Did you know? : Easter Food Facts!

Did you know?

• When taking a bite into a chocolate bunny, 76% of Americans prefer to bite off the ears first. 5% eat the feet first and 4% eat the tail first.
• During the Easter season, Americans buy more than 700 million Peeps - making Peeps the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.
• Adults prefer milk chocolate (65%) over dark chocolate (27%).
• 86% would prefer having chocolate bunnies instead of a live rabbit.
• Each day throughout the year, 5 million marshmallow chicks and bunnies are produced in preparation for Easter.
• 16 billion jelly beans are made specifically for Easter which is enough to fill a plastic egg the size of a 9-story building.
• The first chocolate eggs were made in Germany in the 19th century and remain one of the most popular Easter candies today.
• Solid chocolate bunnies are favored, followed closely by hollow chocolate bunnies, marshmallow filled bunnies, and other Easter bunny candy.
• In the old days pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer.
• The exchange of eggs for Easter dates back to a springtime custom older than Easter itself in which eggs were given as a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.
• The Easter egg roll on the White House lawn has been a tradition since 1878.
• After Halloween, Easter is the biggest candy consuming holiday.

Source:  http://www.yumsugar.com/Easter-Fun-Facts-200482

Poll

I have added a poll to the right side of this blog.  Please take a minute to select your answers.  You can select as many as you want.  Also, feel free to leave your thoughts on what the library needs in the comments of this post. 

Thanks for your feedback!!

Easter at the Library!

You are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt!!!

That's right.  All next week, we will be having an Easter Egg Hunt in the library.  Eggs will be hidden all over both floors of the library and you will win whatever prize is in the egg.  Most eggs will be filled with candy, but a few will have special prizes.  You could win a book, a kite, a KiteFest t-shirt, or a bookbag. 

 

 

 

 

Rules:

• We ask that you return the empty eggs to the yellow basket at the counter.
• Limit 5 eggs per person per day. 

 

The Easter Egg Hunt is open to all ages, so bring your kiddos, or come alone and see what you can find in the library!!

 

 



At Home With Bethany : Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Happy Friday, Y'all! I don't know about you, but I'm glad the weekend is here! (well, almost!) Some of you may have a busy weekend planned or maybe you plan on staying home and doing only what you have to do. Either way, I have a recipe to fit your weekend schedule. Skillet Chicken Parmesan.

Let me just say, I love Italian! So far, I haven't found an Italian dish that I do not like. (okay, I do stay away from dishes that I know has stuff in it that I don't like, (for instance, eggplant) but that's ok right?)
I came across this recipe on Pinterest and just had to try it.
I had the perfect opportunity to do just that when my mom called me yesterday and asked if we wanted to have supper with them. I told her about this recipe and we decided to try it out.

It. was. wonderful.  Its fast and easy AND it's made with ingredients that most people have on hand!
Plus, the guys loved it, which is always a bonus. :)

Here's the recipe
Skillet Chicken Parmesan

 Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 large chicken breasts, cut in half
extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper
16oz marinara sauce
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
4oz fresh mozzarella slices
8oz ziti (or your favorite pasta)
Directions:

1. Brush chicken breasts with oil then season on both sides with salt & pepper. Heat a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, then spray with nonstick spray. Add chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes a side, or until golden brown (do not cook all the way through.) Remove to a plate.
2. Turn heat down to medium, then remove skillet from burner and let cool for 1 minute. Add marinara sauce (use caution, as sauce may splatter a bit,) Parmesan cheese, and dried basil to skillet then stir to combine. Nestle chicken halves into sauce mixture then return skillet to heat, place a lid on top, and cook for 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked all the way through.
3. Heat a large pot of water then season with salt and add pasta. Cook until al dente then drain and set aside.
4. Remove skillet from heat then top chicken with sliced mozzarella and broil until golden brown and bubbly.
5. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta.

I used Ragu Roasted Garlic Marinara sauce. I did not have basil, but I seasoned the chicken with Italian seasoning, which was really good!

