Happy Independence Day!

This isn’t going to be a very long entry or anything – no worries there – but I always find it interesting what the children who visit my shows are most interested in.  I constantly get the questions about how I learned how to juggle.  Truth is, I taught myself how to juggle and for no other reason than I could.  I taught myself in one afternnon while working in my preschool classroom.  I was years away from even thinking about being a storyteller – but something compelled me to figure out how to juggle.

I was finishing up a game of bullseye with the kids – we were using bean bags and throwing them through holes, or “bullseyes” – and I was holding onto three of the bean bags.  As the little ones ran off to different areas I was overseeing the classroom and thinking about how I could juggle the bags in my hand.  I tried to break it down in my head – it’s simple, I thought, just throw a bean bag up in the air and before I catch it throw the one in my other hand up.  Catch the first bean bag and then throw the bag in my other hand up before catching the one in the air.  I continued to think how simple it seemed in my head… and then I tried it.

 

I dropped all three bags on the floor.  I picked them up and tried again.  I dropped only two – but was still no where NEAR learning how to juggle.  But I tried again.  One of the kids asked me what I was doing and I told him trying to learn how to juggle.  The boy went back to coloring, not really interested in watching me drop and then pick up any more bean bags, and I continued to try and try again.

I am not sure how many times it took me to figure it out.  I know it was about 3:00 when I started and I did one jug (that’s what they call one round of juggling) before I went home at 5:30.  I am not sure how many times I picked up those bean bags and tried to catch them in my hands – but I do know I did not give up.  I continued to try until it made sense to me and I could juggle with confidence.

So, when people ask me how I learned how to juggle – I simply tell them – Don’t give up.

 

Come get out of the humidity with a fun filled, fantastic show from Big Ryan this evening!  Starting at 6:30 at the Holmes Library in Halifax it ts the perfect way to end your July, summer evening.  I will see you all there!  Make sure to click the image above for more information!

My annual trip to the Winslow House will be this morning at 10:30 – there is a $5 admission for children – but parents get in for free!  The trip to the Winslow House has become one of the reasons I look forward to summer every year!  Pics on my FB will come in the AM.  If you’re not a fan of my Facebook page – you should totally think about changing that… immediately!

Click the image for more information!

I had a blast at the Hands on the Arts Festival today. The children were such a great group who told me their favorite Popsicles in the end.See a few more pics on my FaceBook page!

I knew it!

Please take note that the Winslow House performance is actually on the 21st of June – not on the 14th as originally posted!  Sorry if this caused confusion – but see you next Friday at the Winslow House!

By the way, calls are still coming in for summer dates – so if you’d like to book something please make sure you call today!

(508) 641.5336

Steve Jenkins has been a favorite of mine for a LONG time – one of the best books I have offered up as a BOTM was a classic of his called Looking Down. Mix this with my love for watching birds and you have a winning combination and a winner of a children’s book!  One of the best things about taking interests in birds is hearing their different calls and telling them apart!

I came across this book while at the Upham’s Corner and fell in love with it instantly!  It was amazing – every page was a new adventure in creation and art.  No wonder it won a Caldecott Honor.  Make sure to check out this book today!