Homestyle Quilts: Simple Patterns and Savory Recipes

I discovered a very delightful book today!  Being a quilter, I enjoy examining every new quilting book that arrives on the library's shelves.  Homestyle Quilts:  Simple Patterns and Savory Recipes by Kim Diehl and Laurie Baker is a wonderful addition to the library's collection.  The book is unique in that it pairs quilting patterns with recipes---for example, the "Bygone Baskets" is paired with a "Sante Fe Soup" Recipe that one of the author's quilting friends served the quilting group for lunch.  Both the quilting and the recipes are easy to follow, with detailed pictures and descriptions of the patterns and the quilting process.  The book is great for beginners as well as advance quilters.  My favorite aspect is that the authors show updated views of older quilt patterns, using contemporary fabrics.  There is also a great "Quiltmaking Basics" chapter listed at the end of the book which showcases illustrated techniques. 

Try Out Our New Computer Center!

     Join us at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 1 as we celebrate the Grand Opening of the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library’s Newly Renovated Computer Area.  The Library is pleased to announce that Lockheed Martin has donated $40,000 to the library for technological improvements.  The money was used to purchase a file server, several switches, twelve new computers, software, and to improve the buildings internet connectivity and wireless internet.   The donation also included the help of several Lockheed Martin employees who volunteered their time to install the equipment.  Lockheed Martin volunteers also helped the library by moving several servers into the library’s server rack, thereby freeing up some much-needed space which will be used as a staging area for any new computers purchased by the library.
     Lockheed Martin employees use the library frequently to check out materials for themselves and their families and use the library’s technology services.  Lockheed Martin employees were impressed with the library’s collections but thought that the library’s computer area needed improvements.  The best part of the project is the installation of eleven new computers in the library’s reference area and a new reference staff computer.  The library’s old computers were over five years old and there was not enough money in the library’s budget to fund the purchase of new ones.  The old computers were experiencing a lot of problems due to their age and their frequent use and the installation of eleven new ones was an unexpected gift for the library.  
     Improvements in the library’s network have resulted in faster access for patrons using the library’s Internet computers.  All of the technological improvements were put in place to help improve library patron and staff connections to the internet and other digital library resources.  The new computers, which will be installed by January 31, have 20” flat panel monitors and are small form factor computers—this means that they use less energy and are more environmentally friendly than the library’s previous internet computers

The Good Doctor

I watch a lot ot movies, and am not easily scared or disturbed---however, The Good Doctor is a DVD I recently watched that truly creeped me out!  The novel stars (and is directed by) Orlando Bloom.  He is a new "resident" doctor and the movie opens with him beginning a new job in a hospital.  Bloom is a loner, and becomes captivated by one of his patients, a beautiful girl in her 20's suffering from an infection.  The creepy part of the movie is not Bloom's relationship with the young woman, but the steps he takes to keep her in the hospital.  His actions are believable (and his acting is superb) and will really make you think twice about your next hospital visit!  The movie is rated PG-13. 

I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus

Have you performed the not-so-fun task of de-decorating the house?  Have you thrown away all the leftover Christmas food because you just can't face looking at it anymore?  If so, then I have found the perfect book for you!  It combines two of my favorite subjects---zombies and Christmas! S. G. Browne's I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus is the second "romantic, zombie, comedy" that the author has written.  This book does not have much romance, but it is another zany adventure in the (reanimated) life of Andy Warner, zombie extraordinaire.  The book opens with Andy and his fellow zombies escaping from a research facility in Portland, OR, where he has been subjected to experimental testing for the past year.  The zombies are treated like lab rats, and are forced to endure some pretty horrific things.  Andy escapes into a neighborhood and decides that "borrowing" the Santa Claus costume from a mannequin in someone's front yard is the perfect disguise to throw his captors off his track.  Andy's plan works until he stumbles upon a sweet, lonely, 9 year old girl who reminds him of his own daughter that he's lost, and who believes he is the real Santa.  When a group of rogue zombies recognizes Andy and adopts him as their mentor, Andy hatches a plan with his "zombie crew" to free the rest of his buddies from the research facility.  This is a zany holiday tale that will show you the true meaning of Christmas...zombie style!  If you want to follow Andy Warner's undead life from the beginning, read Breathers first. S. G. Browne lives in San Francisco and can be followed on Facebook and Twitter or visited at www.sgbrowne.com.

The Bone Bed

The Bone Bed is Patricia Cornwell's latest novel starring Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta.  Set around Boston, MA, the events of the novel center around the discovery of the body of a dead woman, suspended in the waters of the Boston Harbor.  Kay is diligently trying to piece together clues to discover the identity of the woman, at the same time that a female paleontologist disappears while digging a dinosaur bone bed in the remote wilderness of Canada.  Events unfold rapidly and Scarpetta's friends and family are dragged into the investigation too.  Familiar characters such as Pete Marino, Scarpetta's co-worker and friend, her niece Lucy and her FBI husband Benton also figure prominently in the book.  Lush descriptions of food and recipes appear along with detailed descriptions of forensic investigation techniques.  This book is another great installation in the Kay Scarpetta series and a fascinating look into the science of forensics. 

