Carolyn Stearns Storyteller

laughter is the best medicine

2012-02-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

I thought we could use a dose of good medicine today

Out of body experience?

"and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly"

Adjust Your Privacy Settings.......?

Tractor with Catalytic Converter

FEEL BETTER?

I'm a storyteller, I like words to describe things, but I also love the magic of the camera and its picture worth a thousand words!

Other blogs for fun:

http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/worlds-best-writing-prompt.html

http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/02/dirty-jobs-birthing-cow-going-to-fair.html

School Day and Story Night

2012-01-28T05:31:00.000-08:00

A great school day looks like this:

    For a storyteller a great school day is getting to share stories with eager listeners. Recently I was fortunate to share my day with the students and staff at my neighborhood school, Annie Vinton Elementary School in Mansfield, CT.   http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/11140/default.aspx
    Pre-K through 4th grade came in shifts by grade to settle on the carpet of the library and listen to programs of story keyed to the curriculum of study at present for their grade. We covered neighborhoods, and environments, weather and Native Americans, Martin Luther King Jr. , folk music, and the history of our town.
    I know I had a wonderful day reconnecting with old friends and developing new ones among the staff and students. I hope that each of them found a story moment to share with their families and a chance to try out their storyteller skills. We introduced new vocabulary, reinforced classroom curriculum, used rich full language that enables literacy to develop, and dabbled in history. This was a day I could tell all kinds of stories from the simplest folk tale of the Gingerbread man for the tiny listeners to the more complex tales of history for the 3rd and 4th grade. Storyteller joy is right here in a day like this.

A Great Story Night looks like this:
The flip side of that audience is one of all adults, many of whom are storytellers. Story Space in Cambridge, Ma. is just that kind of venue.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Story-Space/177178758969270

Choosing which story to tell your peers is a challenge! I want to show my best work, not share a story most have heard before. I also want to show my range of story genre. This was a magical night for me in the Cambridge Story Space. http://www.storyspace.org/Home.asp I shared a funny personal story, a newer piece I created of historical fiction regarding the singer Patsy Cline and her song "Crazy" in my set as the featured teller of the week. I highly recommend a night at the Story Space held in, Out of the Blue Gallery in Cambridge - check it out!

What else am I up to?
http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2012/01/voicemail-open-mic-in-mansfield-general.html

http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-web-presence-is-dead.html

Weather Vanes Story Resources Part 6

2012-01-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

Seraph: a six winged celestial being in the heirarchy of Angels
There is a great deal of histocial/religious writing and depiction of the Seraph ( singular of Seraphim)

To learn more about them try:
www.seraphim.com or www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seraph

For a present day reference this clip from "Sister Act" with the song Salve Regina speaks of both the Seraphim and Cherubim classes of angels.

Our second weather vane today:

A weathervane of this nature would certainly have been found over the small gun shops of the pre-Civil War era. Hunting retreats,gun clubs and others possibly enjoying bragging rights of. their marksmanship might have had the wind marked by such striking art.

Connecticut history is filled with triumphs and failures of the weapon industry. As a key state in the industrial revolution one of the most heralded names in firearms was from Hartford, CT., Samuel Colt. For a look at the history of the weapon line he developed and his part in Connecticut History look here:
www.Coltsmfg.com or www.museumofcthistory.org/colt.asp

Remington was another Connecticut weapon manufacturer their history is here:
www.remington.com/Pages/Our-Company-History.aspx

Winchester is another name synonimous with weapons and the wild west. Here is a link to more on the Winchester rifles of Connecticut:
www.winchesterguns.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=243

Flintlock Guns were common weapon of the Revloution to see a costumed demonstration of how to fire a Flintlock check out this you-tube:

Hope some of these resources will help you bring a story to life. The Museum of CT. History is a great place to visit, there is so much to see from our past. There are many books out on the guns manufactured in Connecticut.

This is the 6th of the Weather Vane Series of resource posts here is the link to the previous posts:
#1 www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vanes-series-point-to-stories.html

#2 www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vane-series-story-resources.html

#3 www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/12/weather-vanes-story-resources-part-3.html

#4 www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/12/weather-vanes-story-resources-part-4.html

#5 www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2012/01/weather-vanes-story-resources-part-5.html

Speaking of weather vanes and wind from 4 directions;
Stories come to us from all directions as evidenced by the work of Storyteller Mike Lockett's CD , Stories East West see the review:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com.2011/11/mike-lockett-tales-and-fables-east.html

Health and Weight-Loss a Story of my Personal Challenge

2012-01-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Advice tip for weight loss and lifestyle change: Tell Someone!

I'm telling you all!

My goal is to bring half of me to next years events!

To keep myself motivated and empowered I'm using my favorite tools ( no, not a pitchfork - although that helps [see more later]) THE INTERNET, technology and inspiration my tools of choice.

2012 is the year of ME! Not in a selfish manner, well maybe a little. The year of me is the year I take back control of my health and fitness and seek to find the old athlete hidden inside.

The Story

The pudgy cheeked infant becomes the round faced little girl, beaming with health.

The move at age 5 to rural Coventry, CT. gave me an outdoor country lifestyle that was very healthy.

In this photo ( approx age 9) I'm riding my pal Sparkey who as you can see,I was outgrowing. Another pony, Pongo came my way, he was bigger, then at age 16 my Morgan Horse Cindy came into my life.

Keeping equines, kept me fit! Especially since the barn was at the top of a hill! This is where pitchfork fitness begins, cleaning stalls is a good workout!

The years rolled by, equines are constant in my life but raising family, working, and cooking for an active farm family kept me inside more. I put everyones needs in front of mine willingly. The weight crept on and the drive to maintain the athleticism of youth waned. The strength and fitness of my high school and college years was a distant memory.

So here I am in this unhappy place, overweight, injury bound, restricted from things I love.

In 2011 the loss of my parents and the long arduous journey they took with ill health was a bold reality check. I do not want to travel that path! The reality of how difficult it is to play on the floor with my Grandchildren was the second motivational factor. The third factor; I'm really excited about the career as storyteller I'm building for myself, my outlook is very positive.

The Gift

My daughter Katie and her husband Andrew gave me a Christmas gift membership to the Mansfield Community Center -they have a wonderful pool and therapy pool. http://bit.ly/wFbvy6 The day after Christmas I began. 4 lengths of the 25 yard pool in 30 minutes, ugh, I'm whipped and mad! I realize mad is good, it has power when channeled. I am mad at me for getting to this point.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Swim, push, swim more, come back tomorrow, come on the cold nights after a 12 hour workday.

January 19,2012 40 lengths in 30 minutes -YES! Down 12 pounds!! YES!

New Tools

My new phone Droid Charge 4G by Samsung via Verizon is another great tool! Paired with www.myfitnesspal.com as an app I can record all my food and exercise. I love the bar code reader for finding calorie count on foods!

Good Choices

Hunkered down to spend a snowy day catching up on all this work by my computer, I choose the healthy snack.
Inspirations!
Read all about it!

Today on yahoo a very inspirational cover story via Women's Day! Kimberly Truesdell age 30 of Fort Wayne Indiana is the weight loss story that inspired this post with her blog. www.healthystrides.blogspot.com her weight loss journey has gone public in a big way and she is my inspiration today! Way to go Kimberly!!! Thanks!!!!

I will occasionally update you on my journey to health and fitness right here in my blog. Daily posts on my twitter page @carolynstearns. Telling you all means I can't quit! Being here to enjoy my family and career means I can't quit! When the snow lets up a bit I'll be off to the pool.

Associated post:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/journey-of-thousand-goodbyes.html

Peter Guber Harvard Business School

2012-01-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

Found this great video to share with you all today.

Storytelling is being used to sell and promote product, businee and opinion. We need to use storytelling to sell storytelling!

Norma Cameron TedX Powerful Narrative Storytelling

2012-01-15T04:59:00.000-08:00

More on the power of narrative from a Storyteller on Tedx Give her a few minutes of time please. From the iron forges of Scotland to Tedx in Victoria Canada it is a journey of just a couple minutes. The message Norma shares is one from the beginning of time. I just love how she refers to her Granny as a "wee firebrand of a woman".

My Web Presence is Dead

2012-01-12T21:24:00.000-08:00

And Other Fear Factors

This is your chance to get over those technology fears and begin to build web presence for marketing through my workshop. Announcing the 4 hour in-depth version to be given in March.

It is being offered to anyone, as a pre-conference at Sharing the Fire the Northeast Storytelling Conference sponsored by Lanes www.lanes.org March 16 from 1-5 p.m. in Albany, New York. All the details are on the Lanes website.

This is not just for storytellers, this will help anyone wanting a better grasp of the major platforms of the web. Artists, small business owners, agriculture business, Non Profits, social groups and more can benefit! Everyone is welcome at Sharing the Fire!

Can you send an email? Do you have a lap top that can come to the workshop with you? We will begin your campaign to build a web presence from the ground up.

I promise to tell the story of how my web presence REALLY was dead!
I will share how I fixed it, what's next, and how you can work to fix yours.

Don't think you are going to sit there tied to your lap top for 4 hours...NO WAY! This workshop will be fun and full of action.

This is what was said about the 90 minute version given at the 2011 CT.Storytelling Festival:

"This workshop validated what I was doing right, how to improve on what I was
doing, and how I could increase my presence even more. The hand out sheets
will not be used for scrap but uploaded into my resources page of my
computer. I have attended networking workshops in the past, but this one
spoke in a language I could understand and gave me time to ask questions. My
only drawback it could have been longer..and the facilitator set time limits
on the responses from the audience. I would highly recommend this workshop
to be extended for next year and if necessary, I would pay an additional
cost to attend. It is what we need as Artist to get through the tech mire
of the computer world."
Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti

"Carolyn took us through the basic steps but gave us so much more in the process. She seemed to know what our fears and our questions were and answered them before we could even ask. She gave clear and insightful information and encouragement to try new things and why it is important to do so."
Chris Rothe

Hear is the magic wand granting their wish for a longer workshop.... 4 hours of dedicated time!

