There's something magical about spring gardening-the way the earth wakes up, bursting with new life and endless possibilities. The scent of fresh soil, the warmth of the sun, the rainy days, the tiny green shoots pushing through the ground fill me with joy and anticipation. I love carefully planting seeds; knowing that they will soon transform into vibrant flowers, lush vegetables, and fragrant herbs. For me, gardening is more than just a hobby; it's a celebration of renewal, growth and the simple pleasures of nurturing life. But it took me a while to get to those feelings; I did not start with a "green thumb" and to say I killed a few plants in my own process of growth is an understatement. Although, there were a few good reads and our Master Gardening class that helped me in my gardening journey and contributed to my newfound skill set. Here are some great books and resources that really helped me out. The Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease and Joy at any age The Ultimate Flower Gardener's Guide: How to combine shape, color, and texture to create the garden of your dreams Grow. Food. Anywhere: The new guide to small space gardening Low Maintenance Gardening Gardening without work: For the aging, the busy, and the indolent 101 Commonsense Gardening Tips What's Wrong with my Vegetable Garden? The Virgin Gardener: Everything the Beginner Needs to Know to Create, Maintain, and Enjoy a Garden Indoor Gardens The Complete Gardener's Guide In addition to these fabulous reads, we also have a Gardening class that is hosted by the Idaho Master Gardeners, every 2nd Thursday of the month from 7pm-8pm. Each month there is a new topic covering a variety of subjects throughout the year (i.e. microgreens, irrigation, weed identification, edible flowers, seed starting, etc.) and you can get their advice on your garden or lawn issues. If you would like information about our upcoming April class, please visit HERE . One more fabulous gardening service/bonus we have here is the Idaho Botanical Garden Library passport program! We have a passport that can be used at the Idaho Botanical Garden for admittance for up to 5 people during regular garden hours. This is a fabulous way to get inspiration and education for your own garden as well! You can look into reserving or checking out this passport HERE . Happy gardening everyone!

Learning how to play a new song can be an extremely rewarding experience. Whether you play guitar, drums, piano, or sing, mastering a new song is a great way to learn new techniques and improve your craft. If you're anything like me, you probably look up the basic chord changes of the track to get an idea of the general structure to work from. The next step is to listen and play along to get a feel for the timing, melody, and minor variations. However, sometimes the recorded part that I'm trying to learn starts to get in the way. I think I'm shredding this solo, but how can I tell when Mick Mars is playing over me? If only there were a recorded version of the song without the part I'm practicing. Lucky for me and you, Freegal has an entire series of backing tracks covering many different genres and instruments. If you haven't heard of Freegal, it's a free music streaming service that anyone with a Caldwell Public Library card can access. It's like having a free Spotify account from your library! You can read more about it here . Nothing makes practice more fun and engaging than playing or singing along with a full band. Want to rock out with Black Sabbath and practice "Iron Man" ? How about a backing track you can play flute to for "All I want for Christmas is You" ? Or maybe you just want to sing your heart out to some Lady Gaga . You can find all of these backing tracks and more on Freegal! Personally, I'm really excited to see Iron Maiden's "Phantom of the Opera" without guitar!

Reading is often an escape for me which may explain my predilection for science fiction. What better way to leave the drudgery of modern living than by imagining what the future may hold, good or bad. So, if you're feeling like you need some time away, try some of these amazing sci-fi reads! Of course, every title below is available from the library and accessible with that little marvel of technology, your library card ! Annie Bot Heart breaking and beautiful, Annie Bot explores self-determination and autonomy from the perspective of auto-didactic sex robot. We often conceive of or engage with non-human characters as a sort of mirror to our humanity. They become the surface upon which we explore the fundamental concepts of human experience, including its limits. The more human like Annie becomes, the harder it is to please her owner, Doug. Annie's journey from a blissful and dutiable companion to an empowered and determined individual is a powerful and inspiring transformation. Annie Bot shows that growth can be painful but ultimately necessary for our survival. Alien Clay If you only read one book on this list, make it this one! Adrian Tchaikovsky is the sci-fi writer of our time whose work transcends genre fiction to those lofty heights we call Literature. Banished by the Mandate to a work camp on the mysterious and bizarre alien planet Kiln, Professor Arton Daghdev hasn't lost his revolutionary zeal. In fact, Kiln's odd biology may hold the secret to the Mandate's downfall. Wildy imaginative, Alien Clay is as fun as it is profound. Revenant-X Reader reviews of David Wellington's second installment in the Red Space series are very polarized. Just like the first book, Paradise-1 , it seems people either love it or hate it. Honestly, I get it. These books are huge but extremely fast paced with chapters frequently flying by after only a couple pages. I really enjoyed the snappy shifts from one character's perspective to another, but I can see how some readers might get narrative whiplash. Picking up immediately from where the previous book left off, Alexandra Petrova of Firewatch and her crew continue their quest to discover what happened to the colonists of Paradise-1. What they find is equally awe inspiring and terrifying as the group battles the once human habitants and a malevolent alien presence.

