Becker's blog

Learn to make (and sample) creative Summer Salads at Schlessman on Monday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. If you're tired of iceberg lettuce, this class is for you! Cool off mealtime while keeping it healthy with these salads that will introduce more veggies into your diet and that your whole family will love!

Interested in urban beekeeping? Denver beekeeper Siobhan Keleher will talk about helpful books, websites, and local organizations for the beginning beekeeper, along with an overview of bees and equipment. She'll also answer questions about types of hives, styles of beekeeping, and how to decide what's right for you. 1 p.m. at the Ross-University Hills Branch.

Eleanor Brown's debut novel, The Weird Sisters, is the story of the Andreas family, whose motto might as well be "There's no problem a library card can't solve." When Rosalind, Bianca, and Cordelia (named after Shakespeare heroines by their professor father) return to their childhood home, ostensibly to care for their ailing mother, but really to lick their wounds and bury their secrets, they are horrified to find the others there. See, they love each other. They just don't happen to like each other very much.

Short is Mr. McMeel's debut novel, and it's a thrilling voyeuristic tour through the subculture of high-stakes energy trading and the larger than life men who run our markets. These men inhabit a world of intense stress, gluttony, and deception. Mr. McMeel received his MFA from Columbia University, and has worked both as a commodity broker and energy trader throughout his 13-year career in the power markets. He lives in Stapleton.

On Monday, May 2 at 6 p.m. at SchlessmanFamily Branch you can learn how to Outsmarting Investment Fraud. The FINRA Investor Education Foundation will teach you about the basics of safe investing, including questions to ask before making investment decisions, how to verify if an investment product or professional is legitimate, how to identify and report investment fraud, and common fraud tactics and how to avoid them.

Pour simple paraffin based candles into charming teacups found in any thrift store. A great idea for Mother's Day or as a gift to yourself. Bring your own teacup, or choose from our limited supply. All other materials will be provided.

A Journey North: One Woman’s Story of Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Adrienne Hall

The New Appalachian Trail, Edward B. Garvey

After Mother's Day brunch, plan on taking mom, grandma, or your favorite aunt to the Schlessman Family Branch for this Fresh City Life My Branch Colorado Authors Series presentation on Sunday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m.

NOVEL

• Dark Matter, Michelle Paver
• A Dark Matter, Peter Straub
• Feed, Mira Grant (I really enjoyed this one--the 2nd book in the series, Deadline, is coming soon!)

If you have a favorite book, and enjoy those marshmallow Peeps that surface in grocery stores every spring, put them together for the Fresh City Life My Branch Peep Your Book Contest! Create a shoebox-sized diorama of a scene from your favorite book using marshmallow Peeps as the characters. See branches accepting entries for complete submission details. Categories and prizes for adults, teens, kids, and families!