Attentive Audience

Everyone who had the opportunity to meet and listen to Bruce Dethlefsen can count themselves as very, very lucky. Our current Wisconsin Poet Laureate is a wonderful, engaging presenter who sprinkles the readings of his poetry with tidbits for helping us all become better observers and writers.

Bruce visited the Flambeau, Ladysmith, and Bruce schools on September 21 and 22. On Thursday afternoon, he met with writers from the Writers' Exchange and in the evening he held an open mic session hosted by Pat and Marty Reynolds of Carnegie Hall and Mme Toad.

No Toad House event is every complete without Bufo and so here he is, the only Toad ever admitted to Carnegie Hall, listening attentively to Bruce with apologies to all non-amphibians.

As you can see, Bufo is fond of books and I know he cherishes the poetry book, Breather, by Bruce.

Poet Laureate event Thursday 6:30 at Carnegie Hall

As you know, Toad House continues to be in an unfinished state, plenty good for an unassuming Bufo, but sadly not yet available as a venue for the upcoming events. To help their friend, Mme. Toad, Pat and Marty Reynolds have graciously offered to host the open mic Poet Laureate event at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, September 22, at 6:30. For an hour, area poets will share their work with Bruce Dethlefson, Wisconsin's current Poet Laureate and the audience. Coffee, lemonade, and delicious treats to follow. We hope you are able to come!

Letter to Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel
Storybook Tower
Ladysmith

Dear Hansel and Gretel,
I am sorry for the inadequacy of the bread crumbs as trail markers in your last adventure. My mistress is also having difficulties, though her chosen method--in regard to marking the edge of the paths in the enchanted woods, is the placement of rocks.  The rocks seem to be needed in other places around Toad House and she runs out of the prettiest ones.

If you happen to come and visit--and please do come before I hibernate for the winter--it would be a great kindness if you could choose a rock from your abode to share, and lay somewhere along the edge of the path. The rocks the mistress seems to like the best  are about 5-6 inches in diameter. Not too big and not too small.

If you come late in the fall, and I am in hibernation, you might by chance visit with the elves and faeries who live up in the trees. They are shy and tend to hide, but if the sun is filtering through the branches of the leafless trees, you will see them playing with the light upon the ground. They are lovely, these elven and faery folk, but quite secretive. The hobbits and gnomes may be out on nice days, but without shoes and only hairy feet, they choose to mostly stay inside.

I am, of course, still in combat with the littering trolls. What to do with these muckish fellows? Sometimes I am at my wit's end with the butts and the trash they careless toss or drop.

Ah, I am so sleepy. This cold snap has put me in a mood to snuggle into the earth.  If I don't see you this fall, I do look forward to your visits in the spring.

As always I am
Your dear old friend,
Toad

Where 'da Toad?

Not much has been happening around Toad House these past three weeks. Many are wondering where Toad could be. Is he out fighting the nasty trolls and their litter?

Is he hunting for the trolls that are hidden? Might he dress up for Leaf it to Rusk as a Scare Troll?

Who knows what Toad will do. But right now he is itching to get back to work on Toad House.