Don't Forget Dad!

This time of year, there are elementary and middle school promotion ceremonies, high school and college graduations.  You know what that means...Father's Day is looming on the horizon!  That's right.  This Sunday, the 17th day of June in the year 2018.  We remembered mom in May, so we can't forget about dad in June.

Just as with mom, you probably want to start with a card.  And wouldn't a homemade card made by you with tender loving care help make dad's day?  Check out DIY Projects or The Spruce Crafts for different ideas on cards that are both creative and easy to make.

Flowers may be the way to mom's heart, but food is definitely the way to dad's.  Is he into nuts and chips?  How about barbecues and sodas?  Or does he like coffees and wines?  Country Living and Community Table have some good food ideas for dad that you can buy or cook yourself.

Naturally, you can always opt for a more classic gift for Father's Day.  See the suggestions of AskMen and Money Crashers for gift ideas dad will appreciate.  Younger kids can make some special gifts for dad with the help of Good Housekeeping or Dodo Burd.

Keep in mind that although gifts are great, the best thing you can give your dad is YOU.  Spend some time with him doing something fun you both enjoy.

Wishing everyone a Happy Father's Day from the perch.

Summer at the Library

That joyous time of year is here,
Filled with laughter, fun, and cheer.
School is out and kids are home,
Dreaming of a place to roam.

Where, oh where can they all flee?
I know, I know, the Library!
There's books and games and movies--wow!
Don't you want to be here now?

Summer reading's always a blast,
No reason at all to feel downcast.
The more you read, the more you yearn
For prizes galore that you can earn.

Parties, programs, storytimes, too,
So many wonderful things to do!
You think that you may pay a fee,
But happily the things are free!

Get out of the heat and come inside
Where you'll be cool and starry-eyed.
Because when all is said and done,
The Library's the place for fun!

Wishing you happy summer reading from the perch.

Don't Forget Mom!

The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the bees are buzzing.  May is here, and that means Mother's Day is just around the corner (this Sunday, May 13th, to be exact).  You want to show mom that you care, but maybe you're a little strapped for cash or perhaps you want to make something from the heart?  Not to worry.  Your friendly, neighborhood perch librarian is here to give you ideas for gifts your mom will love!

First things first.  No Mother's Day is complete without a card.  You can always count on Hallmark or American Greetings, but why not make mom a homemade card?  You can draw, paint, use torn bits of paper to make a pretty picture.  For other ideas, check out DIY Projects or Better Homes and Gardens.

Does your mom have a sweet tooth?  Why not bake her a cake?  You can keep it simple or make something more elaborate if you have a talent in the kitchen.  Take a look at some great recipes Country Living or Delish have to offer.  If your culinary technique is lacking, bake some easy cupcakes or muffins and get the kids to help.

Of course, you can make a more traditional gift for Mother's Day.  Take a look at Good Housekeeping or HGTV for different things you can do.  For younger kids, the Happy Hooligans and BuzzFeed have some great projects to make.

Whatever you make or do, remember it's the thought that counts!  Your mom will love what you give her because it's from the most important person around--YOU!

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day from the perch.

Shaking Off Winter

Hello, Sunshine!  After so many weeks of gray, damp, chilly days, you finally made your way to the Inland Northwest.  Thanks to you, it's starting to look and feel like spring around here.  The forsythias are blooming, the trees are budding, and it's warm enough to take a leisurely walk outside.  At long last, it's time to emerge from hibernation and shake off winter.  But how should we do that?  Here are some ideas:

• Let's first start by going outside.  You've been cooped up inside all winter long, so now's the time to get out and enjoy nature again.  Take a walk around your neighborhood or the park, breathe in that fresh air, and enjoy those blue skies.  I don't know about you, but it sure does my spirit good.

• Get out and get moving.  That bike hasn't been ridden since at least the fall.  Time to dust it off, hop on, and start peddling.  The destination doesn't matter; it's the journey that counts.  Take a ride by yourself or with a friend.  The important thing is to just go.

• Get down and dirty, and by that I'm talking about gardening.  Kneel down on the ground and get your hands in the potting soil.  Start planting those annuals and perennials.  Not only does gardening add to the curb appeal of your house, it also gives you some good exercise in the fresh air.

• What would spring be without a little spring cleaning?  Get out the cleaning materials and get to it.  Dust the furniture and mop those floors (don't forget all those dust bunnies under the bed!).  Your house will look neat and you'll breathe and feel a lot better.

• And of course, read something uplifting.  There are plenty of fresh new books on our shelves this spring.  Why not come to the library, check them out, and spend some time with them on your favorite bench or at an outdoor cafe.  They're just waiting for a spring fling with you!

