Monday: A Storytelling Day

Monday was a storytelling day, this time in Wheeling, WV for an evening storytelling in the park event. We drove our favorite route along the Ohio River and stopped in Sistersville at the Wells Inn for coffee. Charles, the innkeeper, has put in a coffeeshop and bake shop. With the new candy store across the street, it makes a nice place to stop. We got some cookies and coffee and continued up the river. We didn't have much spare time; I'd like to have taken the ferry across the river, just because it's been 2 or 3 years since I've been on the Sistersville ferry and I love that simple pleasure.

But this time we had another goal: we wanted to have time to visit with Anastasia, our young friend who lives in Wheeling now but will soon be moving to California to pursue her Masters degree. We got there in plenty of time and had a nice visit, including getting to see her new pet snakes. I know what you're thinking: pet snakes? Anastasia has had snakes for years and makes them seem so interesting that a person can get past their fear. She routinely takes her python for walks in her neighborhood, and in her words "educates the neighborhood children." I bet a few adults get educated too.

We left Anastasia sadly, but I believe I'll have another chance to see her in July before she leaves.

We got to the City Park and since we had some extra time, we stopped to look at this statue:

The story of the statue is fascinating:

There are 12 of these statues honoring women pioneers scattered across the US, along the old National Road (US Route 40). Have you seen any of them in your area?

It was still hot by performance time, but there was a promise of rain in the gathering clouds. The program was a lot of fun, my first presentation for the Sky Tales theme. Just as I was finishing the story of How Thunder Got Lightning, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a loud rumble of thunder. What timing! We finished the program, packed up and drove off into pouring rain that followed up down the Ohio and all the way home.

Larry had problems with the camera but I liked this photo of the Dad helping his little one place pieces on Aiken Drum. And check out the little guy with the mohawk--he was a perfect story helper.




Copyright 2012 Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.