Faith, Folklore, and Friends

The 2015 UNA Front Porch Storytelling Festival is over, and I'm sad to see it go.   Some days, I just don't have the energy to schlep my camera around all day.  I decided to leave it at home, and just take shots with my cell phone.  Bad idea! I only had one presentable photo;  Three on a String, shown below. Fortunately, you can go  here  and see lots of pictures and other information about the festival. This the the festival's fifth year, and in humble opinion, it was the best one yet.  I love that all the storytellers talk about the importance of stories; how it is the family stories told on the front porch and at the dinner table that make us remember who we are.  If we don't pass these stories to our children and their children, they will be gone forever. In addition, there is nothing better than spending two whole days with peeps that make you laugh until you hurt.  Can't wait for the next one.

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...