Holiday Bake Sale is December 13.

Okay, friends and neighbors,

It’s time to get out a pencil and some paper and make that all important grocery list. Thanksgiving is late this year which means that Christmas is just over the horizon.

 

Baking! That’s what I’m talking about. If your grandma didn’t leave you her best cookie recipes, run into our library and check out a cookbook.

 

Our Pine River Library is counting on you. The annual Holiday Bake Sale fund raiser is Saturday, December 13, the same day as the Pine River Parade of Lights.

 

If you want, you can always come into the library and go online for some great suggestions from www.epicurious.com or sign in to www.pinterest.com. Remember to schedule your computer time.

 

You’ll need to bring your list making materials with you for your trip to the grocery.

 

Not a baker? Don’t even own an oven or a cookie sheet? Don’t be embarrassed. I don’t bake either, but I do love cookies. Stop by the bake sale and take something home with you.

 

The sale is from 10:00 AM to 1:00pm. The Parade starts at 5:00 PM. This year our library is providing specialty coffee and hot chocolate for sale as well.

 

Could it be any better? Well, as a feline I would hope for some cream and tuna, but that’s just me.

 As an aside, Pine River Public Library will be closed Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25 so our staff and you can spend quality time with friends and family.

 Have a wonderful holiday season.

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Pine River Library to host Illustrated History event

Dear friends and neighbors:

For those of us more simple souls who do not know what the Minnesota Legacy Program is, I will attempt to edify. Though the various programs presented by Pine River Public Library [my home] and Kitchigami Regional Library are “free” to the public, you and others have already paid for them.

“The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund receives 19.75 percent of the sales tax revenue resulting from the Legacy amendment to support arts, arts education and arts access, and to preserve Minnesota's history and cultural heritage.  Based on current sales tax revenue, Minnesotans will invest more than $1.2 billion in arts and cultural heritage fund projects and programs over the 25 year life of the tax."

A portion of the dollars appropriated from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund are being made available through grant programs.” [www.legacy.leg.mn/funds/arts-culture-heritage-fund.]

This program was voted into action in 2008 by the people of Minnesota. You voted for this. Having voted and paid, it would be foolish not to partake. It would be like buying groceries and not eating them. There are many and varied events offered to you, friends and neighbors. For a list, visit www.krls.org and click on Legacy Events.

 

Here is the next program!:

 

On November 15^th at 2:00 PM at the Pine River Library, Steve Stark will make art and history come alive for you. “Steve Stark’s unique Illustrated History presentations bring history, art and presentation to entertaining life as Steve, in historical costume tells true history stories while actually drawing with skill and speed them before your eyes” Why would you want to miss this? It’s blustery outside. Come inside.

See you here at Pine River Library. Don’t forget to visit me anytime except for the following days when the library will be closed: November 11 for Veterans Day, early close Wednesday, November 26^th at 5:00 PM, and November 27^th for Thanksgiving. (Turkey Day! I am hugely fond of that day and will spend it in the country, no doubt.)

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

 

Pine River Library offers two treats - music, haunted house

Trick or treat? This is no trick. It is a treat.

 

Actually, we have two treats, the first of which is a visit from the Everett Smithson Band, coming back to Pine River on Tuesday, October 21^st at 6:30 at the Warehouse.

 

In Minnesota winter comes earlier than we might like, so enjoy the moment. Come hear this eclectic band, playing everything from Zydeco to Hillbilly Music. To prevent musical chairs, come into the library for your free tickets so we know how many chairs we need!
 

 

This is yet another Minnesota Legacy Program. Thank you, Minnesota, for being so good to us.

Our second treat is our Halloween Fund Raiser Haunted House. It will be open Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 at 209 Park Avenue, behind the library.

 

Entry fee is $4.00, but… if you wear a costume it is only $3.00. I’m coming dressed as a person. Guess which one I am.

Thank you, everyone, for being so careful of our new sidewalk. I tried to leave my prints, but apparently I would have to gain a few pounds. I was a ghost that day. No foot prints.

 

We also have enjoyed our 4^th Graders for coming to the library. I always love it when the children come to visit. They are my favorites.

As always, I remain,

Browser, the library cat, King of Books

Musician Shannon Murray to be in Pine River!

Friends and neighbors, rejoice!

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment is sending us in Pine River music! Shannon Murray will bring us Songs of the Industrial Workers of the World. Shannon is a local songwriter, singer and guitarist. She will be sharing her music with us Thursday, September 4^th at 7:30 PM at The Warehouse. Timely, is it not. We have just had Labor Day. Shannon will also be sharing some of her research of the history of WWI. Join us, won’t you, for this free program. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

 

Browser, the library cat

Cupcake Wars participants needed

To blatantly alter an old saying, Let them bake cupcakes! Marie Antoinette would probably agree.