Did you want to learn more about Facebook and your business, how about twitter, what's that all about?

I tube, do you-tube? Making you-tube bring people to your website. Blog anyone? How about a simple effective website, you can do that too!

I know, I know...you are really busy and there is a lot to learn. We will take it one step at a time, get you started on some fun projects and focus on what you want most out of this.

This Grandma, farm wife, storyteller wants to help you get over your fears and get in gear!
                                                         If I can do it - so can YOU!
                  Go To www.lanes.org and register for the pre-conference today!

                                                        See you in New York!

VoiceMail Open Mic in Mansfield General Store

2012-01-07T15:43:00.000-08:00

VoiceMail is on the move...
to a new venue, for a quiet listening space with good food and country charm. VoiceMail is an open mic for storytelling ( adult venue) held the last Monday of each month. ( find and "Like" VoiceMail on Facebook please, and if you can help spread the word, thanks!)

Say Hello to our new home!!

You can tell this is a well known landmark in Mansfield Center. It has been a store serving the community for a very long time. What makes this such a special place?

It is inviting; drawing in a wide variety of travellers off the main road through town and the Uconn campus. There are always a few cars out front!

It's the kind of place that makes you want to pull up a chair and relax a bit!

It is the place to see little girls in pigtails sitting on the front steps licking ice cream cones on a summer day.

It is the place to have your picnic ready by 12 so you can listen to the carillon play in the steeple of First Church of Christ across the street.

VoiceMail open mic for storytelling packed up and moved to the Mansfield General Store. ( find them on FaceBook) Our opening night there will be Jan. 30, 2012 at 7 p.m. The feature teller will be local favorite Gail Zeiba. There will be 5-6 open mic slots for other storytellers to take a turn sharing a tale. The soup will be on, the pastries sweet and the stories memorable. There are antiques, penny candy, cold local made soda and fresh Mountain Dairy milk products.

As before the donations collected during VoiceMail are split with half going to support the good works of the Connecticut Storytelling Center and the other half going to the feature teller. Won't you come out and support us at our new venue. Kelly and Lisa who run the store are opening special just for us! Please support their time and effort and come for the soup bar and desserts. If this is the year of the buy local movement this is the place to see that in action!

other blogs of similar content:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07mansfield-general-store-whats-story.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/signs-im-not-in-downtown-mansfield.html

Weather Vanes; Story Resources Part 5

2012-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

The Flag Weather Vane

Barbara Fritchie "shoot if you must this old gray head...but spare your countries flag she said..."

In the Revolutionary War famous naval battle with Capt. John Paul Jones his capture of the British ship Serapsis marked by the flag raised, a historic flag we don't see often today.

John Paul Jones Bio and important battle descriptions can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones
No section on the American Flag would be complete without a link to info on Francis Scott Key; see what the Smithsonian has to offer on the author of our National Anthem:
http://bit.ly/9uWFy4

There is a particular code of flag etiquette. "Do It Best" describes in this video.

Looking to buy a reproduction historical flag? try www.usflagdepot.com/store/

Closing the flag section of resources today a tribute by Johnny Cash!

The Motorcycle Weather Vane

Harley Stories
4 guys in a small 10x15 wooden shed begin tinkering. Finally a motorcycle rolls out the door. Harley Davidson is born. The original motorcycle was ridden by 5 owners and rolled on for 100,000 miles!

Here is a link to the Harley site that http://bit.ly/4CDCy9 shows the original 10x15 factory used by William Harley and Arthur Davidson to create the motorcycle legend!

WWII Motorcycles

The Arrow Weather Vane

Black Arrow Though the weather vane is gilded all arrows remind me of a favorite story by Robert Louis Stevenson and in this video clip you can see the NC Wyeth illustrations from the 1916 version! Great author, Great artist - perfect combination!
The Black Arrow

Bow and Arrow / Archery
How about a view of the 2004 Olympic Archers

The Most Well Known Archer? Robin Hood! here is a link to Robin Hood in legend, lore and landscape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood

also:

http://www.boldoutlaw.com/

Where was Robin Hood leader of the Merry Men? This link to the Robin Hood Society, Google Map of Robin's territory: http://bit.ly/whmHgI the society at: http://bit.ly/wLW1Wt

and a new legend begins of an archer of similar acclaim in eye and aim:

www.howardhillarchery.com/the-legends-story.html

Which ever way the wind blows there is certain to be a good story waiting to be brought to life and shared!

Past blogs in this series - all different weather vanes:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vane-series-point-to-stories.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vane-series-story-resources.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/12/weather-vanes-story-resources-part-3.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/12/weather-vanes-story-resources-part-4.html

Happy New Year! Top 10 Favorites of 2011

2012-01-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

My blog that was most read was about the fun game Rory's Story Cubes!

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

Favorite Photo of 2011:

because I was riding in the Hot Air balloon when I took this! At Fort Hill Farms www.forthillfarms.com

Thompson, CT.

Favorite Video of the year that I made:

Blue Hill's Jassper using the 1800's treadmill to demonstrate corn chopping! I adore Jassper! Thanks John and Mellissa Lavoie of Sew on and Sew & Blue Hill Donkeys Franklin CT. for bringing Jassper out! ( find them on Facebook)

Big Day in 2011

My Son Tim graduated High School Congratulations!

Sweetest Moment 2011

At my Grandsons Baptism

Most Beautiful Venue for my storytelling:

I was there Dec. 23 with my epic tale Christmas Spirits www.oceanhouseri.com

Most beautiful venue for my announcing:

Tunbridge, VT. The Lippitt Show www.lippittclub.net Preserving the old style foundation Morgan Horse

Big Projects 2011 there is a tie between VoiceMail an open mic for Storytelling ( we're on Facebook)

and Campus Slammer a project I worked on for Connecticut Storytelling Center www.connstorycenter.org

Making this clip was lots of fun too! Thanks to friend Kelly!

Most Excitement Announcing

Cowboy Mounted Shooting - The Northeast Regionals in NH
the host clubs: www.ctrenegades.com www.masixshooters.com

Sharing The Fire State of Mind - Albany

2011-12-29T04:54:00.000-08:00

Come to Albany New York

join storytellers from all over the Northeast in getting into a New York State of Mind!

Sharing the Fire

Storytelling Conference

March 16,17,18, 2012

info:

www.lanes.org

Ride Share Info on the Lanes website www.lanes.org

League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling

and

YOU!

I'll be sharing a pre-conference workshop on Friday,
My Web Presence is Dead and Other Fear Factors
Registration opens January 3, 2012 www.lanes.org

performances, workshops, story swaps, story slam, keynote by Kevin Cordi
Public Invited

other blogs I've posted on Sharing the Fire:
a look at last years Sharing the Fire in Warwick RI at:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/03/stf-30-years-3-days-12-ways.html

This series for the Lanes Blog:
www.lanesrepct.blogspot.com/2011/08/albany-series-post-1-road-trip.html

www.lanesrepct.blogspot.com/2011/11/albany-series-post-2-side-trips.html

www.lanesrepct.blogspot.com/2011/11/albany-series-post-3-history.html

Young Voices; Narrative to Grow With

2011-12-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

Young Voices

Young voices have stories

Young voices engaging issues with story

We need to bring more young people to the power of storytelling and the ways in which it will transform their world to a narrative they can share, learn from and grow with!

see what wikipedia says about Narrative: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative

In Connecticut it is happening with Campus Slammer a program of the Connecticut Storytelling Center www.connstorycenter.org Campus Slammer is an intercollegiate competition in story slams, five minute personal narrative stories shared for scores and prizes!

Mass Mouth Inc. has narrative story happening in the greater Boston area. www.massmouth.org Story Slams for adults and youth are scheduled regularly. Programs within the high schools are reaching young people where they are and giving them the tools to share their story. Check out the fresh faces of story in this StoriesLive® clip!

Youth Voice is defined and discussed in Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_voice

There is a National Movement as well led by the Youth, Educators,and Storytellers Alliance / YES contact them and read more at: http://yesalliance.org

Faces of Youth in CT. Sharing Stories

Join the fresh faces of storytelling in 2012

Contact Connecticut Storytelling Center to get your College in Connecticut involved in Campus Slammer 2012 csc@conncoll.edu

Got Narrative?

Past blog on Campus Slammer:

www.anansihelps.blogspot.com/2011/04/finals-are-coming-campus-slammer.html

Thanks to Some of My 2011 Venues

2011-12-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

The community in Hampton CT. on Memorial Day

The Orr Family at Fort Hill Farms, Thompson , CT. www.forthillfarms.com

                               The Northeast Regional Cowboy Mounted Shooting Competition
                                     www.masixshooters.com   www.ctrenegades.com

The Guilford Fair Donkey and Mule Show (CT) www.guilfordfair.org

The Lippitt Show - Tunbridge, VT. Lippitt Morgan Horses www.lippittclub.net
Karen Swanburg and Mint Black Jack shown www.cherryledgefarm.com

Ocean House at Watch Hill Rhode Island www.oceanhouseri.com

Stories in the Portable Pantry Rochester New Hampshire

The Big E - New England's State Fair - Springfield, MA. www.thebige.com

One of my 2011 projects VoiceMail is reported on in this blog. Dec 26 is the next VoiceMail at 7 p.m. with my Holiday Epic tale Christmas Spirits being shared: www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/willimantic-brewing-company-and.html

2011 I was also active with the Connecticut Storytelling Center www.connstorycenter.org here is the blog on the annual Festival and the workshop I did:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/05/report-from-30-th-ct-storytelling.html

Weather Vanes Story Resources part 4

2011-12-22T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a collection of resources on Deer etc:

How Lizard Beat Big Deer from storyteller Mike Lockett:
www.mikelockett.com/stories.php?actionview&id=7

Deer Hunters Share their stories - how legends are made!
www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/multimedia/radio/deer-stories/

