Month: October 2024

What Scares Us?…and Pumpkin Cookies for Bec

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(Above: Post Office 1915, in Greenwood, B.C. A story of my haunted experience is below but click this link to read more about Greenwood, B.C.)

The scary season is almost upon us. This past weekend, our twin daughter’s, Kathryn and Victoria, decorated our front door with stickers, a homemade creepy spider, a glouish demon that makes spine chilling noises when he’s bumped and to finish the scene, some corn stalks with threads of sticky spider web material, which the girls hope will entice trick or treaters to visit our house this Halloween.

Along with these decorations, a week ago we took the kids to our local pumpkin patch where they found six huge pumpkins. When they came home they scattered them along the path to our front door. As if this weren’t enough, they decided to put on a scary movie (Annabelle) and make a paper mache zombie in our family room.

As they jumped and screamed over the satanic antics in the movie, I was more horrified by the thick glue on their fingers and wondered what my family room was going to look like after they finished their craft project. But seriously, I hope the’re having fun creating these seasonal memories. What really scares me most this season is not the glue from their paper mache zombie getting everywhere, but the upcoming election in the States. After the last election when there was terrible unrest culminating in a riot at the Capital on Januaury 6th, 2020, I’m praying this year’s election will be more peaceful. I can hope can’t I? Along the lines of what scares me, I thought this was the perfect time to share a story from my past. So grab some popcorn, a cup of something spicy and warm and join me as I reminisce and tell a story from my chilidhood.

Maybe this story will prompt a question in your mind too….”What scares YOU?”

“When I was ten, my older sister Cherie and her husband David invited me to come and stay with them for part of the summer in their rented home in Greenwood, B.C.. Greenwood was once a booming mining town at the turn of the century. Copper, silver and even gold were found in that area, and it was once a thriving city. However, in 1970, it was just a sleepy, little community with ancient crumbling homes and remnants from long ago mining activity littering the valley.

(A tiny glimpse of historic downtown Greenwood, B.C.)

Cherie and David’s rented home was on the east hill above the downtown area. It was a tall, skinny Victorian with faded and peeling paint. It had seen better days. I’ll never forget how excited I was to see inside for the first time. “Cherie,” I said, “can I explore?” She laughed and said, “explore away.” Like a curious kitten I leaped from room to room. In the foyer, there was a steep, narrow stairway heading upstairs. Off to the right was the living room, which ran the length of the house. Cherie’s talent for decorating made this area feel cozy, with brightly painted second hand furniture and on the big comfy couch was a large, colourful throw. Some of Cherie’s paintings and sketches, an eclectic mix, hung on the walls or were leaning against them, making the room feel like an art studio. A well worn black, wooden rocking chair was in one corner. 

The old fashion kitchen was off to the left, and while the simple white cabinets and appliances weren’t exciting, Cherie had placed a vase of wild flowers in the middle of the kitchen table, making the room feel welcoming. Off the kitchen, to the back of the house, was another room.  When I entered, a icy blast of air made me shiver. Non descript, dungy wallpaper was pasted on every wall but was peeling at every seam. At one time it must have been a pretty room, as a large window looked out over an overgrown and weedy perennial garden. The room was starkly empty, except for one small, gold framed picture hanging on the wall near the door. Peering closely I saw it was an ancient picture of a dour faced Saint. Perhaps Russian in style, as the colours although faded, were bright blues and reds. A faint halo glowed around the Saint’s sad face. As I stood looking at this picture, goosebumps rose on my arms and a dank smell grew stronger. There was something not right in this room. I didn’t linger there long.

I never entered this room again.

The first morning I was there, David left for work  and Cherie asked, “Debbie, do you want some granola?” While Corn Flakes were my latest obsession, I wanted to appear grown up so I told her, “Yeah, tha’d be cool.” Munching on the oats, seeds and nuts, Cherie poured herself a cup of coffee and then casually walked across the kitchen to the back room door. Pulling it closed she shared over her shoulder, “Since we don’t need this room, we try to keep the door closed.” I just nodded my head as that made sense,  but later that morning when I went to the kitchen for a snack, I noticed the door was half opened. Before leaving the kitchen, I nervously went over and quickly shut the door. That was a regular occurrence; one of us would close the door and then later mysteriously it would open. 

