Wednesday Word Wisdom from Carolyn Stearns Storyteller Ruminate to meditate and ponder…. We all do it a little, but I thought the time to get back to our roots was now. The roots of our language are based in agriculture at times, especially this word! Ruminate Don’t you feel better knowing we have a… Continue Reading
Rape of the Sea – Book Review “Cod”
Cod by Mark Kurlansky A Cod fish, seems innocent enough, yet has created international fighting, gunshots, territorial wars and innovations that have indeed raped the sea. This book is a incredible cross curriculum look at what on the surface is simple, in realityis a complex issue stemming from centuries old fishing practices to politics of today.… Continue Reading
History 300 & Coventry Farmers Market
Adventuring in local history I find a web of connections to the state, nation and world. No historical event is singular, each is a domino, or a thread, like I found today in Coventry, CT. This web between historic headstones is an example of how the story and history of one connects to the next. I found… Continue Reading
Act!vated Story Visiting CT.
National Touring Theatre Company to Appear at Shubert Library The national touring theatrical troupe Act!vated Story Theatre will arrive to “Act!vate” multicultural folktales at the Bryam Shubert Library, 21 Mead Avenue in Greenwich, on Monday, Sept. 10 at 3:00 p.m . The 45-minute program is free and suitable for all ages. The troupe will perform… Continue Reading
Simple Pleasures – Christmas Spirits
A few years ago this story fell in my lap. I was hunting for something to share over the holidays and piece by piece this came to me. It was as if the story had been waiting to be found and left a trail of clues for me to follow. “Christmas Spirits” is historical fiction.… Continue Reading
Never the Twain Shall Meet
We will never meet Mark Twain ( the pen name of Samuel Clemens), but standing in his home, surrounded by possessions that were his, a glimpse. Reading his works penned in the third story “man cave”, I know more. Reading what a few of our American Presidents had to say about Mark Twain, yet another… Continue Reading
Weather Vanes Story Resources Part 7
This is a really fantastic weather vane that adorns the top of the carousel building in Pullen Park Raleigh North Carolina. http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/PullenPark.html This park not only has a carousel, but a mini train, boat rides, and amusements as well as impeccably maintained playgrounds. The Raleigh Community Arts Center, boast performance and class space for the… Continue Reading
Vermont of Yesteryear is Waiting For You
It was a time to enjoy a slower pace, my annual trip to Vermont. The many iconic images of Vermont were revival for the senses, Granite, the Sugar Maple, the Morgan horse, Green Mountains and country stores. It is here on roads that wander between mountain and valley that I recharged my battery over a work… Continue Reading
Lil Joe, A Mustang HorseAdventure
A100 Day Extreme Mustang Makeover is underway and Lil Joe a Utah Wild Mustang is the star.Trainer Geoff Goodson has been working with Joe to help him become a trusted equestrian partner. Want to learn more about the trainers and the competition with these Mustang Horses check their home:http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/emm.php It all began when Geoff picked up Lil Joe… Continue Reading
5 Items to Pack for Storytelling with Children
I’m off to a storytelling gig with children.Time to pack my big canvas tote bag. I always prepare a program and some bonus or extra materials. You never know, extra kids, need to shift focus due to unforeseen event, I’m ready. My favorite reason to be flexible, “kids say the darnedest things” thanks Art Linkletter for the… Continue Reading
Participatory Storytelling
Re-posting a blog on Participatory Storytelling, crossing platforms and geographic area to engage people in a blogs, Facebook, tweets and other social media to tell a final story when all the components are gathered. I loved the Three Little Pigs segment to access via QR code. Check it out looks like fun! By: Robert Pratten Link: Participatory Storytelling… Continue Reading
American Mustang Horse From the Bottom Up
Connecticut has many horses living here but one who is here temporarily is developing quite a story. Lil’ Joe Wrangler is 3. A small bay with a brave heart. He was culled from the Utah Wild Horses and sent on a journey to be part of the Extreme Mustang Makeover. www.extrememustangmakeover.com Lil Joe was picked… Continue Reading
Story Stones- Story Resources
The rain ceased, the clouds disappeared, the dry summer commenced. Just below a course mountain of volcanic rock where hill meets level plain, that is where the last bit of water glistened on river rocks. They waited…. Not for a drink but for more stories about rocks and stones. For time to explore and time… Continue Reading
What is the Same but Different CA. & CT.?