Ringing in the new year with those dreaded New Year’s resolutions? I’m here to help! I asked some of my coworkers if they have any goals for this upcoming year and then found some excellent recommendations for some of the most common goals that we all have. Here’s a quick peak into our staff goals and some great resources for accomplishing them. “Washboard Abs” - Michael Body Sculpting Bible For Men: Featuring the 14 Day Body Sculpting Workout “I can’t think of anything, because I’m perfect” - Kellianne (in jest of course) Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perfection Deception “How to not be single, but I also sometimes hate people”-Myself How To Date Men When You Hate Men “Survive. My hashtag life goal is to be a hermit” -June How to Survive Off the Grid “I want to be better at not killing all of my plants” -Erica How Not to Kill Your Houseplant: Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged “I want to use my air fryer more, but for like quick and easy meals” -Leslie The "I Love My Air Fryer" Easy Recipes Book “How to fall asleep and stay asleep” -Darla Sleep Reimagined: The Fast Track to a Revitalized Life And for those of you who don't set New Year’s goals, here are some alternatives: Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How it Changes Everything Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior The Secret Happy reading and let's ring in the New Year with style...or, with great book finds!

It's that magical time of year again when friends and family gather to celebrate. And if you're anything like me, you'll need a campy holiday film to help you cope with it all . Yes, there's no more important holiday ritual than selecting the perfect auditory and visual background to escape into. When the conversation enters territory you'd rather avoid and you're on the verge of a food coma, you'll be thankful for the soft warm glow of these hilarious holiday comedies. And of course, all the movies listed here are available through the magic of your library card . The Muppet Christmas Carol We need to start some sort of petition. Why haven't the Muppets been adapted into more classic stories ? This is the DEFINITIVE version of the story and I'm willing to throw hands to defend that position. Hyperbole aside, this is a fantastic take on the classic Charles Dickenson story that is sure to please young and old alike. The music is infectious, the Muppets hilarious, and Michael Caine is an absolutely fantastic Scrooge. The Santa Clause Major spoiler alert: Santa falls off a roof and dies at the beginning of this film. It's not graphic or anything, but it still feels kinda messed up. How many Christmas movies kill Santa? Anyway, Tim Allen portrays your typical "too busy for Christmas" neglectful father that owns the roof that kills the fat man. In a strange twist (as if that wasn't strange enough) he puts on Santa's coat triggering the "Santa Clause" which dictates that he must now become the next Kris Kringle. The movie ends up being pretty heartwarming as our main man Tim Allen learns not only how to become Santa, but a more present and caring father. Elf Will Ferrell plays a human raised by elves at the North Pole on a quest to find his biological father. In the process of learning what it means to be human he must use his indomitable spirit to save Santa and Christmas. Will Ferrell is a joy as always, and the film's premise is a unique spin on an old trope. Not my favorite Christmas comedy, but a darn fine one that'll always elicit a chuckle. Can you tell I haven't been on the cutting edge of holiday movie releases? I guess I'm just a little nostalgic, but this time of year seems to bring that out in many people. Red One was pretty "meh" by the way. Happy holidays! See you in 2025!

