Don't Walk the Plank!

Guess I should walk the plank for not catching something.  Looked at last month's blog, Are Ballads Really Storytelling?, and found my opening picture had vanished!  Tried to use my Summer Reading postcard design from my Vistaprint folder, but that design stopped appearing where I inserted it.  Murphy's Law is still in force, even for pirates.  My puppy puppet, Buzz, turns pirate for the summer of 2013 as we "Dig for Treasure in the 398s" and he misses the pawprints appearing all over the card design.  Guess it's time to get my own paws digging for some of that treasure.

There's always a wealth of resources at any library, both in books and online.  I'm just beginning to think about what I want to tell.  My first choice: tales of treasure, especially if pirates are part of the story.  Last month looked at Ballads as Storytelling and I have decided the song "High Barbaree" is a must.

A recent comment on the state email list for librarians, MICHLIB-L, included a request for material to use with a pirate puppet.  This post includes resources for that and much more.

For the youngest lovers of anything Pirate-related, I've fallen in love with a new (to me!) resource, Storytime Katie, which is subtitled "one librarian's journey into storytimeland."  More years ago than I'm willing to admit I tried documenting my themes and material used, but like a diary, eventually stopped writing it.  (I justified it with the idea that not only do materials come and go, but it also may produce some fresh thinking.)  Thanks to blogging, Katie gives us both her own and readers resources for: crafts, flannelboards, fingerplays, songs, and THEMES, including, yes, indeed, Pirates.  She's also one-stop linking for early childhood resources, so go to both her Resources page and also her Blogroll.  So far it's 3 years of work -- the very reason I stopped recording back in pre-computer days, so let's hear it for Better Storytelling Through Technology!

Karen Chace

Moving on beyond early childhood material is sometimes more difficult, but not if you know my friend and colleague out in Massachusetts, Karen Chace.  She has a website, Catch the Story Bug, and a blog,  packed to overflowing with treasure of all kinds and, like me, she works with all ages.  Her recent Talk Like a Pirate Day blog article is great to find pirate stories, music, crafts, and even curriculum material from the New England Pirate Museum, plus such miscellaneous material for some of those jokes I plan to inflict, er share with my audiences.




Does anybody know where I can find some pirate socks for my puppy, Buzz?  They need to be AAARGYLE.   He's been Baaarking over that and other jokes. Yes, a lot over-use the pirate's favorite letter...the letter, Aaar, but you can find pirate jokes scattered at these sites:

• Yarrgh! Pirate Jokes

• Pirate Jokes And Riddles For Kids 

• Pirate Treasure Now is a club that anyone interested in pirates and treasure may join, so you might not want it open to young children.  It still is a good resource as they do have a great assortment of pirate activities and facts and clearly differentiate between their Pirate Jokes and a section of "Rude Pirate Jokes" not intended for children

• last of all, but definitely not the least is Enchanted Learning.com where you can go from their definitely kid-friendly jokes to their PirateTheme page for crafts and worksheets, many of which would make great handouts for preschool to about grade 3.

Friend and colleague, Jackie Baldwin, at her wonderful Story-Lovers site, as always, has so many resources, yes, even the "Talk Like a Pirate" topic.  Click on the hotlink listed above to see pirate material, but also do yourself a favor and explore her entire site.  Especially lovely is her printing of classic fairy tale art for stationery, cards, prints, and much more, but you need to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to find that.  The SOS: Searching Out Stories section is now 12 years old!  It includes a great deal contributed by the members of the international email list Storytell -- but she definitely adds to that with books and other media related to any topic.  This will give you even more material, be it books, stories, or that loveliest of treasure..."miscellaneous" to avoid Walking the Plank whenever you want to have pirates as a theme.  (Yes, yes, Buzz, that includes you, too.)

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Here's a great idea I just found at the blog,  Sunflower Storytime, whose author also is thinking about the Dig into Reading multi-state cooperative Summer Reading theme.  There are many different ways to Dig into Reading, but if you want to dig up "Magic Treasure Rocks" the formula uses

• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Water
• Food Coloring
• Treasures
• Glitter (optional)

In a bowl mix a few drops of food coloring into baking soda.  To make RAINBOW rocks, mix each color separately   Slowly add water to the bowl, mixing in-between.  It is easy to add to much water so you definitely want to add it slowly.  Add enough baking soda to mold it and holds it's shape.  Too much water will keep the baking soda from molding. 

