University of North Alabama Storytelling Festival

Last week was one of those when there is so much to do, one can't possibly do it all. Seems like everyone wanted to play in May. Some of the activities going on were Arts Alive, a rodeo, an author fair at the library, a flea market, Relay for Life, and several other things, including storytelling.

The University of North Alabama Front Porch Storytelling Festival was what I had been waiting on, what I had been looking forward to the most. There were workshops all day Wednesday, tellers at different libraries and churches on Thursday, and then the festival was Friday and Saturday.

I loved every minute of it.

Dr. Bill Foster was instrumental in starting this festival four years ago. Friday morning, his daughter, Melissa, paid tribute to him as she opened the festival, serving as Master of Ceremonies. I think Dr. Foster was smiling down on all of us.

All the storytellers are unique and good at what they do. UNA's own, songwriter Walt Aldridge, shared stories behind his award-winning songs before he performed them for us. He was followed by the storytelling master, Donald Davis, and Bill Lepp, who can make you believe anything! Diane Ferlatte, all the way from California, was accompanied by Eric Swinderman, and my favorites, Delores Hydock and Bobby Horton, ended the day with a Civil War story that happened on campus, just a few steps from where we were sitting. And that was just Friday.

There were performances Friday night, all day Saturday, and Saturday night. I was worn out, but so hated to see it come to an end. Plans are being made for the fifth storytelling festival next year on May 15-16. Go ahead and pencil it on your calendars. Better yet, write it in ink.

What is storytelling, anyway? More tomorrow.

Comments

Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures. We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything. Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

Holy Smoke Pie

I think it was in the late seventies that I first had Holy Smoke Pie. It was at a party at Debra Morris Harville's house. After we ate, Debra had to give the recipe to everyone there. I came home and made it for my family, and it has been a favorite since then. I always make it at holiday dinners, because I believe tradition is important. It has become a favorite of our granddaughters. I've heard it called Chocolate Delight, Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert, and other odd things. We call it Holy Smoke. Here is how I make it: Chop us a cup of pecans; set aside. Add a stick of softened butter (NOT margarine) to one cup of self-rising flour. Cut the butter into the flour. Add the chopped pecans, and work it all together. Save two tablespoons of the pecans to sprinkle on top. Pour into a 9" x 12" pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Spread it over the bottom of the pan. It helps to use your hands (o...

Out of the Dirt: Bragg-ing

Like every reader, I have my favorite writers. There have been so many that have stirred my emotions and made me a part of their world, and I'm thankful for that. The one is love the best, the one I cherish , is Rick Bragg. Yesterday, Rick was in our area. We were privileged to see a newly released documentary about his life called Out of the Dirt . Afterwards, he talked to us about family and roots. His first book, All over but the Shoutin' , was recommended to me years ago. Very early in the book, I was thinking, "Who is this? He is writing about me, about my family." I have never actually met anyone in the book, but they are all my neighbors and kinfolks. His other books are just as well-written. In his book, Writing for the Soul , Christian author Jerry Jenkins had this to say about Rick Bragg: I read other writers and strive to be like them. I read others, like Rick Bragg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist, and simply surrender, knowing I will ...

Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Search This Blog