As the cold weather sets in here in the Northeast we find ourselves turning more and more to indoor activities. This has always been the case, but especially in the current climate of staying home and social distancing, we’re seeking out more and more creative outlets we can pursue at home. Some of us are long-time Crafters with a capital C, others are picking up a new hobby we’ve always wanted to try, and still others aren’t quite ready to break out the spray paint and glue sticks but are happy to take a virtual tour of the possibilities. If you don’t already have a craft project on the go or queued up, where do you look for inspiration?

Enter “ImagiCrafting.” Now, if you type “imagicraft” into the Google search box, all the results will be websites and blogs pertaining to the popular children’s computer game, MineCraft. This is not an article about MineCraft – if you came for computer game talk you came to the wrong place.

ImagiCraft, in my usage here, is a more craftually inclusive version of “ImagiKnitting.” If there’s something I want to knit I imagine it… ImagiKnit… ImagiKnitting. Imagine craft… ImagiCraft… Imagicrafting. See? I didn’t coin the phrase ImagiKnit, which has been making the rounds in knitting circles for at least a few years, but the concept could be applied beyond knitting to all sorts of crafts.

But, where to start? The side effect of our hyper-connected world is that we’re sometimes paralyzed by too many choices. From blogs to websites to YouTube channels, books, magazines, digital magazines, Pinterest, and more, it’s easy to be swamped by information overload and a glut of options. Sometimes you just need someone to cut through the noise and point out sources they most like for inspiration.

And since you asked, I’d recommend starting with free resources! Free resources through the library, to be precise. If you’re looking for crafts to do with children you should definitely check out our Children’s Department’s calendar of events, as they put together take-home kits for weekly craft projects and sensory skills building. Videos from their past make-and-take crafts can be found on the library’s YouTube channel, so browse the back catalog for ImagiCraft inspiration.

For craftually curious adults and teens however, I have a few recommendations. For someone interested in browsing pretty pictures for ImagiCrafting (read: all of us), check out our digital magazines. We have titles available through two free apps, Flipster and Libby. Hobby and craft titles of interest on Flipster include Crochet!, Do It Yourself, Better Homes & Gardens, This Old House, and Birds & Blooms. Crafting magazine titles on Libby include Simply Knitting, Cardmaking and Papercraft, and an array of home and garden magazines. If cooking is your creative outlet we have many cooking magazine titles available digitally on both apps and in hard copy.

Speaking of hard copy magazines, you can browse and borrow all the back issues of our physical magazines and books. While the latest issues of magazines don’t circulate, we keep at least two years worth of popular titles like Vogue Knitting, Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Garden, and Family Handyman, not to mention cooking and home and garden titles. And the books, oh my goodness the crafting books. Crafting subjects range from knit and crochet to sewing, rug hooking, quilting, jewelry making, painting, weaving, paper crafts, calligraphy, and model and miniature building. Most of our craft and hobby books can be found on the second floor with a few subjects up on the Mezzanine level, if you’d like to browse in person. You can also request items online to pick up in the library or through our curbside pickup service. I recommend loading up on a few favorite titles and cozying up at home to binge and ImagiCraft to your heart’s content.

If you’ve been inspired by ImagiCrafting and now you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get started, we can help you begin without investing money in new tools and gadgets. Our Library of Things collection has lots of crafting tools to borrow, including knitting needles, crochet hooks, blocking mats and pins, jewelry pliers, embroidery hoops, a leather punch tool, CriCut accessories, an embosser, and more. Visit our second floor to browse the collection, or type “Norwood Library of Things” into our online catalog to request items from home.

We may be distancing and hunkering down in our homes, but that doesn’t mean we need to craft alone. If you need a second pair of eyes to make sense of a pattern or fix a dropped stitch, we’re offering individual Stitch Doctor appointments to provide knitting help at the library. We also have a crafting group that meets on Zoom twice a month called Virtual Craft Connection. The link to drop in and join us is on our library events calendar, no need to sign up in advance. Join us to share your latest ImagiCraft inspiration!

Liz Reed is the Adult Services Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the November 26, 2020 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.

