Superb Owl Sunday Sketches

In September I took the kids to Back to Hogwarts Night at the Orem Library. Nichole took this picture of an owl while we were there.

This was the picture they based Sunday Sketches on for Superb Owl Sunday.

 

Jeremy (quite the superb owl)

Nichole

Jr. Jr.

Lucky

Jet 

Back to Hogwarts Night

I took the kids to the Orem Library for Back to Hogwarts Night they held toward the beginning of September. Timing was good because Jr. Jr. had been reading Harry Potter books and discussing them with friends and family members.

They had quizzes (O.W.L. or N.E.W.T. Official Exams), crafts and activities, and even a "potions class." 

Our favorite part was going to see live owls.

You know we like birds. Birds are awesome.

When we got home, we got out a non live owl for Jet to play with because... owls are cool and he could continue on the Hogwarts fun. 

 Another nice evening at the Orem Public Library. 

Orem Reads: Fahrenheit 451

I enjoyed Orem Reads so much last year when we read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I enjoyed the kickoff, the Chat & Snacks, the finale. 

This year I looked forward to participating again. This year's book? Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I had never read it before this program. It's not one I would have just picked up on my own. I'm glad I was able to read it for Orem Reads. It was interesting and definitely made me think.

The kickoff had a presentation by Shannon Hale. Before it started, they were playing music that had to do with fire or books. "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash. "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys. "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles. I got a kick out of that. I also enjoyed what Shannon Hale had to say about book banning.

This year they had something new during Orem Reads. A murder mystery date night. Stephanie Blanchard wrote a murder mystery for the library to use for this event. It was a potluck so Jeremy and I brought rolls and got to enjoy some yummy food while trying to figure out whodunnit. It was my first murder mystery dinner and I enjoyed it.

Before we left, we made sure to feed the boys. What they ate? Dino nuggets because October 16 was National Fossil Day. Teehee. It was also World Food Day so that fit with both chicken nuggets and potluck.

The next day I went to the only Chat & Snack I was able to go to for Fahrenheit 451 because of other commitments. It was another good discussion with mostly librarians and a few others. Since it was a lunchtime Chat & Snack, I brought cucumber sandwiches... and Peppermint Patties because I know Amy Sorenson (in charge of programming) likes them.

Speaking of Amy, she once again did a great job with this program, along with the other librarians who helped. Have I mentioned I love the librarians at Orem Library?

The day I went to the Chat & Snack, October 17, was also National Pasta Day. Nichole made cheeseburger pasta and sent me a picture, then she and I met at the Bean Museum for a UCB meeting about Boreal Owls. Jeremy watched most of it online when he got home from work. 

Nichole drew these while we were there. "If you give Nichole a medium." This medium was... "Inktober"... sort of.

The Orem Reads Finale was a Titles & Treats Gala. It was like trick or treating but with books. Tables were set up with librarians to give recommendations of books. We were also given a little treat bag to get candy at each table. So not just trick or treating with books but with candy, too.

I loved chatting with the librarians (some of it wasn't even book related). Costumes were welcomed so I dressed up as a birder with camera, binoculars, hat, and field guide. 

I also made sure to get a picture with Amy and her fun "book fairy" costume.

Besides the book recommendation tables, there was also a book craft and Fall treats. 

Mmmm, hot chocolate.

I am again grateful I got to participate in Orem Reads this year. I let the kids know this is my October thing and I appreciate them helping with their little brother so I can go to these events.

Once again it was a great program from kickoff to finale and I'm grateful for my participation in it.

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

Jeremy's big balloon build was for the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival at Thanksgiving Point. This year was the 35th anniversary. Jeremy and Debbie were asked to do a balloon scene based on James Christensen's, "Tales Beneath Timp," the artwork that represents the storytelling festival.

I love how it turned out.

We as a family were able to go to the storytelling festival. I spent most of my time at the "family tent," which is not a surprise. Children's stories, puppet shows. 

That tent was also near the Secret Garden where they were holding Dungeons and Dragons games. They had a dragon outside that Jet absolutely loved and wanted to keep going back to see. So cute.

We celebrated Play Outside Day and World Beard Day at the festival on Saturday, September 7.

Since it was Shelftember, we packed meals and snacks for the day.

Nichole and I dropped the boys and Jeremy off at home before coming back for a little bit more storytelling fun. The boys had salami sandwiches for dinner at home for Salami Day.

While I was listening to more stories, Nichole took some time for hand sculpted pottery.

Jeremy went up with some other birders to see some Flammulated Owls that night.

Blast From the Past

I don't think I ever blogged about a big deal birding trip for our family in 2017. 

Every once in a while we get to see something rare in Utah. Sometimes they are Eastern birds that have made their way this far West (blue jay in 2018, Eastern bluebird in 2017). Sometimes they are birds we don't see in the Continental United States. Jeremy saw a blue footed booby in 2018.

Sometimes a bird is blown off course in a storm or something and ends up out of its range and in Utah. Sometimes it is a big deal and birders come from all over the state to see it (like the above mentioned blue footed booby). One such bird was one we saw in February of 2017. 

Great Gray Owl.

This was the first time many birders had ever seen one in Utah. 

Jeremy went up to the place it had been spotted a few days before we went as a family and was able to see it. 

So one morning we headed up where it was supposed to be... and couldn't find it. Sigh. We searched for a while and finally decided since we were already North we'd head over to Antelope Island and had a good time there. 

After that trip we said we'd try one more time for the owl. We found other birders who were able to point us in the right direction and we were able to go in someone's backyard to see it. Some people are so nice to let birders come on their property to see birds. Lots and lots of birders.

We each got to see the owl. It was so big it was hard to miss. Largest owl in North America- size wise. Not the heaviest, though.

We made the comment that it was the first time any of us had seen a Great Gray Owl in the wild including Lucky who was just little. A lady nearby commented that it was her first time seeing one and she was in her eighties. So it was definitely a rare bird. One of the Utah County Birders who has been birding forever and has seen more than any of the rest of us said this was his first Great Gray Owl in Utah.

Target bird: acquired. 

It was an unforgettable experience. And now I've finally blogged about it.