It's no secret that the Caldwell Public Library and the Lynx consortium library members lend much more than just books . In fact, some of our highest circulating items aren't books at all. I love highlighting our activity and outdoor kits. It's always a pleasure to see a patron try a new craft or game they may not have otherwise been exposed to and all it takes is a library card! I've dabbled in disc golf for years now ever since the city of Nampa installed a course at West Park. It's only in the last year or so that I've really tried to learn the game and refine my technique . Initially, I just grabbed whatever discs were laying around in the garage. Later, when I received a basic set of disc golf discs as a present, I realized it takes some specialized equipment to really get into the game. That's why I'm excited to introduce you to our Disc Golf Outdoor Activity Kit . Our disc golf kit comes in a very convenient disc bag and includes three basic types of discs: a driver, midrange, and putter. Also included, is a basic rule sheet to get you started. It's a perfect set for any beginner that can get you out and playing without having to invest in your own discs. We're also not the only Lynx member to circulate a disc golf set, so if you want to bring a friend you may want to look into checking out another kit. Be advised, not all Lynx library members allow their kits to circulate through our courier system, so you may have to visit their locations to checkout and return your kit. We live in a great area for the game. Caldwell has a fantastic 18-hole course at Mallard Park , and Nampa has a total of five 9-hole courses around the city! The best part, every course is a public park so there are no fees. Disc golf is a great lifetime sport, and an easy way to get out and increase your physical activity. It's a deceptively simple game that can be enjoyed by young or old anytime of the year.

It's the time of year where the air is getting chilly, and you just want to warm up with a bowl of... chili. Here are some of my favorite cookbooks for the foods you crave when you're wrapped up in a blanket, reading a book by the fire. If you're seeking the comfort of food look no further! As an added bonus, I've included my favorite recipe for Pineapple Chili! Don't knock it until you try it! "Every Season is Soup Season" "Comfort in an Instant" "Everyday Bread" "The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever" Ginny's (or someone's) Famous Pineapple Chili! Ingredients: 1 package of sausage (mild or spicy...I personally like turkey sausage for this). 1 8oz can of tomato paste 1 can of black beans 2 cans of crushed tomatoes (personal preference is Rotel with the green chilis for one can, and 1 regular can) 4 teaspoons cumin 1 and a half tablespoons chili powder 2 minced cloves of garlic Pineapple and pineapple juice from a large can of pineapple tidbits/chunks Chopped/minced onion optional Cook the sausage separately and then add all of the ingredients (except the pineapple but add the juice with everything else) into a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours. In the last hour, add the pineapple to the slow cooker. Serve with sour cream, cheese, Tapatio hot sauce and cornbread (all optional of course) and enjoy!

Put the kids to bed early tonight and get out the popcorn! This year for Halloween we're looking at classic slasher films! What is a slasher exactly? Typically, a slasher involves a killer or group of killers stalking and murdering people with sharp objects. There usually isn't much supernatural happening, the killer is or was a human with a traumatic past or a warped psyche, and the victims are picked off one by one. What would become the genre began in the 1960s with films like Psycho and the Italian murder mystery genre of films known as giallo . Slashers are usually violent and bloody, but gore is rarely the main focus. Rather, slashers tend to build tension through killer point-of-view shots, cat and mouse like stalking, and the futile fleeing of victims. Common tropes include the victims being young and immoral or promiscuous, being isolated or in a remote location, and the victims consistently making poor decisions. The " final girl " trope also originates from Slasher films, wherein the last victim standing is a woman who manages to finally best the killer. In celebration of spooky month and without further ado, here are my classic slasher recommendations. Friday the 13th (1980 Rated R) This is the OG Friday the 13th right here. There have been billions of sequels and a remake, but nothing beats the original. Like the other recommendations on this list, Friday the 13th is low budget and gritty. It has an exploitation film vibe, and indeed the film was produced to capitalize on the success of John Carpenter's Halloween . A group of counselors at Camp Crystal Lake are terrorized by an unseen killer as they're murdered in unique and grisly ways. With special effects by Tom Savini , you know you're in for a treat. Even if you're familiar with the franchise the end of this film may surprise you. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974 Rated R) Often imitated but never surpassed, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the most important horror films of all time with Quentin Tarantino calling it "one of the few perfect movies ever made." This film is genuinely frightening and unsettling despite having much less blood and gore than its sequels. Like Friday the 13th , this film is ultra-low budget, but that only adds to the sense of dread it instills in its audience as it leans into a documentary style of cinematography. The plot is nothing special as far as horror films go with a group of young friends unwittingly falling prey to a psychotic family of cannibals. But the pacing, acting, set design, and overall mood are executed flawlessly. Don't miss this one! Sleepaway Camp (1983 Rated R) Pure camp, pun intended. Just three years after Friday the 13th, the trope of young people murdered at camp or in the woods was already cliche. However, Sleepaway Camp doesn't take itself nearly as seriously as some of its contemporaries with some really unique kills and a bizarre twist ending. Not much to say for the plot, but the characters are memorable and the acting on point. Once a hidden gem, Sleepaway Camp has finally earned its place as one of the more notable 80's slashers.