I was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Yes, THAT Plymouth, the one that you probably learned about in grade school. The Mayflower, Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, the first Thanksgiving, etc. I’m confident if you grew up in the United States that you know the story. Though I grew up in the “City of Presidents” (Quincy), a part of me will always belong to Plymouth. My family lives in Plymouth and I proposed to the wife in Brewster Gardens. I take my kids to all of the places my parents and family used to take me (Plymouth Rock, the jetty, and of course, Lobster Hut!)  So, in 2019, when I saw a statewide email that Jennifer Harris, Director of the Plymouth Public Library, sent out about a bold program she was part of for the upcoming Plymouth 400 celebration, I wasted no time letting her know that I wanted to be a part of it.

The program is called the “This Land” production, a play that is being produced about the voyage and experience of the Pilgrims when they landed here in New England. However, what makes this presentation unique is that the story is being told from the perspective of the Wampanoag Tribe, and it’s being produced and shown in Plymouth, U.K. The production will be performed at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, England, as part of their Mayflower 400 celebration (the U.K equivalent of our Plymouth 400 celebration). The production will have a cast of 400 members from the U.K. and 30 members from the Wampanoag Tribe. Jennifer’s email was inquiring if there were libraries that were interested in helping out with the program, specifically for the purpose of showing a recording of the production across multiple libraries in the Commonwealth. I was eager to help show this very unique program at the Morrill Memorial Library for our community to watch.

I, along with many other librarians in Massachusetts, met at the Plymouth Public Library on a regular basis to work out details about the project. At our meetings, we were updated on the status of the production by a representative from the Theatre Royal, and we worked out the logistics of showing the recording to the public. We were getting close to finalizing the showing of the presentation in June 2020, but of course, before the production could take place, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As with many things in 2020, the pandemic complicated and delayed the “This Land” production. Despite its postponement, which has been rescheduled to 2021, I still remain passionate about the project and remain hopeful that one day in the future I will be able to showcase it at the library.

What makes the “This Land” production so special is that it is a great example of how libraries in Massachusetts were participating in a truly one of a kind international program that fosters both global and underrepresented voices and opinions. It is a play about a historical event, as told from the perspective of the Wampanoag Tribe, who suffered from the Pilgrims’ arrival, and whose perspective on this historical event and the Thanksgiving holiday is rarely taken into account. The play was to take place and be produced in the U.K., and excluding the 30 Wampanoag Tribe members who were to be part of the performance, the cast was to be made up of people from the U.K. As you can imagine, the landing of the Pilgrims in New England carries a different cultural weight and meaning to those in the U.K. than it does to us in the United States.

Of all these factors, what I find most intriguing about this production is that it is giving a forum and voice to a people who have a very strong, and a very different view of, the Mayflower landing in Plymouth. Here in New England, the ancestors of the Wampanoag tribe still grapple and wrestle with the ramifications of that historical event, and what it means to them as a people today. Nick Stimson, the writer of “This Land,” took the input and perspective of the Wampanoag very seriously. Along with the narrative being driven by their perspective, personal reflections of their thoughts about the Mayflower landing, and its impact on their culture, were to be included at the end of the production. This perspective is understandably very different from the story that I, and many of us reading, learned about when we were taught about the holiday as kids.

As I worked and learned more about “This Land,” my interest in the project underwent a dramatic shift. I initially was drawn to the project out of my own personal love for the town I was born in, but as I learned more, I realized I wanted to know more about the perspective of the Wampanoag tribe. I wanted to know why their perspective on Thanksgiving was so starkly contrasted with my own opinions on the holiday. Learning more about the indigenous perspective on the ramifications of the Mayflower landing was sometimes challenging for me, and continues to be challenging to me. I had to adopt a different perspective of a holiday that I love, and had to re-evaluate the historical stories that were embedded in me since a young age. It’s not easy to wrestle with hard truths and different perspectives about history, but I believe it is necessary to do so in order to  get a truer understanding of our nation’s history. Even though the “This Land” production has been delayed, my work with the project imbued me with a new understanding and appreciation for the Wampanoag Tribe, and other indigenous peoples in the United States. 

Want to know more about “This Land?” Check out the website and listen to music that will be featured in the production on Hoopla.

“This Land” website: theatreroyal.com/whats-on/this-land/

Music: “A Pilgrim’s Tale” by Seth Lakeman – Available though our Hoopla app.

Celebrate National Native American Heritage month with these great titles by Indigenous Authors:

Where the Dead Sit Talking – Brandon Hobson

House Made of Dawn – M. Scott Momaday

Pushing the Bear: A Novel of the Trail of Tears – Diane Glancy

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian – Sherman Alexie

There There – Tommy Orange

Perma Red – Debra Magpie Erling

Heart Berries: A Memoir – Terese Marie Mailhot

Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land – Toni Jensen

Brian DeFelice is the Information Technology Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for his article in the November 19, 2020 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.

