Showing posts with label halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label halloween. Show all posts

Friday, October 20, 2017

A Small Nightmare...or did it really happen!

* Ghoul Kreated for Halloween at the KardKorner by Suzanne, Karo and Rusty
 * photo by Suzanne * October 2003

I really must warn you, my dearies, that you have entered the den of dreams...or not!  It is said that all of us dream, every night.  Some dreams last 15 minutes, but I have read that most dreams may last only seconds.  We can have as little as 2-3 dreams, or as many as 7 dreams per night.  Wow, that's exhausting, isn't it!  As the night drags on, some of our dreams can last 20 or 30 minutes.  YIKES!


And, do we dream in color?  Sometimes, if I remember a particular dream, I can recall that it may have been in color.  Research shows that 70-80% of our dreams do contain color.  However, if you were dreaming back in the earlier 1900's, and through the 1950's, it is very likely that your dreams were in black and white.  That is due to images and media being presented primarily in black and white in those days.




Well...how about those dreams that may NOT really be dreams?  Do we try to comprehend the meanings of our dreams, and attempt to decipher the messages they send?  Are the late night events that we think are real, simply moved to the back of our minds, and we accept them as dreams?

In past years, I tried to make sense of dreams that I remembered, but, with not much luck,  Now, I don't bother so much with trying to analyze any remembered dreams, because I just don't remember many of them, and I don't have "sleeping" nightmares anymore!

There is, however, one incident that has stayed with me all of my life since the late 1950's.  I refer to it as an "incident", because in my mind it really happened.  Here we go!

***  
Summers in the 1950's didn't seem to get as hot as the summers of today do.  We didn't have an air conditioned home, and would sleep with opened windows at night.  As darkness would make its way across the city, it would bring along a cool breeze that would sift through the windows, making the room comfy.  My father would also place a box fan in one of our windows to help cool the rooms down at bedtime.




    One night as I lay sleeping, I was awakened by a slight sensation on my ear.  It felt like a soft hand  rubbing my ear lobe just lightly.  I was frozen with fear, wondering what it might be, and, I was beginning to feel a bit chilled.  I wanted to reach for my blanket that was at my feet to pull it up, but first, I wanted to take a chance at seeing just what was touching my ear.  Sooo, I turned my head around with my eyes looking backward just barely, without moving my body...
...and, there HE WAS!


~Illustration by Suzanne * October 2017

A tall stick-like figure was sitting in the open window where our box fan was supposed to be.  He was looking over at me with his arm outstretched in the direction of my bed.  His head reached all the way to the ceiling!  He looked just as my illustration above shows...an arrogant creature, who somehow removed the box fan from the window, and made himself at home!  What was I to do?  My sister's bed was nearby, but not near enough for him to reach, and, I couldn't nudge her to wake her.  I couldn't even scream!  I was still trying to figure out a way to get a hold of my blanket and cover up before he touched my ear again.  I grabbed the blanket with my toes, and gently started easing it upward.  The 'stick man' would lean over, and, touch my ear from time to time as I worked the blanket up to where my fingers could finally grab it!  Inch by inch I was able to get it up to my waist, then, slightly ease it up over one shoulder!  I had to conjure up more courage to get the blanket over my left shoulder, as this is the side that monster was focusing on!  AAAGEEEGH!  What a nightmare!
***
I'm sure you are wondering, and, I am here to tell you that no words were spoken throughout this entire ordeal.  There was complete silence, and no other stirrings within the house.  I shut my eyes as tightly as I could, and slowly moved my shoulder up and down in order to get the blanket up to my neck!  What a job!!!




Friends...I never looked back, and somehow I fell off into the bliss known as sleep! Once I was snuggled into my blanket, all fears were gone, and a newer, fresher breeze was flowing through my window.  When I awoke in the morning, I looked back at that window, and it looked as though nothing had been disturbed the night before.  My sister was sound asleep in her bed, none the wiser.  Who knows how long this bizarre creature tormented me that night?  Not I!  I just know it happened, but my mind has agreed to banish the terror back into the nightmare den!


* The Baker Hotel * Mineral Wells, Texas
* photo by Suzanne * October 15, 2011
presumed haunted

* The den of dreams...open to nightmares only!

