April Eight Songs and Stories

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Ep. 26 SONG: A Little Minute About Donuts Jun 01, 2017

Show notes

Happy National Donut Day!

Today's episode is called "A Little Minute about Donuts " It is Episode Number 26! How about that? Did you KNOW there was such a thing as NATIONAL DONUT DAY? Well, there is. And it is coming up here in just a minute. Okay, a few days.

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----

Now a few years ago I was teaching at a summer camp. I called it April Eight Songs for Peace Camp and the camp kids and I would write songs together all week. We would brainstorm all of our ideas about Peace on the first day of camp and then we would use that big list we made to write songs from all week. And we would also do other stuff like make crafts and do yoga and hike and stuff. It was really fun.

There was this one day that was hot and sticky and everyone was having fun making crafts and playing games but well, they weren't really in the mood to write a song. The thing was, we had a performance to put on for their moms and dads in a few days so I said, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WRITE A SONG ABOUT. They thought and they thought and they drew and they painted but they didn't have any ideas for a song. And then, well, I think they all got hungry. And because they were hungry, they started talking about what they really liked to eat. And once someone mentioned DONUTS, well, it was all over. That was the only thing anyone could talk about. So, I said, hey, let's write a song about donuts. And they said, CAN WE REALLY DO THAT? And I"m like, when you are a songwriter, you get to write about whatever you want. And so we did. And their families thought that the kids' donut song was the very best song of all. This song was written, with a little help from me, by a group of kids ages 6-11. They named their band PEACE LOVE AND DONUTS and this song is called "The Donut Song". I hope you like it.

"The Donut Song"

by April Eight and Peace, Love and Donuts

We could write a song about peace,

we could write a song about friendship,

we could write a song about freedom,

but we want to sing about donuts!…

We like donuts with sprinkles and chocolate icing

Custard in the middle!

Ew, that's totally disgusting.

We could sing a song about compromise

We could sing a song about hamsters

We could sing a song about serenity

But we want to sing about donuts.

We like donuts, they're yummy with glaze and powdered sugar

Cinnamon and chocolate

For breakfast lunch and dinner

We could sing song about nonviolence

We could songs about inner wisdom

But donuts make the world go round

That's why we sing about DONUTS.

Happy National Donut Day!

Bah bad dah!

Fiddle Faddle Fee - that's a little minute with me.

Now next week I'll have TWO, YES TWO, episodes of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast for you because, guess what, it will be the ON E YEAR ANNIVERSARY of my podcast. And there is almost nothing in the world I am more proud and pleased about than sharing these stories I've written with all of you, and so I'm ready to celebrate. And I hope you'll join me and tell your friends too!

April Eight has been cited as an expert by the Download on Podcasting. How fancy is that?

Ep. 25 SONG: A Little Minute about Mothers May 13, 2017

Show notes

Today's episode is called "A Little Minute about Mothers! because it is almost Mother's Day… " It is Episode Number 25! Hurray! Now of course to say all the nice things that we have to say about mothers we need WAY MORE than a little minute right? but a little minute is what we have and so we'll make it work. That's what mother's do too, so they'll understand…

---- Find more April Eight at

aprileight.com Instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories YouTube.com/aprileightmusic Facebook.com/aprileight My video for my mother's birthday is right here!

There is much to be said for my own dear Mother, and her name is Bonnie. I made a whole video about her for her birthday on my April Eight Songs & Stories YouTube Channel - you can check that out. Now my mom, Bonnie, was a teacher and she taught 5th grade for what seemed like a million years. And everywhere we would go when I was little, big kids and teenagers and adults of all ages would come up to us when we were out and about and say, Mrs. Combs, YOU WERE MY FAVORITE TEACHER. Because yeah, my mom is super smart and knows how to make learning interesting and fun for everyone. Do you have a favorite teacher? Another thing about my mother is that she collects great children's books too, so if I'm turning out to be a story writer, well, I think she had something to do with it, don't you?

Now I am a mother myself and the whole reason I turned into April Eight is because I was inspired by my own children, my two daughters whose names are Lyla and Mia.