Friends and neighbors,

The cupcake wars are just around the corner [August 2] and not very many of you have signed up to have fun with food. Spend a little quality time with a friend, neighbor, granddaughter, husband, etc. Build some fun cupcakes. Good times will have been had by all. In the end you’ll have desert!

Make them big, make them small,

Ice them well or no icing at all.

Make them green, make them blue

Make them almost any hue.

Call Muriel at the Pine River Library and let her know you rethought it and want to join in. 587-4639. Judging for this is at 11:00 AM at the Warehouse in Pine River. Don’t be outdone by a Girl Scout…

I remain, yours in food,

Browser, the library cat

Cupcake War Fund Raiser for the Pine River Library

The Pine River Public Library is having their

Second Annual Cupcake Wars!!

 

Saturday, August 2nd, 2014 at The Warehouse in Pine River

Setup is at 10:00am and judging starts a 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.

You are the Judge!

Vote as many times as you want!  Remember we are raising money...

 

Best Display/ Appearance

 

 

Cupcake Taste

 

 

Purchase voting tickets at the door! Each ticket costs .25cents

Pay and vote for your taste sample using your tickets at each cupcake display

Tickets will be used to pay for cupcakes.

Cupcake prices are set by the contestant!

Winner gets name on the Cupcake Plaque and bragging rights!

 

All proceeds go to the Pine River Public Library for updating computers! 

 



 

Learn the story of Pine River past

Friends and neighbors,

Most of us know Charles Dickens’ story of Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas past. Well, it isn’t Christmas and it isn’t Charles Dickens. It is the story of Pine River past.

Minnesota Legacy has put together a trip back in time. This is exciting stuff. There will be rides in a horse drawn conveyance where you will talk to the ghost of George Angus Barclay.

There will be ghosts of loggers at the dam telling of their exploits. Ammarrilla Barclay, the first Caucasian woman in Cass County will be on hand at our Pine River Library to talk to you about her times.

You’ll be able to explore the Pine River Depot and learn its history. Ghostly, yes, but not the least bit scary. This tour begins at the Depot where you can board a horse drawn stage coach or a covered wagon and ends with a walk to our library where I will await you.

Don’t miss this. I wish I could meet all the ghosts, but at least Ammarrilla will be hanging out at the library.

The times and dates for this wonderful tour are Fridays, June 20, July 11 and 25, August 1, 15,and 22 and September 5 from 11:00 AM to1:00 PM.

 

Ghosts in the day time. Unusual.

After the tour you might want to saunter on down to Pine River Market Square. That opens at 2:00.

 

Your friend,
Browser, the library cat

The new Miss Pine River comes to visit me at the Library

Danielle Butcher the 2014 Miss Pine River, stopped in at

the Pine River Library to have her picture taken with me.

 

Once a year I help the Miss Pine River pageant by being a sponsor.

This year I was able to sponsor Danielle Butcher.

 

In all the years of my sponsoring this is the second time one of my girls won the title of Miss Pine River

 

 

 

 

Expand your horizons with a good book

Greetings, friends and neighbors. Welcome to spring.

There are plenty of rainy days when you can make time for a good book, so let us talk literature.  I have read two books recently that are “period pieces”.

 The first, called “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline, is about a time in American History when hungry homeless children roamed the streets of New York City. It was not a pretty time.

 

I understand homelessness, since it is in my history as well. Social Welfare Agencies rounded up these children, packed them in trains, and delivered them to families mostly in the mid western states.

 

Our state of Minnesota received many of these children. They were lined up and handed over to families who wanted them, many to work as laborers on farms and so forth.

 

This book is factually based and follows an Irish girl who was ill received because of her red hair. This is a compelling read.

 The second, “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd, is a chronicle based on the lives of the Grimke sisters from South Carolina.

 

This missive dates to the early 1800’s when “...by law, a slave was three-fifths of a person.” Women were not allowed to have an opinion and certainly not allowed to vote.

 

It follows the journey of these real life sisters, girls and then women of gentry in the South, on their mission to right social wrongs. It is historically interesting. It is hugely depressing in part. The treatment of slaves in the south was utterly appalling.

 

Still, it is beautifully written, and well worth your time.

Expand your horizons with a good book.

