That Time of Year Again

Well, I knew it was ambitious. I started this blog back in late August of 2008 with every intention of commiting my creative ruminations to blogworld each week. It would seem my last entry was late September, 2008. So much for every intention.

It's that time of year again when we consider our best intentions of the previous year and resolve to make appropriate changes in the new year so said intentions might come to flower. I resolve NOT to write weekly blogs anymore. I may be overstepping myself if I try to commit to blogging monthly. However, I believe I can say, with some greater hope of fulfillment, that I shall decidedly blog "occasionally".

There. Vague and noncommittal. Who couldn't proudly reach the end of 2009 and say they kept such a resolution over a twelve month period. I have every intention of doing so.

Now that my apologies for not keeping up with weekly blogs in 2008 are out of the way, I can move on with some meat and potatoes in creative thinking for this first blog - of "occasional" blogs in 2009:

It's that time of year again. I have a full plate of creative expectations set before me. January usually fills up that way. I spend the holiday season putting off projects until "the new year" and then, when I wake up on the "new" side of "year," the creative clutter vying for my attention can be overwhelming. Such has been the genesis of 2009.

Presently, I am seeking order in my little creative universe. It's a good time to read Genesis chapter one - a favorite Bible selection. The very first thing God tells us about His character is that He is a Creative God - creating mankind in His own image - as creative beings. This is why I never believe people when they claim they "don't have a creative bone in my body." Nonsense! Creativity is at the foundation of our humanity - a Divine gift from the finger of God that manifests in various ways. It may be more latent in some than in others, but it is there, I assure you!

I just wish I had more of the organization part. That's the second thing God tells us about Himself. He is a God of order - creating one thing at a time with purpose, ever building to the climax and fulfillment of His overall Creation. Sort of the way an artist layers the paint colors onto a canvas: first the foundation wash, then the sketched composition, the darks, the lights, the plan, the purpose, the message complete, a visual masterpiece.

Yes. Genesis chapter one is an excellent meditation for January 2009. One thing at a time with purpose and plan, laying the foundation for the next, fulfilling all in a timely manner - no slipshod work here. No piles of paper, no missed article deadlines, no chaos in the costume room, no props stuffed in one of those"safe places" until I can find the time to put it where it really belongs so I can actually find it the next time I need it. No, the sun is for the day, the moon for the night. The oceans know their boundaries, the land fills its proper space. The seeds and living things reproduce after their own kind so there are no surprises. And rest. Ah. Rest. The end result of order is rest . . . stillness . . . because God is God. And so ends Genesis chapter one.

Be still and know that God is God. Rest. Brilliant advice for a January genesis! Allow rest to bring order to the swirl of creative cacophonies and to do lists clammoring for attention. What a plan!

It is my intention to apply this "rest" to my life, my office, my writing projects, my calendar of committments, my prop and costume rooms, my home and family relationships, my bills, my taxes, my fears and doubts, my hopes and dreams - this very month - this genesis of 2009. Being creative - one project at a time.

And stepping back with a sigh, like God said, so will I: "It is good."

P.S. Check out my full plate at http://www.pwpstorytellers.com/ to see what I mean by a "creative cacophany! Lots of new progams and ventures on my plate this year flowering only by the grace of God - and wisely choreographed planning!

All Wet But Not Dampened

The Pageant Wagon Players would have none of it! The weather decidedly predicted rain all the day on the very day of a shortly anticipated outing to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. I was the lone voice calling for to cancel the trip. I've been so behind on my story projects and preparations - a famine of ideas and direction. I really didn't have a day for play. But, as I said - the Pageant Wagon Players would have none of it!

So, hoping for best, we clad ourselves in Elizabethan era attire, ere the rain might cease. Alas, 'twas not to be so. Clear it may have been as we set out - five in one car and two in another - pulling skirts, boots, and swords in comfortably, embarking on our two hour plus drive across 76 west - but not for long.

Clouds and showers followed our gleeful party of merry makers with patches of blue sky and sunshine, only to be imposed upon, once again, by more precipitation. Thankfully, there was no road construction to slow traffic, and we made it to the faire in a timely manner. And with clear skies keeping us hopeful for a dryer day.

