* Ghoul Kreated for Halloween at the KardKorner by Suzanne, Karo and Rusty
* photo by Suzanne * October 2003
* 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! 💗
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! 💗
Hi, Suzanne!
ReplyDeleteYour eerie tale gave me the shivers. You seem certain those strange events actually took place and who am I to doubt you? All I know is that there have been nights when I have awakened from a dream or nightmare only to find that I am still asleep, still dreaming - having a dream within a dream - because I eventually wake up from that one for real. It seems there is a good chance that is what happened to you that night. Otherwise, if you awoke to an actual intruder in your bedroom and he was touching you, you would most certainly have jumped out of bed and bolted from the room, taking your sister with you, instead of pulling the covers over yourself. In other words, your concept of how to keep yourself safe from the threat was believable only in the context of a dream. It would be hopelessly inadequate in reality.
The most troubling nightmares of my life occurred when I was a very young child. They were terrifying and I had them nearly every night. My most common nightmare was being pulled across the room by a strange unknown force and sucked down a dark flight of stairs where a terrible fate awaited me. I always woke up before I tumbled down into the darkness where, surely, hideous monsters dwelt.
I don't think that I dream in color because I have no memory of it. Every once in a while I have a long and satisfying dream, one in which I achieve the kind of results that often elude me in real life. On those occasions I wish I knew the exact formula that caused me to have such a dream so that it could be replicated. I never figured that out.
I admire the Ghoul that you, Karo and Rusty "kreated" for KardKornerKrib 14 Halloweens ago. Hooray for Scootie Potter for being brave enough to turn his back on those spooks long enough to pose for a picture. I wish Scootie and all kids everywhere a safe and happy trick-or-treat experience. I have been told that many children are attending supervised group Halloween events instead of going door to door as kids have done for generations. Have you noticed any decline in the number of trick-or-treaters in recent years?
Thank you for sharing the thrilling story about the strange green stick man in your window. I would love to spend Halloween night sleeping-over at The Baker Hotel in hopes of encountering a ghost or two. How about you?
Have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend Suzanne!
Hi Shady. I have noticed a slight decline in trick or treaters just in the last couple of years. Last year, we didn't have any visitors until after 8:00pm. And, I think that they go to some of the other functions first. This year, of course, we have Scootie, and we will take him to a 'tailgate' trick or treat event in the parking lot of a large church that is about 1 mile from our house. I think that will be fun, and then he can trick or treat on our street when we return. But, I know, last year there were very few porch lights on in our neighborhood. He didn't want to get too close to the ghouls in the shop we were in. He's so funny, and he will be turning 9 years old next Thursday. It's been a busy time for us lately!
DeleteSo, you think I may have been dreaming in a dream. I didn't think of that, it may be true. However, I wouldn't have even thought of it as a child. I probably would have screamed if I could, and it would wake my dad up! My sister was a very sound sleeper! As you say, I too, had more nightmares as a child, and, in my late teens, I had a nightmare that an ex-boyfriend threw me into our fireplace at home, with it burning! AAgh! I think a lot of us have dreams like that when we're younger. Someone is either chasing you, or the sky is falling, lol! Fortunately, I don't have dreams that horrible anymore.
I took over 100 photos of that hotel. They won't let anyone in there, but I crawled under a gate to get a few shots. What a spooky place! No one can afford to renovate it. Lawrence Welk had his debut performance in that hotel.
So, we did eventually get rid of the mannequin ghoul. He was so tall, and took up too much space.
Thank you so much, Shady for your fun comments and informative tips about dreams. I'm so glad you stopped in for a visit. Scootie, his dad and I will be doing some Halloween decorating this weekend, but there is a rainstorm prediction, so we'll have to keep an eye out. Still running the air conditioner in the house. Maybe next month I can turn it off, lol! Have a wonderful weekend, dear friend! ♫
That ghoul in the first pic is VERY impressive indeed. I would have been pretty scared if I had come across that! I love the photo of Scooter in that hat. Very 😎 cool! The piece about dreams was very interesting. I very rarely remember any dreams I might have, but every so often, I wake up in the morning and the dream is very vivid. That spooky tale you told as you were lying in bed as a little girl was very spooky! You were very brave not to scream out! Eli and Ruby will just go around their street with their mummy, trick and treating. Anyway my friend, keep safe and enjoy the week ahead.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see you, Thisisme! When we placed that ghoul in the window, some of the little trick or treaters were not getting too close. Others would peer as closely as they dared! What fun. Yes, the dream did seem very real to me, but, I've not had a dream since in my adult life quite so vivid! We will take Scooter around the street trick or treating too, but, plan to go to a Halloween event at a nearby church in their parking lot. There will be candy, games and music. It should be fun.
