All posts of flourish

A time of reflection

Curated by: Kayla Thompson, Adult Services, Cape Girardeau Public Library November is always a time of reflection for me. Whether that be about myself, the past, or our nation’s history – I find toward the end of the year I begin to look back (I’m sure I am not the only one). Here are a […]
5 months ago

meet along the way: Dr. Sheila Long

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published as “Faces of Southeast Missouri: Dr. Sheila Long” in the November 2023 issue of The Best Years. “Think outside the box.” It’s a phrase Dr. Sheila Long says she tells her students constantly, a phrase that embodies her own teaching methods and daily life. Long is an […]
6 months ago

meet along the way: Rosemary Berry

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published as “Community Cookbook: Cooked Cheese, by Rosemary Berry from Fruitland” in the October 2023 issue of The Best Years. Rosemary Berry says it’s been an “interesting life.” She was raised in Sedgewickville, Mo., but as the wife of an Air Force pilot, she lived all over the […]
6 months ago

Modern gothic tales for Halloween

Curated by: Kayla Thompson, Adult Services, Cape Girardeau Public Library Here are some modern gothic tales to give you the right amount of thrills and chills this Halloween season. Weyward by Emilia Hart: This story follows three strong women (Kate, Altha, and Violet) during three different time periods: 2019, 1619, and 1942. Each has their […]
6 months ago

meet along the way: Pat Schaaf

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published as “Community Cookbook: Pat’s Pastries recreates nostalgic small-town bakery experience in the August 2023 issue of The Best Years. Pat Schaaf says when you make pastries from scratch, they will never be perfect. She says you could roll the dough out precisely, measure everything and use a […]
7 months ago

meet along the way: Gracie Aguirre

By Jasmine Jones This story was first published in the September 2023 issue of The Best Years. Gracie Aguirre grew up in Durango, Mexico, where she says everyone knew everyone. As a child, Aguirre enjoyed “rolling all over town” on her bicycle and playing volleyball, but she spent most of her after-school hours working at […]
7 months ago

September reading recommendations

Curated by: Kayla Thompson, Adult Services, Cape Girardeau Public Library Where has the year gone? Here we are in September already. Looking back at some of the recommendations I have done so far, it seems that I haven’t done much in the way of nonfiction. So, to try and make up for it, here are […]
7 months ago

Parents and Kids: Let’s Make Something Together

It’s fun to spend time with your little person, and they love receiving your attention, too. Here’s a fun activity you can do with the child(ren) in your life to cultivate conversation, critical thinking, movement, artistry and imagination.  Found Object Wreath Materials needed:  Paper plate Scissors Hot glue sticks Hot glue gun Yarn Found objects […]
8 months ago

Visual Telephone: Three photographers, one project.

This is a game of photography telephone, and here’s how it works: flourish photographer Aaron Eisenhauer took a photo and passed it along to photographer Kelly Downes. Then, Kelly took a photo that related to Aaron’s photo in some way, either in subject matter or in a formal element such as composition, style, color, etc., […]
8 months ago

Hand-me-downs: A lineage of women in my wardrobe

By Jasmine Jones Clothing is made up of lines: Threads weave into fabric. Pieces connect by stitches. Hems tidy the ends, neatly bordering wrists and ankles. Our wardrobes are piles and rows and drawers full of lines. In certain items — the hand-me-downs — another form of line exists: that of our lineage. These items […]
8 months ago