Archive for the ‘Birds other than wrens’ Category
Jack Sparrow Before Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean
Before Johnny Depp’s role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, there was Jack Sparrow, original gangsta, from the Uncle Remus story “The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow.”
Curtis tells a wonderful version of the story. As Uncle Remus explains, Jack Sparrow is a tattler who meets his demise whilst tattling atop Brer Fox’s snout.
I guess the little boy hadn’t seen The Wire yet.
Disney put out both Pirates of the Caribbean and that movie based on the Brer Rabbit tales — oh, what is it called again? — but I think the similarities may stop there. Then again, I haven’t seen the Pirates films so what do I know. Can anyone who has seen ‘em connect the dots?
Joel Chandler Harris offers this note on the text at the end of the story:
Previously:
• 1937 Uncle Remus Illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg
• “I bin mixin’ up wid fokes now gwine on eighty year”
Categories: Birds other than wrens, Joel Chandler Harris, Uncle Remus | Tags: Jack Sparrow, Joel Chandler Harris, Johnny Depp, The Wire, Uncle Remus,
Part One: We Don’t Want You To Miss A Historic Preservation-Related Thing
Throughout the week, Lain and I post some pretty darn interesting things (to people who like historic preservation) on a little website I like to call Twitter. Maybe you’ve heard of it.
We also know that some of you have not jumped on the Twitter bandwagon, and have thus missed those posts.
Not anymore, friend, not anymore.
We’re going to try to regularly round up recent tweets from @thewrensnest. Expect more links than you can shake a stick at. Oh, and just so you know, the museum itself speaks in first person on Twitter and has no shortage of opinions. I hope you enjoy.
Some oldies but goodies to set the mood:
- Typing is hard. Because I’m a house.
- (On Super Bowl Sunday) Note to self: please do not catch on fire today.
- What happens when you have fresh paint on your outside and there’s a tornado warning? I’m about to find out.
- Drat! The humans found my 45 star flags. I still don’t trust that Oklahoma.
- ATL Alleycat Black History Bike Race used me as one of their checkpoints. Thanks, humans.
More (recent posts) to come shortly!
Categories: Awkward Introductions, Birds other than wrens, Technological Advances, Twitter Round-ups | Tags: Historic Preservation, The Wren's Nest, twitter,
Duck and Herring Company Podcast, Sponsored by the Wren’s Nest
I got an email yesterday from the good folks at the Duck and Herring Company regarding their warm weather podcast.
You may recall that the Duck and Herring Company:
- helped out with the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company last summer
- recorded our theme song
Regarding the latter, I failed to ask them why exactly they recorded our theme song.
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I mean, why wouldn’t they record our theme song? Or anyone, for that matter! In fact, I’m kinda surprised we don’t have more people sending us theme songs.
Anyway, turns out that the Wren’s Nest is the official sponsor of the Duck and Herring Company Podcast. Unrelated, turns out that the Duck and Herring Company Podcast is awesome.
What a coincidence!
Check out the entire podcast here: Duck and Herring Company Podcast.
Categories: Birds of a feather, Birds other than wrens, Sing Songery, Wren's Nest Publishing Co. |
Annual Wren’s Nest Concert — The Commodores?
Yesterday my advanced palate and I were interviewed about hot dogs for a column in Atlanta Intown, a monthly newspaper.
Weird? Maybe, but after I had my professional say about ice cream last month (third column, fifth row), I can see why they wanted me back.
Anyway, while we were grilling hot dogs in Piedmont Park, who strolls up but none other than Mr. William King, guitarist and trumpet guy for the Commodores.
This got me thinking.
Who should headline our annual fundraising concert?
Last year we had the League of Decency, a legendary Atlanta cover band that can really boogie. Near the end of the evening, the covered “Brick House” and things went, well, bananas. Was this some sort of sign that we should have the Commodores play “Brick House” the next year?
I can’t say.
Either way, if you’ve got requests for who should headline our concert, fire away.
Factors include–(a) how much it costs; (b) if the neighborhood can get down with it; (c) will folks drive here to see it; (d) if I like them or not; (e) do they bring the funk?
Categories: Birds other than wrens, Celebrity Requests, Future: fact or fiction, Good Questions, League of Decency, Sing Songery |
Wren’s Nest Crows Are Only Alive Because Nannie is Allowing It
Today’s Wren’s Nest Revelation:
Nannie can kills crows with a sling shot.
We have a giant crow that lives in the backyard. It’s loud and ominous. Nannie has said that she will bring out the slingshot if it harasses children at Wren’s Nest Fest, while Jeri repeatedly added “They’re scavengers, they’re scavengers” (the crows, not the children).
I’m not sure if Jeri and Nannie were having an actual conversation or just generally speaking about a similar topic, but they sure brought the point home: evil crows will not be tolerated at The Wren’s Nest (Fest).
So if the crows were holding you back, fear no more: the Wren’s Nest is safe!
Never a dull moment, folks.
Categories: Birds other than wrens, Bravery, Really? |
Decatur Storytelling Festival Pictures and Recap
On Monday when I said I would cover the remainder of our weekend exploits “tomorrow”, I clearly meant, “the next day I work at the Nest, which will be Wednesday, because working part-time is great though unnecessarily confusing!”
Getting on with it, Lain and I set up at the Decatur Storytelling Festival Saturday, which the Wren’s Nest sort of sponsored–one of our storytellers, Donald, was the emcee, while Curtis, another Wren’s Nest Rambler, performed.
