Blogging Today at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian

 

You can find my blog post over at Canadian Writers Who are Christian where I wrote about using stories in writing and speaking as well as the oral tradition of storytelling.
While you’re there, you might like to read more posts from fellow authors.

 

 

 

Steckle Heritage Farm Winter Fun Day– and storytelling too

This year Steckle Heritage Farm staff introduced a new celebration to their yearly events—Winter Fun Day. Family Day, February 20th, would be a good day to add a new celebration, staff thought, and while winter weather has been an “on an off affair” this year, the likelihood of having snow had to make them a little concerned. But it snowed after all. Matt Cook said when he saw the snow coming at 2 am on Sunday morning, he went outside to celebrate it. “I did a happy dance.”

Winter Fun Day was advertised as Old Fashioned Fun, going back and celebrating the simple joys.  Steve Sinclair had the fire blazing in the hearth of the Honey House when I arrived.

The event was well attended with families, dressed in winter wear, showing up to go for rides down the hill in toboggans. They saw the animals, inside the barn and out,  did some crafts, had hot chocolate and treats, and many came to listen to stories in the Honey House. The attendance far exceeded the staff’s expectations and a camera man was on hand from CTV to take some clips as well. You can see it here.

Here are some photos from that day, including a photo  of me telling stories in the Honey House:

The miniature ponies

Sheep in the paddock

Tobogganing on the hill (above)

Storytelling (me) in the Honey House (above)

Krista Cressman-Buck (below) with Jasmine, the sheep…

…then leading Stanley, one of the calves, out of the shelter

Barn on Steckle Farm (below), some of which dates back to 1891 during the time of John and Esther Steckle, original owners of the farm

Looking at the bunny in the barn …

and a rooster too.

The Honey House, location of storytelling, is one of the stone outbuildings, part of the heritage features of the farm. Some of these buildings date between 1833 and 1845.

Derek Brisland, second teller of the day, at a quiet moment

 

Launch of Eyes Wide Open by R. K. Livingston

This year in late September, when I was a reader at Word on the Street in Kitchener, a fellow writer whom I had never met  came to my reading and introduced herself.  Robin had also published her book, Eyes Wide Open, in 2011, originally intending the book for her family.  While our books are both about memories of growing up and of our families, her stories take place in a Northern Ontario community and mine for the most part in southwestern Ontario on our family farm.

Robin Livingston comes from a  family of storytellers. When they gather around a room together, they remember the antics and events of their youth. Encouraged by a friend, she committed the stories to blog at first, then to a collection on paper, which is this book.

Robin invited me to be guest author at her launch,  a role I was pleased to fill.  Together, we planned this event, worked on promotion for the event and prepared ourselves for the day. Since I am also a storyteller in the oral tradition, I asked if she’d mind if I tell one of my stories from Once Upon a Sandbox, then read a poem. Robin was pleased with this plan.

Last Sunday, on a rainy afternoon, we met in a spacious room  in the Evergreen Senior’s Centre in Guelph. Tables and chairs had already been set up, refreshments were prepared, and a dark blue tablecloth on the tables where we’d display our books and do our signing. The door prizes awaited and we waited for our guests to arrive, and they did, in spite of the rain. What better way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Room 4 at the Senior’s Centre, set up. Robin’s display set up on the left. (Photo by Joy Benson)

Nikki Everts-Hammond, emcee for the afternoon event (Photo by Judy Brown, friend of guest author, Carolyn Wilker)

Robin reading from her book, Eyes Wide Open (photo by Joy Benson)

Carolyn Wilker, telling the story “Trip to the Woodlot”  from her book Once Upon a Sandbox. (photo by Judy Brown)

Mementoes from Robin’s family home, artfully arranged by a friend (photo by Joy Benson)

I’ve read several stories and look forward to reading the rest of the book. Robin’s book jacket says

Eyes Wide Open is a collection of stories that span the lives of four generations of the Landy family. From lost boys to beaver tails and frog legs, each of these adventures … is a slice of life served up with smiles and laughter.

Doesn’t this make you want to read her stories? Go here to purchase her book.

Once Upon a Sandbox, available at Words Worth, Waterloo, ON; Chapters Waterloo; Upper Case Books, New Hamburg; Merrifield Book Shop, Woodstock; and Fan Fare Books, Stratford; as well as Chapters.ca

Once Upon a Sandbox– Update

Here’s an update on what’s happening with my book, Once Upon a Sandbox.

    Book launch, Kitchener

  Tavistock Public Library, answering questions after the reading

Tavistock Fall Fair, promoting book and editing business

Toastmasters and storytelling experiences have been a great help to me as I give readings and promote my book at events, including our hometown fall fair and Word on the Street in Kitchener, two very different venues. I was delighted to see so many friends and acquaintances, as well as people I didn’t know.

Upcoming Events:

Friday, October 14th,  Stoney Creek at a Senior’s Luncheon, reading, storytelling and books available for purchase

November 19th, book signing in Woodstock, Ontario, at Merrifield’s Book Shop

You can also purchase my book at the following stores:

Words Worth Books, Waterloo

Chapters Waterloo, Waterloo

UpperCase Books, New Hamburg

Merrifield’s Book Shop, Woodstock

FanFare Books, Stratford

World Storytelling Day– a small taste

Thanks to her son, Everet, one of the storytellers in our guild made a short video about World Storytelling Day, along with a snippet of her story. Watch Michele Braniff  here.

Come out to Waterloo Region Museum in Kitchener for the concert on Sunday, March 20th and hear our stories.

Historical Storytelling Series at the Waterloo Region Museum

Ruth Stewart-Verger will present Train Tales: Negotiating a Canadian National Railway and more at the Waterloo Region Museum, Kitchener, ON, on Tuesday March 15. Her stories come from her family, some of whom have been involved with the railroad, and other stories local to this area. For more detailed information, read here.

Also on  Wednesday the 16th at the museum, she will also be doing two string story workshops for 7 – 10 year olds. The children will be given a string and taught some stories to share after they go home.

World Storytelling Day– something for everyone

World Storytelling Day, as the official website states,  is a global celebration of the art of storytelling. The intention is to have people share stories with family and friends around them. It might be a guild planning a special event to share stories told by its members, or someone sharing personal stories with other members of the family.

Baden Storyteller’s Guild, of which I am a member, has hosted a concert the past few years in The Story Barn in Baden, Ontario, which has been filled to capacity with tellers, their families and friends. This year, however, we decided to take our concert to a larger venue so that more people can enjoy our stories.

Each year World Storytelling Day (WSD) presents a theme. In 2010, the theme was Light and Shadows, the year before that, it was Neighbours. This year, the theme for the day is Water. All of our stories must connect with that theme in some way.

The Baden Storyteller’s Guild, of which I am a member, has planned two events at our WSD events at the new Waterloo RegionMuseum, in Kitchener, Ontario. On Saturday, March 19th at the museum ( 1-4 pm): World Storytelling Day Family Stories and Activities. Stories will be told by members of the storyteller’s guild.

On Sunday, March 20, we host another concert from 2-4 pm. Proceeds from our group events will go to StorySave, a project to record the voices of senior storytellers for future generations. Tickets for the Sunday concert are $10 per person and can be purchased from Mary-Eileen McClear at the Story Barn 519 634-8973. 

Our guild concert is one of a number of events in our area. Saturday afternoon at the museum,  Saturday evening, in Cambridge, Glenna Janzen and Carol Leigh Wehking, tellers from our guild, will host a dinner theatre “Grand Tales” will be told at a Dinner Performance at O’Keefe Cottage Cafe on the Grand at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and include dinner and stories.

Latitudes, a registered organization in Waterloo region dedicated to storytelling, is hosting  Tom Allen  of CBC Radio2 and Lori Gemmel, harpist with the KW Symphony, on Sunday evening, March 20th, at 7:30 pm at Trinity United Church in Kitchener. Tom and Lori will perform two myths: R. Murray Schaefer’s “The Crown of Ariadne” and “The Death of Hercules.” Proceeds from this event  go to the Latitudes Storytelling Festival. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Come and listen to our stories and consider your own stories on this year of World Storytelling Day events.

Storyteller Dan Yashinsky– The Silent Prince, part 1

I’m taking a break from my travelogue for awhile for the subject of storytelling.

Some time ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Dan Yashinsky tell stories at the Second Story Barn in Baden, Ontario. I enjoyed his stories so much that I wanted to read his book, Suddenly They Heard Footsteps. So I bought the book.

This morning I was rereading a part of the book in preparation for a workshop presentation. I googled Dan to see what else I could learn about him and found a video of him telling a story.  I hope you enjoy the story too.

Storytelling at The Ark, Bridgewater, NS

When my husband and I vacationed in Nova Scotia recently, we visited The Ark in Bridgewater, where I was guest storyteller. The Ark is a workshop  for people with physical and intellectual handicaps, where volunteers from the community organization work with the clients.

The Ark in Bridgewater

Linda, one of the clients, introduces me to the audience.

Storytelling at The Ark: My stories for the day were two folk tales— from Peru and England— and a story I had written. The clients enjoy the stories.

Talking with Stephanie (middle) and Rosie (right) about writing and storytelling

David recanes a chair.

Roy (left front) poses for the picture with the birdhouse he made. Maryann at right.

My friend, Maryann, a volunteer at The Ark, gave us a tour of the building. She and her husband John are coaches for the Special Olympics, in which their daughter  Jenn has been involved.

The Ark has a cooking program too. Here’s Jenn preparing food. Photo courtesy of Tim Frauzel at The Ark.

Kenny wears protective gear as he shaves stakes in a special cutter. The stakes will be used as highway markers for work crews. The cutter looks like a big pencil sharpener.

Sales area displaying goods produced by clients include paintings, stamped canvas shopping bags, hooked rugs, and small cabinets and boxes made from wood. Clients are also hired or volunteer to help with tasks for other community agencies and businesses.

Latitudes Storytelling Festival

Running concurrently with Kitchener’s Multicultural Festival in Victoria Park on June 26th and 27th was the  Latitudes Storytelling Festival.  Latitudes, founded and directed by Lori-Ann Livingston,  celebrated its 5th anniversary of storytelling with venues  for adult and children.

It seems fitting that the two should run together, since our country and city have become a microcosm of world languages and cultures. Performers shared their stories in spoken word, verse, violin, jaw harp and singing. I had the pleasure of  introducing and listening to the performances of Mary-Eileen McClear and the Story Barn in Baden as well as Trevor Ewert telling of his grandfather’s violin and his experiences in Russia and coming to Canada, Sarah Granskou, exploring her Norwegian roots and musical storytelling, as well as  hearing a young lady named Miriam, who played her violin as part of Granskou’s stories.

The Multicultural Festival featured music, drumming, speaking, Kitchener Musical Society Band performance, and other entertainment.  Early in the festival and also near its end, sporadic rain showers caused people to find cover. The pattering of rain on tents and table tops hushed the music and other voices for a time.

In a festival such as the long-running and much-expanded Multicultural Festival, one hears English, French, Turkish, Greek, African dialects, and German, to name a few. One can also smell and taste the food of another culture— the Greek souvlakis was my choice.

Tents lined the walkways, with selections of fabric goods, jewellry, hand-crafted items. There were also information booths, including one staffed by members of local Toastmasters clubs in which one can learn to improve speaking and leadership skills. Some have even come to practise their English.

If the voices of all those  people were to be heard, I’m sure there would be many stories. Among them would be stories of perseverance, courage, stories of survival and culture, and folk stories, humorous and invented stories. In the program, Lori-Ann summed up her thoughts,”The stories will never all be told.”

How many will tell their stories to family or beyond? How many have been silenced by their past, unable to share. I, for one, am glad that storytelling is making a strong comeback.

Carol Leigh Wehking & Glenna Janzen, tandem storytelling at Open Mic

Global Coffeehouse Stage, Roos Island

Nada Humsi at Global Coffeehouse Stage, Sunday, June 27th

Derek Brisland performing on the  Coffeehouse Stage, Sunday June 27th