OK...
I am going to take a shower, then the dog to the vet for check up, probably have a stiff black coffee (should I write about 'stiffs' she muses to her audience of none or would that lead down a path I don't want to go unless wearing plastic protective gloves?)...
AND THEN
I'll come back & tell you a tale...
OK, I'm back! AND I have decided to tell you...
a secret...
come closer....
c l o s e r.......
I SEE DEAD PEOPLE.
I get the feeling that quote's been used as much as Ashton Kutcher's list of one night stands, and someone 'may' have used it in a movie ;) so instead I better go with... I SEE GHOSTS!
Well, NOT ALWAYS, and it's more like 'feel' them... well get comfy because now it's time for the tale...
ONCE UPON A TIME there was a young married couple who decided to move cities, escape a wicked in-law & buy a home (people in Australia are big into buying homes)... This couple (let's call them Shelle & Frayz) looked through many homes before they found a quaint little workers cottage in Wilston... it was small, sweet & as cheap as a Chinese Rolex, it had holes in the floor, no hot water in the bathroom, possums lived in the ceiling... walking through the tiny empty cottage by the back room, Shelle thought she heard someone speak, this back room had a small window with a view of the overgrown garden...
Shelle walked into the room & immediately had an image of an old and happy woman, she was sitting in the corner and so pleased she had company... the image & and communication was so overwhelming & Shelle asked the real estate if anyone had died in the back room, no idea of the history all he said was "it's been vacant for years". Frayz was worried but I (sorry Shelle) insisted the energy was happy and promptly forgot about this encounter and the young couple bought the home... what about that presence(?) 'she's delighted' was what Shelle said to Frayz...
Now this is the interesting part...
As all young nesters do, they made their home, cleaned up the garden, planted more flowers & trees, Frayz took out the wall of the small room which separated it from the 'living' area and walls were painted, possums rehoused by Pete the Possum man & hot & cold running water connected to the bathroom...
Then,
Shelle & Frayz had a baby...
this baby was full of joy & love,
and soon started to crawl
and although the wall separating the back room was long gone, the baby would always crawl to the exact spot where Shelle had first felt the presence of the old woman... then as the baby grew & started to chat & laugh, she would take her toys up & show her imaginary friend... Shelle & Frayz would pick the baby up & go to other areas in the house, "Look at this" they'd say, and the baby continued chatting looking back and carried on conversation, putting her down & placing obstacles in the way, she'd crawl around & over them... the ghost never seemed to leave that spot...
It wasn't until later, when they got to know a neighbour 3 doors down, that Shelle & Frayz found out a sweet old invalid woman who lost her husband in the war had lived in the home, she never remarried or had any family which she had longed for & the garden went wild when she couldn't get up & down the back stairs anymore, but Audrey from 3 doors down would visit with home made treats every week, sit & have tea with her in the back room... Audrey said the old woman loved the filtered sun in the afternoons, sitting in her chair in the far corner of the room, looking out over her garden, and often spoke of how she would have loved a family of her own to share her home with her.
She finally did.
OK... I have some winners to announce... I lost the prizes while on holiday, hence the delay, I am STILL missing the Miss Kitty Zombie pin so NO ONE wins that until I find it, but
Tamara, Amy, Lotus, you girlies are WINNERS of the Zom necklaces (whether you want them or not) &...
GINA you my girl are the voucher winner for a free aceo of your choice from my Esty shop :) Get your info to me, if you haven't already & you may get in time for Halloween!!
These 2 images above were also painted with 'things that go bump in the night' in mind & also as part of my Paint Party Friday Entry which has a treasure trove of fabulous new art to check out each Friday for those who like a little visual stimulation! Eva & Kristin host this party every week & love to have newbies & make everyone feel welcome! So Party on dudes, as a SPECIAL GIVEAWAY to celebrate I am randomly drawing a name from all comments made on this post & the winner can have a customised aceo of their choice, All Hallows & All PPF's comments are included in the draw!
80 comments:
That is one of my favourite stories, and also a good one to see if people can detect in the lying game. Anyway nice post Mum! Although the disappearance of the Zombie Hello Kitty is worrying... I don't want it to turn up in my room!
Hey... Is this comment is the PPF draw?? Please include me! I want to try my luck!
