We've had our first snow of the year. The temperature has really dropped and I have pulled my blue coat out. The first year we were here - there was no snow until November. Second year, the snow came halfway through the month of October - lots of it. Then it all melted. That process repeated at least twice before it finally stuck in December. We'll see what happens this year.

We finally got our counselor and second math teacher - both from Kentucky. What a southern accent they both have!

Our book fair boxes are here - 40 of them - all stacked in my little workroom. Book Fairs are so much fun - but so much inconvenience at the same time. There won't be a lot of buying, but it is fun to see the kids look at the books.

My Digital Comets club starts Monday. We go for 10 weeks, two hours a meeting. We are going to start with basic digital camera skills, learning all about the possibilities of the camera. We will also be leaning how to get them into the computer. We'll learn how to scan a photo and manipulate it. We will learn how to manage our photos on the computer also. We'll probably go with iPhoto. At the same time we will be learning to use Photoshop Elements - a program that does lots of stuff with photos. I am doing this with 9-11 year olds - so this is a big job for them. I think if I keep it very simple - we will be successful. The ultimate project will be digital story telling - using iMovie and maybe GarageBand. I have my work cut out for me. If it doesn't seem to be working out - we will just change the direction of the class. It is really about having fun with the computer and using it as tool.

I got a little grant from the Alaska Association of School Libraries to go into Anchorage on the 18th to hear Gary Hartzell speak. That means they pay my way in and provide a hotel - I'm so happy. Right now, airfare from Chevak to Bethel to Anchorage and back is just over $900!

My library is beautiful. I have the best computers and the fastest network (I have my own server) in the school. The bean bags have been a real blessing - the older kids just love them, seldom sitting a table to read, always preferring a quiet corner on a bean bag..or two.

We are having a Create A Creature contest for October. The winners will get to choose from a selection of jewelry I purchased from my aunts estate sale. It is wild and crazy jewelry - big and colorful and elaborate stuff. The kids should have fun picking it out for their moms or girlfriends. Our friend Jeanne came over to watch the "Sarah Palin Show" (debate) the other night. Afterwards I got all the jewelry out and we had the best time trying it own. We were rolling with laughter. It was quite a show for Tom. We all have gotten pretty rustic out here in the tundra and the idea of putting on earrings or a necklace is, well, pretty foreign to us now.