Story - "Pumpkin Time"

The following mini-story is based upon the characters in the new book, Tales From The Glades Of Ballymore.

This past weekend, Petunia Porcupine held her annual pumpkin festival. On Saturday morning everyone was invited to help harvest the final pumpkins and apples of the season.  The day was sunny and cold.  By 10 bongs (10 am) her fields and orchard were full of animals running this way and that with baskets.  It was quite disorganized, but everyone seemed to like that.  The mood was spontaneous. Eventually, there were a lot of bright orange pumpkins of all sizes piled on one side of her well.  On the other side were hundreds of shiny red apples.

Petunia served hot apple cider to everyone.  The cider was meant for drinking, but some of the younger animals had another idea.  They found a large pumpkin that had been hollowed out and filled it with some of the cider.  Now they had a cider-pumpkin swimming pool. Since the pumpkin was next to Petunia's back porch, the moles and chipmunks were able to jump from the porch into the pumpkin pool.  It was great fun, but it created quite a mess.  Eventually, everyone had had enough jumping and splashing and bathing.  The parents made their now sweet and sticky children rinse off in the pond.

Later in the afternoon, some animals left, and those remaining moved indoors.  Petunia offered hot tea, small sandwiches, and pumpkin pie. Reginald Rabbit sat on the hearth and began telling those who were interested about a Halloween he had many years ago.  It was mostly the younger animals who seemed interested.  A number of the adults pretended not to listen, but they were listening with one ear.

"I was hopping home through the woods on a Halloween eve many years ago.  It was quite windy and near dusk.  I wanted to get home quickly.  I don't believe in ghosts and I'm not superstitious, but it was Halloween and it is best to be careful."

Several of the "not listening" adults nodded their heads.

"Gusts of wind blew through the evergreens.  The wind seemed to be coming from all directions.  Suddenly, I came upon a fog covering the path.  It was about three feet deep.  Despite the wind, it did not move.  I stopped immediately and stared.  It was very strange.  I really wanted to be home but what could I do?  I was too afraid to hop through the fog that shouldn't even be there.  While I was trying to decide what to do, the fog slowly drifted off the path.  There was now enough room for me to get by.  I waited.  The fog didn't move. The wind blew.  It got darker.  I waited.  The fog didn't move."

All of the adults had moved into the parlor so that they could hear better.

"I had to do something, so I began to slowly hop down the path towards the fog.  As I approached, nothing happened. It remained motionless until I had passed.  As soon as I passed it, I hopped away as fast as I could. When I looked back, I saw the fog coming after me.  I was terrified!  In a few minutes, I reached the edge of the woods and ran into my home.  I slammed the door shut and went to the window. The fog had stopped at the edge of the woods.  I continued to watch as darkness closed in.  I don't know if the fog left or if it just became too dark to see."

Reginald paused.

"Then what happened?"asked Finn Frog excitedly.

"I didn't go out again that night, and I've never gone out on a Halloween night since then.  I just don't know what's out there.  The next morning I went to the edge of the woods.  In the area where the fog had been, there was a small amount of green slime covering the ground.  I don't know what it was.  I don't want to know."

Morris Muskrat shuddered as he remembered his recent dream about slimy goblins.  The weasels also shuddered as they recalled a similar fog they encountered last Halloween.  The Ballymore residents didn't need this story to get them to be cautious on Halloween.  Everyone claims they don't believe in ghosts, but there is no trick-or-treating and very few put out a lighted pumpkin.  They ageed with Reginald that is best to stay in.  The story made everyone uneasy, and they all decided it was time to leave.  The animals warily made their way to their homes on the moonless, windy night.

Halloween is still to come.

More Ballymore Stories

Illustrations by Karen Ross Ohlinger

Story - "Pumpkin Time"

Story - "The Community"

The above mini-story is based upon the characters in the new book, Tales From The Glades Of Ballymore

On some clear, cool October nights, the temperature drops enough so that a dense fog forms over Ballymore pond and the surrounding woods, fields, and glens. This creates a temporary havoc for anyone intending to fly.  The bluebirds' messenger service is suspended, and the swans' procurement trips are delayed.  However, this is all taken in stride by the animal residents. If anything, it is an excuse to stay in bed for a couple of extra hours in the morning.

