Snow

I miss the snow. I grew up on a farm in the mountains of Upstate New York and in the winter there was always snow — deep, deep snow. There is a calming silence that I feel after a storm that leaves a foot (or two) of snow on the ground. That old carol comes to mind, “all is calm, all is bright.” It is so true after a snow storm. The blanket of white covers everything and leaves a touch of itself on every surface: the ground, the top of the house, the branches of the trees, the fence posts, the barbed wired, the tops of cars…and all is calm; after all, it’s not like you can go anywhere until the snow plow comes by.

You spend a long morning hanging out in your pjs sipping hot chocolate until the beauty of that fresh snow calls to you to come and play. You change into heavy clothes and prepare to go outside. You put on two pairs of socks (and cover those with a plastic bread bags to keep the wet away from your socks), put on your snowsuit, boots, hat, scarf, and gloves, then you realize you should have gone to the bathroom first… (it always happens that way), so you take it all off and have to start over. Then finally you open the door and step into that new unbroken surface.

The reflection of the sun on the crystal white surface nearly blinds you (“all is bright,”), but you endure it and begin to design trails, and forts. You notice bird tracks on the top of the snow. Your dog comes out and jumps and frolics, disappearing into the soft piles. You make snow balls and throw all but one at your brother — then you sit and eat the last. You find some icicles, break them off, and you eat those too. Your cheeks become a rosy red and after an hour or so you go back inside. The bottoms of your pant legs are wet, as are the cuffs of your sweatshirt, so you change back into your pjs, hang up your wet clothes, and head to the kitchen for more hot chocolate and a couple of cookies.  

Yes, I miss the snow… if only for a week or so.

Waiting for Little Foot

I am in Virginia at my daughter and so- in-law’s house. My daughter is pregnant and expecting her first child and as it is with many first time pregnancies she is overdue. We were all expecting Little Foot (baby’s nickname) to come in November but now for sure she is going to be a December baby.

I have been here for several days to help prepare for the new little one but Steven and Carmen (my husband and our youngest daughter) are still in Charlotte, which is a 4-hour drive from here. We have been talking scenarios with family about when they will be coming up. You know what I mean: all of the ‘what if’s’.

What if Genette goes into labor at 2 am, will you both get on the road then or wait for daylight?

If she doesn’t go into labor until the weekend what will your plan be then?

Are you both coming together?

What if…?

Of course, we have no idea what is really going to happen but this is what life and story are all about: asking ‘What if?’ and waiting to see what happens.

What Happened to the Fall?

Last week I began working on some glove puppets for a fall residency in a preschool. I planned to turn the gloves into autumn trees and needed to make 45 puppets. I’d seen some small fall-looking fabric leaves at the dollar store, and it would be a quick run, so I added the stop to my errand list. To my surprise, when I went into the store this early in the month of November, all of the fall items had already been replaced with Christmas ones!

“What happened to all of the fall stuff?” I asked.

“Oh, we switched out on Halloween,” was the answer I got.

“What? But the fall just started!” I left and ran to another dollar store, just in case they had left over fall foliage, but they didn’t, either. My next thought was Wal-Mart (it was just across the parking lot) – certainly they had not switched out all of their fall items! BUT! They had! All of their fall things, including Thanksgiving decorations (except for Thanksgiving paper plates and napkins) were 75% off and there was nothing left worth having. No colored leaves, just lots different-colored poinsettias… Did you know you can get poinsettias in purple with glitter?

What happened to November? What happened to the moment? What happened to slowly phasing out one holiday into the next? What happened to looking forward to the big dinner at Thanksgiving?  I understand having Christmas craft items and fabrics out early, after all I am a crafter and an artist; if you are going to make stuff for Christmas you need those things early so you can have handmade gifts ready – but changing over the ENTIRE STORE? It made me feel pushed, stressed, and rushed, like they were trying to force me into skipping over Thanksgiving.  

“Do you have any fall foliage left?”  I asked.

“Only what is in the clearance area,” was the answer.

I left the store frustrated and went home, without even finishing my other errands. I took out my colored felt and began cutting out leaves for my glove puppet trees. These would be for the moment, for the fall, for the season we are in right now. One of the reasons I most love storytelling and puppetry is that it takes you to the moment. The storyteller takes you on a journey that phases gently into what is next. Not a rush, not a push but a transition. To be sure, it is good to plan; we all have to plan ahead, but don’t forget about this moment.

Watch the leaves fall, smell the air, have a cup of tea, go listen to a storyteller, and then tell some stories around the dinner table as you gather with family and friends.

Sure enough, Christmas will get here eventually…don’t push it.

The Times, They Are A Changin’

I’ve spent my morning pondering a story that I have told on stage for several years now. In general, it seems to have connected well with my audiences but it now needs an update, a remodel, a redo. I’m not changing the story – the core of a good tale remains relevant. I am working on the delivery of the story.

I have some new things happening in my life: my husband has a new job, our son is getting married in November, our first grandchild is on the way, some people have left my circle of influence and new friends have come in. Change brings different perspectives that I appreciate. Bob Dylan sings a song about change. It is not always easy, in fact it hurts sometimes – but it is all so necessary.

I have a friend who I collaborate with from time to time and who has also helped me refine some of my stories. When there is too much in a story she says, “You’ve got to cut your darlings.” How stinkin’ hard that is! I don’t want to leave my darlings out, but The Times They are a Changin’!!

What do you need to change to make the delivery of your story better?

Give a listen to Bob Dylan as he sings:

Clothing I Pine For

Oops, I closed my eyes for 20 minutes and an hour and a half later ...

For 3 years I’ve been working on a story about the White Spruce Pine Trees on the farm where I grew up. It’s a true story and I am excited to tell it, but it is still not quite finished. I feel like it is so very close but just not quite there yet. I even bought a dulcimer guitar made out of spruce to use in the story. As I’ve worked on the pine story getting it ready for the stage I thought it would be a good thing to have something special to wear as I tell it.

I sew, so Steven and I went to Joann Fabric to find material with pine trees on it that I could use to make an article of clothing. Sure enough, we found some great fabric! I got a couple of different prints so I’ll be able to make a few different things. I am thinking a shirt and a simple dress, but I haven’t found the patterns I want to use yet.

As I sit here I think, I am pining for these clothing items. Perhaps my finished story is waiting for the dress or shirt to arrive. It’s a process: I have the story but it is not finished – I have the fabric but no pattern.

I think by the end of the year they will both come together. I’ll let you know when I get the sewing and the story done. In the meantime here’s a picture of the fabric I bought.