Another Ghost Cat Update

Another Ghost Cat Update by Sarah Raplee

It's nearly Halloween, an appropriate time for a Ghost Cat Update!

2013
The Ghost Cat visited our house again last night.

We've lived with this possible pussycat for five years. Doors on cupboards full of nice soft towels and blankets--exactly the sorts of places a kitty might choose to curl up in--seem to open when we're not looking, even when our alive-and-kicking cat, Freckles, is shut in 'his' room in the basement. When we're in bed for the night, sometimes what seems to be Freckles jumps on the bed and lies down--but when one of us reaches to pet him, poof--he's not there.

That's just freaky.

Would Ghost Hunters Jason and Steve from TAPS
( http://the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/ ) suggest that vibrations we don't notice affect the cupboard doors? Maybe we dream the cat-on-the-bed incidents--but why would two people dream the same dream, sometimes at the same time?

Tonight, we had a new experience. Freckles jumped onto the couch beside me, eyes dilated, tail swishing, and spent ten minutes playing with something that wasn't there. He acted exactly as though he were playing with another cat. He's never, ever done that since he moved in with us seven years ago.

At least whatever-it-is, is friendly.

And playful.

That's good, right?

2016 
After moving to an acreage, we had no visits from the Ghost Cat for a year and a half. Then he started dropping by now and then - why, we have no idea. Still friendly and cuddly, thank goodness!

2017
Since we adopted two small rescue dogs the Ghost Cat has not visited, although he/she may have tried. There have been nights when Mac and Marcus have seemed to chase something through the house, barking like crazy.

When it comes to cats, they only like Freckles. Well, Mac likes him. They play together. Marcus mostly avoids him - except when Freckles takes a swipe at him.

2023

Sadly, both Marcus and Freckles have crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the years since the last Ghost Cat update.. We have adopted a puppy named Petey and a kitten named Neko in the years since. Mac is fourteen and still going strong.

A couple years ago a Ghost Cat began appearing frequently in the dining room. My husband sees it as a white cat-sized blur that darts across the rug. 

The dogs see it, too, and go into a barking frenzy. They aren’t allowed in the dining room but can see through the baby gate that keeps them out. Neko’s toys and climber are in that room, but he’s mostly black.

 Sometimes I wonder if it’s our white-with-orange-splotches Freckles stopping by for a visit.

 

  

Friday the 13 th?

 by Diana McCollum

Well, here it is, one of the most superstitious days on the calendar. I have never taken it seriously. Have you?

I'd like for you all to comment in the comment section as to your feelings on Friday the 13th. Is it good, bad or do terrible things really happen on Friday the 13th?

Do black cats crossing your path signify bad luck? What about walking under a ladder? Spilt salt? Spilt milk?

A portion of harvested pumpkins.

Husband grew 15 pumpkins, all shapes and sizes to celebrate October, even Friday the 13th.

Paradise, CA sunset (Just threw this in because, well Pretty!!

Scary lights?

Old haunted cabin in northern CA

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you an experience with a ghost you'd care to share?

And what pray tell are your thoughts on Friday the 13th???

Have a wonderful fall!!!

Phobias I have a few!

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

 October is the month of ghosts, goblins, and all things spooky. My phobia fits right in with this theme. Want to guess what it is?

I’ll tell you. I have the most incredible fear of anything that is dead. Not in the sense of ghosts coming alive, more like a paralyzing fear of anything with blood no longer running through its veins. I simply cannot look at the dead, much less touch them. It’s creepy and scary to me, regardless of how much I loved that person or animal.

How did this all get started?

If you’ve been following me, you know I grew up on a tiny Caribbean Island where superstition and folklore was rampant. After sunset, old wives tales of Rounces, Jumbies and half human creatures were said to come alive. It didn’t help that back then I lived in the main town, and not the country, though truth be told, many of the roads and streets were poorly lit.

It also didn’t help that at the age of eleven, my grandfather died in the home. He had been ailing for a long time and bedridden. I knew immediately something was wrong when I came home and found all the windows wide open, something we seldom did because of the bugs.

Back then, dead bodies were seldom sent to funeral homes. The one existing that I knew of, catered to the very wealthy. Average Joe/Josephine had  the embalmer come in; minimal as his job was and certainly an antiquated process. I will spare you the graphic details.

