Pine River Library to host Bake Sale Fundraiser Dec 14th

Friends and neighbors!

“It’s a wonderful time of the year…” as the song goes. Decorate! It’s the season of lights.

In our town, Pine River, the Parade of Lights is Dec. 14. With that in mind, Pine River Public Library, my home, plans a bake sale for that day as a fundraiser to continue to make the library the best ever.

Of course, with a bake sale we need bakers! I am a bakee (an eater of baked stuff. I created that word!). You, dear friends, are bakers.
Please let Muriel know that you will be contributing baked goods to the sale. Call the library at 587-4639. You can do this. I know.
If you lack ideas for baked goods, check out a cookbook from the library. Here’s a challenge: Bake cookies in the shape of a cat and put chocolate sprinkles to simulate my stunning black color! (Licorice would probably taste nasty.)

Speaking of Muriel, she and Don (her husband) and I recently went on a cruise. Because transporting me in person is less than practical, she took with her the “flat Browser.” See the pictures on my blog or on Facebook. My flat also went to visit Elsie, the library cat in California. I’m sure I will have fun and will post any pictures they send back to the library.

Outside on the balcony where it was very windy

 

Inside the cabin very safe and warm.

Our library will be closed early Thanksgiving Eve and all day Thanksgiving. Also Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so don’t come here those days either.

I remain,
Browser, the library cat

Hogwarts Halloween Fundraiser and Birthday Party

You’ve got to wonder, friends and neighbors, why orange and black are Halloween colors. I wonder stuff like that all the time. Orange is a bit of a no brainer, considering all the pumpkins that ripen in the fall, but black? Maybe because the days are shorter and it is dark more? If anybody has a guess, visit me on my blog site and let me know. [library-cat.blogspot.com]

 And speaking of Halloween, Pine River Public Library is sponsoring a fundraising event,  “Hogwarts Halloween”. This will be a fun Halloween adventure. The dates are Friday and Saturday, October 25^th and 26^th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at 209 Park Avenue, across the street from the back door of the library. Advance tickets are available at the library for $2.00 and at the door for $3.00. Celebrate my favorite season – the season of the black cat – with our library!

Also on Halloween come join us at the Library from 3pm to 5pm to celebrate my 12^th birthday.  The staff will be serving cake and punch.

I remain,
Browser, the library cat

Author Landvik to be at The Warehouse October 19th

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness” [the movie “Annie”]

Have you read “Patty Jane’s House of Curl”? I’ve read it three times!

 

What about “Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons”, or “’Tis The Season”? “The Tall Pine Polka”?

 

The author of these amazing books and five others is Lorna Landvik. Guess where she’s making an appearance… The Warehouse in Pine River on Saturday, October 19 at 2pm!

 

Her new book, “Mayor of the Universe”, is the subject of her book tour. Okay. The reason for her visit is secondary to the fact of the visit.  If she were just showing up to say “howdy” I’d go see her.

 

This is a multi-talented lady. She is also an actress, playwright, and comedienne. She co-hosts a radio book club and has a one-woman improvised show called Party at the Rec Room. And she is from Minnesota!

 

Thank you Minnesota Art and Cultural Heritage Foundation for bringing this special person to Pine River. We are privileged indeed.

Don’t miss this event.

I remain

Browser, the library cat

An eAnniversary at the Pine River Public Library

The Kitchigami Regional Library System (KRLS) is celebrating our first anniversary of providing eBooks for checkout through the 3M Cloud Library on September 20.  The service has grown exponentially since it was introduced in 2012, both in users and eBooks available for checkout.  KRLS eBooks have been checked out over 30,000 times, including titles by best-selling authors like James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Lee Child, as well as Minnesota authors like David Housewright, Monica Ferris and Lorna Landvik.  From children’s picture books to mysteries for adults to cookbooks and self-help titles, there is an eBook for everyone at the tap of a screen or click of a mouse.

 

Muriel Erickson, branch manager of the Pine River Public Library, noted that “this service has expanded the reach of the library to people who may not have used the library for some time.  The fact that these books can be accessed from home at any time is a big plus for many patrons with busy lives.”