My daughter was a senior in high school when the pandemic first struck here in the United States. The ending of her last year of high school was quite unlike anything we had ever seen: fully-online high school classes, virtual homework sessions, a socially distanced, “drive-by” graduation, and a small family dinner (take out) for the graduation celebration. I have to give her school credit- they did a great job coping with everything that was thrown at them. Students weren’t the only ones adjusting- staff and teachers had to learn a whole new delivery method in a very short time, and some of them had to do this for multiple classes. By far, I believe the most difficult part of the pandemic has been the insecurity of not knowing what to do or what to expect.

A lot of feedback has been received about how the older children and their teachers are coping. I wondered how the wee ones and their teachers were doing. To find out, I interviewed Mr. Tim, the President and Pre-K teacher at Norwood Christian Preschool.

In light of the pandemic, would you say that preschool teachers are essential?

Mr. Tim:  I guess it depends on your definition of “essential.” Hospital workers are essential or people will die. Liquor stores are considered essential in Massachusetts, but people do not need alcohol to survive. Since ECE isn’t mandatory in MA, you could make a case that our vocation is not essential, but try telling that to a harried mother or father who is expected to maintain and even exceed previous workloads while trying to be an entertainment coordinator, a referee, an art teacher, a language and communication specialist, and Zoom meeting expert. Suddenly, early educators seem invaluable.

How have the COVID-19 mandates affected your school?

Mr. Tim:  It has dramatically impacted our school. We are going through bleach as if it’s water; we surface-contact clean everything four times more than we have to. The children, staff, and parents are always masked. Each child must have a temperature scan before entering the building and the parents have to sign off on a “no signs of COVID” slip every day that their child attends. The net result is that with all the changes we must be even more intentional about making education enjoyable. There is just more work for everyone. We must find ways for children to embrace and enjoy education while maintaining COVID safety regulations.

In light of the pandemic, how difficult has it been for the parents to leave their children in your care?

Mr. Tim:  It has not been without challenges because half of our school is dropped off or picked up by grandparents, who are a more at-risk demographic. But the safety protocols that are in place have helped the families who have chosen to have their children attend feel confident about their children’s safety. Additionally, we have seen growth consistent with non-pandemic years as parents’ “ white-knuckle ride” anxiety about a new school subsides and they realize that this is a really good fit and that my child is thriving…. and “ I have dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon, can I add the day?”  Or, My child loves the curriculum for next Friday, can they add the morning?” Or, “we’ve made really great friends and want to join one more day weekly.”

Is there anything that has been relatively unchanged by the pandemic?

Mr. Tim:  The needs of children haven’t changed with COVID-19. Each child needs to feel safe, and nurtured, and loved. They need to believe that school is a place where they can thrive and grow and succeed, and even fail and get back up and try again because they are in a safe space. Our goals for every child are the same:  we want them to love God, love people, and love school. Our vision remains the same also; we exist to meet the needs of children and their families through the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

How have you been intentional about making learning fun while still adhering to all the new guidelines for safety?

Mr. Tim:  We have created what I call “COVID Cubby” dividers so that children can be at the table working with friends and still see them, but also maintain social distancing. We aren’t allowed to use common play-doh anymore, so one day as a learning activity, each child created their own dough to manipulate into letters and numbers. They could add their own coloring creating a multi-sensory tactile learning tool that they took home that day. We had costumes for Halloween; we had a little parade, some kind of nod to Halloween. We have music and movement and art, and gross motor play, and science, technology, math, all of those domains are being taught in a developmentally appropriate literacy-based curriculum that is engaging for children. In fact, just today, we posed a question “What Do Your Parents Do While You’re At School?” Using paper and pastels, the children created images of what they imagined their parents to be doing. The results were hilarious! Children imagine their parents to be workout enthusiasts, leaf rakers, and strawberry patch growers, but none of them thought that their parents were actually gainfully employed. The ensuing mirth and merriment that occurred when parents recognized the inner workings of their child’s mind was priceless.

How have the children adapted to this situation?

