The Business Side of Storytelling

Running your own business can be liberating but it can also resemble running through a maze, constantly trying to catch up, find your way, peek over the next obstacle...in short, being your own boss can be exhausting!

Storytelling is magical, yet the work can be extremely solitary when we are out of the 'spotlight.' Taking care of your own business requires long hours and is very different than working for a boss who has control over everything, both good and bad.

I came across this article by Will Spencer. While it seems to be written primarily about businesses that are unreleated to those of us in the genre of performance art, his words are wise and can easily be applied to our passion as well.


TEN RULES FOR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
by Will Spencer

1. Humility
Every morning say this affirmation to yourself: "I am a complete idiot. I am a complete idiot. I am a complete idiot." The learning process can only take place by first accepting that you do not know.

2. Study Like You Have Never Studied Before
There is an enormous amount of literature in the field of business. Read it. Read lots of it. 90% of it is complete tripe. Read it anyway. Sifting through the bad is the price you pay for the 10% that makes the effort worthwhile.

3. Listen Twice as Much as You Talk
Everyone you run into will have some piece of the puzzle you are trying to solve. Some will have big pieces, some will have small pieces. You need all the pieces to finish the puzzle.

4. There Is A Reason Major Corporations Have A Board of Directors
GE and IBM are run by very smart people. Those people maintain the Board of Directors as a council of trusted advisors. Maintain your own council of trusted advisors. On important decisions, never ever listen to just one advisor. Listen to as many trusted advisors as will speak with you. Pick your trusted advisors carefully, and then evaluate everything they say carefully. No one is right so often that their input should not be carefully analyzed.

5. If Your Advisors Are Agreeing With You; Get New Advisors
Yes men don't add value; Get rid of them. Advisors don't have to argue with you constantly -- but they should add content that you have not considered to 90% of the discussions you engage in. If not, get new trusted advisors.

6. All Good Business Deals Are Win-Win
If you approach a business deal thinking "How can I get over on this guy?" you will never ever succeed in business. You may make one or two deals, but you will never succeed in the long term. Business success is built upon successful relationships. Successful relationships are built upon trust and openness. If you make it your task to ensure that you succeed, you will fail. If you make it your task to ensure that your clients and partners succeed, they will make it their take to ensure that you succeed. If your clients and partners do not reciprocate -- get new clients and partners. Do not hesitate; These are not the people you want to surround yourself with.

Before getting involved in a deal, define each entity involved in the deal. Define what they put into the deal and what they get out of the deal. If you can not define, for every entity involved, how they are getting out more than they are putting in - keep working the deal until you can. If any single entity in the deal is putting in more than they are getting out -- they may choose to withdraw from the deal at any time. Where is your deal now?

7. Honesty Hurts
The kind of honesty that really hurts is when you have to seriously injure someone's ego -- someone you care about. This is the burden of being in-charge, telling people you love that they are full of shit. Learn to deal with the pain.

8. Greed Is A Success Killer
Before entering into a business deal, always remember the saying "You can't cheat an honest man." If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The way people get you involved in bad deals is by promising you the earth and the sky. Avoid those people like the plague.

9. Good Deals Are Simple
Examine every deal before you enter into it. Do you understand the deal? If not, run like hell. Complex deals are less stable than simple deals. Do not wager your future on a house of cards.

10. Be Prepared To Work Hard
The people who think "I will be in charge and I will make everyone else work and I will slack off" will never ever succeed. Study after study shows that executives put in more hours than any other category of employee. If you manage five people, you are the steward for the careers of five people. If you manage fifty people, you are the steward for the careers of fifty people. You are responsible for very important things - slacking is unacceptable. When you hear the term "manager" or "boss", mentally convert that into "servant" before digesting it. That will give you a much truer picture of reality. http://www.entrepreneur-support.com/running-your-own-business.shtml