Inside each "rock" you can hide a small treasure inside.  Then lay your baking soda rocks out to dry.  Once dry you can bury them in dirt or a sandbox and let children find them.   For added fun, once they are found, spray them with vinegar and the rocks fizz and disappear, leaving the treasure! 

Are Ballads "Really" Storytelling?

Every year when the Summer Reading Program ends, whether as a storyteller or a librarian, I start thinking about the next summer's theme.  For 2013 it's Dig Into Reading .  That made me think





During the Dog Days of the summer of 2013 Dig into Reading with LoiSand her puppy puppet, Buzz, as they DIG for TREASURE in the 398s!


Buzz can already Dog Paddle, but he is trying to learn to talk like a pirate, but ARF! is not quite the same as AARGH!
Try also saying "Puppy Puppet, Buzz the Pirate" five times fast!

I know there's treasure in the 398s easily found by librarians.  Limited money for programs requires something beyond promoting a library's collection. While storytelling's important -- how could I think otherwise! -- librarians know variety brings people to programs: puppets, music, magic, juggling, anything beyond the usual.  Even if a librarian has those skills, it takes time to develop programs using them.  Puppetry and music, with storytelling, will help me DIG for the TREASURE of the 398s.   I will include a rousing pirate ballad telling a great classic story.  That reminded me of a discussion on Professional Storyteller network asking if singing a story is storytelling.  With permission from my fellow participants comes this discussion, "Songs as stories" asking exactly that.

http://www.richelleputnam.net

Posted by Richelle Putnam on September 26, 2010
I was disheartened by another storyteller who said singing stories, such as ballads, was not "really" storytelling. I bit my lip and went on without a battle, but was, of course, reminded of the earliest known storytellers who, while playing their instrument of choice, "sang" stories for a meal, room, and board. Some of the greatest stories ever told, historical, mythological, and folklore, were done so through singing ballads. "Big John," "Ringo," "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," "Delta Dawn," "The Gambler," "The City of New Orleans," and the list goes on.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject.
Richelle Putnam
A writer/singer of ballads
and
...storyteller?

Replies to This Discussion:

http://thestorytellingman.com

Reply by George Allen Williams on September 27, 2010
Harry Chapin was one of my favorite "song-tellers," and Stan Rogers' work still knocks me cold. For what it's worth, I've often noticed that people who comment that anything other than what they are doing isn't "really" whatever they think it should be, tend to be rather narrow in scope, thought, and ability. Go right on singing your tales. Tell Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, or Woodie (and Arlo) Guthrie that they aren't (or weren't) great storytellers. Fie upon the person who says otherwise. Keep singing your tales. (I'd still be doing it, too, except an old injury to my right arm doesn't allow me to play any more. I still do the occasional a-cappella piece, though.)

Reply by Richelle Putnam on September 27, 2010
Thank you! You named some of my all time favorites and they still move my heart after all these years.

Hey, nothing better than A-cappella.

http://www.facebook.com/MagdaStorySpider

Reply by Christi U. on September 27, 2010
I agree. I'm definitely a words person and tend to hear the "stories" within music sooner than I hear the beat. And yes, all of those songs and songtellers are perfect examples of just another expression of the same Truth we are all telling. I wonder how many festivals your critic had been to. I have quite a few tellers who use music well and have a wonderful following because of the fact they are following their own talents rather someone else's super-imposed perceptions.

http://www.DanielBishoptheStoryteller.com

Reply by Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller on September 30, 2010
Storytelling: The use of the voice to convey a narrative. Some of my favorite storytellers use music to tell their stories. I will say I'm a bit of a purest, as I believe that an author is a writer of story, not a teller. A dancer is a Dancer of Story not a teller, and a filmmaker is a conveyor of story not a teller. But when you use your voice to tell a story, then you are a storyteller. I have heard singer sing a ballad but did not tell a story. They sang words to music. They could have use any words. But if you tell a story using music to help, you are a storyteller.

