Imagine you find someone who looks exactly like you at summer camp. Later in the movie, a deep secret is revealed.
It is almost every day that we hear about the negative impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health.
I am no stranger to winter weather. After all, I do live in the frozen northland. So, I really didn’t think much about it when I went out the other day to photograph some owls.
Nothing in nature ever stays the same. It is a mantra that I find myself telling people more and more. We expect nature to always be the same.
Winter can be a challenging time for wildlife, especially when deep snow blankets the land and the wind blows bitterly cold. Birds fluff up their feathers and search high and low for anything to eat. Squirrels are extra plump and fuzzy and dig down through the snow in hopes of finding a forg…
Are you ready for the holidays or are you feeling overwhelmed?
Have you heard the expression, “It’s like trying to put 10 pounds into a 5-pound bag”? We got to thinking about this expression lately because it usually means it’s about trying to do more than is possible. Life is busy enough and for some people it’s the norm to live by trying to do too muc…
We are all gifted and many of us choose to give our time and talents for the benefit of those who are less fortunate.
Along with monitoring water chemistry, staff at the Carver County Water Management Organization monitor aquatic life in lakes and streams to gauge the health of the water.
Join us for Winter music with Tara B, for an online show of winter tunes, other seasonal favorites, and more on Facebook live at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21.
Do you take things personally and jump to conclusions? Many people struggle with this problem.
Looking for a creative learning experience that you can do right from the comforts of home? Keep your slippers on, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and join Artistry online for Holiday Paper Art for Adults at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14.
How are you at setting boundaries? We’ve been thinking about this subject because many people struggle with setting boundaries. This happens especially during the holidays when they are confronted with a variety of social situations. Today we’ll talk about what it means to set boundaries and…
In the movie "Princess Diaries," Anne Hathaway played the 15-year-old Mia Thermopolis.
Green water and algae blooms are normally a sign of bad water quality. So, does that mean clear water is cleaner? Not always.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, (for those too young for this reference, it refers to vinyl records that would skip and repeat the same thing over and over again and were considered broken) I love unique or unusual critters.
If you’ve traveled on Highway 212 west of Chaska this year, you’ve probably noticed the massive undertaking of digging, hauling, scraping and leveling of the landscape to the north and south of the highway between Carver and Cologne.
After a long stint as an evening “star,” Venus plunges into the sunset on its next trip between Earth and the sun. It’s a short trip, though; in less than a month, Venus reappears in the morning sky.
Come to the Victoria Library on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Friends of the Victoria Library’s first book sale! The last hour will be a $5 per bag sale.
Thank you to the over 180 participants who submitted entries for this year’s 2021 Carver County Library Teen Six Word Story Contest. This year’s theme was “Where Do We Go from Here?” Congratulations to all our 2021 winners.
In your life, what are you most thankful for? What does a good life look like for you?
Having a hard time with any negativity in your life?
Yet another white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mating season is behind us now. This year I spent a truckload of time in the woods following several large bucks who were actively searching for mates. I was able to capture a pile of images of the most interesting mating behavior.
Hoping to get a new printer as a holiday gift? That might not be necessary as the Chaska, Victoria, and Chanhassen libraries all offer office services, such as printing, faxing, and copying.
How do you feel about your imperfections?
On a sunny Saturday morning last month, Rennie Gathier showed a group of volunteers how to use a special gel to keep the roots of young saplings hydrated for the trip to the Saint Paul homes where they would be planted. By the end of that weekend volunteers from Saint Paul’s Unity Unitarian …
Already in a book club or perhaps looking to start a new discussion group? Be sure to check out the Library’s Book Club in a Bag Kits. We have kits available for kids, teens, and adults that can be checked out for eight weeks.
Do you use your common sense? You may wonder why we’re asking that question. It’s because Nov. 4 is "Use Your Common Sense Day" in America.
Carver County residents have been experiencing thefts from vehicles in recent months, which is a trend being seen throughout Minnesota and the U.S.
Club Book returns online with award-winning author Jane Smalley on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Her 30 books to date include two short story collections, two biographies, and eight books geared towards young readers.
I am always drawn to unique animals. You know, the kind of critters that are different from all others such as the Virginia opossum, which is the only marsupial in America. Or the osprey, a fish-eating raptor that is the only raptor to dive feet first into the water, often completely submerg…
Do you suffer from samhainophobia?
Watching November’s evening planets from night to night is akin to watching a slow-motion chase. Venus comes out in the setting sun’s afterglow and barely seems to budge all month long. But not so Saturn and brilliant Jupiter. After nightfall you can watch them close in on Venus as they head…
For many people, food shelves are simply seen as locations where people can go for help to feed their family in a time of need.
Are you living your values? We got to thinking about this question because there are times when the world seems to be so upside down. People feel that their values are being tested.
Looking for a good book to listen to? Carver County Library offers great choices for audiobook users including audiobooks on CD. While most feature one narrator, some titles feature a “full cast” recording of the book.
It’s hard to beat this time of year. The cool days, the colorful trees and pumpkins. Ya, that’s right, pumpkins. I find pumpkins fascinating. Especially the history of pumpkins. You might agree after reading about this amazing vine.
Have you ever reached the point where you feel you’re getting close to “empty” and your tank needs to be refilled? We’re not talking about your gas tank here. We’re talking about the human energy tank that keeps us going.
Cooking in the Kitchen returns Saturday, Oct. 16. Join my daughter, Morgan, and I with special dog guest, Duke, as we take advantage of the library’s cookbook collection and feature a delicious recipe. We’ll be live on Facebook at 10:30 a.m. or catch it later the Library’s YouTube page.
Carver County Library’s Adult Services Team is hosting photographer and author Wing Young Huie for a conversation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Are you feeling increased stress these days? If so, you’re not alone. Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high. Turn on any news station and you’ll see that today’s chronic stressful events have taken a toll on society as a whole. On an individual level, people of all ages are suffering an…
Adding native plants to your yard can help wildlife thrive, improve lawn health, and protect lakes and rivers.
When it comes to confusing common names for animals, I think the American elk has got to be near the top of the confusing list. This came to light last week when I was in northern Montana to film and photograph elk. I ran into a guy from Europe who was also looking to capture images of elk, …
Club Book returns at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13 with an online presentation by Dan Piepenbring, author of “The Beautiful Ones.”
We may be getting some rain, and the temperature is turning cooler, but make no mistake we’re still in a drought. Our Environmental Services division monitors the impact of the drought on the region’s water resources, and the Mississippi River is one place where the lack of rainfall is appar…
Have you ever done some remodeling? The goal of remodeling is to make things better than they were before. To do that, sometimes the old has to be torn away in order for something better to take its place. Which means things may get worse before they get better.
If you watched our school board meeting from Sept. 27, you saw a community divided.
October’s darkening skies provide a backdrop for planetary maneuvers and the unending stream of stars across the celestial stage.
October is Teentober or Teen Read Month. Teentober is all about fresh starts. If you are 12-19 years old, you can have up to $10 in fines waived from your account for the month of October. Stop in at any Carver County Library and ask library staff for a waiver beginning Oct. 1.
We recently came across a saying, attributed to Ziad K. Abdelnour, that we liked. It goes like this: "Life is like a camera. Focus on what is important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives. And if things don’t work out, "Take another shot."
