CAN YOU BELIEVE

that the fall season is almost upon us?  Though the summer here is a brief one, we truly hope you all had enjoyable and fun-filled vacations.

We would like to officially begin our blog by first and foremost extending our warmest thanks and gratitude to all of you for your support.  We truly appreciate our clientele, and you know who you are:  Friends, colleagues, local patrons as well as national and international customers.  Without all of you we wouldn't be here!!!

Our customer base is such an interesting one.  We've met such friendly people from everywhere.  I remember meeting a wonderful couple visiting from Australia who were shopping for their grandchildren.  As they were making their purchase we were discussing money and they asked me if I wanted to see a sample of their currency.  Of course, I was very curious, and they handed to me what was the most vibrantly colored money I have ever seen which was made of polymer, a plastic material.  They further explained that they no longer have 1 and 2 cent pieces, and they use one dollar coins.  We have also had visits from German exchange students and people from all over the U.S., including Iowa, Tennessee, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, California, Washington State, Wyoming, and the list goes on, and, of course, we regularly have visits from our delightful Canadian neighbors and local folk. Each and every connection we have with our customers is a learning experience.  We learn about cultures, interests, travels, and even weather patterns.  At our store we not only encourage learning, but we also have the benefit of an endless education ourselves!

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Although summer is winding down, the cool autumn breezes make for some excellent kite-flying conditions.  We still have lots of cool kites in stock.  Our butterfly kites are ready to take to the skies, or run through a field flying a vortex or a dragon!  Have some fun and come up with creative ways to use the stunt kites.  Vermont has some of the most beautiful acres of open fields (especially when haying is done) to run and do some great kite-flying, but if you are really up to a challenge, how about attempting to fly a kite in a corn maze?

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With the onset of school comes the reading assignments.  We recently sold the book Stone Soup to a lovely lady whose daughter had it on her list of required reading.  I remember in junior high being required to read Dorothy Canfield Fisher (DCF) Award books.  We currently have some DCF books in stock as well as various Caldecott and Newbery Award winner books.  Also gracing our shelves is the Sisters Grimm series (perhaps some of you remember the Brothers Grimm?)  It is so refreshing to read a twist on an old classic.  Which reminds me of a few other books on that topic, such as CinderEdna and Sleeping Bobby.  Wider Than the Sky's mantra is "All our toys are powered by imagination," so having as part of our inventory books such as these, which use creative ways to rewrite a much loved fairy tale, is a must and fits in perfectly with our mission.

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So folks, enjoy the rest of your September month, and get out and catch the sun while you can.  Fly that kite, read that book, explore nature, and continue to nurture children's creativity and imagination as well as your own.