My favourite activity that summer was drawing in the sketch pad Cherie had given me. I would sit on the big comfy couch in the living room experimenting with the charcoal sketching pencils and oil pastels she had encouraged me to try, while Cherie painted at the other end of the room, where she’d set up her easel. One afternoon, she joined me on the couch and while she played her guitar and quietly sang, I sketched. In our comfortable companionship we were relaxed and feeling at ease, until the air in the room suddenly shifted. 

My eyes popped open when the rocking chair started moving. I looked to see if the curtains were fluttering but there was no breeze in the room. I glanced at Cherie to see if she’d noticed too but she appeared to be acting normal. Unconcerned, she just uncrossed her legs, stood up and put her guitar down and then asked if I wanted to go for a walk to get an ice cream. Once outside, walking in the sun I let my shoulders drop. I never asked Cherie if she had sensed the energy changing in the room or witnessed the rocking chair creaking back and forth. Looking back at the summer and being with my big sister, I think I wanted to be treated older. Also, knowing her to be super sensitive, I’m sure she picked up on the ghostly energy in that house, but she obviously didn’t want to draw attention to it and scare me. Although we never talked about it, we had an unspoken code;

if we didn’t say anything, maybe it’d go away.

But it didn’t.

The ultimate scare happened in the depths of darkness one night nearing the end of my visit. Normally a deep sleeper, I suddenly woke with the feeling that someone was standing beside my bed. I never opened my eyes and I couldn’t yell for Cherie and David, who were just sleeping in the next room to me. I was absolutely frozen. I didn’t even pull the covers over my head. I was terrified of whatever was standing beside me. I knew I had to pretend to remain asleep and hoped whatever was there would finally leave. After a few minutes, the feeling of being watched left me. I never felt comfortable in that room again and I hated going to bed.

That summer I discovered it wasn’t just Cherie and David’s house that was haunted. One day Cherie and I took a tour of the historic Greenwood Courthouse, which at the turn of the century had served as the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the County Court for the Southern County of Yale.  From that court, there had been many judicial proceedings, which included several death by hanging sentences being pronounced, as a result of murders in the area. At the time of our visit, it was being used as a musuem, where one could tour around at ones leisure.

(Greenwood, B.C. Courthouse. If you want to read more about it click on this link. )

During our self guided tour, we admired the extensive use of glowing cedarwood and stain glass works in the actual courtroom, where an old musty smell of leather and books was prevalent. Other than being impressed by the rich formality of it all, I didn’t feel anything unusual until we started heading down the cement stairs to where the jail had held prisoners. It was then I started feeling a heavy presence. With each step the air grew thicker along with the lack of light. My heart was thudding loudly in my chest when we peered into one of the cold jail cells and it was then I heard a sound of shuffling followed by a distant cry. I don’t know if Cherie heard it too but I know she shared my anxiousness because we didn’t remain in that basement long. I couldn’t climb those stairs fast enough. What a tremendous relief I felt to get out of that building.

There were so many fun moments that summer with Cherie and David but when it was time for me to leave, I was rather glad. I think I’d been holding my breath the whole time, worried I’d actually see something I didn’t want to.

Sometimes, not seeing anything, but knowing it’s there is scarier. “

BOO!!!!….and now, my dear readers, that is “The End”

Did you like my ghost story?

Did it make you think of things that have scared you? Or are scaring you?

Like this crazy time on earth when we seem to be battling against moving into the 5th dimension and so many fearful souls are trying to keep us back from progressing as we evolve into more loving humans. Now THAT’S a big scare to me. But we are getting there. I’m sure of it and I’m trusting that in the upcoming U.S. Election voices will unite and goodness will prevail. The only thing haunting me now is wondering what we have to endure over the next few years until everyone gets onboard. I’m concerned because the path the Americans choose will impact the world and certainly us here in Canada.

I was thinking this morning that what we are going through is a bit like moving out of that haunted house into the sunlight.

Hold onto Hope. Hold onto Joy!!!

Before I close this post though I want to share my Pumpkin Cookie recipe. At the beginning of last summer, (in time for our oldest son Clark’s wedding) our second oldest son Mitchell came home from Australia and introduced us to his partner Bec. It wasn’t easy for me saying goodbye to Mitchell five years ago, when he decided to move to Australia but deep down I knew an adventure was waiting for him. I also had a feeling that he would meet more of his people while there. You know, it’s hard to say goodbye to a child, even once he’s grown up, but letting kids go out into the world means you’ve done your job well. (this is what I tell myself) It means you’ve created global citizens who are strong and independent. Also, you never know how they will touch the world and who they will meet along the way. That’s why I was so excited to meet Bec. She’s everything I wanted in a partner for Mitchell; loving, kind, thoughtful, and intelligent. Getting to know her reminds me we have family all over the world, we just don’t know their names.