Because of my grandfather’s death, my usually cool, calm, and collected grandmother,  had many things to do. I was dispatched to run errands. One of my chores was to purchase as much ice as there was. Few people had central air conditioning, not sure if such a thing existed in our world. The ice would be used in combination with fans to keep the home cool. The body would be  displayed in the living room so that friends and family could say their goodbyes.

My grandfather laid in state for exactly three days. For a child my age, nights were agony. Neighbors and friends would gather to sing hymns and say prayers. They would exchange stories of seeing the dead live or hearing his footsteps come down the long hallway. I was scared to death every time I had to walk by the coffin on the way to my bedroom. I made sure to keep my eyes straight ahead. At one point, a cousin fell asleep. They wheeled the coffin next to him so that when he woke up, he was staring into my grandfather’s face. His screams are something I will never forget. It’s a   memory I still live with today.  This is where my phobia of the dead began.

Today, I will attend a wake or a funeral, but sit in the back row. It is with difficulty I walk to the front to pay my respects. I’m not being rude or uncaring, more like paralyzed. That embalmed face will haunt me for weeks.

Flash forward, five months ago, I stepped out of my house with my twelve-pound dog on a leash. Out of nowhere comes a pit bull who attacked my dog and killed him. To make a long story short, it was hours before the police would allow me to remove the body from my neighbor’s lawn. By then, I could not look at my dog much less touch him. I had to have someone else remove him.

While some might think of me as selfish, I cannot hold a favorite household pet while they are being euthanized. The thought of Fido going limp in my arms has me breaking out in hives. Believe m,e I want to do the right thing, but if the right thing involves a dead body, I just can’t.

What’s your phobia? What keeps you up at night? How do you deal with your heart-pounding source of fright?

 Try my stories On Kindle Vella  HotShot Doc first three episodes free. Also writing as Sari Smith. Estate of Mine is also on Kindle Vella 

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Marcia King-Gamble

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About Marcia King-Gamble

USA bestselling romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. She has contributed to Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony advice boards. Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the not so good in relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever after. Caring for her animal family keeps her grounded and sane.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her newsletter mailing list.

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Much ado about November 1

Today is the day when ...

The Celtic winter goddess Cailleach (kal-yach, koll-yak) (hag, witch, wise crone), arrives at Samhain, from the evening of October 31 thru the evening of November 1, and reigns over winter until spring arrives at Imbolc.

The start of National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo, or more simply NaNo. The entire month is devoted to writing the first draft of a novel, or at least 50,000 words. 

All Saints' Day in the Christian calendar on which all saints are celebrated, particularly those without their own special feast day. 

In Mexico, today is The Day of the Dead (Dio De Los Muertos), celebrated over two days. On November 1, the spirits of deceased children come down from heaven to reunite with their families for one day, and November 2 is reserved for honouring deceased adults.

Today is National Author’s Day, first celebrated in 1928. The best way to celebrate, in my opinion, is to buy a book!

On this day in 1896, the first bare-breasted females (Zulu tribe) appeared in the National Geographic magazine. Coincidentally, on another November 1, this time in 1914, The Bra was patented.

the Globe Theatre

The first performance of William Shakespeare’s Othello was at Whitehall Palace in London in 1604.

Now excuse me while I eat leftover Hallowe’en candy.

P.S. While researching the remarkable highlights and lowlights about this day, I discovered that apples float because over 25% of their volume is air. And now that we’re talking about apples, and because apples are in abundance this time of year (in my neck of the woods), here’s the link to the most delicious apple cake EVER.

Apple cake recipe from Smitten Kitchen

P.P.S. I used two 9x5 loaf pans – worked great.

P.P.P.S.  My holiday novella is available for pre-order! Only $1.99 for a limited time. Launch day is November 8.

A blizzard … Krista Rhodes has seen a few in her lifetime. 

Snowed in for days … once, when she was a kid. 

Trapped in a house with Dr. Dreamboat … never saw that one coming. Not only cute, he’s also funny and kind and strong and how can she resist? 

Eric Monroe has it all mapped out – drive cross-country to a new job with a brief stop to celebrate a buddy’s engagement. A giant detour with a beautiful, witty, no-nonsense woman makes the journey more fun than he ever thought possible. And bonus – he’s moving to her town.

Except she’s got something she has to do. Maybe. And he can’t ask her to change her plans. Can he?  

Pre-order now!

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her characters, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband and five hens. 