Notorious Nineteen

Want to recoup from the hustle and bustle of the holidays?  Why not try reading the newest Stephanie Plum novel, Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich?  This nineteenth book in the series serves up as much fun and zaniness as the other eighteen.  The characters you love (Lula, Connie, Ranger, Morelli and Grandma Mazur) are back, along with a few new ones.  The main action of this series centers around Stephanie (lingerie saleswoman-turned-bounty hunter) trying to find Geoffrey Cubbin, a bail skip with a 3 million dollar bond who has disappeared from his Tenton, NJ hospital room while recovering from an emergency appendectomy.  Recovering Geoffrey would really help Stephanie, since she desperately needs to pay her bills and purchase a new vehicle.  Cubbin has been accused of embezzling 5 million dollars from Cranberry Manor, an assisted living facility in Trenton, New Jersey and his wife and the residents would love to know where he has hidden the money---they just need to find him first!  In between trying to find Cubbin, Stephanie earns extra cash by posing as Ranger's date/personal bodyguard, a gig that involves a wedding and a hideous pink bridesmaid dress and a few racy moments.  This book is humorous and full of fun moments---the audiobook is as entertaining as the book so check out the CD if you don't have time to read it.  Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum and Lizzy and Diesel series', twelve romance novels, the Alexanddra Barnaby novels and How I Write:  Secrets of a Bestselling Author.   Visit the author's website at www.evanovich.com.

Happy Holidays!

We wish you and your family a very happy holiday season!  The library will be closed December 22-25 and December 29-January 1.  We will also close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, Decembr 26 and Thursday, December 27.  We look forward to seeing you in 2013!

     Are you feeling like the Grinch has stolen your Christmas spirit?  The hustle and bustle of the holidays has turned into a real grind?  I have the cure for you!  I read the most charming book entitled Being Santa Claus by Sal Lizard.  Sal is a professional Santa Claus and in this book he reveals what he learned about the true meaning of Christmas.

     Sal was in his twenties when his beard and hair turned completely white and his figure began to resemble that bowlful of jelly we all know and love.  Today, he appears everywhere from malls and parades to schools and hospitals, and from his custom-made red velvet suits to the mistletoe hanging from the rearview mirror of his signature Santamobile, Sal is Santa Claus three hundred and sixty-five days a year.

     In his book, he takes us on a one-of-a-kind journey from embracing his calling and the humorous missteps along the way to earning his stripes and becoming a wise and seasoned veteran Santa.  He shares stories that are heartwarming, occasionally heartbreaking, and sometimes downright hilarious, and he reflects on the valuable lessons he’s learned from both children and adults.

Holiday Homemade

I enjoy browsing the library's wide assortment of holiday books, especially those that involve creating "handmade gifts" for family and friends.  I have found one of the best ornament creation books in our library's Juvenile collection!  The book is titled, More Christmas Ornaments Kids Can Make by Kathy Ross (J 745.599 R824m), and is full of 29 beautiful ornaments that primary-grade children can make with just a little assistance from adults. The projects range from very simple (a plastic lid covered in glue and sprinkled with sequins and glitter) to more complex, and the book's projects will satisfy a variety of skill levels.  The best part is that the materials in the book will be easy to find at any basic craft store.  I believe one of the best experiences in life is sitting down with a child and joining in the spirit of creativity with them!  The library has many other equally wonderful ornament creation books in its juvenile collection, and we invite you to travel down to the first floor and find a book that interests you. 

Rabid for Dogs...

Are you the owner of one or more pampered pooches?  Do you believe in Halloween costumes, doggie daycare or other luxury items for your favorite canine companion?  If so, then Pamela Redmond Satran's, Rabid:  Are You Crazy About Your Dog or Just Crazy is the perfect book for you! This book is a humorous look at the United States' dog-centered society, and will help the reader laugh at his/her own behavior and the insane antics of all sorts of dog people.  The book covers 11 chapters of strange and bizarre things that people do to and with their dogs--from beauty and fashion to dogs in movies, celebrity dog IQ and what to do with your dog when he/she passes away.  My favorite part of the book is (I'm not kidding) doggie weddings!!! The pictures are cute and the book is very entertaining, but it also gives the reader a view of the often "over-the-top" emotional insanity of dog lovers.  Pamela Satran is the author of the New York Times bestselling humor book How Not to Act Old and coauthor of eight baby name books including the bestselling Beyond Jennifer & Jason.  Satran is also a columnist for Glamour and contributes frequently to the "Daily Beast," the "New York Times" and "More."  Discover more inrormation about Pamela Satran by visiting her website and pamelaredmondsatron.com.