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Oh, OUCH. I have no idea how you went on with the show, NONE. You're a serious trooper!!

Ack! You are a true professional. Wishing for a better week for you. No, make that a wonderful week! You're overdue.

Oh, poor thumb! I hope it is all better now.

You are one tough mama to go on with the show! I'm sorry that happened and hope it's all better now!

Thanks, everyone! As tempting as it to say, "Oh, pshaw, I had no choice but to go on" in reality I had to steel myself and push on. It still hurts like the dickens, but I can tell that my body is doing what it needs to do to make the repairs.

I'm hoping soon to be able to start reviewing the backlog of CDs I have on my desk. I've got some good ones to share.

I'm sending you good vibes to help you feel better!

Back from vacation and catching up on my reading. You're awesome and things will get better. Hugs.

I'm just now seeing this post, though of course I knew about your thumb. OUCH. You. are. a. trooper.

P.S. To the email question: Yes, I'd love to see a pic!

It looks like you guys had a fabulously fun day, despite the rain! I'm surprised you'd never worn a garland while doing your gigs. Perhaps you need to invent a storytelling tiara or something....

Beautiful -- thanks for sharing some of the festivities!

What a wonderful May Day celebration! I love your crown, too (Camila wore hers to Shakespeare's birthday party last week). And thank you for reminding me of the Maypoles in two fondly remembered books! Have you seen The Rainbow Tulip by Pat Mora (picture book)?

And maybe On the Morn of Mayfest by Erican Silverman; illustrated by the marvelous Marla Frazee? I wish our library owned that one, too.

I don't know any! (I'm ashamed!)

What a gorgeous day it sounds like y'all had.

LSM: Don't be ashamed! They're hard to come by, which is why I don't just rattle off titles.

Anamaria: Those two definitely ring bells. I've just requested them from our library. Many thanks.

Jama: You're welcome. I'm so glad you stopped by.

Tanita: Even though I own two tiaras, I've never worn them to storytimes. Generally, it's a matter of overstimulation. I wear the lightest watch possible (I found a great new one that's barely there and cost me very little), no makeup unless it's required, and nice earrings when I consciously remember. It's odd, because as a teen, I used to wear so many earrings and necklaces. I was like Aree in The Girl Who Wore Too Much.

I love this. Everyone looks so festive in their garlands! Looks like you had so much fun and I can tell you love what you do. That is so wonderful!

I still remember that photo of little you: "Farida has made a garland." Bet your mom does, too.

LSM: I scanned that photo of which you speak! I added it to this blog post.

Mamakopp: Thanks! It really was a fun day.

HOW ADORABLE is that pic of you?!!!

Oh1 There you are again! Beautiful!

Both gigs sound wonderful! I wish we could come!

I love your song! I'm already singing it - probably to my own tune lol - we are stuck inside due to rain so I think I am about to get the finger puppets out(Wombat is a bit sick of playing with lego while I embroider tail feathers lol)...

It may be hard to sing while I am holding my breath though :P

LSM: It just occured to me-- if I could get a gig or two in Corpus Christi, my airfare would be a business expense.

Schelle: I Went Walking by Sue Williams is one of the books upon which this song is based, and it IS Australian so... I don't know, I'm trying to make a connection here. It's also based on Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Burningham. I'm tickled that you're singing it to your own tune.

That would be so cool.

Aw! Look at that sweet baby in his overalls!

Glad to hear you had fun with the storytelling. It certainly *sounds* fun. :)

I love how wee'uns (which sounds like "weans" when people here say it) wander in and out of the audience and to the front during events. A sure sign they feel welcomed and comfortable.

:D it's a tradition in our house to 're-use' tunes with whatever lyrics come to mind... in this case it was easy as there is a kids song on playschool here called "I went to visit a farm one day" and your lyrics fit perfectly (with a little imagination :P)

btw my favourite tune for repurposing comes from the Veggie Tales - "Oh where is my hairbrush?"... another is from Bear in the Big Blue House "Where Oh Where Oh Where is Shadow?" Can you guess the theme that most often prompts me to song???

Great review!

I can't wait to hear the song, too.

So nice to see you :) What a great job you have.

I wanted to tell you that we ordered the Mole Who Is On The Search For Who Dunnit as recommend at Bottom Shelf Books and I am thinking of making a wooden mole with a wooden piece of poo for his head! :D We are having a lot of fun with this book.

I would love to have an etsy store - but Yeti has always stubbornly insisted that you can't possibly charge enough for the things I make to justify the amount of time spent making them - therefore I may only craft for love, and must use my brain and other talents to find ways of earning money :) At times I have resisted, but overall, I think he's probably right. Good luck with your new venture though - I hope it is a roaring success - and I know your pretty figurines will be a major temptation for me lol

Schelle: I agree, which is why I've resisted the Etsy store. I think that if I do make any sales, they will certain cover the cost of materials and then some. Since I am making the dollies anyway as a creative endeavor, sending them out into the world to people who actively want them may be worth it as a hobby business (actually, an extension of my storytelling business, as they are storytelling dollies).

Do you have an online gallery of your work? I'd like to see it.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it ridiculous that they would bother to exempt rubies, diamonds and other precious gemstones from testing on children's products? I mean, are we going to use big enough ones on our kids' toys that they aren't a choking hazard anyway?

BlueMamma: The rubies and diamonds I use on my nature table dollies are as big as ostrich eggs, so I think I'm in the clear. No choking hazards!

(How could I resist?)

I know how out of context this comment will seem, but I wanted to stop by and wish you a very very happy Valentine's Day.

Also out of context, we need a Saint Valentine story from our Saint Storyteller!

Beth: I don't care if it's out of context! It's good to hear from you. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too.

LSM: I don't know how I can top the one I did last year: http://saintsandspinners.blogspot.com/2008/02/song-of-week-rainbow-song.html

I had meant to record "Green is the Color of My Merman's Hair" (edited and updated), but it's not yet ready. My voice teacher says it's her favorite of all the songs I've brought to our sessions.

Yay, you! It is still amazing to me how fast you went from erstwhile librarian and occasional storyteller turned full-time parent to MAJOR SEATTLE CHILDREN'S STAR. You ROCK!

LSM: You are very sweet. And kinder than I deserve.

If we lived in Seattle we would be there every week. Brava!

I can sympathize with Lucia (and with you!). Fingers crossed about the potential gig, too--what an exciting time for you!

Sounds like a kid, all right. Sorry!

How in demand you are!

I'm sorry for how it turned out, Alkelda, but it's a good indication that she REALLY wants to help, which is a great thing. My girls always want to help at my shows, and sometimes it's not quite as helpful as I might like. But we always talk about it afterwards as far as what was good and what wasn't so good and usually that will help for next time.

How fun to hear and see you perform!!

Camille: Thanks! I've got to hand it to Bede-- he's got a much steadier camera hand than I do.

Eric: Believe me, it's definitely a step up from the days when Lucia would howl for me not to play the guitar. I remember Evee scurrying up to sit on your lap during one of your songs last year.

LSM: Ha ha, yes, it is totally age-appropriate. I've had kids before try to shout out the surprises during storytime programs, which is why I got into the habit of saying, "If you know how the story is going to end, that can be a secret that you and I know and let the others be surprised." It mostly works- but not with my own daughter. What I snipped out of the video was a particularly firm look I gave Bede.

Ananmaria: Thanks! I spoke with the contact person yesterday, and it's looking promising. But still, I know it's never a go until it's in writing. Sometimes there will be several exchanges, inquiries about times and prices and then--nothing. Sometimes people find it easier just to drop communication rather than say, "You know, this isn't going to work out at this time after all." I never push it, of course. If I may toot my own horn for a moment, when I respond to potential clients' inquiries, they often say, "Thank you for getting back to me so quickly."

Word to what Camille said. I wish I were made of money and could have you come to middle TN and perform for all the library story times I attend.

How fun to see and hear you! I hope you get the Big Gig!

Thanks for posting the clip!! It was great to see you perform.

You look sensational!

Congratulations! You're in demand. Can't wait to hear more about the library programs--are you developing eight different themes for them?

Fantastic! I'd tell you to break a leg, but, well, you know, my nightmares would come back. Seriously though, congratulations!

WOW. It seems like you barely started your business and you are already a resounding success! That's fabulous! Congratulations!

Thanks, everyone!

Ananamaria: I'll just have one straightforward songs and stories program for all of them with some variation. I usually don't do themes for anything more than a general sense.

K.Jay: No, no more broken legs, please. Maybe it's time to retire that avert-bad-luck phrase and lean toward the positive.

LSM: Resound, resound! Thanks.

Farida:

Congrats on the gig. Way to go!

Perhaps you can help me with something. I'm trying to get my novel Epoch into more libraries. Do you have any advice? And could you maybe suggest it to the Pierce County people for me? I would be very grateful!

Again, congratulations!
- Tim

Timothy: Thanks! Just so you know, I have no more official ties to any library system. Even my reviews for School Library Journal say, "Formerly of..." The best way to go about things would be to have your publisher send copies of your books to review journals... maybe even to the collection development heads of systems. Many systems are so centralized now. What I can do for you as a friend is submit "purchase suggestions" to these different library systems and hope for the best.

Update: Seattle Public Library has 9 copies of Epoch, and King County Library System has 10. Rock on, Timothy!

Woo hoo! Way to go, you! :)!

