My daughter loves shoes. She can't walk past a shoe store without going in to check out the new arrivals. Me, I can't walk past an office supply store without going in to check out all the ways of keeping organized. In particular, I love calendars.
All those empty pages waiting to be filled. New days full of possibilities. When I get my new calendar, I delight in going through month by month and writing important happenings. In December I get a personal calendar that will run from January through December. I write birthdays on that one. In June, I get a new academic calendar for work that will run from September through August. I write Audubon's monthly and annual programs on that one.
Picking a new calendar format is tricky. I love the month-at-a-glance format. But sometimes that isn't enough space to list all that is going on. Would the week-at-a-glance better suit my needs? If so, do I want it to start on a Sunday or a Monday? Do I have enough "stuff" going on to warrant the day-at-a-glance format? Some printed calendars have combinations of those, the month-at-a-glance followed by pages arranged by the week or by the day.
Article Photos
Two kids check out a baby slider at Terrific Turtles. Photo by Sarah Hatfield.
Over the years I've used several systems: the little month-at-a-glance pocket calendar you can pick up at a card shop, the Day-timer with the ring binders that allow you to put in new pages each year. For a while I even had an electronic hand-held device... a Palm Pilot. That was fun because it was searchable! (When is that dentist appointment again?)
Now we are embracing Google Calendars to keep us organized at work. We have one for the public events, which you can check, too. Another is for our internal events - contracted programs for schools and scouts, rentals, birthday parties, etc. We can overlay the internal calendar on the public calendar and see both sets of events at the same time - in different colors. We can switch from month-at-a-glance to a view of the week, or of just one day with the click of a button. Some of us have put our personal calendars on Google. The levels of sharing make it possible to schedule events that are completely private or completely public. We can even have an event show up as "busy" - but not reveal to others the nature of the appointment. Oh, technology is grand. Maybe I'll even take the plunge to invest in a Blackberry or iPhone someday.
Did you get a new calendar for Christmas? Let me give you a few important happenings to add!
Today (January 15) is Doors Open Jamestown from 10am until 4 pm. Local area attractions open their doors free of charge or provide discounts on products (including restaurants on food) to the community. You can check out some community treasures that you've never visited before, including Audubon!
Saturday, February 5, 2011 is the Talking Phonebook Snowflake Festival - always a great way to celebrate nature in winter.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 is Animals of the Earth Day. Meet live animals during this fundraiser for the care of our education animals.
Saturday, May 21, 2011 is the Plant Sale and Exchange. Bring divisions from your garden if you like, and exchange for some new plants from others' gardens. If you have nothing to share, you can buy plants, too. All proceeds benefit Audubon's gardens.
And speaking of gardens, don't miss out on the Secret Gardens Tour Saturday, June 18, 2011. You'll get a map to several gorgeous gardens that will teach and inspire.
Art in the Woods is July 16 and 17 this year. Check out the artists, musicians, children's crafts and food at this fun event.
Hold a live monarch butterfly or caterpillar at the Monarch Butterfly Festival on Saturday, August 27, 2011.
Learn about snakes, turtles, and lizards at Reptimania on Saturday, September 24, 2011.
The Enchanted Forest will be held on October 7th and 8th. Reservations are required to visit the magical animals who can talk to you about their lives.
Enjoy an early turkey dinner with your Audubon friends at Thanksgiving with the Birds on Saturday, November 19th.
Learn to make a wreath at Homemade Holidays on Saturday, December 3rd.
Celebrate Christmas for the Critters on Wednesday, December 28th.
Whew! That's a lot. But it's not all. I didn't tell you about the monthly events, or summer day camp, for example. You'll have to check our online calendar for all we're doing.
Learn more about all these events and about the many other events at Audubon by visiting the website jamestownaudubon.org where there's a link to our Google calendar from the "calendar" page. Audubon is located at 1600 Riverside Road in the town of Kiantone, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren.