Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain
What is art? Is knitting good for more than sweaters and scarves? This book takes a detailed look at the subversive movement of beautifying public spaces and objects with handmade art pieces. This book includes instructions, tips, and techniques, as well as patterns for traditional projects like sweaters and gloves. Teach yourself to knit and decorate your world.

Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff, AZ, on February 18, 1930. It was considered the 9th planet of the solar system until August 24, 2006, when astronomers reclassified it as a dwarf planet.

Layered, tattered & stitched : a fabric art workshop by Ruth Rae

Do you ever see those store greeting cards embellished with fabric, beads, or buttons, and think - I could make that myself, but I don't know where to start? This book shows exactly how to create your own. It also contains instructions for a wealth of other fabric-based projects, many of which don't require any specialized sewing skills.

The geography of bliss: one grump's search for the happiest places in the world by Eric Weiner

A sense of the world: how a blind man became history's greatest traveler by Jason Roberts

West with the night by Beryl Markham

Playaway is the simplest way to listen to an audiobook on the go. Each Playaway comes with the content of the book already pre-loaded; the library supplies a rechargeable battery for the unit. So simply insert the battery, plug in your earbuds and enjoy. There are fiction, non-fiction and biography titles for you to choose from.

The Swedish film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson’s phenomenon of a debut thriller, is set to open in U.S. theaters on March 19. Yes, it’s a subtitled flick.

If you are a fan of Dorothy L. Sayers and/or good British mystery television productions, you've probably watched the Lord Peter Wimsey series based on Ms. Sayer's books featuring English actor Ian Carmichael. The programs were broadcast during the 1970s on the BBC and later on PBS Mystery and are now available on DVD! Mr. Carmichael died this last week at age 89. The Guardian and BBC News both feature obituaries, and Kim Malo shares her memories of Carmichael in the blog Hey, There’s a Dead Guy in the Living Room.

The 2010 Winter Olympics begin on Friday in Vancouver, Canada. While I can't imagine you'd have time to squeeze in a movie with all those exciting sports events on, there are several family films with an Olympic bent.

Cool Runnings tells the story of the very first Jamaican Bobsled team. A Caribbean country in the Winter Olympics? They'd have to be the ultimate underdog.

D2: The Mighty Ducks continues the story of a peewee hockey team and their Lawyer turned Minor League Hockey Player Coach as they compete in the Junior Goodwill Games. Of course, the Ducks employ their signature "slapstick" to win games and learn life lessons

If you’re a chocolate lover, February 9 is no ordinary day — it’s the day that Hershey’s Chocolate Company was founded in 1894. Hershey’s was started by Milton S. Hershey, the son of a Mennonite family who had little formal education but went on to become one of the richest men in America. By 1905, Hershey had built a state-of-the art factory to mass-produce chocolate bars, wafers and other delicious delectables. By 1907, his company had cracked the code and created what would become their best-selling product: the Hershey’s kiss. Coincidentally (or not!), Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so celebrate by getting your sweetie some Hershey’s kisses and checking out a book about this American original.
(© 2010 BookLetters LLC)

Power of Gardens by Nancy Goslee Power

This book looks at gardens designed by Power, providing details about their history and design in addition to stunning double page spreads of gorgeous photographs. Many styles and types of gardens are included. Power's goal in each garden is to provide a place where people can relax, refresh, and feel at home, and it's easy to see that she's been successful.

Looking (literally) for a good DVD mystery series? These are a few of my favorites:

Alfred Hitchcock presents. Season one [videodisc] by Universal

Da Vinci's inquest. Season 1, Vol. 1 [videodisc] by Program Partners ; a Haddock Entertainment Barna-Alper production

Keen Eddie.