Browser, the library cat

Spring Fever turning into Spring Cleaning

Hello, friends and neighbors. Browser here wishing you the finest spring ever – if we get one! I know most of you believe that early summer is a time when allergies spoil your fun in the sun, but consider this. Spring cleaning, the type that causes blinds to come down and furniture to be moved, kicks up all sorts of nasty particles including that old standard, “house dust”.

My advice to humans who feel the need to clean in the spring is simple. First buy several boxes of nasal tissue! You are going to need it. After that, go for whatever products tickle your fancy. Of course it makes the most sense to tear up those old t-shirts and mix a bottle of vinegar and water and have at it, but that would mean you don’t get to go Shopping. Spring cleaning is the best excuse ever to buy all sorts of colorful boxes and bottles of stuff you’ve always wanted to try. Advertising people have been working hard to get your attention.

Unlike Christmas, which is a retailer’s dream, spring is the season cleaning product manufacturers live for! Celebrate spring. While you are at it, buy yourself some fresh flowers to put on the table, because it is going to be a while before any are in the garden and it will help you to realize that it is indeed spring.

Check out the krls.org website for books on “how to clean anything”. There are loads of those. It will help you with your shopping list of products you can’t live without.

Instead of letting April fool you, fool April. Make a sunny spring sanctuary for yourself!

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

“The Cat in the Hat”? Whose bright idea was that? I know no self - respecting cats who would willingly wear a hat. This is a human concept, obviously. Children have a tendency to dress their pets in all manner of clothing, but no pet willingly subjects themselves to such foolishness. Oh, wait! This is fiction. Poetic license. A “Dr. Seuss” manner of fiction where animals do all sorts of un-animal things. Like Horton the elephant who actually sat on Mazy the lazy bird’s egg. Believe it or don’t. It still makes an entertaining story. We are celebrating Dr. Seuss at our Pine River Public Library. Still, I have no intention of wearing a hat.

Dr. Seuss had animals speaking human language. In our new data base, accessed through your library card, Kitchigami Regional Library is offering “Pronunciator”. No, you won’t learn to speak “elephant”, but you could learn French or German. It is free through your library. Just log onto krls.org and check out what is available on-line! You’ll need your library card number and PIN. Other than that, have at it!

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Valentine's Day! Friends and Neighbors!

I would hope you feel and express love every day, but Valentine’s Day is a time to remember to love. I, for one, love each and every one of you, oh friends of the Pine River Library and me. For this very reason I have a Valentine box at the library to deposit your missives to me. Hearts and flowers! Bring in your Valentine and you will receive one in the return with a treat attached. Not tuna, either. I promise.

February is a month to remember other things as well.  It’s I Love to Read Month!  President’s Day. The library will be closed that day, though definitely not on Valentine’s Day. Guys, rent a “chick flick” from the library to show you care about that woman in your life. I know she’ll be surprised.

Okay, so it seems early to worry about anything except snow, but the Federal and State tax forms are beginning to arrive at the library. Just so you know.

 Love to you.

Browser, the library cat

 

 

Happy 2014 Everyone.

We at the Pine River Public Library look forward to a stellar year. Your winter reading program for adults is starting. The race for the cups is on, ladies and gents, so come to the library and grab a
sign-up sheet.

 

We have some really exciting news. Paul and Lynn Hunt of Hunt Utilities are making a donation to our library. Hunt Utilities was originally a Pequot Lakes based company that had something to do with turtles. I believe it was called Hunt Technologies then.  Stumped? I am as well. I envision painted turtles and snapping turtles and leather turtles. Not so. These turtles have to do with your electric meters. If you google “Hunt Technologies turtle” perhaps you will better understand this concept. Hunt Utilities Group LLC is located in Pine River. They’ve moved from turtles to hay bale buildings. Hunt Utilities has made major strides in the exploration of sustainable living. Visit their website. www.hugllc.com.

I wonder if they worked out the name of the company so that the initials would spell “hug”. I’m guessing they did! At any rate, the employees and management of Hunt Utilities Group votes each year to donate a Christmas gift to a deserving entity, in Paul and Lynn Hunt's name. That would be the Pine River Library this year. They have given us $205.00 to spend as we see fit. Thank you so much! Without the donations from our community our library could never be as wonderful as it obviously is.

Speaking of wonderful, we’re putting down new flooring at the library. It's noisy in there. Muriel is making me stay at her house. All will be wonderful after a time, but right now things are a bit limited. Be patient, please.

That’s our New Year news, friends and neighbors. Hope this year brings you peace and contentment.

I remain,

Browser, the library cat