After our class ended, Jenna and I stopped by Millsite Park to look for the FMCL booth for the Myrtle Creek Festival as we had been assigned to man it during a shift yesterday. It hadn't been set up yet. We decided to return home for some breakfast and I texted Serena to see if she needed help with the booth.
Roland fixed French toast for Jenna and me before we returned to the park to help set up. We were there for just over an hour before we left again. Jenna had wanted to go to Riddle for their Pre-Solar Eclipse Party.
It was the end of their summer reading program for the small kids - teens will go until mid-August, I guess. There is no teen program for Myrtle Creek.
I had posted pictures of the Riddle Library grounds before -just over two years ago not long after we had moved to Oregon. The teen activities usually take place in the pavilion in the park right next to the library. I thought we would go to the pavilion for the party, but we didn't end up at the pavilion at all.
First thing on the agenda was to walk from the back door of the library to the door to city hall. Aside from the pictures, I think the Riddle City Hall looks very much like the Myrtle Creek City Hall.
The librarian had set up a display of the planets moving around the sun. She explained a bit about sky activity and the solar eclipse. We then went out into the courtyard to first, use our special glasses to look at the sun, and then several of the children made slime.
When the slime was done, children packed their treasures in plastic containers and returned to the library for prizes. It was announced that the total summer reading had included 16,230 hours but then was upped to 18,465. Prices were awarded to all the children who participated.
The finale ended just outside the library doors for all participants to enjoy vanilla ice cream floating in the beverage of their choice (Lemon-Lime, Orange, Strawberry or Root Beer). Jenna left with a book called "Prankster Magic" which she is quite proud of.
One of the perks I enjoy about small town living is how the community pulls together. The last weekend in July is reserved for Myrtle Creek Festival. Some people will check out of their businesses early or may not even open at all. Time is spent into setting up booths before noon on Thursday. The booths open at 4:00 p.m. and close at 11:00 pm.
Jenna had saved her money for this event, and it is still in a storage unit somewhere in Winston. The thought of it had made her cry, but Roland said we would lend her the money and she can pay us back if/when she should ever get her room (belongings) back. I don't think she realized how much of her time would be utilized for the sake of the library.
Our booth offered paint n play . . . $3.00 to paint a rock and play a game. Most of our consumers were either/or. We may not have had any customers at all if it wasn't for Jenna - plugging every patron who walked by. The first day is Not the busiest day. I think the majority of people come on Saturday. But there were a few wanderers yesterday. I believe that Jenna was able to get half to invest in painting a rock or playing the game.
We were able to leave before the end of our shift, but as Jenna forgot her bag, we returned for it. Serena and Sheila recruited Jenna to finish out the night and have said that if she will work all of them, they will feed her. (Evidently, they don't know that she eats like a teenage boy) and so she was left to "sell" the booth's activities until Sheila brought her home.
We have an earlier shift today, but I may be dropping Jenna off earlier and she may stay all day; her rewards will be even greater than what she had saved up for. Roland and I both believe this is good for her. I'm actually excited to see how much she's involved.