Shelle this is one of the coolest ghost stories EVER! Its always the true ones that are the best! I've never seen a ghost myself but have very close friends and relatives that have so I KNOW they exist! That's so wonderful that the sweet old lady finally got to share her house with a family! Excellent post, and I love all your paintings! Especially the little trick or treater,lol!Deb
Great telling of your ghost story. You are a fortunate one to have experienced such a happy ghostie story. Love it. Oma Linda
Hi hot momma. I have never seen a ghost and I am just fine with that! Guess what? Your zombie package is all wrapped up, but sadly still sitting on my counter :)
I reeeeeeaaaaly need to learn to do shit faster.
Xxxxxxxxcccccc <---- now why did auto correct make some c's?
Maybe it was me. Prolly.
Xxxxxx,
A
Shelle!!! This is such a cool and special story! I knew you were my kind of woman ;o) Now, I just read what Memphis wrote, lying game?? What does this mean? I hope you find your lost Miss Kitty Zombie! LOL!
Wow. Just, wow. Your paintings are absolutely haunting. Oh my. I especially love the bloody tears. I long to own this piece... checking out your Etsy shop right now!
Also, love the story. That's the kind of ghost I'd like to have. :)
If you find Zombie kitten Memphis, tell him he's a BAG kitty & send him to me!! Ha Ha - the game :)
Hey Deb, at first it was woo, maybe this house is taken... makes me wonder why it wasn't bought before, if she wasn't as 'feel good' if she didn't want someone to stay LOL? Memphis was quite amazing, she'd even take her toddler books up to the spot (there was nothing there) & seemed to read to the presence & show her the pictures!
Linda, makes me wonder if she stayed on? A single mature woman (divorced & children already left home) moved in after we came up to the Sunshine Coast, my hubby went back about a year ago when we took the kids to the Supanova Exhibition in Brisbane & said although the woman living there was a bit of a bit@h it wasn't enough to change the wonderful feel of the house :)
Hey Amy, I swear sometimes the hardest thing in te world is to get to that post office, and any way zombies are s l o w moving so I expect him to take his time! Tell Prolly to stop messing with your keyboard, she'll be into the beeswax next ;)
Hot momma, ha ha I'm sitting in knee high socks & oversized T on my way to have a shower, more like less than luke warm, but like the concept, may go throw on some lippy ;)
Ahh Stacy, not sure the origins of the lying game, hope it's not just an Aussie Catholic thing LOL... ok at retreats & 'just for fun' you have to tell 3 truths & one lie... the others have to guess which one the lie is... often people pick the 'true' story as the lie because they think it's so weird or unbelievable... so Memphis was referencing the game & thinking maybe people wouldn't believe it although it was true!!
Actually, that'd be a fun thing to do on a blog mmmm... AND YES of course I'm your kind of woman LOL!
Have I told you that I love you? And that your kindness makes me want to fly to you (on a plane, it's too damn cold for a broom) and hug you? And Franz is such a darling too, and your babes... and your ghost. What a wonderful bunch!
You rock, and you are beautiful in and out, as is the art that comes out of that head: visual and literary. You are a whole woman.
Hey Summer, thanks for dropping by & for commenting on my bloody ghost, so pleased you like her, sometimes I just hope to capture an emotion, a glimpse of something strong, visually, that conveys a jolt to the senses beyond the image (like a third dimension to a 2D piece of art)... wow that sounds pretty wanky on reread BUT I love (well heaps of artists, but) Edvard Munch, I always felt the emotion he conveyed lifted his visual in almost a spiritual way. OK enough drone from me, off to visit your blog :)
Ha Ha Magaly, & I love you too & the thought of a slightly blue witch (either from broom or over air-conditioned plane) travelling that far to give me a hug, well that's the ant's pants LOL, you make me laugh!!! You aren't too bad yourself either, by the way, I can't bake you know, I don't think any 'whole woman' worth their salt wouldn't bake LOL ;)
I can't bake worth a damn. I can make great meals, but the baking just doesn't come to me. Guess I'm whole, baking not included ;-)
Love your ghost story and your art as well, love the bloody tears. I've never seen a ghost but have felt spine tingling sensations a few times. Nice work. Have a great weekend.
I don't think I should have read this before bed! Love your ghostly paintings! Happy PPF!
Scarey stuff. Happy Halloween and PPF!
I LOVE IT!!!
i kinda wish i could see dead people too...
NO, Wait! NO, I REALLY DON'T!
Those two spooky pictures were so creepy. I really like the first one though...i kept staring at it.
Thanks Gloria, sounds like you may have connected with a couple of spooky beings, thank you for dropping by :)
Robin, Sweet dreams ;)
wow, i got goosebumps reading that-what a wonderful story. i totally believe in an afterlife (am reading 'animals and the afterlife' at the moment and its goid to know animals have souls too!) i love that you and your family provided company to this old lady.
i love your ghostly drawings and am glad to see one of your cute wee imaginary friends back as well-they're so adorable!
Monkeycstars... BOO! he he... thanks for dropping by, the first one likes you too, now THAT'S creepy!
Pointy Pix Yey!! I have missed you in my slackness (well holidays PLUS slackness) I think maybe all lifeforms have souls, sounds pathetic but loved the idea of 'the force' in Star Wars. I think it's wonderful if we have the opportunity to do the right thing by people while they are alive, but sometimes, maybe, they can still enjoy life after?
Love the story and paintings are spooky good. :) Congrats to the winners! :)
Why not ask the sweet apparition where Miss Kitty has gone...or perhaps, could she have taken it????
Great story Shelle!
Oh Shelle, what a delicious story! I have heard so many tales of small children who communicate with "imaginary friends" and I have always thought they were seeing spirits. Little ones are so much closer to the other side than adults. Oh, I have chills!
Love your ghost story, it's so nice to think of that sweet old lady finally getting to enjoy having children around.
Your ghostly paintings are appropriately spooky, and your little cuddly monsters are so adorable. When I was a kid, I'd have wanted one desperately.
Love the ghostly paintings ~ awesome ~ great other small paintings also ~ thanks, namaste, CArol (Share the Creative Journey) ~ happy PPF ^_^
what a wonderful story - I like the thought of her finally getting the family she wanted. Hope she rests in peace.
Congratulations on a fantastic post! Very intriguing and delightful. Faye
Congratulations on a fantastic post! Very intriguing and delightful. Faye
Beautiful ghost story - brought tears to my eyes. As always, love your ghoul paintings, but also really loving the look on the little green guys face as he is squished in those loving arms. (and that comic behind the ATC looks hilariously cool - some kind of cautionary tale?)
Love the ghostly paintings! Great story too.
Your ghostly girls continue to amaze me! They're so awesome, it inspires me everytime I visit you~ Love the look of these two... ^-^
// - T.W -
Cool story... a friend lives in a house that used to be a doctors surgery and we have seen movements out of the corners of our eyes so many times now we don't bat and eye lid... they all seem friendly enough, just like yours ! Great painting too of course xx
What a story! Happy family all around - love that kind of ghostly tale. I wonder what stories the baby will tell?
Great ghouls!
I like your art work! What a hauntingly nice ghost story! I never met a ghost I didn't like, well maybe one or two. Thanks for stopping in at my new blog!
Mary
My favorite this week is that little green monster with it's candy bag. So cute! Happy PPF!
Loved the story, loved the ghostly paintings and loved this post. Happy PPF
WOW! That story will stay with me! I loved it - thank you for sharing this and your beautiful art - I too love the ghostly image with the bloody tears! Bravo, xo
Well I forgot to tell you how much I love your paintings. You are such an amazing artist, Shelle! Hugs to you and your darling little blogger.
Oh how I loved that story!
I love the way you paint your creatures on top of photos - it's fantastic!!!
xo
Kristin
Thanks Natasha, I have to search for those other winners, Amy is the only one that I have had an address from, better start stalking LOL!
How lovely that the ghost was happy! Your artwork is beautifully creepy!
Thanks for sharing the story; loved it! :)
I visited the wicked witch an came back for the story, Loverly - enjoyable, you are a writer too, right? The ghost lady ACEO is excellent (I favored your shop on Etsy) for ghostly and our PPF. Blessings, Janet
great story and paintings! creepy art but a happy ending story!
Adorable monstery ATCs for PPF!
Adorable monstery ATCs for PPF!
i love this!!! real ones are by far the absolute best!
Debbie, we are at a new home now otherwise I would LOL!
Mina, I do think there is something in what you say, I believe before children put up barriers or are told not to be silly, nothing is there, they are open to other levels of communication, more 'intuitive' - I think it come through in their art often too :)
Carlarey thanks for your comments, yes it is a nice story, and I hope if she is still in the house she is happy, or perhaps she happily moved on after she had her family time?
AMD & Carol pleased you dropped by & thanks for the 'awesome' comment (I love that word)!!
Hi WrightStuff, me too, thanks for reading :)
Hi Faye! Pleased you enjoyed the All Hallow's Post & PPF images, I enjoyed sharing story & art too :)
Iamrushmore thank you for reading my story & I am touched by your comment :) Oh yes, we go to my children's school fete/fair each year & at the end of the day we always swing by the bookstore when often they are just telling people to fill a bag with books for $1... of course it's a bargain & most of the things left are tatty or cr@ppy BUT there are always gems, this was a 70's Girls Christmas annual & I found it with some other amazing books - things like recipes for the busy mother from the early 70's that consisted of putting a pack of 'fish fingers' in a baking dish (out of the cardboard box I presume) opening a can of 'cream of celery' soup, pouring it over the top, then covering with cheese & breadcrumbs before putting in the oven for 45mins! Apparently it's delightful ;)
Thanks Carol! You & everyone here will go in the draw for the customised aceo :)
TW OK officially chuffed as your art inspires me too!!! Thanks so much for the compliment & thrilled you like my 'ghostly' girls :)
Hi Tracey! That is amazing, a doctor's surgery probably saw a lot of situations that may have left ghostly prints... I wonder if it's still a nurse or doctor that still is there to help out, as long as it's friendly, otherwise I guess your friends wouldn't have too many visitors ;)
Eva, my daughter tells that story herself now as she is 17, she says she remembers 'bits' but she's not sure if it's been retold so often, she says it 'was fun' :)
Mary, how exciting to have a new blog, I think I started Jan this year & it has expanded my world & given me so much more scope to meet other artists, writers & just darn nice people :)
Sheri, he's a sweetie with a bag of sweets LOL, his dad is a little overbearing though ;)
Sheri, he's a sweetie with a bag of sweets LOL, his dad is a little overbearing though ;)
Hi Marlene :) Thanks for dropping by, put a cuppa on will you, I'll drop on over soon & she what your up to :)
Kristen thanks for dropping by & so happy you loved my post, your comment made my morning :)
Mina thanks for dropping back LOL, I will pass on hugs to my blogging babe, I am so happy she enjoys writing & art, my other sweetie is 14, she's into photography so she blogs images on Tumbler... hubby is blog free at the moment, spends spare time surfing (waves not like us surfing the web) :)
Kristin, thank you!!! I have a heap of respect for books, I promise I don't wreck all I come in contact with LOL but I love if I pick up damaged or partly destroyed books that I can incorporate into a piece of art & sorta give the image a bit of a rebirth LOL, and some that you find actually inspire as well as help create the new work :)
Autumn, pleased you dropped by & thanks for your comment, 'beautifully creepy' it's apt combo of words esp with Halloween around the corner :)
Toriz so pleased you dropped by :)
Janet, she IS wicked isn't she LOL... I'm not exactly a writer, but I LOVE to write, I find writers amazingly seductive the way they use their power over words, I guess I'm more the brush in hand sorta girl but I do love the melding of both words & art... the way words can be so visual & art can tell a story :)
Fallingladies, thank you! Love happy endings :)
Melisa thanks, it seemed appropriate with Halloween coming up ;) Happy PPF to you!
Elle, yep gotta agree, so long as they are happy ones ;)
I love, love your work! So glad to see at PPF. I look forward to more. :-) Thanks for stopping by my blog and the very kind comments. Glad you liked my girl. :-)
Shelle I always have so much fun reading your posts, but this one in particular is wonderful! Thanks for sharing it.
I have seen them too, but nothing as whimsical and happy as yours.
Hi Shelle...I'm a bit late but I wanted you to know I just loved reading this post!
Oh Shelle... I love your stories... and this one is no exception... you are a natural... had me hanging onto every word :))
Thank you for visiting me... and your sweet comments... would absolutely love to trade...
Have a great day....
Jenny x
Crazy but fun story!!!
Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day!
Coralie
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