"Just Find Something About Everything To Be Glad About"

The title of this post is part of a quote from Eleanor H. Porter's Pollyanna, a book that I loved reading as a kid, with a movie adaptation that actually isn't too bad—as far as movie adaptations go. This past weekend in Littleton, NH, it was Pollyanna Day, which is held every year in June to celebrate one of the world's most beloved optimists, Pollyanna, and her creator, Eleanor H. Porter (1868 – 1920), who was an early resident of Littleton. I always thought this would be a fun event to take my kids to some day, but seeing as they are still imaginary at this point I had to invite my little friend, K. (When you don't have your own kids, just borrow one!) We decided to dress up for this occasion, so I put on one of my mom's Gunne Sax dresses—which I thought made me resemble Rapunzel from Tangled, post haircut—and K put on one of her princess dresses which she was proud to point out had more sparkles than mine did. Me in my Rapunzel dress.

The first stop on the tour was to see Pollyanna in all her glory in front of the Littleton Library. The bronze statue of Pollyanna, often called "New Hampshire's Most Welcoming Attraction," isn't too far from where the author actually lived.

“... there is something about everything that you can be glad about, if you keep hunting long enough to find it.”
—Pollyanna

K in front of the Pollyanna statue,
Littleton, NH.

Typically Pollyanna Day has some history about the author—by appointment—at the Littleton Historical Society, a guided walking tour of Pollyanna related locations, and... well, not much else. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more for kids. There was a ribbon cutting for the new Pollyanna archway, along with the presentation of the Pollyanna Signature Award, which is given every year to a local resident for spreading optimism and gladness throughout the community in an outstanding way.

Awesome.

But a four year old doesn't care.

Dedication of the new Pollyanna Gateway.

We did get these cool yellow and blue stickers though :-)

Stickers are awesome!

The only thing that topped our stickers was our picnic lunch near the covered walking bridge in Littleton. Seriously, if you ever get over this way, you've got to check it out. It's next to Main Street, opposite the movie theater, behind the little shops and stores. It's beautiful!

The princess at her picnic.

For dessert we walked up to the Three French Sisters Bakery for some yummy chocolate chip and M&M cookies. We of course had to sit in the awesome pink chairs to eat!

K loved the statue of Pollyanna so much she decided we must go see it again, so we checked in to see if the bronze lady was still throwing caution to the wind and she was!

“... if God took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must want us to do it—SOME.” —Pollyanna

The bronze Pollyanna statue
in front of the Littleton library.

On our way back to the car K decided she needed a photo with this church that is in downtown Littleton.

Umm, ok.

And while we were there we had to take a photo in front of our favorite movie theater, the Jax Jr.

All in all we had fun, even if we didn't feel like we participated in much of the Pollyanna Day activities. For a four year old, dressing up like Rapunzel, having a picnic, taking pictures and buying cookies is THE BEST DAY EVER!

Keep pinchin' :-)