Being a troupe of actors, storytellers, English literature majors, and history buffs, our dress up and pretend day started out very fine. We enjoyed good conversation with an olde friend, Will Shakespeare, and even had a glimpse of Ivan the Terrible, visiting the Queen from Moscovy - all part of the clever storyline played out during the day's festivities. Luncheon seemed the thing and food options were numerous. Then, distracted by various shops of interest, we split up into smaller groups and wandered about, soaking in the atmosphere of the living history surrounding us and the many fascinating artisans at work.

But wait! Is that another gray cloud - and another - and another? By the Queen's joust! 'Tis a great blackened cloud overcoming the grounds, about to do battle with our fun and games! To be sure - it rained. And rained. And rained.

I've often wondered what happens at amusement parks and faires in inclement weather. You know what happens? Improvisation.

That's a wonderful little word actors use on the stage when they make things up as they go along. Scheduled shows in the many open air theatres gathered smaller audiences under canopies for improvised selections. All the shops on the streets were open and accommodating to weary travelers such as ourselves, lending shelter and a place to come in out of the rain.

'Tis there I found myself, with two members of my troupe, standing about in the coffee and tea shop for well over an hour, in fascinating conversation with one of the faire actors in full pirate attire with one story after another tripping from his lips. Suddenly, he called for drinks all around and treated us to hot chocolates (though I made mine a green tea latte - with soymilk), and allowed us to share a story or two as well. Jolly time, that!

To be sure, no sunny day would have brought us such an insiders view of the rigors and work necessary to make the Ren Faire such a fascinating place to visit. By mid-afternoon, the sky cleared to a drizzle and we made our "fare thee wells" and tried to meet up with the rest of our group - only to be caught in yet another deluge under the shelter of the kilt shop. 'Twas here I had the privilege of interviewing the Ren Faire wardrobe mistress and period attire seamstress, peppering her with question after question. How gracious she was to share with me the wealth of her knowledge!

All these things, I pondered in my heart. Tucking them away to chew upon as fodder for upcoming story programs of my own. A day that I might have stayed home and indoors, fearful of getting wet due to the rain, and all too dry of ideas, turned into a day wherein my imagination and creative energies were whetted with buckets of inspiration in the light of such providential encounters. Here be enriching experiences I might not have known were the sun shining - or had I won the morning debate as to go to the faire or not. Crowds at the faire were small - all the more for those in attendance to make the most of encounters with the talented performers and historians on the site - which, to be sure, we did!

I'm glad my youthful troupe won out. God's traveling mercies were with us, His hand guiding us for His purposes throughout the day. This week, as I have been digesting my experiences and the things I learned, God's gift of creativity is stirred afresh and ducks are falling neatly into a row, informing my writing and performing projects - and all their assorted support projects.

Serendipitous moments! I had not planned on going to the faire that weekend. Not until the last minute did I concede to go. Then, for fear of rainy days, I almost bowed out and had I done so, would have lost out on creative blessings.

Lesson learned?

Rainy days have their silver linings and all good things and beauty can be found in seemingly unexpected circumstances. Fear not, for God is with thee. He was with me. And, though the rains may come, nary a dampened spirit bare I, walking in His smoothed paths.

May all your paths this week be smooth - and your rain showers refreshing!

Joy!
Miss Kathy
P.S. Click on the "All Wet But Not Dampened" title above for a trip to our pwpstorytellers website where you can see photos of our Ren Faire adventures. Go to Melodrama - Pageant Wagon Players page.

Momentary Meditations

Well, I guess I'm on my way. I joined a couple of groups and even got a comment on my first blogging effort. Now, to broaden the scope of my friends and neighbos in blog world . . .

I promised a blog each week. Here we are in week two and I suppose I need a story to blog about. Not that I'm ever at a loss for stories. They are my livelihood. They largely come through the "brooding" process. That's when I sit about staring at the scads of picture books on my shelves, or skimming through the many anthologies I own, or combing through devotional reading, or even, watching the birds this morning flitting about in the branches of the great fir tree outside my front window.

Oh! I know! I saw a woodchuck yesterday. Odd that I almost missed him, mistaking him for a greyish/brown shopping bag stuck on a tree branch and blowing in the wind. I was driving into the local mall and taking the back road in, nestled between a parking lot and a stretch of overgrown grass and saplings. My mind was busy with the zillion of quick stops I had to make in the next hour. No time for detours.

