Went up on the mountain, to give my horn a blow...

E-mail us at KIVAinfo@gmail.com for an agenda for the year and monthly newsletter.

Such a reward this has been, to invite people out to a favorite park, to share picnic lunches, to meet new families. A simple idea has grown into a very large list, a slightly large undertaking, and something the Donahue family looks forward to all month long! Our last meeting cemented for us that we have a good thing going with KIVA. For those who could attend, the families who hunted down this little oasis of a park (Happy Hollow Gardens) we thank you.

For those of you that could not attend for various reasons, but sent notes of support (Go Windy Hill Yard Sale Day!) we thank you. For those of you that sent prizes for our talent show, over 100 prizes given away!, we thank you. To those of you who didn't run away when I destroyed a lovely rendition of my favorite banjo tune, I'm sorry for your pain. I promise not to do that again...any time soon. I spoke of how honored I was that friends would be willing to come up and play for our talent show. Not just for the cool swag, donated by area businesses, but just because I asked. Thank you all.
The Ever Incredible Mike Franke
The Golden Throated Jamie Booker - The Cat Came Back!
The Rockingest Rockers in the Land - The Wading Girl - songs about bears...oh my!
The Entertainingest and Extremely Energetic Tom Angleberger
The Easy Go Calmly Lynwood Hall
and the addition of a wonderful mandolin player (and son) and storyteller, Bill Saul - who needs to send me a recording of his tune about playing in the Blue Ridge Mountains...
and lastly, the many, many talented kids who took to the stage!

Thank you to the businesses and individuals who donated prizes - you will be noted in our next monthly newsletter... Over 100 prizes!
Holiday Inn - Roanoke at Valley View
Plan 9 Music of Roanoke
Grandin Theatre
POPS Ice Cream Parlor (for strength)
Walkabout Outfitters in Downtown Roanoke - please call them for your hiking needs!

If you get a chance, please tell all the fine businesses "thank you" the next time you stop in!

Tom Angleberger for the signed copy of Quikpick Adventure Society - a book that got KIVA stewing in our brains. A must read!
Karen Adams for a copy of her book, The Mystery of Roanoke

and the wonderful, wonderful teachers at Glen Cove Elementary who emptied their closets (and wallets) just for me!

Now keep on getting out there. Roanoke, Salem and the surrounding areas offer us so many great places for free outdoor fun. Last weekend, I had the chance to so some puddle splashing with our kids on their bikes! That kind of adventure brings you to life. That's what showers and changes of clothes are for, right? April Showers bring Virginia clay stains. Maybe we should write for a sponsorship from the maker of the bleach pen! I'll work on that. In the meantime, make some memories with your children. It won't be long until they won't want to have a thing to do with us. Unless...