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… Continue Reading
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… Continue Reading
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… Continue Reading
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… Continue Reading
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… Continue Reading
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.… Continue Reading
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… Continue Reading
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
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
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
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 / 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 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
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
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
I just arrived back home from the most amazing trip around the world! I never did pack a suitcase. I collected no stamps in my passport. I didn’t get any coins from foreign lands. My travels were all done right here at my computer while I listened to the Tales From Around The World… Continue Reading
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
Simple Summer Fun When was the last time you did tie -dye shirts? There is a little magic in taking the rubber bands off and discovering what the pattern comes out like! The items tie-dyed are as individual as the makers and a great way to spend a summer afternoon. Items needed: Cotton shirts or… Continue Reading
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
There’s No Place Like Home The other day as I parked the car at home I lingered to listen to the end of a chapter of an audio book. I saw a little Chick-A-Dee right outside my car. The little bird hopped about my garden and the white picket fence along the edge of the yard.… Continue Reading
“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, 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
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
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
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
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
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
The very foggy Easter morning gave way to sunshine then to rain. We thought all the chores were done . Horses out, stalls clean, later in day horses in again, fed and tucked in for the night. In the meantime the cows and calves were done and I was at church to sing- sing- sing. … Continue Reading
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
I sat at the table waved a book in front of the young man and said, “I found a story I thought you would like.” His eyes met mine for a brief second and he went back to folding the paper football. I suggested it might be one he could go home and share with his… Continue Reading
Can Something as everyday as dirty laundry and washing it make a great story? Does everyone in the world view the task the same way.? Maybe we take our laundry story for granted. Watch this TED talk and see the construction of a story arc that carries the common theme and powerfully demonstrates a message… Continue Reading
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 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
Here is a musical mashing of an old tune to celebrate the 30 years of Sharing the Fire the 3 days of the Northeast Storytelling Conference and the 12 different ways to enjoy a visit to Warwick RI. Set to the tune Twelve Days of Christmas ( highlights are for singing it back 12 to… Continue Reading
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 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
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
Take a few minutes to watch this TED Talk http://www.ted.com/ Writer and storyteller Chimamanda Adichie of Nigeria, Africa presents a much more worldly view of the power of a single story or as she puts it the danger in a single story. Continue Reading
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
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 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
Here it is the first entry in the contest while not play-doh the author noted the snow was a play-doh consistency and had fun making this movie for us. So check out the contest in the previous blog and join the fun! Continue Reading
Green images on a cold and wintry day remember summer does return! The grass comes again and the horses hooves will thunder on the valley floor and over hillsasleep under snowno more Continue Reading
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
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
This impressive spire a dominant feature of the Newport Rhode Island skyline. There is so much to enjoy on a visit to Newport. The mansions, the harbor, the shops and museums, the dinner train. I love to go out to Fort Adams State Park and look across the harbor at the town. A sunset boat… Continue Reading
Welcome to SNOW day! My goal is to get to the barn and take care of the horses. This is a photo story of this afternoons adventure. I shoveled ,caught my breath, took a picture and repeat. Kept the camera warm and dry inside my coat. Thinking of the line from TAPS, “All is well,… Continue Reading
Pretty landscapes are a distant thought until the dangers and effects of the blizzard are subdued Here I am reporting to you from the Blizzard of 2011 Mansfield Ct. a bit frosty Tim working at making a path passable in our driveway Could use a bigger tractor in this battle the eerie glow of his… Continue Reading
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
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… 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
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 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
This is a wonderful team telling so well recorded and mixed with their own music. Bravo this is your standing ovation! Here is a standard we can all strive for in You Tube videos. Continue Reading
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
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
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
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
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 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, 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
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
( 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
No need to rub your eyes, you aren’t seeing things. Truly that is a cow in harness and pulling a cart. Don’t you wish you knew the who and the WHY!? It is what makes finding stories so fun. Some are right there in front of us, some shock us, and others are just so… Continue Reading
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
It is the beginning of fall, the buses are running and the parks are empty of children. All have returned to the scheduling and bells of the school year. I do not anticipate the return of school or routine. I can’t wait for the cool autumn days to walk , take photographs and enjoy the… Continue Reading
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
When is a picture NOT worth a 1000 words? When the subject is Lippitt Morgans in a debut Drill Team. Even the video could not, and does not do justice to the beauty and symmetry of the equine drill. The horses sounds, the cadenced hoof beats, the shrill whistle of the go command, the breath… Continue Reading
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
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
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
Wed. August 18 at 7:20 a.m. I hope your radio is tuned to WILI 1400 AM in Eastern Ct. That is when I will be guest on Wayne Norman’s Morning Show. http://www.wili-am.com/ I will be up and out early to bring you the latest news and updates on the A-MAZE-ING Story Slam http://www.a-maze-ingstoryslam.ning.com/ to be… Continue Reading
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
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