From The native American Cultures A Sampling:
Deer Woman:
www.ghouli.org/GHOSTSTORY/DeerWoman.htm

www.angelfire.com/ct/deerwhorns/stories.html

Seems to be some strong natural connection between storytellers and Moose, see below;

A whole herd lives up north known as Moose Tellers - can't you just picture the circle of moose listening intently as they share stories! Check out Moose Tellers here:
www.moosetellers.ning.com

Another storyteller is quite often in the company of a moose!
www.willyclafin.com

One storyteller took on the name itself , Ed "Moose" Duke
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZwBCG8A7Y

From Greek Mythology and timed for the days around the winter solstice: The Myth of Halcyon:

www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/the-myth-of-halcyon-the-halcyon-days/

Ships stories: From world storytelling day videos, here is a water themed story that would make a perfect Story Slam entry, a ship tale from a tall ship in the modern era!
www.worldstorytellingday.org/post/3928310966/climbing-up-the-mast-of-the-tall-ship-hms-bounty

Others in this series:
#3
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/12/weather-vanes-story-resources-part-3.html
#2
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vane-series-story-resources.html
#1
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/2011/11/weather-vanes-series-point-to-stories.html

Reveiw: CD Prarie Child with Bert Marshall

2011-12-18T02:17:00.000-08:00

Prairie Child CD Bert Marshall available on CD Baby www.cdbaby.com

Not the sound I was expecting, the word prairie evoked soft windswept to me, but here the prairie is alive with a beat of a full bodied rich composition. Each song a story in itself the music is vibrant and draws the listener in. The opening piece "Road to Nowhere" is a song to listen to over and over. From the Road to Nowhere, that songs 18 wheeler takes you to the streets of New York. Ten songs each a strong stand alone piece make this CD a must have for your collection.

The talents of Bert Marshall are not his music alone. He is a performer and a graduate of Yale Divinity School. He presently works for Church World Service. He travels sharing a unique performance of the Gospel Of Mark, which is punctuated by his music and mastery of storytelling in long form.

Gospel of Mark

Rev. Bert Marshall shares the story of the entire Gospel of Mark in compelling performance. To learn more about that his website is: www.gospelofmarkalive.com Please watch the trailer video, it is compelling.

an earlier blog I wrote on that is here:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/gospel-of-mark-alive-storyteller-rev.html

other reviews I've written:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/review-tom-callinan-commerations-and.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/mike-lockett-tales-and-fables-east.html

Rye Beach

2011-12-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

Rye Beach, New Hampshire

rhythm of my heart
timeline
Gull cry
family
memories

My grandmother Pauline ( Tiny) Marshall

My aunt Ginny 1921

My Dad in 1936 or 37 tan as can be and playing with a friend named Ricky.

December 10, 2011
I am drawn to visit the beach and walk the sand and listen to the gulls cry. This is an exercise in reconnecting with my past. This is a place I go that lifts my spirits and reminds me of where I come from and where I want to go. While standing here gazing out at Star Island ( one of my most favorite places in the world) I couldn't help but wonder when my Dad last saw this beach of his childhood and did he ever think it might be the last time. I took a few minutes extra to soak up this wonderful scenery, I am so glad I made the trip to New Hampshire for storytelling and a side visit to see my cousins at the beach and take a walk full of memories!

5 Unusual Gifts

2011-12-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

I don't want to give what everyone else is giving, but where do we find the unusual?

In our imaginations!

5th place in my list of unusual gifts to give: A tire and a rope for hours of fun!
( rocker not included; some assembly required!)

4th Place

The Wheelbarrow

Fill this gift with fertilizer, trowel, seeds, gloves and a sprinkler and hose and get the gardener on your list dreaming of spring!

3rd in our list of Unusual Gifts

The Family Membership

Old Sturbridge Village a Massachusetts museum a great choice to give the gift of family membership for a year. Look for a similar museum near you get the family out learning and enjoying the day together! www.osv.org

Another museum choice in the Connecticut area would be Mystic Seaport can't go wrong either way both great adventures over and over again! P.S. a camera memory card would go great with this gift! www.mysticseaport.org

#2 on the Unusual Gift list

How about an experience they will never forget. Bundle up for your very own "over the river and through the woods", adventure. This scene from www.blueslope.com in Franklin CT. You can find a suitable livery service, carriage rides in most states with a google search. Sleigh Bells ring, are you listening.....

                                                  Number 1 on the Unusual Gifts List
                                   scoring high in the shop local ideology this holiday season

                                                          A Special Performance
The perfect gift for families, relatives in a nursing facility, reunions, company get together, a school, a child's teacher, your scout or 4-H group, give a gift of storytelling or musical performance.

                              You can find a storyteller near you by visiting one of these sites:

www.connstorycenter.org    Connecticut

www.lanes.org                     New England and New York

www.storynet.org                 National

Weather Vanes; Story Resources Part 3

2011-12-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

More Weather Vanes with accompanying resources for stories, written or oral.

egg laying contest Uconn

There was a time when the world made tracks to Storrs CT. bringing their best hens for a prestigious competition in egg laying to find the world's best producers. One of these coops remains as a historic marker to that time.

( Thanks to the Dodd Center at Uconn for permission to use this photo)

poultry science

Professor Daniel Talmadge taught poultry science at Uconn in the 70's and before. Our class was a group of typical college kids making commentary. We came up with a sketch of three chickens that had cartoon style speech bubbles and comments then it was adhered on Dr. Talmadge's office door. "Talmadge's Trio" and our anonymous opinions were there for everyone passing by. He seemed to like our sense of humor. We of course being late teens - early twenties thought we were terribly funny and clever. We were just college kids up to the usual and not far removed from Saturday morning cartoons.

Rooster/ Hen Stories

Here at Jackie Baldwin's site you can find quite a few chicken links

www.story-lovers.com/listchickenstories.html

I love this blog post by Storyteller Sue Black:

www.sueblack.wordpress/com/2010/06/10/the-true-story-of-chicken-licken-storytelling-for-bully-prevention/

Retrieve More Dog Stories

Dog Stories
My All Time Favorite Dog Story Comes from Storyteller Donald Davis of North Carolina. I think I'll wear out the CD "Gone Visitin". On that CD recorded live at the National Storytelling Festival is the track Rainy Weather 33.40 minutes of perfection in a dog story! www.ddavisstoryteller.com

My next favorite comes from Bill Harley on his Grammy Winning CD Blah Blah Blah, the 7 minute song: Bow Wow Wow you could have this in time for the dog lover on your shopping list and for the last minute shopper how about those downloads - instant GIFT! www.billharley.com

Falwell Barn Uconn

Historic Beef and Dairy Barn at Uconn College of Ag. History of College, Ct Agricultural College founded by Charles and Augustus Storrs. A little of their story in this link:
www.advance.uconn.edu/1997/971020/102097hs.htm

Beef and Dairy Til the Cows Come Home
( guess they are already here! But here are some resources anyway! )
Didn't know about my dairy connection have a look www.mountaindairy.com
here is my video from this falls corn harvest:

Do you remember Elsie the Cow? She was a starlet in her own right!
www.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_the_Cow

Here is a new kids cattle page:
www.cattle4kids.com/story.htm

Previous Posts in Weather Vanes Series:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vanes-series-point-to-stories.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vane-series-story-resources.html

Review- Tom Callinan ; Commemorations and I'll Take New England Any Day

2011-11-29T12:01:00.000-08:00

Tom Callinan Introduces us to two new CD's of his legendary music!

Commemorations and I'll Take New England Any Day

Commemorations is a collection of local legends and National treasures put to music. The characters of a time past and gone are given the breath of life in their story told. The music is warm, engaging and memorable as the tunes wind you into a tale centuries old or as fresh as yesterdays commute across the Baldwin Bridge.

This is CD is perfect compliment to a classroom, would work well in a pub, the music is for museums and families alike. This 2011 release is sure to be a favorite among the history lovers and the classic sounds of guitar and voice meld into the troubadours message.

On this CD I fell in love with a couple of the songs right away. One is the tale of Sebal Luddington, a previously unsung heroine. She made a valiant ride similar to Paul Revere and with that ride earned her right to be honored in lore and song.

Another fave of this album is Bushnell's Turtle. I love the rythym and the descriptive nature of the Turtle's work. This is certainly a song of bravery. 17 songs on this packed CD, a sure thing for the next long car trip or as a gift to student of history.

3:12 the time it takes to sum up the great body of work completed by Connecticut great Noah Webster. His mastery of word and language truly unsurpassed. Whenever I pick up a dictionary from this time on my toe will tap out a beat to a song of the wonder of all those words.

Land of Hills and Mills is a wonderful tale of the Quiet Corner of Connecticut. The 5:46 second journey is a timeline of what once was and now is Killingly, CT.

Bells of Norwich, service of the Yantic Fire Dept. and a heroic stand against odds at Fort Griswold help to fill out a collection of historical power in music.

The Second CD is : "I'll Take New England Any Day"
This is a collection of songs to perfectly describe all the variables that New England can be, sometimes all within a day! A second purpose is recognizing holidays in song. The Patriotism of a Memorial Day or Fourth of July down to the "Christmas in Connecticut" track.

Does an Apple have the power to haunt, well maybe those of Micah Rood do, listen and find out. Other tracks feature the music of simple pipe flutes, in haunting tone or lilting like an Irish jig. The longing tones of the flute bring out the power in the words of the creation story of the Abenaki Peoples in the story of Mount Monadnock.

The CD is versatile and easy to listen to with styles well matched to the traditional tale they interpret. I highly recommend both of Tom Callinan's CD's. www.crackerbarrel-ents.com

Tom Callinan

The First CT. State Troubadour will be launching these CD's simultaneously from the Customs House ( home to New London Maritime Society) in New London CT. The debut is part of a festival of Celebration sponsored by the Maritime Museum in New London, CT. Dec 3 at 6:30 p.m. Children 10 and up will enjoy the performance and adults will listen anew to tales once heard now brought back in song.