(Above, My beloved son Mitchell and beautiful Bec)

One thing I learned about Bec is that she loves pumpkin pie. Also, recently she asked Mitchell to see if I had any pumpkin cookie recipes and lo and behold, do cats meow? (she loves cats too) YES, I do. Shortly after he asked me about the pumpkin cookie recipe I whipped up a batch and took a few pictures.

So Bec, this post is dedicated to you.

Sorry it’s coming a bit late but Halloween season is pumpkin season here in Canada. I don’t know if you will appreicate the scary part of this post or not, but I hope you are able to try out this recipe and tell me what you think. Maybe you can tweak it a bit and make it your own. This is after all how the best recipes evolve, as do our families.

To all my other blogging family and friends, thanks for visiting today. As the season of scare unfolds, I hope you will join me in sending love out into the world. While we munch on pumpkin cookies and a few Halloween treats remember, we can do anything and we are stronger together.

And if you want to stay around to make some pumpkin cookies with me, steep another cup of tea or brew some more coffee and join me in the kitchen. Let’s make some…..

Hope’s Pumpkin Cookies

This is an “easy peasy” recipe as you just mix all the wet together first, mix the dry together together second and then add the dry to the wet and mix until well combined….I use my mixer but this is an easy recipe to whip up with a good wooden spoon and spatula.

This cookie batter will be very moist and does need a long time to cook to firm up but the cookie is lovely and soft…mouth watering.

Preheat the Oven to 375 degrees….get out a cookie sheet…ungreased or use a piece of parchment paper…see below, btw..we grew that pumpkin on the stool! I threw some seeds randomly in the garden and grew 3 pumpkins.

Ingredients

11/4 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup margarine or butter

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 can of pumpkin (15 ounces) (Notice in the picture I used a large tin…I use the left overs to make pumpkin lattes….yummy!)

3 cups of flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon/ 1/2 tsp nutmeg/ 1/2 tsp ginger/ 1/4 tsp cloves

Optional: 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of walnuts…. deluxe! Place a large piece of walnut on top as a garnish

Drop teaspoon size cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet and cook for 12 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

Let cool for a few minutes and then place on cooling racks. While still warm I sprinkle the cookie with icing sugar and then comes the BEST PART…….eat with someone you LOVE!

Happy Halloween 

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope

Above is a picture snapped when Mitchell and Bec were visiting….it’s the family hug we do…but you are right there with us…we are all family!!!

When there is love in the room nothing is scary!

Do Something More

/ admin

Dear family and friends,

Thank you for coming to visit. As I wrote to my oldest sister the other day, fall is literally falling by in my part of the world. It’s crazy how fast Autumn is moving. I want to slow down. I want to savour the season. But it’s only as I move from house to car and back again when the crisp, clear air hits me and my breath slows. When I’m driving our kids to school, or to their various activities, I take the route through the oldest part of our little town so I can appreciate the deep crimson and bright gold leaves fluttering to the ground, covering yards likre brilliant jewels. Even though life is busy, it’s moments like this, when Autumn captures my heart. (During our Thanksgiving weekend we took our kids to our local pumpkin patch…they are growing up so fast!)

It’s a slow Sunday morning here. My husband David took our girls to an out of town swim meet this weekend. I chose to stay home. There will be several others this fall that I can attend, cheering my girls as they race to improve their swim times. They are busy this fall. Along with their group music lessons and their private ones, they are also playing volleyball and now you know why I spend a lot of time enjoying the seaon on the go, as life is busy. I also stayed home because our son Will wanted to have a friend over on Saturday night and well, someone has to supervise these active 15 year olds and even though they are relatively independant, someone has to feed them.

So I stayed home.

I had time to reflect as I sip my pumpkin spice lattes while sitting on our kitchen’s window seat looking out at the changing weather. It’s been a rainy weekend. I was hoping to plant my garlic but instead I’m feeding boys. I’m also thinking about how our world is changing. So much division, and yet when things fall apart, there is always hope when they come back together again our life will be even better.

Last night I watched the results come in from our Province’s election and this morning I’m sad to say there still isn’t a clear winner. Some of the races are within a hundred or less votes, which means recounting must take place before a winner can be announced. This isn’t a good sign. This means our Province is divided almost equally. What I’d like to see is progress but when two parties are so divided there’s a good possibility there may be in fighting and stale mates when our government officials do reconvene in our Province’s legislature building in Victoria. (At least that is what the Conservative leader, John Rustad said last night when most of the votes were counted, “I’ll keep fighting.”)