Mr. Tim:  It’s encouraging to see that the nature of childhood remains unscathed regardless of the pandemic. The discomfort of wearing a mask all day is more troublesome for parents than kids, because they just accept it and move forward. They still find ways to make human connection, build friendships, and tell silly knock-knock jokes that they make up on the spot. Children are incredibly resilient and adaptable, and they prove it every day.

This interview was based on questions presented by Mr. Jake Miller, a blogger for The Educator’s Room.

Carla B. Howard is the Senior Circulation and Media & Marketing Assistant at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the November 12, 2020 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.

Life during the COVID-19 crisis presents no shortage of challenges, but for me one of the hardest to cope with has been losing the ability to travel. Long ago I set a goal and made a pact with myself to travel to at least one new country every year. Starting after college, I managed to stick to the plan and have had the pleasure of exploring wonderful places all over the world since then. Following each adventure I’d begin planning the next one, assuring that I always had something exciting to look forward to.

Of course I could never guarantee having the means to travel internationally every year, but I managed to find ways to reach new destinations even while on a limited budget. Some years I was able to save up and take an outright vacation, but other times I sought opportunities to travel for work or conferences, or I signed up for volunteer opportunities. During my most recent trip to Ghana in 2019 I bunked in a volunteer barracks without running water or indoor plumbing – “roughing it,” for sure! I never imagined that what would stand in the way of my goal would not be vacation time, funds, or opportunity, but rather a global pandemic forcing us to stick close to home for months!

Travel may not be completely banned as we navigate the current phase of coronavirus mitigation, but for all intents and purposes I do not see it as an option in 2020. The state’s current travel order calls for a potential two-week quarantine after returning to Massachusetts from all but a handful of locations. Logistically this would present problems, but even if I could do it, I wouldn’t want to take the risk, preferring to stay safe and limit my exposure to others while we wait for a vaccine. Eventually I had to embrace the concept of the “staycation,” and I wondered whether I could keep my wanderlust at bay and enjoy being a homebody for a while.

While homebound in March and April I was busy working remotely spending all day on my laptop and on Zoom. When I wasn’t working I ended up taking on projects in the house and garden that were ambitious and not exactly relaxing. Eventually cabin fever loomed large and prompted me to venture outside, discovering places to go nearby. Since then I have been pleasantly surprised by the multitude of outdoor destinations the Bay State has to offer.

Even with indoor sites and museums closed I discovered many places to hike and enjoy nature throughout the spring and summer. The non-profit Trustees of Reservations preserves and maintains properties throughout Massachusetts including historic estates, gardens, beaches, and more. I visited the impeccably maintained World’s End along the harbor in Hingham, and the picturesque Ames Estate in Easton. I enjoyed a stroll (as opposed to a more vigorous “hike”) at the Fork Factory Brook in Medfield, and another at Moose Hill Farm in Sharon. Our library has a guide to the Trustees’ properties, and their website has the latest information including changes in access due to Covid-19.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation manages a vast network of state parks with many options for outdoor activities. One of my lengthier hikes took place at Blue Hills, the massive reservation spanning multiple towns. Visitors may download a trail map for help navigating the over 7,000 acre site with over 120 miles of trails. I also had fun climbing around the rock formations at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton (and was glad I wore sneakers instead of flip-flops that day). The library lends out parking passes for the state parks.

Although I’d love to be on safari in Africa or exploring the Amazon in Brazil, I have enjoyed learning about local wildlife right here in Massachusetts. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island attracts birdwatchers and photographers from near and far, with plenty of boardwalks, blinds and observation towers. The Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries throughout the state protect our wildlife and provide opportunities for outings and day trips.

If you’re interested in getting outside and exploring more of the local environment, the Minuteman Library Network and the Morrill Memorial Library have plenty of resources to help you decide where to go. Check out AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near Boston, or 50 Hikes in Eastern Massachusetts. They have a wide variety of field guides and books to help identify flora and fauna, and the library even has a birdwatching kit in its library of things, which includes binoculars, a field guide, and a CD of bird calls.

I recommend checking online or calling before any excursion; some sites such as Broadmoor in Natick and World’s End require timed tickets to prevent overcrowding. Many sites have reopened for outdoor activities but visitor centers and rest rooms remain closed.

When it is safe to do so, believe me, I will get on an airplane and venture off someplace far away, picking up where I left off with the plan to visit at least one new country every year. In the meantime, Massachusetts still has plenty to offer, and I am delighted to continue discovering its natural beauty.

Lydia Sampson is the Assistant Director at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the October 29, 2020 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.