 

In addition to eBooks, eAudiobooks and eBooks for kids, KRLS has recently added digital magazines from Zinio to its collection of online resources.  Library patrons can download the latest issues of 75 popular titles directly to their tablet, computer, or smartphone, and keep it as long as they choose.

 

For more information, visit www.krls.org or visit your local KRLS branch.

For This occasion I got dressed up.....

As always,

Browser, The Library Cat

Happy Days Are Here Again, Legacy Program

Music, music, music!

Well, friends and neighbors, we are once again blessed with a wonderful Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage event. This one is Jazz vocalist Ronda Laurie and her trio. They will bring us a program called “Happy Days Are Here Again”. The music is from the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. Oh how I love this age of music! The program will be at Pine River Depot on Friday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 PM.  The program will also be annotated with historical information. (Annotated, you ask? This means “to make or furnish critical or explanatory notes or comment” Thank you Merriam Webster.)

 

Tickets are free and are available at Pine River Library. Join us! “Happy” is a wonderful way to feel.

Browser, the library cat

Summer Wrap up here at the Library

Funny, friends and neighbors, about the weather. Here it is the end of summer and we had a spurt of hot weather. Before now it was pleasantly cool. Not summer like at all.

As summer comes to a close, so does our summer reading program. I will miss it. It is a time when children come to the library frequently. However, we have the beginning of the school year, and with it book reports, research papers, and all the other reading programs that children have. This is another example of “build it and they will come…” Our library, Pine River Public Library, welcomes hundreds of people every year. (Or is it thousands? Muriel would know.)

 

With the end of summer, we look back on a couple of really special events.

1.    Our Cupcake Wars! First annual. This year it was won by Stone Woman Herbals. We look forward to many years to come and more participants each year.

 

 

2.    The August viewing of my movie, “If Only Cats Could Talk”. Thank you, Signe Veje, director of the film, for the fine gift of my new cat tree. It’s great to be a star!

 

 

3.    Oops. A couple means two, doesn’t it? Well, I have been having drawings on my Facebook page once a month. Thought you should know.

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Yum, Sample Tasty Morsels!

 

Browser, the library cat here for an announcement about FOOD!

Pine River Public Library’s first annual CUPCAKE WARS. Of all the fundraisers we’ve had over the years that I have lived at our library, this is the one I like the best. The money, by the way, will be used for computer updates. Everybody likes that, even me!

 This event will take place at The Warehouse on Saturday, August 3^rd. There are 13 teams signed up. Each team will bring cupcakes. Oh boy! Tickets of $.25 may be purchased at the door and are used as votes for your favorite cupcakes. Your votes should be based on best display and cupcake taste. Yup, you get to taste. The judging will starts 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. And guess what?! After the judging the cupcakes can be purchased. Those prices will be set by the contestants. The winner will hold the title of CUPCAKE CHAMPION for one year. Save me one, please. I love cupcakes.

 

Browser, the library cat.

Monkey Mind Pirates Yoga Party at the Library!

Friends and neighbors!

It’s the 5^th year of our Minnesota Legacy Programs. We are so luck to live in beautiful Minnesota. Bet the other states are jealous.

 

 

This next visit from out Legacy friends is for our children – I claim them as well, since they visit me often. It is a marvelous puppet show called “Monkey Mind Pirates Yoga Party”, and is presented by Z Puppets Rosenschnaz.  There is a story line sure to catch the imagination of the children, filled with life lessons, and real live yoga. This is not grownup yoga, but yoga specifically designed for children. Since I am an adult, albeit an adult feline, I guess I won’t be able to participate, but this will be fun to watch. Don’t miss this event. It will take place at our Pine River Public Library on Tuesday, July 16^th at 2:30 PM. See you there!

Forever your friend,

 

Browser, the library cat

If Only CATS could Talk

 

If this Film comes to a town near you, you should go see it!

Starring Myself of course! And Frankie M....

 

Paws up!  I don't have thumbs.....

 

 

 

 

Author Visit and Movie Screening all in one week!

Hello, friends and neighbors.

Browser here to tell you about another reason why we are lucky to live in beautiful Minnesota. Minnesota Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment is bringing us another free Legacy Program.

This one is from children’s author, Patrick Mader. He will be at the Pine River Public Library June 18^th at 2PM. Mr. Mader writes from his experiences growing up on a dairy farm. Since our hometown is a rural one, this will be fun for all of us living here.

