As an introduction to the start of the new term, I began speaking with the class about elements that belong to a story.  We stayed with the theme of characters and each chose who we would like to be if we were to be in a story.  Once all the character parts were named, we went ahead and made a puppet for each. 

As we approached the completion of sewing our own puppets, I went to Louisa, one of three volunteers in my class and asked her if she could help me to create a story for these characters.  She said, "I already have the story."  She had created it in her imagination throughout the time of sewing the puppets.  She brought it typed and ready on the next class.  It is titled "Finding Home", and it takes place at Christmas time.

How each character had a part in the story she wrote was quite magical, and without trying there were priceless moments of a touching mood that kept the flow moving.  

We will practice moving the puppets and make an offering of the show to one or more small groups.  

For a Christmas puppet show I chose the story, "Star Mothers Youngest Child" to tell at the local free library in Claverack, NY.  The old woman in this story happened to be a piece I made out of clay and thought would be best to throw away.  Our pottery work leader suggested I wait and keep it for another day or two.  The next morning, I knew that that was the old woman and I would need to make the Star child as he appeared on earth. When that was done, I was busy making Uproar the dog, the table for the kitchen, a teapot and cups, bowls and a cooking pot for porridge.  When the work was done in the pottery and the figures were glazed and fired, I made the quilt for the old woman's bed.  A smaller quilt made with the same pattern was for her to wear as she left her night's sleep and went to see who was knocking at her door on that fine Christmas morning.  

Annie, who read the story, helped to create the mood by slightly changing the tone of her voice as she moved between the old woman and the child.  What started as a bitter cold morning with lack of trust on the part of the old woman, and pure innocence and openness of the child became a transformation in the truest sense of the word. 

The woman's edges were worn smooth, her heart warmed through, and her wish granted to have just one Christmas.  Also for the child, his wish to celebrate just one Christmas had come true.

They each made it possible for themself and the other to experience a "real Christmas", just once...together...

with music, and laughter, with candlelight and presents and a real tree.

After presenting this puppet show to our friends at the library, I was asked to repeat the performance at Camphill Village Copake for the children.   I was thrilled and accepted.

The second performance went very well.  The mothers said before the puppet show, "Perhaps my son can only pay attention for about 10-15 minutes"  I encouraged her to come and she could go out any time necessary.  

I did not look up from the puppet table once, to see the children.  It was quiet for 35 minutes.  When I finished and looked out to the group of children, I saw that they all had stayed with the story for the whole time!  I was very pleased, and so happy to see the children.  For the children that stayed for a moment after...they each received a little felt gnome to take home.

I took their smiles home with me!

I also have an ongoing class with the day students.  We chose characters, drew them, drew them disquised as someone/thing else, and then acted out our parts, and wrote a story for the characters with an Autum/Halloween feel to it. 

Then we drew and cut out the characters and put them on sticks as shadow puppets.  The screen is still not made.  It has been very difficult to complete. 

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