By Jessie Wilcox-Smith

Like Jack's beanstalk we are always growing. To help my own business expand, in November of 2008 I began publishing a monthly, online newsletter for storytellers, teachers and librarians. There are story sites, lesson plans, crafts, etc., and of course, sites to help your business grow! I have compiled those business sites below, along with my written synopses. You may download the full newsletter issues here, which offer other resources on storytelling and education for free here:
http://tinyurl.com/ne5vuf

3 Types of Marketing to Make Your Business Grow - Effective “attraction tactics” to help your business soar! http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/marketingtypes.htm

3 Things to Never Do With Your Social Networking Profile
by Michele Pariza Wacek - "I'm sure you've heard of it. You might even be doing it. But the real question is, are you doing it right?" http://tinyurl.com/7gnqll

12 Ways to Attract Clients with Your Business Card – by Bill Lampton, Ph.D. Twelve ways to assure that prospects will read your card, and will become more likely to do business with you. http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/business-cards.htm

Business Know-How-10 Ways to Make your Flyer Stand Out in the Crowd http://tinyurl.com/ck3aad

Business Blogging Benefits and Risks – “Some experts say that Twitter is replacing blogs, but …there are many blog functions that Tweets can’t perform – such as any kind of meaningful discussion about anything.” http://www.businessknowhow.com/internet/blogbenefits.htm

How to Become Fearless Business Owners in Uncertain Times. Seven great tips from author Robin Fisher-Roffer. http://tinyurl.com/dgeovq

Karen’s Whimsy- Add some interest and excitement to your brochures, publicity flyers, or website with these beautiful public domain selections of clip art. http://tinyurl.com/byejvo

Seven Tax Tips for Businesses and the Self Employed http://tinyurl.com/b8pvd4

Six Advantages to Virtual Trade Shows by Susan A.Friedmann, CSP - "A virtual trade show is a cross between a webcast meeting and a video game. And it's the next big trend in trade shows. Although a mere 1% of all trade shows are now held online, industry experts expect that by 2015, more than 25% of trade shows will be conducted in virtual environments. That's a market you can't afford to ignore." http://tinyurl.com/c9m2mb

Slideshare - Upload your presentations and share them with others. There are thousands of presentations to download, and edit for your use. http://www.slideshare.net/

Ten Ways to Make Your Flyer Stand Out In a Crowd - ´ A flyer is an inexpensive and highly effective way to grab attention in a very busy marketplace. How do you make your flyer stand out in the crowd? Here are some techniques that professional designers use to make flyers "pop." http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/flyer.htm

Storybug.net - Please visit my Business of Storytelling page at my website for many more links to help your business grow!
http://www.storybug.net/links/business.html

If you wish to use any of the above sites from my newsletter, and accompanying synopses, please contact me for permission at http://www.blogger.com/storybug@aol.com.

The maze picture at the beginning of the blog is courtesy of: http://tinyurl.com/nwu9ny

Roots and Wings

"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: one is roots, the other is wings." Hodding Carter



Christopher receiving congratulations from his professor, Dr. Griffith, head of the department at UMass Dartmouth and leader in his field. Christopher has great respect for him and I think it shows on his face in the photo.

Graduation Day! A day of joy and celebration, but also a bittersweet day for I know this is the start of another chapter in his life story. He no longer needs me they way he did all those years ago, and the years flew by far too fast. Yet, I celebrate his accomplishment and the wonderfully caring and creative person he has become.

On May 24, 2009 my son Christopher graduated from the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth with a B.S. Degree in Medical Laboratory Science. The program is as difficult as it sounds, and out of approximately 69 students who began the program four years ago, 25 made it to the end. It was a long, difficult road but the smile on his face that day proved that it was all worthwhile.

Christopher with his fiancee Stephanie after the graduation ceremony. They will be married in October 2010.








Christopher with his two close friends Lou and Marianne, on graduation day. They were study partners, cheering each other on throughout the four year program, and yes, giving each other a push when they needed it. Good natured competitors, Marianne always led the charge when it came to high marks and it always made me laugh to watch the men try to catch up with her. The couldn't have done it without each other! I am so grateful he found such wonderful people to share his college years.

