August is Red Hot at the Story Cafe!

If you were at the January 2009 Story Cafe you know the caliber of talent Bob Reiser brings to the stage. And now, for his second appearance he has teamed up with the equally amazing Clare Vadeboncoeur.

Please join us for what is sure to be a delightful evening. The August heat will be no match for this red hot duo!

Reaching for the Moon!
Featuring Bob Reiser and Clare Vadeboncoeur
Saturday, August 21, 2010

Spend a night with lovers and loons, leap for the impossible and touch the moon. Join Clare and Bob in an hour of stories in words and mime and celebrate your inner wild romantic. Once you feel the kiss of moon dust on your hands, you will never be the same!

Bob Reiser, teacher, author and storyteller, has tickled audiences from New York to Vancouver; his books include Carry it On and Everybody Says Freedom, both written with Pete Seeger, and David Gets his Drum, a children’s book written with jazz great, the late Panama Francis.

“Bob Reiser is a wonderful storyteller, with tales for every age and temperament. I hope he keeps on for another half century. ” ~ Pete Seeger

“Bob Reiser is magic. He plays with words, songs stories and life. His warmth alone makes an audience laugh. Bob Reiser smiles with his whole body. ” ~ Jay O'Callahan Master Storyteller

Clare Vadeboncoeur is a story performer and teaching artist. She is a Trinity Repertory Conservatory graduate with a Masters of Arts Degree in Theatre and Dance, a C.M.A (certified movement analyst) from the Laban Institute of Movement Studies in New York and is a RI certified teacher of theatre, dance and elementary education. She combines her talents as actor, dancer, mime & writer to create and perform unique, interactive storytelling programs.

“Clare, you are a fantastic actress, storyteller, movement genius who creates expressive theatre –much larger than your petite self.” ~ Ivy Brunelle, Scituate Librarian Scituate RI

"Clare your stories were so compelling, funny, meaningful, clever and full of heart."  ~ Annie Geissinger, Drummer/Artist

ADULT OPEN MIC: Sign up for your eight minute (maximum) turn at the mic beginning at 7:00 p.m. Share your own story, song, music, essay or poem.
TIME: 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Feature begins at 8:00 P.M.)
LOCATION: Artworks, 384 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA
ADMISSION: FREE (pass the hat for the featured performers)

NEW INFORMATION: AGES 14 AND OLDERUsually, the Story Cafe audience is 18 and up. However, in the interest of bringing the art of Oral Tradition to a wider audience Bob and Clare (our featured artists) have shared that their show is suitable for teenagers as well. If you would like to bring along any young adults on August 21 please feel free to do so.
DIRECTIONS:  http://www.artworksforyou.org/hours.html
For more information email Karen Chace at storybug@aol.com  or call ArtWorks at (508) 984-1588 

THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN NEW BEDFORD

Come early and take a stroll along the fishing docks or bring your bike, enjoy the ocean breeze and ride around beautiful Fort Taber . Prefer something easier? There is the interesting and historical Whaling Museum.

Later you can enjoy a "flight of wine" and fresh hot or cold tapas at Corks or award-winning chowder (chowda) at Freestones before the show or a night cap afterwards.

New Bedford has National Park status and there are many things to enjoy. Spend a gorgeous summer day exploring and then relax in the beauty of ArtWorks listening to stories and song. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer Saturday!

Sponsored by Artworks! Partners for the Arts & Community http://www.artworksforyou.org/
ArtWorks! is supported in part by the MCC as well as business and individual members

Storytelling, Music and Fun, Oh My!!

I am excited and honored I am honored to be one of the performers at the 10th Annual Mohegan Storytelling and Music Festival in Crompond, NY on August 14, 2010. How can you go wrong with storytellers like Michael Parent, Carol Birch, The Storycrafters, Johnathan Kruk and more?

Let's make this a fabulous 10th Anniversary for the festival and all of the dedicated workers who make it happen.


Date: Saturday, August 14, 2010
Workshop: 10:00 am - Noon
Performances 12:30 P.M. - 10:30 P.M.
Audience: Families and Adults







Location/Directions: 99 Baron de Hirsch Rd, Crompond, NY 10517 Off Lexington Avenue, between Routes 6 and 202

Additional Information: For Workshop Registration, Volunteer Opportunities and more call Ellen Monten
914-528-5830 or Judith Heineman 312-925-0439.

For more details go to http://www.storycircleatproctors.org/hv/mohegan/ or email Judith Heineman at juhestories@aol.com  Funded by the Westchester Arts Council

The festival will go on rain or shine but why don't you pack some of your own sunshine and stories and meet us there!

Celebrate National Watermelon Day!

 

Still Life with Watermelons and Apples in a Landscape, 1771

Luis Meléndez (Spanish, 1716-1780)

August 3 is National Watermelon Day so let’s get ready with some ripe and juicy watermelon tales!

 

Postscript: Since I wrote this blog post in 2010 I have been blessed with two grandsons. Mason, the oldest at 20  months, has discovered the delicious joy of watermelon. Every time I put a small plate of bite sized pieces in front of him his eyes light up, and with an excited smile he looks  at me and says, "Yummmmm."

 

 A few 'seeds' of information on this delicious fruit.

 

• Watermelons are thought to be native of the Kalahari desert in Africa, due to David Livingstone describing them as "abundant" in that region.
• Watermelons have been cultivated at least as early as 2000 B.C (there's evidence in the Nile Valley, as noted by Zohary and Hopf). Several watermelon seeds were found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen.
• The fruit was cultivated in Asia (China in particular) by the end of the 9th century A.D. and introduced to Europe by the Moor invasion in the 13th century.
• There are legends about watermelons in Vietnam. According to folklore, it was discovered by Prince Mai An Tiêm, a prince of the Hung. He was exiled on an island, with the condition that if he could survive for six months, he could go back to his castle: he prayed for help, and a bird flying by dropped a watermelon seed on the ground. When the prince cultivated the seed, he called the fruit dua tây (western melon), since the bird had come from the West. The prince eventually survived and went back home. (Read a version of the story below.)
• Watermelons were introduced to North America in 1500, and Native Americans were found cultivating them by French explorers in the Mississippi valley.
• Other sources believe the fruit was introduced in Massachusetts in 1629.
• Jerry Parsons, a Texas Agricultural Extension horticulturalist, states that the crop was grown by Native Americans in Florida (by 1664) and the Colorado River area (by 1799).  

The above information was found on the following websites:
http://www.watermelon.org/Kids/Kids-WatermelonFacts.aspx
http://www.burpee.com/fruit-plants/melon-seeds/watermelon/all-about-watermelons-article10022.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon

 

STORIES



The Golden Watermelon – Uzbekhttp://tinyurl.com/yc2ntkx

Never Mind Them Watermelons – Alabama, United States

http://tinyurl.com/y8wr3np

Tony Beaver and the Watermelon Party – West Virginia, USA
http://tinyurl.com/y9kyzjj

Story-Lovers.com - As always, Jackie serves up a plate full of tales perfect for the season. Dive in!
http://tinyurl.com/ya9topl

The Story of Watermelon Island - Vietnam
http://tinyurl.com/y9vaja7

Watermelon Magic - Vietnam
http://tinyurl.com/ybx2how

CRAFTS

Summertime Watermelon Crafts and Activities
http://voices.yahoo.com/summertime-watermelon-crafts-activities-6136010.html

Willy Watermelon Paper Craft
http://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/mwatermelon.htm

CURRICULUM

 

Teacher's Guide - More curriculum ideas than watermelons have seeds! http://www.theteachersguide.com/booklessons/watermelonday/watermelonday.htm

 

IN THE KITCHEN

 

Quench your summertime thirst with this delicious recipe.

Watermelon Smoothie
http://www.watermelon.org/Recipes/Watermelon-Recipes.aspx?SearchTerm=smoothie&SearchType=Recipes

Health Benefits of Watermelon
http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/watermelon.html

SONGS AND FINGERPLAYS

Step by Step - This site not only offers songs and fingerplays but more crafts, recipes and ideas to create your own watermelon themed activities. http://stepbystepcc.com/foods/watermelon.html

 

Karen Chace  © 2010

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.



Fireworks, Folktales and Fun!

Fourth of July in Centre Square Philadelphia
by
John Lewis Krimmel, 1812 

The Fourth of July celebrates Independence Day in the United States and we will be celebrating with fireworks and cookouts galore. July 14 is is also Bastille Day in France so I offer some stories to celebrate the beautiful countries of France and the U.S.A.

STORIES

American Folklore - Celebrate America’s birthday and take an armchair journey with folktales, myths, legends, Tall Tales and ghost stories from the 50 United States. Tales are clearly indexed so you won’t even need to ask for directions.
http://www.americanfolklore.net/

The Legend of Johnny Appleseed - What could be more American than Johnny Appleseed? This site offers interesting background information on the real man, including his obituary from March 22, 1845.
http://farmersalmanac.com/blog/2015/03/11/legend-johnny-appleseed/

Nine Facts That Tell the True Story of Johnny Appleseed
http://mentalfloss.com/article/62113/9-facts-tell-true-story-johnny-appleseed


Perrault’s Fairy Tales - Eight of his best known fairy tales.
http://www.angelfire.com/nb/classillus/images/perrault/perra.html

The Fairy Tales of Marie - Catherine d´Aulony
Marie-Catherine lived in France during the time of Charles Perrault but her tales were shared in a more conversational style and usually featured a female protagonist. Many of her works were collected by Andrew Lang in his Fairy Books.
https://archive.org/details/fairytalesmadam00dgoog 

The Enormous Nose
http://tinyurl.com/y3mrnle

Quackling – French folktale adapted by Aaron Shepard
http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/042.html

Fairy Tales From All Nations –In my continuing search for French folktales I found this public domain book containing the French tale, Prince Chaffinch and so much more.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34956 

CRAFTS

Some fun games and activities to add some spark to your patriotic festivities.

Apples4teacher.com
http://tinyurl.com/mmzcr9

Family Education.com
http://tinyurl.com/lsubws

And for some extra fun, a word search and maze to celebrate our countries anniversary.

Maze
http://tinyurl.com/n7curj

Word Search
http://tinyurl.com/lss2pe

MUSIC

Girl Scouts R Fun Song Page – What would the official opening of summer be without some music to share! Openings/closings, hiking/camping, traditional, echo songs and more; songs for all occasions. All you need to keep everyone in tune!
http://tinyurl.com/mlov75

Karen Chace 2015 ©

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.

July Fireworks Continue at the Story Cafe!

July 4th is just around the corner but the fireworks will continue into the month with fabulous tales of myth and madness at the Story Cafe!

Mommies, Mummies and Madness. How Much is Too Much?

Featuring Katie Green
Saturday, July 24, 2010

Tales of awe, of mystery, and tales of love. Katie takes us to Egypt with ancient stories about contemporary issues. Join us as Katie weaves myth and mindfulness in story.

Katie Green tells stories to bring people closer to one another and to the environment. Her tales of truth, folk and faerie are engaging and lyrical, transporting the listener to another time and place.

Katie received the National Storytelling Association's 1998 Service Award for the Northeast. She was awarded an NSN Members Grant and Heubner Award in 2006. Katie is a Creative Teaching Partner with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is listed with the New England States Touring Roster. www.katiegreenstories.com

"Katie Green is a wonderful storyteller. You will have a wonderful time." Jay O'Callahan

"Katie's stories invite reflection and open doors for insight." Carol Burnes

TIME: 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Feature begins at 8:00 P.M.)
LOCATION AND ADDRESS: Artworks, 384 Acushnet Avenue,
New Bedford, MA
ADULT OPEN MIC: Sign up for your eight minute (maximum) turn at the mic beginning at 7:00 p.m. Share your own story, song, music, essay or poem.
ADMISSION: FREE (pass the hat for the featured performers)
AUDIENCE: 18 and older

For more information email Karen Chace at storybug@aol.com  or call Artworks at (508) 984-1588 For directions: http://www.artworksforyou.org/hours.html

THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN NEW BEDFORD

Come early and take a stroll along the fishing docks or bring your bike, enjoy the ocean breeze and ride around beautiful Fort Taber . Prefer something easier? There is the interesting and historical Whaling Museum.

Later you can enjoy a "flight of wine" and fresh hot or cold tapas at Corks or award-winning chowder (chowda) at Freestones before the show or a night cap afterwards.

New Bedford has National Park status and there is lots to see and do. You could spend a gorgeous summer day exploring and then relax in the beauty of ArtWorks listening to stories and song. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer Saturday!

Sponsored by Artworks! Partners for the Arts & Community http://www.artworksforyou.org/ ArtWorks! is supported in part by the MCC as well as business

Beauty Floats on the Water

Claude Monet is one of my favorite painters and the water lily is also one of my favorite flowers. Once, when I was visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art some of Monet's paintings were exhibited. I stood there in front of his gorgeous work completely mesmerized. It took every ounce of effort not to reach out and touch the canvas.

In summer's past I have vacationed in New Hampshire, high up a winding mountain road that leads to a lovely cottage. The front porch offers a gorgeous sweeping view of the lake, home to loons, beavers and water lilies.

When I am there, one of the most relaxing moments for me besides reading on the porch, is kayaking among the delicate, white water lilies that speckle the lake. The experience always feels magical, almost reverential, as I slowly glide past, gently touching the velvet, soft petals. For some reason, the flower came to mind today and so I offer you a few stories to add some magic to your day.


From the earliest Indian collection of Buddhist sutras, from the reign of Ahyu, comes this description of the beginning of the world:



“Between the mountains there were many rivers, flowing in all directions along 100 different routes, moving slowly downhill, without waves. The rivers were shallow and their banks weren't steep, making them easy to ford. The water in them was clean and pure, and flowers floated on the surface in abundance. The currents were full of them…”


According to this passage, the lotus was the first flower appearing in a world of water.
http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/flowers/lotus.html



THE WATER-LILY. THE GOLD-SPINNERS
by Andrew Lang - The Blue Fairy Tale Book


Once upon a time, in a large forest, there lived an old woman and three maidens. They were all three beautiful, but the youngest was the fairest. Their hut was quite hidden by trees, and none saw their beauty but the sun by day, and the moon by night, and the eyes of the stars. The old woman kept the girls hard at work, from morning till night, spinning gold flax into yarn, and when one distaff was empty another was given them, so they had no rest. The thread had to be fine and even, and when done was locked up in a secret chamber by the old woman, who twice or thrice every summer went a journey. Before she went she gave out work for each day of her absence, and always returned in the night, so that the girls never saw what she brought back with her, neither would she tell them whence the gold flax came, nor what it was to be used for.

Now, when the time came round for the old woman to set out on one of these journeys, she gave each maiden work for six days, with the usual warning: "Children, don't let your eyes wander, and on no account speak to a man, for, if you do, your thread will lose its brightness, and misfortunes of all kinds will follow." They laughed at this oft-repeated caution, saying to each other: "How can our gold thread lose its brightness, and have we any chance of speaking to a man?"

On the third day after the old woman's departure a young prince, hunting in the forest, got separated from his companions, and completely lost. Weary of seeking his way, he flung himself down under a tree, leaving his horse to browse at will, and fell asleep. Click here for the rest of the story: http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/309.htm


I love how legends and folklore travel. Here are three legends, all with the same title, from distinct and different cultures. A bit of trivia before you begin: Some Maya believed that the earth was actually the back of a huge crocodile, resting in a pool of water lilies.

The Legend of the Water Lily - Folklore from Central Java
http://folklore4u.blogspot.com/2009/11/legend-of-water-lily-folklore-from.html

The Legend of the Water Lily - Brazil
http://www.cantaremusic.com/stories/amazon.htm

The Legend of the Water Lily - Native American - Ojibwa Nation
http://tinyurl.com/3ybl3gt

CURRICULUM


An Education Resource from the North Carolina Museum of Art - Grades 6 - 8
http://ncmoa.org/artnc/content/lesson/wordDoc/45.pdf
 
Information about Water Lilies by Monet
http://www.ehow.com/about_5100967_information-water-lilies-monet.html


MISCELLANEOUS

Karen's Whimsy - Beautiful images of waterlilies for your use.
http://karenswhimsy.com/water-lilies.shtm

Water Lily Coloring Page
http://www.first-school.ws/t/coloring-pages/flowers/3-water-lily-pad.htm


Image: Claude Monet - Waterlilies

Let Me Tell You 'Bout the Birds and the Bees...

The warmth of the sun is with us once more; flowers are blooming, birds are singing and crickets are chirping. I offer you some folktales to help us welcome summer!

Akanidi the Bright Sunbeam – A Siberian Tale
http://tinyurl.com/9v3un8

Clytie, the Heliotrope -An adaptation of the Greek myth
http://tinyurl.com/9mz8ql

The Cricket’s Song - Guatemalan Folktale
http://tinyurl.com/7ofxz8

Daffodeelia – A Sri Lankan Fairytale
http://tinyurl.com/35fpkyf

The Flower Queen’s Daughter - By Andrew Lang
http://tinyurl.com/77uooc

How the King of Birds Was Chosen: and other Mayan folk tales
http://tinyurl.com/cbhsw3

The Language of the Birds
http://tinyurl.com/dgtupm

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


CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
I know school is out in many parts of the USA for the season but these sites may be useful in your storytelling and library programs this summer.

Flower Facts and Trivia – Add some interesting trivia about flowers to your storytelling or classroom lessson plans. http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/pcd11.html

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/support_files/1390.pdf

Honey Bees and Cultural Attitudes - Grades: 4-6 Essential Skills: Literature, Language Arts, Social Studies Students explore how honey bees are portrayed in art and literature. It also offers a comprehensive and age appropriate bibliography at the end. http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/ahb/lsn25.html

The Teacher’s Guide: Plants and Flowers - Lots of lesson plans and ideas to keep the ideas blooming! http://www.theteachersguide.com/plantsflowers.htm
 

CRAFTS
 
ChildFun.com - Summer brings a bounty of fresh fruit so why not have some fruity fun! http://tinyurl.com/m99dj4
 
Kaboose.com - Lots of fun Fourth of July crafts to make your holiday sparkle!
http://tinyurl.com/nymrap
 
Kinderart - Summer is time to take the children to the zoo. Download some cute animal printables to keep your students and children roaring with delight long after the field trip!
http://tinyurl.com/mfoajz


MUSIC

Loowit Campfire Songs - Summer is just around the corner. Get ready for those scouting camp gigs with songs that will have them merrily singing long. http://tinyurl.com/kjfhqb

Bus Songs - We all know that sometimes our audiences need to “get the wiggles out” and what better way than to have them sing along! Your toes will be tapping and your fingers snapping as you explore this fun site full of songs that just add some extra Zip A De Doo Dah to your storytelling programs. http://www.bussongs.com/

Karen Chace  2010 ©

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.