Author Archives: carolynstearns

Robin’s Alive –  Game & Story from Ages Past

Robin’s Alive – Game & Story from Ages Past

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… Continue Reading

MUSEUM SQUIRREL

MUSEUM SQUIRREL

      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… Continue Reading

Artisan Breads – What’s The Story Here?

Artisan Breads – What’s The Story Here?

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.… Continue Reading

Mansfield General Store – What’s the Story Here?

Mansfield General Store – What’s the Story Here?

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… Continue Reading

“Change The Story” A TedX Talk

“Change the Story”   A TedX Talk / CalgaryIs 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,                                                               … Continue Reading

Signs I’m NOT in Downtown Mansfield

Signs I’m NOT in Downtown Mansfield

        Signs I’m NOT in Downtown Mansfield                                                                                                                                     contents under pressure caution ahead Parking Lots water color memories                                                 Make Hay While the Sun Shines                                                                                                                                                     Oh Deer! Hometown Pleasures                                                                          Whoa!                                                                                                                          Water everywhere but not a drop to drink                                                                                                                                                     homegrown                                                                                                                                          Girls Night Out                                                        I Love Mansfield, CT.                    Continue Reading

Boom Box Parade

Boom Box Parade

            What does a town do when they can’t get a band to march in their parade?         Resort to good old fashioned Yankee Ingenuity! Kathy Clark did that 26 years ago in coming up with an outrageously simple solution. Everyone carry a boom box radio and the get the main St. radio station WILI  www.wili.com… Continue Reading

Peace Like a River

Peace Like a River

I’ve Got Peace Like a River……… In a 5 minute vacation, a 1 hour vacation, Daycation and weekend getaway.  I think I get through really hectic scheduling ( that earned me the nickname DERVISH recently) by being able to see the 5 minute vacation when I need one. Here is a sample: I saw the beautiful… Continue Reading

Barn Guests – The Barn Swallows

Barn Guests – The Barn Swallows

Carolyn Stearns Storyteller hosts some Barn Guests,  The Barn Swallows The Barn Swallows arrive each spring, they come with the warm breeze and the first bugs.  Swallows are voracious bug eaters sweeping over the pastures for the  unlucky flies and mosquitoes. For this reason they were a welcome guest the first year they arrived. We… Continue Reading

Civil War General Edward W. Whitaker CT. Hero

Civil War General Edward W. Whitaker CT. Hero

   Through storytelling, lecture, web promotion and sharing in conversation I am slowly spreading the word about the brave farm boy from Ashford and his heroic record in the Civil War.  His story like so many thousands of Civil War era stories is about a farm boy turned soldier, many of whom did not go home… Continue Reading

Grow Your Story

Grow Your Story

“Grow Your Story”, the words came leaping off the page of Doug Lipman’s book, Improving Your Storytelling – Beyond the Basics For All Who Tell Stories in Work or Play. ( August House Publishers, Atlanta, 2009, pg 86)  www.storydynamics.com  Growing that is something I know a lot about. The concept of growing my story tickles… Continue Reading

The Connecticut Charter Oak

The Connecticut Charter Oak

The Connecticut Charter Oak, what a story! Spring rain on the leaves of a young descendant of the CT. Charter Oak It is Memorial Day weekend and I am reminded  that we are celebrating freedoms earned my many Connecticut citizens. I am in awe of the strength, ingenuity, wit and talents of the Connecticut people.… Continue Reading

New Images

New Images

I was privileged to attend and share the day yesterday with a program called New Images under the direction of EastConn Educational Services.The youth attending  were all from a middle school seventh and eighth grade. They had gone on field trips produced digital photography, developed  photoshop edits which included adding their own Haiku poetry to… Continue Reading

Review: Tales From The Hills By Mike Lockett

Review: Tales From The Hills By Mike Lockett

Tales From the Hills  A Storytelling CD by Mike Locket          The soft mountain music eases us into the CD and whisks us away to a front porch nestled along a creek bed in the cusp of a Appalachian mountain. A tail of wood smoke curls down from a chimney and carries the scent of old… Continue Reading

Jorgensen Presents The Aluminum Show :  A Review

Jorgensen Presents The Aluminum Show : A Review

                                                                              May 18, 2011 The Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts on the campus if the University of Connecticut presented the first night of …  The Aluminum  Show, an electric performance of music, and dance. The interactive performance was a feast for the eyes and the ears. http://www.jorgensen.uconn.edu/ ( for ticket info and other shows) The vibrant intensity of… Continue Reading