Website ~ Bookbub ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~Amazon Author Page

Where Did All the Meaning Go? How Halloween Lost Its Roots by Heather Michet

Once upon a time not that long ago, the end of October brought celebrations of gratitude, reverence and honoring: the harvest was in, plants and planets that sustained life were thanked, and people readied themselves for the coming darkness and quiet of winter while acknowledging the dead and their part in the natural order of things.

 Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Now this time of year in the US means more plastic junk, too much sugar, ghoulish décor and wacky outfits.

How Did We Get Here?

What began as a ceremonial, earth-based, spiritual time with bonfires, harvest foods, and communing with the dead, has become a ghoulish, commercialized observance.

Here’s what happened (in a very simplified form):

• Ancient Celts celebrated the end of summer, the harvest, and the threshold between light (summer) and dark (winter) with their Samhain fire festival.  Happening over 3 days - October 31st–Nov 2nd – spirits of the dead were believed to be more visible and approachable during this liminal time.

• 
  

• Catholic popes attempted to “Christianize” Samhain.  This was done in an attempt to spread their religion and wipe out pagan traditions. Nov. 1^st became All Saints Day, aka All Hallows Day, making October 31^st All Hallows Eve.  Nov. 2^nd became All Souls Day. Note that the word pagan comes from the Latin ‘paganus’ which means villager or rustic, ie. a country dweller.  The Church moved the meaning to heathen.

• 
  

• Romans had their own fall festival which included honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees. There’s where our bobbing for apples at Halloween parties came from!

• 
  

• Irish immigrants in mid-19th century left the potato famine to come to the US, bringing many of the familiar Halloween traditions that we see today, including Jack-o-lanterns.  The early carvings, however, were out of beets, turnips and potatoes.

From Bonfires to Billions

Trick or Treating was popularized in the States in the 1950’s, beginning the rise to the celebration’s big revenue producer that it is today: More than 179 million people celebrate Halloween in the US, spending $10.6 BILLION.  Yes, billion with a B.

Photo by Lucas Ludwig on Unsplash

What Happened to Remembering the Dead?

By disrespecting our dead and death itself with our Halloween traditions, we have fueled our fear of death.  With the dead portrayed as gruesome, gory monsters and zombies, who wouldn't be scared of talking about death and dying?

In her wonderful book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, Katherine May states it perfectly: 

“Our contemporary celebrations forget the dead altogether…We are, after all, a society that has done all it can to erase death…the idea that we might be intimate with death is now some kind of a gothic joke.  Today’s Halloween simply reflects what we secretly think – that death is a surrender to decay that makes us monsters.”

Who Wouldn’t Be Afraid of Death?

I feel that in disrespecting our dead - and death itself - with our Halloween traditions, has fueled our fear of death.  With the dead portrayed as gruesome, gory monsters and zombies, who wouldn’t be scared of talking about death and dying?

Photo © Heather Michet

Mexico Saves the Day

Thankfully, one culture’s practice of celebrating and honoring the dead is thriving: Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos.  It is colorful, respectful, bright and meaning-filled, taking place on November 1st and 2nd.

I love this holiday!

Photo © Heather Michet

The best way to learn more about this festival is to attend a celebration in your community.  

If that’s not an option, watch the film Coco, one of my absolute favorite movies.  The story portrays the practices and meaning of this holiday beautifully. 

You can also read about the rituals I include at this time of year here.

You Can Be a Meaning Maker

Talk with your children, grandchildren and other adults about the true meaning behind Halloween.

It will make a difference in their lives and in our world.

Heather Michet is an impassioned healing artist, educator and Ceremonial Songstress who weaves lyrical, a cappella vocals throughout a wide array of ceremonies in a myriad of settings.  From weddings in the woods, graveside memorials, and ashes scatterings at the shore, her Celtic style voice embraces the heart and stirs the spirit of all who gather honoring life events.  You can connect with Heather and her work in any (or all!) of these ways:

• Learn about her wellness tools (including Fresh Air Fare) and services rooted in nature at Iris Healing Arts

• Listen to her music on YouTube 

• Read about her Ceremonial Songstress work at Purple Crow Sings

• Facebook – Heather Facebook – Purple Crow Sings   Facebook – Iris Healing Arts

• Instagram - @heathermichet

Jumbie Leggo - Real or my Imagination?

 

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com 

In the part of the world that I grew up, there was no such thing as Halloween. What we did have was Guy Fawkes, All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day. Three completely different celebrations, if you can call them that that.

