Storytellers and Writers

The month of July: hot and humid, with thunderstorms that pass through in the evening, leaving the earth steaming and adding more humidity to the sultry air. July is the time for celebration, fireworks and backyard Bar-B-Ques, and lazy days spent at the beach, lake, or pool. Trying to stay cool is the main pastime of those of us living in the South. It's much easier now that we have air conditioning, but some people, myself included, can remember a time when we had no air conditioning at all. The time when we opened all the windows to capture what little breeze might be blowing, and a single fan labored to stir the warm air inside. Times when you sweated as much just sitting around as you did working or playing. Times when a cool draught of freshly-drawn well water was as a gift from Heaven.

When I was a young child, we lived with my Grandparents on their farm in the country. On many a sticky summer day when it was too hot in the afternoon to be outside, I would climb onto my Grandpa's lap with the demand, "Pa-pa, tell me a story." Then I would snuggle in his arms while he entertained me with tales of 'Ber Rabbit and 'Ber Fox, or would teach me nursery rhymes, or tell me about his boyhood days. And despite myself, sometimes I would fall asleep, lulled by his voice and the sounds of summer sizzling outside. Most of my early learning was done sitting on Pa-Pa's lap. He taught me to tell time on the old clock above the mantel. I was good with the o'clocks and the 'thirties, but little else. He recited the A,B,C's with me, and taught me to read as he read the daily paper. The memories of time spent on the farm through-out my life are my "Good Old Days."

Stories of those bygone days are among my favorites. One of my favorite storytellers of today, whose memories are wonderful insights into life in another era, is Jane Marla VerDow, storyteller, writer, publisher, author of the non-fiction book, Dear Daisy. She is a superb storyteller, weaving her tales in an almost lyrical fashion. Her conversational writing style bids you to relax and stay awhile. Not all of her stories are mere reminiscences, however. Dear Daisy is a mix of childhood memories and adult social issues revolving around racial issues and church politics. In her quest for understanding the play of the world around her, VerDow poses some thought provoking questions about our society and the role of church leaders in shaping congregations. Having grown up on a farm on Lake Ontario during the 1960's, VerDow offers insight through a child's eyes into the lives of her family and the black couple (Daisy and her husband, Jim) who picked cherries on the farm each summer. Dear Daisy was born out of love for Daisy and of respect for the values taught to young 'Janie,' or, more properly, 'Mis Jane,' by Daisy beneath the cherry trees during pickin' time. You can read more about Dear Daisy and Jane Marla VerDow's path in publishing this heartfelt book on her blog, Storytellers and Writers. Check out her new blog, Lake Ontario Shoreline, for a glimpse into life on the southern shores of Lake Ontario. Links to these blogs can be found on the sidebar at the right under Blogs of friends following their Dreams. Also, visit her publishing company, Rising Sparrow Press (http://www.risingsparrowpress.com/) to read exerts from Dear Daisy, or to order the book. She has other books in the works whose titles should be released soon, so visit her website often.

Jane is an active member of our Fast Track Tribe who shares resources, offers tons of advice and encouragement, and has a most delightful sense of humor. Suffice it to say that we love her! Join me in wishing her the best in her journey as storyteller and author.

When writing is in the blood, it's almost impossible to not write. Yet, writer's block happens. My next post will be on unlocking writer's block and getting those words flowing again. Something I've had a bit of trouble with lately! Have a great summer! Read, write, ramble, and just enjoy life each day!

StellaD

Getting the Point on a Summer Day

Mid-morning sun shines brightly through the east window, beckoning me to come outside where I am greeted by a cloudless cerulean sky. The temperature is a pleasant 70-ish, but there is an underlying feel of heat as the sun climbs higher. By late afternoon, the temperature will be in the 90's. June is winding down. In the small copse of trees at the end of the drive, mimosa blooms. The wispy, pink-tipped flowers remind me of downy feathers. The fragrance of mimosa is sweet, yet delicate, inviting intimacy beneath the palm-like fronds. Fruit is forming on the persimmon tree nearby and the tall pines sport new cones. The air is permeated with bird calls. A couple of bickering mockingbirds flitter about in a neighboring yard, squabbling over who knows what. Sights and sounds of summer are all around. My heart sings with joy on this summer's day.

And so....

I decided to spruce up the blog a little. The parchment look of the Scribe template lends itself well to the writing aspect of Rambling and Writing, and makes a wonderful background for a travel journal. New Moon Angel's posts (see side bar for link) on her pilgrimage to Santiago is a prime example of what I mean. It was a good choice for me as a beginning blogger. However, as I redefine myself, my goals, and begin to assess what my true focus and purpose is in this Life, and the values that guide me, I find the previous template a little sombre and not much To the Point (apologies, Valerie). In previewing the templates offered here at blogger, I found this one and realized it would be the perfect fit for Rambling and Writing. And the perfect way to herald the summer season.

My passion lies in Nature. Writing, photography, and art form a circle of which nature, in all its beauty and bounty, is the center. Whether I am gazing for miles from the fire tower at Mt. Mitchell, or Brasstown Bald, cruising Lake Lure in the tour boat, walking the beach at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, hanging out at West Point Dam, or simply standing on my back deck looking out over the pasture as the seasons change, if I am in the sight of nature, I am at peace. And that is My Point.

Hope you've been enjoying the blog so far. Join me now in celebrating Life, summer, and our natural world. Have a great day!

StellaD

Summer in the South

Happy first day of Summer! Today marks the longest day of the year and the 'official' beginning of the summer season. Around the globe people have been celebrating the Summer Solstice in a variety of ways, with dances, bonfires, and lots of merry-making. Guess I'll celebrate by showing up for work today. Ha, ha.

Summer in the South is really a special time of year. The steaming hot days and sultry nights are the things novels are made of. Places such as Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia are deemed to be the most romantic in the Southeast. And for good reason. Although both are bustling port cities, their plantations, antebellum houses, and moss-laden oak trees, exude old world charm. Is it any wonder, then, that novelists, poets, and artists alike find inspiration within their boundaries?

In your list of 'things to do in your lifetime,' make visiting Charleston or Savannah one of them. Time spent in either is not wasted. Whether you stroll the markets, along the shore, or simply repose on a shady veranda sipping ice tea (or a mint julep), you will experience a strong sense of the past. Talk to locals, especially older folk, and you may also come away with fodder for your own novel. There are plenty of stories to be told, and still elders around to tell them. All they need is an interested ear. Could it be yours? Listen with your senses as well as your ears to add flavor to your story.

I am working on a couple of writing projects myself which I am very excited about. Will post more on them later, as things fall into place. In the meantime, hope you have a wonderful, productive summer. And don't forget to have fun, too!!
StellaD