There is my $0.02
Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller

Reply by Richelle Putnam on October 5, 2010
Good point. Voice is used in both. I have also heard story tellers who did not tell a story....but we won't go there. : )
Richelle

Reply by Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller on October 5, 2010
Ohh so true. Stringing two words together does not a story make. I have heard two people give the same story, one was painful, the other was magic.

Reply by Richelle Putnam on October 5, 2010
Exactly!

http://www.LoiS-sez.com

Reply by Lois Sprengnether Keel (LoiS) on October 5, 2010
Similarly some probably would say telling in poetry or verse isn't storytelling. Yet it's communication & it does have the ability to be varied to match its listeners within the context of the fixed words. That's how the great epic tales began.

I've been working at adding music to my storytelling for the variety it provides. Today's audiences sometimes need a change of pace & this is 1 of many ways. Often a ballad can be the perfect lead into a story continuing a theme touched in a song. You mention writing ballads, so this is especially possible, more for you than for those who simply sing something they find.

To add to the names of balladeers who told stories in song: early in my storytelling life I heard Gamble Rogers. He is singing & telling his tales in the Great Beyond, but exposure to him helped me understand & broaden my definition of storytelling before it became etched in stone.

In the case of existing ballads, I've seen them used as an introduction to a story that was told. I'm thinking of Leanne Johnson's telling of The Singing Bone. She & her harp also are no longer with us, but, like that story of an instrument that tells a tale of murder, this still plays in my mind. Whether retelling the story an old ballad provides or giving us your own ballad, it is oral storytelling & that is the stated purpose of this network.

Keep on telling...whatever way communicates in a live, direct manner between you & your listeners. It IS real storytelling to a great many of us.

Reply by Richelle Putnam on October 5, 2010
Thank you so much for sharing. Storytelling in whatever capacity keeps our heritage alive and lives from becoming mundane! 

http://johanna.itgo.com

Reply by Scott and Johanna Hongell-Darsee on October 17, 2010
I totally agree that singing and storytelling belong together. I often perform medieval ballads and weave a story around them. It gives another dimension to the narrative and I like the feeling of repeating something that has been handed down through generations, giving it my own touch. Ballads are not just music to be performed in concerts. They are crazy stories to be performed for their stories.

http://www.londondreamtime.com

Reply by Neckinger Nell on October 24, 2010
Richelle, Thanks for this, I *absolutely* agree, in fact I was just pondering the same thing a couple of days ago...
"So many ways"...
There are so many wonderful ways to tell a story. I hope I get to hear some of your story ballads one day.
best wishes,
Vanessa

***************************

So you've had a chance to listen in on this discussion.   My Puppet Puppy Pirate Buzz wants to know:

What do you think...Are Ballads "Really" Storytelling?

Death of an Historian (and Friend)

Brenda Kociemba

 
Friday we were talking and making plans.  Saturday she was gone.  The title of this blog post sounds like a mystery title, but it's no mystery: we'd all prefer to avoid planning to be permanently gone.  While driving to the cemetery, I thought about this and the 4 areas of needed plans formed a strange acronym: P.C.P. + Wishes.  Without getting morbid, I offer my ideas, a few brief stories, confessions, promises, and a few questions.  Watch for UPDATES!

  

• Photos - The visual side of your life needs to be shared with those remaining behind.

• Contacts - Who should be alerted that you are gone?

• Projects - What should be done to complete whatever you leave incomplete?

• Wishes - Even if you don't get around to a will, what would you hope happens after you are gone?

O.k., that looks like HOPE has died, but I notice there are no dates!