Thank you, thank you and thank you my gracious readers!  Sometimes we just have to get a little of that spook dust out of our systems, and what better time than Halloween!  I am so glad you chose to visit today, and I appreciate your comments more than you know!  If you're too shy, you can just say Hello, or check one of the reactions at the bottom of this post to let me know you came by.

* The ghoul in my first illustration was actually constructed from a mannequin out of a sporting goods store, and placed at our front room window.  Pretty impressive, I believe.  Some of the illustrations were acquired from Yahoo images, two of which I manipulated in one of my programs.  I did the illustration of the stick man myself.

Thank You:
Yahoo Images
Blogger
Wikipedia
 realmeaningofdreams.com

***

 
~ my little Scootie * photo by Suzanne

Shawn was a bit leary of the spooks in this shop we visited last week!  But, he did like the hat!

*** If you plan to get out on Halloween, hang on to those kiddos, and keep them safe!  ***

~"It's hard to wake up from a nightmare if you aren't even asleep." * j.s.

Sending hugs to you all...see you next time! 💗


Sunday, October 30, 2016

October's Final Hoedown!

~ photo by Suzanne * 10-30-2016

Scary, huh?   Well, today is one of the days reserved for Frankenstein/Monster Day.  I believe the other Frankenstein Day is observed on the 30th of August, in remembrance of its creator, Mary Wollenstone Shelley.  When she was about 19 years old, or so, Miss Shelley was on holiday in Switzerland, and, a storm brewed up heavily, forcing her to stay indoors.  She and some friends had been reading monster stories for fun, and, Mary became compelled to write her own monster story.  Thus, in the year 1818, Frankie (I mean, Frankenstein the monster) was born!  


Frankenstein, the Monster

Would you agree, that this has been one fast-moving month?  October just WHIZZED in and back out again at a pace that would make even "Frankenstein's" head spin!  As if that would be possible with those bolts holding it down, lol!  Nevertheless, hold on to your hats, because November just may sweep us right out of Autumn and into Winter!  Let's hope not just yet!

Meanwhile, maybe we can recap a few of the events that brought my neck of the woods through this exciting month.


~ photo by Suzanne * October 6, 2016
Lots of Mums, many colors available everywhere-
-what a beautiful crop in Texas this year!



WOW!!!  What have we here?
Pumpkins, anyone?







~Not quite into the Scarecrow is he?


~Shrimp Boil?  Well, okay...YUM!  (Oct. 27, 2016)



~Late October Birthday!



~Golf...now THAT'S my game!


...or, IS it???  LOL!


~And, it's off to the races with Dad!




~Okay, Okay...Ladies and Gentlemen, please!  I concur that we are all in agreement ...
October has been one TERRIFIC month!




***  Trick or Treat, my dear readers ***

Please don't worry about giving me something good to eat...believe me, I've already had plenty!

But, allow me to remind you all to be safe this Halloween night. 
Watch out for the children, and, have a Wonderful time!

Thank you so much for coming by.  Please stop in and say hello-I'd love to hear from you!

also thanks to:
Blogger
Google
Yahoo images (Frankenstein ONLY)
My adorable Scooter
Son Rusty
All of the participating Fort Worth Farmer's markets

***  All photos except the Frankenstein photo are property of Suzanne/KardKornerKrib ***



~Which way is it, really???

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

La Notta Nera...Buono Halloween!


In America, we all grow up with Halloween...it's an American staple-a standing date, once a year!  We make costumes, carve pumpkins into lighted jack-o-lanterns, decorate our homes, and prepare for the long-awaited 'trick or treat' excursion through the streets of the city!

But wait!!! How about folks all over the world?  Is it just in America that this, oh, so exciting and spooky holiday is celebrated? Let us take a moment to ponder about the possibility of  other countries enjoying the brightly lit jack-o-lanterns, and children marching through the streets, chanting,
 "Trick or Treat, smell my feet...give me something good to eat!"

Most Americans believe that Halloween originated in America, as the first reports of  kids guising around North American neighborhoods go back to around 1911-1920.  Actually, we were introduced to this macabre holiday from the Scottish and Irish immigrants who brought it over in the 19th century.  We just nurtured it and kept it alive...very much so!

Okay, Okay...enough of American history for now!

Soooo, my dear readers, after mulling around, thinking first of  this, and, then that...my queries produced quite a lot of Halloweenic activity throughout the universe.  But, since I only have time for one area,  I decided to give it the boot and go with our brothers and sisters in Southern Europe.


