Hello, readers! One thing in my life that brings me joy is watching birds. My birdwatching is not done out in the wild, binoculars in hand, but simply looking out my kitchen window at the birdfeeder in my backyard. There is something very special about seeing all the visiting birds, and my family and I … Continue reading Backyard Birdwatching
Nonfiction
A Good Day for Chocolate!
Hello, readers! Did you know that August 4th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day? Or that September 12th is National Chocolate Milkshake Day? In fact, there are two (or more) chocolate holidays in every month of the year! You can see the whole list here. Now, I think every day is a good day for … Continue reading A Good Day for Chocolate!
Staff Pick Round-Up, 3!
Hello, readers! It has been a while since we did a staff pick round-up; if you missed the first or second, be sure to take a look at them. It is always fun to see what others are reading! Now let’s see what your library staff have been perusing in their spare time: Romona enjoyed … Continue reading Staff Pick Round-Up, 3!
Titanic
Hello, readers! This year, April 15th marks the 110th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. It is hard to believe it has been that long since the largest ship of its day struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic and sank, taking with her over 1500 lives. The story of that … Continue reading Titanic
Living in Kindness
February 16th - 23rd is Random Acts of Kindness Week! Kindness is nourishment for our souls, so let's use this week to celebrate and explore the philosophical and scientific roots of human kindness. What is kindness? Mark Ian Barasch has written one of my favorite books on the exploration of compassion and kindness, complete with … Continue reading Living in Kindness
Learning to Love Winter
I grew up loving winter, and especially snow. However, a few years after discovering the harsh realities of cold weather in the mountains, I became disenchanted with the season. Many people are in the same boat - they dread winter. But this year is different: my goal is to not only survive winter, but to … Continue reading Learning to Love Winter
To Feast, and Be Grateful
Thanksgiving is next week, and it’s time to prepare for the year’s biggest feast! From classic turkey, stuffing, and green bean casserole to cranberry compote, Turkducken, and oyster stew, everybody does Thanksgiving a little bit different. Perhaps you’re cooking for the twentieth year and looking to mix things up, or maybe it’s your first time … Continue reading To Feast, and Be Grateful
Investing for the Future
Blogs earlier this year pointed out the benefits of spending less money than one earns in order to pay off debt and to build an emergency fund covering several months of expenses. It is also sensible to continue saving as much as one can manage over a lifetime, because income from Social Security and a … Continue reading Investing for the Future
Vegging Out
As you’ve heard, the Macon County Public Library is continuing its gardening tradition this summer! While our Youth Services Department has had and continues to have a garden for folks 12 and younger, Adult Services, with the help of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, has been gardening in two 500 sq. ft. plots at the … Continue reading Vegging Out
Crafting Mistakes
Hey y’all, this is Savannah from the Macon County Public Library. You’ve seen some of my previous blogs which focus here and there on escapism. Since March is National Craft Month, I get to talk about my most favorite “escapism” of all – craft time. In case you didn’t know, there’s a lot of truth … Continue reading Crafting Mistakes
Shelf Life in the Mountains 