You can also find this recipe on our Library Pinterest board. http://pinterest.com/pin/541065342702234194/

Giveaway Winners!!

This morning I had the first patron to come in the library randomly pick two winners for my tote bag giveaway.

The winners are:  Patti!!! and Ellen!!!

Come on by the library to pick up your prize. 

In the next few weeks I will be doing several more giveaways.  I have new books, more tote bags, and maybe something cool and crafty from Lisa.  Check back often for your chance to win.

Computer Classes

The library is offering computer classes next week.  Wednesday and Thursday we will have an instructor from TEAL (Technology, Expertise, Access, and Learning) visit us to give four classes.  They are:

Computer Basics 10:00 a.m. March 27th. - This class is VERY basic.  It begins with identifying the parts of the computer.

Microsoft Word 1:00 p.m. March 27th. - Microsoft Word is a word processing program to allow you to write letters and documents.

Microsoft Excel 4:00 p.m. March 27th. - Excel is a spreadsheet program.  *This class is full.  I can put additional people on a waiting list in case of any cancellations.

Internet Basics 10:00 a.m. March 28th. - This class will cover e-mail and other basic online functions.

Each class will last about two hours. If you are interested call the library (903-537-4916) to reserve a spot.  Class sizes are limited, so places are reserved on a first come first serve basis.

KiteFest 2013





Saturday was our 2nd Annual KiteFest.  We want to thank everybody who came out to see the kites, fly kites with their families, play games, eat, and shop.  We had a blast. 

 

On display were several large kites from Whatakite and the Dallas Kite Club brought several members who flew their kites all day.  Kids and adults alike were able to fly kites all day long and it was fun to watch new kite flyers learn all about flying.

 

One of the most popular attractions was Darryl Miller and his balloon animals.  He had a very long line most of the day.  It was so windy that he had to use his van as a windbreak so that he could control his balloons.



 

A couple of attendees were nice enough to send us their videos so I am posting the links to them.  I tried to embed them in the blog, but I had trouble.  I think I need a blog tutor!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPW833v6ddU&feature=youtu.be

 

 

http://vimeo.com/62026154





 Let us know in the comments below what your favorite parts of KiteFest were.

Good Morning and a giveaway!

KiteFest is over and was a great success.  I'm working on a post about it that I hope to have up later today.

Life is getting back to normal at the library after a very busy week last week.  We had another Marvelous Monday yesterday.  I proved to Sally and Sadie that it is possible to balance eleven nails on the head of one nail.

 

 

 

For a fun change, I thought I'd do a giveaway today.  I have two very sturdy canvas bookbags.  They feature a sketch of the library and the words "Friends of the Library Franklin County."  The bags have a wide bottom, sturdy handles, and a small inside pocket.  I asked Bethany to be my model today.

 

 

 

So to win one of these bags all you need to do is comment on this post and I will randomly select two winners.  Please only comment once.  I will announce winners Thursday morning and winners can pick up their bags at the library anytime after that. 

 

Good Luck!!!



Memory

Remember the old kids game Memory?  Recently a generous donor brought us a container of children's puzzles and at the very bottom was a brand new Pooh Bear themed Memory game.

Our week here at the library has been very busy due in large part to the kids being out of school for Spring Break.  So today, I brought out the Memory game for a bunch of girls that were hanging out in the library.

They had a blast.  The big girls loved teaching the little girls how to play and they all got a big kick out of the fact that I (Julie) am apparently horrible at Memory.  They all beat me soundly. 

 

 

So if you ever need a trip down memory lane (pun intended!) come on by the library.  We'll pull out Pooh Bear and his friends.

Chance's Corner: Interesting Facts About The Wizard of Oz

Now that audiences are taking another trip down the Yellow Brick Road in Oz the Great and Powerful,  it's a great time to reminisce about flying monkeys, a pyromaniac witch, and the ultimate terror they wrought. But I digress...