About as far removed as you can get from the dairy farming world of Eastern Connecticut is the wine industry of Napa Valley California. By comparison they are the same and vastly different and I enjoyed looking at this very successful agricultural enterprise from the agriculturalists point of view. They may be different but a beautiful… Continue Reading
Bunny Visits V. Sattui Winery Napa, California
Cheers! http://www.vsattui.com/ THE END By: Carolyn Stearns Storyteller for my grandaughter Alexa Continue Reading
Storytellers Road Trip
Wed. June 27, 2012 3 p.m. the phone rings. The call from my friend Norah Dooley, storyteller from Cambridge, Ma. “I have an outrageous proposal, want to hear?” Of course I do, because Norah thinks like me. Her mind is in constant motion, and she puts herself 100% into what she is doing. If Norah… Continue Reading
Utah Wild Mustang in Connecticut
It is a long way from the wild horse ranges of Utah to a small paddock in Connecticut. The journey made by Mustang 4838 via Blaine TN. is the first steps on the road to becoming an equine partner and friend. The small bay with a star knew only the caress of a Utah wind, but… Continue Reading
Equine Bug Control – Got Barn Swallows?
Bugs really bug horses, they bug people and pets too. Some bugs we need, some we don’t. I don’t like the use of chemicals to limit the bugs, so I really appreciate the job Barn Swallows do in controlling insect population around our barn and yard. It all started when a solitary pair showed up a number of… Continue Reading
Star Island – My Favorite Place
How exciting to see a post and link to a story about my favorite place in the world. Star Island, is part of a cluster of islands known as the Isle of Shoals. It is just off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine, it is a place of such simple beauty and peace. A Facebook post alerted me to… Continue Reading
Wild Horses Couldn’t Keep Me Away; Mustang Stories
Wild Horses couldn’t keep me away from this story! A new series of blog posts on Wild Mustangs and their new lives. Today a first in the series is an introduction. My friend Geoff Goodson, horse trainer, farrier, cowboy mounted shooter has embarked on a new adventure. I plan to take us all along vicariously through… Continue Reading
Civil War Mystery Modern Day Detective Work
Who, it is a great mystery, who the little girls are in archived images retrieved from Civil War battlefield dead. Technology might have the detective power to unravel this mystery. If these images of the little girls and their companion unidentified images are spread on the web, just maybe, just maybe someone will recognize them from family… Continue Reading
Bee Important
The Bee is an important character in our daily lives as well as in folklore and storytelling. A serious demise to the honey bee population has entomologists and purveyors of local honey scrambling to save the colonies of honey bees, a critical link in the pollination process and key to 1/3 of the foods we eat. The… Continue Reading
One Hour Vacations
I need a vacation!!! The reality is that a vacation right now is out of the question. I’m not even available for a day trip. It is time for the entrance of the One Hour Vacation. Like a super hero flying in with red cape in the breeze, the one hour vacation swoops in and… Continue Reading
Graze 101
Graze 101 read more in a post from the “Udder Side” blog by Ryan Bright 5th generation farmer! http://udderside.blogspot.com/2012/05/cow-party-crashers.html of course party crashing cows are not unique to Ryan Bright’s farm, Mountain Dairy cows have been known to party on occasion. Continue Reading
Anna Deveare Smith’s Treasure Found
A treasure chest holds something of value and some unexpected jewels and glittering remembrances. A treasure chest inspires deep searching, and a cultivation of a hard work ethic to obtain the treasure within. Every bit of this comparative to a Johhny Depp scene in his Pirates film is true of a 2006 production of… Continue Reading
A CT. Maritime Story from Geneology
Digging through the reams of family tree material for a perfect story could be a needle in a haystack, but is more like a diamond in the rough. From the start I had an idea that Uncle George would have a story to tell. He was eccentric – maybe, artistic – for certain, and lived… Continue Reading
Longears in Connecticut – Donkey News
Friday, May 4, 2012 The Day – Timely respect for the longears | News from southeastern Connecticut The Day – Timely respect for the longears | News from southeastern Connecticutwritten by: Suzanne Thompson The link takes you to a article in The Donkey and Mule Show Saturday at Bishop’s Orchard in Guilford, CT. I’ll be… Continue Reading
Mom Will You Be in a Ad?