• Photos - What people and organizations have photos of you?  Until her family was able to find and prowl family photos, an organization where she was active had the most photos.  What about your own photos?  I confess I just found a stack of photo albums...all unused!  O.k., I doubt I'll ever get them filled.  A scrapbooker I'm not.  Not only do photos need to be found for your family and friends to see, but be sure there are directions to find and access them.  Are they on a password protected computer or phone?  Make sure somebody knows where and how to access them.  Another suggestion should include your designated seeker checking online (including any services that store your photos + passwords).  For those of us with a large web presence it may be a large portion of your photos, but probably not your more personal photos...unless you have those on something like Facebook.  I was impressed with how technically skilled the funeral home deals with such photos.  I've gone to funerals in recent years and know there's always something new to discover about the person if a lifetime of photos is offered.   I promise I will let my daughters know where to find the boxes and other miscellaneous photos.  Watch for the UPDATE to see if I've done it yet. UPDATE: I found the easiest way to do all of my updating, which we all know is a constant process, is to locate one place where such information can be always found.  Photos, Contacts, Projects, and Wishes don't go there, just the information on where to look.  This is something that will need periodic checking either at regular intervals to see what has changed or as you realize something has changed. . . probably both.  It also was important to be sure more than one person knows where to look.  As a true UPDATE I made a point of doing this before a trip out this Labor Day weekend.  A bit of it was rushed, so it's already time to see if a bit of revising is already needed.

I remember a storyteller followed a pickup truck with photos blowing out of its bed.  He stopped the driver and was told they were going to the dump as they belonged to an unmarried woman who died.  I often portray Liberetta Lerich Green.  Her daughter, Loa, was a pioneering teacher and principal who never married.  I think she's the one who donated her uncles' Civil War letters and other family letters to the Bentley Historical Library.  I thank her.  I'm also still trying to contact a man who found other family diaries and letters in a bag he somehow obtained.  The family of yet another historian knew he had many photos and papers of interest to the local historical society and let the society sort through them.  A nearly centenarian woman I briefly talked with had children who threw her photos and papers out, keeping only what they valued.  That historical society knew, but was helpless because there was nothing to show she wanted them to be saved and who should get them.

• Contacts may seem obvious, but my own mother was the oldest of nine.  I confess she had some relatives -- nephews and nieces -- I didn't know.  When I asked family to spread the word, not everybody learned about the funeral.  Also she had been moved away from many friends in organizations and past associations.  Probably if you have such groups, you have personal phone directories and organization directories.  It's a lot to ask those you leave behind to cope with this. It would be good to identify one or a few persons in each group to spread the word.  I promise to include how to find my directories.  I'll also try to keep a contact person or two highlighted on those directories.  Again, watch for the UPDATE. UPDATE:  O.k. I really was hurrying on this, so identifying the key people has now been added when it wasn't there for many groups.     Question: If you're reading this, you have computer contacts, too.  My email address books are huge and not all would need contacting. Do you have a suggestion for this?

from Dave Walker's great work and he has books, too!

• Projects - Most of us have photos, contacts, and wishes, but what about projects?  My friend was a historian, but storytellers, teachers, librarians and other program planners, we all juggle projects.  A library co-worker had a funny poster about how she had so much to do that, at this rate, she wouldn't be allowed to die for. . . well maybe forever.  Sounds funny, but we also know life goes on without us.  If we care about our projects, it's worth leaving ways to get them completed.  Remember those historians with fabulous resources and knowledge that vanished when they died, simply because their families either didn't value what they collected or didn't know its value to others.  Do you have research, or grants underway, or programs where you are scheduled to appear?  I promise to tell how to find my upcoming programs, so that should be in the UPDATE, I also promise to continue the project Brenda and I discussed, but that brings up another Question: Projects are always changing, and I confess I run the local congregation of the Church of the Unholy Mess, Do you have a suggestion for this?  -- and, no, the piles of projects and much more Unholy Mess aren't likely ever to permanently disappear. UPDATE: This is where my idea of having one location to list (and update as needed) really helps.

"If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" Albert Einstein

• Wishes may sound like a legal will.  That certainly is worth doing, but it doesn't have to be that formal.  Confession time: the group where I met Brenda had a program a year ago with a lawyer on this topic.  The head of the group confessed she still hadn't gotten around to this yet.  Surprisingly enough, ages ago I wrote this sort of thing and even had it witnessed!  All right, holographic wills, the technical term, can have problems and, I probably ought to update it, but it's in a place where one daughter knows to look.  I'll try to finally make an offiffiffic'al will and mention it in an UPDATE, but even without going that far, it doesn't hurt to have something written out saying what you'd like to see happen when you die. My fellow storyteller friends can have a wake storytelling about me!  (Based on her grandmother's funeral, I know my younger daughter would be too choked up to speak, but this should give her and others many good laughs and memories.)