3rd Annual Donkey and Mule Show at Bishops Orchard

3rd Annual Donkey and Mule Show at Bishops Orchard

Bishops Orchard in Guilford CT. played host to the Third Annual Donkey and Mule Show Mr. Bill Garrett Saturday May 7, 2011 The judge was Mr. Bill Garrett of  Garrett Mammoth Jackstock Farms in Stillwell, Oklahoma. http://www.garrettjackstock.com/ He has been raising Mammoth jack donkeys and breeding mules for over 40 years.  Having his experience at… Continue Reading

Report From  the 30 th  CT. Storytelling Festival

Report From the 30 th CT. Storytelling Festival

My Report from the 30 th  Connecticut Storytelling Festival and Conference April 29, 30, May 1, 2011 at Conn. College New London, CT.          Anticipation hardly covers the feeling of excitement  I feel when my car heads toward New London, CT. I know before long my brain will be swirling in a sea of story.… Continue Reading

Connecticut Donkey & Mule Show Makes the Papers

Connecticut Donkey & Mule Show Makes the Papers

Ring of Fire Scene from the Bishop Orchard Show in 2010 Save May 7, 2011 to come to Guilford,CT. for the  Annual Donkey and Mule Show                                                                    Click on the link below to see the article from  “THE DAY” The Day – Kim Brockett Helps Educate, Entertain News from southeastern Connecticut You will see all kinds… Continue Reading

Bald Eagle  Internet Sensation & My  Hawk

Bald Eagle Internet Sensation & My Hawk

Feeling Patriotic? We are! Humbled by the majesty of our National Bird the Eagle and by the  tenderness of motherhood over 100,000 at once have been logged onto the u-stream live cam from Decorah Iowa watching these Eagles hatch. Now that is viral video! We still need connections with nature and beauty and the magic of birth… Continue Reading

Once Upon a Time…Sharing the Fire

Once Upon a Time…Sharing the Fire

Once upon a time that was really 2011, storytellers converged at the Lanes Sharing the Fire Conference. They were so excited to share a weekend of learning, swapping, meals, stories,  music, dancing and more…. The committee from Lanes stayed up way past their bedtime working to make everything just right! Hotel Security stayed up really late… Continue Reading

Cowboy & Wills, Monica Holloway; My Review

The temperature outside tonight is in the brisk teens. I have had a very long work week, and yet coming home tonight listening to the last CD in the audio version of Monica Holloway’s book Cowboy and Wills, I sat in the driveway wasting precious gas and running the car heater to  stay with Cowboy… Continue Reading

Temple Grandin Returns to CT.

Temple Grandin Returns to CT.

Temple Grandin Author of “Animals In Translation”  returns to CT. this Friday. She will be part of a panel discussion of how a brain works.  If you have not read Temple Grandin’s work ( several books) seen the movie or  know about her livestock management practices this is  great time to engage any of these as… Continue Reading

To Stave Off Alzheimer’s, Learn a Language? Tell a Story!

To Stave Off Alzheimer’s, Learn a Language? Tell a Story!

Dementia and Alzheimer’s a cruel duo that have played out the last few years as they have stricken my father and left him a shadow of the man he was. How sad the memories of  Grandaughter’s weddings have slipped away and memories of the days when  brides were little girls. How  much we lose when… Continue Reading

The Snow Fort and Other Forts

The Snow Fort and Other Forts

When we were kids we loved making snow forts! These kids took advantage of record breaking snows to create their masterpiece. I was inspired by their fort to bring you some other “Fort” info and bits. Ft. Washington, New York City www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Washington Ft. Sanders, Knoxville, TN. http://www.battleoffortsanders.com/ Ft. Preble Portland, Maine www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Preble There are all… Continue Reading

Congratulations to Bill Harley on his Grammy Nomination

Congratulations to Bill Harley on his Grammy Nomination

Congratulation to Bill Harley on his Grammy Nomination, Today is the day!    Drum Roll Please…….. Let’s look at  the category : 77. Best Spoken Word Album For Children 1.) Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl: The Definitive Edition    Selma Blair [Random House Audio/Listening Library]. 2.) The Best Candy In The Whole World      Bill… Continue Reading

Snow Emergencies Strain CT. Agriculture Industry

Snow Emergencies Strain CT. Agriculture Industry

Snow Emergencies have struck Connecticut Agriculture a terrible blow.  The video shows the removal of the 14th horse from this barn  that collapsed under the weight of snow and ice.  Every day this week the news outlets have carried reports of more roofs in danger of collapse or in many case gone down.  The total loss… Continue Reading