As I drove towards my parking destination, I saw - from a distance - what my mind registered as a bit of trash trapped on a tree branch. I wondered quickly to myself if mall maintenance would clean that up or if it would be stuck there indefinitely. But, to my surprise and delight, as I drew closer, I saw that the alleged trash was, in fact, a treasure. A large woodchuck was balancing himself on the branch and taking in an afternoon snack of leaves. I saw his white teeth glistening beneath beady black eyes as his front paws simultaneously held tight to the branch and shoveled leaves into his mouth.

I was stunned and stopped the car when I realized the charm of God's creation I had witnessed, in the throes of a buzy bee schedule of running here, there, and everywhere. I'd go no further til I could take a closer look. I had my camera in my purse - yes! I'd take a photo! My errands would have to wait - the power of nature's serenity beckoned and I must answer the call to a moment of retreat and reflection on a sight rarely seen in overdeveloped suburbia. I looked to be sure no other car was coming up behind me, put mine in reverse, and slowly back up to the tree.

Alas, too late. The moment had passed, and I missed it. My woodchuck was gone - obviously he had shimmied down the tree and disappeared into the tall grass.

I scolded myself for assuming the average when the extraordinary was before me. The reprimand was well deserved. How quick I can be to dismiss treasure-trove moments God allows to drip into my day, for the urgency of "to do" lists. My woodchuck opportunity had passed, and I didn't seize the moment swiftly enough to make the most of studying this elusive little bit of wildlife. I wasn't looking for him. So I missed him. What I might have gained by maintaining as sense of delightful expectancy! I might have assumed the extraordinary and stopped the car in the choicest moment, recognizing my serendipitous appointment to spy on his snack time, privileged to be able to share a moment in his life - as all humans are when nature comes out of hiding to remind us of simple joys and small pleasures.

Lesson learned.

Today, I shall seek to apply said lesson to fresh opportunities. Perhaps, I might close out this blog, grab a cup of green tea, and roost, for a time, on my love seat by the window, contemplating the sparrows that flit among the branches of the great fir tree in the front yard. Should I tarry long enough, who can say what treasures I may own from momentary meditations.

Sounds like a plan.

Blog you next week!

Joy to you in all good things and beauty . . . Miss Kathy

Once Upon a Time . . .

. . . there was a storyteller with much to say

in many creative ways.

That would be me, Kathryn Ross,

Miss Kathy, as I am known to local audiences in Southern New Jersey.

Stage struck from toddler days, playwright, poet, actress, historian, Anglophile, artist, literacy counselor, drama teacher, inspirational speaker, contemplative Christian, collector of vintage hats and historical costume, reader of 19th century writers - Austen, MacDonald, Dickens, Eliot, Trollope, Dickenson, and all things Victorian in flavor - director of Pageant Wagon Productions LLC, den mother to The Pageant Wagon Players, G-rated and family friendly, decidedly opinionated in relation to contemporary society and popular culture, community conscious, pro small business and local independents, often found buried in books, unfinished manuscripts, props, and costumes, seeing all life and living as a gracious gift from God to be wisely stewarded for His glory, the good of all mankind, and the caretaking of the Earth, delighted to be called beloved wife and mother, honored to be called friend, joyful to be called a Child of God in Jesus Christ, which informs the foundation of who I am and what I do in my life journey to celebrate all things good and beauty.

So, that's me in a nutshell.

It is exactly one year ago this week that I learned how to build a website. See my latest effort in progress at http://www.pwpstorytellers.com/. Lots of photos and more to come and details on the many performance programs I bring to schools, churches, libraries, elder care facilities, adult day care facilities, community groups, and events - plus details about the Pageant Wagon Players and our annual Old Fashioned Melodrama Summer Family Theatre! Look at me - I've lived half my life and I'm still playing dress-up and pretend!

This year, I have been encouraged to try my hand at blogging where I hope to communicate my thoughts and opinions in creative, entertaining ways. I find metaphor is a terrific vehicle for such a thing. My plays and performance programs utilize story and metaphor to communicate deeper life thoughts/concepts through word pictures and stimulating visual displays. I love the performance end product - but the planning and preparation of a program is immensely satisfying - the creative process a joyful ride.

These are some of the things I shall address here and there through my Story Blog. I hope to have something to say at least once a week - possibly more often as my very active schedule permits. But, I give you fair warning - I am NOT politically correct.