 

I will be hosting the screening of “If Only CATS Could Talk”.  

Don’t miss this! This is stranger-than-fiction true story about two all American cats (one of them is yours truly) and the humans in their lives.

Danish film maker Signe Veje came to Pine River during Summerfest of 2012 to film me and my town. This documentary tells my story as well as the story of Frankie, my pen pal, in California. Ms. Veje has been entering this movie into Film Festivals around the world.

Who knew I would be a star? Well, actually, I did. The showing will be held at The Warehouse Saturday, June 22^nd at 3PM. Only one day showing, so please come see me on the big screen!

Admission will be a donation for the Pine River Food Shelf or for Paws and Claws Animal Shelter. Tickets are available at our library or at the door. 

 Hope Muriel lets me go as well. I don’t want to miss this!

 

Until later, I remain

Browser, the library cat

Summer reading program under way

“All righty then” Says Jim Carey in his classic movie, “Pet Detective”. We do have spring. We do have grass, and leaves on the trees, and flowers.

And what, may I ask, comes after spring? Why summer, of course.

And what does summer bring? The summer reading program!

Sign up began the week of June 3^rd.  Don’t miss out. This is fun stuff full of all sorts of special events and prizes and gatherings. I know. I’ve been there before.

“Dig into Reading” is for 5 to 12 year olds and begins June 10 and continues through August 3^rd.

But wait! There’s more!

The teen program, “Beneath the Surface” begins at the same time. Among the events is children’s author, Patrick Mader. The DNR will bring Smokey the Bear. We will be having Monkey Mind Pirates Yoga Party.

Told you! Fun stuff! Want to know more? Call the Pine River Public Library, my home, at 218-587-4639.

Speaking of spring and summer, your important equipment has been sitting idle all winter. Maybe it isn’t working quite right or at all. What to do? What to do? Oh! Go to KRLS.org and check the small engine repair reference center.

There is all sorts of important information on lawn mowers, atv’s, farm tractors, boats, tillers, and other stuff you have in your garage or storage shed. Fix that stuff! Yard work is more fun when your equipment works properly.

Not into yard work? What about that boat motor? Fishing is fun, but if you get stranded out on the lake that isn’t so fun. (Actually, I don’t do a lot of fishing, but I do enjoy fish.)

Enjoy.

Browser, the library cat

Author Nancy Scheibe at Library

Friends and neighbors!

It is indeed time for spring and summer. I am so overjoyed. In a timely manner, we have a new Legacy program scheduled for May 8 at the Pine River Library at 6PM. It is Nancy Scheibe, author, artist, and adventurer.

 

She is from Ely, MN, and will present her program, “River stories, making dreams come true”. Since you can’t plant your garden yet, come to the library and visit with Nancy and listen to her story.

 

 

 

Thank you, Minnesota, for sending us yet another wonderful program.

As always…..

Browser, the library cat.

SPRING WILL SPRING, EVENTUALLY

Friends and neighbors,

I have spent the last few days sleeping in the “Lost and Found” box among the mittens and scarves. I wish I had a message of flowers and sunshine, but nothing springs to mind. I know that “hope springs eternal in the human breast.” (Alexander Pope 1688-1784) Feline breasts are more “one day at a time..”(Kris Kristofferson, 1974).

 

If Pope is correct, and I certainly expect he is, all of you should be reading volumes on fresh plantings for spring and books on bird watching. The Kitchigami library system has hundreds of books, and DVD’s on these very topics.

 

Soon, very soon, you will have little time to read because you will be outside! So will I. It won’t be eternal winter.

 

“Now is the winter of our discontent…”(William Shakespeare, “Richard III”, 1592) Let us not fret but prepare for “…glorious summer…”

Watch for the flowers.

Browser, the library cat

Friends of Pine River Library Foundation to host Wine Tasing, Silent Auction April 5

Friends!

Friends of the Pine River Library Foundation are having their annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction!

This year it is being held at VFW Northern Post in Jenkins on Friday, April 5^th from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. There will be Hors d’oeuvres provided by the Friends of the Library and liquor provided by Quality Wine and Spirits.

