The Barnyard Banshees....the Langby Family

(Leah plays both the flute & tin whistle, while Oliva play fiddle)

What a great foot stomping, fingers tapping kind of night it was at the Colfax Public Library. The Barnyard Banshees performed last night for one hour! Their specialty is Celtic music....ballads, waltzes, jigs, reels and a slip jig!!! A slip jig is a style of Irish dance and music.

Alice is playing the Irish Bodhran.....she did an excellent job, plus Alice did quite a bit of solo singing for the group. What young talent.

Dean (on the right) plays the Cello & the fiddle, while Ralph (on the left) plays guitar.

Our space was limited at the library, but the acoustics sounded wonderful. It was such a treat to have this talented family (and one friend) come and perform for the library. Our audience was small last night, but that's usually how it is for us here in rural Wisconsin.

What Makes Your Library Special?

What do you like about your local library, or what makes your library special? If you feel compassionate about your local library, consider entering the Woman's Day essay contest. In 700 words or less, tell your story about your favorite library in your community and what makes it special. Hurry, deadline is May 9, 2010.

To see full details and official rules go to Woman's Day

It's Time To Celebrate a Little Celtic Music

Barnyard Banshees

Left to right: Ralph Suechting (guitar), Dean Langby (cello and fiddle), Alice Langby (bodhran and vocals), Leah Langby (flute and whistle), Olivia Langby (fiddle and vocals). Romeo the llama....... he hums!

~Special Performance~

@ the Colfax Public Library
Thursday March 11, 2010 @ 6:30-7:30 pm

Come join us and take pleasure in a night of Celtic and old-time fiddle tunes. This family ensemble guarantees to get your toes tapping to their upbeat Celtic jigs.

The family group includes eleven year old Alice, who plays the bodhran (Irish drum) and also sings. Her older sister Olivia, the fiddle champ, will blow your socks off with her fine fiddle talents. The adults in the band fill in with fiddle, flute, whistle, cello and guitar. It’s guaranteed to be a fun night of music.

No registration required and the event is free. For more information call the library @ 962-4334 or email: cocirc@ifls.lib.wi.us

A Must Read

Hi, Jenny here....I guess it has been awhile since my last book review, not that I haven't been reading some great books, just haven't taken the time to write down my thoughts. Out of all the books I've read these past months, Bloodroot was the best and I highly recommend it as a must read for 2010.

If you are looking for a book that will stick with you, this is the one. First time novelist Amy Greene weaves a fascinating story of one Appalachian family that spans decades. The book unfolds like a living scrapbook, penned all in first person using the voices of each different character to write on the hearts of readers the ethereal joys, sorrows and intimate decisions of each person.

I am intrigued with the authors ability to breathe life into each character and give them their own distinctive voice. The story language of this book is like a slow brewed and savored drink that once drunk, becomes a part of you.

Click here to reserve your copy.


"Named for a flower whose blood-red sap possesses the power both to heal and poison, Bloodroot is a stunning fiction debut about legacies - of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss - that haunt one family across the generations, from the Great Depression to today." (taken from the publishers description)

They Claim It's Easy To Use

The library is considering purchasing a Digital Camcorder, however, I've been hearing a lot of good things about this Flip Cam. Supposedly, this little video device is simple and easy to use.

After doing a Google search, the Flip Cam is available in 60 or 120 minutes of recording time. Prices range from $149.99 to $299.

Does anyone currently own a Flip Cam? Is it really that easy to use?

Lisa

Victoria Houston - Program & Book Signing

Author Program & Book Signing

Colfax Public Library

Thursday January 21, 2010 @ 6:30 pm

Please be sure to come and join us January 21st to welcome Victoria Houston, author of the poplular series, "Loon Lake Fishing" mysteries. Houston just released her 10th book in the series called "Dead Renegade." As of today when I checked the MORE system, there were already 40 holds on her new book!

We are all excited to meet Victoria and learn more about her, so please stop by Thursday night. Any questions about the author program, give us a call 962-4334, or email: colfaxpl@ifls.lib.wi.us Hope to see you there.

Lisa

It's me, Kris!

I know, I know! It's been a long long time since I have been here. I have been reading a lot of book but it seems that a lot of them have been real duds!

I just read Sandra Brown's Rainwater. It was not her normal style of book. It was OK. I liked that the characters were not the normal ones she has. David was not super macho but still a man of quite strength. Sandra did a good job ( I think ) of developing them. And they did not "hop" into bed on the first page!

But I did not like Sandra Brown's Smash Cut. I can't put my finger on it but I found it dull.

I just read Julie Garwood's Sizzle. I found that I had to force myself to read it. Dull. I feel that Brown was trying too hard to make the funny parts funny, the sexy parts sexy and the tense parts tense. Remember, this is just IMHO.

I also read Dean Koontz Breathless. I got to chapter 5 and put the book down. This pains me as I am a big Koontz fan. But the book left me cold. You know how he has some dry, sharp humor in his writing? Well it was too dry and too sharp. I felt that Koontz was just trying to make a deadline. I want him to write another book like " From the corner of his eye" or "One door away from heaven" and many more. I know he has it in him to do another great one.

Well, that's enough book bashing for now.