It's Beginning . . .

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  The Hillcrest light show is on and the decorations are up at Roshek's.  It's Christmas except for no snow.  I personally don't mind that it is still bare.  Most of us would rather shop and not have to fight bitter cold or slippery streets.  A tradition at our house is to play Christmas music on Christmas eve.  My oldest daughter loves pan pipe music from South America.  My youngest daughter prefers contemporary stuff.  I love  "A Very Special Christmas 3."  This 1997 CD has new and traditional Christmas songs by popular artists; Sting, No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins, and Mary J. Blige.  A Very Special Christmas 3" is the third in a series of Christmas music-themed compilation albums produced to benefit Special Olympics. My favorite song on this CD is "Christmas" written by John Popper and performed by Blues Traveler.  I listen to it over and over.  The song is a heartfelt, yet irreverant, view of the holiday season.  Here's a sample:

"If it's Chanukah or Kwanza
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with"

That's my season's wish.  Give it a listen.

At the library we are celebrating the season with a series of craft programs.  Check out the calendar on our website for times and locations.  And check out our Facebook page for a photo of one finished snowman project.

Also stop by your nearest branch and pick up some wonderful holiday books to enrich the season. Settle in with a little one in your life and read, "The Night Before Christmas," "The Littlest Angel," or "The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree."  My daughters remember Daddy reading to them,"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson.  The story will have you roaring with laughter and then it brings on the tears.  If you haven't read it, no matter how old you are, this is a Christmas must!

As for movies, the library has a wide selection.  Whether you want to revisit Rudolph or Frosty or Will Ferrell's "Elf," the library has it for you.  I have two favorites; "It's A Wonderful Life" and "We're No Angels."  Most of you are familiar with the Jimmy Stewart's 1947 Bedford Falls and the evil Mr. Potter, but "We're No Angels" debuted in 1955.  The action takes place on Devil's Island, the tropical backwater where the notorious French prison was located. Three convicts, played by Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov, have escaped, and wait only for a ship to leave the next day. In the meantime, they become involved in the financial woes of an island shopkeeper (Leo G. Carroll) and his wife (Joan Bennett) and daughter, whose business is in danger from a rich, nasty relative (Basil Rathbone).  It is a broad comedy but with a lot of Yuletide heart. 

Relax with a good movie or good book and enjoy preparing for the holiday season.

Dawn