Between 2010 and 2019, Cauli Le Chat (2006?-2020), feline roving reporter for Mooresville Public Library (Mooresville, Indiana), reported all things interesting to cats (and humans) happening at the library. Related stories from across the state (and beyond) were also included.
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.
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.
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.
"Flat" Dovydas Balčiūnas, our visitor from Lukšiai, Lithuania, wanted to experience our Victorian Christmas Celebration in downtown Mooresville, Indiana. Since this was THE happening event so far during the holiday season, we wanted to see everything. Accompanying "Flat" Dovydas were our own "Flat" Cauli III and my minions. I was doing the roving reporter bit and was roaming around getting news stories.
The MPL Community Room hosted "Animals of the North Pole," a program presented by Silly Safaris. Our wildlife commentator, who was dressed like one of Santa's elves, showed many intriguing animals that live in the Arctic Circle (such as an Arctic Fox and Eurasian Eagle Owl), and some that don't (like a bullfrog and a tortoise). He was funny and informative, which is a tough combination to master. The audience of youngsters, teenagers, and adults was enthralled and entertained.
Silly Safaris "elf" with an Eurasian eagle owl
"Flat" Dovydas became quite excited about this bird, since the Eurasian eagle owl is native to Lithuania, and it is on the endangered species list. These owls live in several northern countries across Europe and Asia. This particular owl, which was called "Hoosier" (because owls hoot and the State of Indiana's nickname is Hoosiers), was trained to fly when it heard the word wing, even if it were spelled out. The bird didn't escape, however, because it was tethered to the handler's wrist. I was impressed by the obvious intelligence in his (or her, not sure about gender) eyes, which are so large (to help with nocturnal hunting) that they cannot move in their sockets, like human and feline eyes. To compensate owls are able to rotate their entire heads left or right nearly 180 degrees.
But the highlight of the program was definitely the reindeer, or elkenfroster, which is my name for reindeer. (As I explained to "Flat" Dovydas, I try to invent cute "Cauli" names for animals. People, too.) "Flat" Dovydas asked for a celebrity-style photo. We aim to please at my Library.
"Flat" Dovydas riding a reindeer (elkenfroster)
Next we listened to the Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society performing in the Library's Grand Hall. Although you can't see me in the photo (below), I'm sitting in the front seat to the right of where "Flat" Dovydas is standing.
Sweet folk and mountain dulcimer music
We then left the Library to attend the festivities downtown. We were going to take the trolley, but it was such a nice day outside that we decided to walk. It's only four blocks.
"Flat" Dovydas & "Flat" Cauli III
waiting for the trolley
The Lady With the Red Hair & "Flat" Cauli III
at the trolley stop
Scowl-Face thought he would be clever by giving "Flat" Cauli III a pair of "bunny ears" for the photograph. It was typical juvenile behavior from him.
"Bunny ears" go behind the head, not the tail,
Scowl-Face (eye-roll)
Along the way we saw a horse-drawn passenger cart. "Flat" Dovydas asked for a horsey ride, but we were heading in the opposite direction, so he settled for a quick photo.
You would have seen several of these horse-drawn conveyances a century ago in downtown Mooresville. Here's a picture of one from the early 1900soutside Day's Grocery when it was located at 10 North Indiana Street (until 1909).
Horse-drawn delivery carriage outside
Day Grocery, 10 North Indiana Street
(photo before1909)
Coincidentally, a new cafe and catering service, Ralph & Ava's, had its grand opening today at 10 North Indiana Street. "Flat" Dovydas posed outside the restaurant, as the place was packed with lunchtime customers.
"Flat" Dovydas & the Lady With the Red Hair
outside Ralph & Ava's Cafe & Catering
at 10 North Indiana Street (2011)
I'll have more photos of the Victorian Christmas Celebration in my next blog post.
Stay Tuned,
Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Holiday Celebrations News Beat
P.S. Since we usually close each blog with something musical, here's something appropriate for elkenfrosters. It's "The Reindeer Herder's Song," performed March 11, 2010 by the Alash Ensemble at the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts (Arts Council of Princeton).
Yesterday's Victorian Christmas celebration at the Library was a huge success. Over 400 patrons queued up to see the Silly Safaris Animals of the North Pole program, and many enjoyed the music of the Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society's concert. Dozens had pictures taken at the holiday photo booth (thanks to MPL Teen Council for running that event), and several families enjoyed making holiday crafts during Saturday Crafternoon. I didn't see the final door count, but it must have exceeded at least 800. I couldn't even get near the building because of the crowds, and my minions found it difficult to move around to take photos, but we snapped a few. As always, click the images to bigify.
Sweet sounds from the CIFM&MDS
Saturday Crafternoon was family fun
Patrons queued up out the front entrance into the parking lot
awaiting Silly Safaris Animals of the North Pole program
Members of MPL Teen Council (center) conducted a
popular holiday photo booth in the Young Adult Zone (YAZ)
Countless other patrons visited the Library, too, for "ordinary" services, such as checking out (or checking in) items, using the computer lab, conducting genealogical or local history research, browsing the stacks, receiving reference assistance, or handling accounts at circulation. What I found most amazing is that all of these hundreds of patrons were being served by five MPL staffers. Christmas bonuses, I'll venture. Just saying, Boss Lady.
Special kudos go to Crafty Gal, who orchestrated the day's festivities. She was everywhere at once, handling last-minute adjustments, solving problems, encouraging enthusiasm among waiting patrons, and keeping everything moving smoothly. Crafty Gal is truly made of awesome.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. Since the MPL community room was totally packed with patrons,Scowl-Face had to take photos through the windows, standing outside in the MPL courtyard. Furthermore, since he's a lousy photographer, we couldn't get any decent pictures of the star of Silly Safaris Animals of the North Pole, a real-live elkenfroster (humans call them reindeer). So here's a photo from the Ghost of Christmas Programs Past. (That's "Flat" Dovydas standing on the elkenfroster's back.)