(Please call for a reservation space is limited 860-447-2501. $5.00 to guests over age 14. Members of the society enter free)

other blog with a nautical interest:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/10/bosuns-pipe-calling.html

CD Debut Celebration Announcement in Blog
www.lanesrepct.blogspot.com/2011/11/tom-callinan-double-cd-debut.html

World's Best Writing Prompt

2011-11-26T05:47:00.000-08:00

Even the student who never wore out a pencil is encouraged to write a full page for this writing prompt!

Have a story about a letter you wrote or read? Leave it in the comments.

another blog with a prompt:

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/10/autumn-colors-assignment.html

Fairy Think-ets Game Review

2011-11-25T08:18:00.000-08:00

Fairy Think-ets by Think-a-lot Toys Review

www.think-a-lot.com

Once Upon A Time.... It can begin that way but where the tale turns to from there is any ones guess. With the Think-a-lot Fairy set of trinkets imagination is the key to a classic or not so classic fairy tale. With cues from the selection of a tiny item the hero or heroine may be looking to the magical powers of a mirror and then swept away on a skateboard. To children they are a key to imaginative play and release of the inner child for adults.

Fairy Tales as Spoken Word are not the only delight. This set makes a fun game of concentration. What piece is missing and acquiring the skills of quick memory recall are a great learning asset.

Other blog reviews of games for storytelling fun:

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/story-play-cards-game-review.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

Want to try to finish this tale from the picture above make your ending using the items not mentioned and put it in the comment box.

      Once upon a time a magical Blue Butterfly was released in Cambridge, Ma. it flitted about the country side. Wherever it landed stories unfolded of the ancients and the new, in small gatherings and large venues. Sometimes the Blue Butterfly was seen near cool waters, in green gardens and where rare Books stand side to side. Words flowed like fine wine from a Goblet and were sweet to the lips and ears alike.
      A cold north wind blew around the corner. It always comes, and has for time eternal, its presence a sign of........

Go ahead finish it in the comment box there is no limit to the number of ways this story can be told.
Left to use: stone, purple rose, butterfly ring, pink bottle, heart, seed, leaf, mushroom, cute, sun medallion, mirror.

To order see www.think-a-lot.com who will you gift with the magic of story?

Think-Ets Game Review

2011-11-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

Review of Think-ets by Think-a-lot Toys
www.think-a-lot.com

Not going out to face the bustle of Black Friday Shopping?

You won't find me out there either!

I want to stay home and play a family game, I might even do some online shopping. I will be looking at my list of naughty and nice and deciding who will be getting a good lump of coal and who a shiny wrapped parcel. Well, I have a sleigh but no reindeer so maybe the Santa routine is not for me.

I have been playing with Think-ets with various age groups and want to share with you that we have had a lot of fun! With multiple game choices and the easy convenience of a small bag to carry with me this Deluxe Set is a big hit from grade school to senior citizens. Mixed ages is stimulating because everyone brings their imagination and the stories take some fun turns. Embedded in the game are teachable moments, a famous quote, a reference to another place and time. Twice without prompt student groups came up with Romeo and Juliet story versions.

Playing concentration by laying the pieces out and removing one was a favorite. I could see how sharp the kids were as they studied the array of items and tried different techniques to keep the mental list.

Think-ets will be on my list of things to order so that the fun and stories continue. I am appreciative of the students who happily volunteered to play games and let me watch the play proceed. This was the perfect way to spend the last few minutes of class today. Now I will be looking forward to the next time I'm in a groups setting and we can play Think-ets from Think-a-lot Toys in Boulder, Colorado.

Go Ahead, it's your turn!

other blogs that reviewed gift ideas:

StoryPlay Cards
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/story-play-cards-game-review.html

Mike Lockett the Normal Storyteller CD from www.cdbaby.com
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/mike-lockett-tales-and-fables-east.html

Rory's Story Cubes
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

Subscribe or Follow today if you want to receive the upcoming reviews of more games and CD's, Thank -You!

Thanksgiving A List of Giving Thanks!

2011-11-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

My family - as always I am thankful for my family and this year in particular for my Brother, Steve Marshall. We took a long journey through our parents illness and passing together and I am so grateful to have had him at my side! Thank- You Steve!

Here Steve is at work on the restoration of the Nathan Hale School House Museum at New London, CT. www.historichouseguy.com

I am thankful for Grandchildren: There is nothing like the smiles and hugs and kisses of Grandchildren and to hear them call "Grandma!"

Zoom Zoom Zoom in your homemade car!

I am thankful for family milestones:

My son Tim graduated from High School

William's Baptism was a special day!

I am Thankful for all my children and all those children I spend time with!

I am Thankful for life's simple pleasures,

Country

Beauty

Nature

Good Food

Memories

Sunset and Rain

My Work

The Ladies at the Dairy

Thanksgiving

past blogs of family and home:

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/journey-of-thousand-goodbyes.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2009/06/theres-no-place-like-home.html

5 Tips to Make Your Presentation a Story to Remember

2011-11-20T10:19:00.000-08:00

Dedicated to the students at the E.O.Smith High School Depot Campus a Big Picture School.

Good Luck on your exhibitions!

1. Dress For Success

2. Speak to be heard and understood, don't just talk- tell the story

3. When using photos - make them high quality ( they are speaking for you)

Above a nice quality nature photo

Below a poor quality photo

4. Eliminate Distractions

hair in eyes, gum, phone going off, swaying, looking at floor - ceiling etc.

5. Practice what you will say so you don't need Ummmmm....

Big Picture School : www.bigpicture.org/schools

E.O.Smith high School Storrs, CT. www.eosmith.org

Another blog about story in education:

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/change-the-story-tedx-talk.html

this blog has educational game review:

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

Story Play Cards; Game Review

2011-11-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

Five Stars for the StoryPlay Cards by Think-a-lot Toys!!

www.think-a-lot.com (while you are visiting their site sign up for the free newsletter you might win a Think-ets game.

I opened the box with such anticipation for the fun it held inside. I was not to be disappointed. I took out the double deck of cards and began to flip through the images with associated word at the bottom. I could envision the story games we would have.

My first play was a set of cards dealt to a group of students in a high school. We created the decks inaugural story as a group. The tale wound through mystical and imaginative places with an athlete as the main character. The group was reserved about the possibilities at the outset but begged for a second round on closing the first story out. We had a good time, our second play with an assigned curriculum based topic from World Civilisations class. The story was creative with references to the ages being studied in different classes. It was a great way to make the material more lively and give them a chance for recall practice.

I moved on to another group of students and here we tried a game similar to Go Fish using the color borders and the full deck. There was a great deal of cheerful banter when a prized color was discarded. The next group we played a memory concentration game with a part of the deck that were 14 pairs by association. For example one card was a tree its pair was roots. The star card was paired to Cosmic explosion. There was word association along with the memory component. The same game was enjoyed by grade school aged children.

My third adventure with the Storyplay cards was a Storytelling Course in the English Dept. at Eastern CT. State University. My visit to the college class as a guest speaker was a prime time to take 20 minutes mid class and see how story games were received by the college set. I had five different games going in the room and they were well received. I was listening in on the team playing StoryPlay Cards and found they were creating a dynamic tale with laughs and a very creative process.

There are so many possibilities with the StoryPlay cards in the classroom setting , but I can see wonderful opportunities with family games and in senior settings.

Another game review:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

Weather Vane Series; Story Resources Part 2

2011-11-14T02:37:00.000-08:00

Another Weather Vane Depicting a Morgan Horse

Ethan Allen famed son of Black Hawk

(Weather Vanes Pt.1 Highlighted the Black Hawk weather vane)

another blog highlights that bloodline of these horses today:

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com.2010/08/what-is-lippitt-morgan-horse.html

See them in action the direct descendants of Ethan Allen and Black Hawk

The Canada Goose

Migration, Nesting and Everything to know about the Canada Goose:
www.lovecanadageese.com/index.html

www.canadageese.org/bspm.html

A Major Resource for all birders is Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/lifestory

A Wonderful Movie depicts much of the story from hatching to migration:

Fly Away Home available from www.amazon.com

Snoopy and The Red Baron was the first thing to come to my mind as I saw this flying over a barn roof.

Amelia Earhart a great story for telling in this material:

more info on her life and historic flights at : www.ameliaearhartmuseum.org
Plane Spotters:
         When fear of invasion rocked the country during WWII blackout curtains and security measures were instituted. One was a league of plane spotters set up all along our coast lines, sitting long hours alone in towers and glass cupolas watching the skies with charts of aircraft type around them.
     Bob Grigg writes articles for the Colebrook Historical Society. There are 450+ articles on their site, a researchers goldmine! Here is the link to his article highlighting plane spotting in their town:

www.colebrookhistoricalsociety.org/Bob%20Grigg%20-%20History%20Bytes.htm

      Mansfield (CT) had plane spotters as well, they kept look out from the glass cupola on the town hall which is now home to the Mansfield Historical Society.
       Everyone could be part of the National Civil Defense as playing cards were decorated with plane types so they would be common and the general public could inform what type plane was flying over.

This image of playing cards with Japanese Aircraft is from www.ameshistoricalsociety.org please visit their site to see more info and pictures on Plane Spotters.

Weather Vane Series #1 is available at:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-vanes-series-point-to-stories.html

Weather Vanes Series; Point to Stories Part 1

2011-11-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

I love weather vanes. They show you a little about the place or people that live and work below their direction. They are steady and withstand storms and always helping show the way of the wind. They are whimsical and historical and creative and simple all in one.

My favorite weather vane adorns the top of Whitney Hall .at the University of Connecticut. On this day the wise owls are pointing to the College of Agriculture and the Second Congregational Church whose weather vane is equally beautiful.

Let this weather vane point you in the direction of some great stories, here are owl story links to go with it:
Incredible Story from Simon and Schuster books watch the video on the site:

www.wesleytheowl.com

more: www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=Owl+Stories

No Owl Section would be complete without a spot dedicated to Jane Yolen's, Owl Moon!

