#FolkloreThursday - The Sandman #European

De Zandman. Frontispice uit de Nederlandse vertaling

'Sprookjes: tweede verzameling', 1847

Most think of the Sandman as a benevolent character from European folklore. Sprinkling magical sand onto the eyes of children, he was responsible for good dreams. His appearance was usually that of an old man wearing golden robes, and carrying a small bag of sand. Innocuous enough, right? But there were other folkloric versions of the Sandman who were quite different, and creatures you wouldn't wish to encounter.

A "less-beloved" version of the Sandman had long fingers, sharp teeth, and discolored skin like a that of a dead person. Hiding in the dark, it whispered, "tik-toc, tik-toc" in order to lure its unlucky victims into a deep sleep. Once asleep, this Sandman would come out of hiding and devour its prey. It only needed to feast once per night, but would sometimes choose to kill for fun.

Yet another version was used to scare children. If a child refused to go to sleep, this Sandman would sneak into their bedroom and throw sand into their eyes, causing them to itch. When the child rubbed, their eyes would fall out onto the floor in a bloody mess. The Sandman would then collect those eyes to feed to his pet bird.
Sleep well, little children.

By the late 19th century, the Sandman had transformed from a monster, into a more benign character. This led to the belief that there were two Sandmen, perhaps brothers. One brought good dreams, while the other had more evil intentions. In some folklore, their powers were even more varied. There were family Sandmen who offered special dreams, power over dreams, or glimpses into the future.

Over the years, the folklore has continued to change due to popular culture. It will be interesting to see what happens to the Sandman fifty years from now.

So...which Sandman will be visiting your dreams tonight?

Tangled Tuesday - #Paranormal #Cat Fur and the #Dog Days of Summer

Summer is here! The teens are off from school and at Day Two, already bored. My latest book, Whispers in the Wood is proving to be quite the challenge to finish. That said, my goal is to finish it by the end of the year. My characters are already complaining I've put them on hold during the day, but I find it impossible to write with other people around. Unfortunately, that leaves the wee hours of the morning and late, late nights when my brain is babbling weird crap that makes no sense.

Another summer event is that my dogs and cats go out of their way to shed extra hard. I keep thinking they'll eventually go bald. C'est la vie, it's always house cleaning day. While sweeping up their offerings, I noticed that fur is quite paranormal in nature. Here's why:

Spiritual Attachment - It will attach itself to you and nothing short of an exorcism can get it off. Be forewarned.

Full-Bodied Apparitions - It hides under your bed and drifts out when you least expect it.

Feelings of Being Touched - Usually around the face and nose.

ESP - Black fur is especially sensitive to white clothing, while white fur is drawn to black clothing. I can only attribute this to the fact that fur must be psychic.

Reincarnation - Fur is reborn even after you brush it away. Fur is eternal.

Feelings of Dread - Usually experienced on house cleaning day.

Orbs - Fur appears "front and center" in photographs. Every. Time.

Unexplained Odors - Coming from the dog bed. Even after you wash it. Twice. 

I've tried salting and saging my house but the fur keeps returning, more powerful than ever. Crystals are next but I've never had luck with those.

#FolkloreThursday - Gashadokuro #Japanese #ghost

"Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre"

Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861)

Creative Commons

The gashadokuro are skeletal giants created from the bones of people who died of starvation. A class of supernatural monster, or yōkai, their teeth chatter and their bones rattle as they walk. If they come across a human at night, they will turn invisible and silently creep up on their victims to crush them in their hands or bite off their head. It is said the victim can hear the sound of ringing bells before they strike.

Victims of famine who die without receiving proper funerary rites are at risk of becoming gashadokuro. Unable to pass on, these souls are reborn as hungry ghosts. When the bones of hundreds of these victims gather together (due to a village famine or soldiers who die in battle) they can form the skeletal monster. Too large and powerful to be killed, it will continue to feed until the energy and malice stored within the creature has completely burned out. The gashadokuro are indestructible, though Shinto charms can ward them off.

The earliest record of a gashadokuro goes back over a thousand years ago. A samurai named Taira no Masakado led a bloody rebellion against the central government of Kyoto during the the Heian period. His daughter, Takiyasha-hime, was a famous sorceress. When Masakado was killed in battle, his daughter continued his cause. Using her black magic, she summoned a giant skeleton to attack the city of Kyoto. Her monster is depicted in a famous print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (shown above).

Wishlist Wednesday - Sucreabeille @sucreabeille #unique #handmade #bathproducts

Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday!

Photo used by permission, courtesy of Sucreabeille

My shout-out is to a shop I found at Animazement. 
Sucreabeille makes atmospheric sprays, bath and body oils, soaps, lotions, hair products and deodorant. Her scents are unique - check out her scent list. With products such as, Norman Loves Mother soap,  It Puts the Lotion On Its Skin unscented lotion bar, and Calm the F**k Down relaxation and stress relief aromatherapy oil, what's not to love? 

I went on a soap shopping spree and bought several - Graveyard, Jareth, King of the Goblins, Wicker Man, Papa Legba, and Frau Perchta. I went a little crazy because they smell THAT good. 

Dragon's blood, dirt, cedar, woodsmoke and papyrus? I'm all in. 

Order via

Sucreabeille
or
Hexennacht

*Products are made to order - make sure you check her shipping time.
Instagram hexennacht.scents

#MeatlessMonday - Another Tofu Recipe...Run in Fear

Photo courtesy of Puno 3000 via Flickr

It's time to share one of those recipes. (cue in scary music) Mua-ha-ha! Tofu isn't scary, I promise. But it only works if you do something with it. Marinate it, spice it up, put it in something, but for goodness sake, don't just lay a white slab on your plate and call it a meal. That's just gross. Think of tofu like a sponge. And on that culinary note, here we go...

Because the weather is warming up, I decided to share a tofu burger recipe. I see you trying to sneak away! Come back, or I'll send my minions to fetch and make you eat tofu for eternity. It's just one recipe.  Enjoy!

Tofu Burgers

1 red onion, finely chopped
2 tsp olive oil
6-1/2 oz mushrooms, finely chopped
11 oz firm tofu
1/2 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes
2-3 cloves of garlic
2 T basil
2 cups breadcrumbs
1 T tomato paste
2 T balsamic vinegar
2 T chili-garlic sauce
1 egg (to make recipe vegan, you can add 1/4 cup tomato sauce)

8 hamburger buns
*Cooking oil

1) In a pan, heat 2 tsp. of olive oil and add onions, mushrooms, and spinach. Cook until softened.

2) Blend the tofu, garlic, and basil in a food processor until smooth.

3) Transfer tofu mixture to a bowl and stir in onion mixture, breadcrumbs, tomato paste, vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, egg (or tomato sauce). Refrigerate 30 minutes.

4) Divide mixture into 8 patties and press together well.

5) Heat cooking oil in a pan and fry patties for 4-5 minutes on each side until they are golden. They will fall apart, so be careful! OR you can bake patties at 375F for 30 minutes. turning once

*Serve in wholegrain buns with avocado, cheese, sprouts or topping of choice.

Frightening Friday - Haunted #Raleigh #NorthCarolina #Ghosts and Urban Legends - Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of Haunted Places to Visit in Raleigh.

Photo courtesy of Mark Turner - Public Domain

Mordecai House

Built in 1785, the Mordecai house is located in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Once part of a thriving plantation, it is one of the oldest homes in the area. Historic outbuildings include the Badger-Iredell Law Office, the overseer's office and smokehouse, the Allen Kitchen, St. Mark's Chapel, and the Andrew Johnson house; birthplace of the 17th President, Andrew Johnson.