As serendipity would have it, when is diploma arrived in the mail on June 23 (they don't give it to you on the day of graduation) he received his first job offer. Next week he will begin a new chapter in his life story at a hospital in Cambridge, MA.

It is every parent's dream that their child grow up to be healthy and happy. The extra bonus is watching them achieve their dreams, surrounded by loved ones and good friends who relish your achievements. I count my blessings every day that Christopher has grown into someone who cares deeply for those in his life.

Congratulations Christopher, you are loved!


* click on the pictures to enlarge

Fools, Tricksters, Festivals, and Spring!

Hodja in a Yellow Caftan
by
Osman Hamdi Bey, 1905

"Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb
like the sun, it shines everywhere. "
William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

On the first day of the month, known as April Fool's Day, we are given free reign to play good natured jokes on friends and family. Many different cultures shared days of foolishness around the start of April. The Romans had a festival named Hilaria on March 25, rejoicing in the resurrection of Attis. The Hindu calendar has Holi, and the Jewish calendar has Purim. Perhaps there's something about the time of year, with its turn from winter to spring, that lends itself to lighthearted celebrations. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html

Hodja is one of our favorite fools, and there are many stories associated with this interesting character from Turkey.

Nasreddin Hodja - Information and stories about the beloved character of Turkish tales, including reading comprehension exercises. This website is also a portal to many other Hodja sites.
http://www.cs.biu.ac.il/~schiff/Hodja/index.html

A well-known Trickster in Oral Tradition is Anansi. Anansi is one of the most important characters of West African and Caribbean folklore. He is also known as Anase, Kweku Ananse, and Anancy; and in the Southern United States he has evolved into Aunt Nancy. He is a spider, but often acts and appears as a man. The story of Anansi is akin to the Coyote trickster found in many Native American cultures.

The Anansi tales are believed to have originated in the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. (The word Anansi is Akan and means, simply, spider.) They later spread to other Akan groups and then to the West Indies, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles. On Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire he is known as Nanzi, and his wife as Shi Maria.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anansi

Jamaican Anansi Stories - Tricksters are universal figures in folkore and Anansi is one of our most beloved. This site offers a wide variety of Anansi tales as well as trickster folklore from various cultures. The text also includes transcriptions of folk music, and a large collection of riddles, all cross-referenced with folklore studies from other cultures. There are also musical notations in some of the texts for the musical among us! http://tinyurl.com/6huzob

And what would April Fool's Day be without some laughter?

Tales of Laughter – What better way to jump into the month of fools than reading Tales of Laughter from 1908? A collection of familiar and not so familiar tales from Russia, Ireland, Spain, France and many more countries from around the globe. They are sure to have you smiling with delight!
https://archive.org/details/talesoflaughtert00wiggrich


The first day of spring this year was March 20 and soon, colorful flowers will be blooming here in the east, which calls for some stories about spring and the sun!

Apples4theteacher.com - Fourteen stories to celebrate the wonderful season of spring. http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/spring/short-stories/

How the Sun Was Rescued - Siberia
https://tinyurl.com/2976yx7x

Saving Spring – Scandinavia
https://www.thehindu.com/children/saving-spring/article17578551.ece  

The Spring Beauty - Native American/Chippewa
http://tinyurl.com/2tkbl2

Why Cats Sit on the Doorstep in the Sun - Rumania
http://tinyurl.com/2xga8h

Earth Day is April 22. What better way to celebrate than sharing stories about our beautiful planet?

Earth Cakes, Sky Cakes – Folktale from Vietnam
http://tinyurl.com/dy6dsv

When The Earth and Sky Were Married - Folktale from Muria/India
http://tinyurl.com/cw34y8

Earth Care – World Folktales to Talk About
A limited preview of this excellent book by Margaret Read MacDonald. You can read some of the folktales online, but I bet you will want a copy of your own.
http://tinyurl.com/aap7ug

After we leave the month of April it will be time to celebrate and explore the cultural celebration of Japan's Children's Day or Kodomo no Hi.

