Upcoming events: 46th anniversary writing event at Bonnie’s Bundles; TARPS holds tag sale; French and Italian classes at Misty Valley Books; and fairy house tours in Grafton

For more upcoming events, click here for The Chester Telegraph calendar. To be included in our Upcoming events briefs, email Susan Lampe-Wilson at calendar@www.chestertelegraph.org. Photos welcome. No PDFs, please.

Bonnie Bundle dolls waiting to get into mischief.

Aug. 30: Create doll stories at 46th anniversary event

Bonnie Watters, creator of Bonnie’s Bundles Dolls, has been writing stories about her Bundles since a cross-country retirement journey in 2006. Her books include stories about two doll characters that occupy The Gossip Chair. When no one is around, the two, like Gretchen and Wendy (pictured), get into mischief. Their adventures are warm and cozy and often include the family mascot, Silvio.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30 and 31, Bonnie and Lew Watters will host their third 46th Celebration event “Creating Doll Stories” with writers, photographers, illustrators and artists to help children write a story about their doll. Refreshments will be served. The event will be held at 250 North St. in the Stone Village in Chester. Details are listed on special events on www.bonniesbundlesdolls.com

Aug 31: Chester animal shelter holds tag sale

The Animal Rescue and Protection Society will hold a fundraising tag sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31 across from the “Welcome to Chester” sign at the animal shelter, 1758 Route 103 South in Chester. For tag sale information, email the shelter at shelter@tarpsanimalsheltervt.org.

TARPS is always looking for volunteers, loving adopters, funds and fundraising ideas. More information on this all-volunteer shelter, which is funded by donation only and its mission, visit tarpsanimalsheltervt.org. Or visit their booth at Chester Fall Festival on the Green on Sat and Sun, Sept 20–21.

Sept. 17: Learn French or Italian at Misty Valley Books

Misty Valley Books located on the Green in Chester is continuing its French and Italian language lessons with a six-week beginners’ course in Italian from 7–8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The beginner’s course is recommended for people with little or no experience with Italian. Two levels of French instruction will begin the week of Sept. 22: Level II on Monday, Sept. 22 and Level I on Tuesday Sept. 23.

All classes meet at the bookstore, 58 Common St., in Chester. 
Course fee for each session is $100. All sessions run six weeks and meet at 7–8 p.m. Contact Misty Valley Books to register. Call 802-875-3400 or visit www.mvbooks.com.

Come find out where the fairies live at Nature Museum event.

Sept. 27: Fairy house tour in Grafton Nature Museum

Enjoy an enchanting family experience this September in the forests of Grafton.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, and Sunday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Nature Museum will hold its 6th Annual Fairy House Tour at 186 Townshend Road in Graftont. Visitors follow a forest path sprinkled with fairy houses, small structures made of acorn caps, soft moss and lichens, birch bark and pine cones, then return to museum to create their own fairy dwellings in the gardens. Face painting, fairy wings, and hands-on crafts create an interactive and magical experience for all. Light refreshments will be available for purchase.

Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for children ages 3-18. Tickets can be purchased at the Nature Museum, at www.nature-museum.org, or by calling 802-843-2111 and will also be available at the door ($12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 children). Children 2 and under attend for free. Tour proceeds will benefit the museum’s environmental education programs in the schools and the community as well as its natural history exhibits.

If you or your organization would like to build a fairy house, please email executive director Carrie Roy King at carrie@nature-museum.org, call the museum at 802-843-2111, or visit www.nature-museum.org. The Nature Museum will hold a free, optional workshop for fairy house builders on Saturday, Sept. 6. All fairy architects who submit a structure will receive two free tickets to this year’s event.

—compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson