Tag Archive | oral

The Story Of The Blue Bottle Tree & The Witch’s Heart

Jun26
Jonesborogh Tennessee

Jonesborogh Tennessee

An Oral Tradition From The South

Here in the southern United States, we have a great many stories and legends relating to ghosts and spirits. I’ve read many account from story tellers suggesting the south has more ghost stories than any other place in the U.S. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it certainly makes one take a second thought about the claim. After all, some of the first big conflicts in this country began in the south. From the invasion of the first white Europeans with Native Americans, to the Civil War and on into modern times with the fight for Civil Rights.

Southern Appalachia is widely known for its oral traditions and story telling. In fact the International Storytelling Center is located in the small historical town of Jonesborough Tennessee. Which happens to be my home town and where many of my family members have lived and died for several generations. Visit TravelBlog.org-Jonesborough, TN for more lovely pictures of one of my favorite little towns.

If you have an opportunity for a visit to the oldest town in Tennessee, that is Jonesborough. I suggest going during the first full weekend in October when the Storytelling Center holds the National Storytelling Festival. It’s a big and wonderful event that draws storytellers and people from around the globe. One of my favorite stories comes from this festival. The Blue Bottle Tree. Continue reading →

The Modern Version Of School House Rock

Jun24
ABC's School House Rock

ABC’s School House Rock

Stories That Educate

If you’re in your late 40s, 50s or 60s you probably remember ABC’s Saturday morning cartoons for School House Rock. One of my favorites was “I’m Just a Bill” (on YouTube) hosted by Disney Educational Productions.

This week I found a modern version of these educational shorts. And they’re not made for kids, but for adults and about adult topics that many people seem to not know about, weren’t taught in school or have forgotten.

Important things like how does your Constitutional Government work? Who controls the budget purse strings and how do elections really work? What’s the Electoral College for and why do we even still need it? Which we don’t, but why do we have it in the first place?

The CGP Grey Channel on Youtube is a great place to have all those questions answered. And not through some boring monotone talk over your head lecture. Nope his videos turn some confusing topics into wonderfully simple videos that explain and educate at the same time. Continue reading →

The Misty Faery Portal

May21

A Simple Short Story

A dear friend of mine saw a picture yesterday that inspired her to challenge me to writing a story. I’m up for the task. This is for you Carol.

Oswald Park

Oswald West State Park in Northern Coastal Oregon.
— Candice Allen

The Misty Faery Portal
by Springwolf © 2014

Once upon a time, a long long time ago, a young woman was lost and walked along a barren path in the middle of a misty forest. She wasn’t lost from her home or village, but from her heart and mind.

Her spirit was broken by struggle and hardship, tragedy and sorrow. She wandered through the woods in search of something, but she did not know what it was. Only knowing that she could never find it. She always returned late each afternoon to her tiny modest shack on the edge of the forest. A simple place that she called her house. A place that was remote and far from everyone and everything.

One night she sat before the fire and tried to stay warm and dry amidst the leaky roof as a storm raged outside. She began to cry and spoke out loud, to whom she did not know.

“Please help me find my way. Help me find the home where I belong. Give me the materials to make beautiful cloths and a garden that can fill my plate at night”. Through her tears and grumbling stomach, she sobbed as the night waned. Finally, falling asleep in the wee hours of the morning, weary and weak from exhaustion. Continue reading →