Truth be told - I’m a bit shy of mainstream media.
However, we decided to go for it with the recent release of “Ramona & Beezus”
I’m happy we did.
My family hit the movie theater this Labor Day weekend. We’ve never taken the boys to a movie before. Truth be told - I’m a bit shy of mainstream media. However, we decided to go for it with the recent release of “Ramona & Beezus” I’m happy we did. As we have read all of the Ramona series, we were delighted to see this movie stay true to the very heart of Beverly Cleary’s work. I saw several reviews that called the production “sappy and sweet.” I would agree. It was wonderfully sappy and down-right darling sweet. My kiddos laughed. My elbow-partner cried. Three families from our neighborhood converged for the event (adults in one row - kiddies in another) and ALL agreed this film deserved two thumbs-up. I was relieved that our first movie show did not disappoint. Thanks Ramona!
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We capped off our summer with a trip to our local amusement park: Enchanted Forest! I remember walking the trails of this park as a young child. They’ve added a few ‘rides’ since that time, but the heart is still the same. This is simple family fun right near home. Inside the park my oldest rated the Indian Caves as his favorite activity. My youngest liked Fearless Fort and its fast, curvy slide. I love the storybook path. That’s my youngest waving from the witch’s eye!
The park is still open for weekends in September. Take a picnic lunch and you’ll find perfect family fun (absolutely ideal for the kiddos 3-5). One of the best parts of taking my kids on tours of Salem businesses is the education I myself receive. Salem has so many great people - doing so many great things. I’m honored when these folks take time from their busy days to welcome us. Mr. Allan Campbell of Eagle Web Press graciously hosted a tour for my family and some friends during the month of July. I entered unsure of what we would see. I left a fan of Eagle Web Press and all they do. Eagle Web Press is a commercial printing company that produces newspapers, magazines, coupon books, directories, newsletters, and much more. You want it – they print it! Our tour showed us the entire process from beginning to end and Mr. Campbell explained it in kid-friendly terms. My boys were all ears. We saw the printing, the rolling, the cutting, the stapling and all the recycling! It was great. Mr. Campbell was great.
Thank you Eagle Web Press. This Salemite is glad we call the same city home. I’ve always loved the outside of the historic Ladd & Bush Bank in downtown Salem. The ornate carvings above the main doors are beautiful and matched only by the detail of the metal gates at the same location. Since the onset of drive-through windows and online banking, the art of carefully crafting such a stately building to house financial services may now be a thing of the past. Walking hurriedly past this building, even I sometimes fail to stop and appreciate this gem of downtown Salem. So… when looking to tour a bank with my kiddos (and friends) I decided that Ladd & Bush would be the perfect place to learn about Salem history as well as bank services. The Ladd & Bush Bank Building was first built in 1909. It is said to be the “first steel and concrete fire-resistant building in Salem” and “Salem’s first financial institution.” Our tour gave us a peek at the original safe, cases of antique coins and measurements, and several old “calculators” formerly used in money counting. We were also able to visit the basement, the safe deposit boxes, and the large current day vault. Correction: the children were able to visit the vault. Adults had to wait in the lobby. My 5 year old thought this detail was absolutely delightful. He humbly tried to offer his sympathy by saying, “Sorry you had to miss the fun Mom. It’s just that you are so old.” Overall, it was a great tour. Interesting for all ages
(even us old-folks). Thank you to US Bank for hosting! With the birth of my first child also came the full bloom of my mothering instincts. My husband refers to these God given mothering skills as my uncanny ability to enter a room and immediately identify 104 ways to die. Building my nest, I used this gift to my child’s advantage: 2nd story window child guard – check. Fire ladder – check. Outlet covers – check. Cord free window coverings – check. Crib bumper removed – check. But then, just as I was feeling secure in the continued survival of my offspring, I read an article about house fires. Apparently young children often hide during a fire from the very people trying to save them. The odd visitor covered in yellow gear and the strange ‘Darth Vader’ sounds produced by the fire fighter’s oxygen mask frighten young children, who are already disoriented by the unknown smells and sounds. This revelation, of course, immediately caused my pulse to quicken, my eyes to glaze, and the room to sway as I clutched my chest. Aghhhh!