Welcome to Library Card Sign-Up and National Literacy Month! Library Card Sign-up month has been held each September since 1987 to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, the American Library Association and libraries nationwide unite in an effort to ensure that every child/adult can sign up for their own library card. Signing up for a library card is a crucial step toward academic achievement and lifelong learning! I love how this coincides with fall, and "fall-ing" in love with reading as well! Here's a few of our different services, what I personally love about the library, and some of what we have to offer! First off, did you know that your library card actually works at 19 different libraries not counting the Caldwell location? As a Lynx Consortium member, you can borrow or return items at most of the larger libraries in the valley such as Boise, Meridian, or Nampa! That is access to tons of books and services! Additionally, we offer "Interlibrary Loans" allowing us access to books in libraries across the United States! Can't find that one book from your childhood that doesn't seem to exist anymore? We can help you find it! We also have a vast collection of video games for the XBox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, Board Games, and multiple take home kits that have sports equipment, musical equipment, tools, and resources for life changes and therapeutic tools as well. In-House Services THE I DAHO ROOM / ELAINE LEPPERT HISTORICAL COLLECTION Our Idaho room houses an extensive local history collection with yearbooks, historical photographs, local authors and publications, maps, oral history interviews, and much more! ANCESTRY.COM : Another great resource available in house is   Ancestry.com ! One of the easiest ways to begin your genealogical research, discover your history, and explore your heritage. Ancestry.com at the library makes tracing your ancestors simple without needing a subscription. Digital Services These services are accessible from anywhere, and all that you need is your Caldwell Library Card! FREEGAL : Freegal is a groovy app that gives you access to our streaming music collection! The free version of "Spotify" if you will. We have a wide variety of instantly accessible music with free weekly downloads. No check outs, no waiting, just music available for your listening ears! LIBBY : Libby is a fabulous app that gives you access to eBooks and Audiobooks, which are sent straight to the app! No need to check-out audiobooks on CD when we have a simplified way for you to access your favorite audiobooks! The Libby app is also compatible with your Kindle device, though you can also read from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone.  MANGO LANGUAGES :  Similar to Duolingo or Rosetta Stone, this app is designed to help you learn another language! There are over 70 languages available and multiple courses, tools and guidance for learning a new language at your own pace. NEWSBANK : With your library card you can access the Idaho Press Tribune, The Idaho Statesman and many other newspapers online. No subscription required; you just need a library card! Digital Services for ALL Idaho Residents As an Idaho resident, you also have access to the Lili which is home to over 150 databases! Highlights include: Chilton Librar y  is an extensive online auto repair database. Simply select your vehicle's make, model, and year to find service manuals complete with diagrams and step by step repair procedures. NoveList Plus  is an amazing resource for finding your next book. You can create wish lists, search themes, find book recommendations for different age ranges, explore award winning books, browse by genre, and find recommended "read-alikes". NoveList also has book reviews! EBSCO Learning Express  has study resources including flashcards, practice tests, and more for a wide variety of tests including the following exams:  GED ACT & SAT ASVAB Allied Health Certifications (Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, etc) Electrician and Plumber Licensing NCLEX GRE, LSAT, and MCAT …and much more that we don’t have space to list in this blog post! I could easily write a novel about all of the amazing resources we have at the library; I hope you can come in, browse, and find something that inspires you!