Story, this ad has it. I connect with all the mothers. I remember weekends in bleachers, 5 a.m. at the pool, sunburn after a horse show. Coffee was a staple in the get the kids delivered shuttle I ran. In just a couple minutes this ad takes us there, brings back those mornings and celebrates… Continue Reading
http://averycan.blogspot.com/
This baby girl has a bucket list, and her parents are making her life as special as they can while they have her please read more and pass it on! http://averycan.blogspot.com/ I won’t say anymore today her story is so powerful it doesn’t need my words. Carolyn Continue Reading
Days 2 and 3 Middle School Student Storytelling
I began the Vacation Arts Experience 2012 offered by EastConn www.eastconn.org with the distribution of stories to the middle school age students. They had 3 minutes to scan a story and move to the next, until they found one they wanted to read through. By the end of their first class in storytelling they had read the story… Continue Reading
Teach Storytelling to Middle School Students- YES!
Saying yes to teaching a spring vacation storytelling class was a “no brainer”, as the kids say. I love helping kids discover their voice and the power of story….. Day One Four rotations will come to me over the course of the day. Each group will have a high school aged guide. They will stay… Continue Reading
Musical Bones
We continue in nautical mode for at least this post. I have been on a four week adventure to learn sea chantey music through a class at Mystic Seaport www.mysticseaport.org It has been so much fun!!! Any day that starts out looking this nice, well you just know it will be a good one!! Today,… Continue Reading
Nautical Storytelling and Sea Chantey Music
Sea Chantey Demonstration at Mystic Seaport I have immersed myself in nautical research for a forth coming nautical epic storytelling. I willingly signed on to Mystic Seaport’s Sea Chantey class. www.mysticseaport.org Four weeks of singing sea chanteys and learning about the music of the sea and the work it was created to support. It is… Continue Reading
Chasing a Story Up Hill and Out to Sea
I never have quite enough time between work hours to chase all the stories that tempt me. It may be a photo, a headline or a book that entices me and tells me, read more there is a story here to tell. In chasing a story you become the investigator, looking for clues to… Continue Reading
IBOX has Great Sound
I am not often interested in the promotional stagings in store aisles, today was different. Well you can’t resist stopping to see how the great music was coming out of the empty pizza box! The young man smiled, he had me at his table for a demo. The little box with a couple little wires… Continue Reading
Mystic Seaport Sea Chantey Class
I tried ignoring the posting for this class. I went back and looked again. There is definitely something to this music that made me sign up for class for 4 Saturdays in the spring! I have always felt the draw of the sea, that remaining salt water in the veins from generations of family who… Continue Reading
Impressed at Garner Storytelling Festival
I was visiting North Carolina and did a couple of mornings of storytelling at my granddaughters pre-school. It is entirely my pleasure to bring storytelling to these little listeners many hearing live storytelling for the very first time. It marked the beginning of a new story… I posted the picture on my Facebook… Continue Reading
Duke Gardens Magic pt 2
Want to make a magical tour of Duke Gardens more so? How to tour a large public garden with a toddler and enjoy it? Bring a story for sharing and create the magic for a wonderful day. Here is the recipe for success: To one toddler age 2( she will correct you and tell you… Continue Reading
Duke University; Garden Magic in the Making pt. 1
A spring day of warm sun, gentle breeze, scent of flowers and bird song was perfected by a visit to Sarah P.. Duke Gardens in Durham NC. Join my photo tour of our magical couple of hours and celebrate spring! WELCOME! The water cascading from this fountain was captivating. The flowers in the center… Continue Reading
Museum of Life and Science Durham NC
Today I visited the Museum of Life and Science at 433 W. Murray Ave. Durham, NC 27704 What a great day we had! www.lifeandscience.org Toddlers, Moms and Grandmas all found things to truly enjoy. My breath was taken away by the magic of the butterfly house. The girls had so much fun on the Dinosaur Trail.… Continue Reading
Cloud Story Garden
I was flying south this week and marveled at the incredible cloud formations . Leaving a snow and ice filled Connecticut I flew to Detroit over an ocean of rolling sea like clouds. Great furrows and ripples small, decorated the sky below our wing. Some clouds were of cotton candy consistency and others looked… Continue Reading
James Henry: media darling; Learning at 98
Too Old To Learn? NEVER! James Henry: media darling featured in People, on CNN – The Westerly Sun: Metertest: MYSTIC — James Arruda Henry’s rapid rise from humble lobster-boat captain to literary star has been tiring, said his granddaughter Marlisa McL… If this 98 year old lobster fisherman can learn to read and write in… Continue Reading
A Lobster Will Help Promote a Program