What ideas do you have for shaking off winter?  Share them with us!

Sending happy spring wishes to you from the perch.

Without Libraries

In honor of  National Library Week, I could be cliché and talk about all the good things libraries do.  But I won't.  Instead, I'm going to talk about all the things you would have to do if libraries didn't exist.

Without libraries, you would have to buy books from a bookstore. That would average about $8-16 a paperback and $16-25 a hardcover.  If you're buying a specialty book, you can even pay close to $100 a book or even more.

Without libraries, you would have to buy or rent DVDs from a store.  You could also pay $50-100 or more to watch movies on Cable or a satellite service.

Without libraries, you would have to pay to attend classes to learn things like knitting or crocheting.  You wouldn't have fun and informative programs to attend for free, and you wouldn't have interesting book talks in which to take part.

Without libraries, you would have a difficult time finding someone to proctor your test free of charge for the college class you're taking.  If your kids need someone to proctor a test outside of school, they would have a difficult time as well.

Without libraries, your kids would hang out after school on the street and possibly do things they shouldn't be doing.  They wouldn't have a safe, welcoming place to be.  Not to mention they wouldn't have a place where they could get homework help for free.

Without libraries, you would need your own computer to find things on the Internet.  That means buying your own computer, paying for the Internet, and doing your own computer maintenance.  And if you need to print, that involves buying your own printer and toner.

I could go on, but hopefully, you get the point.  Without libraries, you would be paying a lot of money for different things that you want or need to do.  Libraries provide a lot of goods and services that many take for granted but would sorely miss.  Show your library some love today.

Wishing you a Happy National Library Week from the perch. 

Stephen Hawking--Life Lived to the Fullest

A great mind passed away last week.  Physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking died on March 14 at the age of 76.

I confess that I'm not scientifically minded, and I haven't paid close attention to Hawking's theories, which I understand are--for lack of better phrasing--out of this world.  I'm not going to discuss his achievements as there are others who can do a much better job than me.  What I would like to talk about is my admiration for a person who has lived his life as fully as possible despite his physical limitations.

At the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with an early onset, slow-progressing form of ALS, and his doctors gave him two years to live.  As anyone can understand, Hawking was initially depressed by his diagnosis and his deteriorating motor skills and speech.  However, with the encouragement of his doctoral advisor, he continued his work and did so for the next fifty-five years.

It would have been so easy for Hawking to give up, to stop working and succumb to his condition, but he didn't.  As the years progressed, so did his ALS.  He lost his ability to speak and all movement, but not his mind.  Thanks to technology and various people helping him, Hawking was able to communicate and write using a raise of his eyebrows, a computer, and a voice synthesizer.  He wrote books and gave lectures...all from his wheelchair.  He traveled, received awards, and even went on a zero-gravity flight in the hope of preparing for a space trip.

Stephen Hawking may not have been able to do the simplest things most of us take for granted, like walking or talking, but he didn't let his condition stop him from doing what he wanted to do.  I admire him for making the most of life, having a sense of humor, and taking things in stride.  Hawking is a role model, inspiring us to pursue our interests and not allow anything to deter us from them.

Ever humbly yours from the perch.

Carnegie Libraries

Libraries.  We take for granted that most towns, large or small, have them.  You want a book, a DVD, CD, or whatever, you go to the local library and get it--for free.  There's no cost for using the library and borrowing items.  Kids can get materials to help with homework, adults can find resources to help get jobs, and everyone can find something to enjoy in his or her free time.  Yes, libraries are great for both work and play.

Did you know, however, that just over a hundred years ago, libraries weren't free?  And not all towns had them?  If a town was fortunate enough to have a library, it often shared space with the city hall or even a jail.  Not exactly the kind of place you'd want to take the kids, was it?  Additionally, you'd often have to pay a subscription in order to use it.

Industrialist and Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, a poor boy from Scotland who worked in a Pittsburgh textile mill and later expanded the American steel industry, was self-taught and knew the value of libraries.  Unable to afford the $2 subscription, he was only able to use the local library at the age of 17 when a newspaper published a letter he wrote to the library administrator asking for library privileges.

When he had acquired his fortune, Carnegie made it his mission to build public libraries across the U.S.  Close to 1,700 libraries were built from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.  They were free and open to everyone regardless of gender, age, and race.  Although some Carnegie libraries have been torn down or are no longer used as libraries, many continue to serve in their original purpose today.

To read more about Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie libraries, check out the following articles:

• Library Benefactor Andrew Carnegie
• How Andrew Carnegie Turned His Fortune Into a Library Legacy

Sincerely yours from the perch.