Hey Kids!
Somebody just told me about a super cool holiday to celebrate this weekend. The first Saturday in February is Ice Cream For Breakfast Day. I knew there was a reason I liked February! Apparently, this holiday began in the great state of New York by some creative parents who came up with the BRILLIANT idea of eating ice cream for breakfast to liven up some dreary winter days. So I'm celebrating! Now I just have to pick a flavor. I'm thinking Bear Claw! Yum!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Each year the Friends of the Rouge conduct a volunteer watershed Frog and Toad Survey. On Wednesday, March 3 from 7:00-9:00PM a training session will be held at The Summit in Canton. Volunteers will be trained to distinguish what type of frog or toad is making the various calls heard in local wetlands. The session is open to all ages (children welcome when accompanied by a participating adult). The session is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call the Friends of the Rouge at (313) 792-9621 or email monitoring@therouge.org. To help you get a "jump" on the training, the Canton Library has many books on frogs and toads, such as A field guide to reptiles & amphibians: eastern and central North America.

Prominent Catholic author, professor, and cultural commentator Ralph McInerny died last Thursday, January 29 at the age of 80. McInerny was the creator of the popular Father Dowling mystery series, which became a television series starring Tom Bosley and Tracie Nelson in the 80s. A prolific writer, McInerny also wrote the University of Notre Dame Mysteries, the Andrew Broom mysteries, and several books under the name Monica Quill.

The Great Michigan Read program selection is Stealing Buddha’s Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen and this month the University of Michigan Library is hosting the Michigan Humanities Council’s traveling exhibit, Their Journey: Vietnamese in Michigan, which is on display February 1-24, 2010 (University of Michigan Hatcher Graduate Library, Ann Arbor) as well as a live webcast conversation on February 10 with Professor Peter Ho Davies and

On Sunday, February 21 at 2:00PM in the University of Michigan's Hatcher Graduate Library (Room 100/Gallery) Curator Kathryn Beam will share her personal memories of how the exhibit History of the Bible from Ancient Papyri to King James came to be and what the process has meant to her in Sharing a Personal View of the Bible Exhibit.

Sponsored by the University of Michigan Special Collections Library.

Gardening with Shape, Line and Texture: A Plant Design Sourcebook by Linden Hawthorne

When designing a decorative garden, it can be quite helpful to think about the finished look as an artist might when painting. This book suggests plants and plant combinations selected with a painterly eye. These suggestions are divided into sections including horizontals and tiers, verticals and diagonals, clouds and transparents, and more. This is a book to spend some time with when in the design phase, or when something about your garden just isn't working and you need a new idea.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is currently hosting an exhibit: A History of the Bible from Ancient Papyri to King James at the Hatcher Graduate Library/Audubon Room/First Floor. The exhibit contains ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus, Medieval manuscripts, and printed books. Follow a path of documents that lead to the creation of the 1611 King James Version of the Bible.

Audubon Room Hours are Mon-Fri 8:30am-7:00PM, Sat 10:00AM-6:00PM, Sun 1:00-7:00PM
Shorter spring break hours begin February 27; see Hatcher Library/Audubon Room for more information.

Howard Zinn (1922 – 2010) an American historian and Professor of Political Science at Boston University from 1964 to 1988, died on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. He was the author of more than 20 books. Zinn was active in and wrote extensively about the African-American Civil Rights Movement 1955-1968, civil rights and civil liberties and peace movements. In his best-selling A People's History of the United States, "he concentrated on what he saw as the genocidal depredations of Christopher Columbus, the blood lust of Theodore Roosevelt and the racial failings of Abraham Lincoln.

vs.
Hey sports fans! Let's take a hockey break for a moment and revel in the world of football for a moment. Super Bowl XLIV is coming fast and furious to the South Florida area. If you get the chance to go, pack a swimsuit and some sunscreen as the weather there will be beachy keen. Get your tickets and root for either the Colts or the Saints. Sorry Lions, maybe next year! I am rooting for the Saints as this is their first Super Bowl appearance ever and also because they are a symbol of hope for the New Orleans area. Here's hoping they bring home the trophy.