Tuesday, June 23, 2009

This is War!

Sometimes a girl needs a little Anne of Green Gables so I went to the cabinet where I keep the books, pulled out my copy
and noticed a weird clump of dust on it. When I blew it off I found this
I thought they were a myth! But they are not. And I find it UNACCEPTABLE!
Especially considering that it munched on one of my most beloved books that was in a very old cabinet filled with other most beloved books from my childhood. So I'm officially declaring war on all bookworms. I'm sprinkling black pepper on the shelves and lining the walls with linen rags soaked in camphor* and doing any other crazy old lady librarian tactics I can find on the internet.
Because I will not stand for such a violation!
But at least I know that it had taste. It burrowed it's way to one of my favorite lines in the book, after Anne asks for puffed sleeves and Marilla says they look ridiculous: "But I'd rather look ridiculous when everybody else does than plain and sensible all by myself."
*Where would one get camphor? All the places I have thought of - the general store, the trading outpost, great-grandma's airing cupboard - are not really options.

12 comments:

Jeanette said...

I never knew book worms existed! That is so weird!

Rach said...

Shocking! Maybe I should go look for book worms in some of my older and most favorite books. Good luck finding camphor. Maybe you can find some in San Dimas at a cowboy old-timey shop.

Valerie said...

For camphor: try the school marm's supply cupboard, round back of the privy.

Carla Gale said...

Huh, never knew that a bookworm was a real thing. Try your local drug store for the camphor...near the rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.

The Katzbox said...

Regarding the camphor: ask the two old ladies at the gym who somehow knew about "boy" plants and "girl" plants...they'll probably know about where to find camphor....heck, they probably have hankies soaked in the stuff for when "visitors" come over...wait...that's a play isn't it?...whatever....

Amanda said...

I have to admit that even though it is tragic that your book has been violated, isn't it a little cool at the same time? A Bookworm! Really? Yep. Just a little fantastic.

Stephanie said...

I love Anne's puffed sleeves, too! That darn bookworm.

Would Vick's vapor rub work instead of camphor? Camphor just sounds like it smells bad.

the freshmaker *ting said...

lol...love it! as for camphor it seems some green, eco friendly store would have something like this. like sprouts, or henry's, they seem to always have all those old wives tale remedies. but i could be wrong...

Gina said...

I love that it is called the "Death Watch Beetle". Gross. Who knew that these thing actually existed? Ew!

Mags @ the Other Side of 50 said...

Are you sure you don't have termites?

MJS said...

Camphor granules, oil & blocks are at Amazon. Any librarian could have told you that!

colleeeen said...

When you find camphor, please also look for boric acid. The kindly men at Home Depot look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for it. I may BE crazy, but I want my boric acid!