Dorothy, Toto, and The Witch

I grew up believing everything is bigger in Texas but Halloween in rural Oklahoma is huge! Which surprises me to no end considering that Oklahoma is an ultra conservative Bible Belt state. Go figure!  You can see all of the shenanigans Okies get up to here on my everything else blog.

This year, we made the trick or treating events in three nearby small towns (on different days). And I do mean events: banks hosting Tunnels of Terror (inside the bank), roads blocked off, carnivals,  trunk or treats, loads of costumes and contests.

Despite all the costumed humans and canines, I only spotted three bookish costumes to share.




Dorothy and Toto-- how precious! 
Makes me want to reread the whole Oz series-- or at least the first few-- they are the best. The later ones get a bit far out from what I remember.  

 



Isn't that a fabulous witch hat?!  Cool tights, lovely greenish complexion and splendid pointy chin too-- This witch has got it going on!

If you love flamboyant hats, click here to read Izzy's review of Hats: An Anthology.

 


A six month old Great Dane sporting a  A Legend of Sleepy Hollow Headless Horseman costume.   Who doesn't love a bookish doggie?!



I've enjoyed the bookish costume theme of the last few posts (Thanks, Leslie) and hope you did too-- maybe  you will be inspired to 'go bookish' for your next masquerade event! If you do, come back to report and we want to see photos!

Boo From Cruella!

Leslie's book parade  post about dressing up as a book character reminded me that my three year old and I went as Cruella and dalmation puppy for Halloween 2008.

 I haven't read the Dodie Smith novel so I am actually Cruella from the animated Disney movie. Technically cheating, I know, but this was the funnest costume ever. Actors are correct when they say it is tremendous fun playing bad characters, Daah-ling! Mwahahaahha!

Reformed Cruella loves puppies!

But not for long...

During the parade of costumes at school, I chased the puppy around the gym. The students went wild! The rest of the day while my pup was in class, I asked students in the hall if they knew where the puppies were hiding and grabbed any dressed as animals for a new fur coat. Too fun!

I recommend this costume highly especially if you have kids in your life to dress as puppies--- sons/daughters,  nieces/nephews, cousins, neighbors-- any child will do. haha

My one caution: Beware the pumps!! They put the horror in Halloween!  

Book Paraaaaade!!

Today my son was part of the Literacy Parade in his school. All the Kindergarten students (and teachers!) dressed as their favorite book character, brought the book, and marched through the entire school. The teachers and older students cheered and clapped as they went by!

Isn't this a great idea? What a way to get kids excited about books! And it was a hoot to see all these little ones! Too. Cute.

Of course, there were the requisite Spidermen, Disney Princesses, and other Super Heroes. But we also saw Alice, farmers, cowboys, Amelia Bedelia, Thomas, cats, dogs, and a host of other classic, adorable characters. I tried to read all the book titles as they marched by...

...but these giggly bookworms were too fast. They were chattering, pointing and telling us all about their books. Couldn't hear, nor understand them, but they were excited!

And you know what? It got ME excited too! I need to head back to the young readers section of the library and get reacquainted with some old friends and meet new ones!

If I got to be part of this parade, I might've chosen Ramona or Alice in Wonderland. Who would you have been?

Oh, Library, Sweet Library

I am fortunate to live in a city that has not just one eh library, but nearly fifty! Wellll, one central, three special collections, and the rest satellite, mobile, and neighborhood branches.

And the best part, is that I can find any book or video that the library has, anywhere in the system, and have it sent to my neighborhood library. Too. Cool. I LOVE IT!

I don't often go to the library and browse, but I do online. I can look at the covers, the chapters, the summary, check any reviews by fellow Houstonians, and see all the other books by the same author or in the series. ON. LINE. Addicted much?

Anywho. As I said, I don't go to the library much, except to pick up my "order" (like fast food!). But occasionally when my nanny (or as she prefers to be called, Mom) keeps the little ones, I go to my favorite branch.

It's actually not in my neighborhood. It's in the nanny's. On my way to Einstein Bagels - which by the way has excellent chocolate filled croissants. Starbucks? Fuhgeddaboudit!

Ok, Les, FOCUS! Yes. I go to this branch. I don't even actually know the name of it. Ha. Ha. But I do like it. It's in this tiny little plaza, next to a British pub and a cute little coffee and sandwich shop. I think. Not really sure what they serve.


Anyways. I go there when I get the chance. The branch, not the suspect sandwich shop. It's all ivy covered, and quaint. Big windows. The inside is cozy too. With little reading nooks. The children's area is downstairs. It's brightly colored. Lots of reading spots - in the form of large stuffed animals and bean bags, cheerful rugs.

Well, my area - fiction - is upstairs. I could take the elevator, but I like the stairs. Unfortunately, they do NOT creak. I keep expecting them too. But...they don't.

The whole building should be creaky, but alas, it isn't. Also, there is no real parking. And if the crowded street is full, and you don't wanna walk a mile, there is only paid parking in a small claustrophobia-inducing garage. And guess what. It's $2.00 and it only takes...you guessed it - COINS! AND - AND (oh yes, that deserves a double "AND") - there is no CHANGE MAKER! Ya! I know! You gotta park the car and go back into the library or one of the XYZ cafes and get change. Cinder and ashes, Batman! (I think I may be getting that mixed up). It's soooo annoying!

Still, it's my favorite library. It's pretty.

What about you? Do you have a favorite library or bookshop?

Book Ends

     One of my husband's more annoying/endearing qualities is that he's smarter than me in ways and quantities that approach infinity.  This is why I won't play left brain games with him, even though we met playing chess.  He's also done the crossword puzzle in ink as long as I've known him so his right brain isn't too shabby either. This weekend he was so sweet. He tossed a half done puzzle from the LA Times aside, looked at me and with no intended insult said,
     "You could finish this one."   Aaaaand yet he lives.   
     See if you can figure out the pattern. If you can't, don't feel bad.  I had to ask.  ( and no, I did not finish it.  Sir Brainsalot did. )

Click on the image to enlarge