Here at the Franklin County Library we have L. Frank Baum's original classic The Wizard of Oz in book form and in the 1939 classic movie form. Now here's the debate, what are the differences between the two? Well, there's quite a few! Let's look at some differences.

• If you're looking for the pair of iconic ruby slippers in the book, then you'll be disappointed. Dorothy only dons a pair of silver slippers. Why the change? Designers thought ruby slippers would look better on screen.
• In the book, Oz is an actual place - not a dreamland. So character parallels such as Hunk, Zeke, Hickory, Miss Gulch and Professor Marvel were... well, they just weren't there.
• In contrast to the Oompa-Loompas in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Munchkins were provided no song or lyrics to sing to.
• Speaking of songs, the ever-catchy "Yellow Brick Road" is only referred to as the road of yellow brick in the book. Not so catchy.
• In the movie, the Tin Man's only problem is having no heart and rusting over. However, in the book the Tin Woodsman loses the love of his life while hacking himself to death with an enchanted axe. Hence the tin prosthetics.
• Audiences in theaters couldn't deny that the Emerald City was... well green. In the reality of the book, the powerful Wizard only plays a joke on all who enter the gates. Everyone thinks that the city is so grand and blindingly green that they need glasses to see, but what they don't know is that the glasses are only tinted green. Also, there was no color changing horse.
• One of my favorite differences is the Wicked Witch of the West. She cackles and plots throughout the entire film, but only proves to be a minor hindrance only near the end of the book. Thank goodness that witch got some screen time!

Plenty of more differences can be found. If want to know what they are, then come on by and do your own comparison.

Now...

Everyone that knows me, knows that I love trivia about classic movies. So, as a bonus, I'll throw in some random facts about The Wizard of Oz.

• Buddy Ebson, originally cast as the Scarecrow, changed roles to the Tin Man as a favor to Ray Bolger. However, in the end, he had an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust involved with the costume and was rushed to the hospital. The Tin Man was soon recast as Jack Haley. If you listen closely, Buddy Ebson's voice can still be heard singing "We're off to see the Wizard".
• Shirley Temple, 11 at the time, was considered as a casting choice for Dorothy by L. Frank Baum's successor, but of course the role instead went to Judy Garland who was 16.
• To achieve the proper sepia - technicolor transition when Dorothy opens the front door of her house after it has landed in Oz, the set designers actually painted the interior of the house sepia and had a sepia colored wardrobe for Dorothy. 
• Holds a Guinness World Record for the longest space time in between sequels. Disney's Return to Oz was made 46 years later.
• Many of Margaret Hamilton's scenes as the Wicked Witch of the West were cut because they were deemed too frightening for audiences. Also, Margaret's copper-based makeup severely heated up during the Munchkin Land "poof-be-gone" scene and caused her to get second and third degree burns.
• Actor Frank Morgan plays various important roles while Dorothy is in the Emerald City.

If you've seen Oz the Great and Powerful, let us know how it stacks up against this timeless classic!

Crafts 'n things

We have a new magazine!

Crafts 'n things is a great new-to-us magazine.  We just received the Summer 2013 issue.  It's full of quilling, painting, frames, sewing, jewelry, quilting, flower, wedding, paper, embroidery, knitting, crochet, and even a few kids crafts.  Some of the projects look simple while others are more complex. There is definitely something for everyone.

The project I am most intrigued by is the embroidered burlap coupon pouch on page 66.  I see a lot of uses for it besides just coupons.  Plus, it's pretty! 

 

 

Come in and browse our periodicals.  Did you know you can check out magazines at our library?

The Vault

Did you know about THE VAULT?

 

During the summer of 2010, the Friends of the Library sponsored the remodel of The Vault.  As you know, the library is located in the old First National Bank building and as a result we do have a room that was the old bank vault.  We have made this area into a wonderful place for teens (but I have seen a few adults taking advantage of the space!).  There is comfortable seating, access to wifi, a comfortable place to do homework, audio books, teen magazines such as Seventeen and Sports Illustrated, and of course books.

