TWL's Throwback Thursday & Fun Friday!

Greetings everyone! Well, the end of the week is here and the weekend is finally near ~  thank Goddess! So, I thought I would share some more pics of old by combining 'Throwback Thursday' and 'Fun Friday' ...

A vintage Halloween pic of Rhiannon & I circa 1997. We both decided to dress up for work ~ I wore my "Star Trek" costume and she wore her little bunny outfit.

 Hubby & I in 2002

Our friend Waterfae all dressed up for an old Samhain celebration at our house with a sign she hung around her neck which says,"Britney Spears in Ten Years"  ~ LOL!

Rhiannon singing live (with Rob and I on backing vocals) with the group "Second Effort"

And, again in 1996

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Blessed Samhain Wishes!

Samhain

Gather we here on Samhain eve
Some to remember, some to grieve
All to join with hand and heart
To see the misty veil part
Stand we here, hand to hand
While spirits roam across the land
Ash to ash, bone to bone
They rise from earth, from sea and stone
Seek their wisdom in the wind
Through curls of smoke, our love we send
And on this night of falling leaves
Gather we here on Samhain eve
We raise a glass
We toast you all
Our Ancestors
From king to thrall
We welcome you
This Samhain night
Come warm yourselves
By firelight
Come join our merry
Feast of Red
We hail you,
The Welcome Dead!

 

 ~ written by Sokarjo Stormwillow

 

 )O(  )O(  )O(  )O(  )O(  )O(  )O(  )O(  

 

Now THAT'S Love!

Yesterday, I had such a really BAD day, and so my hubby took pitty on me. Tonight he came home from work with two very thoughtful gifts for me ...

 A beautiful bouquet of freshly cut flowers

 And, because he knows just how much I LOVE the show, "Sons of Anarchy," he also brought me this specical Collector's Edition magazine ...

It was quite a nice little surprise from my sweetheart! No wonder I love him so much!!  ;-D

A little holiday humor ...

)O(  )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O( 

Some new additions to Hubby's Tree ...

On Saturday, my hubby added some really cool ghost lights on the tree that change different colors intermittently  ...

And, I found a couple of these beautiful little ornaments which hold tiny pics in them to hang on the tree also. I thought it would make a nice addition for Samhain. Engraved on them, "Always In Our Hearts" ...

This is actually the first year that we have put up a tree before the Yule/Christmas season and I must say that I am really loving my hubby's new ideas for the holiday!

Horror Films Top 3 Sexiest Bad Guys (Warning: For Adults Only!)

Okay everyone, it's time to have a little holiday fun! With the release of the season's new Halloween flicks and the old re-runs as shown on many television stations around this time of the year, I was thinking a lot about some of the "sexier" characters portrayed in them.

Ergo, I have decided to let my hair down just a tad and post my idea of sexy bad guys in a horror/thriller film. Here are my personal top three picks (with a  few pics and a little vid clip to go along with them) ...

 3.    "Mort Rainey" as played by the very talented and "sweet" Johnny Depp in the on-screen version of Stephen King's "Secret Window" ~ (2004)

 2.  The character of "Tim Whalen" (Rob Lowe) in the 1988 murder-thriller, "Masquerade"

And, this "bad guy" has always held a strange fascination for me ever since this movie was first released. He was most definitely to "die" for ... LOL!

1. "Frank Cotton" from Clive Barker's 1987 movie, "Hellraiser" as played by British actor Sean Chapman

Well, there it is, I hope you have enjoyed my very short list of sexy men in horror films. I could list a few more, but I think that will do!!! So, my dear friends, who is YOUR idea of a sexy bad boy?

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND ALL!! 

A "Surprise" Visitor!

Last night while I was sitting at home in the living room watching a movie on TV, the front doorbell rang. I opened up the door and standing there all dressed in an adorable little "kitty" costume was my god-daughter Kyli-girl! 

 A clip from the movie, "Beetlejuice"

  http://youtu.be/AQXVHITd1N4

The "Harley-Davidson" Showroom located across our street was hosting a really cool event for the kiddlies called "Family Movie Night" ~ complete with free food and drinks, smores snacks, a Halloween costume contest, and a great movie showing on their big-screen which featured the movie, "Beetlejuice."