So, who is Guy Fawkes AKA Guido Fawkes? He was an English conspirator whose failed attempt to kill King James and blow up the house of parliament in the 17^th century, is celebrated on November 5th.   The day is celebrated with bonfires and effigies of the man himself. These are usually made of straw or cloth and are thrown on the fire. My recollection of this day is that much alcohol is involved.

All Saints Day and All Souls Day, run from October 31^st through November 02^nd. All Saints Day is celebrated on November 01^st. It is a Catholic holiday commemorating the saints. People celebrate by lighting candles and going to church. It is also a day that many clean up the graves of loved ones and bring flowers to cemeteries. Many spend the day conversing with the dearly departed.

All Souls Day is probably the closest day to Halloween that I recollect. Devout Catholics believe that on November 2^nd we celebrate the dead; those who committed lesser sins and linger in purgatory (a place not exactly hell or heaven.)    

November 01^st and 02^nd are also days of Jumbie Le Go (Jumbie Let go); days that struck the fear of God into both children and adults on the island where I grew up. Hearing the name ‘jumbie” still strikes the fear of God in me. Allegedly, the one sure way to keep theses ghosts away is to sprinkle salt around your home.  

What is a “jumbie?” These evil spirits are known by many names. Some are called Duppies, Anansis or Soucouyants. Many are described as headless creatures with goats’ hooves. They appear to people walking by themselves on dimly lit streets. Stories about these non-beings were one sure way to keep mischievous children like me, behaving, at least for a day or two.

Given all the above, I look forward to celebrating Halloween and seeing all those fun/scary costumes. Calls of Trick or Treat, will be fun in comparison to wondering whether a jumbie will appear from under my bed the moment the lights go off.

Happy Halloween! 

About Marcia King-Gamble

USA bestselling romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean Island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. She has contributed to Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony advice boards.  Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the not so good in relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever after. Caring for her animal family keeps her grounded and sane.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her newsletter mailing list.

Instagram * Amazon * Website * Facebook * Twitter

Halloween Party-a poem

by Diana McCollum

While deciding what to write about, I checked out different Halloween sites and came across this poem.

The author is Anne Pollock. She is a clever poet. I loved this and I hope you do too. I am including one verse, but click on the link for the full poem.

Halloween Party                                               My Halloween tea towel

by © Anne Pollock 

Published: October 12, 2022

"Cold night on Craggy Height,
The witches make ready their yearly flight.
Old brooms rewoven, blackest cats chosen.
When they fly tonight, there'll be no dozing."
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/halloween-party-2

Do you like ghost or witch or goblin stories?

I hope you all have a wonderful fall and Happy (not haunted) Halloween!

Images of Things that Go Bump in the Night by Sarah McDermed

 

Courtesy of 
The Graphics Fairy - Vintage Images, DIY Tutorials & Craft Projects

Welcome to October, 2022, when, in much of the world, Halloween is a welcome distraction from the all-too-real threats we face. We’d rather face imaginary characters and creatures than threats of war, politics and disease. (Not to mention inflation).

What are some of the characters or creatures that scare you? Bats? Black cats? Owls? Witches? 

These bats look positively cute and cuddly to me. If one got in my attic, it might bump around and startle me, but it's unlikely to hurt me.

This mischievous black cat just wants to play, and maybe chase the bats out of the attic.

Looks like this wise owl is hard at work getting rid of rodent pests. He's welcome to perch on my roof.

One night a few weeks ago, I decided to take out the garbage before getting ready for bed. My husband had fallen asleep on the living room couch.  

I had just dropped the trash bag into the can when I heard an enormous thump on the roof of my husband's shop. The hair stood up on the back of my neck. I wished I'd turned on the porch light.

I snuck into the house and grabbed the flashlight we keep in the kitchen. Then I ever-so-quietly returned to the driveway and waited in the darkness. After a few minutes, scraping and scrabbling noises came from the back of the shop roof.  I suppressed a shiver. Whatever-it-was, was still up there.

I aimed my flashlight, held my breath, and thumbed the button.

A large creature leapt through the narrow beam of light in a blur of brown fur and red eyeshine as it jumped off the roof and over the fence onto the neighbor's property,

What was it?

Not a cougar. Not a burglar. Definitely not a witch.

A deer that went bump in the night!

Here is a Halloween Fairy with a wish for you: