoy our current episode.

Packing a Lunch, originally uploaded by J Gilbert.

Hi everybody!

Jim Gilbert took this gorgeous photo of an osprey travelling with a fish. He was observing the hawk migration at Cape May, NJ, when he took this shot. On the day he was there, he saw many hundreds of raptors, and even the ospreys were kettling!

This past weekend, my sister and I joined some of our neighbors, and bird experts from the Bedford Audubon Society for the annual Hawk Watch at Chesnut Ridge. We went on Sunday: it was a beautifully clear day — the sky so deep and pristine a blue that it was actually difficult to make out distant birds. But an American Kestrel flew right over our heads, and later we saw a beautiful osprey, like this one.

For me, the most wonderful thing about the afternoon was how many young people — students in grade school and middle school — were up on the ridge that day. We had some awesome airplane identification going on. Besides which, they saw tons of birds, plus migrating butterflies and dragonflies! It was really noticable that kids can spot things in the air faster than older people — maybe because, unlike adults, they are very used to looking up.

So, some of the kids have spotted a recent visitor to our library, up near the ceiling. Here’s a picture, in case anyone missed him!

He was living a rather circumscribed life in a back closet (as wild things sometimes do), but we decided he’d be more comfortable on the top floor of the doll’s house. As you can see, the construction is coming along well! I will post more pictures soon.

The Hawk Watch at Chestnut Ridge will be continuing into October — if you go, I will probably see you there one day!

We are also starting a brand-new “Green Teen” program at the library, funded by GE! Please come by, or give us a call, if you’d like to find out more! The Mount Kisco Library number is (914) 666-8041!

And remember, “the environment” is right where you are, right now! (Our very own Branch Brook, right outside the library, feeds into the water supply for big cities further south, including New York City!) So, YOU always make a difference, no matter who or where you are.

And if you think you’re too small to make a difference — I bet you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito!

That’s it for today, everyone! Enjoy!

Hey, everybody!

Today, I’ve got a couple of awesome photos for you, which illustrate interactions between human beings and the natural world, and feature (especially!) bicycles! I was inspired by the thought that our new library should soon be getting a bike rack. Who knows what wonderful things may then be seen in Mount Kisco?

The first photo is by Ton Van der Weerden from Holland. The horse is a Dutch Draft, a breed I did not know before. Isn’t he beautiful?

As you see, the type of horse is very similar to the Belgian Drafts from my home town, but the hairstyle is quite different! For pulling, people in my part of the world clip the horses’ manes short and trim their fetlocks. In Holland, they leave the horses’ hair long and make beautiful braids!

And here’s a Russian Blue kitten, photographed by Lindy Meow! Gorgeous, isn’t it!

This one’s definitely set for wurld domanashun, don’t you think?

So, it will be very exciting if we do actually get a bike rack at the library!

In the meantime, I am happy to report that we did get some new furniture today! Behold the Teen Room Computer Desks! The teenagers tell me they like them a lot, and I think they are very pretty!

That’s it for this afternoon — enjoy! And I am always amenable to comments or suggestions!

PS Don’t forget, Emma McGlauchlin and Nicola Kraus, authors of The Nanny Diaries will be at the library to introduce their new book, The Real Real on Wednesday, September 30th at 7:00 PM!

PPS Just noticed, I ended almost every sentence in this post with an exclamation point! What in the world was I thinking?!

A great pull, originally uploaded by deirdrej.

Hi everybody!

Here’s a sports photo for you, from my hometown. This is the Heavy Draft Pull at the Bethlehem fair this past weekend. We didn’t have nearly enough time to watch it all, but what we did see was great — the teams are really beautiful! This year, the heavy horses were all Belgian Drafts — the ‘gentle giants’ of the horse world (though I understand some Percherons and Shires can get bigger ). My sister and I had a great time watching the pulls, and talking with the old farmers who were watching with us. I asked one gentleman whether he had a favorite team, and he said he really didn’t, but he loved to watch the young people doing this event. All the gentlemen were reminiscing about how they used to travel to events like this in horse drawn buggies, back when most of the farm work was done by horses. Now, there’s only one farm in our area where all the heavy work is still done by horses — everybody else uses machines.

But enough about horses, and the olden days. On to the news!

We had the official opening of our new library this past Saturday, and it was wonderful! And for those of you who have been wondering about programming for children and teens, we have some great things coming up, in addition to our regular story times!

