Yesterday we went to the children's library to get some new books. Thanks to the incredible organization and motivation of my friend Nicole there is an impressive collection on Utila. Chris Howard, who runs the cinema and video rental, provides the space and maintains the library out of the kindness of his heart. I've been trying to help out now and then by acquiring new books from donation centers but it isn't as easy as it seems. I think times are a little tough right now for those kinds of institutions. (I got a note back from one saying they just can't afford it anymore.) When we're in the USA we always stop in to the local thrift store and grab a few and once in awhile I'll do an eBay purchase if we have a shipment coming down. Sometimes friends and family donate, too, which is wonderful. For now, though, there are many new items and I love that Bine gets to experience going to the library and has learned about borrowing.
Afterward we take our new books in front to Irena's restaurant look over them and have a banana chocolate shake under the palm tree. (Jennifer and Benjamin clued us in to the last part of this ritual, and it is yummy.) Gussy likes the books, but he's much more interested in the shake and the ants crawling around.