Here is the Second Congregational Church and although you can't quite make out the weather vane I love how the steeple is lighted. The vane is gilded and has been a landmark in town and on the campus of the University of Connecticut since its construction.

The Historic Congregational Church at Lebanon, CT sports this artistic gilded weather vane.

Some links to stories of and about church:
First Church of Christ Mansfield Center UCC, will soon host a special storytelling event "The Gospel of Mark Alive" presented by Storyteller Rev. Bert Marshall November 27 at 2 p.m. You can see a blog post about the event at:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/gospel-of-mark-alive-storyteller-rev.html

Need a laugh here are some humorous stories with a church theme I recommend the
Story of the Two Little Boys!
www.gatewaytojesus.com/humorouschurchstories.html

Hear Jonah's Tale on You-Tube:

Another Lebanon, CT. weather vane from the top of the Town Hall of an early sulky racer. These weather vanes were pattered after the images of Blackhawk a famous Morgan Horse Stallion.

Lore of Blackhawk:
www.morganhorse.com/about_the_morgan/photo_archive/black_hawk

www.morganmuseum.org/html/amhistory.html

This was really a form of early advertising of his racing record and his record as a breeding stallion. Certainly putting this atop your barn in that day was a proclamation to high quality stock below!

The weathervanes of the era are highly sought after early American Folk Art check out this sale of a Blackhawk vane at the famous Christie's in 2002, can you believe $14,100.00! See it here:

www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=3859833

This is part 1 of the Weather Vane Series, I will post more vanes which will point you to more fun and enlightening resources. Look for those posts in coming days and weeks. Subscribe or follow to be sure not to miss a single weather vanes post.

Blacksmiths and Artisans made the weather vanes of yesteryear here is a post with links to the Blacksmith trade and stories;
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/08/village-smithy.html

Hope you have had fun wandering my resource collection if you liked something share it with a friend please.

The Gospel of Mark Alive: Storyteller Rev. Bert Marshall

2011-11-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

Stop right now and check November 27, 2011 on your calendar!

Sure hope you are free at 2:00 p.m. for this very impressive performance of:

"The Gospel of Mark Alive"

a storytelling performance by Reverend Bert Marshall at First Church of Christ

Mansfield Center, CT.

Suggested Donation $5.00 per person $15.00 per family. We are easy to find at the intersection of routes 195 and 89 in Mansfield Center, just south of the Uconn campus.


Hear Mark's whole incredible mysterious story from beginning to end, as it may have been told in the early years of the Jesus Movement, before the rise of Christianity. www.gospelofmarkalive.com (see the powerful teaser clip there!!)

This will be a very special day at First Church of Christ in Mansfield Center ( UCC)


Fair Trade Gift Fair 11-2

Community Tree Lighting with music by Take Note 6:30 pm followed by refreshments

other blogs I've posted about Mansfield:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/mansfield-general-store-whats-story.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/signs-im-not-in-downtown-mansfield.html

Mike Lockett :Tales and Fables East Meets West

2011-11-07T03:35:00.000-08:00

Another incredible collection of stories from Mike Lockett. Plenty of time to down load this from CD Baby ( www.cdbaby.com ) for a gift for the holidays or for the long car ride over the river and through the woods.

Dr. Mike Lockett of Normal, Illinois is the Normal Storyteller

Find info on where to see him perform on his website www.mikelockett.com

I used the download from CDBaby to bring all sorts of animals and wonderful stories into the living room. This collection is sure to be a hit with the kids and excellent as a classroom addition. A few moments of music ease us from one story to another and we hop around the world hearing tales from a wide variety of cultures. The ox and frog, the hare are accompanied by all their friends on this journey.

www.cdbaby.com

A search of "storytelling" on CD Baby will lead you to a whole world of stories from many different tellers. Be sure to look around while shopping in there!

Other reviews of Mike Lockett's work on my blog:

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/tales-from-aound-world-with-mike.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/05/review-tales-from-hills-by-mike-lockett.html

Apple Apple Who's Got Apples

2011-11-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

It is apple season the crunchiest, crisp, red, green and yellow celebration of fall.

Today we are making pie, Apple Pie first was a trip to the store for supplies

We have apples all washed and ready to peel

Making the pie crust comes next

Pies baking in the oven smell great

Company coming and the pies are ready

Apple Stories, teaching tools, activities and fun along with the Johnny Appleseed Story

www.teachingheart.net/appleunit.html

www.alphabetsoup.net/dir/apple.html

A couple Connecticut Orchards:

Bishop's Orchard: www.bishopsorchards.com

Horse Listeners Orchard: www.horselistenersorchard.com

Chaplin Farms: www.chaplinfarms.com

another blog about Connecticut Grown:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/10/connecticut-corn-harvest-story.html

You Write Story Needs an Ending

2011-11-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

So it appears that no one wants to commit to finish the spooky story, are you so scared of the flea eater or the talking gargoyle door knocker? Maybe you ate to much candy and needed a day off from things.
I told what we have last night at VoiceMail but as I had a lot on my mind left out one of the best parts so rather than air the err, I am asking for some input to finish the spooky tale so we can do it up right and then I will tape it with some practice.

As a suggestion you can use the photos in this blog as ideas for the storyline. You can read the whole thing in the post from Oct 29 ( blogger having an issue with the link sorry, just go to October listings in the right sidebar and click on October it is the post on 10/29)

This is such a fun project and I never could have predicted the way the story has grown. Hope you have some more fun with it.

You Finish the Spooky Story

2011-10-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

This is in the spirit of the season. Just leave your piece of the story in the comment section and let the next person pick up the tale from there and continue it. I only remind you that my blog is read by young people, please keep that in mind as you write. You can add one sentence or a whole paragraph to take the story onto the next place. You can come back later and add a piece again after someone else has posted.

                                                    Stranded on Halloween

    The business trip had gone just as expected and closed off with a fine meal in a nearby restaurant. Late in the evening as conversation drew to a close the young man with his laptop case slung over one shoulder emerged from the dinner meeting and decided to go home that night and dropped the lap top on the passenger seat of his old Mercedes and headed home. He set the GPS system for "Go Home" and cruised out of town on the highway he had arrived from a few days earlier. The GPS spoke in a clipped British accent, exit in 5/10's of a mile. He was driving, his mind on the business conversations of the evening and followed the directive of the GPS unit. Suddenly the lights of the highway were behind him and his car winding along a desolate roadway. A thin ribbon of water glimmered in moonlight over the guard rail. He had in one exit plunged from metropolitan hurry to rural darkness as the solitary car on the road. His engine spluttered........

Local Haunts and Creepy Costumes

2011-10-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

It is almost here the creepiest day of the year. After the costumed kiddies retreat to bed with bellies full of candy. After the teens on the prowl have settled to tell of all the bravado they showed that night. Late when only the brave dare visit the streets then do the spirits of past Halloween's cruise the streets of town and the hallways of some of our scare inducing landmarks! Welcome to Halloween 2011, where will you hide?

The Ghostly Tavern and Fiddlers, Coventry (CT) Historical Society
Haunted Tours Open again Friday Oct 29

If you make it out of the woods stop by the fireside for Storytelling with Carolyn Stearns Storyteller. www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com I grew up in Coventry and live nearby, I know what haunts the forest there, do you?

Not Scared Yet? Want More Fun?
Halloween Night the Willimantic Brewing Company is host to VoiceMail a special edition of the monthly storytelling open mic. This month, on Halloween night at 7 p.m. Spooky Stories all open mic! www.willibrew.com Come early for dinner stay for the stories. 967 Main St. Willimantic, CT. Your host for the evening Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

Carolyn Stearns Storyteller

Don't think you are safe when the calendar changes to November for there are places that will always be thought of as haunted. Here are a few if you dare look farther down the page!

Does the spirit of Nathan Hale still wander the family homestead in search of his hunting buddy and best friend Asa? Will the patriot who was hung by the British as a spy find peace in the forest that is his namesake? Come to Coventry Connecticut to find out more. Parking for the Historical Society Haunted Lantern Tours is here.

Eastern Connecticut's Rail Trail through several remote areas and forests ( no rails and ties there it is a hiking trail) is home to a haunting by the Ghost Train. Listen for its whistle!

Yes indeed this state forest is inhabited by a ghost of Mary E. Ask me about her visits when you come to VoiceMail at WilliBrew on Halloween!

This is the second time I have captured a photo of her orb in the forest there!

Lastly a event coming up this winter inspired a day of video at the Old Tolland Jail Museum on Tolland (CT) Green. What fun creating these videos to promote out winter Campus Slammer.

and another view

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween filled with fun and great stories!
for a previous blog on VoiceMail see: www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/willimantic-brewing-company-and.html

Connecticut Harvest a Corn Story

2011-10-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

Corn Harvest in Connecticut is a story of 2011 rain and mud. For every day spent out trying to chop corn into much needed corn silage there is three days of rain. In the spring we had so much rain we couldn't plant all the fields some had standing water in them.

Ruts in the fields, these are minor compared to some

Corn likes it hot and sunny. This year we had mostly a cool rainy summer. The corn is shorter and the ears are smaller.

Fall comes and it is time to begin harvest but the rains just keep coming. Some days it takes a tractor or bulldozer to pull the truck to catch the corn, and a duo of vehicles to chop as well. Then repairs to the rutted fields have to be made when they dry. When good weather comes the crew is working steady to get that corn home to the silage stack.

Everyone will be happy when the stack is full and covered and we know we have enough feed for our dairy cows for the next year.

The tarp covers the old corn we are feeding out still. The new corn is pushed and packed by the bulldozer. The tight packing into the cement lined pit completed, the plastic cover is laid over it and weighted by tires to protect from wind damage. Then the stack of freshly chopped corn ferments. This is the basis of our dairy cows diet.

A milk producing cow will eat approximately 40 pounds of corn silage a day. So it is important we get all our corn home and undercover. The frost begins to sap its nutrients so time is of the essence.