Woman Playing with a Child
with a Tengu Mask

by Kitagawa Utamaro
1795-1802

Japanese Folk Stories and Fairy Tales - Thirty-three folktales collected by Mary F. Nixon-Roulet and published in 1908. You can download the book for your own files.
http://tinyurl.com/ckvg49

Kids Web Japan - A number of Japanese folktales for you students to read. Later, they may explore the culture of Japan using different links. http://tinyurl.com/bqjbur

CURRICULUM

Fables and Trickster Tales From Around the World – From Edusitement, lesson plans, information and stories, everything you need to introduce your students to those globe-trotting tricksters, Anansi, Brer Rabbit, Fox, and Rabbit. 
https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/fables-and-trickster-tales-around-world 

Leap into spring with ABC Teach.com Counting games, math facts, printables, word searches and more.
http://tinyurl.com/bqmmvc

Flowers in the Classroom – Grades 5 to 8 Language Arts: Legendary Flowers lesson plan including myths, folktales and legends of flowers. http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=46597

Planet Pals.com - This is a colorful, fun and information filled website on all things Earth: Lesson plans and activities for both teachers and parents, the history behind Earth Day, coloring pages, puzzles, clip art and so much more. http://www.planetpals.com/index.html

Japanese Folktales Lesson Plans for 3-6
https://www.clevelandart.org/sites/default/files/documents/lesson-plans/cma_lesson_ao_japanesefolktales.pdf 

Teacher’s Resource Guide: Japanese Art and Culture Outreach Kit - Although you may not be able to borrow the actual kit, there are many helpful curriculum ideas in this guide you may duplicate on your own.
http://jsma.uoregon.edu/sites/jsma.uoregon.edu/files/PDF/JapaneseArtandCultureKit.pdf

Activity Village – Make your own carp kite or origami to celebrate Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day). There are many other crafts, activities and printables to make this Japanese national holiday shine! 
https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/childrens-day

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

 

Karen Chace 2009 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Yes We Can!

This Tuesday, we will be witnesses to history as we watch the inauguration of our 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

He has sent out a call for Americans to renew their commitment to their communities. With that in mind I offer you some other ways you can help our people in the US and beyond.                               


"We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” Mother Teresa


Charity Navigator
An independent charity evaluator; provides tips for making decisions about donations, statistics, information about workplace donation campaigns, and a list of the highest and lowest rated charities in various subject areas. http://tinyurl.com/wlf7

Give A Good Card
Give a gift card for charity where the recipients get to donate to their charity of choice. http://tinyurl.com/3bymu8

The Hunger Site
Since its launch in June 1999 the site has established itself as a leader in online activism, helping to feed the world's hungry. All it takes is a click of the
computer keys. What could be easier?
http://tinyurl.com/2rdph4

Oxfam America Unwrapped
For those of us who are blessed to have what we need, why not and pick one of the 120 countries from around the world to help? Whether our budget is small or large, we can all do our part to help others in need. http://tinyurl.com/5uyjr5

Rwanda Baskets
Proceeds benefit Rwandan genocide widows who weave these exquisite baskets to provide for themselves and the orphans of this war-torn nation.
http://tinyurl.com/5l4dke

"It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story.”
Native American Saying

In honor of our President-Elect, I offer you stories from the island where he was born, and from Kenya, his father's homeland.

Hawaiian Folktales by Thomas G. Thurm (1907)
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hft/index.htm

Traditions of O'ahu: Stories of an Ancient Island
The site also offers an extensive bibliography.
http://tinyurl.com/5zbnwn

The King of the Sharks - Hawaiian Folktale http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ha.html

Kikuyu Legends and Folktales from Kenya http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/kikuyu/stories.htm


Here's to better days ahead!


"Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest", but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is." -Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (1917-1986)

STORY CAFÉ - LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

It has been a while since I posted to my blog. The fall and early winter months brought along some new opportunities that kept me busy, and the holidays came and went in a swirl of activity. I hope you rang in the New Year surrounded by loved ones. May the coming months be filled with bliss and blessings for all.

