Story behind the this tale. In the 10th edition of "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg, he included a codicil in the form of a short note. The note explained that the idea for his book came from a young boy he met on the street that had been trying to sell him a silver bell for $5. When he shook the bell it made no sound. He wasn't going to buy it, but the boy talked to him of Christmas Spirit and how only those who believed could hear the sound of the bell. 

At the time there were two listservs I was on, one was a ChildLit. People were discussing the new edition and it's inclusion, debating if the story was true or not so much. I got a little worn, it was just Chris Van Allsburg's way of giving us a little something extra for this new printing of his story. So, I just added to the fun and wrote my own version of the note Van Allsburg had given us. I presented it to the staff at Shawnee Library that Christmas along with a silver bell for each person. 

At this point I wanted to share it with others on ChildLit and Storytell, but we only had a Bulletin board with limited time on the Internet. By the time I finished typing in the story, I couldn't send it to Storytell listserv too. Before I had chance to share it, another librarian who was on both listservs I frequented,  sent it to Storytell for me. A professional storyteller contacted me and asked permission to add it to her repertoire of stories and offered to give me credit as the author. I was delighted to offer it to her. Ten years later there was to be a storytelling conference in Indianapolis, close to me. The storyteller again contacted me and asked if I would be there, she wanted to meet me. I told her I was sorry but couldn't make, it was a bit too costly for me both time and funds. So, she told that she shared the story every year and gave out silver bells. She said, everyone loved. I was delighted to know that the story had found its place in children's lives, outside of my small area.

Please feel free to share with others. Storytelling and Christmas giving will always go together.

The Real Story Behind the Christmas Bell

by Katy Grant 11/96

    It had been a long day, but still needing a few things for Christmas, I stopped by the store after work. The wind whistled as it whipped around the cars parked in the almost full store lot, and street lights here and there were just coming to life. Even my long woolen cloak wasn't enough

protection from the bitterly cold night air, as I hurried towards the building.     I was just stepping up on the sidewalk when I heard a voice call out, "Psssst, Lady." I stopped and looked around. For a second, I thought I saw a head duck behind the corner of the building. I stood staring at the corner

for a few more seconds before I decided it must have been a trick of the wind and shadows in the fading light. I started towards the building again but hadn't taken more then a few steps when I heard the voice again. 
   "PSSST, PSSSSSSST, LADY!" This time I was sure I saw a cherub face with a toboggan on it's head duck back out of sight, around the corner of the building. As I rounded the corner, I saw a forlorn looking little child. His head was bent down and his hat was pulled low over his ears and forehead. I placed my hand on his shoulder and squatted down to be on eye level with him as I asked, "Are you all right?" When he lifted his head, I was surprised to see a large smile on his face. At the same moment, I realized he wasn't a child but a pint sized little man.

    In a conspiratorial whisper he said, "The big guy sent me, lady." My first reaction was to began looking around for one of the godfathers that used to visit our house at Christmas time. I must have looked puzzled because he said, " You know... red suit, beard, reindeer, ho, ho, ho." "Oh that, big guy," I said. [with a bit of a smile on my face] " I have something for you," he said, as he took hold of my hand. At this remark I stood up. Still holding tight to my hand he looked up at me, and as he did so his toboggan slipped further down over his eyebrows. He impatiently pushed it back; revealing a set of pointed ears. "It's a story." Now, I was caught. I never could resist a pair of pointed ears or a story. I squatted back down to hear him better, but in truth, I could no longer hear the whistling of the wind around us.