Our family came to this farm in 1772. The first 100 years here they were subsistence farmers. In 1871 they incorporated the dairy business. www.mountaindairy.com Since then the rhythm of the farm has stayed in tune with the seasons. The crops coming and going on the land are the basis for maintaining the dairy cows. The days of horse drawn milk delivery are gone and the glass bottles are only a Christmas Season novelty.The work of milking has gone from hand to machine, what is consistent is the Stearns family being stewards to the land and animals.

This is our family story, of working the land and the land nurturing the generations.

For more of my farm and agriculture related blogs look at:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/2011_08_01_archive.html

Autumn Colors Assignment

2011-10-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Autumn Colors Time to Practice Storytelling Technique with Prompts

2011 will be a year to remember the lack of color by. The winds of Irene ( Hurricane downgraded to Tropical Storm) wrecked havoc with new England's quintessential fall tourism drive. There are some stunning tress out there but the hills a less aglow and the colors more muted than other years. None the less photography in the fall is always fun. Go take some pictures before the scene is all WHITE!

Here is a storytelling skills activity. Look at the picture and see if you can spend 1 minute telling about the colors, petals and more. This is fun with kids and helps them learn an internal clock for timing.

2 minutes what can be said about this choral like line up of pumpkins. Like a writing prompt these storytelling prompts are kind of fun.

I love this one gives ma all kinds of ideas. Can you make up a short story about this wheel barrow. Why is it parked so, what job is it waiting for or just completed?

I think images of train tracks are lonely. What feelings do you get from these photos can they be used in a story? In a writing assignment we can use sounds if described, but in storytelling the addition of sound can be  a dramatic lift. Imagine a train/travel story at the begining you blow one of those train whistles long and hard. Toward the middle with a little less vigor and at the end of the story a faint, distant lonely whistle.
    " If yo miss the train Im on you will know that I am gone you can hear the whistle blow 500 miles" this quote from a folk song may be why I always imagine lonely settings with train tracks.

other blogs I have posted with similar contenet:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/06/simple-summer-fun.html

www.

The Bosun's Pipe A Calling

2011-10-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

It was not so long ago when I was playing with a slide whistle that I remembered a great whistle. It was a shiny Bosun's Whistle that had been in the family. I was not sure who it belonged to , but I do remember that I was entranced by it as a child. The Bosun's Pipe ( or Boatswains Pipe) or whistle disappeared.

Now as an adult I get that, I was probably driving my Mom crazy blowing the whistle and the sound is high pitched. Within the four walls of a house it would be a bit much. The whistle wasn't really gone. It turned up last night as I was poking through boxes of "stuff". So Mom had kept it just stashed it. This particular pipe could have been hers as a members of Mariners Club or my Uncles from Sea Scouts. It might have been my grandfathers from a sea faring adventure.

You can hear one played at the link:
http://bluejacket.com/sea-service_calls.htm

They have been around since 1238 from what I've read on them. The Greeks and Romans using them to give orders to galley slaves on their ships. In 1671 the English Navy took up the pipe as a way of giving orders to be heard over storms at sea. As I'm writing this and the rain beats hard against the window, I can imagine the need for a piercing call to all hands on deck.

Down through time the Bosun's pipe or whistle has been used, and still is today. I remember scenes from the old TV show McHale's Navy with one. When I showed the pipe to my daughter she said, "Sound of Music" That may be the most common remembrance of a Bosun's Pipe for the non nautical. The wonderful movie scene where the Captain calls the children with the pipe. You can read more from the VonTrapp family legacy about the pipe calls at this link:
www.trappfamily.com/story/the-captain

another link with great info, diagrams and midi files is: www.unionnavy.org/page8.html

One piping term has become part of common usage here is a video explanation:

Are you hooked and you want to buy one to add authenticity to your next nautical storytelling? I found them for sale online in a wide range of prices the nicest here at:
www.brassbinnacle.com or at www.amazon.com

another of my blog posts a with nautical theme : www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/whale-of-tail-or-is-it-tale.html

Little Lebanon Llama

2011-10-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

I was driving through the town of Lebanon CT. a place so steeped in colonial American history, but on this day it wasn't the classic colonials, the mile long green or the huge church spire that caught my eye. My attention was grabbed by a tiny creature just over the fence from the road. I stopped the car, backed up and pulled off along side this new little life. How lucky that day my camera bag was in the co-pilot seat. Inspired by the long lashes and inquisitive little face I got out and took a few bits of video and created a little short movie.
Let me introduce you to the Little Lebanon Llama.

This sent me in search of links to Llama stories.

Amazon has the classic story Is Your Momma A Llama?
                  www.amazon.com/Llama-Stories-Growing-Scholastic-Collection/dp/B00019G4PA

Here is a Llama Lover Support Group:
                  www.experienceproject.com/groups/Want-A-Pet-Llama/74282

A Wonderful Story of Roger the Guard Llama
                  www.highlightskids.com/Science/Stories/SS0700_rogerthellama.asp

From the Andrew Lang Fairy Tale Collection - Lilac Book
                  www.online-literature.com/andrew_lang/lilac_fairy/13/

I'm always attracted to the animal stories! To the animals as well, I have been fortunate to be able to get to know a huge assortment of creatures over the years.

Here are some of my other animal centered blogs that might interest you.
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2010/08/maze-ing-give-donkey-and-ice-cream-cone.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-is-lippitt-morgan-horse.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/museum-squirrel.html

Education In Cubes - Not Just Child's Play

2011-09-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

The nine dice rolled across the table top and the students clustered to look at the outcome. Excited voices called out the images that landed face up on the special dice of the game Rory’s Story Cubes www.storycubes.com . Laughter and groans ensued as each player recognized their challenge of incorporating the image into a group story. “once upon a time…” the players began to weave a tale. On the next round I added a challenge make it all on one theme or subject. We tried subjects familiar to their curriculum and it provided a much higher level of gamesmanship. On this particular morning I was trying out Rory’s Story Cubes in a high school Agricultural Mechanics class. I began my test with one cooperative student and soon had a large group clustered around.

Looking for ways to add the curriculum to story cube fun I began challenges to the student players. We did a round using vocabulary words. Students in foreign language played a round telling the story in the language they are learning. Theme telling as recommended on the package was incorporated into curricular support choosing a topic from the lesson plan. The next roll the story must incorporate small engine repair for my agricultural mechanics group. Students returned to me later in the day during a free period with the request to play the game, that to me was the best review, the approval of this group of high school students.

Simplicity of the game allowed quick understanding of the skill required while also challenging the students to new levels. This was very evident through its popularity within the Special Education setting. The game was used in curriculum support again and was a popular reward for work completion.

Teachable moments occurred when working with younger students. These came from some of the iconic images. A roll of the dice producing a Pyramid image allowed us to look quickly at the computer to see pictures from the pyramids at Giza. With this more in depth look and quick lesson on the early culture in Egypt the students quickly incorporated the new found knowledge into the game.

As a generational counterpoint I played the game with a group of nursing home patients and found it brought out delightful interplay and stimulated memories and conversation. The residents varied backgrounds made for an intellectual story with moments of whimsy. I thought it an excellent game for mental stimulation and recall desired for early stage dementia patients.

American author and humorist Mark Twain played a similar game with his family each evening at his home Nook Farm in Hartford Connecticut. www.marktwainhouse.org Once the family assembled in their library room he was to invent a tale incorporating all seven items on the fireplace mantel into a new and different tale than any he had told on previous nights. Click this link to see the Twain House mantel and story items:

www.marktwainhouse.org/admin/assets/images/photo_gallery/1274956228-image-2.jpg

Rory O’Connor and Anita Murphy of Belfast, Ireland have come up with a flexible game that recreates the skills of the Irish storytellers –The Senachai. The product Rory’s Story Cubes have garnered more than a half dozen toy/game awards. This list includes the 2011 Best Game Award from the Independent Toy Awards – Toy Shop UK. This award was based on independent retailers experience and recommendations. One student suggested playing in an Irish accent after reading my printout from the Rory's Storycube website.

Since the games inception additions have come to the playing field. There are max sized story cubes and a story cube app for iphones. An expansion set brings a diverse set of verb cubes to provide more story action to the game. You can follow all the updates from Rory’s Story Cubes on Facebook, Twitter @storycubes and on you-tube and again on their website www.storycubes.com

Other reviews in my blog include

Mike Lockett www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/05/review-tales-from-hills-by-mike-lockett.html

Dementia Patient blog: www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/journey-of-thousand-goodbyes.html

making a commercial break

2011-09-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

I'm having fun making my own commercials. I use my Flip camera for video and a regular digital camera for still shots. Looking for something fun and catchy and connecting it into one of my projects is the quest. Going viral is the dream! I don't have viral quality material yet, I think it will be like hitting the lottery - right place, right time and just the right combination. I'm just having a good time coming up with creative ways to get the word out!

Here is an example:

For Campus Slammer ; inter-collegiate story slams in Connecticut, www.connstorycenter.com

Here is a link to a blog I did that had great stats due mostly to the video I took.

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/artisan-breads-whats-story-here.html

A still shot - a summer special

My goal this year is for every storytelling venue I produce or take part in to have a video. Face Book and Twitter, even blogs get a lot more attention with a video attached. So.....
LIGHTS - CAMERA - ACTION!

Journey of a Thousand Goodbyes

2011-09-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

My father passed away last week. He was a captive of Dementia or Alzheimer's for several years and in passing over that journey has ended and another begun. Herman F. Marshall was born July 19, 1929 in Manchester, New Hampshire. His story is our family memory now and I'm reading the things he wrote to save his memories, now they become part of my memories. There is a notebook collection of the people, places and things that were special and everyday in his life.

I can't say all the things I feel, or process all the emotions yet. I did spend the duration of Hurricane Irene's heavy rains scanning in these old photo and re-establishing a mental image of my Dad from before the time when age and illness waged war on his body.

This may have been a last family photo, Charles Marshall my Dad's father died when Dad was only 18 months old. There was no collection of stories and anecdotes, just a few old photos. I can see from this one how much my Dad adored his older sister Ginny, as he did his whole life! How my Grandmother managed raising her two children on her own, well she was strong she had to be.

