![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMfiMi6ZtCI/AAAAAAAACVM/SuSZkiYXqMc/s200/rome1.gif)
The school put me up in this gorgeous B&B, The Claremont House, so with the break in painting and the beautiful room it was a nice change. I was a bit nervous, this would be my first school visit of what is scheduled to be a very hectic presentation year for me. I wondered if I'd be rusty and, since the school year had just begun, if the students would be ready for me.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMfiFycWRwI/AAAAAAAACVE/dn-JV-ulTpo/s200/bb.gif)
But I shouldn't have worried. The Darlington School, under the direction of the lovely librarian Ann Glass (whom I mistakenly and repeatedly called Ann Darlington) prepared the students so well that I was amazed. The school had made the day before I came into an author appreciation day with activities based on my books. They wrote and drew season haikus, like in my book OUR SEASONS:
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMfiAYm-cWI/AAAAAAAACU8/i3SN5ESKpK8/s200/seasonhaiku.gif)
stretched their imagination with UGLY VEGETABLES
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMfhwpnnWZI/AAAAAAAACUs/OGs_BBi1fTI/s200/uv.gif)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMfh1xpuo0I/AAAAAAAACU0/jBIjUSOVpoU/s200/uvcar.gif)
and shared their fears like OLVINA:
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMfhoawLmiI/AAAAAAAACUk/D2f1VMb44Rc/s200/cruise.gif)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMfhfrYG52I/AAAAAAAACUc/2UGFMsc4_pw/s200/dolls.gif)
That's only a sampling of what they did. They also made origami, kites, soup...so by the time I arrived, the students were excited. And it showed--their enthusiasm washed away any rust I might have had and it was a wonderful visit. I think it was a great way to start of my school year!
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMc9Y7i9keI/AAAAAAAACUU/ojB_aT39w-A/s200/darlington2.gif)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ivRDSeXHgUg/SMc9T6ExJkI/AAAAAAAACUM/3S7xU1-yH1s/s200/darlington1.gif)
Thank you, Darlington School!