    "The big guy is great but after a couple hundred years his eye sight ain’t so good anymore. His hearing is great though. With Rudolph to guide the sleigh, it helped. But the other reindeer are always up to tricks and one Christmas Eve the Big Guy was almost late. The reindeer were hiding, playing silly games. They wouldn't come out until the Big Guy had found the hiding place of e-v-e-r-y last one of them. He decided right then and there that it wouldn't happen again next year. He put a few of us to work making reindeer bells. Now you know, all reindeer look alike. To make sure he knew which reindeer was which each bell has a different ring even though they look exactly alike." [Reindeer like to dress exactly the same]

    "Everything went right on schedule for the next hundred years or so but, in 1933 the Big Guy noticed a change. Christmas Spirit was real low down here. So, when he came to a house with just a scrawny, little tree with no decorations, he decided to decorate with the reindeer's bells. That house just seemed to light up with Christmas Spirit. The Big Guy kept an eye on that house the next day and, we all watched as people came for miles to celebrate Christmas at that little place. That gave him another great idea. Reindeer are not only silly; they're very vain. Each year we have to make them new bells to wear; they refuse to be seen in a set of old bells. The Big Guy said, 'From now on I'm going to send some of you down there to give out reindeer bells to people who look like they know how to celebrate Christmas. They can share the bells with others and in that way spread the Christmas cheer around. Anybody who truly believes in Christmas and me will be able to hear the difference in the bell's tones.' "

    "This sounds like a Chris VanAllsburg story to me," I remarked. "NO WAY, LADY! Ten years ago Van Allsburg was just another guy on the street when I handed him one of the bells. He took the idea for his story from me. And he's just now giving me some credit for it." I began to smile. "So, you really think I'm somebody who knows how to share the Christmas Spirit? That's a lovely compliment. Thank you." "Are you kidding, Lady? I've been standin' out here for hours. My feet are frozen. I want to get back to the North Pole. I'm out-a-here." And within a blink of the eye he was gone.

    I was left with the bells, a story and a list that describes the tones of each bell. I've shared the bells with my friends, a few of whom have told me that they can tell which reindeer's bell they have. And now I've shared the story with you, listen closely to all silver bells you see this year and see if you too can hear a difference in their tones. I have included the list of reindeer and a description

of their bell's tones to help you. 

This is my Christmas present...a story for everyone. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

If you are having trouble telling the sounds apart, your Christmas Spirit needs

a little work...

Dasher - one quick ring... sounds like ZING!

               goes the streetcar

Dancer - first three notes of the Nutcracker

             pilfered from the original playing of Tchaikovsky

Prancer - ding...dong...ding-on the scale doe, ray, me

                 pilfered from Julie Andrews

Vixen - a single high-c note ring

             donated by Beverly Sills

Comet - one loud bursting ring that slowly fades away

               in memory of Haley's comet

Cupid - light tinkling sound

             caught as an angel got his wings

Donner - one loud bong

              donated by Quasimodo

Blizen - an alarming ding-ding-ding...

              recorded at a firehouse in old Chicago

Rudolph - one dull clunk-

            compliments of snowballs thrown by children at moving carriages

Riscorti - Italian Cookies

These cookies are ones my Nonnie used to make for us. She brought the recipe with her from home in Sardinia, Italy. But it was my Aunt Susie who changed the sugar from granulated to powdered sugar, which makes the cookies softer. They make anywhere from 150 to 175 cookies depending on how large you make them. They are not a sweet cookie, hence the glaze and sprinkles. This is the same recipe that she used to make giugiuleni cookies but she added anise extract along with the vanilla extract and rolled in sesame seeds, rather than iced.

Recipe:
 
3 pounds of flour
1 box of confectioners sugar
3 well rounded tablespoons baking powder - we use soup spoons and and round the portion not level it off
1- 1 lb can of solid Crisco shortening
7 eggs
1   2 oz bottle  McCormick's Vanilla Extract
3/4 cup milk

In a very large container, I use a 32 quart metal pot, mix all dry ingredients well.
Add Crisco, eggs, vanilla extract and milk.

