Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Just West of Atwood, Kansas on U.S. Route 36
Posted by: lain // Category: Road Trips, Victorious!, Whoops! // 7:20 pm
Wednesday: …I got pulled over for doing 80 in a 65.
Did I get a ticket? No, no I did not.
Maybe it’s my boyish good looks or maybe it’s my voice cracking in front of police officers, but I’ve been pulled over for speeding six times in my life, and I’ve never gotten a ticket.
Topics Discussed: Shucks Officer, It Being Almost Thanksgiving and All
Comments: 2Harris Family Reunion Pictures
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Events, Victorious! // 11:33 am
You may recall that the Wren’s Nest hosted a Family (and friends) Reunion and Centennial Celebration on Saturday, July 19th. It went swimmingly, in case you were wondering.
(Hi everyone!)
And now, but a quick month later, we’re ready to post the pictures! Thanks for maintaining an undoubtedly high level of excitement for this long.
Here’s Board member Jodi signing in guests, as Jim Auchmutey breathes it all in. Thanks for the article, Jim!
Look how many people we had! You can see our super fancy tent in the background too, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Boy howdy, was everyone having a great time.
The big reveal: the Harris family tree. Breathtaking, really.
Here’s Gil Watson, local Harris impersonator, amusing the children with tales of sweating through wool suits and later having your fake mustache fall off as a result. Or, you know, Brer Rabbit. I’m really not sure.
These are some of our Board members. Very few of them read the blog. So, um, hi to the three of you that do!
These are some of the youngest folks in the Harris family and, if I’m to understand it correctly, our future. The future looks like it’s getting fresh.
You can find more pictures (like, way more — probably more than you want) on our Facebook page. Not a fan of the Wren’s Nest yet? What’s the deal?
Comments: 6The Wren’s Nest Has Fans Who Can Almost Write
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Baby Pictures, Victorious!, When Babies Ramble // 1:46 pm
Fan mail time!
As usual, we’re here to highlight the best and the bravest of our latest batch of fan mail. Or, more accurately, Nannie and Josie’s fan mail. No one appreciates the people behind the desks. Sigh.
Onwards!
I’ve been saying the Wren’s Nest is totally awesome for a while, but foxes with smiley faced tees really drive the point home.
Garrett played it cool for a while there, but then BAM! We like you too, Garrett.
I wish everyone would finish their letters to us this way. You’re welcome, friend, you’re so very very welcome.
This one is my favorite and, unfortunately, the hardest to read. Here’s what it says:
The STROYIS funny. Thank you. Baer Fox. Tar Baby. Brer Rabbit. Brer Baer. Brer Turtle. 100 Years. Uncle Remes. Mr. Harris. Josie. Dear Red nest. Nannie.
An abstract poem? Many short and important statements? A total disregard for punctuation? I don’t know! But I love it!
Comments: 4Lain Won an Award from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Atlanta, Big Money No Whammies, Fame and Fortune, Historic Preservation, Victorious! // 10:44 am
On Tuesday night our fearless executive director was awarded the Atlanta Urban Design Commission Award of Excellence.
Specifically, it was the Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Award for an Outstanding Preservation Professional.
(Lain, his parents, a fleeing Mayor Shirley Franklin, and my inability to keep my eyes open in pictures)
Lain was honored alongside people and projects like the oft-profiled architects Brian Bell and David Yocum, the renovated old-timey train depot and current restaurant The Depot, and the firm that renovated Rockefeller Hall at Spelman College. You can find the full list at the end of this article.
But Lain got the biggest award! We’re super proud, and Lain is super embarrassed when you mention it. It’s great.
Also great was the reception at the new Hilton Garden Inn, which boasted the sickest views of Atlanta I’ve ever seen.
(Wowee, right?)
Since the architect of the building was in attendance (not sure this makes it legit, but it helps), we got to go up to the helicopter pad and do our best to not fall off.
However, the absolute highlight of the night (that has nothing do with accomplishments) was courtesy of a woman in the elevator who asked, “Are you the baby who does Uncle Remus?”
When Lain confirmed, she incredulously (and loudly) recounted “I hear this long list of accomplishments, and then this BABY comes up to receive the award. You’re just a baby!!”
I laughed for about 4 minutes.
(Surprisingly young award recipient, awesome views)
Congratulations, you big baby.
Comments: 15Wren’s Nest Fest Photo Extravaganza ‘08
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Events, Fundraising, Storytelling, Victorious! // 11:35 am
Below you’ll find a mere smattering of photos from yesterday’s Fest.
This also happens to be the visual explanation as to why every member of the Wren’s Nest staff was asleep by 8:42pm on a Friday night. Watch out!
Happy campers, literally.
Looking forward is for suckers.
Who doesn’t love coloring various Brer Animals? The fun police, that’s who.
If I were to guesstimate, I would say that approximately 18,000 children had their faces painted throughout the course of the day.
Surreal things: hearing small children robustly sing about shorty getting low low low low low low low low.
Our local friendly firemen and a rookie.
Storyteller Curtis taking flight.
Lain’s best friends. They bonded over tales of what they ate for breakfast and who has sisters (gross).