The fog is a very noticeable sign of the changing seasons.  It also signals the arrival of the final harvest.  Rhonda Rabbit is picking the fall flowers, and the family is making holiday decorations from them. Petunia Porcupine's apple trees are ready for picking. It's also pumpkin time.  That means lots of pumpkin pies and pumpkin soup. Although Petunia has the community garden and orchard, most everyone has a small garden in which they grow their favorite vegetables and fruits. These favorites are now being stored for the coming cold and snow. 

Actually, Ballymore doesn't get much snow in a typical winter.  Ice storms are more likely. Last year, an ice storm was followed by very cold weather, and that was followed by very warm weather.  The unfortunate pattern created and then melted a lot of ice.  Eventually, the melting ice formed a dam at the creek entrance.  This caused the pond water level to rise and threatened to flood Ballymore.  Heroic efforts prevented a disaster.

Bartholomew Owl is lying in bed, thinking about last winter and that ice dam.  A community meeting was held in May to consider ideas about how to prevent a recurrence.

The swans suggested they drop rocks on the forming ice to break it up. It was pointed out that the rocks themselves could form a dam. 

It was suggested that fires be built around the pond to keep it from freezing in the first place.  Of course, they would never be able to build and maintain enough fires to be effective.  It is best to work with nature, not against it.

The most "interesting" idea came from Finn Frog.  He reminded everyone that the pond was fed by a warm underground spring.  He suggested that a pipeline be built from the spring to the creek entrance. Then the piped warm water would melt the ice.  After considerable laughter, that idea was dismissed.

Eventually, everyone agreed that it would help if debris were cleared from the creek entrance each year.  So each fall they would pick a day for creek cleanup.  Today was that day.

This was a typical Ballymore project.  Most everyone would participate in one way or another.  There would be cleaners and movers and gatherers and burners and cooks.  Although the purpose was serious, the animals would make it another enjoyable community event.  There would be plenty of food and perhaps even some dancing later.  That would depend upon how tired everyone was when the cleanup was finished. It is events like this one that help form and maintain the feeling of community among the animal residents.

As it turned out, the cleanup went very well.  Lots of sticks and leaves were removed from the creek.  More sticks and branches were brought from the nearby woods, and as the sun set, a large bonfire was built.  Everyone gathered around the warm fire and enjoyed roasted chestnuts and popcorn.  Hot tea and cider was served.  Grenby Groundhog played his harmonica.  The chipmunks and moles danced in a circle.  Reginald Rabbit took the opportunity to gather clothes orders for the coming season, and Petunia Porcupine took orders for holiday pies.  Some of the younger animals read stories to everyone as they showed off their newly acquired reading skills.  There was even some poetry reading. The get-together lasted well into the evening before they let the bonfire die down.  Slowly the gathering ended as the animals returned to their cottages and warm beds. 

As the church bell from Waterford bonged 10 times, Bartholomew sat at the edge of the now clean creek and marveled at what had been accomplished so quickly.  He silently gave thanks to all of the animal residents.  He gave thanks to the pond, woods, and fields of Ballymore that provided them with such a wonderful home.  As he gazed upward at the stars, he gave thanks to the whole infinite universe. 

A bright quarter-moon, wearing a halo of ice crystals, rose over the trees.  It would be another clear, cool October night.

More Ballymore Stories

The weekly Story about the animal residents of Ballymore is available for free syndication to family-oriented blogs and websites.  For information, please contact me at: ballymoretales(at)gmail(dot)com.

Illustrations by Karen Ross Ohlinger

Story - "The Community"

Story - "The Goblins!"

This mini-story is based upon the characters in the new book: Tales From The Glades Of Ballymore

Morris Muskrat is Ballymore's furniture builder and has been for many years. With his apprentice, Birk Beaver, they build everything from tables to chests to toys. Each holiday season, they make special toys for the children. Last year they created a giant wooden train set. This year they are making an army of toy soldiers.

Morris created a pattern so that all the soldiers would look the same. They would be 5” high. Each would wear black boots, beige pants and shirt, a red coat with gold buttons, and a tall, black fur cap. They all had wide black belts with a holster and a long silver sword. Then he made a special pattern for the Captain. The Captain was 6" high. His uniform was similar except that his shirt was white and there was a gold feather in his cap.  His sword was golden.

