Such Beauty There Is: Stories, Friends, and Scenery, Day1

The past two days were storytelling days, but also a mini-vacation for us. We traveled to central and then to southern West Virginia on this trip, and re-visited places we haven't seen in some years.

Our first stop was Craigsville, in almost the heart of the state. We arrived early so we had time to stop at the tiny Dairy Bar--I mean tiny! There was room inside for exactly 4 booths, and there was an outside pavilion with more seating. We ordered the medium root beer floats, and I am so glad we didn't go for large because they were huge, and delicious. It's been a long while since I had a root beer float and it tasted just fine.

Then it was time for storytelling. This was my first visit to the vibrant Craigsville Public Library and I was so impressed with the amount of support they receive from their small, scattered community. This is a very rural area, miles from a Wal-Mart or other major retailer but the library was the place to be, apparently. The staff help make it so with their friendly service and welcoming smiles.

The kids here were great. We played with stories, really--masks, puppets, kazoos, and other props allowed us to make believe and make each story our own creation.

This year my stories focus on fruits and vegetables--who knew there were so many good stories about them? I'm also teaching the kids to sing The Eggplant That Ate Chicago and to use kazoos with the song. Each child gets a kazoo to take home.

I hope parents aren't raining down curses on me for that! If you don't know the song, here is the Top Ten hit from the 60's:

We were so lucky to be able to meet up with our friends Granny Kate and Mark, who suggested lunch at Mumsie's Iron Skillet in Richwood, just a few miles away.

Then we were off to Hinton to stay the night at a new place, Three Rivers Studios, a building still being renovated but offering nice little studio apartments for rent. Here's a peek inside:

Lots of photos on the way there, but here's one for now. I'll post more tomorrow.

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

A Day of Stories and Memories

There are so many thoughts I want to write about tonight. Like the children at the storytelling today--all 130 of them listening,sharing, laughing, singing. The adults, listening and sharing too.

Or the heat that slams us in the face, unbelievably heat that I have not experienced in some time.

Or the librarian who works so hard, writes grants, coordinates, brings along her grandchildren, always looking for the best thing for the people in her community.

Or my friend who offered her cabin to stay in while I'm 200 miles from home, telling stories.

Or the evening spent with my friend and her husband and their friend as  they played bluegrass and old-time and I sang a few ballads.

Or the music of the tree frogs in the trees outside this cabin, after the sun went down.

Or the little girl who sang the Marine Corps anthem.

Or the convoy of military vehicles, filled with young soldiers in uniform that held up traffic, but no one blew their horns or seemed to care about a few lost moments.

Or the carnival set up in this blistering heat, yet filled with people willing to brave it for a little time with friends.

Or the people who came to listen to ghost stories in  a converted icehouse on a hot July night.

Or going into a Goodwill store all these miles from home and running into a friend who is also far from home, here for a family reunion.

Or the phone call from ny granddaughter, telling me they had picked 4 gallons of blackberries for me and what did I wnat them to do with them?

Or talking to Kermit, the man who raises the blackberries and wishing I could mdeet him in person.

Or knowing my son the Sergeant Major will be gone on another trip before I can get home to say goodbye again--but he picked the blackberries before he left.

Or my daughter-in-law and granddaughters who are traveling in Ireland, listening to Irish music and perhaps finding new stories of their own.


It's been an interesting day, filled with memories I've filed away for future remembering pleasure. It has been a day that reinforces what I'm doing and why.

(Forgive the typos. I am not so good on this laptop)