Welcome to project 365. This writer of ghost stories, mother of two, and wife to the Professor, aka "Ghost Hunk" (for 18 years), finds inspiration everyday, even if she sometimes forgets. So for the next year, I will document these little epiphanies, whether it's a bug on the windshield or some brilliant, breathless moment in this crazy life or something in between.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Day 119


With the current heat index of 105ยบ and still rising, our poor Netherland doe needs a break.  So she and the G. pig came in for a little time in the air-conditioned play pen.  I think she's shedding enough fur to make a whole new rabbit!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Day 118


HAUNTED PHOTO?

I'm cheating a little today.  It's been hectic, so I'm sliding in another photo from the NC trip.  The Latimer house was one stop on our ghost tour, said to be haunted by at least one spirit (named Impy). The story of Mrs. Latimer and her lost children was so interesting that we returned the next morning for an official tour of the house.  Who knows why my photo fogged up this way.  It was a beautiful (hot) day.  Perhaps it was Mrs. Latimer welcoming us to the house.  Then again, four of her eight children died in that house before they could reach adulthood.  Perhaps it is one of them stopping to pose for the camera...

Day 117


BACK TO SCHOOL BOOTY

It's a little late, but I was too zonked last night to post the picture.  Yes, it's that time of year again.  We spent all afternoon hunting down the bargains and the necessities.  This is most of it...a few bags have already been distributed to the closets, so the pile is just a tad smaller than the real thing.  

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Day 116


Ghost Daughter's homework...observe nature and draw a picture of it on the patio.  Of course, Angel Jr. was as far as she needed to go.  Hello, bunny!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Day 112


Remember that slab of concrete we left on day 107?  Well, Ghost Son and I returned to this.  AND...it's already sold to a single mom with an eight-year-old daughter!  (maybe a friend for Ghost Daughter :-) )

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Day 111


Our last day in North Carolina.  My own "freaky dead children" fans wearing the artwork of Ghost Son.  Stay tuned for a wickedly cool website and your chance to own some original art soon!  
It was a hard day.  Lots of emotion and a very long drive, complete with tornadic rain and a painfully long traffic tie-up on I-95.  Glad to be home, though PA will always be our real home. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Monday, July 18, 2011

Day 107


Foundation day.  Let's hope it's the foundation for good neighbors.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Day 106


Midsummer's Eve has come and gone, but the fairies are still having their fun.  Toadstools are everywhere.  We found this treasure on our nightly walk.  Notice the glowing fairy light in the upper right corner? She's waiting for us to leave...

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Day 105


Via the Ghost Hunk's iPhone.  Fresh from the Theater Camp finale, superhero "Kestral" to the rescue!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Day 103 — Butter Beer


In honor of tomorrow's big event, the final installment of Harry Potter, the Ghost Kids had a hearty Butter Beer.  Cheers!

(I'm not crying...yet...)

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Day 102


Today's project for Theater Camp:  Transform Tinkerbell wings into superhero Kestrel Wings. 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Day 101


...And the piles of earth give way...  The frame has been built.  Next, the cement truck will come and pour the foundation.  ((Still sending good neighbor vibes—please send a kindred spirit for Ghost Daughter.))

Monday, July 11, 2011

Day 100


The woods next to us has been reduced to a scrubby lot inhabited by a tribe of  dirt piles.  Soon there will be a house there.  My only hope is that some nice family with a kindred spirit for Ghost Daughter moves in.  And maybe plants a bunch of trees...

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Day 98


Mama Bird.  House finches love our porch for some reason.  They must know how much we love animals and feel welcome.  This particular nest has now been renovated and used at least 4 times.  I didn't know that birds would re-use a nest.  At the opposite corner, a single chick just flew away from that nest yesterday.  I'm not sure whether he belonged to the same pair, but there must be something luck in all of this.  I'm hoping...

Friday, July 8, 2011

Day 97


This was the last picture I took in our little woods before it all came down.  Now there is just an empty lot beside us, waiting for a new house to erupt.  

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Day 96


Progress.  It was inevitable.  They are finally clearing the lot next to us so they can build another house.  We have had the solitude of 2 wooded lots for the last year, but no more. The rain gave the whole affair a more funereal  presence.  First he digs around the roots to weaken the tree's hold.  Then he scuffs up the bark and pushes the tree back and forth.  He digs a little more.  He pushes a little more.  Finally the whole thing comes down.  (It missed the Port-a-Potty, in case you were wondering.)  Now when I walk past the sliding glass door to the back yard, I see houses instead of trees.  ((sigh))

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Day 94


Ghost Hunk finally got to give his parents a quick tour of the university.  As a souvenir, the Ghost-in-Laws are taking home a couple of crepe-myrtle trees.  If anyone can get a southern tree to blossom in Indiana is Ghost Mom-in-Law.  It's been so wonderful to have them here and we wish they could stay longer.  

Monday, July 4, 2011

Day 93 — HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!


The Plains Inn.  Today, we took the Ghost-in-Laws to explore the home of former President Jimmy Carter and found the most hospitable, kind people and a very unassuming little town.  We spent a lot of time in the Plains Antique Mall which lies beneath the lovely Plains Inn, a remarkable bed and breakfast that is full of charm and history.  President and Mrs. Carter participated in the restoration and development of this lovely building. Our wonderful host was the manager, Jan, who took us upstairs and gave us a tour of the gorgeous rooms, each one decorated and named for a specific decade from 1920 to 1980. (The 1930 room is the haunted one!) Ghost Hunk and I can hardly wait to return for a little getaway, and the Ghost-in-Laws are already talking about coming back down for a visit and a stay in Plains. Stop by the website and see photos of all the rooms and then come on down for a visit.  If your timing is good, you may even be able to go to church and hear "Mr. Jimmy" teach.  

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Day 92


Andersonville Cemetery.  On this 4th of July weekend, we took the Ghost-in-Laws to the historic Fort Sumter site where so many POWs lost their lives during the Civil War, most of their names carefully recorded and eventually published by Union soldier Dorence Atwater.  The cemetery is still active and continues to inter the remains of American service people and their families.  This haunting memorial stands at the entrance to the cemetery, inscribed with a verse from Zachariah:  "Turn you to the stronghold ye prisoners of hope."  

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Day 91


Look very carefully.  It is difficult to get it on film, but these are the ever-so-vibrant summer-smudged foot prints of a certain Ghost child.  Yes, just beside my desk, my very own writer's haven, lies the evidence of my future audience's curiosity.  Ghost child also likes to fling herself around in my snazzy office chair, but a girl has got to have leverage...right?!  Uh-huh.  That would be where my wall comes in.  Sorry, ghost prints, but you are history...

Friday, July 1, 2011

Day 90


ASU's demonic mascot, the Golden Ram.  Sorry, dudes, but this just creeps me out.  I expect an orgy of pagans to jump out from behind this wall at any moment.