Birk gathered the wood and cut each piece to the right size. He cut over one hundred pieces and put them in the shed. The soldiers would be created in groups of ten. Using the pattern, it took about two hours to turn a piece of wood into a soldier and another two hours to paint him. They had other projects to work on, so typically, two soldiers were made each day. 

They had been working on the soldiers for ten days and now there were twenty-one brand new toy soldiers laying on Morris’s parlor floor. Tonight, Morris was finishing the Captain. He brushed the final touch of gold paint on the feather of the cap. Morris stood the impressive Captain on the floor next to the growing army and smiled. 

It had been a long day for Morris, and he was tired. He made a pot of hot tea and sat by the hearth. Earlier, Petunia Porcupine had brought a box of chocolate-chip cookies, and they were so good with the tea. It gets dark early in October, and tonight the winds were stirring. It wasn’t long before Morris drifted off to sleep. 

“Attention men!” commanded the Captain. 

Immediately, his small army stood and arranged themselves in three rows of seven. They stood perfectly straight and still, awaiting orders. The Captain inspected them and was satisfied. 

“Tonight men, we will see our first action. There are goblins in the area, and they have orders to attack this cottage. Their purpose is to prevent the creation of our army. We will not let this happen! We will gloriously defend this cottage and ourselves! Won’t we men?” 

The soldiers answered together with a loud, “Yes, Sir”. 

The Captain then assigned small groups of soldiers to guard the windows and door. The wind continued but was soon joined by a shrieking noise in the distance. 

“They come! On guard, men!” yelled the Captain.

The shrieking sounds increased as the goblins got closer. Then there was pounding on the roof.  Something grey and ugly came down the chimney and landed on the hearth. This goblin was about 4” high with horns and yellow eyes. Goblins move quickly and leave a slimy trail. The goblin was armed with a sharp knife. Several more followed the first one down the chimney. Soon a battle was raging. Swords and knives flashed.  The soldiers fought bravely and were able to slay the goblins as they continued to invade the cottage. As each goblin died, they shrieked and vanished. 

Now there was banging on the door. “Watch out men! They're opening a second front!” yelled the Captain. Several soldiers turned to guard the door. The banging continued. 

Morris heard the banging and was awakened from his sleep. He got up and went to the door. The banging was only a tree branch blowing in the wind. He returned to his comfortable chair, glanced at, and admired his soldiers laying on the floor. The Captain stood silently over them. Morris was very pleased and thought the children of Ballymore would love them. As he drifted back into sleep, a single drop of slime fell onto the hearth.

More Ballymore Stories

Illustrations by Karen Ross Ohlinger

Story - "The Goblins!"

Interview & GiveawayShaunda Kennedy Wenger, Into The Forest Again & The Ghost In Me

Today, I'm interviewing Shaunda Kennedy Wenger. She is the author of eight books. In 2010, she started her own publishing company, Essemkay Company Productions, and released The Ghost in Me, which is a middle-grade realistic fantasy. She also released a chapter book for young readers called, Little Red Riding Hood, Into the Forest Again, which is a fractured folk tale. Her stories, articles, and poems have appeared in numerous venues, including Babybug and Cricket magazines. She lives in Utah, where she is perpetually entertained by her children, their friends, and the students that find themselves stuck in her science classroom.

Welcome Shaunda. Please tell us, in a couple of sentences, why someone should read your latest two books.

Thank you for inviting me today, Bob.

I think people should read my latest two books because they offer an opportunity to step from the routines of day-to-day life and into a world of unexpected possibilities.

As author Rick Walton has said, The Ghost in Me offers an exciting read without the risk of nightmares.  And for those who might have wondered what happened to Little Red Riding Hood after her original story was over--my book, Into the Forest Again, lets them find out. It also can be used by teachers to get kids thinking about fairy tales and fractured folk tales in new ways, as well as guide them in creating stories based on their own favorites.

What inspired the general plot of the books?

For Little Red: The story of Little Red Riding Hood was a favorite of mine while growing up. I always admired Little Red's bravery and good intentions in wanting to travel through the forest alone to visit her grandmother, and I always wondered if she ever went back through the forest again.

The Ghost in Me: I knew I wanted to write a ghost story, but I never imagined that the ghost who showed up in the novel would want to be so "helpful." I always had a fear of talking in front of people when I was younger, so I imagine the seed for Myri's stage-fright stemmed from that.

What points, if any, were you trying to make in the book?