I'm going to play a little song for you now that is a song I wrote for my sweet Lyla one day when things weren't going very well for her. Do you ever have those days when you just feel sad? I'm pretty sure just about everyone does. It is okay, right? Everyone feels every sort of way at one time or another. Sometimes we feel angry - everyone gets angry. Sometimes we feel grouchy - everyone gets grouchy. Sometimes we can't stop giggling because everyone feels giggly. I love to giggle with my girls. But anyway, I wrote this song for my Lyla when she was little and feeling sad. Next week she graduates from high school. Moms out there, time FLIES!

Little Blue by April Eight

Oh Little Blue,

We had a bad day

Didn't we have a bad day,

Little Blue.

You know what they say,

The more you cry the more you cry

And you have such a lovely smile

And a wonderful way of being perfectly you

Shadows and delight

A star of wonder a lamb and a lion

Ooh hoo oh oh

My Little Blue.

And you will always be

Filled with pure light and energy

And when beauty brings a beast

You can tame it.

Oh Little Blue,

With all of the colors you could choose

Rosey cheeks, a carrot nose

Brown buckeyes and green that grows,

Golden racing stripes

And starry silver-dotted nights

And the peaceful white dove

'Cause you know what they say,

All you need is love.

Love is all you need

And that's why you've got me,

Little Blue.

And why I've got you,

My Little Blue.

So Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there. Give your mom an extra squeeze. I'm certain she deserves it.

Fiddle Faddle Fee - that's a little minute with me.

Come back next time and I'll tell you a story right here on the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. April Eight has been cited as an expert by the Download on Podcasting. How fancy is that?

Ep. 24 Story 1 Quinn Quillow, Story Catcher Apr 26, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 24 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Today's story is called "Quinn Quillow, Story Catcher", a great story for your kids at bath time, bedtime, car time and family time.

aprileight.com instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories facebook.com/aprileight twitter.com/aprileightmusic

I'd like you to meet Quinn Quillow, walking through the Three Kingdoms of Greenbriar, catching stories as he goes. He is a fool of the old fashion kind, wide open to the beauty of the world around him, a listener, a dreamer and a collector of tales. He'll be spinning tales and singing songs all through May and June here at the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Let's see how he goes about catching tales, my friends....

Listen to Episode 24 "Quinn Quillow, Story Catcher" now.

Here is an excerpt from today's story:

... And who do you think that was? Well, mighty fine indeed, it was a wandering minstrel, sometimes called a fool. And since the month was April, well, he must be an April Fool, hows about that?

Now I know I know, these days calling someone a fool will get you in all sorts of trouble, but back in those days, well, it was just a bit different. A fool is what you might call someone who was a teller of jokes, a singer of songs, a storyteller. Why, they are delightfully fun folk to have around, if you can find one. Which you almost never can. For they are rare, rare indeed although, here in the Three Kingdoms of Greenbriar there are more than the usual amount, truth be told. For the three Kingdoms of Greenbriar, well some call it the Land of Fairytales, is where these Fools come, looking for songs and stories, enough to share and sing and tell to folks far and wide across the land and then they can come back and get some more. For stories and songs want to be told, but if no one takes them out of the Kingdoms of Greenbriar, well, not many would hear them. But how do these storytelling folks come by these songs and stories they tell in the three Kingdoms of Greenbriar? Well, my friends, you are about to find out.

Now our friend the fool, whose name was really Quinn Quillow, was resting on an old stone wall along the ancient road from Fimby to LeeBrook deep in Hawthorn Grove. Quinn was wearing what he always wore, a scarlet cap and a yellow jacket with golden buttons (given to him as a gift from a king for a story well told.) Quinn was also wearing a smile upon his face...

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Now this story references a few other stories, including the brief return character Brizbane the Conquerer from Episode 6, "Thom and the Goblins". Do you remember what other story

Listeners, do you remember what other story Brizbane showed up in when he wasn't with Thom?

Thank you for listening to the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. If you've been enjoying these tales, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you – you can leave a comment below, on Facebook or send me an email. And come be my friend on instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories where all I have so much fun. Or, leave a review on your favorite podcast venue and let other parents know you the value these stories have brought to your family. Spreading the word is the nicest thing you could do for this podcast. xoxo!

All songs, stories, and illustrations are copyrighted by me, ©April Eight 2017. It is my favorite thing to do! (Except today, My Lady Spring, a traditional poem set to song passed down through oral tradition lo these many years.)

....

Ep 23 SONG: "The Fairy Birthday Song" Apr 07, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 23 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Today's Episode is called, A Little Minute About Birthdays! On today's episode, we talk about birthdays birthdays birthdays. So whether yours is soon or way far away, I think you'll find some fun things to think about in this episode.

For not only is it my birthday month, it is the month of APRIL, my favorite month of the year. And there is quite a noisy thunderstorm happening while I am recording, and my nervous little dog Roxie, well, she has a few things to say about that.

I tell you about how birthdays are celebrated in my family and I share a little story about how extreme some people I know are about celebrating their own birthday. And we sing the Fairy Birthday Song from Jemi and the Strawberry Moon. Have you heard that one yet? If you haven't, I'd start at Jemi and the Birthday Surprise, because you won't understand Episode 3 if you haven't heard Episode 1 and 2 before it.

Birthday, birthday, today is your special day.

The years are as nothing for the world turns on and on

But today is your birthday everyone sing along!

Birthday, birthday, today is your special day.

We celebrate you and all the things that you do,

You are wonderful in every way. You get better with every day!

Birthday, birthday, today is your special day.

Birthday, birthday, today is your special day…

And I also share with you a poem that I wrote about the month of April, when Winter says goodbye and Spring says hello. It is called April Appears.

April appears but for one month a year, Breezing in on the season's changing Splashing in through rain puddles Slogging through deep mud. Flying in on the wings of songbirds Rolling in like the rivers flooding. Peeping through the pink magnolias budding Smiling like tulips in the sun. Rest awhile and rejoice, for Spring has finally come.

Fiddle faddle fee – that's a little minute with me.

Come back next time and I'll tell you a story right here on the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. I can't wait!

I am always happy to say that the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast is now available on not only iTunes, but also GooglePlay, Stitcher and SoundCloud as well as iHeartRadio and really everywhere that podcasts are found! That makes it easy for folks to find a way to listen that is fun for them.

The best place to find all things April Eight:

aprileight.com Instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories/ My YouTube Channel for videos and songs Facebook.com/aprileight

And please come share how you listen to your April Eight stories, in the bathtub? on the way to school? at bedtime? I have Waldorf family and homeschoolers, big kids, little kids, Montessori kids and unschoolers, regular schoolers, and world schoolers listening in. And a lot of adults who just want a good fairytale. I love that! I have listeners across the globe these days. I can't even tell you how much joy that brings me. April Eight is for the innocent heart in all of us everywhere. xoxoxo

Ep 22 A Little Minute about A Little Minute! Mar 23, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 22 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Today's episode is "A Little Minute about a Little Minute". On today's episode, I share with you a new thing I'm going to do called "A Little Minute". I always have more songs and poems and ideas and shout-outs and happy birthdays and gratitudes that I want to share with you, and all of that doesn't always fit into a story.

So I thought, hey, what about doing a little minute every now and again to share all the things that don't fit into a story? And so, this is the first one. And it is about What is a little minute? So we talk about that.

I also say Happy Birthday to Izzy - she turned nine years old just last week! and Thank you to Summer for sharing her wonderous Fairy Sandcastle Ball with me on Instagram. Her mother said that she was thinking about "The Night of the Fairy Ice Skating Ball" song from the "Grammy and the Star Soup" story, Episode 19. You can also download that song from iTunes.

I send out some love to Annabel who is one of my first podcast listeners and I share with you a song from her current favorite episode, The Old Man and the Seagull.

I give a little shout out to my buddy Stone, and his mama Michelle Duncan Wilson, creator of the thoughtful and meaningful mom podcast, Soul Work for Moms. Mothers, check it out when you get a chance and let me know what you think.

Lastly, it is one of my favorite times of the month - time for another Stay Up Late with April Eight! See you on my April Eight Facebook Page on SATURDAY, March 25th at 8PM EST. xoxxoxo!

Fiddle faddle fee - that's a little minute with me.

Come back next time and I'll tell you a story right here on the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast.

LINKS:

Soul Work for Mom: http://soulworkformoms.com/

The Old Man and the Sea, Episode 9 of the April Eight Songs and Stories Podcast: https://aprileight.com/2016/08/03/the-old-man-and-the-seagull/

Grammy and the Star Soup, Episode 19 of the April Eight Songs and Stories Podcast: https://aprileight.com/2017/02/11/grammy-and-the-star-soup/

The Night of the Fairy Ice Skating Ball from "Songs for a Magical Winter" by April Eight: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/songs-for-a-magical-winter-ep/id484863272

STAY UP LATE WITH APRIL EIGHT! http://www.facebook.com/aprileight

Ep 21 Birdie and the Leprechaun Mar 16, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 21 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Today's episode is called "A Leprechaun Tale - Birdie and the Unexpected Guest" a great story for your kids at bath time, bedtime, car time, and family time.

On today's episode, Grammy and the kids, that's Sage, Sander and Arwen, and of course, Birdie, the dog, have an unexpected guest. A leprechaun! Turns out, Lucky Mr. Liam and Grammy are old friends, and he comes to stay with her for safety from all those dangerous leprechaun traps that children all over the world are setting this time of year.

The best place to find all things April Eight:

aprileight.comSubstack newsletter: https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ Instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories/ YouTube Channel for videos and songs

Well, leprechauns like a good limerick, and Lucky Mr. Liam likes to speak in them. And he tells the kids and Grammy all about his adventures out in the world, trying to keep out of trouble. It is a fairytale, and a tall tale, and a story of friendship -- a fun story for St. Patrick's Day or any day at all.

"There once was a wee dog named Birdie Who lived in a cottage most pur-ty I asked, "Tell me why Dis Birdie can't fly?" She told me I was just being churly."

The Leprechaun also explains why children set traps for leprechauns...

"Why would ya catch a leprechaun, oh They are just wee men in green trousers, no? It's magic we have Could be good or bad But everyone wants a pot o'gold."

Lucky Mr. Liam also gives a few tips on how best to set a good leprechaun trap:

"For a leprechaun trap to be tricky You might think to add something sticky Perhaps a wee treat Candy nice and sweet But ta think ya can catch us, yer daffy"

I am so happy to say that the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast is now available on not only iTunes but also GooglePlay, Stitcher and SoundCloud and everywhere that podcasts are found! Please share your favorite episodes with your friends.

When people ask me about how to get my April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast, they just hand me their phones and I set them all up – once you know how to subscribe it is so easy, but sometimes folks need a little help. It is a pretty nice thing to do to provide fresh, sweet, happy, family-friendly fairytales for your friends and their kids. It just takes a second to set them up – just click subscribe! It is always nice to share - #trypod

Oh, and I changed the name/address of my Instagram account to aprileightsongsandstories to go better with my Podcast. If you are an Instagrammer, come say hi! It is my fav spot online: instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories

Ep 20 Sander and the Lost Giant Mar 03, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 20 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Today's story is called "Sander and the Lost Giant" a great story for your kids at bath time, bedtime, car time, and family time.

I'm so excited to celebrate my 20th episode. Twenty fairytale stories written, narrated and illustrated and shared with you, dear Wonderfuls - that's a lot. And I have so many new ideas and characters to create and share that I can't help but cheer. Hooray!

In today's episode our friend Sander, who we met last week in Episode 19, "Grammy and the Star Soup", goes out on his own snowy adventure, this time with his dog Birdie.

Here is an excerpt:

The clouds overhead had been snowing all morning and the Snowflake Fairies voices could be heard calling, "Come out and Play!" Sander had heard their calls from the window of his Grammy's house as he'd watched them fall, giggling and laughing, doing somersaults and backflips and sparkling like they do. He asked his sister Arwen to come out in the snow with him, but she was far too busy reading her favorite book, The Secret Garden, to even look up at him. She just shook her head and murmured (something indiscernible). And his little sister Sage, well she was helping Grammy bake bread - her favorite thing to do. Sage was really too little to play into the wilds of the forest without an adult anyway. And so, Sander finally decided to go out on his own with Birdie as his guide, out into the glittering wonder of snow to see what the world looked like under this fresh blanket of delight.

"Don't go too far into the forest, Mr. Sander. Leave that for the giants." Grammy had laughed as he headed out the door. She didn't think he'd get into too much trouble. All the bears were hibernating….

When people ask me about how to get my A8 Podcast, they just hand me their phones and I set them all up – once you know how to subscribe it is so easy, but sometimes folks need a little help. It is a pretty nice thing to do to provide fresh, sweet, happy, family-friendly fairytales for your friends and their kids. It just takes a second to set them up – just click subscribe! It is always nice to share - #trypod

Ep 19 Grammy and the Star Soup Feb 11, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 19 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Today's episode is called "Grammy and the Star Soup" a great story for your kids at bath time, bedtime, car time, and family time.

facebook.com/aprileight instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories aprileight.com

Download the song from this week's episode right here or here.

You can listen to today's episode and every episode of the "April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast" on your iPhone or Android. Subscribe at iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher or Soundcloud and never miss a story.

Did you catch my references to last week's episode in this week's episode. Pretty tricky, huh? Do you think Grammy and her father were at the SAME pond as Meggie and Felix were last week? Hmmmm....

Tune in next week for a special Valentines episode just for you.

Thank you for listening and please let me know what you think of these stories, I'd truly love to hear from you. And if your child is inspired to draw a picture or make a painting, you know I would love to see it.

If you have a friend or a family who you think might like these stories, please go ahead and share with them. Sharing makes the world a nicer place for everyone, don't you think?

And if you'd like to stay in touch, please sign up for the April Eight Songs & Stories newsletter. And the best place to find me is on Instagram where I am @aprileightsongsandstories. I love it.

See you next time!

Ep 18 Meggie & Felix and the Snowy Little Minute Feb 03, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 18 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast! I'm so excited about this one because it makes me giggle - I just love my little Felix. Maybe because, just like him, I'm a younger sibling myself. Today's story is called "Meggie & Felix and the Snowy Little Minute" a great little tale for your kids at bedtime, bath time, car time, or anytime your family needs a story.

facebook.com/aprileight instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories aprileight.com

Download the song from this week's episode right here or here.

Now you might be wondering what a "little minute" is. Well, I gotta tell you, it is an expression that I've used forever but I really don't know if anyone else does. When I say, "I'll be there in a little minute," people have always looked at me like "What's a 'little minute'?" So, I'll tell you what I mean when I say it: It means, a short amount of time but I don't exactly know how long it will be. Have you ever heard anyone else who says "a little minute"? If you do, let me know. I'd love to know that I'm not alone. Or maybe I am. Either way, I like my 'little minute' and I'm not giving it up.

Did you catch my poetry reference from the Snowflakes episode in this one?

I am so happy to say that the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast is now available on not only iTunes but also GooglePlay, Stitcher and SoundCloud! Please share your favorite episodes with your friends.

Oh, and I changed the name/address of my Instagram account from aprileightmusic to aprileightsongsandstories to go better with my Podcast. If you are an Instagrammer, come say hi! It is my fav spot online: instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories

All songs, stories, and illustrations are copyrighted by me, ©April Eight 2017. It is my favorite thing to do! How do you and your family listen to the April Eight Songs and Stories Podcast? It would really help me out to know how best people are connecting.

Ep 17 Winter Songs & Stories "Snowflakes" Jan 10, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 17 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. With so much to enjoy about winter, I'm glad it is here! Today's story is called, 'Snowflakes" a great little tale for your kids at bedtime, bath time, car time, or anytime your family needs a story.

The poem I tell about in my story in this podcast is Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. And, if you'd like to find my song, Snowflake Fairies from the April Eight Songs for a Magical Winter, you can download it right here.

To find my world-traveling friends and their family, go to Journey of the Globe (@journeyoftheglobe) on Instagram and Follow them so that you too can be a part of their grand adventures.

And while you are over there on Instagram, follow me, and also my brother James and his band, Great Willow.

And, if you want to Stay Up Late with April Eight on my Facebook Live Slumber Party on January 28th, come on over to Facebook and Like the April Eight page. We'll be staying up late on the last Saturday of every month!

And as I mentioned, if you haven't heard the Jemi Stories, you are in a for a treat.

And subscribe today to the April Eight Newsletter and get all the exclusive fun extras that come along with it.

Thank you for listening. If you've been enjoying this episode, let me know. I'd love to hear from you – you can leave a comment on Facebook or send me an email. And, it would be great if you would leave a review on your favorite podcast venue and let everyone know you like what is happening at April Eight. Spreading the word is a lovely thing to do.

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