Snow Day...Again

      Another Connecticut snow day has me locked away in my home office. I had work to get done, but since I was up early my long day included some arts. 

       I had a fun time exploring the new set of watercolors, they are fancy, in little aluminum tubes. I painted  this Cod, that must seem to be a funny art subject but I am working on some stories for a storytelling performance, Cod fishing and immigration are the core of my research.

       On the subject of Cod I highly recommend the book by that title, written by Mark Kurlansky. Here is a link to my review of the book in an earlier post. http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2012/09/rape-of-sea-book-review-cod.html
 

      I stirred a big pot of chili and watched the snow assault the windows, my mind wandered. I grabbed my pad and penned the thoughts of snow, nothing fancy just a bit poetic, a rare journey for my mind.
 

 

Here is a piece of my writing from today

 

Singing

 

I hear you singing

Soft and distant

 

I hear you singing

a whispered tune

 

I hear you singing

 voice now bold

 

I hear you singing

crescendo to forte

 

I hear you singing

a herald to multitudes

 

I hear you singing

 lament to freedom

 

I hear you singing

Wrap me in your cloak of white

 

I hear you singing

all day and all night

 

I hear you singing

a song of centuries

 

I hear you

old friend and enemy

 

I hear you sing

Nor'easter

 

 

 

  

Another snow post you might enjoy or find useful if it keeps snowing! : http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2014/01/8-things-to-do-when-it-is-wicked-cold.html

Here is a post about singing:
 http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2013/06/singing-chesapeake.html

A Paper City

    The after school program I work at has been making little paper houses, bigger paper churches and more. The Paper City Project introduces maps in a 3D lesson on the students home town. The cold winter days lent themselves to  coloring tiny buildings and cutting them out. From a simple hand drawn pattern the basic houses were crafted and the small collection grew along a window sill. We had a date for the display to be shared and we worked toward it.

      Snow cancellations, and a Monday holiday and more  kept us from making as many buildings as we first imagined but we made a fine representation. This view is less than a quarter of our city.

WHY?

    We learned about places in our town that children were unaware of. We learned how to give directions by the building location. We understand now that the mills are on the river and the train yards near the mills. Along with all our building we had a guest to share the paper city. The President of the CT Eastern Railroad Museum, Mark Granville, brought a length  of track, engines and cars so we had a real view of where the trains were in proximity to the town.  Thank You!http://www.cteastrrmuseum.org/

 We talked our way through the layout of the city by starting where we were and moving out from that point. Students had different buildings they were familiar with. Library, post office, schools, hospital and favorite food outlets were pretty easy. Smaller shops and businesses brought a lot more discussion as to which side of Main St and where in relation to certain churches or other dominant buildings. The entire discussion and placement process went well. Strips of  black construction paper became our roads and wavy blue pieces the Willimantic River.

      Students learned about Willimantic history, some heard the story of the Frogs of Windham, which is why we have a bridge with huge frogs on it! http://www.damnedct.com/the-frog-bridge-willimantic/  This story took place in 1754 in Windham, the town Willimantic is a part of.

     Here is an image of the plan I drew for the smaller houses. For the youngest students I outlined the cutting edge in colored pencil. Once cut out and the students name added we folded the creases and then flipped the house over to color on the windows, doors, siding and accessories. Some of these also became small businesses like Cafemantic and the Shoesmith. The final piece colored was the roof. Then we used glue sticks to assemble the house.

     A companion activity to this was a timeline around two sides of the room. Our theme for the month was Decades, so it was broken out in those increments. There were many pictures of historical Willimantic along the timeline. This was a fun project for the middle of winter and one I would do again with the kids.


Looking for some other winter type activities? http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2014/01/8-things-to-do-when-it-is-wicked-cold.html

This was fun too, but if you are in New England you will have to wait for better weather!
http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2013/05/chalk-up-student-fairy-tales.html




 

8 Things to Do When it is Wicked Cold

                                   I don't know about you but I am ready for spring!
 It won't be here for awhile yet in Connecticut and even longer if you live north of this latitude. So I gathered some ideas for things to do when the North wind blows and the snow piles up and the little red line in the thermometer does a disappearing act.

