One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. Whether I make the trek downtown to see it live or watch it on TV while dinner cooks, it the perfect beginning to Thanksgiving Day. My family's perennial favorites? The Captain Detroit Balloon (who looks surprisingly like my Dad) and the Fred Hill Briefcase Drill Team. This year celebrates our parade's 83rd year. Why not get in the spirit by watching a parade movie? Or by marching about to the "Uninvited Loud Precision Band"? Check out The Parade Company's wonderful website that has a downloadable coloring book for kids.

We all know that "Going Green" saves our planet Earth. But there's an added benefit, "Going Green" can also help you build personal wealth. In The Green Millionaire: A Practical Guide to Achieving Real Wealth While Helping to Save the Planet, author Nigel J. Williams explains how small changes like programming your thermostat or switching to rechargeable batteries can lead to savings. Then learn how to turn those green savings into wealth.

Feminine Knits: 22 Timeless Designs by Lene Holme Samsøe
Filled with mostly sweaters and jackets, this book offers delicate, girlie knits you can craft by hand. Many of the patterns feature lace and other decorative elements that give the garments something special. While feminine, most of the garments also appear sturdy enough for everyday wear.

Phone registration is underway for Canton author, Charles Steele, to discuss his newest book, "Discovering God in Science." Did the Big Bang create the universe? Did life start by chance, all without a cause? Does God exist? Many scientists are putting forth the God Hypothesis as an alternate theory to the origin of the universe. If you are interested in a cutting-edge debate about science and religion, then Discovering God in Science is a must-read. Join new author Charles E. Steele as he offers insight into this ongoing debate on Thursday, November 19th at 7:00PM in the library Community Room.

His victims are young, beautiful and viciously mutilated. He calls himself the Beijing Ripper. Award-winning, Peter May's terrifying new addition to his China Thrillers series, Chinese Whispers pits Beijing detective Li Yan and American pathologist Margaret Campbell against an unscrupulous foe who could prove to be their deadliest enemy yet.

Caring for an older family member or friend? Getting on in years yourself? NIHSeniorHealth.gov, the health and wellness website for older adults, has recently added seven short videos about Medicare coverage to its Medicare Basics for Caregivers.

Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen by Georgeanne Brennan has lots of wonderful homemade dessert recipes that are perfect for gift giving this holiday season. You'll find ideas for cookies, candies, breads and preserves. The recipes are uncomplicated and easy to follow. Perfect for even the amateur in the kitchen.

Are you looking for the perfect color to paint your living room but feeling overwhelmed? Check out House Beautiful Colors for Your Home for inspiration. Well known designers share their favorite color ideas. There are lots of color samples throughout this book to help you choose the perfect color.

So much to do so little time. Are you looking for a quick read? Check out The Christmas List by best-selling author Richard Paul Evans. It's sure to warm your heart and have you cheering for the scrooge-like James Kier who tries to turn his life around after an unfortunate incident has him trying to make amends with those he has wronged in the past.

Amelia, starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere opened in theaters on October 23rd.  Check out our collection of Amelia Earhart books and movies  to learn more about this adventurous woman pilot.

They're always there amid the noise and bustle of our daily lives though we never quite notice them until the silence of a summer morning or the tranquility of a perfect twilight brings them into our awareness. Birdsongs; they're as close as our own backyard. Robins and bluejays, finches and sparrows all sharing their own unique language with us if we choose to listen.

We have a wonderful guide in our collection that not only gives vivid descriptions and beautiful color images but also the actual distinct calls made by each bird with just the touch of a button. Check out The Backyard Birdsong Guide by Donald Kroodsma for a really unique look into the lyrical world of our feathered friends.

I'm old. I admit it. I remember WKNR (Keener 13) and I remember Swingin' Time with Robin Seymour and best of all, I remember Scott Morgan and the Rationals. The Rationals were IT, as far as garage bands went in Dee-troit City in the mid to late '60s. They did a cover of Otis Redding's Respect that landed on the Billboard top 100 long before Aretha Franklin ripped its head off. It's here on Think Rational!, a 2-CD retrospective of the whole Rationals oeuvre. I Need You is here, too, and Gloria and over 30 more examples of the kind of rockin' R&B Detroit was serving up while the Beatles ruled the rest of the world.

You are invited to the first meetup for CantonWiki, which will be on Tuesday, November 10 from 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Canton Public Library in Group Study Room A. Please RSVP on CantonWiki.

CantonWiki is a city wiki for Plymouth and Canton, Michigan, which aims to provide a comprehensive reference for anything and everything in the area.

Kanzashi in Bloom: 20 Simple Fold-and-Sew Projects to Wear and Give
by Diane Gilleland

Kanzashi is a Japanese technique of folding and sewing fabric into beautiful shapes, like the flowers featured in this book. The flowers range in size from small enough to be used as earrings to some large enough to compose a bouquet or accent a wall hanging. This is a technique I'm anxious to practice.

Now that we know a little more about YOU, we'd like to understand more about your home-life, your family, your lifestyle.

• Take the survey (or anonymously)

This week in the comments, let's talk about lifestyle. How would you describe yourself in terms of personal lifestyle or culture?

November is American Diabetes month. 24 million children and adults in the United States live with Diabetes. 57 million Americans are at risk for type 2 Diabetes. American Diabetes Association is launching a national movement to Stop Diabetes. Learn more about this by visiting stopdiabetes.com

For those of you who have wanted to do some adventure travel, you will want to read Elizabeth Hyde's new fiction book — In the Heart of the Canyon. Everyone who signs on to this trip gets more than they bargained for, the elements of heat and white water being only the parts they planned on, the rest comes from their fellow travelers. As a reader you will hold your breath at times for the next turn in the river and be grateful you are safe at home reading the book. This will make you view your fellow travelers in a whole new light as you learn the reasons and secrets of our adventurers on this trip. Enjoy!

You can now apply for your Social Security retirement benefits online. In most cases, once your application is submitted, there are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if any further information is needed. You can view a demo of the application to help you with the process. You can also estimate your retirement benefits online.

When the United States entered World War II, American men went into the military and American women filled their places in the offices and factories. "We can do it" was the slogan and Rosie the Riveter was the symbol of these working women. The American Rosie the Riveter Association has gathered together the stories of the "Rosies" and, thanks to a donation by a Rosie, the Canton Library has the set of these books.

HatHeads: 1 Man + 2 Knitting Needles = 50 Fun Hat Designs
by Trond Anfinnsen, photography by Klaus Nilsen Skrudland

Knitting a hat is very satisfying because it follows a predictable, easily memorized pattern and it is nearly instant gratification - a few hours and you're done! This book offers 50 variations on a basic skull cap. Make one and you're on your way to an infinite number of possibilities. Pick up your favorite yarn and go!