Have a little wine, bid on some great items, have a bite to eat. I suggest wine first! Your bidding will be that much more fun!

Tickets are available at the Pine River Library in advance for a mere $20, but don’t worry. You can buy them at the door as well for $25. Tickets include a horse drawn carriage ride. Who knew?

 See you there – in spirit only. (A little pun there…)

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 4 April 2013

'Emily Dickinson' to visit library March 19

Event encourages people to celebrate all that March has to offer.....

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

Emily Dickinson

Beautiful indeed. Tuesday, March 19 at 4:30 at the Pine River Library, Rhoda Jackson will “be” Emily Dickinson. She speaks to me. Emily does. I always thought of feathers as something to chase, but I find, from this poem, it is something within me. It has a name. “Hope”.  Friends, I know you think of me as rather frivolous, but I have a deeper self. Come to this presentation as I will and get to know Emily Dickinson. Rhoda will present her in costume of the times.

“For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence…”

(Blarneycastle.ie)

March is apparently a month for eloquence. St. Patrick’s Day falls on March 17, and kissing the Blarney Stone is part of that very Irish tradition. Though most of us are not in a position to rush off to Ireland, we certainly can indulge in eloquence. Wear something green and celebrate this special “Holiday” with your Irish friends.

March, this year, also gives us both, Purim, a traditional Jewish celebration and Easter, a traditional Christian celebration. It is a time of rebirth. It is also a time of “Hope” for the coming of spring.

 

Whatever your belief, celebrate!

If you have been in the Library recently you might have noticed the new chairs. A big thank you goes out to the Pine River American Legion for donating the funds so the Library could purchase these nice chairs.

March is Food Share Month! Did you know the Library has a donation box? You can drop off your donation at the Library and the staff will make sure it gets to the Food Shelf.

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

 

Printed in the Pine River Journal 14 March 2013

Peony presentation Feb 20 at Library

Friends, all,

As I write this it is below the comfort zone outside. My paws freeze to the ground and my whiskers become icy. I am told spring is just around the corner. I have looked. It isn’t.

Minnesota Legacy Foundation, dedicated to preserving Minnesota’s art and cultural heritage, is offering hope in the form of a free program entitled “2013 Premier Presentation of Minnesota’s Grand Peony History” presented by Harvey Buchite.

 

He will be in Pine River Library Wednesday, February 20 at 2:00PM.  Harvey and his wife Brigitte own Hidden Springs Flower Farm of southeastern Minnesota, where they specialize in growing over 600 varieties of peonies. Harvey has served as president of the American Peony Society. He knows his peonies!

 

This program is not only interesting, but will help all of us here in the frozen north to remember what comes after winter. Spring and flowers!

 

See you soon,

Browser, the library cat

 

 

Printed in the Pine River Journal 14 Feb 2013

 

 

Library offers story time for ages 3-6

Anybody out there? Hello, it is I, Browser. Are you people, all right?

This has been quite the year for you humans. December, it seems, has been particularly dicey. You were pretty sure the world was coming to an end, but if you are reading this, it did not.

Then you were all going to fall off some cliff. I don’t quite understand that, since there are very few cliffs here in North Central Minnesota, but you were sure just the same.

Lemmings do that, you know. Follow each other off a cliff. People usually do not.

It’s the beginning of a new year, almost. Our library, my home, is safe and sound. Our great state of Minnesota still offers wonderful programs for all of us to enjoy.

 

Well, perhaps all of you. I am not privy to some of them since they take place elsewhere. Some place called “The Warehouse”. It is my understanding that they do not stockpile merchandise there, though it is what I perceive as the meaning of the word “warehouse”.

January holds promise for all of us. The little children will have a new story time program. It is for ages 3 – 6 and takes place Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:00 at Pine River Public Library. It is designed for those little ones who are not in something called “daycare”. That program continues.

 

(Call the library for more information at 218-587-4639.)

The Snow time to Read, Adult reading program starts after the first of the year.  Come sign up and get one of those collector mugs for reading 15 books. 

 

The library is a wonderful place to go in winter. There are computers and books and movies and tapes and games to play while you are here. Come and visit me.

 I remain, Browser, the library cat

(since the world didn’t end)

 

Printed in the Pine River Journal 3 January 2013