1.) Table Games
      When was the last time you had Monopoly's  Boardwalk and Park Place loaded with hotels? What word in Scrabble made you laugh until you cried? How many rounds of Uno until you finally win a game? Seriously, how can a 4 year old consistently beat me at Candyland? Hot Chocolate and pop corn and this is a perfect winter day!
2.) Storytelling
         Here are a short list of story prompts, you may know some more that work perfect with your friends and family. Just write them on slips of paper and put them in a hat. Draw an item and tell everyone your personal story to go along with the idea. ( Somebody get the video recorder going!)
Where were you when the police arrived? Where did you go when you skipped school? When you were a kid what kind of trouble did you get into? Who gave you your first kiss? What was your prom like?  What car did you learn to drive on? What was the strangest workday you had?  How lost did you get? What really happened to your homework? Why did you sneak in? Looking to learn more about storytelling? Here are links to my website, the CT. Storytelling Center, the League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling,  the home of story in Massachusetts and the National Storytelling Network. www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com  www.connstoycenter.org   www.lanes.org  www.massmouth.org   www.storynet.org
3.) Old Fashioned Letter Writing
         That's right, get out some paper and a pen and  craft a letter to stay in touch with an old friend or family member. Tell them about recent news and then maybe reminisce about a shared time long ago.  Dig out the address, put a stamp on it and make someone's day.

4.) Drawing
         Is there an inner artist waiting to burst forth. Even if there is  no hint of an artist you can have fun drawing. How about stick figure cartoons about some work oops. Got a funny family story that can be done in stick figures. Look  at this online site of how to draw and try a couple of the images here: http://www.my-how-to-draw.com/    You could draw a super hero to rescue you from the cold!

5.) Charades
          Who can't remember laughing at friends playing this at a party. Of course you may have to talk some family members into the game. You may need to institute a Charade dinner, no talking just gesture the conversation and  pass the peas and let the fun begin. See how a teacher uses Charades to teach proper grammar. http://seemoreplaces.com/blog/2010/09/video-of-the-week-using-charades-to-teach-english-grammar/#.UusWdpWPKUk

6.) Play Music
           Dig out an instrument and play some music. It  doesn't need to be performance quality to be fun and good for you too. Playing music is good for the mind and if a wind instrument it is great exercise for your lungs! Not musical? Turn on a CD, radio, or personal music and tap  to the beat, you can improvise a drum with a coffee can, box or book ( don't tell a librarian I said that). Start here for ideas: http://www.redtedart.com/2012/10/15/musical-instrument-crafts-for-kids/

7.)  Books to Read
   1.)        Cod   by: Mark Kurlansky  his work is a historical  book and an environmental warning, but the writing is easy to read with a flow of a  favorite mystery or novel.  There is a Kids version too! This is the book to help the world, to better understand the effects of over fishing and  the ramifications of that practice.
   2.)  Lincoln; Team of Rivals By: Doris Kearns Goodwin here is a interview of the author about the  book. http://youtu.be/WUWHRbXdIEM  We need to know where we have been and the sacrifices made to keep our country in order to move forward. A must read book for the American spirit!

   3.)  Dancing Men  by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  This is an oldie but a goodie. First our brains need a little mystery to work on, its like push ups for the brain. The take the wonderful code of the dancing men and have some fun creating family messages, challenge your co-workers, plan an event around the theme, or have a dinner party mystery.
   4.) Gather the kids, grown ups to, never to old to read a story aloud together. May I recommend a classic, Secret Garden by: Frances Hodgson Burnett perfect to read about the coming spring!
   5.) My final recommendation is one to make us appreciate the rest and reconnection to family that winter brings. There is a special beauty  in winter and no one captured that better in words than Robert Frost in,  Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening

8.) Puzzles
      There are many kinds of puzzles, jigsaw, word, and mechanical among the favorites. To me it just wouldn't be winter if we didn't pass at least one week with a giant jigsaw taking up the whole dining room table. Family members stop and put in a piece or two and go on.  A couple of us bring steaming cups of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and settle in for some serious puzzle time and conversation. It's simple as long as the cat stays off it! Here is a puzzle image to chase away winter blues: http://www.wayfair.com/MasterPieces-Colorize-Flippity-Flop-1000-Piece-Jigsaw-Puzzle-71346-MIN1826.html

You might like this link too:  http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2013/06/singing-chesapeake.html

More on the book Cod in a review I wrote: http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2012/09/rape-of-sea-book-review-cod.html

2013 National Storytelling Festival

The National Storytelling Festival

      What an adventure it is to attend the National Storytelling Festival! I was invited by my friend Norah Dooley www.norahdooley.com who would be telling in the Exchange Place. I have wanted to go to the festival for a long time and 2013 with Norah's invite, I finally made it there. We've travelled together to a story event in the past and enjoy the time to talk story business and for fun!

        I expected to hear great storytelling, I did not expect the beautiful scenery, I really never gave it a thought. The there was the camaraderie, the friends, food and fun! The little town of Jonesborough TN. is a beautiful spot, a classic American Main St. and they know how to host a party.