One of the things that has been on my "wish list" for sometime has finally come to fruition! I have been blessed to partner with a terrific organization in New Bedford, MA, Artworks! Director Irene Buck shared my vision of offering a new, monthly venue for Storytelling and Spoken Word artists. The venue is located in beautiful, historic, downtown New Bedford at an art gallery nestled in an intimate setting, perfect for storytelling, music, conversation and connecting with others.

We kicked off our opening night with Storyteller and First Amendment Lawyer Michael Anderson in December. Michael's offbeat, personal stories were the perfect complement to the artistic, eclectic, and intimate setting.

This month, Bob Reiser will share his new story, Red Diaper Baby Blues! The title alone makes me smile! I know we are in for an amazing evening of laughter, song and story. Here is some background on Bob, his upcoming show and the venue location.

What was it like to grow up on the Left side of Coney Island Avenue where Red was a Banner, not a color? And strike! was a battle cry, not an umpire's call! Listen to Bob’s new tale of love, passion and politics back in the day.

DATE: Saturday, January 31, 2009
TIME: 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Artworks!, 384 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA
ADMISSION: Free

McFarland Press listed him among the "120 best contemporary English-speaking Storytellers."Called “a force of nature,” by Brother Blue, Bob was recently featured at Vancouver’s World Story Day, Albany’s Riverway Festival, and the National Storytelling Conference Fringe Festival in Pittsburgh, Bob’s tales range from folk tales to his own brand of fables to personal stories of his beloved Brooklyn. His Books include Carry it On and Everybody says Freedom, written with Pete Seeger and David Gets His Drum, with jazz drummer Panama Francis.

You can also sign up for your ten minute turn at the mic! Share your own story, music, song, essay or poem or be a “featured listener.” Admission is free but there will be a “pass the hat” for the featured performer during the evening. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be available.

UPCOMING SHOWS: SAVE THE DATES!

February 28, 2009 New Hampshire Storyteller Meg Gilman offers love stories to complement Valentine's Day with Second Chances, Wishes Gone Awry, & a Little Love, Too.

March 14, 2009 Storyteller Norah Dooley and harpist Susan Miron celebrate all things Irish with Irish Tales and music.

April 4, 2009 Tony Toledo celebrates April Fool's Day with Our Dog Knows Sign Language and Other April Fool's Phone Calls.

May Date TBD Storyteller Andrea Lovett

More fabulous times are in the works for May and beyond so be sure to check my blog or the Artworks! website for more details on the above performers and upcoming shows.

Why not come to New Bedford early and explore historic downtown or enjoy dinner before the show? For information on historic New Bedford go to: http://www.downtownnb.org/

For directions: http://www.artworksforyou.org/hours.html

For parking: http://tinyurl.com/5qdafo

Please come and join us. We would love to hear what you have to say and share. In these unsettling times, we need the arts, and each other, more than ever!

The Falling Leaves Drift By My Window...

Autumn Leaves
John Everett Millais, 1908

"That night was the turning point in the season. We had gone to bed in summer, and we awoke in autumn."   - Henry David Thoreau

I think autumn may just be my favorite season. There is nothing prettier than fall in New England. The crisp, clean air drifts in just around the edges of the waning days of summer, teasingly alerting us that Mother Nature will soon take out her palette and begin to paint the trees lush colors of burgundy, saffron, gold, and scarlet. She drifts in and out, confusing us with warm, sunny days that give way to chilly nights and that extra blanket on the bed.

I am blessed to have wonderful apple orchards close by where you can pluck your own fruit from the trees. It is a delight to watch the children scurry among the rows of graceful branches, heavy with their delicious gifts. They search for the best trees that hold the hanging fruit just out of their reach. Mothers and fathers quickly catch up, carrying the baskets that will soon be filled with the ripe, red jewels. Many of the orchards still press fresh apple cider, and one of the towns holds an annual Apple Peach Festival. It is small town Americana at its best, with local music, tasty food, and the crowning of a beautiful young lady who will reign as the Apple Peach Queen until the changing of the seasons has completed yet another cycle.

