BOW WOW!! The dog days of summer are technically supposed to occur July 3rd thru August 11th, and are usually the hottest and muggiest time of the season. Maybe it’s just me, but seems like it started just a little earlier this summer.
The term "dog days" is connected to the constellation pattern, the Canis Major or Big Dog. Sirius, the Dog Star, also happens to be the brightest star in the Canis Major in the night sky. In the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun.
Do you look at the world with rose colored glasses, or do feel like the storm clouds are always chasing you? A mud puddle might get my car dirty, but bring the greatest amount of joy to my children. Not feeling so great might change my plans and trap me at home, but it can also be very cherished downtime to cuddle in bed and read books. Burnt dinner, ugh that was a mess, but it is also a memory my kids still giggle about. Electricity just went out at home, how about hide-and-go-seek in the dark? How do you look at life's little mishaps? Is your glass half empty or half full?
I think we all could come up with people we love, but what about things? Are there things you can think of that you would miss if they were not around? I was able to come up with a few:
Recently, my family and I went on our first family vacation that didn’t involve traveling to see family. We went to Sanibel Island, Florida. My husband and I had been there 12 years ago on our honeymoon. We knew we wanted to go back, but we were waiting for the island to recover from Hurricane Charley that struck the island in 2004.
For many of us, ice cream is a year-round favorite dessert. There is nothing like getting out the ice cream machine to make all those different homemade flavors. MCPL has all kinds of ice-cream cookbooks.
The weatherman just confirmed it; June 2012 was the sixth hottest June in 130 years for the Kansas City area. No wonder we are all getting higher utility bills!
If the kids in your life are complaining about how hot it is, how about helping them understand what is happening and why. A good place to start is your local Library. MCPL has many good books to help you explain what is happening. Here are a few you and your child might like:
With the 4th of July holiday coming up, a fun and informative Online Resource to visit on the MCPL website can be found under Geography and Travel. America the Beautiful offers an unlimited source of information on every state and territory in our great nation.
We all know that a good exercise program has many benefits, but you have to put in the time. The Center for Disease Control recommends 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week. That is about as long as it takes to sit and watch one movie. Could you give up a weekly movie if you gained the following benefits?
We all have some home improvements around the house that we could be doing but have just put off! Maybe, we just aren’t sure how to start them. MCPL's Research Databases, under DIY and Hobbies, has ideas for home improvement. These databases provide step-by-step project help right at your fingertips.
