Make a Splash!

The Siloam Springs Public Library is gearing up for their summer reading program.  This year's theme is "Make a Splash--READ!"

Stop by the Library to pick up a log and get all the details, or click here.

Some of the activities planned are as follows:

• Family Programs on Tuesdays at 2pm
• Story/game/craft time for preschoolers on Thursdays at 11am and 2pm
• A party with food, activities, and rewards for those who read the required hours or more.

What fun!  After all, summer is a great time for reading!

--Karyn

Did you know you can follow the Library (along with the City of Siloam Springs) on Twitter?  Click here for more information.

Window Displays

Early one morning, I took a walk Downtown.  Most of the shops had yet to open, so I was limited to window shopping.  Still I enjoyed looking through the glass and seeing the creative displays.

Heather Hill Boutique's new location looks great!

There are all kinds of "pretties" in Joni's display case.

I love the line of cheerful flowers in the window at Amandromeda.

Just to make sure one knows Fratelli's has gelato.  :-)

At Two Gal's Junk, the cutest little green table/telephone desk is calling my name.

Cheerful posies at Flowers on Broadway.  They happened to be opened early that morning for all the children who may have forgotten the special mother in their life.

It seems Downtown is quite charming early in the morning.

--Karyn

Farmer's Market: Grand Opening

The market has been open for a few weeks, but this Tuesday (May 11th) is the Grand Opening!

Head Downtown for the festivities!

Produce, plants, and crafts will be available during regular market hours: 8am-1pm.

Special Opening Day Events will take place around 10am.

Regarding Farmer's Market produce, this week I had quite a few random bits left in my fridge's veggie drawer.  A couple of leaves each of kale and spinach, a few onions, a stem of almost picked-clean basil, etc.  Determined not to waste the last few vegetables, I whipped up some eggs and made a quiche throwing in all the bits!

To make the "left overs" seem more special, I made individual quiches.  They were enjoyed by all!

Just an idea to use up the last of your veggies before Opening Day tomorrow morning!

--Karyn

Downtown for the Weekend

One of my monthly magazines arrived in the mailbox this morning.  Each issue contains an itinerary should one decide to spend a weekend wandering through one of the many little towns scattered throughout Northern California.  I thought it might be fun to copy their idea and plan a weekend in our little Downtown.  So, humor me, if you will, as I share my weekend thoughts.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll even join me Downtown!

Friday Evening

Do you follow the Cafe on Broadway on Twitter?  If you don't already, you should.  This week they tweeted about their latest concoction: sno-cones.  I headed down for a wild grape flavored treat immediately this past Wednesday.  Thank goodness for Twitter!  Eager to try another flavor, I'd start my weekend at the cafe on Friday evening with a light dinner followed by a wild cherry sno-cone.  Lemon is good, too; it's my boys' favorite flavor.  (Note: the syrups are made with pure sugar cane and natural flavorings.)

Saturday Morning

Loving the cafe as I do, I'd probably start my Saturday morning there as well.  Grabbing a cup of hot tea (I often bring my own travel mug to save a paper cup) and a fresh scone, I'd sit at an outside table and watch Downtown wake up.  Tummy happy, I'd head next door to Books on Broadway and peruse the latest titles. 

I'm currently keeping my eyes open for a dresser that I could paint navy blue to put in my boys' room, so I'd head to Dave's Appliance next.  (Believe it or not, I've found quite a few things there over the years.)  Two Gal's Junk is another fun place to find a treasure and is worth a walk through.  I'd probably swing by Flowers on Broadway just to make shameless hints to my family about flowers and Mother's Day.  And, speaking of Mother's Day, I have yet to take care of my own mother and mother-in-law (shame on me!), so I'd continue my morning Downtown and swing by Creative Corner on Broadway to find some paper for the craft I have planned to make.  Then again, it might be better to pick up something already made, so perhaps a better option would be Four Corner's Frame and Design--have you see all their lovely stationery?  It's beautiful, just beautiful.

By the time I'd finished up my shopping, it just might be time for dinner.  Fratelli's is always yummy, so wandering through Heather Hill Botique (to see the new shop location), Amandromeda, and Local Flair on my way to eat, I'd settle into my booth and order my favorite margherita pizza.

Second Saturdays kicks off with a concert in the park.  A cup of gelato would be the perfect way to enjoy some music and, lucky for me, Fratelli's has all kinds of new flavors.  Jim and Kim Lansford start playing at 7:30pm, so I'd be settled on my blanket at Twin Springs Gazebo Park just in time.

Sunday Morning

Being Mother's Day this Sunday, I think I'd take it easy and have my guys take me to brunch at Emelia's.  They're serving brunch beginning at 10am.  Be sure to call ahead for reservations.

Whew!  That looks like a fun, full weekend!

But I think I'm up for it.

I'll see you Downtown!

--Karyn

(Note: Links for the above mentioned shops and eateries can be found in the list to the right.)

Egyptian Onions

Not sure what to get at Farmer's Market tomorrow morning?

I'm going to (hopefully) pick up my fifth bunch of Egyptian Onions.

I can't seem to get enough of the tasty onions.  They are best cooked, and so far my family has enjoyed them in soups and quiches.  Yum!

Remember to visit Tuesday's Famer's Market

Remember to head Downtown to Farmer's Market tomorrow morning.  They are open from 8am-1pm.

Last week along with my vegetables, I found pots of basil, oregano...

...and nasturtiums!

All of which are happily growing in my backyard ready to be picked and put in my summer recipes.

Did you know that both the flowers and leaves on the nasturtium plant are edible?  I knew the flowers could be eaten, but the information about the leaves was new to me.  This is one of the many benefits to shopping at our local market, not only does one know exactly where his or her food is coming from, one also gets helpful tips and hints from the farmer who grew the item.

Heather Hill Boutique

Did you think Heather Hill Boutique was a shop filled only with fun, frilly dresses for little girls?

It's what I thought until the other day until a friend told me otherwise.  Armed with the new information, I headed down with my kiddos and a friend to see what else Heather Hill Boutique had to offer.

This is what I found:

A beautiful bag made just for grown-up girls!

I want one!  Or two...

Just below the wonderful bags and totes I found this:

A darling apron!  I'm thinking it could make dinner-cooking all the more fun!

I'm so glad my friend Julia set me straight on Heather Hill Boutique.

And in other Heather Hill Boutique news, they will be moving to another location just around the corner from their current location.  They'll pack up all the cute things Saturday night, set them up in what used to be the Baby Habit, and reopen on Tuesday morning at 10am.

Perhaps you should pay them a visit... Mother's Day is almost here!  (Hint, hint...)

And after you've visited Heather Hill Boutique at their new location, head back to their previous location, because rumor has it a shop full of cute things for boys is moving in.