Fall will soon give way to Father Frost but while we can still revel among the foliage, I give you some apples stories to enchant, delight and nourish you. Enjoy!

STORIES

"Three apples fell from heaven. One for the storyteller, one for the listener, and one for he who heeds the tales."     ~ Hindu proverb

The Tale of the Silver Saucer and the Transparent Apple
from Old Peter's Russian Tales

There was once an old peasant, and he must have had more brains under his hair than ever I had, for he was a merchant, and used to take things every year to sell at the big fair of Nijni Novgorod. Well, I could never do that. I could never be anything better than an old forester.

"Never mind, grandfather," said Maroosia.

God knows best, and He makes some merchants and some foresters, and some good and some bad, all in His own way. Anyhow this one was a merchant, and he had three daughters. They were none of them so bad to look at, but one of them was as pretty as Maroosia. And she was the best of them too. The others put all the hard work on her, while they did nothing but look at themselves in the looking-glass and complain of what they had to eat. They called the pretty one "Little Stupid," because she was so good and did all their work for them. Oh, they were real bad ones, those two. We wouldn't have them in here for a minute.

Well, the time came round for the merchant to pack up and go to the big fair. He called his daughters, and said, "Little pigeons," just as I say to you. "Little pigeons," says he, "what would you like me to bring you from the fair?"

Says the eldest, "I'd like a necklace, but it must be a rich one."

Says the second, "I want a new dress with gold hems."

But the youngest, the good one, Little Stupid, said nothing at all.

"Now little one," says her father, "what is it you want? I must bring something for you too."

Says the little one, "Could I have a silver saucer and a transparent apple? But never mind if there are none."

The old merchant says, "Long hair, short sense," just as I say to Maroosia; but he promised the little pretty one, who was so good that her sisters called her stupid, that if he could get her a silver saucer and a transparent apple she should have them.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Here are some additional stories and resources to help you take a hearty bite out of the season.

The Apple Dumpling Story – Anonymous
The link will take you to a downloadable book in the public domain. This story is the first one in the book.
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/22740/pg22740-images.html#Page_1

The Apples of Hesperides - A Greek Myth
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/apples.html 

A Boy and His Donkey - A folktale from the Hispanic Southwest
https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/boy-and-his-donkey

The Apple of Contentment - by Howard Pyle
http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/browse/displayitem.php?item=books/pyle/pepper/apple

The Enchanted Apple Tree - Puerto Rico
Another version of this story is "Tia Miseria's Pear Tree," a story from Puerto
http://www.civprod.com/storylady/stories/EnchantedAppleTree.htm

The Glass Mountain– Slavic/Polish
http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/031.htm

The Griffin -  Germany
http://www.familymanagement.com/literacy/grimms/grimms125.html

The Firebird and Ivan in the Garden
of Golden Miracles

Johnny Appleseed – United States
https://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/08/johnny_appleseed.html

Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard by Eleanor Farjeon Published 1921
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/farjeon/lippincott/apple.html

The Golden Bird - Germany
http://www.authorama.com/grimms-fairy-tales-1.html

The Laughing Apple and the Weeping Apple - Turkey
https://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/ftft/ftft17.htm

The Nine Pea Hens– Serbian
http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/077.htm

The Tale of the Three Apples - From the Arabian Nights
https://1000into1night.wordpress.com/3-the-tale-of-the-three-apples/

That Apple Tree's Discovery - Peninnah Schram
http://my_tapestry.tripod.com/apple_tree.html

The Twelve Months - Slavic
https://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/twelve-months-tale.html

BOOKS

10 Great Children’s Books With Apples
https://www.redapplereading.com/blog/2018/09/10-great-childrens-books-with-apples/

20 Children’s Books About Apples
https://www.treevalleyacademy.com/childrens-books-about-apples/

The Best Apple Books for Preschoolers
https://growingbookbybook.com/apple-books-for-preschoolers/

CURRICULUM

Botanical. Com - Apple and History Folklore
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/apple044.html

A to Z Teacher Stuff – Lots of activities here to add to your school day fun!
http://themes.atozteacherstuff.com/225/apples-lesson-plans-activities-printables-and-teaching-ideas/

October Bulletin Board Project – School is a bushel of fun!
http://www.dltk-teach.com/boards/moct1.htm

University of Illinois: Apple Facts
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/apples/facts.cfm

Lots of lesson plan resources and more just ready to pick!