My father was a photographer and one thing I could tell from the box of old family photos I brought home from his house was the interest must have started when he was little. Considering the hard times and single parenting they still managed to get a lot of photos of my Dad as a boy. He had never shared some of these, so there are surprises along the way as I scan my way through the box.

Summers were spent in Rye and Hampton Beach New Hampshire. Someone had a nice pony, this is one of the photos I had never seen but makes me understand more why he was so excited when we got my first pony.Little could he have guessed how much impact that pony would have on the rest of my life.

Here he is with his sister after 8th grade graduation. Pretty dapper dresser even then! He was always one for a suit and tie when he was going somewhere. When he worked for the newspaper as a photographer he was always in a suit with a white starched shirt. I finally got him to wear a colored shirt when I was a teen. It was very conservative though.

1945 and 16 year old Herman takes on a growth spurt propelling him to his mature height of 6 feet.

WWII and someone had to help build a highway across Alaska's expanse and off he went just 17 and enlisted with his mothers signature. Another adventure that included chasing a moose down the AlCan highway as they worked on it.

After the army it was photo school in Boston and landing the job at the Hartford Courant as staff photographer. He met my mother there and the rest as they say is history!

We added this photo to an album when they celebrated their 50th Anniversary.

Herman and Jessie Marshall

Look at that I've got my cowboy boots on!

Dad is gone but the memories are fresh and alive. I have scanned the photos and posted the blog to share them with family and friends so the story doesn't end there is always another chapter. On Sept.27, 2011 I will be one of the speakers at Eastern Connecticut University when the Psychology dept. hosts a program on Alzheimer's Awareness. I want to share some of my father's journey with the students and community. We need a cure and better treatments, we need understanding, we need to save the memories now! Alzheimer's is the Journey of 1000 Goodbyes as each skill and memory slip past the shroud and disappear. The parting is slow and long as the bright and vivacious, person we know slowly recedes into a mist of confusion. Like any fog it occasionally lifts for a captured moment and memory. I knew my Dad spent many hours with his memories, they played like a long Saturday picture show from his childhood until the credits rolled.

Keith Munslow NO Token NO Milk

2011-08-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect summer day,sunshine, blue sky, breeze and a Library Summer Reading Program sponsored by Richmond Library and held in Marlborough Senior Center, Marlborough Connecticut.
Just down the road a little way is the turn we have taken so many times for the 4-H Horse camp at Marlborough, I know the way like I was going home.

I had been looking forward to this performance by Providence's storyteller /entertainer Keith Munslow www.keithmunslow.com Keith performed at this past spring's Connecticut Storytelling Festival to rave reviews, mine included! www.connstorycenter.org

This was a children's program that delighted the parents and grandparents in the room as well. Keith mixed his trio of talents, drawing, music and storytelling to bring the Marlborough audience a great blend of his original material. There were pirates in the room and the school lunch lady, feats of daring on the trampoline and the sadness of having no token to get milk at a school lunch time.

Little did Keith know how the song that day pertained to me! Everytime he came back to the rythmic No Token No Milk line, I smiled. Around our house its No Cows- No Milk, Now Cows- No Milk! After the show I told Keith about our family business is dairy, at some point when I see him again I will just have to bring some of the world's best chocolate milk - Mountain Dairy Chocolate Milk! www.mountaindairy.com In the mean time you might catch me humming No token, No milk! Get yourself to a performance by Keith Munslow but let me warn you, when its over you are going to need some Oreo's and milk!

My roots are in agriculture, my heart in storytelling, www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com I like bringing you a diverse blog of agriculture, story, horses, cowboys, history and reviews. Follow me here or on Face Book and Twitter to see my most recent post and where I am travelling and the fun things I bring back to share with you.

1 Author, 3 Horses, Thoroughbreds,Lippitt Morgans and Me

2011-08-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was watching the Saratoga Yearling Sales Streaming Live from www.fasigtipton.com I have, since childhood wanted to see the sales at Saratoga. Those days I wore a thin path through the commercial carpet in the school library to the shelves that held the collection of books by C.W.Anderson. Weekly I walked over to carefully select a favorite that would be my companion for the week.

C.W.Anderson wrote so you felt you were right there, including his writing about the yearling sales. His lessons embedded in the text are on grooming, handling, health issues, rearing colts and more, all were taught in a simple natural way. His equine art was exquisite and precise, yet warm and soft on the eye, I was in love!

Here are some C.W.Anderson resources:
Author page at : www.equitainment.com.aufactsheet.asp?ID=48

Art For Sale or View: www.encore-editions.com/categories/horse-sketches-c-w-anderson

Buy His Books: www.amazon.com/c.-w.-anderson/eB001HCUBMM

It was the beginning of a new story that continues with a new chapter next weekend. If before I could read I liked horses, once the books were in my hands the love affair began in earnest. I read other authors as well I loved them all. Will James and so many more, if there was a horse or pony on the cover my nose would be buried in it. I read Justin Morgan Had A Horse and that was prophetic.

Christmas Day 1974 a black Morgan mare was in the back yard. She was decorated with icicles and happy eating her hay. I didn't feel the cold or snow and ice I just wanted to stand out there in disbelief that this was MY horse. Cindy was with me from that Christmas Day until 2002, what a gift! A new love affair began with Morgan Horses, which continues today.

I leased a look alike mare to my Cindy for breeding purposes, her name was Ryegate Bridget. She is a Lippitt Morgan ( the old blood lines preserved in this group of Morgans) I was hoping for another black mare and she was bred and the long wait ensued. Wait and wait and wait, she drew out the suspense into the 12th month. I was sleeping in the barn my eye easily checking her through a knot hole on the final night. The foal was coming. I ran and got my children we ran into the barn just in time to sit with her and watch the foal enter the world. I got my filly, but as she dried we realized she was bright pumpkin orange. Her color subdued as she shed the foal coat into a lovely chestnut. I gave her the name Storybook Salute Vermont. A homage to her lineage of Vermont Morgans and to C.W.Anderson and my favorite book Salute!

This spring Salute ( with new owner Dave Godding [CT] calling her Sally) delivered a beauty of a colt, Hail Vermont. The tradition continues.

The Lippitt Morgans will be strutting their stuff and showing their beauty and courage in the ring at the Lippitt Country Show Aug 20-21 in Tunbridge Vermont. I can't wait to get there and sit in the shadow of the Green Mountains watching these magnificent Morgans. www.lippittclub.net Just sitting here dreaming about next week I had to look back at my videos , join me:

Last Year at the show they introduced a new drill team this is the video I took of that performance - all Lippitt Morgans!

Pinch Me, I think I'm dreaming when I get to be the show announcer and see the beauty and majesty of the Morgan Horse on this historic show grounds where on the perfect day you can hear their ancestors thunder over the Green Mountains and on into greener pastures.
                                                            storyteller -announcer
                                                www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com

Secret 6 of Boston Supply Guns to Raid

2011-08-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

Guns in cases labeled Bibles or Books

    That was how guns were shipped from Boston to Kansas in support of the abolitionist movement before the Civil War began. Six men of the greater Boston area bankrolled the movement to make Kansas a free state ( slave free) and to provide leader John Brown with the money and supplies needed to bring about his plan to create an uprising and free the slaves.

Saturday I attended a program in Framingham Ma. about Julia Ward Howe and the Men of the Secret 6. Julia is most well known for writing the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. A first person account of these men and their connection to Julia was performed by storyteller Libby Franck a Framingham resident. There was an impressive amount of history personalized and brought out in this performance. The execution of her demeanor,costume, language, the dates and correspondences of the time were consistently in the time period and style.

          Fundraiser is not a new thing. The Secret 6 raised much of their funds through spirited talks and political connections in the Boston area. This group was well spoken, well travelled , successful in business and life pursuits, and inspired to bring about the change so needed.

Storyteller Libby Franck as Julia Ward Howe www.libbyfranck.com

WHO WERE THE SECRET 6? Here are their pictures I took these at the performance ( sorry a couple a tad out of focus but I had no others)

Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe husband to Julia Ward Howe

Franklin Sanborn and Theodore Parker

Thomas "Wentworth" Higganson

(below) Gerrit Smith

George Luther Stearns - I wanted to learn more about this Stearns!

Performance sponsored By:

Libby Franck      www.libbyfranck.com   for more information on programs of The Secret 6 and Julia Ward Howe and other topics.

www.framinghamhistory.org   Come out to their buildings, events and touch the local history they have preserved for you!

Village Smithy

2011-08-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

anvil

Blacksmith Stories Link:

www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/stories

www.story-lovers.com/listsblacksmithstories.html

Terminology of the Blacksmith:

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacksmith

coal fire and red hot

Functional work of the smithy- today most blacksmiths do not shoe horses, farriers trim horses feet and shape and put on their shoes. ( This big draft horse is sporting toe clips to hold the shoe on in mud and hard trail conditions) The toe clip always reminds me of the rubber fronts on my old Ked's sneakers when I was a kid.

nose to the grindstone
Putting your nose to the grindstone is about work ethic, being sharp with calculations and steady at work. Axe and other implement blades were sharpened on the grindstone.

In the foreground of the grindstone picture is an early style toaster. The small rack held slices of bread and was put on the hearth to brown them in front of the flames. With some homemade butter Mmmmmm!

He's full of hot air - could refer to a hot air balloon, but the blacksmith pulls the handle to the large leather bellows to send air into the coals to heat them up. Waiting around the blacksmith shop for a repair or to have a horse or ox shod would be the perfect time to swap tall tales - full of hot air!

Want to hear some of my blacksmith stories? www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com

Willimantic Brewing Company and VoiceMail

2011-07-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Willimantic Brewing Company, Housed in Willimantic CT. 's former Post Office building. www.willibrew.com

Do you want a tempting appetizer?

A full dinner? Want to try the in house brew?

