Burr Morse hauls a scant tank of maple sap through the churned-up driveway in front of our garage

Tim's recently published article in
"Voices, the Journal of the New York State Folklore Society"
is online.

Dead Man's Liver is a funny/grotty/scary tale that Tim collected back in the early 1980s from a junior high kid. Both the text and the notes for performance are highly evolved through decades of performance. But some of the very best touches -- eg, "Smelt... the formaldeehyde" and "Pop!... Pop, cut it out!" -- come straight from that kid, or more accurately, from his uncle, who told him the tale while sitting before the fire at deer camp.

May Residency, Cornwall School

Tm's teaching an eleven day residency helping students in grades 3-6 to learn and perform folktales in a small elementary school. The residency will culminate in two additional days of demonstrations and student performances at a district-wide student arts festival held at Middlebury College. This may be his last intensive residency for many reasons, let's hope it comes off with a flourish.

Leanne's Poems an introduction

When T&L met, Leanne had already begun extricating herself from the emotionally and financially difficult life of professional poet. Her poems from before the change (some of which are definitely not for kids) were well thought of at the time and continue to hold up well. Every once in awhile we'll find one on somebody's refrigerator, or as an epigraph in somebody else's book, or online. She's in good company, there, no? Clicking her name on that page will take you to an adult-themed poem she published in Esquire many decades ago. Shh-- she doesn't want any talk about this yet-- but there's going to be a book.

Storytelling Magazine upcoming fairy tale issue

Tim has been asked to contribute an article to an upcoming fairy tale issue of the National Storytelling Network's "Storytelling Magazine." Deadline is August. He may contribute some preliminary musings here, and we'll post the full article when it's ready. (The magazine does not have an online presence, yet. Odd considering the number of librarians involved.) Tim's article on using storytelling to teach reading appeared there, among other places, back in the eighties.

Upcoming

SAT APRIL 18 7-9pm • $10 adults $5 kids venue seats fifty. Reservations are recommended Contact Information Directions to Venue Series Description.

Those within a reasonable distance of East Montpelier can attend our third self-produced "Pocket Chatauqua" at the Four Corners School. Every show is different. This one features:

• live video recording "Dimwit," for YouTube
• second installment of the Irish dream-tale-in-progress "The Boy With Brown Hair."
• more than the usual amount of harp & concertina
• brownies, singing, duo storytelling favorites, surprises, as always

Calendar

Pet News

dog portrait by Jesse Azarian

Ivy the dog and Charley the cat are coexisting with virtually no tension, though they're not chummy. Charley has begun to believe that Ivy will never chase him (at least while we're around) and at certain key times, he has let the dog sniff under his tail. He has even return-sniffed.

Also, Charley (literally standoffish since shortly after kittenhood) suddenly begins to demand our physical affection. He does this in an understated feline way to be sure, we doubt anybody else would notice. But it's real, and is owing (we think) to his observation of Ivy's delight in pets and smooches.