And of course, I just couldn't resist taking this snapshot of her ... 

It's kinda interesting, but I hadn't noticed while I was taking this pic that our cat, Kiki, was hanging out in the background just sitting at our bedroom doorway ... can you see those glowing little kitty-cat eyes? LOL!

Fun Friday!

)O(  )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   )O(   

TWL's "Throwback Thursday"

Yup, if you guess that was my sister and twin soul, Judy (aka Rhiannon) and I in the above pic, you would be right! LOL! We also used to sing live together as well many years back. Here are a few pics for you from those days of yester-year (and then some)  ...

Judy singing (beautifully) harmony for me while I sang, "The Tide is High" live (top pic); and below, I have always loved this one of us. I always thought she resembled "The Bangles" lead singer Suzanna Hoffs in this one ("Walk Like an Egyptian" video come to mind to anyone?)

A 'lil Yule pic of Rhiannon

... and of me doing my "Genie" imitation for a Halloween party pic ~  LOL!

HAPPY "THROWBACK THURSDAY" EVERYONE!

Pennhurst State School & Asylum

Last night, hubby & I went to the "untouched" section of Pennhurst State School & Asylum located in Spring City, PA ... NO actors, NO set ups!! Let me tell you, my friends, THIS PLACE IS HAUNTED ...

Sadly, it has a rich history filled with accusations of torture, abuse and neglect. A history of mental patients chained to the walls in dark tunnels, children left for years in cribs, sexual abuse by the staff and even murder. All this happened behind the walls of Pennhurst State School.

Pennhurst was constructed and opened in 1908 as a state school for the mentally and physically disabled. Pennhurst's property covers 120 acres and was built to house over 10,000 patients at that time ~ making Pennhurst one of the largest institutions of its kind in Pennsylvania. Half of Pennhurst's residents were committed by court order and the other half were brought by a parent or other guardian. It was devoted strictly to the care, treatment and education of the disabled. Originally named Pennhurst Home for the Feeble Minded and Epileptic, it was finally just called Pennhurst State School.  Pennhurst employed a large number of staff to help assist in maintaining the facility. This staff included a board of trustees, medical staff, dental staff, and specialists in psychology, social services, accounting, and various fields of education. 

The grounds of Pennhurst included a 300-bed hospital, which had a full nursing staff and two surgeons on call at all times. Others at Pennhurst included members of the clergy and farming experts who grew most of Pennhurst's food . Pennhurst was an essentially self-sufficient community, its 1,400-acre site containing a firehouse, general store, barber shop, movie theatre, auditorium and even a greenhouse. The buildings of Pennhurst were named after towns in Pennsylvania such as Chester and Devon. The original buildings were designed by architect Phillip H. Johnson. All of Pennhurst's electricity was generated by an on-site power plant. A cemetery lay on the property, as well as baseball and recreational fields for the residents. Many of Pennhurst's buildings were strictly for storage; however, the majority were dormitory and hospital-style living quarters for the residents. Many of the buildings had security screens that were accessed on the inside, to prevent patients from escaping, or jumping to their deaths. Most of the stairwells had security fences to keep patients from jumping over the railings. Many of the buildings are linked by an underground tunnel system designed for transportation of handicapped patients to and from the dormitory, recreational buildings and dietary. 

 Pennhurst Campus in 1934

Pennhurst was often accused of dehuminazitation and was said to have provided no help to the mentally challenged. The institution had a long history of staff difficulties and negative public image. For example, a 1968 report by NBC called "Suffer the Little Children" documented the travesties which surrounded Pennhurst State School and it was closed in 1986 following several allegations of abuse. These allegations led to the first lawsuit of its kind in the United States, Pennhurst State School and Hospital vs. Halderman, which asserted that the mentally retarded have a constitutional right to living quarters and an education. Terry Lee Halderman had been a resident of the school, and upon release she filed suit in the district court on behalf of herself and all other residents of Pennhurst. The complaint alleged that conditions at Pennhurst were unsanitary, inhumane and dangerous, that these living conditions violated the fourteenth amendment, and that Pennhurst used cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth and fourteenth amendments. After a 32-day trial and an immense investigation, prosecutors concluded that the conditions at Pennhurst were not only dangerous, with physical and mental abuse of its patients, but also inadequate for the care and habilitation for the mentally retarded. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also concluded that the physical, mental, and intellectual skills of most patients had actually deteriorated while in Pennhurst. 