Sleighing to Sharing the Fire

Sleighing to Sharing the Fire

The  weather seems to think we need to break the record for all time low temps in the Northeast! That just means we need to have more people SHARING THE FIRE!  March 18-20, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Warwick, Rhode Island storytellers from around the Northeast will gather and share in warm stories, warm hearts,… Continue Reading

Whale of a Good Time

Whale of a Good Time

You could have a Whale of  a Good Time…. in New Bedford, Ma.  Tonight is the  Story Cafe held at the ArtWorks For You Gallery. www.artworksforyou.org  Bundle up for the cold and come  listen or share a story.  There was Hot Chocolate promised by  Story Cafe hostess/director Karen Chace.  www.storybug.net The venue is a wonderful gallery… Continue Reading

Which hand should I hold the baton in? Be Passionate

Which hand should I hold the baton in? The video is a definition in motion of passion. Click and watch the video. There is no doubt that this young man is passionate about music. It is infectious. When we are passionate other people pay attention and try to figure out why and what makes that… Continue Reading

Tech 2011 and Not So New

Tech 2011 and Not So New

Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot? Then Now Got a Postcard……………………………….. Saw that on Twitter Kids Got a Comic Book …………………….new App for animation Newspaper………………………………………Face Book ( way back Newspapers printed all the social news, guess what, its back!) Dear Abby/Ann …………………………….. Oprah, Dr. Phil Dick Tracey Watch ………………………….new Fossil watch Stereoptican ……………………………………….slideshare Slide show………………………………………….animoto tin… Continue Reading

” What Was Civil About That War…” CD Review

” What Was Civil About That War…” CD Review

What Was Civil About That War… a CD by Storyteller Megan Hicks, 2004 stories (un)folding isbn: 8 2534646922 5 Stories ( Un) Folding PO Box 7994 Fredericksburg, Va 22404 http://www.meganhicks.com/ The lilting tune “Gary Owen” belies the eerily haunting tale of Civil War events at the battlefield that permanently transformed the sleepy town of Frederiscksburg,… Continue Reading

Hearing Voices? Maybe Jay O’Callahan’s

Hearing Voices? Maybe Jay O’Callahan’s

Baby it’s cold outside, the weather just isn’t delightful, so as long as it’s gonna snow, tune in tonight ( 12/14/10) to 95.9 in Mass. or http://www.959watd.com/ This is a much better way to pass a wintry night. Just before 8 p.m. make a cup of your favorite hot beverage. Pull on warm socks and… Continue Reading

I’ve Been In-Spired!

I’ve Been In-Spired!

I don’t know what started me taking pictures of churches but I like to. I love the different styles and the incredible architecture. I can imagine what the architect was trying to say with each design. Our town has many different churches large and small they are all unique. Not all have spires but I… Continue Reading

A Real Version of the Story of Sadako and the Paper Crane

A Real Version of the Story of Sadako and the Paper Crane

It all began with the folding of a single paper crane. Tightly creasing seams fold after fold and the final fold and crease, to then hold it up and say, I did it! I was teaching myself from a diagram how to fold a paper crane and the first clumsy bird was finished. It took… Continue Reading

Metro – T riders take stage to tell their MBTA tales

Metro – T riders take stage to tell their MBTA tales

In Boston this past slam was all about who rides the T ! It happens daily as thousands and thousands board and recede like the tide to the other world. So unremarkable that oblivion might better be the name. Then every now and again a ride becomes so noteworthy it becomes a story. Read the… Continue Reading

Christmas Spirits

Christmas Spirits

Getting ready for the Holidays? Plan an evening of pure entertainment with Carolyn Stearns Storyteller performing my original epic piece “Christmas Spirits”. Marlborough Tavern http://www.themarlboroughtavern.com/ will host a telling on Saturday December 18, 2010 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 for the performance but call and get your dinner reservations in and come enjoy the… Continue Reading

A Singing Breadbox

A Singing Breadbox

This Months feature performers Atwater -Donnelly on Nov 13, 2010 The venue St. Paul’s Valley St Willimantic, Ct Photo of Tom Callinan – A Breadbox Feature in the past In the Community: The Breadbox www.breadboxfolk.orgA community showcase mic held monthly to benefit the Covenant Soup Kitchen at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Vallety St in… Continue Reading

Historical Stories

Historical Stories

I am working my way through a blitz of storytelling shows and it is so much fun to move from venue to venue. I have been reaching so many people in the last couple weeks with stories and have met some awesome people. I have to remember that even when I am doing multiple shows… Continue Reading

What Gives ?

