We met Abe Lincoln tonight!

Tonight the girls and I went to the public library in Smithville, and met Abe Lincoln.  If the program comes to a Mid Continent Library near you, I highly recommend it.

The library had an actor, protraying Lincoln who spoke and answered questions about Lincoln and his life. Elizabeth is taking a civil war class and he also spoke about the Civil War. The girls will get 60 minutes of history credit for our attending.

The temperature reached almost 70 degrees today, yet we still have some snow and ice on the farm. And mud. Lots and lots of mud.  We also have lots of puddles from the melted snow.  Our ducks were having a hayday swimming in the yard.  Even one of the labs jumped in for a swim.

Monday it is supposed to be back down to the 30's, so we are enjoying it while we can.

What does your library offer??

Our county doesn't have a library. It has been voted down numerous times. So, we have to travel to the next county to use their library system. Fortunately for us, we are close to the county line. Depending on what branch we use, we have to travel anywhere from 20 to 30 miles one way.

Unfortunately for us, they charge us for the cards, unless we live, work or attend a PUBLIC school in their county. I was told yesterday, that my children are no longer able to have a card, as they don't pay taxes in that county, nor go to PUBLIC school there. I however, do work in that county part time. We also own land in a county that supports this library system, and pay library taxes there as well. However, that "doesn't count" because we don't live there. Why it doesn't count, I don't know, as the real estate and personal property tax amount would be the same regardless of if we lived there or not. Even if my children did go to PUBLIC school there, they would not be paying tax money into it, so I really don't understand their reasoning.

Anyway...........on to my original train of thought here.....

Have you checked into what your library offers?? The branches here have the usual book, music and movie borrowing system, but also offer much more. For instance, Thursday night we are going to see a program on Abe Lincoln. An actor, presenting himself to be Lincoln will be giving the program. (We will be using this as some extra history time.) Also, they offer numerous others programs-some just for homeschoolers and some for everyone, including: teen book club, knitting, genealogy, classes for seniors in preparing your own taxes, yoga, archeology, IEP's, basic internet usage, all about Missouri, how to take a test, and a whole lot more. Many of theses classes are offered at several branches and times--so if you miss it at one, you can catch it at another.

The library also offers a wide range of other services as well. Most have computers you can use to get online. They also offer books you can download as e-books or onto a reader or audio books you can load onto a MP3 player. Some have a "movie night" for teens. The ones here also offer homework help online, and assist with genealogy research.

So, check out your public library!

Mid-Continent Public Library News

This is from an email from the library...

"We are having our first Homeschool Expo sponsored by Mid-Continent Public Library. This will be held, Nov.11, 9am to noon at our new Genealogy Center in Independence, MO.. We are trying to get the word out. It is free to the public. Our objective is to show patrons that we have 19 branches that offer special programming to homeschoolers in a program we call "Discovery Club." Patrons will be able to visit booths of each of these branches to participate in activities or view their programs. We will have a lot of other activities and quest programmers which you can see on the flier which I have included. There will be door prizes and hopefully people will be able to see that our library is truly trying to service homeschoolers. This is a family event and hope that you might be able to pass this on to those you know might be interested.

I would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions or questions. I appreciate your helping us to get the word out on this.

Nancy Huffman
Children's Services Assistant
Mid-Continent Public Library
816-521-7223"

Wednesdays are sooooo quiet at my house....

Wednesdays are getting to be the quiet day at my house. On Wednesdays I often don't have all 3 of the girls as that is "internship day". I want all my kids to "intership" at a business each month to see how they operate. Emily has chosen to work at a branch of the Mid Contient Library (it took awhile for that to happen--supervisors had to approve and such...), and Elizabeth has chosen to work for Crain Vet Clinic in Grain Valley--my cousins Jerry and Robbie Espey are the vets there. They don't all go on the same Wednesday, but on opposite ones of each other. When the weather gets a little warmer, Rebecca will join them-but we haven't quite figured out where yet-but she wants something outside. I do have my eye on greenhouse/nursery nearby that is run by a semi retired couple who homeschooled all their children. When they open back up at the first of March, I will approach them about Rebecca working one Wednesday a month. That will give us 3 quiet Wednesdays a month. Something about having an odd number of children makes it noisier. I have noticed that when I have my neices and nephews (from either side of the family) here also--if one leaves, it is quiet again when we get back to an even number of kids.

Tonight Emily has a training session for an all night girl scout (non-sleeping)event coming up. So, when I go to town to pick her up from the library, I will be there until her training is out at 8:30. I think the twins and I will kill part of that time at the library, Walmart, and CVS.