Blog mania

Ah, I remember that time long ago when I had no idea what a blog was. Now I manage four! Hopefully I can keep them straight and don't start posting doll info to the historic one, or historic info on the writers' one, or....

Well, you get the picture.

This post is to introduce my newest blog, which is really sort of a store front. My mother and I have repaired and restored antique dolls for over 20 years. The business had fallen away - mostly due to lack of advertising - but now it's back. With the cuts at the historic site, I will be concentrating on repairing this treasures of the past in order to fill in for lost income. If you have a doll in need of a doctor, or know someone who does, send them to the blog at http://marlafairdollrepair.blogspot.com/

Tell them the interpreter, writer, artist, and general crazy person sent you!

http://johnstonfarmohio.blogspot.com/

As I said last week when I was on my soapbox, the lovely sight above was almost lost this year. There was a movement afoot in the Ohio Historical Society to close all their sites - not because they wanted to, but because there simply were no funds to keep them open. Due to a few fine folks who stepped 'up to the plate' so to speak, the sites remain open, but with severely cut hours.

In order to make more people aware of our site, we have created a blog featuring our events, news, hours, etc. Posts will be history-oriented and will cover a range of topics from the Johnston children's lives to the excavation of the 1740s Pickawillany site - a trader's village that was burned to the ground, contributing what many historians think was the 'spark' that ignited the French and Indian War' - as well as Ohio's ancient Indians, the Miami and Erie Canal, and much, much more. Please visit it often or, if you want, sign up to follow the blog and recieve automatic updates.

Beyond this, I would like to make a plea that - wherever you are - you take time this summer to visit your local historic sites. I bet many of you never have. I was as guilty as the next person. I've been to Williamsburg, but up until 6 years ago I had never been to the site where I now work. It was in my backyard - WHY would I go there? If our history is to be preserved, we need you. Most times, an all day visit to a site with fun for the whole family costs less than the admission to a single movie.

History's Call to Arms for 2009

Where's George Washington when you need him? The in-the-red cuts are coming!

I rarely use my blog to rant, but today has been ONE of those days. Why is it that, whenever the sword of financial woe strikes, history is expected to bare its breast and take the first thrust? I know times are tough, but there seems to be enough money to keep the stadiums and movie theaters open. Why is it, then, that so many historic sites are being shut down or having their hours severely cut? The site I work at is one of the lucky ones, though our hours have been greatly shortened. Our doors will still be open this season. I run a Yahoo list that is aimed at historic interpreters. I know from them that others have not faired nearly so well. There are states that are contemplating cutting their entire history program. Have we learned nothing? Why is it that people cannot see how precious history is?

Remembering where we have been is what will get us where we need to go. The historic sites in all of the 50 united states are living reminders of where we came from and of what is truly important. They also serve as a check and balance against the fear and panic of such days as the ones we are living in. Have there been periods of financial hardship before? Yes. In the 1790s, the 1830s, and on and on until the great depression. We can learn from those who tell our past just how to survive our future. For all of the children out there, the past is a precious present that cannot be tossed away. Without it, they will have little foundation for tomorrow.

Please, any of you who read this blog, take a moment and send a donation to a local historic site. I don't care if it is $5. If everyone in a city would do that, none of these unique representatives of our past would have to worry or wonder about where their next dollar is coming from; they would have all the money they need. THINK about it. The town I live in - and its a small one -has nearly 25,000 inhabitants. At $5 each, that would give our historical sites and societies $125,000 to spend. I'm sure all of us pick up a pack of cigarettes or drink a mocha at least once a week. Skip it for once and save all of the wonderful people who tell history's tales .

Marla (on the soapbox)

Marla & Kelly on Dayton Public Radio

February 3rd & 5th, 2009

Marla Fair & Kelly Smith of The Gallimaufry Writers' Group will be featured on ArtsFocus hosted by Larry Kensington on Dayton Public Radio WDPR 88.1 & WDPG 89.9 in a two-part segment airing February 3rd & 5th. The first part of the interview will air on Tuesday the 3rd at 7:55 a.m. and 4:55 p.m., and the second at the same times on Thursday, the 5th. Larry was a kind and gracious host and asked all manner of interesting things. Please tune in and support both the program and the Gallimaufrians! If you miss the segments, they will be archived after it airs at www.dpr.org/artsfocus.html

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The first week of February 2009, Marla & The Gallimaufry Writers' Group will be featured on Dayton Public Radio. Dates and times will be posted as soon as they are known.

February 7th, 2009, Marla and The Writers of Gallimaufry will hold a book signing at New and Olde Pages Book Shoppe in Englewood, OH. Come and buy a romance or romantic historical for Valentine's Day and give that special someone in your life a few ideas! Featuring the books of Marla Fair, Beth Henderson, Rebekah McCoy & Nioma Stephan. Contact Marianne Guess, owner, at 937-832-3022or 1-800-887-2665. Olde and New Pages Book Shoppe is located at 856Union Road, Englewood, OH. Hours are 10 - 7 Monday through Saturday.

Titles available from Marla at the signing will be: COPPERHEAD: Book One Son of the Silver Fox, Goodnight Robinson: A Tale of Love Across Time, My French Rebel: Book One of the General's Daughter & *NEW* The Flowering Thorn: Book Two of the General's Daughter.

March 13 & 14, 2009, Marla & The Writers of Gallimaufry will appear at the 2009 Book Lovers Festival in Troy, OH. Event dates will be March 13 and 14, 2009 so mark your calendars now. For more information visit http://www.aroundaboutbooks.com/ or call the book store at (937)339-1707. Registration is $35 and covers: A goodie bag filled with all kinds of goodies, refreshments on Friday night, breakfast on Saturday morning & lunch on Saturday Afternoon.

To register use this link and tell Sue we sent you.

http://www.aroundaboutbooks.com/book_fest__09

Hope to see you at one or all!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you! We finished the season at the Piqua Historical Area for the second year with 'A Dickens of a Murder Mystery on the Farm'. Yours truly was arrested three times for murdering old Ebenezer Scrooge (who had gone back to his miserly ways). We had a great time and performed the play three times to a sold out audience. If I can figure out how to, I'll post a bit of video from it some time in the future.

As this year ends and another new one begins, I wish you all peace and contentment, and may the Light shine in your lives throughout the coming months.

Marla

Author and Book Center Opening

AUTHOR AND BOOK CENTER OPENING

This is a site dedicated to promoting authors and their books. Many of them are independently published as I am. Please check it out when you have time. Here's the welcome from the main page:

Today (December 1) is our opening day! Welcome to our brand new Website created especially for book lovers! Please look around.Here you’ll find up-to-date book reviews, upcoming author and book lover events, and the personal pages of numerous talented published authors!We also have an active chat room where you can mingle with the authors and discuss your favorite books with book lovers like yourself.New authors and book lovers are joining everyday and we’re all excited to be a part of this great new site! We look forward to meeting you and sharing some great books!

Check it out at: http://bookeventcenter.ning.com/