Breaking News

Life

Sourdough adventures

Lifestyle Columns

I have baked sourdough for several years using the same recipe and method, but after being influenced by all the new sourdough books, posts and how-to-videos I have started to experiment a little more. If you have tried your hand at maintaining a starter and baking sourdough, you are probably very much like me in thinking “I can do better.” We have many sourdough books to choose from here at the library. I encourage you to check some out and give sourdough a try for the first time or maybe change up your baking with some new techniques. I do feel compelled to warn you though…. ...

Recent Reads

Lifestyle Columns

Here are few of my favorite recent reads. Library staff would be happy to help you place requests on these or any other titles. If you’d like to place your own request, visit www.newulmlibrary.org and choose Library Catalog. Harriet Reed’s debut novel is making her a star just as she becomes engaged to marry Edward Holbeck, the heir to a powerful family. Harriet is eagerly welcomed by the Holbecks. She is excited to join their ranks, until her soon-to-be father-in-law hands her a mysterious tape. Harriet is stunned by the recording: is it fiction or a confession? She will have to ...

Majolica platter features unique Christmas symbols

Lifestyle Columns

With its rings of holly branches, this majolica platter carries the spirit of Christmas. And with its $7,735 sale price at Strawser Auction Group, it’s certainly something to celebrate! But a closer look shows its symbols are a little different from the decorations most of us may be used to. The birds around the rim are robins; not something you often see on American Christmas decorations, but very popular in the United Kingdom. Robins are often seen there in the winter because they migrate there from Scandinavia and Continental Europe. Then there are the portrait medallions of a ...

Holiday displays dazzle New Ulm

Lifestyle Feature

One of many people’s favorite Christmas traditions is walking around town looking at all of the Christmas lights and decorations that their neighbors have put up for the holiday season. New Ulm is no stranger to exceptional light decorations, and those traversing town are sure to have plenty ...

Waiting for snow

Lifestyle Columns

I’ve been waiting for snow. I am not a winter sport enthusiast or anything like that, but I do enjoy walking in the snow with my dog. She loves snow. If it’s snowing when we go out she tries to catch the snowflakes in her mouth as they flutter and fall. She can barely contain herself and pulls at the leash to get into the yard to play in it. Watching her roll around in the freshly fallen snow reminds me of my favorite picture books about snow, so I thought I would share some with you. A book my dog would love is called “Snow! Snow! Snow!” by Lee Harper. One night a cold wind ...

Collectors place high value on antique displays

Lifestyle Columns

It’s difficult to escape holiday shopping, whether you’re buying gifts, stocking up for dinner parties or just taking advantage of a sale. And stores make sure to entice you with flashy, tempting displays. Even if you’re not a fan of the commercialization of the holidays, store displays can be works of art. But collectors of antique advertising have known this for a long time. Window displays often have the most interesting images, the cleverest ideas and the latest technical effects. Look at this automaton, which sold for $1,560 at Potter & Potter Auctions. It originally stood ...