(Curtis with a great shirt.)
It was a really neat concept, with great attractions including the craziest balloon-animal-maker I have ever seen. Seriously. Skywriting planes made out of balloons?! I mostly stared at her in favor of talking to people.
(Not the balloon artist, but Queen Glitter was still worth a stare.)
The location was also very unique, though apparently not as unusual as Lain and I originally thought. It was held in the Decatur Cemetery (which is beautiful, p.s.) and as Donald’s white-folks-in-residence we discovered that “white people always want to tell stories in cemeteries”.
Is that on stuff white people like?
(Fowl, cemetery.)
But I’ll tell you this: no matter where they are, children will go ABSOLUTELY CRAZY upon seeing a giant Curious George mascot. We would hear a child gasp and look to see a poof of dust where the child had been. It was nuts.
(Hannah, Isaac, and C.G.)
There were also (both real and fake) ducks to chase, faces to be painted, and, you know, storytelling to watch… but mostly kids exclaimed “CURIOUS GEORGE! Mom, hold my bubbles!” and subsequently disappeared.
(Donald with the also-ran. Donald, Duck. Get it?)
The only downside to the whole event was the gross weather. Somehow, it was the coldest 66 degrees I’ve ever felt. It was damp, windy, and rain was threatening, which certainly affected attendance.
And our will to live. See:
Now, if you missed this storytelling event (and… you did), there’s another on the (immediate) horizon! Tonight Wordsmith’s is hosting Story-Time for Grownups (naughty?). While there won’t be any mascots (that we know of), there will be drinks. Success!
Categories: Birds of a feather, Birds other than wrens, Events, Storytelling |
Spring has sprung at the Wren’s Nest!
The sun is shining, flowers are sprouting up all over, and the birds are a-chirping.
Here’s one consequence Joel Chandler Harris didn’t have to worry about.
Note: the above damage occurred in the course of about 45 minutes. Awesome.
Categories: Birds other than wrens, Really?, Technological Advances |
Victorian Christmas This Sunday at the Wren’s Nest
In case y’all were curious, the Wren’s Nest is hosting its annual Victorian Christmas party, this coming Sunday afternoon. What better day to celebrate than Joel Chandler Harris Day.
Look, it’s decreed by the governor. You’ve been urged to celebrate. Beseeched, even. Why not do so at the Wren’s Nest?*
We’ll have birthday cake, tours, storytelling, stuff for the kids, and more Victoriana than you’d ever hope to see.
And not only is it auspicious–did I also mention it’s free?
Nope, free!
Even more free than twenty-six little ones, and yet even more free than a dime-piece for the wee children. See you there!
*Your only reasonable excuse is that you’re bundled up with a Duck and Herring Pocket Field Guide, hot off the presses.
But more on them later. In the mean time, if you want to become their friend on MySpace**, you can do so here.
**The Wren’s Nest totally would be friends with the good ducks and herrings from Duck and Herring Co. on MySpace, but, um, the staff of the Wren’s Nest doesn’t know how to make a MySpace page.
Well, Miss Nannie might, but she’s not telling. Sigh.
Categories: Birds other than wrens, Events, Victorian Christmas |
Mostly ITP Podcast and Brer Rabbit Stories Online
Last week the good folks at the Georgia Podcast Network ambled on into the Wren’s Nest for a brief tour and a chat about blogging, podcasting, and being cool at a historical site in the 21st century.
Tune in here to hear me sound nervous on their show, Mostly ITP.
If you’re new to this site, this episode is a great intro to what the Wren’s Nest is, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. If you just enjoy hearing me squirm, this is also for you.
(Not actually taken at the Mostly ITP Podcast, but instead the Duck and Herring Podcast. You can tell by the fu manchu. More on them later this week.)
Props to GriftDrift, who alerted me to the podcast before I knew it was online.
Related, we were inspired by the Georgia Podcast Network’s audio interface, and put a couple complete audio stories online. Scroll on down to the bottom on the Stories page and listen to Miss Woodie tell my favorite story–Brer Rabbit Takes a Ride.
The stories are perfect for:
(a) teaching a classroom of first graders about trickster tales;
(b) taking a ten minute break from actual teaching;
(c) taking a ten minute break from just about anything;
(d) hearing the phrase “bodacious fib” in context.
Categories: Birds other than wrens, Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Podcasts, Shameless Promotion, Storytelling |
Go, Mordecai!
“He could destroy us! We would be blind, with holes in our shoulders!”
“Look how ominous he is. Just biding his time, waiting to kill. I wish he were whistling.”
“His legs are as thick as my wrists!”
“Do you think when he was born he realized what he was and just said ‘YESSSSS.’ ?”
Were these comments made about Joel Chandler Harris, dear reader? Of course not, don’t be stupid.
But they were made about one of his home’s recent visitors, a terrifying hawk. According to an eye witness (Lain) his wings were “the span of a Cadillac”.
While we may be prone to exaggeration here at the Wren’s Nest, this much is true: there was a hawk, it was outside, and Lain and I watched it stalk the most stupid/thrill seeking squirrel of all time. For 15 minutes.
The Decatur Book Festival Post(s) will be yours soon, but with all this excitement, how can you possibly expect us to blog?! Wait.
Categories: Birds of a feather, Birds other than wrens, Hunting!, Shirking Responsibility |