        My hobby is photography, I am always clicking pictures and  this weekend was no different. I enjoyed just wandering the festival snapping the memories of my first visit to Jonesborough.  Here is a link to the slide show.
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  http://www.slideshare.net/mothermoo/national-storytelling-festival
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        Here are some memories:
a train that we thought would never end, a Gorilla's breath, Tim Lowry hearing bells, the youngest and oldest listeners at the National Story Slam, Abraham and Isaac -Gettysburg, a Vietnamese dress, breakfast with storytellers, The Ballad of Ronnie Calloway, folks from New Zealand, Native American flute music in the night air from Joe Bruchac, walking up the hill, golf carts, Sisters Italy-Ireland-America, Music with Chuck Brodsky and Rev. Robert Jones, stories, stories, stories...


        The International Storytelling Center hosts the Festival. http://www.storytellingcenter.net/festival/  The festival staff were a hard working team to make the event so seamless to the visitor.

        I stopped by to visit at the National Storytelling Network's tent near the Court House and received a warm greeting from our staff and from other storytellers who stopped in to say HI! www.storynet.org

        I saw so many storytellers I know. There was also a whole group who seemed much like my Facebook page come alive, there they were in person to talk to - wonderful to finally meet them all!

       Last but not least I got to tell "George Henry Story and the Ghost of New Haven" in the Swap tent. My 10 minutes of story fun in Jonesborough!

You can hear that story I shared on my forth coming CD; George Henry Story- The Man Who Painted Lincoln" it will be out late fall. www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com

       

 

Hands Wide Open; Reviewed

Hands Wide Open a CD by Ms. Sheila Arnold Storyteller

         Oh! Ms. Sheila what a collection of stories to touch the heart and warm the soul! I was swept away and lingered in the car listening to the last, not yet ready to leave your rich voice and soothing words. The opening story, Weeping Willow was an affirmation of traditional storytelling and was, as I expected, well delivered with such characterizations that it reminded me of playground days and children's voices.
       

     Then track 2, "Elaina's Birthday Dance" - what a story of love and surprise! I will listen to that one over and over again and am so happy it has been sent along to my Grandchildren. This is a story that is for whole families, a treasure among stories.

     Track 3, "A Good Stick" was as visual as spoken words get. I walked in search of the  good stick, saw the monument to old man and boy and listened with baited breath for the story Grandpa would reveal. Thank you for the journey into your story. This story should be shared with every family that has an elder moving into a care facility.

      Tracks 4-5-6 sweep  the listener up into a classic story with a vivid chase and soothe through a son's song and you finish by capturing our hearts with "Vicki's" story.

     This is a wonderful collection, I highly recommend  this CD produced by Aslan Productions; Buck P. Creacy and available at www.mssheila.org  or to email Ms. Sheila  sheilaarnold39@aol.com
     

Launch of a Great Ship- The Charles W. Morgan

        The Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaling ship of a bygone era went back into the water on July 21,2013. Her maiden launch was on July 21, 1841 at New Bedford, Ma. Through the talents of countless craftsman and steadfast fundraisers the iconic ship was carefully restored and readied for a launch. Towering over the shipyard the massive hull waited out the morning rain and watched as the last preparations were made. A huge crowd was expected to come and witness this once in a lifetime event.

         Decked out in patriotic bunting and surrounded by camera crews and seating for dignitaries the Charles W. Morgan stood a final dry watch. The people began to arrive first in a trickle of the early hours, there were others like myself who were there long before Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea, opened her gates. There was no way I was going to miss this event! Then the crowds came in droves filling the roads and paths of the museum village and lining the docks in wait for a shuttle ride on the Mystic River. As the noon hour passed the masses began to gravitate toward the DuPont Shipyard or the massive tent on the village green where huge screens were set up for overflow viewing or for those not able to stand to watch.
                          

 

I assumed a spot in the shipyard near the rail to watch the proceedings and began a long wait. The sun came out and beat down on the growing crowd and we waited mostly in quiet speaking in muted voices. Chantey music was coming out over large speakers set for the occasion and  every one was filled with anticipation.

 

 The United States Coast Guard Band from New London, CT. filed in and took their seats. They had come to provide the fitting musical tribute to the event. Their playing of the National Anthem kicked off the  ceremony.

 

 

 All the while the cool breeze off the river fluttered a bold blue Connecticut state flag flying high on the Morgan.

The speakers began, first an invocation from the Minister of the Mystic Congregational Church, I wondered how many ship launches that river had seen through the years? Each launch beginning with a blessing from the local ministry to send the ship on with God Speed.