Is a picture worth a thousand words? It is when I can make my photography hobby works to promote my storytelling programs! 1 lobster + 1000 words photo value + 25 words script = Super way to let people know about an event. This is a pre-conference seminar I’m leading at Sharing the Fire Northeast Storytellers Conference in Albany,… Continue Reading
Malloy Cutting More Than $11M In CT. Arts Funding
Connecticut Arts designated for huge slashes to funding – read more in todays Hartford Courant link below. Malloy Cutting More Than $11M In Arts Funding Start an uproar the ARTS are under a hatchet!!!! Contact your representatives tell them to save the arts! Continue Reading
Season for Campus Slammer
Spring Semester and time for Campus Slammer! The inter-collegiate story slam series pitting one Connecticut College against the others in a battle of wit and word. Each college holds a preliminary slam on a theme and send their top two on to the Connecticut Storytelling Festival to participate in the finals! www.connstorycenter.org It is not… Continue Reading
Pinterst How To
“> = Use Pinterest to promote an event, a venue, a hobby, a profession, a place or the eclectic you! Like having all the school bulletin boards to yourself! Scrapbooking online, collect and pin up what you like!There is no limit to the fun things you can share and find via Pinterst. Technology can be… Continue Reading
How to Skype Part 2
Here we go, hope you are having fun with Skype! Using Skype can expand your ability to reach audience, family, classes, and more. How about teaching someone a craft via Skype? I have a new Skype project coming out soon on the blog I write for www.lanesctrep.blogspot.com If you missed part one of the Skype… Continue Reading
How To Skype
How to use Skype for live image conversation, meetings and how to workshops.You could be practicing a story with a friend far away! This video is great but it starts a little to far in the experience for a very new user. First be sure your computer has a built in web cam or purchase one… Continue Reading
Why Will Facebook Timeline Help You
Tick Tick Tick, yes the clock is ticking to Feb. 10 when everyone will be changed over to Facebook’s new Timeline style page. I can hear the cries of NOOOOO! already. Wait, just stop a minute, is it really that hard to figure out a new way of doing things? Was it hard to… Continue Reading
laughter is the best medicine
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… Continue Reading
School Day and Story Night
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… Continue Reading
Weather Vanes Story Resources Part 6
Seraph: a six winged celestial being in the heirarchy of AngelsThere 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… Continue Reading
Health and Weight-Loss a Story of my Personal Challenge
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… Continue Reading
Peter Guber Harvard Business School
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! Continue Reading
Norma Cameron TedX Powerful Narrative Storytelling
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… Continue Reading
My Web Presence is Dead
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… Continue Reading
VoiceMail Open Mic in Mansfield General Store
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… Continue Reading
Weather Vanes; Story Resources Part 5
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… Continue Reading
Happy New Year! Top 10 Favorites of 2011
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… Continue Reading
Sharing The Fire State of Mind – Albany
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… Continue Reading
Young Voices; Narrative to Grow With
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… Continue Reading
Thanks to Some of My 2011 Venues
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… Continue Reading
Weather Vanes Story Resources part 4
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… Continue Reading
Reveiw: CD Prarie Child with Bert Marshall
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… Continue Reading
Rye Beach
Rye Beach, New Hampshire rhythm of my heart timelineGull cryfamilymemories 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… Continue Reading
5 Unusual Gifts
I don’t want to give what everyone else is giving, but where do we find the unusual gift?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,… Continue Reading
Weather Vanes; Story Resources Part 3
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… Continue Reading
Review- Tom Callinan ; Commemorations and I’ll Take New England Any Day
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… Continue Reading
World’s Best Writing Prompt
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 Continue Reading
Fairy Think-ets Game Review
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… Continue Reading
Think-Ets Game Review
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… Continue Reading
Thanksgiving A List of Giving Thanks!
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… Continue Reading
5 Tips to Make Your Presentation a Story to Remember
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… Continue Reading
Story Play Cards; Game Review
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… Continue Reading