It being Spring, I’m digging and planting in my small garden out front of my condo. Past owners’ work shows up in the hostas that I’ve just about killed off (I don’t like them), in the misshapen Rose of Sharon bushes, in the landscaping fabric laid down possibly a decade ago and which I am pulling out as it gets in my way. Each year I put down more mulch to try to fight back the weeds, yet we still only have about three inches of sort-of-good soil over the clay backfill and it’s amazing how quickly the mulch breaks back down into lifeless dust. I’ve only had a butterfly plant thrive out there, and that only because it is planted up against the composter. So I am learning how to better garden this year.
There is information about native plants that thrive and soil-building here at the library, in our books, and also in our online resources. I’ve also used our library for a deep dive into travel writing, something I want to try this Summer. There are some great classes on photography, both for my travel writing and also for how to get great images for selling vintage online, maybe on Etsy. Do you have that sort of curiosity, always exploring and learning? Personally, I think no one should ever stop investigating the things they love. This is known as lifelong learning and is a handy skill for an adult to develop.
Lifelong learning is broadly defined as the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. Library folk are usually passionate about providing you, our patrons, with as many opportunities for learning as possible. We love to share new offerings with you! Come up to any public service desk and we will help you find the best resources for your quest.
Bike, Walk, and Wheel Week is one of my favorite Columbia events, the time when our community celebrates what my husband and I try to do year round. We have attempted to build our daily lives around minimizing car use.
I’ve spent decades walking regularly, both for transportation and recreation. But lately I’ve been focusing on building up my cycling stamina with a specific goal in mind. I want to be able to accompany my spouse occasionally on his weekly rides to the Big Bur Oak in McBaine, where he takes a series of photos to document changes in the tree over seasons and years. The photos from this passion project of his can be seen at bigburoak.com.
Though I firmly believe ambling aimlessly with enjoyment of the moment is a fine use of time, I want to focus on a few books about folks who have a set purpose to their non-motorized travels. Continue reading “Bike, Walk, and Wheel With a Purpose”
Of course, I read “The Odyssey” and “The Iliad” in high school (do they still cover those these days?) and I even got through a few others like “Antigone,” but to be honest, I was not much of a fan. It was all about men doing manly things and often horrible things. The women were all witches or victims or passive wives and slaves. I didn’t find much in it that I could relate to.
Posted on Friday, April 28, 2023 by Reading Addict
“I was around so many professionals, I mean truly wonderful musicians, with Jerry that I didn’t’ have half the trouble being accepted as a lot of women had. I was at least accepted by the guys, even though they didn’t hire me for those jobs; many a time a drummer who couldn’t swing half as well as I could would be hired. Those kinds of things used to hurt.”
Dottie Dodion in “American Women of Jazz” by Sally Placksin
Imagine being a male trumpet player and being told that there’s already a male trumpet player in a band and having another one would just seem weird. Or maybe you have a band and you’re trying to apply to perform at a festival but you’re told that an all male band just seems wrong. These things seem ludicrous but these are often the situations (or worse) that female performers face. Women in the music industry face everything, from constantly being a minority gender in music spaces and the discrimination that is inherent with that, to being sexually assaulted. They have faced barriers in education as well as a lack of models and mentors and are shut out of “boys club” networking. They are caught between a rock (the confidence gap) and a hard place (being perceived as too bossy.) Continue reading “Jazz Women: International Jazz Day, April 30”
Do you know what guerrilla gardening is? It is the efforts by people to grow something on land that they do not own and without permission to do so. What is grown is either something to beautify, to eat, and/or to build community. It’s been around for decades under this name; it was probably called something else before the current itineration. You might be aware of the efforts of people like Ron Finley, who transformed the grassy areas around sidewalks into small gardens in his South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles. And then he got into legal trouble with the city. He’s fine, it’s fine, it all worked out and he went on to do much more. You can read about Ron Finley and other gardeners in “The Kinfolk Garden” by John Burns. Not all of the gardeners in this book are activists but they each are passionate about sharing their love of green spaces.
Just a reminder that there are laws about respecting other people’s property and I want to make this very clear: the Daniel Boone Regional Library is NOT suggesting that you plant sunflowers on other people’s property, on city or county property, or anywhere else unless you have permission to do so. Does the neighbor down the road have a fence row that would look great with some sunflowers cheerfully bobbing their heads? Ask before you plant, or gift them a packet of seeds.
I originally started checking out Memory Care kits to share with my mother who has Alzheimer’s but I discovered they are also appropriate to share with an aunt who is recovering her fine motor skills after experiencing a stroke, and my octogenarian father-in-law. They provide wonderful entertainment and conversation starters. I find sharing the books and activities a way to connect with each of them individually. My aunt enjoys the puzzles, coloring pages, and other activities as things she can do on her own in the evening. The “I Spy” bags are good for her to manipulate to gain more mobility in her hands. Continue reading “Spark Meaningful Connections with Memory Care Kits”
Photos courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation
A highlight of my daily life is watching wild creatures using my native wildflower gardens. An assortment of birds glean seeds from the flower heads during the fall and winter and forage for insects during the summer. We host American toads, at least four species of bumble bees, honey bees, and many other insects. Both hummingbirds and the hummingbird-like sphynx moth visit in search of nectar.
Posted on Sunday, April 9, 2023 by The Biblio-Buckaroo
There are currently over 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the CDC, “Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.” The Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri is a local resource for anyone seeking information about Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association says there are many conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies. Alzheimer’s Disease is currently not curable. However, there are some medications and therapies that can slow cognitive decline or help with symptoms. It is good to weigh any medication’s benefits with its side effects. Continue reading “Literary Links: Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia”
Most of us learned something about haiku in school. It’s the tiny poem that packs a big punch. “Many think haiku is strictly a 5-7-5 syllable pattern ending in a 17-syllable poem, and it can be that, but more important is the image. A haiku is the fewest words, one to three lines, that appeal to the senses and focus on nature.” This explanation of the form comes from Missouri Poet Laureate, Maryfrances Wagner, who in conjunction with the Missouri Arts Council, is spearheading the Missouri Haiku Project. “I’m inviting all Missourians to create haiku poems that reflect nature in Missouri and share them, read them or turn them into art,” Wagner says.
The project runs through May 23, with events occurring throughout the state, including “Tea and Haiku” in the Columbia Public Library Friends Room, Tuesday, April 11 at 7-8 p.m. Haiku enthusiast Christine Boyle will be your guide for a fun and relaxed hour of writing and sharing short poems over tea. A selection of your poetry will be displayed in the library following the event! Tea and writing materials will be provided. This program is a part of the Missouri Poet Laureate Haiku Project and is for adults and teens. No registration is required and all skill levels are welcome.
Vintage clothing is popular right now. There is a growing interest in slow fashion, in well-crafted clothing and in exploring styles that favor a person’s body type. Some people enjoy the fabrics and construction of older clothing. Other people want to reproduce a look made popular by celebrities or social media influencers. What is vintage? Vintage clothing is anything more than 50 years old. So pre-1972. Unfortunately, the fabric is not always in good shape in older clothing or it’s hard to find a look you like in your size. What to do? Sew your own! Continue reading “Sew Your Own Vintage Style”
Lifelong learning is broadly defined as the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. Library folk are usually passionate about providing you, our patrons, with as many opportunities for learning as possible. We love to share new offerings with you! Come up to any public service desk and we will help you find the best resources for your quest.
