Reading bug

Thanks to the library summer reading program, my daughter "caught the reading bug" and ended up reading around 200 books last summer. Now that school is back in session, I am proud to report that she has been classified as reading above her grade level. Reading is so crucial in all parts of school, and I'm so thankful that she picked it up as well as she has. I can only hope we are as lucky with our younger son. I have a gut feeling that he will have a harder time, but maybe I'm just stereotyping him because of the other typical "boy" behavior he has been exhibiting lately.

Maybe he will learn young, simply because big sister is doing it and his competitive spirit will take over. Only time will tell. The important thing is that both of my kids love school and we will continue to foster that because when there is love for learning, everything else just falls into place.

Garage alternative

We are looking forward to building our very own small house, just as soon as we sell our current one (I know, I know, easier said than done right?). Anyway, we have been researching ways to save money building, without cutting corners or lacking in quality. Luckily, we live in a pretty moderate climate, where it doesn't get super cold in the winter. We enjoy the benefits of a garage right now, but we are not planning to build one at our next house.

Many people in this area have carports, but those can detract from the look of the house, depending on the style. I remember a really neat carport at a house in a small mountain town in Colorado that was built out of wood, and it looked kind of like a cross between a barn and an arbor. If we decide we need a carport, I think we would build something along those lines to fit in with the natural surroundings.

Youth Authority at the library

The library has started a fun new program for teens and pre-teens. It is a gaming club called the Youth Authority. They meet the first and third Thursdays of every month in the late afternoon. There are several video game stations set up at each meeting, including an xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation. The most popular game right now is Rock Band, and the library has the full set, so several members can play at once.

This program is for 7th to 12th graders, so if you are interested, call the library at 253-8754 for more details and specific times. As always, library programs are free and snacks are served!

Autumn in Eureka Springs

Aaahhh, the cooler, beautiful days of autumn are here. This is by far my favorite season, especially in Eureka. The leaves are absolutely stunning, there is a wonderful smell in the crisp mountain air, and the best part is that the fall lasts a really long time here. This is the perfect time for walking and hiking because the insects are dying off, as well as the humidity. My family tries to walk or bicycle as much as we can, and not just for hobby, but to run errands as well.

The trouble with our town is that there are no sidewalks, except for downtown. The sidewalks downtown are somewhat difficult to manage because they are 100+ year old limestone, which is slick and uneven. When we moved here, our son was a year old so we walked with him in a stroller. After a couple of tries taking a regular stroller on the downtown sidewalks, we went online to get something more appropriate. We picked a lightweight jogging stroller with inflatable bicycle-style wheels and have determined that jogging strollers are the only way to travel with a baby or toddler in Eureka Springs.

My son has since outgrown the stroller, and we sold it for a good price at our latest garage sale. I am impressed at what troopers our children are when we walk, even on steep terrain. They don't complain unless we walk more than 2 miles, and if we stop for a drink and a snack, they are good to go another mile or so. Another fun and earth-friendly game is to bring garbage bags along and see who can find the most trash and recyclables along the way. This teaches kids a good lesson on the trouble with littering and how important it is to do our part for the community.

Economy in hiatus

Since the condition of the economy is so unstable right now, many people are pulling their money out of the stock market. Even futures trading, which are considered more stable, will be at risk because of the rising prices of agricultural and industrial commodities. Economists say that in order to bounce back, we must hit a low point - which we haven't hit yet. Most people are aware that the country is experiencing a recession, and there is even talk of "Depression 2.0".

Chances are, if we fell into a depression, it wouldn't be as bad as the Great Depression of the 1930s. The trouble is, Americans are used to a very high standard of living, which will be altered dramatically in the case of major economic upheaval. I don't think small towns like Eureka Springs will be affected as greatly as larger towns and suburban areas. Many of our residents already live without television, use public transportation, walk or bicycle around town. Some residents have substantial gardens, and there are a few that live happily off-the-grid without running water and electricity. Those are the people who will be affected the least, and others will want to learn from them. Rather than panic, people should do research, learn skills, and prepare now in case conditions become much worse.

The almighty television

Today in the mail, I received an invitation from Direct TV to enjoy 150 channels at the low price of $29.95 per month for an entire year. Since television was the first expense we cut out in our household in order to save money, I figured the cable and satellite television companies would really suffer during a recession. Then I remembered... this is America. Where would most Americans be without television? How would they know what to buy, where to shop, what to eat, or what to drive?? The TV addiction runs very deep for the majority of this country.

America has a love/hate relationship with television, though. I've noticed that whenever I tell people that we don't watch TV, almost everyone will say something along the lines of, "Well, I don't watch that much, mostly educational channels and the news." Also, no one likes the look of the big gray box in their living rooms. Hence, the invention of pop up tv furniture and armoires to hide the TV behind doors while not in use.

I've never heard someone proudly announce that they watch four hours of television each day, yet this is the average for the American public. This saddens me, because this is essentially time that is wasted. This is time that could be spent with loved ones, strengthening family bonds, working on hobbies, exercising outdoors, or simply relaxing and having some real meditative "down" time.