Kurt Ullrich, author of THE IOWA STATE FAIR, at a book signing August 10

Kurt Ullrich, author of The Iowa State Fair, will be signing copies of his new book this weekend! He will be in West Des Moines, so if you're at the state fair, please stop by. For more information or to RSVP, visit our Facebook event.

Date: Sunday, August 10
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Location: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 4550 University Ave, West Des Moines, Iowa

Praise for The Iowa State Fair
"You just can't beat all the fun you have at the Iowa State Fair. It is Iowa and Iowans at our best!"—Governor Terry E. Branstad

"Kurt Ullrich immersed himself in the 2013 Iowa State Fair with awe and curiosity. He competed, conversed, indulged, and enjoyed himself as a true Iowan while documenting the process. His images show the diversity and beauty of the state's greatest event."—Mary Willie, multimedia journalist, Des Moines Register

The Iowa State Fair, by Kurt Ullrich

Photo from A YEAR OF IOWA NATURE: DISCOVERING WHERE WE LIVE, by Carl Kurtz

Monarch butterflies migrate in spring and spread across over one billion acres by the end of their migration cycle. See more photos like this in Carl Kurtz's book, A Year of Iowa Nature: Discovering Where We Live.

Bird of the Month—from THE SCIENTIFIC NOMENCLATURE OF BIRDS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST

XANTHOCEPHALUS: From Greek xanthos = yellow + kephalē = the head. "Yellow head" describes the color of the head and breast of the adult male. Blackbird family.

xanthocephalus: A tautonym

Common name: Yellow-headed Blackbird

Other names: Copperhead, Yellowhead

From the Scientific Nomenclature of Birds in the Upper Midwest, by James Sandrock and Jean C. Prior

Photo from A YEAR OF IOWA NATURE: DISCOVERING WHERE WE LIVE, by Carl Kurtz

This photo is of a prairie spiderwort in bloom. See more photos like this in Carl Kurtz's book, A Year of Iowa Nature: Discovering Where We Live.

Photo from A YEAR OF IOWA NATURE: DISCOVERING WHERE WE LIVE, by Carl Kurtz

In this photo, a walnut tree sprouts new leaves in spring. See more in Carl Kurtz's book, A Year of Iowa Nature: Discovering Where We Live.

Carl Kurtz Nature Photo: Prairie Perfection

Check out Carl Kurtz Nature Photo: Prairie Perfection on the Ames Tribune's website.

Nonta Lassie (salty yogurt drink) recipe—from BITING THROUGH THE SKIN

Last week we did a sweet cool yogurt drink, this week we'll do salty. Try this Nonta Lassie recipe from Biting through the Skin: An Indian Kitchen in America's Heartland, by Nina Mukerjee Furstenau.

Nonta Lassie (salty yogurt drink)

Makes 1 drink

1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup water with ice
salt to taste
fresh cilantro sprig (optional)

Blend the ingredients in an electric blender and serve. Garnish with a sprig of fresh cilantro if desired.