And so, in 1986, Pennhurst was ordered closed, and began a program of de-institutionalism that lasted several years.  Once the buildings were closed, they began to rapidly deteriorate from lack of heating, moisture invasion and vandalism. Consequently, Pennhurst fell into complete ruin as the complex was shut down. Buildings were abandoned as they were, with patient’s clothes and belongings scattered everywhere. Furniture, cabinets and medical equipment were left to decay as if someone had just got up and walked out the front door. 

Another part of the building is an area that has suffered a moderate fire. Door frames and headers are charred, and the smell of burnt wood is still perceptible. The area that was burned housed two sound proof cells; small rooms where patients could be locked away and their screams could be totally muffled. The floors, walls and ceilings are 6” thick with heavy insulation stuffed between the studs. The interiors are lined with sound proof tiles, and the exterior is sheathed in another layer of sound proofing. Even the doors are 8” thick and insulated. As you walk into these rooms, you can feel the air get heavy, the sounds deaden and you can imagine how the patients felt being locked up in the pitch dark with no one hearing your screams. 

It is no wonder that Pennhurst is really haunted. Featured on the Travel Channel, the Ghost Adventures crew have recorded many strange voices, noises and unexplained movement and documented this in their shows. The Pennhurst Ghost Tours open to professional and amateur ghost hunters with recordings, photos and accounts of physical contact throughout the Pennhurst complex. 


Just an added note, we were not allowed to enter the cellar nor the upstairs floor as I am assuming that due to the rather hazardous conditions of the building's deterioration, it would be far too dangerous and a huge liability issue as well!

While walking through the museum portion of the tour, I personally experienced an overwhelming feeling of sadness and confusion. And, as we continued throughout the many different abandoned rooms, I could literally feel the temperature getting much colder. Although I was not at all scared, I was extremely saddened by it all. On the way home in the car, my hubby told me that one of his distant family members was once a patient at Pennhurst many years ago. Without speaking further to any other family members, we know very little at this time about this relative other than they were admitted because they were born "mongoloid" (Down Syndrome). In fact, my natural grandmother was diagnosed with schizophrenia a couple of months after my mother was born and, she herself, spent her entire life in a mental institution where she had passed away at the age of 86.

(All Photos by C. Brielmaier - RoguesHollow.com; reference source)

      

Safe Holiday Recipe for Pets

Making the holiday's safe for our furr babies is always a very important thing to us all. Pet-proofing our home is vital to their well-being. Whether we share our lives with dogs, cats, rabbits or any other animal, we take certain precautions such as not using tinsel on Christmas/Yule trees, avoiding breakable ornaments, and, amongst other things, not leaving candy (most especially chocolate!) sitting around where they can get to them! 

I found a great recipe which you can make yourself at home for your pets that is both safe and easy ... Pets can't have chocolate, but they can have this treat!

Bewtiching Biscuts

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour

1/2 cup water + 1 tablespoon water

2 tablespoons dry milk

1/3 cup corn meal

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 cup oats

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

Mix ingredients together to a thick consistency, then roll the dough out about a quarter-inch thick. Cut the dough into two-inch long strips (or use a fun cookie cutter) and arrange on a cookie sheet. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees F.

                                        

Brightest Blessings ~

Kim

Fun Friday! ~ "Dead Man's Party" Oingo Boingo Band

Our Samhain Altar

In anticipation of this coming Samhain, I have already begun preparing the altar which we will use. It includes a special place for my memorial pics as well ...

And, these are the corner candles which we always use, both indoors and out, for all of our sabbat rituals ...

Samhain is always a very special time for me, but this year I will be able to share this celebration with my dear sister, Robin ~ some of you may know her by her magickal name of Aurora Skye.

Brightest Blessings to All ~

Kim