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Recent and upcoming movie adaptations

Are you a reader that likes to read the book before you see the movie? If so, check out this list of books that are being adapted for the screen. “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden. Many McFadden readers will say the “The Housemaid” is the book that hooked them and it seems that filmmakers agree. The movie is set to be released in the U.S. December 19, 2025. “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry. The Netflix adaptation is set to be released early 2026. “Regretting You” by Colleen Hoover. The DVD will be out in February 2026. “Verity” also by Colleen ...

Menorahs can reflect contemporary artistic styles

Most families put their own unique spins on holiday traditions and see them evolve over time. Similarly, modern artists bring their own artistic styles and contemporary trends to traditional holiday decorations. Hanukkah menorahs are fantastic examples. Throughout the 20th century, many prominent sculptors and designers created menorahs that fit with popular art movements, such as brutalism or mid-century modern design, or that reflected their personal styles. This enormous wrought-iron menorah, which stands more than 42 inches tall, was designed by Judith Brown in 1979 and recently ...

Off the Shelf

My family and I baked the annual Christmas lefse recently, so I was thinking about Scandinavian traditions and wondering if we have books at the library on that subject. Yes, we do have Scandinavian books! I’m starting with holiday books because, after all, it’s that time of year. Jul: Swedish American Holiday Traditions by Minnesotan Patrice M. Johnson (641.5686 Johnson) is a beautiful book highlighting Swedish traditions. Lutfisk anyone? The Swedish Meatballs are more to my liking. There are many traditional recipes for your julbord (Christmas table), but I especially enjoyed the ...

Bohemian glass artists excel in quality, variety

There are numerous ways to decorate glassware, and 19th-century Bohemian glass artists excelled in all of them. They often used multiple types of decoration on the same piece. For example, a small glass beaker or tumbler that sold for $75 at an auction by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates fits multiple layers, cut panels, colorful enamel, and gilding into its 3 3/4-inch frame. It is attributed to Harrach, a glasswork founded in the 18th century and still operating today as Harrachov in what is now the Czech Republic. Harrach experienced its golden age, when it won medals at world ...

Gueridon: A French table with some character

If you enjoy trivia, picking up obscure historical references is part of the fun of antiques. Most people probably haven’t heard of Gueridon, a character from 17th-century French farces. But if you’re a fan of antique furniture, you may be familiar with gueridon tables. Maybe you have one. A gueridon is a small table with a round top, originally designed to hold a candlestick. They may have long, thin legs or a single column support. As their name suggests, they were first made in France in the 17th century. Early designs often had supports shaped like human figures, which may be ...

Cooking with Kids

I love to watch cooking shows. No cuisine is off limits for me and there is no age restriction for the contestants. I really like watching kids cook and bake. I am amazed at the skills I have seen these young chefs and bakers display. They are far more talented than I am in the kitchen. At times I wish I had spent more time with culinary arts. I also wish I had spent more time in the kitchen with my children learning how to cook and bake. One of my fondest memories with my kids is making sugar cookies at Christmas time. They weren’t the most beautifully decorated and probably tasted ...