Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Some Spring themed resources for Family Storytime (or for the Pre-k crowd): Spring Books: And then it’s spring , Julie Fogliano Bear Wants More , Karma Wilson I See Spring, Charles Ghigna In the Spring , Craig Brown Inch by Inch , David Mallet Little White Rabbit , Kevin Henkes One Windy Day , Jane Caraway Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit , Il Sung Na The Very Busy Spider , Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar , Eric Carle Waddle, Waddle, Quack, Qauck, Quack , Barbara Ann Skalak Wake up, it's Spring!, Lisa Campbell Ernst Ryhmes: 5 Little Kites 1 little kite in the sky so blue, Along came another then there were two, 2 little kites flying high above me, Along came another , then there were three, 3 little kites, just watch how they soar, Along came another, then there were four, 4 little kites, so high and alive, Along came another,then there were 5 ! Five Spring Flowers Five Spring flowers siting in a row. The first one said, “We need rain to grow...

I am still getting used to living by Lake Erie; its cutting winds which blow me into work, so glad to get inside the warm cave of the library. I don't mind winter, but today I am dreaming of spring: "Soon shall the winter’s foil be here" Soon shall the winter’s foil be here; Soon shall these icy ligatures unbind and melt—A little while, And air, soil, wave, suffused shall be in softness, bloom and growth—a thousand forms shall rise From these dead clods and chills as from low burial graves. Thine eyes, ears, all thy best attributes—all that takes cognizance of natural beauty, Shall wake and fill. Thou shalt perceive the simple shows, the delicate miracles of earth, Dandelions, clover, the emerald grass, the early scents and flowers, The arbutus under foot, the willow’s yellow-green, the blossoming plum and cherry; With these the robin, lark and thrush, singing their songs—the flitting bluebird; For such the scenes the annual play brings on. --Walt Whi...

Agh! Been so busy lately! Feel like I am in this constant, awkward dance which is work, water plants/pull a few weeds, work, home, bed, repeat, trying to fit in time to also hang with friends. I have been working my normal schedule then also working 15 extra hours a week at the library. I haven't had a full day off in over three weeks and I am starting to feel that irritable tug. I keep deep breathing and reminding myself that I am off for a long weekend over Memorial Day weekend when best friend K and her boyfriend Joe visit! Until then, the extra time at the library has been great, since they've begun training me in the local history department, and am learning tons of cool researching options for genealogy. This week marks 3 months since the tree fell on my cabin and HUZZAH the construction men finished this past Friday! Such good news to come home to after work! The time definitely gave me two things: A. many, many, many reminders reminders of the bonds of friendship; fr...

It is finally spring around here; everything is green, the lawns need mowing, the daffodils are sturdy and no longer the new kids on the block, I was stung by a bee--all signs of spring. My boss is back from vacation, thank God, and I am off from work(at the Farm) until Sunday. My library hours have increased, as they have begun to train me for a new department (local history), but I look forward to the extra hours spent learning how to use tons of genealogical databases and assisting patrons in research. Plus, more hours=more money for vacation . I've been keeping myself busy lately, aside from work: gardening, reading, writing, catching up with friends, shopping for my two destination weddings (Jamaica in July; St. John, Virgin Islands in August). I spent $250 this weekend on clothes (dresses for tropical places--I wonder why I don't have stuff like that lying around...?), managing to get the dress which I will wear to my brother's wedding--I am pleased as punch abou...

I never grow tired of how spring seems to sneak up on me every year, no matter how closely I try and watch it, trying to catch every change, no matter how small.This year I promised myself I would document each change somehow. Everything I could think of felt excessive: journaling each change, Facebook status updating each little thing, sending an email, "more blades of green grass--GET EXCITED!" But, instead I've chosen lots of silent gratitude and appreciation and satisfaction and pleasure. So excited for what has begun. While in Buffalo this weekend Beth called across the hall, "I can hear peepers for the first time." So, I opened my window and heard it too--a sure chorus of spring. Arriving back at the Farm Sunday we saw three doe which seem to have made one of the pastures their hang out spot; seeing them today I noticed the grass they stood on and munched has grown greener, so crisp and alive after the browns and muted greens. It sprinkled last night and...