And so began the Obery tradition of visiting the local firehouse on a yearly basis…. My boys always love these visits for the chance to climb aboard the fire truck and look behind the scenes of life as a civil servant. I love these visits because my sons have the opportunity to see a smiling firefighter suit up, use the regulator, and kindly shake their hand. I know this is not a guarantee of fire safety, but a Momma does what she can. Thank you to Salem Fire Department for helping me follow my instincts. Here’s a few pictures from our latest tour to the station. Besides reading to my babies daily, I think the most helpful thing I can do for their brainy-little-brains is to take them new places and talk about what we see. Educators call all that good stuff ‘background knowledge.’ This momma calls it ‘On the Go.' This summer, I have set up a variety of free tours for schoolmates and friends. A quick call to various, local businesses and services unveiled a number of locations willing to host our small group. I’ll be posting info about these trips here. Maybe the kiddos in your care might be interested in visiting too. Today’s trip was to the Yamasa Soy Sauce Factory at 3500 Fairview Industrial Drive SE here in Salem, Oregon. (Phone: 503/363-8550) The folks at Yamasa were wonderfully kind to us. They showed us their facility, explained the process of soy sauce production, and shared with us a sampling of their delicious sauce. Turns out soybeans, wheat, sea salt and six months of patience are the key ingredients to this tasty product. The busy production line of the factory kept some of our wee guests plugging their noses and others covering their ears, but my two boys counted these as positives as we walked back to our car after the hour long tour. Not in Salem? No problem, you can have a virtual factory tour online here. At the urgent request of my five year-old, I rearranged dinner plans tonight so that we can try some of the local Yamasa soy sauce. Lucky us – the Yamasa website offers lots of recipes for just such an occasion. A huge thank you to this local business for: investing in local workers, working to be an environmentally friendly facility, and sharing their wisdom with the youth of this community. My eight year-old son didn’t have a birthday cake this year. He had a birthday cannoli. I realize that for some of you that may seem odd, but that’s only because you haven’t visited the Little Cannoli Bakery in Salem. Tucked into the dark basement of the Reed Opera House, this fabulous little bakery has all sorts of delights. I haven’t yet tasted an item I haven’t adored. Often, when my youngest son and I are running errands downtown, I’ll stop in to the bakery specifically for a quick treat from the glass jars that sit atop the display case. For just $1.00, these treats are the perfect downtown shopping pick-me-up. It was actually my fourth trip to the bakery before I ordered the namesake cannoli. The first bite confirmed that these are a little dessert from heaven. My past experience with U.S. - made cannoli have left me wincing at ‘too sweet’ filling and ‘not crisp enough’ cookies. This however is not a problem here in Salem. Little Cannoli Bakery gets it right; oh so right; right enough to be the perfect birthday treat! And although this has nothing to do with cannoli -- Take a gander at this great picture: While I was ordering, my five year-old son took a seat at one of the small tables, opened up the Salem Weekly and studied it intently. Coffee shop and bakery surfing is surely in his future: I’ve taught him well.
Artist and hometown boy Christopher Marley has brought big, beautiful bugs to town. Mr. Marley’s shop/art gallery, Pheromone, is nestled right downtown between Starbucks and Straight from New Pizza on Liberty Street and shouldn’t be missed. Having spent many days in the rain forests of South America I have had my share fair of bug encounters. For years it didn’t bother me. I once saw a moth the size of a bird; a spider web designed to catch small birds, and a family of cockroaches who assumed mi casa was sus casa. I wasn't phased.
Then I suddenly seemed to reach capacity and now even sugar ants give me the heebie-jeebies. Then just this spring, I was bit by a spider while gardening, and half my face swelled to the point of losing feeling for two days. It was awful! I’d file a restraining order against insects if I could. I want them 100 yards away from me - at all times. And then…we step into Peromone. My son ooos and ahhhhs. The colors are displayed so exquisitely. The arrangements are so precise. Strangely, I find that I’m drawn toward these creepy crawly beasts instead of being repelled by them. Perhaps it is time for a peace agreement. Salem Art Association has opened its Project Space at the Metropolitan Building at 160 Liberty St. NE. This summer show of art if free and open to the public - right in the heart of the city. My youngest and I stopped by today to take a peek..... Stepping inside this empty commercial space, we found another world; a world of possibility; a world of wonder; a world to explore. And made this: The exhibit is titled: Please Treat Things As You Would Like Them To Be Treated. Like 95% of art -I’m not sure I get it, but I like it! My son liked it as well. Look closely ---– that’s him crawling through the structure. Even at a young age, he’s an art lover! Stop by soon to see this amazing structure before it’s too late! Exhibits are set to rotate at the start of July and August. The rain is here… and then it’s gone… and then it’s here… and then it’s gone. Spring in Oregon in going strong, which means it’s just the right time for one of my favorite local outings: Schreiner’s Iris Gardens. The public display garden at Schreiner’s is 10 acres of beauty and a feast for the eyes. Admission is free and guests are welcome from dawn to dusk. Shaded picnic tables, a small pond, and the cutest of teddy bears is a huge hit with the under 5 crowd. The iris, peonies, pansies, and wisteria are what we Moms love.
The garden is a flower oasis for all to enjoy. Try to catch it during a break in the rain. It makes you appreciate all this Oregon rain for the beauty it helps grow. |
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