Santa's Workshop in Our Elevator?!

The Decorinator and BizMeister were busy yesterday decorating up a storm at the library.  Click the photos to bigify them.

At our Youth Services entryway

 

You're the present!

That's a crawl-through box.  You're the present, you see.  Let moi demonstrate.

Who could ask for a better present?  Just saying.

Guess whose workshop is inside our elevator!

I can see you're skeptical.  So here's the proof!

Santa with two of his helpers, "Flat" Cauli and "Flat" Dovydas

It must be like the Doctor's TARDIS--bigger on the inside than the outside.

I don't think patrons are allowed to take the elevator to Santa's workshop.  It would spoil the surprises Santa will be bringing for Christmas.  So best to just imagine.

Of course, I've taken the elevator, but, then, we journalists have access to such things.  Power of the press, and all that.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

This Deer Reigns, Truly

Silly Safari's Candy Cane Chris returned as part of the Library's 2016 Victorian Christmas celebration with--wait for it--a real, live elkenfroster. (Humans call them reindeer.)  This deer surely reigned today, considering the long lines of excited kids (and grown-ups) waiting for a look-see.  I, of course, stayed outside the library, away from the voluminous crowds. (I didn't want to have the stamp [as in stampede] put on moi.)  But my minions snapped a few photos, which you should click to bigify.

There was also dulcimer music, courtesy of the Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society.

Too bad if you missed it.  There's always next year.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

An Elkenfroster Plays a Dulcimer

It would have been really something to have seen a real elkenfroster (what humans call a reindeer) playing a dulcimer at the Library's portion of Mooresville's Victorian Christmas celebration today (December 5).  But real life isn't a Disney cartoon, so we had to have separate events.

Silly Safaris (with Candy Cane Chris) brought the elkenfroster for a meet & greet photo op with our patrons.  Click the photos to bigify.

While that was happening, the Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society performed music in the Library's Grand Hall.

There was a lively turnout, as always for these programs.  If you weren't able to attend this time, there's always next year.  Or you could build a time machine and travel to the past to see previous celebrations.  Or you could just look at some photos I've posted from past events.  It's your call.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Our Slobberdog Christmas Display

The Decorinator has brought out her slobberdog Christmas display.  As always, click the photos to bigify.

That slobberdog knows a comfy spot to nap--right next to the faux fireplace.  I'd lie there moiself, but I'm not allowed in the public areas of the library (actually, I'm not even supposed to come inside, but sometimes I do, even so).  Anyway, it's faux fire, so there's no actual warmth (but there is psychological warmth).  Not that our slobberdog would notice the difference.

This is probably my favorite display of the Decorinator's.  "Flat" Cauli, however, is scared of it.  Here's why.

Today (December 5) is Mooresville's Victorian Christmas celebration, so this would be a nice day to visit.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Best Christmas Movie/Book Ever

While in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1944, Valentine Davies (1905-1961) wrote the story from which director George Seaton (1911-1979) wrote the screenplay for the movie Miracle on 34th Street (1947).  Davies was discouraged by the rampant commercialism that had invaded the Christmas holiday season, and so he wondered what the real Santa Claus would say if he were to walk into a modern American department store after Thanksgiving.  So he created this wonderful fictional tale of Kris Kringle, who lived in a senior citizens community home on Long Island but became the store Santa at Macy's Department Store on West 34th Street in Manhattan.

Following development of the movie, Davies wrote a novelization based upon the screenplay (and also elements from his original story).  The book is as good as the movie, and we have it available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.  Our book trailer summarizes the plot.

MPL Book Trailer #233
Miracle on 34th Street, by Valentine Davies

Davies received the 1948 Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Story, while Seaton garnered Best Adapted Screenplay.  Edmund Gwenn, who played Kris Kringle in the movie, captured the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

The movie was remade in 1994, and I'm sure it was fine.  My minions said it was okay.  We're not big fans of remakes, but that's no reason not to watch it, if you want.

Treat yourselves to this wonderful book and the movie, too, which is also available in our Evergreen Indiana catalog.  There's a colorized version (2006), but it's better in the original black-and-white.  See if you can find a copy of the original.

I love this movie and book.  Okay, minions, time to read to moi, then we'll watch the film.  Snacks, sooner than later, minions.  Just saying.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Here's a clip from the original 1947 movie in which Kris Kringle explains that Christmas isn't just a day; it's a frame of mind.  What a wonderful philosophy!