I am not even talking about spring--PROMISE! These are things which I am eagerly awaiting: The new 'Jane Eyre' movie . I definitely don't go to the movies as much as I did when I was 16, when I worked at a theater and could see as many movies as I could stomach on a day off. I LOVED this Washington Post article: 'Jane Eyre' movie rekindles Austen vs. Bronte, the battle of the bonnets. 'Meeks Cutoff'--trailer etc. found here . NPR review of the movie found here . Aside from that awful show about those kids and that creek--I heart Michelle Williams. My weekend, which starts in T-minus 56 minutes. As soon as I get home B1 & B2 and I will be hoping into their car for a mini-roadtrip to Buffalo, NY, which is home of B1. Can't wait for a weekend away, with no concerns in the world...except, perhaps, that our little slice of New England will change too much while we're gone. I always feel that if I'm away for a few days, in the pivotal turn of ...

I am so excited for our cruise, but at the same time I am very aware of the little things that we will be missing while gone. I just have to pause and recognize these things for their minute loveliness: TSO's and my seedlings are growing every day, and as silly as it sounds, I really look forward to the progress. I am wondering at the fact that the plants will be so much bigger when we get back. Such is the wonder of the life cycle of plants. The lilac bushes (which are my favorites) have begun blooming in the city. The Farm is at a slightly higher elevation, which means it's always a little cooler here and things open a little behind the times here too. I am bummed that we might miss that first burst of overwhelming fragrance. The view of the mountains around growing into even deeper shades of green. Ok, now that I've gotten that out of my system, I am ready.

Today was one of those gorgeous days. A leave your coat inside, sit in the warmth of the sun kind of day. A lean your head back, close your eyes and listen to the birds chirping kind of day. It was wonderful. It made me wonder at how 50-something degree weather can seem so cold in September, and yet, so wonderfully warming in March. I wandered around this afternoon admiring everything. I feel like it is easy to often lose sight of what is good and pure and simple, so I try to occasionally pause and smell the proverbial roses. As I walked, I breathed in deep draughts of air, smelling the familiar smell that comes with spring. I love the smell of dirt, unearthed from months of snows and freezes and rains and snows and plow trucks which unintentionally tilled the earth. I love that early spring assures me that I can in fact smell colors. Like a pig roots, I too snuff around and am awarded with the heady perfume of spring. There is something amazing ab...

Been meaning to write lately. Spring is in the air and I feel so glad; inspired down to my core. Daylight savings has given us more sunlight, and though we got rain yesterday and high winds again today, I am so glad for the sun making more of an appearance lately. Huzzah sun! And besides the sun, I also want to welcome my newest followers David and Anna. Thanks for joining. "The Sun" Have you ever seen anything in your life more wonderful than the way the sun, every evening, relaxed and easy, floats toward the horizon and into the clouds or the hills, or the rumpled sea, and is gone-- and how it slides again out of the blackness, every morning, on the other side of the world, like a red flower streaming upward on its heavenly oils, say, on a morning in early summer, at its perfect imperial distance-- and have you ever felt for anything such wild love-- do you think there is anywhere, in any language, a word billowing enough for the pleasure t...

My absence from blogging was filled with such busyness that I don’t feel as though I have slept for about a week. Last Wednesday I headed across the state to Grand Rapids for my first conference—Spring Institute, a Conference put on by the Michigan Library Association for Children’s and Young Adult Librarians from across the state. It was a really cool opportunity to get some new ideas for programming and art projects, do some social networking, listen to some really great guest speakers and even get some people-watching in—we librarians are a weird, socially retarded lot, I think. The 2.5 hr. ride out to Grand Rapids was lovely. I took in the scenic pieces of countryside that can be found the farther west you drive. The untouched pieces of Michigan not too far north, still quiet in its farm splendor; freshly churned dark, rich fields waiting to yield crops; the lush smell of country seeping into the vents of the car and making me homesick for my old farm life, and smells of animal...