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Grand County libraries: Dodge the mud season doldrums at the library

April 25, 2008

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    It’s Mud Season in Grand County.

    Not only is the melting snow creating puddles and mud, it’s also revealing the trash and detritus of six months of winter in the High Country.

    But don’t despair. While May is known to many people as the longest month in the mountains, it’s also a time to start preparing for all the fun that can be enjoyed in Grand County during the summer.

    Programs being offered @ Your Library during May might help you get over the mud season blahs by thinking ahead about the fun during the summer in Grand County.

    For instance, Jim Feucht, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Horticulture at Colorado State University, will highlight the challenges and pleasures of mountain gardening in a presentation. Feucht plans to speak at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Juniper Library in Grand Lake.

    Feucht, who is very familiar with the seasons in Grand County as a year-round resident, will help others discover what flowers and shrubs grow at this altitude after a long, snowy winter. He’ll also inform residents about what plants are deer resistant, what blooms early and what blooms late.

    Feucht designed and planted the beautiful Pioneer Garden by Grand Lake.
Refreshments will be served. There is no charge.

    Bird watching and birding in and around Grand County is the topic of a special presentation by Chris and Stephen Lee at the Granby Library. Set for 6 p.m. Monday, May 5, this presentation informs attendees about the best tactics for effective bird watching from backyards or from particular birding “hot spots” located throughout Grand County.

    Attendees will find out more about the resident and migratory birds seen in and around Grand County for both year-round and summer residents. You may be surprised upon learning more about the birds that come to your feeder as well as those that live in some isolated and not-so-isolated areas of the county.

    As the days get warmer and as the ice continues to melt off local streams, rivers and lakes, the fancy of many a man (and woman) turns toward fishing. Fly fishing, that is.

    One excellent way to prepare will be the special fly fishing presentation planned for the Granby Library Monday, May 12. Learn the art of fly tying, fly-casting and stream reading with Larry Smith. The class will meet once a month and include field trips to local streams and expert assistance from a professional caster. Space is limited. Sign up to reserve a spot. The class starts at 6 p.m.

    If ever there was a sign of summer’s imminent arrival in Grand Lake, it’s the annual Progressive Dinner, sponsored by the Friends of the Grand County Libraries. In its 17th year, the Progressive Dinner in Grand Lake gives participants a chance to sample the best appetizers, wines, dinners and desserts offered by Grand Lake-area restaurants.

    This year’s Progressive Dinner takes place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 28. The event benefits the Juniper Library in Grand Lake. The cost is $60 per person. Call Ann Feucht at 627-8172 for more information.

    With the arrival of summer comes another seasonal visitor: Bees.

    This year, the Kremmling Library plans to help celebrate the arrival of bees and the summer by showing the popular film “Bee Movie,” which complements the Grand County Library’s summer reading program theme “Catch the Reading Bug.” Set to be shown at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, at the Kremmling Library, “Bee Movie” is a comedy that will change everything you think you know about bees.

    Having just graduated from college, a bee by the name of Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld) finds himself disillusioned with the prospect of having only one career choice: Honey. As he ventures outside of the hive for the first time he breaks one of the cardinal rules of the bee world and talks to a human - a New York City florist named Vanessa (Renee Zellweger).

    He is shocked to discover that the humans have been stealing and eating the bee’s honey for centuries. He ultimately realizes that his true calling in life is to set the world right by suing the human race. That is until the ensuing chaos upsets the very balance of nature. It is up to Barry to prove that even a little bee can spell big changes in the world. Snacks will be provided during the film presentation that’s sure to set the right tone for the arrival of summer.

    Another excellent film is on tap at the Granby Library at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17. “The Ox Bow Incident” is sure to inspire interesting discussions with moderator Joe MacDonald.

    The film, a dramatic Western classic from 1943, centers on the events that transpire when two drifters pass through a Western town after news comes in that a local farmer has been murdered and his cattle stolen. The townspeople, joined by the drifters, form a posse to catch the perpetrators. They find three men in possession of the cattle, and are determined to see justice done on the spot.

    The film stars Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn and Dana Andrews. The movie has an avid following composed mostly of Western film devotees.

    Playing games is one way for youth to dodge the doldrums of mud season. Granby Library’s Youth Services Librarian Lynn Jennings plans to offer a game day at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, in the Teen Library at the Granby Library. Teens may bring their own games or take a stab at chess, cards, or other games available at the library.

    Libraries in the county will have special items on display during May. “Ambears,” an exhibition of unique handcrafted bears by Amber Tetlow, is being presented at the Granby Library. Over the years, Amber has lovingly crafted nearly 750 unique bears using a range of different fabrics and furs.

    Also at the Granby Library, Suzie Royce Cruse will have on display “Artists’ Books Are a Visual ADVENTURE,” an exhibition of small books. “This series of miniature box books came to me through the lyrics to some of my favorite songs,” Cruse said of her exhibit.

    Books, of course, can provide great relief from the mud season doldrums. The Hot Sulphur Springs Library book group will discuss Leif Enger’s coming-of-age novel, “Peace Like a River” at the library on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m.

    The Juniper Library at Grand Lake features a discussion of “The Alchemist,” a popular novel by Paul Coelho as part of its Brown Bag Book Group. This takes place at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8.

    At the Granby Library the Granby Book Group plans to discuss its May Book of the Month, “My Antonia” by Willa Cather. Attendees meet around the fireplace and share their thoughts at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 19.

    In Kremmling, the Back to Basic Book Club continues its discussion of the book “Omnivores Dilemma” by Michael Pollan at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 7.

    Then the popular and interesting book by John Grisham, “Playing for Pizza” will be the topic for the Brown Bag Book Bunch in Kremmling at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 21.

    There are other activities, too. Whether it is crafts, learning new computer skills or enjoyment of your library, the Grand County Libraries have what it takes to ease the pain of the mud season doldrums.

    Check it out @ Your Library. Or visit gcld.org to see what else is on tap during mud season in Grand County.

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