So that's what seems like essential plans without getting into money things like insurance and hopefully isn't morbid.  I promise to do an UPDATE or UPDATES.  I'd love to see your Suggestions.  By the way this blog does post comments, but you must click Comments in the box at the bottom of this post.

Florence "Dinghy" Sharp

This month with the National Storytelling Network conference and the pictures of storytellers from the late Mark Wilson, the focus has been upon the entire world of storytelling.  Before leaving it I want to include a Michigan storyteller, Florence "Dinghy" Sharp.  The site Michigan Storytelling.org is an online version of our state's email newsletter of storytelling put together by Yvonne Healy, editor, with Judy Sima, managing editor, to which I add information on the various state storytelling organizations, a bulletin board for late or expanded news, and an In Memoriam page of brief obituaries of Michigan storytellers.

I never knew Ms. Sharp, but long had heard of her because of her great-great grandfather, Clement Moore and her work with Detroit Story League.

A fine article with the above photo appeared in the current issue, June/July, of "Storytelling Magazine", the official magazine of the National Storytelling Network.  The information was provided by her close Detroit Story League friend, Amy Jackson.  Besides contacting NSN, I emailed Amy to verify the date Florence Sharp died.  Along the way I received a copy of the eulogy Amy wrote.  It has wonderful details, but when I looked at the space used for other storytellers on Michigan Storytelling.org, I realized it was substantially more than I offered for other storytellers there.  This gives me an opportunity to share it.  (After it, I have the answer Amy also gave me about that intriguing nickname of "Dinghy.")

ODE TO DINGHY - FLORENCE "DINGHY" SHARP   by Amy Jackson

A woman of "means," but didn't have a mean bone in her body.
A woman of wealth - who shared her wealth of knowledge with students
and teachers, alike.

A woman with "connections," yet gave of her time and interests to
connect people across cultural,
racial, and ethnic divides - a Goodwill Ambassador!
A woman of riches, who gave freely to enrich the lives of others.

A woman of generosity, who gave monetary gifts to students she never
knew, and to schools she never attended
Dinghy was just incredible!

She was a woman of musical talents that sang in the choir, until she
couldn't; yet, left a song in my heart
and in the hearts of all who knew her - her joy for life and for
literature, in song as well as in verse.
A woman who could tell stories that would make you laugh 'til you
cried; as well as, stories that could
change your tears to laughter in minutes - literally!

While in Michigan, she left a lasting legacy with the Farmington Public
Schools, for starting "The Bucket Brigade" there (a volunteer program
of parents, helping children with learning disabilities). She was an
active member of the Detroit Story League, and the 1st Caucasian member
of the Detroit Association of Black Storytellers.

In Arizona, she was a member of the Green Valley Tellers of Tales; and
somewhere in Jonesborough, Tennessee she has a brick honoring her
contributions to the International Storytelling Festival. Dinghy
gathered stories from everyone and from everywhere. She gave workshops
to inform others of the positive influence of storytelling in the
classroom.
A favorite, was the workshop she and I did together in Toronto Canada,
for the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International: "Teaching the Culture
of Peace through Storytelling."

She was an Urban-Suburbanite - as comfortable in Motown, as she was at
a Country Western Hoedown, the Opera, the Symphony, or at a church or
jazz concert.

With all she had, Dinghy wasn't selfish. She shared her accomplishments
with integrity, and with a warm, caring spirit and presence. She was
wonderful, really!

She was my friend - and a friend to so, many others. Not perfect, but
it was her imperfections that made her glow and become the humanitarian
she became.

She loved holidays of every kind, but Christmas was her favorite. She
had a fabulous collection of Santas - so large, that they were
displayed in a separate room. Her book collections were equally
astounding, and she shared them. She even did the audio for the writing
of the book, The Visit, that related back to her Great-Great
Grandfather, Clement Moore. Dinghy was always busy creating, and doing;
giving to, and inspiring others.