September is library card signup month , but did you know some 280,000 Idahoans live outside a public library service area? As a semi-rural library, we provide service not only to residents of Caldwell, but to much of the surrounding unincorporated Canyon County area. One of my least favorite aspects of issuing new library cards is having to inform people that they are a non-resident and therefore must pay a fee to check-out items. But what exactly is a non-resident, and what is a public library service area? Library coverage is sort of spotty in Idaho. Libraries are typically organized and funded by cities, counties, or special-purpose districts. For instance, Boise Public Library is a city library, Ada Community Library is a county system, and the Meridian Library District is a special-purpose tax district. Essentially, if you live in Ada County you are most likely covered by at least one type of library system. However, things are a little different if Canyon County where we're located. Like other more rural parts of the state, if you don't reside in a city with a library you may have to pay to borrow materials. There's no county library system here, and no special district. Each library is city funded, which means residents of each city fund their library through their property taxes. When county residents come to apply for cards, we must therefore charge a non-resident fee to account for what they would have paid into the library from taxes. Obviously, being told there is an upfront cost to access a public library can catch some people off guard and be very irritating. While some see it as contributing their fair share, it's a barrier to access for those that may not be able to pay. Thankfully, the Idaho Commision for Libraries has been working to close this gap with the creation of IDEA. The Idaho Digital E-book Alliance is an OverDrive digital collection that focuses on children and Teens but has materials for all ages and reading abilities. Those living in library service gaps can apply through ICFL's website to obtain a digital card for IDEA collection access. It is my sincerest hope that in the future we can expand library access to all Idahoans, and that no one has to be told they don't reside within whatever taxing situation funds their access. Until then, ICFL's IDEA collection is an important step in breaking down barriers to access and inequity.

Who’s ready for Christmas? I don’t know about you but the weather for July about killed me between the heat and the smoke. So, I’m kind of over it. This prompted me to seek out some books about the holiday season and colder weather in general because I’m already counting the days until I can snuggle up with my dog and hot cocoa in front of the fireplace. I wanted to share with you some of our wildly popular books about Winter/The Holidays for those that want to get a jump start on a different season. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah The Great Alone transports readers to the harsh Alaskan winter of 1974 for an epic family tale of resilience and overcoming trauma. The story follows thirteen-year-old Leni as she navigates her relationship with her parents, copes with moving to an unfamiliar place, forges new friendships, and faces daunting hardships. The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman The Secret of Snow is a beautifully written story about coping with grief. Sonny Dunes is a single middle-aged California meteorologist whose job is replaced by a virtual meteorologist. When this causes her to have a breakdown, the only station that is willing to hire her is in the Michigan hometown she has been avoiding. She has preferred her “sunny” lifestyle for one glaring reason that has haunted her; Michigan reminds her of her sister who loved the snow, and the loss that came from it. Covering the small town’s winter events, she starts to form newer, better memories of the snow and has a second chance at life and love. Filled with snow-related metaphors, this is a fabulous read for fans of the winter season. Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley Maryam and Anna find themselves on a plane from Denver to Toronto in the middle of the storm of the century, and they have no idea that they will spark an unexpected friendship. When the plane is diverted to a small town outside of Ottawa and with no end to the snow, they all must change their plans. This is an enchanting Hanukkah, Ramadan, romance Christmas book with a charming small town, a snowbound inn, and a touch of fate that brings everyone together. Enjoy dreaming of the colder weather with me!

Remember record labels? I know they're still around, but with the proliferation of online music distribution, the decline in physical media, and the rise of self-releasing, they're not the taste makers they once were. In the pre-internet / social media days, it was much more difficult and costly to promote and distribute music to a large audience. Independent record labels were once essential for a band's success. Without their financial support and distribution networks a band wouldn't be able to expand their fanbase beyond their scene. Founded in 1987, Lookout Records was one of those fiercely independent labels that helped a local scene become a worldwide phenomenon. "How to Ru(i)n a Record Label: The Story of Lookout Records" chronicles the rise and fall of the label that introduced the world to Green Day , Operation Ivy, and countless other punk and pop-punk bands that would influence popular music for years to come. Authored by Lookout Records founder and longtime president Larry Livermore, the book is a sort of biography of the label from its founding until its decline and demise. The story of Lookout Records is deeply intwined with Livermore's and its success is his own. From a ramshackle operation run out of a bedroom to a multimillion-dollar company, Livermore's recounting of the label and its operations is both heartfelt and humorous as he takes us through disastrous European tours, rushed recording sessions, and punk rock politics. If you've ever been curious about the inner workings of a label, how acts like Green Day got their break , or outrageous and unlikely success stories, then "How to Ru(i)n a Record Label" is a must read. As a fan of many of the groups that were released on Lookout Records this was a fascinating read and I couldn't put it down. Livermore's writing is exceptional and his unique perspective and insight into the music is really enlightening. If this sort of book is your jam you may want to check out my reviews on similar topics here . Until next time, keep rocking.