Anyway- here's what's been going on: NOT A WHOLE LOT. I'm not sure whether it's because there really hasn't been much activity in the house lately, or because we blame pretty much everything, including global warming, on our new puppy these days. Meet Opie.
Isn't he cute? He's also a holy terror. Which means we're not as likely to notice strange noises or things disappering or being moved as we once were.
I was thinking today, when I realized how long it's been since I've posted anything, about how much things have changed. We've been in our haunted house nearly two years now. Within the first six months, I found a dead bat in my living room, a chipmunk swimming in my toilet, and a rabid mouse in the drawer under my oven- chewed right through a wall to get into the house! Since then, nothing.
There were smoke detectors being set off all hours of the day and night, footprints on the floor, things flying and breaking and moving and slamming- so much craziness, it felt like living in a movie. Now? Just a noise or movement out of the corner of one's eye or a creepy feeling now and then.
Maybe it was all just a show of force when we first moved in. Or maybe they got sick of us bugging them back (a la, the four paranormal investigations in a year's time) and decided to leave us alone in hopes that we'd return the favor. Either way, I dare say peace has come to the C Fam abode. Here are some updates I've been meaning to share, but just haven't had time:
Fourth Investigation: The findings from our fourth paranormal investigation didn't turn up any evidence aside from the experiences we had during the investigation (which are documented in my last post.) At this time, we don't have any further investigations planned. But who knows? That could always change...
History Lesson: A couple months back, I got an email from one of the former owners of the house. His family owned/lived in the house for nearly fifty years until selling it to my landlord. He found out we were digging into the history of the house, and wanted to share some information with me.
First and foremost, my "haunted farmhouse" isn't really a farmhouse at all. Just a house. In the 1800s, it was part of a plot of farmland. The original farmhouse still stands, and is our next door neighbor to the west of us, on the other side of the abandoned lot. In the early 1900s, the land was divided up into several properties- a small one with the original house and barn, an empty lot with a barn where shetland ponies were raised (now the abandoned barn), our property, and our next door neighbor to the east 's property. What we call the "chicken coop" was part of that farm, and is the oldest structure on our property. (Which may explain why it's the most haunted.)
His family did not build the house, as I'd always believed. It was owned by at least one other family before his family bought it in the 1950's. We've not been able to find any history on that family, or anyone who lived in the house prior to his family buying it.
He had no idea why the house might be haunted, and didn't have a lot of personal experiences to share. He did say that the abandoned barn out back always gave him the creeps, and told me about a time when he was maybe 11 or 12, the first time he was allowed to stay home alone. It was winter, and it was snowing. He was in the house by himself, and heard footsteps outside, crunching in the snow, all around the house. He was (understandably) terrified, and thought someone was trying to break in. When he went outside the next morning to look- no footprints, just fresh snow.
Halloween Haunting: When you live in a haunted house, Halloween parties are pretty much obligatory. We had a houseful of "amateur ghost hunters" mulling around all night. Here's one photo that was snapped in the basement by my friend Tena. Some people claim to see the shadow of a face right in the middle of the picture. Do you see it?
That's pretty much all I've got for ya right now. I truly can't recall the last real "incident" we've had. But I'll be sure to keep everyone posted. In the mean time....no news is good news. Right?