 

 

 

Come check it out!  We'd love to see you!

At Home With Bethany: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Hey, Y'all! How many of you ladies (or possibly guys, too!) love to cook and make delicious meals but with the craziness of life you can't seem to find the time to prepare big meals? If that's you, then you will love this recipe! Why? Because it is very simple but so good! And guess what, it only has THREE ingredients! Another thing that I loved about this recipe is that you make it in your crock-pot. I am a huge fan of my crock-pot. :) Its so nice to be able to throw something together quickly before I leave for work and then when I get home supper is already done.

I found this recipe in an insert in our new Simple & Delicious magazine here at the library.  My husband and I were going to have a guest for lunch and I wanted to make something good. I needed it to be something easy so I decided to try this recipe. It was wonderful! It made it even better when my husband and our guest loved it!

Ok, are ya'll ready for the recipe now?! :)

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

1 (2 pound) Pork Tenderloin (I used pork roast)

12 ounce bottle root beer

1 bottle of BBQ sauce - your choice (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)

Place pork in a slow cooker; pour the root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low until well cooked and shreds easily, 6 to 7 hours.

Note: The actual length of time may vary according to individual slow cooker.

Drain well. Stir in BBQ sauce. Serve over hamburger buns.

You can top your sandwiches with slaw if you would like.

Let me know what you think!!

 

You can check this recipe out at our Pinterest Page too!http://pinterest.com/pin/541065342702175195/



March 6: This Day in History

 

• 1521 : Ferdinand Magellan arrives at Guam.

• 1820 : The Missouri Compromise is signed into law by President James Monroe.  The compromise allows Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, brings Maine into the Union as a free state, and makes the rest of the northern part of the Louisiana Purchase territory slavery-free.

 

• 1836 : The Battle of the Alamo ends with all 187 Texas volunteers killed and the fort captured by the Mexican troops.

• 1869 : Dmitri Mendeleev presents the first periodic table to the Russian Chemical Society

• 1899 : Bayer registers aspirin as a trademark.

• 1912 : The Oreo cookie is introduced by Nabisco

• 1957 : Ghana becomes the first Sub-Saharan country to gain Independence from the British.

• 2008 : The discovery of the Rings of Saturnian moon Rhea, the first known rings around a moon, is announced.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_6

Marvelous Mondays : Magic Milk

 

 

Sally and Sadie Hamrick had a blast with the magic milk!!!

 

Don't Forget!!

Today is a Marvelous Monday!!! 

 

 

We will be playing with milk, food coloring and soap.  Stop by about 4:15 to see the cool reaction.

 



Yeti Cooler/Duck Dynasty Drawing

Enter For A Chance To Win The Yeti Cooler/Duck Dynasty Package!

 

The Friends of the Franklin County Library bring you a prize valued at over $500! The package includes a 9.4 gallon Yeti Cooler filled with Duck Dynasty merchandise, which includes:

 

·        Duck Dynasty Season One and Two

·        Duck Dynasty Baseball Caps

·        “Happy, Happy, Happy” Phil Tee-Shirt

·        Commander’s Kitchen 12” Cast Iron Skillet

·        Commander’s Kitchen DVD

·        Commander’s Kitchen Cook-Rub         

·        Commander’s Kitchen Cook-Zesty Seasoning

·        Phil Roberson’s Cajun Style Marinade

·        Duck Commander Mallard Drake Call

·        The Duck Commander Family Book

·        Duck Commander Decal

·        Phil Robertson Bobble Head

·        Two “Faith. Family. Ducks.” Bracelets

·        Camo For Face

 

Tickets cost $5 each or 5 for $20. Proceeds will go as a donation to the Friends of the Franklin County Library. You need not be present to win.

Drawing will take place at 10am, May 15, 2013 at the Franklin County Library. Please visit kitefestmv.com or franklincolibrary.com for more details.