Apple Education – Apples and more; too many apple projects to count!
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/apples/projects.cfm

Lesson plan to complement the fairy tale The Twelve Months.
https://people.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/twelve.html 

CRAFTS 

30 Apple Crafts for Kids
http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/07/30-apple-crafts-kids-activities-for.html

DLTK.COM – Apple crafts and activities
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/miscellaneous/apple.html

SOMETHING EXTRA

Apples of Evil: Three Eerie Fruit Folktales – This blog offers the synopsis of three stories, two legends and one folktale from Italo Calvino.
https://florasforum.com/2015/10/30/apples-of-evil-three-eerie-fruit-folktales/

Did you know that the pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony? Here are some more fun apple facts for you.

Folklore from Around the World

"The apple has long been associated with immortality, as exemplified by its role in the tempting of Adam in the Garden of Eden. The mystical Isle of Avalon, famed place of eternal rest for Celtic heroes including king Arthur, is literally "the apple land" or "apple island." In Scandinavian myths, the North-European gods and goddesses were fed an apple every evening by Iduna, the goddess of spring and youth who nurtures an apple orchard in Asgard."
http://ezinearticles.com/?Apple-Symbolism-and-Legends&id=725984

"In British Folklore if the sun could be seen shining through the branches of an apple tree on Christmas day, then the owner, if a farmer, would have a healthy crop the next summer. To ensure that this would happen, he would have to put a piece of toast in the fork of the tree or in the largest apple tree in his orchard. If a crab apple tree grew near to and overhung a well while blossoming out of season, then there would be more births and marriages than deaths in a community."

"In Ireland the apple identifies the people of the Sid. When one such comes to invite a human to the Land of Youth, he might carry a branch of an apple tree with him, often described as silver with white blossoms and/or with golden apples."

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Karen Chace 2008 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Oh How The Year's Go By...

Today is the 22 birthday of my beautiful boy, now grown into a handsome, smart and caring man. This photo is of Christopher and his beautiful fiancé Stephanie; their wedding will take place in October of 2010. He began his senior year at the local university last week, and this time next year he will be entering the working world full time in the field of medicine. He is considering pursuing a Masters Degree after graduation. Certainly a far cry from the young high school boy who loudly declared that he was not interested in college!

Christopher's life began somewhat precariously. Early on he was a tad bit impatient, which has proven true many times over through the years. He made his entrance into the world eleven and a half weeks early, at a mere 2 1/2 pounds. This picture captures the first time I was allowed to hold him. (Those are just a few of the tubes that sustained him resting on his forehead.) Our meeting was brief, sweet, and I think I held my breath the entire time before I reluctantly and tearfully surrendered him to the plastic womb of the incubator.

He spent the first two months of his tiny life in a neonatal ICU, that provided not only a solid link to life but a precarious see saw of emotion. I remember vividly the moment I felt the tide had turned in his favor. The nurse came to take blood, yet again, from his tiny veins. Christopher apparently was done with needles! He pushed himself up on both arms and turned a deep shade of purple as his tiny lungs screamed their dissent. I can still see in my mind's eye the nurse turning to me, her face awash in surprise, proclaiming that she had never seen such a strong, premature baby. I knew then, as I do now, that he was something special. Serendipitously, he would choose a career in Medical Laboratory Science, one that required him to learn how to draw blood.