Would you like a story with your dinner?    Let Me Recommend;

                                          VOICEMAIL!
You can catch VoiceMail once a month at Willi Brew. A special night for the open mic for storytelling. Each time we will have a featured teller and several slots in the open mic time. Come at 6 p.m. for dinner,( I suggest a call ahead for reservations 860-423-6777 tell them for VoiceMail). At 7 the stories begin with the feature taking the mic at 7:30. We will collect a donation by "pass the hat" the proceeds of which will be split 50/50 between the nights feature teller and the CT. Storytelling Center www.connstorycenter.org

                              The first date is AUGUST 29, 2011
Our feature teller will be Carol Birch     www.carolbirchstoryteller.com

Check out her website to see her connection to Lou Gehrig!

Come back Sept. 26, and again on Oct 31, for spooky stories
Did you See Willimantic Brewing Co. during the July 4th Boom Box Parade?

If you plan to be sampling the award winning brews we ask you to bring a designated driver!

Whale of a Tail, or is it Tale?

2011-07-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Whale Tail Fountain in New London, CT.

New London was first a colonial port city with the river and harbor deep and safe from storms. The fishing in the area was abundant and the forest provided wood for an early shipbuilding business. Later in New London history came the whaling industry the third largest fleet of whalers called New London their home port. Along came the trains that run along side the dock and off into the vast network of rails across our nation and the city became a shipping port. It was also a refuge from the summer heat and illness of New York City with a thriving hotel business at the waterfront to service those who came to the town for relief.

Today New London, CT. is a mixture of past and present. It is still a transportation hub as ferry boats come and go to the islands on regular schedules, their huge horns blasting a signal as the slip away from the docks. The trains come and go with constant regularity, freight, passenger and high speed sliding along the platforms at the historic Union Station. Taxis and buses are lined up waiting for fares to distant locations. Walkers stroll the shops and store fronts and a noon-day traffic to the restaurants is plentiful.

Historic sites are well marked and an easy walk from the fountains central port side location. New London is a city rich in heritage and modern amenities just waiting for your next visit.

In preparation you may want to learn a few whale tales to share near the whale tail!

Whales are a part of teaching in many schools here is a teacher resource site with a whale tale:

www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/summer/short-stories/how-brother-rabbit-fooled.html

This is a great story resource for the teller of tail tales:

www.story-lovers.com/listswhalestories.html

The United States Coast Guard Academy is in New London, CT. ( just across the street and from the Connecticut Storytelling Center, ( www.connstorycenter.org )
Here is a true story and coloring book of Inky the Whale they provide as an educational tool:

www.uscg.mil/top/downloads/coloring_books/inky/

You can try one of those types of Whaling ships from days gone by with a tour on the Mystic Whaler, it is on my list of things I want to do! www.mysticwhalercruises.com What a day-cation!

I have a couple favorite stories from the whaling era of American History, catch me at one of my events to hear a Whale of a Tale! www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com

Robin's Alive - Game & Story from Ages Past

2011-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Game and a Story to Share

Children's Games Played in Streets, School Yards and Camps for Centuries, often were related to events and stories of our history and peoples.
Here is an adaptation to Robin's Alive to be played by a group of children or youth. There is also a story to correspond with the game. This would be particularly well suited at a horse camp, or a storytelling with a activity to accompany it.

         ( free clip art image from www.pdclipart.com artwork in the Public Domain )

Originally the game can be found in "Games and Songs of American Children" by William Wells Newell, second edition 1903 and reprinted by Dover Publications 1963.

Evening Campfire time is a special gathering at any camp. Here is the perfect game for fun and laughter at your next camp fire. This could be done in schools and libraries as well.

The Game:
In it's original form the players all sit in a circle. A stick from the campfire is withdrawn with the end burning. It is passed from player to player each reciting the verse;

"The bird is alive, and alive like to be, If it dies in my hand you may back- saddle me."

   The game may go back to the history of torch bearers from Athens who lit a torch at the alter of Prometheus and passed the torch along runner to runner. There is an English version with riders going to Whitehall. One version had the loser ( whoever held the stick when the light went out to have the furniture stacked upon them.

    Here are my two adaptations:
1.) The firestick is passed around the campfire with each person reciting the line above. When the flame goes out the person holding the stick chooses another player and has to give them a "piggy-back" ride around the campfire area.

2.) version 2 for small children and indoor games. A baton or other item is passed around the circle if a player drops the baton that player needs to get up and "gallop" around the circle and make neigh sounds. Once back in place the game resumes.

The Story to go along with the Game is:

How The Robin's Breast Became Red; I like the version in the Baldwin Project collection, collected from Cook's "Nature Myths" you can read it from the link below:

www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=bailey&book=hour&story=breast

MUSEUM SQUIRREL

2011-07-21T04:49:00.000-07:00

Ever since Chevy Chase delighted viewers with the squirrel scene in "Christmas Vacation" I've become interested in the antics of our aerial neighbors. They are often at war with the owners of bird feeders with an economic recovery quite possible through the sales of squirrel proofing devices. The flip side of that are the people who are supplying the little beggers with dining facilities complete with table, chairs and an ear of dried corn. Some people have gone to extremes and created complicated adventure parks for the squirrels that visit their feeding station.
Yesterday I was visiting Old Sturbridge Village www.osv.org when we met a well fed squirrel outside the cafeteria. He has few threats in his existence, no dogs or cats, only night security cars and school groups. Of course it is the spills of these thousands of guests that make being a museum squirrel a good deal!

I have never seen such a happy and rotund squirrel and it is still able to run up and down trees with agility!

I was introduced to the personalities of wildlife through the writings of Thornton W. Burgess, beginning with the Adventures of Whitefoot Woodmouse.
Burgess wrote many books including a collection of Mother West Wind Tales and many personal tales of animals we all mingle with on a regular basis. The Sandwich Ma. resident was born there in 1874 and lived until 1965. His many books and wildlife friends are celebrated at the Thorton W. Burgess Society, 6 Discovery Hill Rd. E. Sandwich , MA. 02537 508-888-6870. Find out more about what the Society has to share at its nature preserve, center and library www.thortonburgess.org

I think this little guy is mad I have yet to mention that you can download many of these great books from this site: www.archive.org/details/whitefootwoodmou00burg

When the mac and cheese my grand - daughter spilled is all gone I'm sure our squirrel friend is....
outta here!

BYE!

Artisan Breads - What's The Story Here?

2011-07-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

Second post in the series "What's the Story here?"

Making, baking, ovens, history and more good bread! I love the story "The Smell of Bread" a Russian folk tale in the collection by Yury Kazakov (1965).

This blog was inspired by watching bread baker Dave Emigh at Mansfield General Store on Saturday July 16, 2011. www.MANSFIELDGENERALSTORE.com He set up his portable bakery in the parking lot and went to work using an incredible oven the Le Panyol.

A crowd quickly gathered to see the oven

Making Bread and Pizza in a Wood Fired Oven

Watch a video short with Dave Emigh, Bread Baker

Bead Baking Resources

www.kingarthurflour.com

www.breadexperience.com

www.artisan-baking.com
Ovens   - colonial:
   1780-81 Lebanon, CT. played host to the French army during the winter. They had arrived with General Rochambeau to aide the rebellion which resulted in the birth of our nation. But...not without bread. Encamped at Lebanon the soldiers built ovens to have the comfort of good bread.
       read more about French Bread Ovens and see an illustration at this link:
http://superiorclay.com/oven/article-breadbuilders.phpout

To read more about the French troops and see a relic of a camp this link will take you there:
www.skyweb.net/~channy/Roch.html

For a really fun website on pizza/bread ovens visit: www.traditionaloven.com

For more information on the copper topped oven demonstrated by Dave Emigh at Mansfield General Store look to this website: www.lepanyol.com it uses the special clay Dave told me about, Terre Blanche quarried in Larnage, France. Other Le Panyol ovens are in use at King Arthur Flour, Norwich VT. and Stone Turtle in Maine www.stoneturtlebaking.com

Mansfield General Store - What's the Story Here?

2011-07-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Today is the first of a series What's the Story Here? This series will highlight interesting people, places and things I run across. Stop back for another installment every few days. Thanks

Mansfield General Store - good old fashioned country charm!

They sure got it right on the business card, because this is the capitol of country charm!

I stop often for a cold drink, a wonderful cranberry chicken salad wrap or a hot cup of coffee. Today I visited with intent to see all the happenings, this summer Saturday found a tag sale of antiques and collectibles, fresh picked flowers and artisan bread baking in the neatest copper covered oven out front. ( see an upcoming post for more on the bread).

As you can see the store has served the community at Mansfield Center, CT. and the many who pass through for a long, long time. The store is set just a stones throw from the cemetery of colonial stones and the field where the militia drilled for the march to Bunker Hill. It is right at the intersection of our towns historical past and busy present. On this particular morning the Saturday traffic was whooshing by only to slow at the glint of sun on the copper bread oven and the white tents harboring classic New England collectibles.

When was the last time a pocketful of change meant reaching into the tin covered candy jars for just the right blend of favorites?

My children learned how to count money buying a few selected pieces of candy from a previous owner. This a a tradition as old as candy itself! What a great lesson for kids to learn, how to be a savvy shopper with a budget of 50 cents.

Have a cup of coffee and enjoy the photos of the Mansfield General Store then come down some Sunday for brunch and live music! Find them at the Intersection of Rtes 195 & 89

www.MANSFIELDGENERALSTORE.com

Carolyn Stearns Storyteller hopes you enjoy a visit to the Mansfield General Store, if you find me there maybe I'll have time to share a story!

"Change The Story" A TedX Talk

2011-07-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

"Change the Story"   A TedX Talk / Calgary
Is our non-profit, community group, church or civic group stuck in a changing world? Do we need to look at things in a new fresh perspective, a new story?  I found some great advice and motivation in this Ted Talk filled with " the intersection of leadership and STORY!"

"Carolyn,                                                                7/10/11

Thanks for the kind words - and, of course, please feel free to post to your blog - glad to hear it's meaningful to folks out there.

Regards,

Nick "
               Nick Nissely Ed.D