Wow! For my money there is no one braver than an individual on a stage with a guitar.

A little personal whining time: As I read this and earlier posts about library storytime programs, I can't for the life of me remember any such programs at my library when I was a kid, and I spent a fair bit of time at the
library (it was a short bike ride away). Maybe I just missed them as a I methodically worked my way through the "Values Biographies" series. Is the growth of these programs a fairly recent thing?

--goddess of clarity

Goddess Lori: I don't remember too many of these programs, either, when I was a child, but I know that my mom as the children's librarian in a library independent of the county system booked programs as the budget allowed. That's what it really comes down to: budget. Public Libraries in this era are more community centers than depositories of knowlege and places for quiet study.

Anyone else want to weigh in?

Seven kicks is a lovely custom.

So, out of habit, I left comments about this at our site. Here's what I wrote:

*****

Alkelda, yes, T Bone Burnett, with all due respect, managed to make "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" sound like a dirge on the Plant/Krauss CD. Sam does it right. But, of course; it's her song.

And congrats on the great gig! Woot! (I didn't know Zanes had a new CD either.)

****

I love it when people leave kicks at their own site. And, Lone Star Ma, come join in the fun. (Not trying to drive blog-traffic, I promise. I always feel like I have to say that. Reading others' kicks really and truly is just...nice).

So glad you like the CDs, Alkelda. Let me know which become your favorites.

P.S. I love your first-cup-of-coffee technique, though I never have trouble finding kicks. This is notable, 'cause I'm also a grumbling camel.

The coffee just tastes good and helps wake me up.

My word verification is "hnogus." I'm gonna name our next pet that. After "Rog G. Biv." I've always wanted to name a pet for that spectrum-of-colors mneumonic (sp?).

But I digress.

Glad the birthday party went so well; it sounds wonderful. I liked reading the rest of your kicks, too. Today is an easy one for me: seeds coming up in the garden, breakfast at the Silver Diner, playing Settlers of Cataan during the hottest part of the day, fiddle music, a trip to the pool, a new book to read (Mysterious Benedict, Perilous Journey), popsicles.

I wish I knew more about music. I do love Dan Zanes, though!

A grumbling CAMEL!?!? I had to laugh about that for twenty-five minutes.

LSM: Please do feel welcome to leave your kicks over on their site (or your own).

Jules: Hey, Hnogus, I do like the Krauss/Plant version, but Sam's is better, and that probably means I'm going to play the song differently when I had JUST gotten it down solidly. Hah!

Anamaria: Yay for seeds! As far as music goes, I rely on Cool Tunes for Kids, Children's Music That Rocks, Zooglobble, and whatever the other bloggers tell me to listen to. My father is also a great resource, and has sent me gobs of cds of the oldies. It's a lovely area to explore, and we really can't talk anymore about how rare it is to find children's music that grownups enjoy too, because there's a lot of it out there.

Great list! I sure would like to hear you tell stories. We attend storytime at the local library. My daughter loves having books read to her, and I think I do it pretty well, but it's good to get a change of scenery and let someone else do the reading for a while. Still, there's nothing like hearing an "oral" story--one not read directly from the page. My little girl is always asking me to tell her a story, and I have the hardest time coming up with something original and entertaining. I need to read some of the stories you link to and learn them!

--Kelley

Kelley-- Thanks for stopping by again! I've got to admit that I'm pretty lousy at making up stories with active plot on the spot, though it gets a bit easier once one has been telling folktales for awhile (because you get certain styles and motifs down). Most of my made-up stories involve little root children going on picnics with elaborate descriptions of what they ate.

Margaret Read MacDonald has The Parent's Guide to Storytelling, which might be helpful, plus there's also Anne Pellowski's drawing and string story books: The Story Vine and The Family Storytelling Handbook.

I too love it when someone else tells stories to my child.;)

Well, there is the Apple Computers rating scale, which consists of only Good, Better, Best. This is unrelated to the now-deprecated trio of "Mac faces", those being Happy, Sad and Dead.

Whereas the LaTeX formatting suite has a scale of Badness that ranges from 0 to 10k, but AFAIK makes no acknowledgment of Goodness.

El Jope: I'm glad at least that there are choices. It's so maddening to get a message along the lines of "This operation is not going to work and is now going to shut down, losing everything you worked on, mwa ha ha" and the only choice one has is to click on the "Okay" button. It's not okay.

What a cute story!

Do you remember that book Fortunately by Remy Charlip? It's that same back and forth with bad and good, but more surreal. That books was stuck in the back of my brain for years until I stumbled across it again in the library. It was like finding an old friend. An old weird friend.

I do remember Fortunately. I need to find it again. Thanks for the reminder!

My son told a "that was good/that was bad" story just yesterday, and I thought of you the whole time! :)