The day finally came when he could leave the antiseptic world of buzzing machines and ringing alarms that would pierce the air when he or any of the other babies stopped breathing. As I dressed his still tiny body, a body that didn't even fit into Cabbage Patch Doll clothes, I was filled with joy and fear. He was still so fragile, how would I become the mother he needed me to be? I have come to realize that many times through the years he has taught me, just as much as I have taught him.

When he had passed his first decade by a few years, I sat down to write the following story for him. I was wistful, tearful, yet thankful he had grown into such a fun-loving, inquisitive young boy. Tonight, as we gather around the table to enjoy his requested birthday dinner, my homemade chili and cheese bread to celebrate his birth, I will again be tearful and thankful to have this joy in my life, a smart, inquisitive, funny, caring and loving man I am blessed to call my son. Happy Birthday Christopher!

A Stone's Throw
by Karen Chace © 1999

Our back yard slopes slightly towards a distant path in the woods. The yard ambles downhill, curving gently, and then continues into a forest that twists and turns for miles. At the edge of the grass, the wooded path beckons and just as you step into woods, a small brook trickles by to the left of the path. To an adult it is nothing to speak of, no rushing torrents or exotic wild life, except the local birds and squirrels, and in the right season, deer, but to a two year old boy this pathway held all the charm of the universe. It was magic.

In the time before speech was his easy friend, Christopher would desperately tug at my hand and try to lead me down the path. Always, for a brief moment, I'd pretend I didn't understand. "What is it you want?" I would ask. He would giggle; pull harder at my hand, as well as my heartstrings, even more adamantly pointing the way.

Our ritual would begin with a walk down the path, searching for just the right stone to throw into the stream and into the depths of his imagination. I wondered, what was he thinking as he searched for the perfect stone, a stone small enough for his tiny hand to grasp, yet smooth and wondrous to this child's eye? What made him squeal and laugh with delight as the stone struck the water, elegantly spreading mesmerizing ripples before it disappeared below the surface and beyond our sight? Then he'd do it again and again.

It didn't seem to matter to Christopher who led him down his special path. Many days he took my mother's hand and shared this special place with her. As with any smitten grandmother, Grandma Pat stayed for as long as Christopher wished, completely enveloped by his joy; carefully helping him select the stone, yet ever vigilant that he didn't stray too close to the edge.

In my mind's eye I hold a special, single picture of Christopher and of my mother, who is now long gone. On that autumn day she was the chosen one, his small hand pulling her… "Come". I silently traversed the path behind them, careful not to intrude into their world. I stayed far enough away so they wouldn't see me but close enough to capture a perfect, precious moment, watching as the love of two generations combined into one. The ripples were created over and over until his attention shifted to some other whimsy that sparked his imagination. They never knew I was there.

Christopher rarely seemed to tire of this game, this sport, this joy. He could live and luxuriate in the moment; blissfully unaware of the everyday, mundane tasks that awaited me, tasks that would take me away from what was truly important, widening his world, his imagination.

How many hours did we spend looking down into the brook, which, depending on the season, could be nothing more than a mediocre mud puddle or filled to the banks with deliciously dark water? Not enough.

Time passes too quickly when our children are young, as water down that stream. Today Christopher is a young teenager; his days spent among friends as he straps on his bike helmet, and rides off to new adventures with a quick kiss that barely brushes my cheek and a wave of his hand. The rituals of those childhood days have fallen away, replaced by new ones. Now, he calls to me, holds up his hand and motions for me to come and rest my palm against his. Carefully measuring he teases me that his hand is now larger than mine. It is his own way of silently signaling to me that he is fast becoming a man.

I no longer need to guide him across the street or help him find his way. There is a different guidance needed now. Holding on has been replaced with letting go. Yet, I am reluctant to release my grip and each night, I still gently rest my hand alongside his cheek as I lean down to kiss him goodnight. Thankfully, he has yet to deny me my own special ritual.

The purity of those days is gone now, lovingly placed alongside other priceless memories, his new front teeth, his first home run, and his first crush. Now it is I who longs to tug at his hand and lead him back to that perfect time, that perfect stone.