Dinghy died on December 31, 2011, surrounded by her loving husband,
Larry and family - becoming a treasured memory to them, and to all of
us who knew and loved her.


*******************

If you're like me, you probably wonder why she was called "Dinghy."  I was told: The nick-name "Dinghy" was given to Florence Amelia Spalding Sharp by her mother, because of her love of sailing in the summer, on upper Michigan lakes and rivers.

A great reason for a Great Lakes Storyteller.

Rose Is Alive!

I'm perfectly delighted to print a retraction .  Never again will I look the same way at the Mark Twain quote about his death.  It has been variously given, but a reproduction of a May 1897 note says "the report of my death was an exaggeration."

 


After printing the first of the series of photos by Mark Wilson, two storytellers were shocked to see me list Rose Owens as being "stilled in this world."  I had a remembrance from my ever-rusty memory of seeing this on Storytell, but the list has undergone various transformations over the years and only recently has had a dependable archive that disappear whenever software or hardware changes occurred. Since it was moved to the NSN website I hope that an archive will remain.


The questions stirred up by my posting this led me to look once again into Rose.  I had not been able to find an obituary, her website hadn't been updated since early 2007, she was no longer a member of NSN, and I received no response to an email sent to her.

Several long distance calls and emails seemed to do nothing to change what little I could verify.  As I asked various people including the two whose questions prodded me, "How the heck do you prove somebody is or isn't alive these days if they aren't in social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Professional Storyteller) nor answering emails and not otherwise written up?"  

Today I am so happy to say I received an email with the Subject heading: Rose is Alive!


This was the message Rose sent:

Dear Lois,
I am very much alive.  It's one of those "domino" things.  The Civprod email was abandoned when it got too much junk mail.   Which meant that when then email sent to renew my website was sent, I didn't read it.  So the Rosethestorylady.com website was purchased by another rose.  Once I discovered this, I bought Rosethestorylady.net.  I have not yet had time to locate the websites that link to my old email and let them know that I have a different website.   My mother-in-law lives with us and she broke her hip and I have been very involved in her care.   I continue to tell stories but have not actively been advertizing.  So my storytelling activities have diminished but my love of storytelling has not.  I have not updated my website recently but plan to do so later this summer.  

In the article you wrote, I hope you said nice things about me!   Please spread the word that I am very much alive and share my current email address. 

Rose 

************

I strongly recommend Rose the Story Lady's original website.  We can all look forward to her return to activity on a new site and any additional storytelling activities she may offer.  In a way I was correct in listing her as a Storyteller We Miss, but I'm glad she's going to return to whatever storytelling activity she can manage.  She requests my posting her email, but I will do that on the Storytell list to avoid losing her again to an email account overflowing with junk mail.

Just this past week I told the story about the father brought back to life by his son's unflagging questions that sent out a search party which found the father's bones, then the bones were made into a skeleton by one son, given skin by another, and brought back to life by the breath of yet another.  The father was grateful for the help by his older sons, but credited the questions by the youngest son as bringing him back to life.  

This wasn't quite as miraculous, but it certainly has a wonderful ending.

Mark Wilson's home

Mark enjoyed Jackson, California, up in the mountains where he lived.  It's what made him my "WP" or Western Pal.  The package he sent had his wonderful sun-dried tomatoes, coffee, and so much more packed with the love he freely dispensed to his storytelling friends.  Enjoy the view!

Ye olde clothesline (LSK: Yes, that's Mark's description and the first view of his place other than the one  of him standing next to his beloved and fabulous tomato plants which opened this series)

Pond I put in last year (LSK: That would be 2005)

Another shot of the pond with 'orchard site of the future' beyond it

Box o' maters

More termaters

Start of drying process

Tomato plants

View off the back porch

Flowers and cactus

Close up

Another back porch photo

My truck

A store in town (one I like)

Me at the gallery tour in Bellingham

Your storytelling family will miss you, Mark!

National Storytelling Network parades

I know some of these photos are from the Providence, Rhode Island conference.  Because Mark also sent photos from the Denver, Colorado and Bellingham, Washington conferences, some of these may also be from there.  As before, any further information is appreciated.

The final photos by Mark will be the next post.  It will show his home and what he loved in that area.