My best friend. We chatted pretty intently about the feet on his backpack/leash and my boo-boo.
Board member Handy serving as executive chef.
Bunnies! Ready for petting, but dear lord not for picking up. Their handler was not afraid to tell us all just how fragile bunnies are and how many die per celebrity appearance. And yes, now is a good time to cry in case you were wondering.
Volunteer Matt happily showing off his arm painting skills. Not just for faces anymore, folks.
A very adorable person showing off her worm-in-apple balloon animal. Pretty neat, huh.
And that’s the ballgame! We’ve got plenty more, and many are already posted on our Facebook page (be our fan!), but if you’re really being big babies about it, perhaps we’ll post more here.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to functioning like a zombie.
Comments: 5Amelia Crowned May Queen
Posted by: lain // Category: Mercenary Amelia Trace, Not As Cruel Games, Victorious! // 3:31 pm
It was a tight race, but turns out we’re really, really biased. Your favorite Wren’s Nest blogger Amelia is the new May Queen Champion for 2008.
Better luck next year, everyone else.
Previously– May Queens from 1909 - 1983.
Comments: 4More Fan Mail for Miss Nannie
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Baby Pictures, Victorious! // 12:42 pm
Children love Miss Nannie, and lucky for us, seem ready to display their affection through coloring.
We’ve recently gotten a new batch of fanmail for Miss Nannie, and it looks like the goal this time was to draw the Wren’s Nest. There were varying levels of success.
I mean, that’s clearly a house. And the border is totally in our colors. Save for the hovering M’s, this is spot on!
Judging from this picture, this student may have either enjoyed their time at the Nest or seen a ghost and lost the will to live/draw.
This one’s your pretty basic people-with-trees-living-in-them deal. Let’s cut to the chase: FROM ADONIS. Pressure!
There’s a lot going on here. Lain thinks it looks a person wearing a traditional African hat.
Maybe so. I think the hat looks like scribbled out initials. Perhaps it’s supposed to be embroidered.
Either way: why can’t this child come back?! S/he even wishes it. Be strong, little one.
I feel I can say, without bias, that this one is absolutely the best. Here’s why:
- Cursive. Duh.
- Two loves! That are color-accented! Beautiful!
- Look how much Callie loves Joel Chandler Ha. Ha!
Nice work, children! Nicer work, Nannie!
Comments: 3Where in the World are Wren’s Nest Critter Tees?
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Good Questions, Marketing Tricks, Shameless Promotion, Victorious! // 3:10 pm
Behold! Below is a picture of Friend-of-the-Nest Heather, running in the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in D.C.
She’s sporting none other than a Brer Lion Critter Tee.
And she finished 254th (out of 6,000)!
Was her success a result of hours of training? Or was it the result of a clutch, last-minute wardrobe selection? We’ll never know. But we certainly have a hunch: nice try, Heather–great job, t-shirt!
So where else have our Wren’s Nest Critter Tees been? Send us your pictures, complete with location, and we’ll post them on the website. That’s right– we just offered you the opportunity to be internet superstars! Holy moly!
Here are some suggested locations, to get the ball rolling:
- On top of Mount Everest, worn over oxygen tanks and wind-resistant parkas
- In the deep, deep depths of the ocean, worn over oxygen tanks and shark-resistant bodysuits
- On the sidelines of your professional football game, worn over oxygen tanks and linebacker-resistant pads
Or anywhere else you can think of, oxygen tank-related or not!
We’ll be waiting (im)patiently for your photos starting… now!
Comments: 2All Grown Folks, All The Time at the Wren’s Nest
Posted by: Amelia // Category: All Grown Folks, All The Time, Atlanta, Events, Shameless Promotion, Victorious! // 1:27 pm
We have three primary goals at the Wren’s Nest:
- Raise enough money to stay in business and maybe, just maybe, pay the staff.
- Preserve the legacy of Joel Chandler Harris and the heritage of African American folklore.
- To once, just once, be considered grown folk.
Against all odds, we’re closing in on #3!
(The Wren’s Nest is going on! The Wren’s Nest is going on!)
Tomorrow morning Atlanta’s own 102.5 Grown Folks Radio will be coming to the Wren’s Nest! They’ll be broadcasting live from the Nest as part of their Black History Month tour from about 11am - 1pm. You can find out more about the tour here.
Tune in, Atlanta readers!
Note: If you hear someone in the background asserting they’re a “grown folk” and then giggling, that’s me! Being famous!
Also, this may become the Wren’s Nest’s new catchphrase, if I have anything to say about it:
No fledgling folks allowed! Except for assertive toddlers. They’re cool by me.
Comments: 1Bossman and Mercenary are off to Savannah
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Shirking Responsibility, Victorious! // 1:44 pm
Working at the Wren’s Nest isn’t always all fun and games.
But today it sure is!
After a morning filled with children dancing to the new Wren’s Nest song, Bossman Lain and I are headed to Savannah for their book festival.
We win!
Feel free to come to the Wren’s Nest tomorrow and see what shenanigans Nannie pulls when Lain is away.
Comments: 0