HERE'S A QUICK COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE

     Elois, Aileen, and I went to the Community Garden this morning.  It's located adjacent to our library parking lot, surrounded by a chain-link fence, inside the Bert Harsh Park.  And once again, we walked the seven long rows and stared at the five huge black pots.  Here's what we found:
     Row 1 - spinach and zinnias
     Row 2 - yellow squash and eggplant
     Row 3 - zucchini and yellow squash
     Row 4 - tomatoes
     Row 5 - carrots
     Row 6 - turnips
     Row 7 - beets and beans (the running kind)
     Pot 1 - peppers (bell, I think)
     Pot 2 - peppers (hot)
     Pot 3 - cucumbers
     Pot 4 - English peas and basil
     Pot 5 - cilantro.

     Well, how about that?  And people are already coming to the Community Garden and picking the greens and squash.  Aileen and Elois are patiently waiting for the beets to be big enough, but I bet they will have to be out there fast to get some.
     Everyone is so excited about this corner of the park.  If you're driving by, just park on the side of the street and take a look.  Or better yet, come inside the fence and take a walk.  You'll be amazed at how lush everything looks.
     And thank you to all the fellows who tend the garden.  You are are taking care of a great show and resource!!!!

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK IS COMING UP

     Next week we will be celebrating Children's Book Week...May 13 through 17...just as many libraries across the nation will be doing.
     And we need to remind you that Clifford the Big Red dog will be here for a "Meet and Greet" on Tuesday, May 14th, at 4 p.m.  In fact, there are children's events lined up for the whole month of May.
     If you do not know what Children's Book Week is, let me share this information with you.
     Children's Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.  Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.  Every year commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, and home - wherever young readers and books connect!
     Children's Book Week is administered by Every Child A Reader, a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children.  The Children's Book Council, the national non-profit trade association for children's book publishers, is an anchor sponsor.
     While watching the news at 6 p.m. the other day, I heard one of the news anchors talk about Children's Book Week.  He asked his co-anchors to name their favorite children's book, and one anchor said hers was Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree."
     I have to admit that is my favorite book also.  In fact, I've not only given it as gifts, I have received it as a gift twice.
     The book details the events occurring throughout the life of a young boy, and the friendship that he shares with a tree—with which he is apparently able to communicate.
     In his childhood, he enjoys climbing her branches and enjoying imaginative play with her; however, as he gradually passes into maturity his requests from the tree change.
     After entering adolescence, he requests to pick her apples with which to make profit, and after reaching adulthood he cuts off the tree's limbs to construct a house.
     Years later, he returns to the lonesome Giving Tree as an old man to cut her down and use her wood to craft a boat with which to sail away, reducing her to nothing more than a stump.
     However, eventually he returns to his friend, asking for a resting place, and peacefully drifts off to sleep on the tree stump, the only thing the tree has left to give.
     If you have a favorite children's book, let us know.  And if you're near a library this coming week, take time to stop by.  In fact, if you have a youngster, bring that child to the library.  You just might find lots of events going on to enjoy.  Better yet, you'll find lots of books that not only the child will enjoy, but you will too.
     And if you're in Moultrie, Georgia, be sure to check us out!!!
(Sources: Children's Book Week at www.bookweekonline.com and "The Giving Tree" at .wikipedia.org)

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT GARDEN STUFF?

     If you're growing a fruit and/or veggie garden, do you usually plant way too much?  And have tons of veggies you have to get rid of...give to your neighbors, give to your children and grandchildren, possibly think about putting up a roadside stand?
     Well, if that's you, and you don't exactly know what you're going to do with all that garden stuff, we have the answer for you.
     Our library is going to host a program on Tuesday, May 14th, at 6 p.m. with specific answers to that concern.
     Andrea Scarrow is a University of Georgia, Colquitt County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.  She's going to teach us how to use our fruits and veggies in her program "Using Your Garden's Bounty."
     You'll gain insight about the importance of increasing fruits and vegetables in your diet to prevent chronic disease.  In addition, you'll receive new recipes for fruits and vegetables, as well as learn about cooking methods that preserve nutrition and taste without adding extra calories.  And we'll talk about ways to get children to eat more fruits and veggies...that's a winner in itself!
     There's a special part of Andrea's program that I'm really looking forward to...we'll taste-test a low calorie fruit and veggie dip!  Learn and eat, all in the same program.  Can't beat that!
     Don't miss this enjoyable, educational time.  The event is open to the public.  Just show up!

BOOKS WITH FUNNY TITLES AT OUR BOOK SALE

     A couple of events prompted this blog today.
     First, when I visited Bill Starr's blog for the Georgia Center for the Book, I read one of his March blogs about books with funny titles.  Seems the Diagram Prize from Great Britain was awarded to books with the oddest titles of the year...such as, Goblinproofing One's Chicken Coop.  Bill went on to list a few more that were runners-up.  Needless to say, they were really funny titles.  Maybe more funny than what I found.
     The thought of odd titles caused me to venture down the long white hallway to our auditorium where members of our Library Friends were sorting the many donated books for our huge book sale this weekend, May 3 through 5.
     I asked them to pay no attention to me, that I wouldn't get in their way, because I was just searching for different, funny, and odd titles of books for today's blog.  Like Bill, I love particular book titles and found quite a few as I roamed the tables that were being covered in rapid speed.
     How about these (with comments I just had to say):

• Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson (the same author of Three Cups of Tea and a scandal, I'm sorry to say)
• The Tender Shoot  by Colette (made me think of Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss)
• Rich Men, Single Women by Pamela Beck and Patti Massman (what? married women not included?)
• The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guinn (since we have Santa Claus on our Odom Library Board, I thought I'd run this one past him to see how true it is)
• I Wish You Didn't Know My Name by Michele Launders and Penina Spiegel (and then we found the one below)
• That's Not My Name by Yvonne Navarro (we have a controversy here)
• Ten Letters, The Stories Americans Tell Their President by Eli Slaslow (some people would say this is better than the stories their President would tell)
• It Probably Won't Kill You...Twisted Humor for Your Kitchen by Iyan Igma (I'm proud to say this author used to work here at our library and has some very good recipes)
• The Hormone Jungle by Robert Reed (a fiction by a man, of course) and
• Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers by Robert Kriegel and David Brandt (this one instantly sold to one of the Friends members, who said she was getting it for her husband!)

     These are all real books - look them up (so said Bill Starr also).  In fact, come to our gigantic book sale this weekend and find them. 
      Times for the sale are:  Friday, May 3, 4:00 to 6:30, Friends Members only;  Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.;   and Sunday, May 5, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  The Big Bag Sale will be from 4 to 5 p.m. for any items not selected, bags provided by the Friends, and only $4.00 per bag! Fill it full to the top!
      You really shouldn't miss this sale.  Everything will be from 25 cents to $2.00!!!  There won't be a good buy like this until next year.  So, we'll look for you there.