The speakers were dwarfed by the hull behind them as they each in turn came to the podium. Awe seemed to be the theme of speeches given, awe of this great accomplishment, of the ship's history and of the hours taken to bring this ship back to sailing status. ( Not there yet, there will be several more months of work to reset the masts and finish  the interior and equip her to modern safety standards for her 38th voyage) There is yet more funding to secure - you can make a donation here: http://www.mysticseaport.org/support/morgan/

The commencement of the launch process via ship deep water elevator see it here in my video from the front line of observers at the launch:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiXqZk9QLGY&feature=share&list=UUP5iRLayfwSR5loSLCyyIfw

 

  

 Please visit the Mystic Seaport link to view all the proceedings of the eventful day.

http://www.mysticseaport.org/news/2013/charles-w-morgan-is-launched/

 

Next spring the final preparations will be done and the sails set. The Charles W. Morgan is going home for a visit to New Bedford, MA. Other ports of call will be at Newport and Boston. The epic journey of the last wooden whaling ship will be a journey of inspiration and education. Now the Charles W. Morgan serves as an instructional vessel to enlighten all to the past and future of America and the Sea.

Crew unfurls the sails of the Joseph Conrad on launch day

Eleven of these whaling boats are needed for the Charles W. Morgan. Many were built by shipyards and museums around the country in support of the Mystic Seaport Morgan restoration effort. Read more about the building of the Beetle Boat at New Bedford; http://www.whalingmuseum.org/explore/exhibitions/upcoming/beetle-whaleboat-project-2012

 

 the Whaling Boat Regatta info is here:

http://www.whalingmuseum.org/programs/international-whaleboat-regatta

 

 

I am a storyteller who loves the sea stories, I honor my seafaring ancestry when I share the old stories and songs of the sea. www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com My day at Mystic Seaport's Launch of the Charles W. Morgan was a day where I was the witness to a great ship and a greater community that will see this icon  with her sheets to the wind once more. You know I will be there to witness the epic Voyage 2014, as the

 Charles W. Morgan

goes back to sea. Enjoy a few more photos from my day at Mystic Seaport.

                                                     

                                                Mystic Seaport President Steve White

                                               Keynote Speaker Ric Burns - award winning filmmaker

                                                         CT. Representative Joe Courtney
               In blue jacket in the background is Sarah Bullard descendent of Charles W. Morgan
        Ms. Bullard cracked a bottle of blended sea and river waters on the hull to christen the ship

                                                 

                                                                      whaling boats

                                                               Ship Joseph Conrad

 

A Historic Film Clip of the Charles W. Morgan

http://youtu.be/MwK5aEq-p1k

Mystic Seaport You-Tube on the Morgan

http://youtu.be/w9z3nQMF1d4

 

3 Cheers

Huzzah, Huzzah,  Huzzah!

 

Other blogs I've posted with a nautical theme:

 http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2013/06/singing-chesapeake.html

 

 http://carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2012/09/rape-of-sea-book-review-cod.html

 

 

Singing the Chesapeake

      When we teach children  to love, honor and respect the rivers and streams that lead down to great bays and the sea we have taken them on a journey to save the Earth.

      The message is often lost in the abundant activities crammed into an annual vacation adventure. Music has the power to get the message to the children and travel with them for years to come. A song of preservation and appreciation that is fun to sing will be remembered long into ice encrusted winters.

    

    Published in 2012 the "Singing the Chesapeake" collection by the late Tom Wisner is a voice for the waters and a tool for enjoyment of environmental studies. It is best said in this quote from the introduction page in the book.
    "This collection of songs by Tom Wisner, the "Bard of the Chesapeake," are the living, streaming echoes of a unique lifelong dedication and creative act of service - Tom's deep commitment to environmental education and awareness that he shared through music."

   Here is a collection of Tom's most powerful sentiments and testimony to Chesapeake Bay conservation and care. No need to limit our thoughts to one bay, these inspirations teach the lessons relevant to all bodies of water.

      Tom Wisner's dedication to the Chesapeake and waterways is alive and well in the music he wrote and performed. It is his legacy of music entrusted to his close friends Teresa Whitaker and Frank Schwartz  that is presented in this booklet and accompanying CD. Music, lyrics, background information and an audio track make this a complete teaching tool. Do not limit yourself to the pages and echoing  voice of Tom Wisner though, this music is available in live performance by Teresa and Frank. www.frankandteresa.net    will link you to their music and story filled world.

    I'm still humming "Made of Water" after hearing  Frank and Teresa perform it. I laugh along with visions of children when I hear Teresa Whitaker's enclosed piece "How Does it Feel to Be a Fish?"

     I'm loving "Singing the Chesapeake" featuring songs by Tom Wisner For Children of all ages. Additional songs by Teresa Whitaker and Mark Wisner. You are going to love it too!
                www.frankandteresa.net      ftzj@cox.net

   Singing the Chesapeake is made possible by Chestory/Chears and Finding Home Productions
    (c) 2012