What Gives ?

What Gives when your plate is full? I realized my blog was what I could let go of as I became immersed in the down to the wire prep for our church 300th anniversary. This was no ordinary event but a historic research, writing, musical, timing, editing, and scripting and performance to encompass the church… Continue Reading

” Mistakes Were Made”  review or family checklist?

” Mistakes Were Made” review or family checklist?

Mistakes Were Made, Bill Harley Live ( with adults) The afternoon was quiet. The rain passed by and the sun was out and the orange and yellow leaves falling. I was settling a summer long office move into new quarters. The new office arrangement includes a CD player. My family left for a afternoon of… Continue Reading

Seacoast Fringe Festival

Seacoast Fringe Festival

Will you be coming to Portsmouth, New Hampshire or will you miss a great event? October 8, 9, 10, 2010 is the new and exciting Seacoast Fringe Festival. www.seacoastfringefestival.com The venue list is being formulated and will be posted on the website soon. The crew aboard the Fringe Festival committee are busy matching the wide… Continue Reading

Move over John Wayne, look out Clint Eastwood

( rider: Tim Stearns) What did you accomplish over the weekend in 16 seconds? In cowboy mounted shooting, the fast action rodeo type equine sport 16 seconds is a good run. For the Ct. Renegades State Championships Sept 18 & 19, 2010 Cowboys and Cowgirls from all over the Northeast descended on Enfield, Ct.’s Round… Continue Reading

In Awe of Learning

In Awe of Learning

I hope to be in awe of learning my whole life, how about you? There are so many things new to learn and discover. We get complacent in life so easily and miss opportunities. I hope to feel as excited as my Granddaughter is to learn something new. Seeing places through her eyes is like… Continue Reading

Tune In and Then Go Out

Tune In and Then Go Out

This weekend you will want to be outdoors with me! Ct. Outdoors Radio with Suzanne Thompson will tell you all about it. So tune in your dial early to hear about the A-MAZE-ING Story Slam outdoors, all natural and on the air in 3 – 2- 1 Hi, This is Carolyn Stearns and Suzanne Thompson… Continue Reading

Donkeys Just Wanna Have Fun!

Donkeys Just Wanna Have Fun!

Coming into the ring for your viewing pleasure the obstacle class for donkeys. Let’s see how our exhibitors have trained their donkeys to work their way through the obstacles. Then there will be the riding and the driving classes. Yes, they let donkeys drive but it has to be an automatic…….. well couldn’t resist the… Continue Reading

What is a Lippitt Morgan Horse?

What is a Lippitt Morgan Horse?

A weekend of memories, reunion, celebration and horses, weekends don’t get much better than that. I was at the Lippitt Country Show in Tunbridge, Vt. After the quiet peaceful drive over roads I have not travelled in many years I passed familiar scenes, a dairy with its own covered bridge and the place where the… Continue Reading

A-MAZE-ING Give A Donkey an Ice Cream Cone

A-MAZE-ING Give A Donkey an Ice Cream Cone

Summer was soooo boring for Jassper and Tabasco, just green grass …. and more green grass. Jassper and Tabasco needed a DAYCATION! Their owner understood when they told him. After work one day they were loaded in the Corn Pro Trailer to go on a Daycation trip. How Excited Jassper and Tabasco were. They were… Continue Reading

A Gem – Michael Parent cassette

A Gem – Michael Parent cassette

This spring when the trees were fully blooming and the wind came warm off the sea for the first time in months, I was in New London Ct. My annual trek to the Ct. Storytelling Festival http://www.connstorycenter.org/festival.htm I was there to gather in the warmth of story, the exuberance of new and renewed friendship ,… Continue Reading

Blind Faith & Cowboy Church

Blind Faith & Cowboy Church

This is the essence of a Cowboy Church program I presented at the Northeast Regionals of Cowboy Mounted Shooting at Three County Fairgrounds on Aug 8, 2010. I love the fact that cowboy mounted shooting has cowboy church preceding many Sunday competitions. Cowboy Mounted Shooting is one of the fastest growing equine sports. 1880’s clad… Continue Reading

Taste Of Summer

Taste Of Summer

What does summer taste like? Like the ice cream cone these girls lick at the Tolland County 4-H fair. www.4-hfair.org/tolland/county.html . It certainly tastes like a trip to the Uconn Dairy Bar and the Jonathan Supreme mounded up in a cup and drizzled with chocolate fudge syrup. The Uconn cows got up early to make… Continue Reading