1. All you “Nanny Diaries” fans — come meet Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, They’ll be at the library Wednesday, September 30th at 7:00 PM, so you can meet them and learn all about their new book, The Real Real

2. Plus, for the younger kids, our library has been chosen to host a Simulcast from Mo Willem’s studio! Come and see this much-loved artist and author, right here at the library, on Tuesday, October 6th, at 2:00 PM!

3. Teens! Join our new “Green Teen” group! There will be book discussions, movies, “green” crafts, and ways that YOU can help change the world for the better! Get in touch with me (Deirdre) or Maria to find out more!

Plus, we’ll be having Reading 2 Rover, music classes, a special Halloween party, more shows and concerts, etc., etc. Call us, or
Check our Web site for the latest news!

That’s it for today!

But if you’re wondering how the Doll House is coming along, it’s lovely, but not quite finished yet. I’ll post more photos soon!

Building the Mansard Roof, originally uploaded by deirdrej.

Hey, everybody! Just thought I’d show you a couple of pictures of what’s going on in our new Children’s Room!

This is a replica of the “American Girl” house (also known as The Doll House, or The Ragtime House), made famous by Valerie Tripp in the “American Girl” book series. The house is actually in Mount Kisco, so it’s cool to have a replica in the Children’s Room of the Mt. Kisco Library!

The big bay window you see (with the protective blue sheeting) will have shelving for special displays.

Hope you like the picture!

The grand opening of the library is going to be on September 12th. If you are in the area, please come!

Old Rose, Green Knowe, originally uploaded by deirdrej.

Hello, everyone!

Here’s another photo, as promised. This is one of the old rose varietals that was in bloom when my sister and I visited Green Knowe (aka The Manor at Hemingford Grey).

Lucy Boston created a marvelous scent garden there, famous particularly for antique roses. She was known for having parties, where she had her guests pick globular roses like this to use as drinking cups.

“It is rather a dribbly business,” she writes, “the roses leak, but utterly delicious; also long drawn out, the process can’t be hurried.”

And I found this quote also quoted on a wonderful rose centered web site, which also has a great recipe for rose petal punch — How perfect for a summer party — I’m definitely going to try it soon! Check out
The Rose, Flower of June

Enjoy, everyone!

~D.

Christopher Wren’s Library, originally uploaded by deirdrej.

OK, everybody!

I promised you pictures, so here’s the first one!

This has to be one of the most beautiful libraries I’ve ever seen — and it’s so perfectly suited to its environment, it’s absolutely amazing! It’s in Cambridge, and, as you see, it’s right on the river, which tends to flood. A rather problematic setting for a library, you might think. But Wren had a brilliant answer to this problem.

As you can see, there are tons of doors and windows in the building, each matched to another on the opposite side. In the event of a flood, the librarians open everything on the ground floor, and let the water wash through. Result? The building has successfully withstood many floods, and none of the books or manuscripts it contains has ever been water damaged.

Amazing, isn’t it?

But of course, this only works because the building has a really solid foundation and great stonework. ….

Speaking of which, when I visited New Grange in Ireland last year, I learned that the roof of the chamber there has not leaked in 5,000 years! Librarians, take note!

BTW, everybody, please come see the new library in Mount Kisco, if you’re in the area!

More pictures later….

~D.

EDIT
My sister just told me to remind everyone that they don’t keep any of the books on the ground floor of this library! (Well, of course not! ;-D)

The New Mount Kisco Library

Hi, everybody!

I am sure you’ve been wondering how things are going at the new Mount Kisco Library — so, here I am, all ready to satisfy your curiosity!

We did indeed open on Saturday, August 8th — “to rave reviews,” according to our friends at The Examiner!

You can see in Sean Gorman’s picture above that we haven’t quite finished unpacking — notice the boxes in the front hall? (I think you can see a couple, if you look carefully). But still, people have been coming in, and we are happy that everyone seems to love the new building — and also that we can generally find what everyone needs!

Our Grand Opening is going to be on September 12th, and I hope everybody will be able to come!

In the meantime, we will be having some special programs in our new program rooms!

Story Times will begin the last full week of August. Stories for 4 and 5 year olds will be on Tuesday the 25th at 4:00 PM, stories for toddlers 9 – 18 months old will be on Wednesday the 26th at 10:30, and family story time, for children 18 months old and up, will be on Wednesday at 11:00.

We will also have an exciting workshop for older children on Thursday, August 27th at 4:00!

A miniature book, made by Malachi McCormick

Artist and book maker, Malachi McCormick, will be coming to the library to teach young people how to make their own books. The program is free, but registration is required, so call us if you would like to come!

The number is (914) 666-8041

That’s it for now — I’ll post more news, and especially more pictures, very soon.

~D.