For Little Red: First and foremost, I wanted to tell a story that would be both fun to read and share. I wanted to build suspense and anticipation, but I didn't want the book to become a fearful experience for the reader. (I suppose that is what I intended for The Ghost in Me, as well.) An underlying message that comes out of the story is that people may not always be what we initially judge or expect them to be, and that people are capable of changing or making good decisions, if they want to.

For Ghost: I hope that readers come away from the book feeling empowered, knowing that they are capable of anything they put their mind to--they have the ability to control the direction their lives take through decision and action.

How would you like the reader to feel after they finish reading the book?

Like they have just finished the most-satisfying dessert after a full-course meal.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

I should probably say no. I hope they are much more interesting than I am.

What are you working on now?

I have another paranormal middle grade book featuring a flock of "abnormal" characters, and another chapter book featuring three little pigs (not the famous ones who lacked know-how in the finer details of carpentry).

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

I wasn't sure. Because I did well in all my subjects, I didn't feel pointed in one direction. But I remember taking one of those "discovery" tests in fifth grade. My answers to the multiple choice questions indicated that my life would best be served if I were to pursue a career path in farming or archeology--careers which involved digging in dirt. While I didn't mind dirt, I was rather disappointed. I had thought my answers would have lead the "administrators" of the test to find something more appealing or attractive. I remember specifically thinking that they certainly must have lacked any sort of depth to their imagination.

Who or what inspired you to want to become a writer?

My mother planted the love for books in me by tucking me in with bedtime stories. My third grade teacher planted the seed for writing books by giving an assignment for us to make one of our own. I still have that book. I remember feeling so proud, as I created it.

Why do you prefer to write children’s books?

I'm not sure, I just do. I found them comforting to read as a child, so I suppose that creating them as an adult continues to be like some sort of marvelous medicine.

 "Marvelous Medicine"? One of the focus points of this blog is to introduce more adults to the benefits of children's books. Could you expand on your "marvelous medicine" term.

Well, great books can be found in any genre, and I read both children's and adult books. Children's books almost always seem to hinge on invisible, yet tangible, threads of hope that everything, no matter how bad or tricky situations become, will be okay in the end. And even if things do not work out smoothly, even if life for the character still ends up being rough around the edges, the seeds for the possibility of change or choice on the part of the character have always been planted by the author.

In a children's book, typically, problems are solved not by turning to experts with the answers, but by figuring things out as the experience unfolds and through the self-discovery that it brings forth in the character. Thus, reading good children's books helps me keep in touch with that seed of hope and faith that lies within--the belief that anything is possible, anything can be learned, anything can be overcome. For me, that is marvelous medicine--to be tapped into those seeds that were planted by the parents, teachers and adults in my life, to whom I looked up to as a child.

What method(s) do you use to find the right children's books for your children?

I rely on reviews from bookseller newsletters that come to me on-line, recommendations from friends, librarians, and other writers, and reviews I happen to read in magazines or newspapers. Goodreads.com has been a great site to be part of, because I can see what other people are reading and keep up on new titles that are being published.

Often, my kids find books they are interested in based on recommendations from their school librarians and friends. I don't necessarily "police" or preread everything they read, but at times I have had to withhold some books if I don't think they are ready for the content. I do let them know why I want them to wait a while before reading it. They are good about trusting my opinion and respecting it, usually because I can offer other titles for them to try.

Finally, what has been your most rewarding experience since being published.

Having kids tell me they love my book(s). Having kids tell me that I'm a good writer. Having kids tell me to hurry and write another one.

Thank you very much Shaunda and good luck with your "marvelous medicine" writing.

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAYS ( Sorry, U.S. residents only) CLOSED

Shaunda has provided two prizes in conjunction with this interview:

One signed copy of Into The Forest Again

One signed copy of The Ghost In Me

We will accept entries until November 4, 2011 at 12 noon EDT. This blog will select the winners by random drawing using Random.org. After being notified, a winner has two weeks to respond by email or another winner will be selected.

The author is responsible for providing the prizes and their shipping.  However, neither the author nor this site is responsible for prizes lost in the mail.   The winner is responsible for any applicable taxes.  Only one prize per winner. This Giveaway is open to any U.S. resident where not prohibited by law.

Thank you and good luck!

Illustrations by Karen Ross Ohlinger

Interview & Giveaway
Shaunda Kennedy Wenger, Into The Forest Again & The Ghost In Me