What’s happening here though is not unusual. There’s so much division all over the world. In my last post I was talking about the upcoming election in the United States. Other than the fact that they are our southern cousins, my mom was born in the States and if her family hadn’t travelled north and settled in Canada I may have been one too. I’ve been an avid political junkie lately. My family will tell you it’s getting serious how fixated I am towards listening to the daily news and watching the pre election polls. But heading into this election it appears there is still no decisive leader. Republican/Democate, toss the coin. It’s scary to me as anyone watching from the sidelines with any sense of intelligence should be able to see who is acting like a grown up and capable of being their next President.

BTW…I think I have found my people. My American would be friends. I’ve been watching a funny and interesting podcast lately called, “I’ve Had It.” If you want a peak at their latest rant check it out.

I guess what bothers me most as I watch all the news coverage is all the the negative rhetoric thrown down from the Replican leader Trump like a medieval gauntlet threatening war. Everyone is talking about the economy and immigration being the big issue but I personally believe the greatest thing at stake in this election is democracy. What they really need at this conjuncture is a leader who abides by the U.S. constituion, which has held them togther for 240 years. Did I mention since Trump incited a riot on Januaury 6, 2020 to prevent the new democratic party from taking office, he obviously isn’t upholding any democratic oath he took when he became President in 2016. I personally think he should be in jail for inciting the riot and not even have the opportunity to run for office again. (It’s funny how the Republicans, who are voting for him have forgotten all about January 6th, like it’s some sort of ancient history)

But hey, maybe they don’t care about democracy and want an autocratic leader telling them what to do. Just as a reminder, in case you were deep in isolation from Covid and missed this big news day, below is a snippet of the speech Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani., and Trump himself gave his supporters encouraging them to go to the Capital to fight “the steal.” on January 6, 2020. Trump said he was going to be there with them but he was back at the White House’s dining room sipping on a Diet Coke while watching his supporters storm the capital. He didn’t tell them to back down for hours! By that time many people were injured, one person died and the capital had been violently breeched.

Wasn’t that something! It shocks me all over again every time I watch it. It reminds me as a mom, I have a responsibility to teach my children to uphold the law, be respectful of others, but most important of all, be critical thinkers, so they never become puppets like Trump’s supporters are in my opinion. When our children have differences we try to teach them to be civil, kind, and find ways to compromise.

This is what I wish our leaders would demonstrate for future generations. Why do some elections seem to revert to them versus us? What happened to WE?

Recently, I read something (by Neil Crone) that made me laugh regarding how our U.S. neighbours are acting prior to this election and I thought I would share it here in case you didn’t see it. I wish I had written it, as it’s spot on with regards to how I feel and what I’d like to say to my American cousins. What worries me though is that we Canadians are headed in the same direction. I see such agression from our Province’s (and Federal) Conservatives, both in their speech and even on their bumper stickers. Of course, I support free speech but can’t one be polite? Many are just rude!

I’d like to say to my fellow Canadians, let’s not lose our ability to be kind. Let’s not lose our ability to speak our truths in a civil voice. Let’s not forget how to compromise and remember many of us came here as immigrants and we are lucky to live in such a beautiful country. Let’s take care of it, and take care of each other. Let love be our guide. Does that sound too Pollyannaish? Sorry, but I think we need is to go back to a time when we lived with a few golden rules guiding us, Like: “Treat others as you would like others to treat you,” “If you don’t have something nice to say, maybe don’t say anything at all.” In addition to having higher minded values….maybe we could also throw some humour on the table between us.

My husband David is good at humour. I personally think it’s a sign of intelligence. He finds many things funny and ironic. He lives the Win/Win philosophy. Finding humour in all things, even the difficult differences we have with others makes life bearable. Laughing with each other helps connect our souls.

And so this is my, “Do Something More,” speech/post that Michelle Obama talked about during the Democratic National Convention last summer. Even though I have no skin in this game, I see our country following suit if we don’t remember who we are; first global citizens on this big beautiful blue and green marble, cousins to the United States peoples but also proud Canadians.

We must not lose our love of the earth, or our love for each other, because if we do that,

We are all losers!

Now without further ado, let’s sprinkle some joy and kindness and a bit of humour…. here is the sensational piece written by Neil Crone, which I want to share with you.

Until we meet again bro, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope