Well folks the weekend is almost here.  I have plans–do you?

Pictures today are from Bibury in the Cotswolds (STILL) and my day tour “Lunch in the Cotswolds” which was great fun.

Quotes are from the Florida Heritage Publication:  FLORIDA NATIVEE AMERICAN HERITAGE TRAIL.   Wed we looked at small towns in Central Florida and found just cause you’re in the middle of basically no where in particular you can still have points of interest including infamy…..yesterday we looked at towns with interesting places…and one that actually was the place itself out and about in the UK.  Today we’re taking a different view and looking at Native American points of interest out and about in Florida again.

Oh and there will be Outlander points of interests too!

‘

“People first arrived in what is now known as Florida more than 12 millennia ago…The land mass of Florida extended 100 miles farther into the Gulf of Mexico, and the climate was cooler and drier than today.”

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NORTH WEST

you may have heard of  Pensacola, even Pensacola Beach

but

Fort Pickens

Gulf Islands Nation Seashore

https://www.nps.gov/index.htm

may not be as familiar.

So besides giving the Indians a bad time why would this fort built in the early 19th c (1829 – 1834) and which remained in active use until the 1940s be of any importance?  Well you see I started with the INFAMY on this one as the fort was a famous prison for the Apache chief Geronimo from 1886 – 1888.    He had originally been sent to Ft. Marion in St. Augustine, but leaders in Pensacola insisted he would be less likely to escape from the more isolated Ft. Pickens….but accounts of the time seem to indicate that in true Florida tradition he was used as a tourist attraction.  “In one day he had over 459 visitors with an average of 20 a day during the duration of his captivity at Fort Pickens.”  http://americanhistory.about.com/od/nativeamericans/a/geronimo.htm  He was eventually moved from Florida, but he would remain a prisoner the rest of his life (he died at age 90 in Ok. in 1909) but during this time  he did make appearances at  the world’s fair and  Teddy Roosevelt’s inauguration according to his obituary in the NY Times.    http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0616.html

TALLAHASSEE

LAKE JACKSON ARHEOLOGICAL STATE PARK

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/lake-jackson

This is a more traditional  native to Florida Indian site.  The park includes six earthen temple mounds and one possible burial mound.  Part of the South Eastern Ceremonial Complex.  The exhibits explain the history and beliefs of the native people who lived here.  It must be noted that this is a very old Native People dating to late prehistoric period.   “Artifacts found at the Lake Jackson site include plain and repoussé copper plates, copper headdress badges, engraved shell gorgets,^[11] pearl beads, copper axes, and stone and ceramic pipes.^[9] Many of these pieces had motifs representative of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex or SECC. Similar artifacts have been found at the Spiro Site in Oklahoma, the Moundville Site in Alabama and Etowah Mounds in northwestern Georgia. ”   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Jackson_Mounds_Archaeological_State_Park

TALLAHASSEE

MISSON SAN LUIS

http://www.missionsanluis.org/index.cfm

This is the 17th c mission and includes a fort, church, Apalachee Council house as well as  Spanish and Apalochee houses that were recreated based on archeological excavation at the site.  “Catholic missionaries labored to convert the Indians to Christianity, and they experienced some success baptizing and transforming the Guale (located in what is now north central Florida) and Timucuan peoples Jackson/St. Augustine area)  into farmers. But even the most cooperative Indians continued to maintain their own religious and cultural traditions, and many priests concluded that the Indians were inferior and incapable of understanding Christianity. ”  http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/2544    If you decide to visit this mission site there are living history demonstrations of life and tasks in a 17th c mission.

“About 4,500 years ago Florida Indians living in villages in northeast and southwest Florida began making fired clay pottery.  Prior to that time containers were fashioned from gourds, wood shell basketry and even stone.”

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 CEDAR KEY

SHELL MOUND

LOWER SWANNEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Lower_Suwannee/about.html

The interesting part of history is while modern people try to find ways of getting rid of garbage, historian love nothing better—-as long its really, really, old garbage.  Take for instance this park which contains (as do many sections of Florida including  St. Pete and New Smyrna–on the water side)a shell mound which the state describes as “built” but if you think more of just a stack where your family and all the other families on your block throws your left overs…in this particular case empty oyster and claim shells and though these mounds don’t look like much (or rather they look like what they are–a big stack of garbage that’s been setting there for between 1,800  to 400 years) they have proven a treasury for people researching local tribes.  Wild this may not sound too exciting for you, it’s a good excuse for a little exercise while impressing your kids with your native logical knowledge  (there’s a hiking trail to the mound).  Besides the  “Refuge headquarters is located 200 yards from the historic Suwanee River; the shaded River Trail leads you to an observation deck at the river’s edge. The 53,000 acres flank the last twenty miles of the Suwannee River and cover 30 miles of Gulf coastline. Foot trails, boardwalks, paddling trails, wildlife drives, archaeological sites, observation decks and fishing piers offer recreation opportunities in both the Levy and Dixie County sides of the Suwannee River. ”  so you can include in a full day of activities

LIVE OAK

SWANNEE CO HISTORICAL MUSEUM

http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1160505

Here you ‘ll find displays on the area’s first inhabitants (12,000 years ago) and also more recent inhabitants such as a recreation of a 16th c.  Timucua village as well as exhibits on animals indigenous to the area.  For incidence did you know that know that Florida was once home to home to really big creatures like mastodons, wooly mammoths, giant sloths (a complete 30’ tall skeleton can been seen at the Art/History museum in Daytona.  http://www.moas.org/main.cfm

Finally

MICANOPY

PAYNES  PRAIRIE PRESERVE STATE  PARK

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Paynes-Prairie

This is an area rich in native American heritage and the park’s (which has a resident herd of buffalo) visitor’s center features exhibts on the area’s natural and cultural history including pre-Spanish and Seminole period.  But my favorite part of this area is the fact that is that ” the 18,000-acre prairie has been a lake several times in history, and could easily become one again if the Alachua Sink, the depression`s natural drain into the Florida aquifer, gets plugged up with logs and debris, Ranger Charlie Brown said.”  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-12-29/travel/9104260758_1_wild-horses-bison-spanish-florida  Seems like the last time this happened was in 1871 when Alachua Lake was created and was a lake for 15 years and was populated with steamboats and the like.   Then in 1891 the sink opened up in mid Sept and for about a month started dropping approximately 8′ a day until it returned to the marshy land you see today–oh and according to the rangers it could happen again if the sink becomed blocked.

“Florida’s native people used chert to make a wide variety of tools.  Because this flint-like rock is durable, chert tools and the waste flakes that result from their manufacture are common artifacts in Florida.”

         COLLECTIABLE FLORIDA SPOON IN CASE WITH ATTACHED ALLIGATOR    $12.00

“The Apalachee Indians were among the most advanced and powerful native people in Florida.  Their territory was bounded by the Aucilla and Ochloconee rivers, and included rich soils well suited to intense agriculture.”

        BOYD BEARS Matthew as the Drummer (262684833038)   $7.50

  

        Christmas Apron (262689555235)  $10.00

And here we are another day closer to what for may is a four day weekend…and for others both that and a lovely day to be thankful, to enjoy friends and family…hummmm  use to be that for me too……For a fun Oreo Cook Ball Cutouts Recipe that if not for this holiday then the one that comes close behind check out www.snackworks.com

Pictures are from my inexhaustible supply of the Cotswolds….sorry.

and of course we always have the happy Outlander ending…..in between we’ll be looking at some lesser known towns in Britian with some interesting history and things to do.

“I have heard some complain…because they had been ill used at Gavesend, where the very English are rudely and ill served.   Fynes Moryson, Itinerary

Richmond has many things but it’s most famous is probably

DUN HUANG Beijing China Embroidered Vintage (50s) Small Wall Hanging.

$15.00

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“The lords and ladies now abroad, for their disport and play.

Do kiss sometimes upon the grass,

and sometimes in the hay.”

Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher

The Knight of the Burning Pestle

PRECIOUS MOMENTS “This is Your Day to Shine” FIgurine

$9.76

Yes I’m back…pictures are still in the Cotswold — lots of stuff to take picture of there.

Had a nice weekend…how about you…got busy yesterday and wasn’t able to do my blog so finally here it is…don’t sigh this one might actually be interesting—this week we’re visiting some sites and giving you a few facts about areas that you might not know…so get your suit case packed as today it’s small towns in Central Florida (now you’re yawning–stop that).

Quotes are from nursery  rhymes if you haven’t guessed

and we’ll have a happy ending for all of those who subscribe and are fans of Outlander—I know I miss them too–him especially—but.

This old man, he played one,

He played knick knack with his thumb.

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In the northern outskirts of Orlando’s Bedroom communities is Longwood, Florida and Longwood actually has a downtown that very few people ever see (it’s north of 434 on Ronald Regan Blvd)—it’s not huge but it’s village pretty and has several historical building–including the Longwood Inn (above). https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodVillageInn/ The Inn was built in the late 1800’s and today contains suites for business office—though the lovely lobby still resembles the hotel that it once was.

The hotel does have some claims to fame:

In the 1920’s a National Governor’s Convention was held here.

And it’s even been in the movies–in 1964 it was used in the filming of

Johnny Tiger                                 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Tiger

Starring Robert Taylor, Chad Everett and Linda Scott

The Inn was declared a Historical Landmark on the Florida Bi-cen Trail in 1976.

“Some people gave them white bread

Some people gave them brown,”

NEXT STOP IS NORTH WEST:

EUSTIS

http://www.eustis.org/

The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 19,129

Many residents  in this Florida town off the main tourist haunt routes are retirees.  The town is located on Lake–yeah Eustis (duh) and has a stellar library (Eustis Memorial   http://www.eustismemoriallibrary.org/about-us ).

The town was originally named Pendryville for A.S. Pendry who built a hotel here in the 1880– The hotel was called The Ockawooka unil it was bought by Waterman who owned New York’s Waterman Fountain Pen Company and rename the hotel the Fountain Inn.  The Depression (which started earlier in Florida than most of the rest of the US) when it closed and the building was donated to the city.  This eventually became the original building for the Waterman Hospital.

The hotel was also the site of the first school and first post office in the town.

During the 1940’s Eustis was considered the Orange Capital of the World.

Featured Point of interest/Eustis:

On 117 Dredrich St.

You’ll find the home of one of the founders of the town:  Moses J. Taylor as well as one of it’s main financers.  A native of Conn. he came to the area by way of Tallahassee in the 1870’s.   He had formerly been a major in the Union Army.

The current house was restored in the 1980s and the separate kitchen (very popular before A/C as it keep the house separated from the hot cooking area) and servant quarters were incorporated into the total living area.

Jack Spratt could eat no fat,

His wife could eat no lean,

And betwixt them both,

They licked the platter clean.

Going North on CR 452 you come to

FT. MASON

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Mason,_Florida

Originally a minor outpost that eventually became a major port during the steamboat era.  Here fruit grown in the area arrived to be loaded on shallow-draft steamers which then took an ardous journey along the winding creeks and lakes and then down the Oklewaka to the St. Johns and finally Jacksonville where it could be shipped anywhere in the world.

After the railways arrival in the area the town declined rapidly and with the major freezes in the last part of the 20th c even the citrus left the area for good.

“Then Jill came in and she did grin,

To see Jack’s paper plaster.

Cont north 452

which ends at CR 42

Then north on SR 25–which was originally US 441 before they built a new one 3 miles west.

This tiny town was named after the lake (they do that a lot in Florida) and the Lake was named for Nathaniel Ware–note the difference in spelling—no idea how that happened….I said named not spelled.

“This old man, he played two,

He played knick-knack with my shoe,”

Summerfield

This use to be a land of plantations before the Civil War including that of John C. Summer.

“Curly locks, curly locks, wilt thou be mine?

Thou shalt not wash dishes nor yet feed the swine.”

Also on Lake Weir

OKLAWAHA

A post office was built here in the 1880’s and a developer in the 1920’s had big plans before the Depression put  a halt to these which had included digging a 4 mile canal to the Ocklawaha River so Yachtsmen could have access to the southern areas of the lake.

But the 1930’s would bring this town fame…or maybe that should be infamy?   This was when a pair of visitors came to the area  and they would make this small town a historical foot note for as long as crime is remembered.

Point of interest:

In  November (1934) an older lady named Barker and her son Freddie along with a few associates came to the area.  Nothing outstanding until you understand that they were better known as Ma Barker and the Barker gang.   They came here to lie low after a kidnapping a member of the Hamm Brewing family to avoid the FBI.  They rented a remote cottage (see above)

Things went well for awhile till Freddy–as the story goes, started taking his machine gun to the lake to shoot ducks.  Naturally news of these kind of incidents so went to more populous area of the state and then to the rest of the world.

On 1/16/35 14 FBI agents surrounded the cottage and  demanded surrender.  The Barker’s reply was less than friendly and involved that duck shooting machine gun.  The Feds returned fire–NON-Stop for 45 minutes straight and then on and off for another 5 hours.  When they finally  entered the house both Ma and Freddie were just bullet punctured corpses.

P.S.  Don’t know the status of the house now as it was proposed for purchase by Marion Co. in 2012 for a historical park, but it fell to one of our gracious (anti-crime I guess) Governor Rick Scott’s Veto days…so if it is still in plans, sold or just falling apart…sorry can’t tell you haven’t been there in years.

Hark, hark, the dogs do bark,

The beggars are coming to town:”

BELLVIEW

One more area of interest and infamy here is this town which was found in late 1880s in the area of what was once a Seminole Meeting place called Nine Mile Pond…and that site was once the place of meeting between the Seminoles and army troops—a peaceful one for a change–no that wasn’t the infamy..

But in 1982 the area became a disaster area when unregulated underground gasoline storage tanks were found to have been leaking into wells that supplied some 7,000 residents water.  The clean-up took months and during that time water had to be trucked in from Ocala.  It was due to this incident that Florida re-examined and rewrote it’s under ground tank storage regulations.

“Hush-a-bye, baby, don’t you cry, go to sleep you little baby,

When you wake you shall have all the pretty horses,”

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Welcome to the People’s Choice Awards, pretty much the only place you’ll see Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings and Uber A duking it out in the same category.

The Americans, Pretty Little Liars, Atlanta and Baby Daddy are among the varied nominations for the 2017 honors, which were announced Tuesday. This year’s honorees also include Outlander, The Walking Dead, Stranger Things and The Big Bang Theory.

The ceremony will air Wednesday, Jan. 18. Check out the full list of TV nominees below:  (for full listing:  http://tvline.com/2016/11/15/peoples-choice-awards-nominations-2017-full-list-nominees/

Favorite TV Show
The Big Bang Theory
Grey’s Anatomy
Outlander
Stranger Things
The Walking Dead

Favorite Premium Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series
Game of Thrones
Marvel’s Luke Cage
Outlander
Stranger Things
Westworld

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Andrew Lincoln
Ian Somerhalder
Jensen Ackles
Sam Heughan
Tyler Posey

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress
Caitriona Balfe
Emilia Clarke
Jennifer Morrison
Lauren Cohan
Millie Bobby Brown

Let me guess Sam and his phone?

“I placed my cradle on yon holly top

O hush a ba, baby

Oh bah lilly loo.”

Nicholas “Uncle Nick” Grizberg Boyd’s Bear Christmas Figu… (262714028973)  $10.00

“Who killed Cock Robin?

I, said the sparrow, With my bow and arrow,

I killed Cock Robin.”

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“I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen,

She washed up all the dishes and kept the house clean.”

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And today we’re finishing up this week with one more offering on headaches–this time with some remedies and the like.

Quotes are from Joey Green’s Amazing Kitchen Cures.

Pictures continue with my journey thru the Cotswold a lovely little bit of England.

And last but not least—the desired remedies to a lot of my health and other goals–OUTLANDER strikes again.

“Rub a small dab of Ben Gay unto your forehead, temples and the back of your neck.  The heat from the salve will gently soothe your pain.”

As usual before I tell you a little about items that might help (I will list my sources at the end so you can get a better understanding and/or exact mixing and formulas as I basically only give the basics here) I want to again TO REMIND YOU THAT FIRST

Today we’re back in the Cotswolds…the lovely little villages and bigger market towns…this is Bilbury….

And we’re continuing to look at headaches this week…today the big guns of the headache categories.

Quotes are from NATURAL CURES FOR HEADACHES by Dr. Cass Ingram (I found nothing in the book to show she was a licensed doctor either MD or DO–but she does play one on radio and TV interviews so who knows?)

And we’ll end with a gold “old school”  remedy–a hot hunk—Jamie/Sam…I mean who is going to look at that bod and say “not tonight I have a headache” ?

“…the cause of tension, migraine, premenstrual and cluster headaches remain elusive and the treatment poor.”

11″ Round Etched Glass Platter Hellerware on a 12″ Wooden…

$30.00

Cluster headaches are a severe headache with

“throbbing” pain

One side of face/head

May include

tearing eye

nasal congestion

It can occur

up to three times a day

each time lasting one or more hours

daily over weeks or months.

Some call Cluster headaches (which compose about 10% of all headaches) the most painful of all.  These type of headaches are more common in men than women.

Depending the source I found the following causes (or triggers)

Stress (while some found that the LET DOWN from a long period of stress was the actual trigger)

Alcohol

&

Cigarettes

Interestingly at least one source stated that during remission periods very little caused headaches while during sensitivity (Cluster Cycle) session a very small amount of either of these could trigger the pain and went on to say that strong sun light,  during this Cycle could also so this.

Another trigger (even during remission periods) was listed as high altitudes (i.e. flying or mountain climbing!)

“Note that two of the most common agents used to treat migraine, aspirin and acetaminophen can actually cause it.  This response can be due to an allergy to the drug.  Thus, if a person is sensitive to aspirin or acetaminophen taken during a migraine will act to prolong the attack and may even worsen the pain.”

Did you know that there are two kinds of migraine?

The Classic Migraine…similar to the other except with auras (i.e. visual disturbances)

numbness in extremities

Smelling strange smells

and other “hallucinations.”

And these can be caused by either dilation or contraction of blood vessels.

“The brain is greatly affected by any disruption in blood sugar, since all it’s cells depend upon glucose, which is the normal fuel in the blood.  A sudden drop in blood sugar levels negatively affect the brain.   Often the results is a variety of symptoms, which include depression, anxiety, severe pain and migraines.”

Common Migraines are similar to classic and involve severe throbbing pain often on one side of the head

nausea & vomiting

cold hands

dizziness

sensitivity to light & sounds.

This type like the classic is also a result of the dialation or contraction of those same blood vessels in the brain.

“The physician must be aggressive at determining the underlying cause of a migraine.  He/she should perform a thorough history and physical examination and run all the appropriate tests.”

Both kinds of migraines are most common in women which some experts (but not all) have described as being a high (over) achiever and perfectionist who needs to relax more.  Ages for suffers range from 20 – 35.   Children can get headaches to and according to one of my sources appears early on as a colic condition manifesting in stomach problems.    In the late 90’s the CDC estimated that migraines had increased (in all age groups) by almost 60%.

At least one of the sources I read advised that they felt both type of migraines were brought on by a number of allergies to food (both natural and chemical additives) as well as medicines.  The studies quoted were not large ones and so this wasn’t proven to my liking but is as workable theory as any of the rest.

In women (who make up almost 9% of the 10% of the population in the US that suffer them) it is felt that a major cause is hormone fluctuation.

Other causes sited that can trigger the condition:

Constipation

Stress

Liver malfunction

Great differences from needed sleep (both too much and too little)

Emotion issues

Bright sunshine

Flashing lights (like a strobe)

Poor conditioning and subsequent lack of exercise.

Changes in barometric pressure

Dental problems

Low blood sugar—with test showing increased pain in proportion lowering sugar readings.

Smoking which contains substances that affect the blood vessels.

Foods including

chocolate

citrus fruits

Alcohol (esp. red wine)

Aged, cured, pickled, soured, yeasty or fermented food of all kinds

“…it is difficult for the headache patient to pin down precisely what might be causing his/her symptoms, that is without medical help.”

It is interesting to note that a Study in Britian found that when allergenic foods were removed from the diet the migraine sufferers 93% of those studied had relief from their migraine pain.

The Blachs recommend a simple carb and high protein diet similar to that used in hypoglycemia patients may help and in addition to the foods mentioned previously you might want to avoid

Aged meats

avocados

bananas

beer

cabbage

canned fish

dairy products

eggplant

potatoes

raspberries

red plums

tomatoes

yeast

hot dogs

luncheon meats

and all spicy foods.

Stay tuned tomorrow for some other recommendations and I will provide you with all the sources of my reading so that you can look into this more for yourself.

“Notice that psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression are not listed.  This is because mental disorders per se are far from the major causes.  Again, headaches are physical in nature.”

Since I’ve never heard Claire complain of a headache I figure Jamie is the best cure for that–what do you think?

and while I can’t tell you how to find Jamie  besides I figure Claire would fight you for him (unless you try time travel) I can point you to a OUTLANDER STYLE get away:  http://www.dailystar.co.uk/travel/adventure/557678/Outlander-holiday-Scotland-travel

If you’re not sure I’m telling the truth about Jamie and his alter ego Sam check out this pictures to be sure:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/319685273521991415/

10″ Square Glass Divided Serving DIsh. Clear with Food E…$20.00

“There is little scientific proof that medicine aids in the elimination of headaches.”

Russ “With Love From Teddy Town” Birthday WIshes Bear & P…  $10.00

Another week spread before us and our lives offer hope and a promise of a life with all manner of positive possibilities ahead of us.  Choose the positive, be strong and keep going on–you may not discover immortality, but your life will be so much more worth the living thereof.

Pictures today are leaving London and going to the more civilized country side of the UK…in this instance the Cotswold.  As you notice above things aren’t much different in a UK petrol (think gas if you’re American) station than at home.

Quotes are from HEADACHE RELIEF By Drs. Allan M. Rapaport & Fred D. Sheftell.

and if you haven’t guessed we’re looking at headaches…and we’ll recover at the end with a bit of Outlander relief.

Below is something very different than the US at least on the exterior…a Micky D’s  That’s McDonald’s to those of you not up on the jargon.

“We on the other hand assert that headache is as genuine a medical problem as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease.”

https://www.etsy.com/listing/489755257/good-condition-mms-peanut-1993-christmas?ref=shop_home_active_1

Americans spend billions every year on over the counter and prescription  medication to combat pain and a lot of that is spent for treatment of headaches.  Many, maybe even most of you out there have had headaches, some on a regular basis.  What causes your headaches is a very important question that if answered may help you or someone you love deal with these, sometime debilitating, painful episodes.

One thing to remember is if you have chronic pain (or even just regular weekly or even monthly headaches) you should get with your doctor—chronic pain should never be dismissed with out a full medical work-up.   Headaches could be an indication of many problems including

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BEAD CHOKER, Pastel Wooden Beads Vintage

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PLATES White with Shades of Blue Design VINTAGE Three 7 1/4″ Square Japanese

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HAND PAINTED 8″ Bavarian German China Probably 20’s

$10.00

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One of my many Halloween Décor drawing–I usually take a card and just make a bigger verson on an old sheet.  Work pretty well.  And yes just one more day of Halloween.   All the pictures are from my entry and living room to entertain the tricksters.

AND here they all…all but one of my Tricksters….I missed him

The First

and the last trickster

Sorry these are late getting in but misplaced the disk….duh

10 1/4″ High Unfinished Wooden Doll’s Chair

$6.00

“The essential oils for treating cellulite are those that are detoxifying (juniper, lemon) or stimulating for the circulation (cypress, rosemary).”

All quotes today are from HEALTH ESSENTIALS AROMATHERAPY  MASSAGE W/ESSENTIAL OILS by Christine Wildwood.

We’re continuing with health today with a look at using Aromatherapy to improve our health and well being.

So today is my last for this month’s offerings on Halloween.  We’re moving on from the tricks and treats of our ancient pagan beliefs revisited in our own strange ways and are moving on to a more thankful and sedate season.

We’ve looked at general health options and some methods to deal with stress so far this week…today we’re looking at one of those everything old now new options Aroma therapy…so enjoy.

Oh Outlander will be awaiting you at the end of your journey.

March 12, 1995 Purolator 500 NASCAR Program and NEW TEE-S…   $45.00

Essential Oil helpful for Stress and Anxiety

Bergomot

Chamomile

Cypress

Geranium

Frankencense

Sandalwood

Juniper

Patchouli

Rose

Clary Sage

Ylang–Ylang,

…room perfumes”

BOYD BEARS Matthew as the Drummer 

$7.50

Dr. R. M. Gattee Fasse first called it aromatherapy.

Essential oils can be massaged on the skin, used in baths, inaled and put on compresses.  BUT they are NEVER to be taken internally.  Also with anything else, pregnant women should not use these without first consulting their doctor.  And they should be kept away from small children and not used or massage on them without first consulting their doctor.

There is also always a chance that the person is allergic to the products so it’s best to only use a very small amount on the skin (kinda like a patch test) before using them in any way.  Also for extensive massage or use it is best to find and consult with a qualified Aromatherapy therapist I your area to help you determine if there is any contradiction to your use (including allergies) and to help you determine exactly what essential oils and the method of use is best for you and your condition.

“The word holistic has its roots in the Greek halos, which means ‘whole’.  In holestic healing, the whole person–mind-body-spirit–is taken into accounts.”

Remember that essential oils if undiluted and stored properly usually have a shelf life (except citrus oils) of up to six years.  While Absolutes and resins have a much shorter life.  Essential oils purchased in various health and new age centers vary greatly in their content and additives as well as their purity and strength.

The Aromatherapist gears each mixture to the client’s individual needs and the purity and content is usually kept very pure and pristine, another reason that a therapist may be your best, especially initial, treatment option.

Many  will train you in methods to use the therapy so that you can provide affective self care as well, while continuing to consult for new conditions or needs as well as providing continuing high quality essential oils tailored for your own personal condition and needs.

“The Bach (trademark) Flower Remedies are prepared from non-poisonous wildflowers.  They are benign in their action, non-addictive and can be used by people of all ages.”

Many Aroma Therapists include massage in their services, but it is becoming widely popular around the world and you can find commercial and beauty spas, therapists and even doctor’s clinic which offer these massages–but use care as the quality and authentication of oils used and mixtures can vary greatly so do your research before you pick a venue.

Massage is a great way to relax all on it’s own and adding aroma therapy–essential oils will help further those effects.  Sedative blends which relax the senses include lavender and sandalwood.  Other goals may be met with this massage–for instance Clary is used to massage the muscles to not only relax but to prevent or stop muscle spasms.

Warm baths are yet another method for instance Ylang Ylang is used in warm water baths to sooth and relax.  These you can do at home or in a health or beauty spa.

“A facial sauna s a deep cleaning treatment which is good for all skin types, but especially for blemished and congested skin.  Saunas must be avoided at all costs however if the skin is prone to threat veins.”

Now back to those sleep issues we talked about yesterday.  After that warm bath try relaxing with the paper, a novel or a DVD that’s enjoyable but also restful–not the latest thriller that you haven’t seen before—you might try drinking a malted milk before bed as the calcium is a sleep inducer or herbal teas like melessa orange blossom or mint.

Maybe a snack with a food high in magnesium which is said to be very tranquilizing–think dates (which also has phosphorus and calcium) with your malted milk.

Mandrin oranges (not regular ones) and tangerines are good for stress and irritability and drinking their juice instead of oranges might help calm you…while eating one (or drinking) in the evening is recommended for those having sleep issues.

“Air is so vital that it is only possible to live for a few minutes without it…but few of us remember that the skin also needs air as a stimulate for its normal functioning.”

Two Vintage VICTOR Diner Style Off-White Cups (262703640507)

$14.00

“Hippocrates extolled the virtue of a daily aromatic bath and scented massage to prolong life.”

Boyd Bears Justine the Choir Singer 1999 (262684791074)

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“Nature is the most patient source of healing for the mind, body and spirit.  An hour’s walk in the countryside will dissipate any uncomfortable feeling absorbed from others.  Silent contemplation of the sounds of moving water works well for many people.”

Musical Wind-up Clown with Porcelain Head, Feet & Hands

$15.99

I didn’t forget Outlander

We Outlanderers could try Fiction Therapy:  http://www.fictiontherapy.com/tag/outlander/

Get past the sexual fantasy (must I?)  http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/04/outlander-recap-episode-4-sex-scene

Colouring therapy:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Outlander-The-Official-Adult-Coloring-Book-Zen-Relaxing-Art-Therapy-Gift-NEW-/161929886017

“I have burned for you for twenty years, Sassenach,” he said softly. “Do ye not know that?”

From VOYAGER by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 25, “House of Joy”.

Today’s pictures (except the main one of which is out in the countryside some where in the Cotswold or there about) are from the Rollright Stones (http://www.rollrightstones.co.uk/)  neither as famous or as big as Stonehenge…but check out their on line site–fewer tourists and less cost but a great look at Britain’s ancient history.

Quotes are from United Health Care’s TAKING CARE

Outlander is our glorious final act.

So how was your Samhain?  Did anything cross over the veil and visit you?  Don’t be scared there are more things about than most of you can imagine.

KITTY KATFISH Art Tile Trivet or Wall Hanging 1982 9″x 9″   $8.00

 

VINTAGE HAND Carved Floral Designed 4″ x 4″ x 2″ Hinged Trinket Box made in Poland

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PRECIOUS MOMENTS “This is Your Day to Shine” Figurine

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PRECIOUS MOMENTS “Love One Another

$9.00

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“Sit and stand correctly.  Good posture will help relieve pressure on your spine and neck.  Set up straight and tall, raise your chest up. lower your chin slightly and pull your head back so your ears are directly over your shoulders.”

MY FIRST Trick or Treaters:  Pictures today are from my decorations and my visitors—at least the ones I took are.

Quotes are as noted.

Today is Halloween, my favorite holiday and so we’ll spend some time in my favorite city and meet some of its lesser known residents…that while still around can not be counted among the living.

Oh and I’ll scare up a bit of Outlander at the end to meet the needs of us in withdrawl programs.

“‘Dear God’ the very houses seem asleep, and all the mighty heart is lying still.”   Wadsworth

What better place to meet up with ghosts than London, a city of reputed violence and all manner of life and death since the Roman Legions marked this earth.

Of course my choice of most likely to find a ghost or more would be the tower.  The original buildings here were built by the Normans after their obviously successful invasion in 1066–and the tower has remained and grown…used by Royals to both live and to meet their demise–often by less than gentle means….There are the 2 princes who were last seen here and never seen again….were they murdered by their uncle Richard III or by Henry VII who took the throne as his own…. and had a son who did more for the tower’s reputation than anyone before or  since–Henry VIII.

Two of Henry’s wives were executed within the tower walls while several more victims of his proof of absolute power’s corruption–some related and some who just got in his way or pissed him off met their end just a short distance from the main entrance to the tower at a scaffold on Tower Hill.   Ann Boleyn  has been seen here….she watched her own brother and several men who were personal friends die here and she followed soon after.  Her most common appearances are on the green where she was beheaded and within the White Tower Chapel…Interestingly enough she is seen by some with her head and others without.   The second wife Katherine Howard prefers Hampton Court where it is said she still runs out into a hall way (as she reportedly did when she was a live, hundreds of years ago) to throw herself on Henry’s mercy—fat chance lady

“But one pale woman all alone.

The daylight kissing her wan hair

Loitered beneath the gas lamps flare

With lips of flame and hearts of stone.”

Oscar Wilde

Another Royal that received Henry’s justice was Margaret Pole, she was an heir of Plantagenet blood and had a better claim to the throne than Henry and his children.   She was the Countess of Salisbury and 70 years old when she was brought to the scaffold to be beheaded.  But she had other ideas and refused to quietly present her neck for the deed.  She ran about trying to get away while the startled headman hacked at her with the axe that he had suppose he would use for a few strokes to severe her head from neck.  According to legend it was a bloody affair before she was finally felled and he was able to finish the job correctly.  Is it any wonder that anyone that wanted to live so much is still seem moving about the tower rather than resting peacefully.

Another ghost — this one a commoner–is Anne Askew, a reformer during the reign of guess who, it is said that you can hear her scream from the tower where she was illegally racked before her execution.

Not all the ghosts here are human however—in the 19th century a sentry saw an immense bear.   Since the tower for years held the royal menagerie this isn’t a big surprise—but this particular bear wasn’t a current resident but a shade of one who had resided here before.

“…It is this stick which is thought to be the original source of the mysterious  tapping noises heard about the history-laden rooms of Ham House.  At dead of night the noise would be heard—tap, tap, tap–just as the old Duchess used to hobble about in her latter years.”  This Hawunted Isle—Peter Underwood

The churches of London are old and full of the dead–St. Martin-in-the-Field which is just off Trafalgar Square now and no where near any greenery was re-built in the 1500s by that same Henry who did so much for population control in the city.

  It’s crypt–the dead buried here include one of Charles II’s many mistresses–this one being the popular Nell Gwynn; as well as the wife  and child of Christopher Wren–the architect responsible for many of the churches and other buildings in the city that were built following the destruction of the Great Fire in 1666, is now modernized  The church now days is known for it’s Crypt Restaurant (they still hold church services upstairs) which is complete with tombstone paving the floor–the cemetery was done away with many years ago.  (check previous blogs of mine for the hows and whys).

In 1859 the crypt here was full of wall to wall crumbling and broken coffins.  Eventually most of these were taken elsewhere—most to unmarked graves to sites no long known.  So it’s no wander a few spirits were left behind.  The most famous may actually be the Silver Ghosts–a seven man swing assemble that was playing here this October….But it still gets a nod from me for creepy tombstone lined dining.

I’m sick of fog and yellow gloom

Of faces strange, and alien

Your London is a vault, a tomb

Dorothy Frances McCrae

Another weird church is St. Olaf’s.  Built in 1450 it survived the Great Fire (1666) and the Blitz (WWII).  If you’re in London it’s near the Tower Hill Underground Station.  The gate here bears five skulls which could indicate a lot of things….including of note the fact that many of the non-royals beheaded at Tower Hill were brought here to repose or rest  much longer if the family were leery of picking up someone really out of favor.  Mary Ramsey who is credited–on a plaque here at the church–with bringing the plague to London is buried here as is Mother Goose.

And I mentioned the Tube Station above which brings me to the fact that even London’s Tube is reputedly haunted or as some legends go populated by cannibalistic mutants–no wonder it took so long for London to open up late night tube schedules.

Take Beacontree station for instance which since the 1990’s has had multiple reports of a strange female that is seen here.  She has long blonde hair but no face—just a smooth acre of skin where her features should be.

“….of night and London what is it comes near?

Felt like a blind man’s touch along the wall.

Questing and strange like fear.”

Lawrence Benyon

As to the most haunted place in London–some say

50 Berkley Square

which has been a home to a Bookseller for many years now, but according to all manner of accounts it also house a creature or some type of being with a raw head and bloody bones, which has caused at least two deaths over the years.  While not so deadly recently the house still has accounts of screams, and sounds of something–perhaps a body–being dragged about.

The house’s reputedly is where a Mr. Du Pre locked a crazy, not to mention violent brother.  He eventually died but many claim he haunts the house.   It is claimed that the place is so psychically charged that you can feel shocks just by touching the external brickwork of the buildings.

Across a world of sudden fear and fire light

Her rusted ribs like railings round her heart

O mother of wounds.

JAMIE/SAM GOES HALLOWEENING…Is she a Trick or a Treat?

And OUTLANDER INSPRIED COSTUMES

But nobody does it better.

Happy Halloween from Crag Na Dun

London is so clumsy and so brutal and has gathered together the darkest side of life.  She is like a mighty orgess who  devours human flesh.

Henry James

THE MONKEES 1997 LUNCH BOX USED  $12.00

The Fire had burnt out.

The Plague Pit had closed

And gone into literature.

W.S. Graham

9 1/2″ x 7 1/2 x 3 1/2: Wooden Bowl $20.00

“There exhales from this oozy mass so fatal a vapor no animal can endure it.   The black water bears a greenish–brown floating scum, which for ever bubbles from the putrid mud of the bottom”

Christmas Apron $10.00

.

Well it’s Friday and after 5 so most of you must be out of the office and at least setting in traffic on your way home.  Today I didn’t do a lot…had to do some clean up and organize on the living room/dinning and did a little more décor for Halloween though haven’t really had enough kids to bother in the last several years….I hate to give it up…

Pictures today are from Sanford Zoo

One of the participants in the Central Florida Zoo days for the kids…Thank mom for letting him pose for me.

Quotes from ENCHANTED WORLD:  TALES OF TERROR

Outlander is probably going to be last but not least from now on.

and today we do more terrors.

“On the morning of her nuptials, the bride awoke to find herself embracing a skeleton.  The air around her marriage bed was heavy with smoke and the odor of decomposing flesh.”

Precious Moment’s Angle with Watering Can “Sending You A Rainbow” 1982

$9.50

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But first a that-a-girl to Jeanine Taylor (of Jeanine Taylor’s Folk Art Gallery in Sanford http://www.jtfolkart.com/) who was recently featured in a National Magazine:  Where Women Create  http://www.wherewomencreate.com/  which commemorates creative women and the places that they work in.   And Jeannie’s comment when it was all over and done:  “This is just the beginning.”  YOU GO GIRL.

“Around the walls hung the corpses of men.  In the breeze from the corridor their rotting bodies swayed.  Some had been reduced to skeletons, their bones clicked against one another.

What really scares you?  The ghostly white mask of Michael Myers…which is just a Captain Kirk (Wm. Shatner) mask with a few minor adjustments and a white paint job…not an object that one would normally think as of scary now is it.   And even though Shatner’s acting wasn’t always academy award winning it rarely (at least in my case) cause chills to run down ones spine….while looking at Michael (who was actually played by multiple people) makes one look behind them and to wander is someone might well be lurking in the shadows with a very big knife.

How about dogs—unless you’re a Cynophobic (yep that’s the official name for people who are afraid of dogs), but for most of us it doesn’t bring fear to our thoughts…but dogs specifically black ones have a way of turning up in my ancestors evils…From the ones that roam the barren stretches of the English Moors—which probably was the inspiration for Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles which Sherlock proved was just a regular dog–abet large and vicious…but nothing ghostly or supernatural about it.  There are also stories of black dogs appearing in passage ways to the gallows in London’s hell houses that were once the prisons and there are still legends of them pacing the same areas to this day in these ancient ruins.

Interestingly enough the Outback in Australia has a legend of a Devil Dog–a man shaped creature that sleeps buried in the dunes which shifts to the canine shape when the Butch Bird shrieks and arises in this dog form to kill everything within its reach.  Oh and don’t forget King’s Cujo…who was a good dog till he got a bad disease.

“In the moonlit clearing, a pack of disembodied heads gobbled insects.  Through mouths full of half chewed bugs they gibbered curses and clamored for human flesh.”

So what brings screams of horror to you and what makes you toss sleepless into the wee hours of the night for fear of what might be lurking just out of the beams of your night light or under your window.  For me it’s Lovecraft–the horrid creatures with other worldly names that live in caves or beyond those caves which are connection to other dimensions and times.  I love Stephen King and King read Lovecraft–but I never feared the night after reading King, I’m sturdy stock–but Lovecraft gave me chills and had me looking about for the things that await the poor, powerless humans that I am a member.  It doesn’t help that they found the author insane—was that why he wrote what he did or was he insane because what he wrote about was really there and drove him so…that’s what I think of when the night seem frightening.

I usually find movies less scary than books, my imagination draws on my personal fears more readily from the written word which often leaves more to the imagination, while Hollywood doesn’t know the worst that lurks there–what they come up with are not nearly as scary as what lurks within most of our minds.

The Exorcist with it’s green pea vomit and twirling head was not early as impressive as the book.  Rosemary’s Baby Demon again was to me was a shadow of the book.   I love Psycho for exactly the reason I don’t watch more horror movies now day—the gore gets repetitious and even a bit—“Yawn, I wander if I have time for a bathroom break”   one can never accuse anyone being anything but graphic anymore.

“Enslaved by a force he could not exorcise–Abdul heard his tongue utter words against his will.  They drove his wife away forever, tricked his friends into murder and buried his son to sudden death.”

So what is scary to me in movies…Psycho was great, not in a way that the modern Horrible Movies are—the shower scene, one of the most scary in movie history never showed one blade blow going home and never one wound….just the chocolate syrup blood–it was a black and what movie–spiraling down the drain….and Tony Perkins setting there at the end (picture above) if he doesn’t send chills down your spin I’ll send Hitch (as in Alfred) to your home to say boo.    Who else could take common variety of birds and make them brutal killers….he had the touch.

Other movies that I like but wasn’t necessarily really scared of:  The Omen and the 2nd one—after that you got to be really good at that.  The child had some great looks and I thought the best parts were the governess hanging her self at Damien’s birthday party and when they dug up his real mother’s grave–now that was evil.

The first Alien was the first time I ever saw a haunted house movie (where the ghost was a really scary Alien…but still) in outer space.  And while this one did more guts and gore, it was a great new idea put in a new place while still using those scary parts to play with our minds.

“As the sound of the bell died on the air, the corpse leaped from the table.  The head jerked from side to side.  The bloodshot eyes bulged in their sockets.  They so hypnotized the quailing widow that, like a rabbit cornered by hunters, she could not move.  The body came toward her and sank hard, merciless fingers into her neck.  At the same time a cracked, hollow voice cried out.  “I am in hell!  You put me there!  I’ll make you pay!”

How about swimming.  No not that movie…just really swimming…Studies show that people who swim a lot in chlorinated water are more likely to develop lung and kidney damage https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/is-the-chlorine-in-indoor-swimming-pools-hard-on-your-lungs/ .  Then there’s the ocean, sharks, though I read somewhere that Bill Gates said you should be more concerned with mosquitoes than sharks.  And Lake, at least in Florida often have alligators and water moccasin snakes and if they don’t get you the amoebas that you breath in in those same waters are a sure fire way to end it all.

On land you have muggings, auto accidents, slip and falls, floods, tornadoes, blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes and there’s always the stray meteor or two.

You could hide in your house but then there’s all those black molds and so on.  You get the idea, no where is without its fear factor and to one person what is a shield and a safe place to another is a terror of the possibility of injury and severe trauma both mentally and physically.  Horror is in the mind, soul, and heart of the believer….SO WHAT SCARES YOU?

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“Clytemmestra, Queen of Agamennon, helped her lover to murder her royal spouse.  She dreamed that she bore and suckled a poisonous snake and knew what the nightmare portended.  Her children would avenge their father’s death and show no mercy.”

SOMETHING THAT REALLY SCARES ME–OUTLANDER WILL NOT START THE 3RD SEASON IN APRIL….OR MAY…OR JUNE….MAYBE NOT TILL SEPTEMBER

“Of all the forms of madness that plagued the Aztec tribes, nothing was more dreaded than the insatiable craving for human flesh.”

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“Plague, brigards, hunger and the hot quarrel of the market place and marriage bed took their blood toll.  The justice of Kings and priests was unforgiving.  Thieves and heretics had no second chance.  They learned their lessons with grim finality, strangled by a twist of the garrote or roasted alive by hooded executioners.

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“In a cave in the wilderness, burning candles marked the length of human lives.”