DeleteThank you, Thisisme for stopping by to say hello and for leaving your nice comment! I am so pleased to see you and appreciate your visit. Don't get washed away by by the heavy rains. Hugs! ♥
Hello, Suzanne, your nightmare was spooky, what a story. I am not sure how well I sleep, I do not remember dreaming. I do remember having a similar fan in our window when I was a kid. Scooter looks cute in the house. I hope all the kiddies stay safe this Halloween.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a great day, happy weekend.
Good Evening Eileen. It was a spooky nightmare for sure! My sister didn't remember me telling her about it, and then said, I was scaring her! My dad would make the cabinets for the box fans so they would fit in our windows, and he painted them either green or brown. They didn't have 2 or 3 speeds then, just one speed. We've really come a long way since then, haven't we! Scooter was not overly excited about the spooks in the Halloween shop, but he did let me get a few pictures! I think parents are really keeping a closer eye on their kids these days. We don't even let Scooter play in the front yard by himself. One of us is always out there with him. Thank you very much for coming by Eileen. It's been a mild weathered weekend so far. Have a great Sunday, and upcoming week.
DeleteHi Suzanne, We have come a long way. I love air conditioning. With all the crazy and scary things happening lately it is best to keep our eyes on the young ones. happy November, wishing you a great new month.
DeleteHi Eileen. All the years I lived in Kansas, I did not have the luxury of central air conditioning. But, moving to Texas changed all of that! I am so glad because it gets plenty hot and sultry here! Thank you for coming by! Wishing you a wonderful November.
DeleteWow, what an 'incident' Suzanne, it's really hard to know what those sort of things are isn't it. More real than a dream but then time fades the recollection. I can empathise with you as I've had one particular happening when I was little. All others were obviously dreams.
ReplyDeleteI love how you could focus on the one goal of getting your blanket up and on you and then you'd be safe... and you were. That was a good conclusion. You've a great way with words and I just had to keep reading.
Can imagine how that ghoul at your door would have intrigued visitors!
Over here in Australia, halloween gained popularity and we would make up little treats into individual decorated bags for the children. However, last year we ended up eating most of them ourselves!! the house to house visiting does seem to be dropping off, most likely in favour of events as you've mentioned.
Bye for now and it was lovely to see the recent photo of Scooter - he's growing up isn't he xx
Hi Sue. I did have to refer to it as an 'incident', but, I was so sure it really happened. I really wanted to get that blanket pulled up around me, haha! And, it made for a good, spooky story-it came to mind when I was considering something short and sweet for Halloween! And, like you, we didn't have many trick or treaters last year, and too much candy! So, we will take Scooter to a Halloween festival for a little while, and give out candy a little later, if anyone comes by. We made that large ghoul from a 7 foot tall mannequin that my son was given from a sporting goods store he worked at. I used white sheets and some sheer curtain panels that were not in use. It was fun, and we had to prop him up against a ladder to keep him from falling down. Some of the kids didn't get too close to the window, even though the thing was inside, haha! Halloween can be so much fun, even at my age!
DeleteMy little Scooter will be nine years old this Thursday, and he is very excited about it. I told him I would take Halloween cookies to his school for all of his classmates and teacher, that will be fun.
Thank you so much for coming by Sue. I try to keep up with writing at least once a month, sometimes I get pretty busy, but, I still love to blog, and read the other blogs. I hope you are doing well, our weather is getting cooler now, and I love it! I appreciate your compliments and am so glad to see you. Have a great week! ♥
Summers in the 1950's didn't seem to get as hot as the summers of today ...... this is the case everywhere. In Pune we never needed fans about 40 years ago !!
ReplyDeleteHello Haddock. How great that you didn't need fans at all during the summers in Pune. When visiting California, USA in the mid 1960's, I found the evenings to be very cool during the summer. It is amazing how the climates have changed worldwide.
DeleteThank you very much for stopping by and leaving your comment. You are welcome any time. Have a great week!