The Last of Summer Reading Programs

This week was the end of my summer reading performances at libraries, and also the end of the Stories at the River's Edge summer programs. A few pictures of this week's programs:

At West Union, we told stories at the Lions Club building to about 50 children and adults. Here raccoon tells his story once again. This puppet is such a ham! He loves an audience, that's for sure.

Raccoon was joined this summer by Pirate, who helped me tell the story of Jean LaFitte the Gulf of Mexico pirate who helped the US win the Battle of New Orleans, and whose gold is supposedly still hidden in the bayous and swamps of Louisiana. My father often told us about the ghost ships of Jean LaFitte; apparently the pirate isn't resting easy and still comes in search of his gold.

The West Union library is housed in a former opera house and librarian Cathy Ash makes optimum use of the space available to her. Programs at West Union are always well attended. It's a pleasure to see some of the same children from past years, growing up and getting taller than I am.

Raccoon is getting in trouble at Center Point Library! This small, very rural library is really a community center, and the programs usually attract a diverse age range; everyone participates and has a good time.

Later we all got moving with the song "A Sailor Went to Sea." Can you do the oooo-wash-y-wash?

At Moundsville Library, the last sand dollar necklace crafts were made. One little guy, the son of one of my online friends, actually bit the sand dollar, thinking, I suppose, that it was a cookie!

The kids worked hard on their necklaces and I was glad to see the last of the beads being used up. Vicki and Susan at the Moundsville Library made me so welcome. Thank you, ladies!

I was thrilled to meet fellow blogger and friend Jessica of Country Whispers, who came with her daughter Katie for the program. What a pleasure it was to finally meet her in person. And she is just as nice in the flesh as she is online. I wish I had thought to get a picture of us together, but I was so busy getting the program going and finished that I did not even think of it. Next time, Jessica!

So summer reading wraps up. Next week I'll be gone all week to Elkins, WV to learn all about Irish ballads and how to sing them, I hope.

Tomorrow, though, I will be working hard to make pickles of the latest batch of cucumbers and salsa from the very ripe tomatoes I haven't yet had time to deal with.  What if more ripen while I'm gone? I hope friends and family enjoy them!