Italy typically celebrates a similar holiday called 'Carnevale', which begins 40 days before Easter and ends with Lent.  This celebration began in honor of a victory against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico in 1162.  There was dancing in the street, and, the townspeople wore masks made of leather, and/or porcelain.  This practice makes me think of Mardi Gras, such lavish costumes and masks.

In Corinaldo, Italy's le Marche region, the town celebrates with spooky attractions, dancing in the streets, with fire and lights all over town. Corinaldo is a medieval walled town, and dubs itself
 'The Capital of Halloween.'
~Corinaldo, Italy * Fire Dance on Halloween



In 1797, the festival was outlawed and masks were totally forbidden by the King of Austria.  Finally, in 1979, the Italian government brought back the carnival to showcase Venice history and culture...AND, of course, the masks returned!  The masks were, after all, a major feature of the Venetian carnival.

~Autumn carnival mask

~Venetian carnival masks

~Medico della Peste masks (below)
One of the more popular and peculiar Venetian masks is the Medico della Peste mask.  This mask was designed by a 17th century French physician, originally used to ward off plague and disease.  The doctor believed that by wearing this mask and gloves, the patient could be moved without passing the disease on to the doctor.  Today, these masks are more decorative and have become very popular, to be worn with a black cloak and white gloves.

OOH HOO...I've seen versions of this mask in 'SCARY' movies, haven't you?



Today, the Carnevale is still a top reigning festival, as, Halloween is becoming more favorable in Italy.  The celebration at the 'Devil's Bridge' in Borgo a Mozzano in 1993 claims to have marked the beginning of Italy's first Halloween celebration.
~Devil's Bridge in Borgo a Mozzano

Games, such as The Passage of Terror, are played here and horror movies are shown all night.

* It was common in Europe to have a day in honor of the dead.  This celebration called 'Feralia' took place in February at the end of the Roman year.  It is said that Pope Boniface IV invented 'All Saints Day', to replace the pagan holiday with one from Catholic roots. In essence, this appears to be the Italian Halloween.

* Let's do some Halloween window-shopping in Italy!
~ Halloween Shop in Italy

~Orvieto florist in Italy

~ Shop in Southern Italy

Aren't these photos great?  You're right!  I did NOT take these photos...unfortunately, I have never been to Italy, wishful thinking!

* So you see, the once sparsely decorated city of Rome has gradually adopted the Festive nature of Halloween with its stores catering to the public in honor of the holiday.

There are displays of mummies and skeletons...and, American horror movies!  There is a castle that sits on top of the village of Calice and it features special Halloween dinners there.

~castle Doria Malaspina

~restaurant at the castle

The Ghosthunter store reports haunted places in Italy
* Once such place is the Forum in Rome.  They say that at night you can look down over the barriers into the arches and catch impressions of shadowy figures lurking about, milling around, and gesturing...OMG!  What would I do if I were gestured at by a shadowy figure?  Well, you know me!  I would act like I didn't see a thing, lol!  There are a lot of old Roman housing areas surrounding this Forum, and, the ghosts are difficult to spot, because most of the city is lit up at night.  Oh, there's no worries...the ghostly figures are mostly just memories of the past, with no intentions of taking care of unfinished business!

 ~The Forum in Rome, stayed almost intact up to 1503

'Souling' is a custom that is very similar...well, it is actually today's 'trick or treating'.  It is an ancient practice that could have been one of the first signs of 'trick or treating', with folks going door to door begging for additional prayers for their deceased loved ones.  They would also accept soul cakes, which are part scone, and part teacake.  One soul cake received...one soul saved.



Anyway, my most gracious friends, if you're still with me-I commend you for your patience up to this point.  What a great lot of history!  I have only touched on this celebration in Italy, there is so much more!  And, I promise, I will NOT do a Part II (deux)!

But KNOW YE THIS!

These people sure know how to parté!!!

I have so engrossed myself in the material I found on Halloween in Italy.  What exciting history from a country that offers so much beauty and culture! And, aren't the photos just grand?  I was so fortunate to find such great collections of the various types of celebrations, and decorations for sale about the cities.

  But, even though Halloween is presenting a more positive fashion of late in Italy, there is still a bit of uncertainty, and fear of the wandering spirits.  Using their masks and costumes, along with Jack-o-Lanterns, the Villagers' hope to scare off the spirits.

~La Festa Delle
Streghe Creature

Eeeek!!!  Now THAT'S Spooky! Don't want to meet HIM in a dark alley!  I mean, do you see where the rest of his body went?  Anyone?

And MY WORD...I have so many to thank this time:

Yahoo images for all of these pictures!
Google
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/culture
 http://www.theshadowlands.net
 http://goitaly.about.com
http://www.italiansrus.com
http://en.wikipedia.org

*  Thank you "YOUR HIGHNESS" over at MyTexasGardens for helping me find all of these cool pictures!  Illustrations surely give a story meaning...painting a picture that takes us from fantasy into the, perhaps, 'reality', and, then, back again to 'fantasy'.
Then, we must WAKE-UP!

You were wonderful for sticking around for my Halloween contribution...I do have a spooky story, but, then again, 'who doesn't'?  No really...I know of a story, and, I just need to get permission to ghost write it.  Even if it shows up here after Halloween, I know you won't mind!

Please stop by any time.  I love your company!  Don't know if our Scootie will be coming by for Halloween this year. His 5th birthday is this coming up on Saturday, so we will get to see him then. Take care...watch out for your precious little ones this Halloween.  I believe everyone is being more cautious these days-it's sad, but, we can't always be sure!

So, I'll leave you with this, my dear readers:

witch gif photo: witch gif witch_cooking.gif
***
"And now, my beauties, something with poison in it, I think.  With poison in it but attractive to the eye, and, soothing to the smell."

Who said this?  You guessed it!  The most famous WITCH EVER!

The Wicked Witch of the West!

See you soon, my pretties!


~ guess who?  lol....

Friday, October 19, 2012

Kreepy Karma! ...from the KardKorner Krypt!

As we approached the carnival grounds, a sudden, eerie rush of cool air stopped us cold.  We just stood there trying to focus through the dusky haze...trying to make sense of what appeared (or didn't appear) before us.  Connie and I wondered out loud, "Are we at the right place?"  I said, "Okay, okaayy...sure I took a wrong turn from County Road 1300, which sent us reeling south on Buckeye Road, instead of north to Scooter's Pass!"  "But, this IS a carnival site...what you can SEE of it!  This MUST be the place!" Connie exclaimed. "But where are the lights, the music, and screams of laughter from the crowds?"

Just then, a lone tumbleweed brushed past us...a raking sound on the ground, dragging a stream of foggy mist behind it.  "What the...?", I think I choked on that question!  And, Connie tapped my arm, so gently to get my attention to what her eyes were focusing on.  "Look Sarah, there's the ticket booth, and, I think that looming object behind it is the ferris wheel!"  All I could see was an old abandoned ticket booth, and, a dilapidated ferris wheel, no longer operative.  I said, "I'm thinking we should go now, get back to the car and find a 'REAL' Halloween event!"


We turned and started to make our way to the gates, when we heard a low, buzzing sound getting louder and louder, until 'POP'! A glow of colored lights showered above us, startling us to an abrupt hault.  Haha!  It brings to mind a line from  'The Three Stooges' Niagara movie!  "Slowly we turned...step by step, inch by inch, until SUDDENLY-!"


Finding ourselves under the spell of bright-colored lights and the musical sounds of a full-fledged carnival,  we decided to turn back and venture into the midst of this oh, so inviting scenario, as it were.  Still, the grounds were void of the familiar sounds of carnival laughter and silly screams.  However, as we slowly made our way back toward the most talked about feature of 'Scooter's' carnival...the feared and revered 'Haunted House', we heard a low, raspy voice.  The voice seemed to be speaking to us...beckoning us to continue our slow journey into the bowels of the Nightmare Haunted House.  "Come hither, my pretties...welcome!  Do enter, so that you may experience the most fascinating horrors of the world!"  That didn't sound good!!!  But, tho leery, we decided to give it a shot, and, as the doors creaked open, we peered inside only to witness a most disconcerting site!  Yeah, there were people in the room, frolicking around to eerie, spooky music, and dancing with bats and spiders all throughout the establishment.  There were gravestones and gothic crosses, and a dirt floor that sank and oozed large waterbugs beneath our feet.  There was a putrid smell of, what?...rotten eggs and some kind of, well, you know, since there were BATS in the place-I guess they didn't get out much to relieve themselves!


Suddenly, darkness engulfed us, and, once again we heard a voice...NO!  Two voices!  This time the whispering voices were imploring us to leave.

  "Get out!" "You must leave now!  Make haste before you're discovered! There's no time to waste! As the witching hour approaches, you will be caught up in this abyss of eternal unrest!"
"Go nowwww...go nowwww!"

Connie and I were already backing out of the Haunted House as these voices came rushing in.  We did an about face, hooked arms, and, began the long trek in the dark haze, back to the gates, and, hopefully to my trusty '61 Volkswagen awaiting just outside.  I know, I know-"don't look back, you say!" But, I did look back, and the Haunted House had become dark and ghoulish in appearance, no longer the facade of a 'fun' Halloween party place!  And I noticed some movement just outside the door on the old rickety porch of the house.  A ghastly witch-like figure, with long fingers, cloaked in black-smiling and beckoning.  The creature had the same raspy voice as the one who invited us in.  "I can show you excitement, I can show you the world as you never imagined!", the ghoul croaked.
  "Come back my pretties, come back!"

...My Heart Sank! I didn't tell Connie...but, I know she felt it!

NO LONGER WELCOMING!

...Slowly we turned...all the lights on the carnival grounds had gone out with a BANG!  ...Step by painful step, our legs could barely move-so we weren't running! (no sirree Bob-who's Bob?) ...Inch by inch-Connie and I were literally holding each other up, guiding each other thru the fog, thru the ghostly tumbleweeds scurrying past us.  Every now and then I would hear a faint whisper from Connie's mouth, her head was hanging, her eyes closed for most of the journey, "Sarah, Sarah", she would gasp.  "I'm right here Connie, I'm right here", I tried to reassure her.

I saw a faint glow up ahead...then, getting brighter and brighter!  And, what's that sound?  Why, it's the roar of a small engine!  "Connie, Connie, it's there...and it's waiting for us!  It's guiding the way!"
And, then I saw it...thru the fog and the haze, a sight for sore eyes.  It was my precious little Volkswagen, headlights flashing, urging us on...calling to us!

"Your Chariot Awaits You, Mademoiselles!"

I kept hearing Connie's voice calling to me, pleadingly, and, I'm sure I only closed my eyes for a moment.  When I opened them, there she was, standing across from me, at what appeared to be the foot of a bed.  My bed ? Connie's arms were loaded with Halloween decorations, and, she was calling me urgently.  "Sarah, Sarah, wake up!  We have lots of decorating to do before our Halloween party tonite!"  There was such excitement in her voice, and, I said (what I always say), "What the heck....?" My hair was all sticky and matted,  my nightshirt was soaked (with sweat?), and, I believe I detected a dried substance coming from my mouth, down to my chin (drool, you say?).

Then, it hit me...HARD!
"Connie, Connie!"  I exclaimed. "I can't believe I'm here! I have to tell you what happened last nite!  It was dark, foggy, and scary! Lights would come on...then, go off again.  Eerie voices everywhere, strong and raspy...then soft and whispery!  You wouldn't believe this place..."

Connie's expression softened, she looked me in the eye, and said,
"I believe, Sarah...I was there, and, I'm right here."

TRICK-OR-TREAT FROM THE KARDKORNER!!!
yeah, it's me!

Thank you so much for humoring me, by reading my "kind of" spooky, yet fun story.  I hope you enjoyed your visit into the depths of the past. Autumn is my favorite season of the year, and, I felt a certain need to ring in the season with a 'TALL TALE'!  My inspiration?  I'll never tell!

A lot of us can remember and relate to the old Carnival grounds in our towns...abandoned and dilapidated.  And, they're only brought back to life in our minds' eyes!

I borrowed all but one of the pictures from Yahoo images, however, I re-invented...that is, in order to  illustrate how my mind envisioned this event, I manipulated the pictures.  I really did have a 1961 Volkswagen, though, and, there is a Buckeye Road, actually somewhere near Coffeyville, Kansas!

* Please be safe, my dear readers...
...don't wander too far from the REAL carnival!  LOL!

I'm taking this moment to thank:
Google
Yahoo images
The State of Kansas
The Three Stooges
'Connie and Sarah' (imaginary characters)
1961 Volkswagens rock!

"We love you Scootie!"