With your hands mix all the ingredients until well blended. If the dough feels a bit dry add milk by the tablespoon. Dough should not be sticky, see photos below.
For each cookie, pinch off a ball of dough slightly about the size of a good chestnut.
Roll into a ball.
Then roll the ball, then using the flat if your hand roll the ball into the size and shape of a pencil.
Then wrap the cookie into a spiral wheel, a twisted S shape or a double roll (looks like an old fashioned tape cassette roll).
These cookies are meant to be rolled, not cut with a cookie cutter or rolled into a ball and cooked. They will be slightly crunchy on the outside and soft when you bite into them.
Bake at 350 degrees
Time will vary. 15 - 20 minutes. After 15 minutes check the bottom of the cookie, it should be light brown when they are done. Tops may or may not be slightly brown on top, depending on the oven.

When they are totally cool, you can ice them with a glaze or they can be

eaten plain. They are not a sweet cookie.

Icing -glaze
1-1 lb box of Confectioners Sugar
6 tablespoons of milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Varitey of sprinkles and colored sugar

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, icing should be thin but opaque, add milk little at time by teaspoons if needed.
Dip plain cookies in the icing and while still wet sprinkle with jimmies, colored sugar or sprinkles.

They are best stored in air tight containers. I use empty pop corn tins, since they will hold about half a batch of the cookies.So you might need two.

I recently had my bathroom renovated. Below you will see the review I made about the company I contracted with to do the work and the mistakes I made that cost me dearly. Please be aware the company I am referring to is a company on Chamberlain Lane, in Louisville, Kentucky. It is my hope that the following information and suggestions will help you in your planning stages.

"I contracted Trademark to renovate my upstairs bathroom, in a recently purchased old home. I should have read the contract closer before signing it. I was told they had professional staff and did very good work.

 My first mistake was not shopping around more before signing on the dotted line.

My second mistake. I didn’t listen closely enough, I was intent on what I wanted done and was disappointed when I realized how little could be done in my small space and at what cost. I should have taken a copy of the contract offered to me, looked it over in private and offered to call them with my final decision while, consigning the pro-offered discounts to the devil. Instead, I made a deal with him.

     My third mistake, I assumed this was a large company and they would do a professional job in a reasonable length of time. It took four telephone conversations, the threat of cancelation and thirteen weeks to get the job finished.

     My fourth mistake is also the biggest, I paid far too much money for three walls, a whirlpool tub and shower.

The renovation was subcontracted out. The men who did the work, did the best they could within their constrictions layout by Trademark. Finally, to get an enclosure for my tub, I had to expend more money to purchase doors, a light fixture with a fan to help control the humidity in the small room and the rest of the wall and ceiling in the room finished. I also had to find other workers to finish what Trademark started.

Trademark did exactly what they stated they were going to do. In doing so, belatedly, I feel I spent at least double what it would have cost me with the same results from a large established company (such as Lowe’s or Home Depot). I priced out the materials, aside from the backsplash walls, and found the cost to be less that $1300.  I also believe that when the renovation was first discussed with me, the sales man had no idea who would be doing the project, since it was subcontracted out in the end.

I made mistakes that cost me. So, my suggestions would be to ask about the estimated cost of materials for the project and then times it by 1.50 and see if you come close to the price offered to you and that goes for any company you deal with.

When dealing with a company such as Trademark, read the contract, have a good idea about the cost of materials that will be used, and price per hour for labor and if you can live with the cost continue on at your own risk."

Pamphlet designed to offer web sights with information for the

most popular Harry Potter at the time. It became a tri-fold.  8/2000               

Storybear who introduced stories I wrote

4/2000

As I was going through some old, very old, files I found some things I created when the software was available to create your own web pages. Most were geared towards library programs or information that pointed the reader towards websites that offered craft ideas, articles about reading with children, how to setup a story time and more. These were long before Pinterest came online.
But sometimes I think remembering how we used to do things that are now a simple click away, still helps to stretch your imagination leading to a new way to doing something. When you reach a block sometimes a simple picture, suggestion or brainstorming session with others are the only push you might need. Then give yourself some time to explore these new ideas to develop original crafts, storytime or simply another way to do something.
                 If nothing else, I hope these will make you smile.

Diagon Alley 8/2000

Flyaways - found in books

     Over the years, I have haunted used book stores, worked in one and for almost 40 years  I have worked in libraries. In all that time the things I have found in books didn't strike me as something I should be interested in for the most part. That is until I found a book filled with copies of old recipes found in books by a dealer in used books.
      So I started looking at the things I found in library books along with things I found in used books I purchased. They made me smile some of these make shift book marks. If the readers were like me, not all were meant to hold your place in the book. Instead the book was just a convienent place to hold a note, post card, mail, photo, etc. that I had in my hand at that moment and than forgot about.
       I decided this was something that I might make a fun display for curious children and adults. So I sent out a message around the library and on one of my listservs to see what others might have found. And people started to send me things. So far my favorites are ordinary library date due cards long forgotten in book pockets no longer in use by the library. One was dated all the way back to 1942 and another not so far back 1968, oh and yes a post card from a far off country.
    To my surprise and delight, like a child that thinks he discovered the Little Dipper in the sky only to realize that people have been talking about it for years, I found blogs about things found in books, articles, photos and others who have been collecting for years. I also found they have a name "flyaways" someone said it is an old term from the book trade, still searching for info.

For my daughter who needs to sit with my old, really old, collection of cook books, pamphlets, and fading hand copied sheet before they disappear.

From an old pamphlet of goodies 1984 General Mills

  

1 can (20 oz) apple pie filling  - ¼ cup Kahlua*

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ cups milk
½ cup margarine or butter, softened
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
¼ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup coarsely chopped nuts – ½ cup pecans*
2 tablespoons margarine or butter melted

Glaze (below)

Heat oven to 350°. Grease rectangular pan 13x9x2 inches. Mix pie filling and cinnamon, reserve. (Mix Kahlua with apples and cinnamon; marinate over night in fridge.)*  Beat flour, granulated sugar, milk, ½ cup margarine, the baking powder, salt and eggs in large bowl on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl frequently, 2 minutes. Pour half of the batter into pan Spoon half of the pie filling mixture over batter in pan; repeat. Sprinkle with brown sugar and nuts; drizzle with 2 tablespoons margarine. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean 45 to 50 minutes. Cool slightly; drizzle with Glaze.

12 to 16 servings

Glaze

 ¾ cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon margarine or butter; softened
¾ teaspoon vanilla

2 to 3 teaspoons hot water

Beat all ingredients until smooth and desired consistency.

High Altitude Directions (3500 to 6500 feet).

Heat oven to 375°.  Decrease granulated sugar to ¾ cup and baking powder to 2 teaspoons. Bake 40 to 45 minutes.

* my changes to recipe

Bad reviews

Please remember that not all readers like the same thing. After gushing over a book that I loved, a teen novel written by a British author, to my boss she read it, then promptly told me that it was junk and that my reading fare was either junk or really great literature. Opinions vary. Because people don't read books the same way, it's all in what you are looking for when you pick up a book to read. I want a good story. I can get by with writing that is simply stated, or one that is very descriptive as long as the story holds my attention, and sometimes it doesn't take much. I have read books that I didn't care for, but didn't totally pan them, most of the time. I work with teens and children so I do believe there is an audience for books with less than five star reviews. Not everyone sees a storyline in the same way. As a reviewer I try to find something positive about any book I read, clarify what I found unsettling in the book and let the reader make their own choice. When checking reviews for books I would like to read, I dismiss those that are couched in angry tones. After all why should you be angry about reading? It makes no difference if you hated a book or loved it you stretched your reading skills and therefore got something out of it. Do I recommend everything I read to my children and teens, no. If I feel that the author missed the target audience stated by the publisher, I will say so and may suggest a younger or older audience age.