Welcome to Delicious Tales Told Under an Apple Tree !
3 Apples fell from Heaven
one for the Storyteller, one for the Listener,
one for all the People of the World
(Thank you to Armenia for this Folk Expression)
Growing up in New England, one of my fondest memories from childhood is my parents piling us into the 3 seat station wagon to head to the local orchard. There, the autumn ritual was reenacted. I am sure we all had our favorite kind or variety to pick and eat, or is it eat while you pick, from the glorious array of apples. Truly, a food from the gods and goddesses !
Years passed and life brought me to Australia where I taught with the Aboriginal people in the outback. Fascinating to live in the tropics, but no apple trees there. Then, on a holiday to Tasmania, I visited the apple growing region. There the aha came to me of how apple orchards are in ancient times and our time, a gathering place for the community. The earth spirits there gave me the gift of a vision of once again gathering people there.
Returning to New England a few months later for a family wedding, I was lead to a nearby orchard in Bethel, CT. There, the vision gifted to me in that Tasmanian orchard was brought to life. My heart gratitude goes to the Pattersons for responding to my vision with, "Go ahead and stand in the orchard and see if anyone comes!" I also agreed in those early days that inbetween shows, I would work in the egg room. I carted thousands of eggs from the orchard chickens, those eggs an appropriate symbol of giving birth to my vision.
Moriah came to us just after we had bought Blue Jay Orchards. Mr Alvin Josephy, the founder of the orchard, had the land declared forever agricultural by the state of CT. Her idea seemed quite fitting for the land. Her willingness and perseverance in those early days to stand in the orchard and see if anyone would come, is indicative of her dedication and devotion to her artistry and craft of storytelling. And the people came. She was so popular that we even built her a stage in the orchard. People came from near and far and they returned to see her. She started a wonderful, autumn tradition for all ages who delighted in her presence. Moriah has a gift to gather people with story, song, dance and creative dramatics. She wove in apples and even our apple pies from the store, into her engaging and enriching performances. We cannot recommend her highly enough for any venue. For 10 autumns, she graced our orchard until her fame spread and she took her programs into other locations.
Blue Jay Orchards
Like Johnny Appleseed with a vision to plant apple trees across our country, I am continuing to plant the seeds of gathering all ages thru the ancient art of storytelling, song, and dance. The years have passed and I have only gotten better with my craft!
I am available for any venue imaginable and have performed at festivals, in schools, libraries, conferences, museums and others spots.
Each program is unique. I enjoy the creativity of planning a special offering for your audience
What I can tell you here is that each program or show includes.... Imagine this !
WORLD-WIDE APPLE LORE
SONGS TO SING TOGETHER
POETRY
A WIND POEM WITH MOVEMENT and COLORFUL SCARVES
A NATIVE AMERICAN STORY WITH DRUM, CHANT AND CIRCLE DANCE
AN APPLE JACK, (Folk Instrument ) with POEM
SURPRISES !
I will be finishing my Apple book in 2015
Look for it in Book Stores and Libraries
Title is forthcoming. Spirit of the Apple Tree, I am listening !
May Your Autumn Paths
lead to Delicious Eating of Apples and Stories