The ghost who inhabits the Mordecai house is said to be the spirit of Mary Willis Mordecai Turk, who lived from 1858 to 1937. She appears wearing a grey 19th-century dress, and can occasionally be heard playing the piano in the downstairs drawing room. Some visitors have also reported seeing a grey mist hovering near the piano. The Mordecai house is filled with original furnishings and many family portraits. It is said that any unkind remarks directed towards Mary's portrait will result in the portrait dropping from the wall. During a field trip, a child claimed they'd seen a man appear and disappear by the Andrew Johnson house. The child became so inconsolable, that they had to be taken back to the school. There have been many investigations on the property - all resulting in impressive evidence of paranormal activity.

The city of Raleigh hosts a family-friendly Haunted Mordecai Festival every October.
Year-round tickets for a guided tour of the home may be purchased at the Visitor Center.

Photo courtesy of Mark Turner - Public Domain

Governor’s Mansion

This Victorian-style mansion has been called home by North Carolina governors since 1891. It was once described by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as having “the most beautiful governor’s residence interior in America.” The mansion was built from native materials and occupied by 28 governors’ families throughout North Carolina's history. It is also reputedly haunted.

In 1891, Governor Daniel Fowle gave his carpenters precise measurements to construct a bed for the second-floor bedroom. The bed was constructed and moved into the residence. That same year, Governor Fowle died in the same bed but many have suggested that his spirit remained. In 1970, Governor Bob Scott decided to replace the massive wooden bed with a modern, king-sized bed. The old bed was moved to a room on the third floor, and the new bed put in its place. A short time afterward, the governor was awakened at night by a strange rapping sound coming from the wall where the original headboard had been. The rapping continued for several years, and the family nicknamed the pesky spirit, "Governor Fowle’s Ghost."

When a new administration took over the office, they decided to move the old bed back to its original location on the second floor. The ghost has not been heard from since.

Photo courtesy of Hans via Pixabay - CC0 Public Domain

Poole Woods

William Poole was a wealthy mill owner during the Civil War and owned large tracts of wooded land just east of the city. When Union troops marched into Raleigh, a rumor spread that Poole had vast amounts of gold hidden in the woods around his estate. The Union troops confiscated Poole's belongings, including his prized white horse, but the gold was never recovered.

Against Poole's dying wishes, the trees surrounding his mansion were cut down for timber. However, the trees were found to be worthless, having rotted from the inside. Shortly after Poole’s death, a ghostly white horse was spotted along the road in the woods surrounding the mansion.

Poole’s estate house burned to the ground over a century ago. The tract of land can be found between Walnut Creek Amphitheatre and the Neuse River.

______________________________

PART ONE

Thoughtful Thursday - The Overtoun Bridge Mystery

Photo courtesy of Allan Ogg Creative Commons License 

Overtoun Bridge, an arched bridge near the village of Dumbarton in the Scottish Lowlands, has gained quite a bit of media attention. Over the past 60 years, the crumbling stonework has seen more than 600 dogs taking a 50 foot plunge, with many of them meeting an untimely end at the bottom. All of the deaths have occurred at virtually the same spot, between the final two parapets on the right-hand side.

Rumors have long circulated that the bridge and the nearby Overtoun House are haunted, with the spectres said to be responsible for influencing the living. In 1994, a local man threw his baby son off the bridge, claiming the child was the anti-Christ. Shortly after, he tried to end his own life with an unsuccessful suicide attempt from the same bridge. In Celtic mythology, Overtoun was known as 'the thin place' - an area in which the veil between heaven and earth could easily be passed.

Animal experts have conducted experiments as to why dogs would be jumping to their deaths. Their conclusion? The musky smell from mink living under the bridge was the culprit. For those who are not satisfied with that explanation, you are not alone. Dogs who survived the jump didn't run off to catch those minks--they ran back to jump off the bridge again. 

The bridge now has a warning: "Pet owners should only walk their pets at Overtoun with extreme caution. Dogs should be leashed, leash-trained and under the control of an adult."

The mystery continues.