Haunted Mansion? Srsly. Oh, and Clam Chowder!

So…as you all know the saga of my .08 DUI story, I have a juicy update for you. I have finished my DUI classes as required by the DMV (w00t), and this Saturday will be the last day of five that I have of doing community service.

I had been told many, many horror stories of wearing orange vests and being hauled up the mountain side to cut down trees with a chainsaw (they should not give these to horror writers), or cleaning public park restrooms, or picking up trash along the freeway. I got my assignment three weeks ago, and without giving away what this place is, I can only describe it as a non-profit sort of thing in a gorgeous historical old single family mansion nestled very remotely in the North Bay. I’m omitting the name only because I’m not sure its public knowledge that they get volunteers from the Sheriff’s department work program.

The Muppet drops me off and picks me up, then gets the use of my vehicle for the day. The winding ride was a bit on the treacherous side in the rain, through one-lane roads and up a mountain, past flooded park roads and creekbeds and along a little one lane road that had a mud slide problem already in full swing. Last weekend, however, it was gorgeous, and the primrose was in full bloom.

When we got to the place, it was breathtakingly beautiful – a three story HUMONGOUS Great House, with beautiful heart-shaped garden in front (this would give it away to anyone in the 'know'), winding paths throughout what I can only call a “compound”, and many other unique things…several coyotes and one rather curious mountain lion.

Essentially, I wound up working in a very cool, very old, and very haunted mansion. There is a wonderful story about how the house was built and why, and by whom and for what purpose. As all good haunted houses come with, it is of course a love story. I’m told you can see some of its rooms on various historical shows throughout the various Discovery Channel and History Channel episodes, for reenactments and such too.

I wound up doing work in rooms that the other staff would not go into, or not go into alone. I was told wonderful stories about a certain male ghost pushing her (the staff member telling me) down a certain set of stairs, and that someone indeed did die on those steps. I was told of another (the same, perhaps) male that haunts the 2nd floor, and often the guests complain about him and several psychics have been there all with the same account of the angry gentleman on the 2nd floor…I smelled the distinct scent of burning wax candles upon the landing of the 2nd floor at the top of the stair case, and the warmth of them on my person – despite there being no heat and very little light in the old building itself. Most thermostats registered 60-62 degrees throughout the 3rd floor.

I spent time in the spookiest room on the third floor, which has a temperature far below any other room in the house, and an ominous hole in the brick that leads no where, seemingly set for no reason at all (not the type you’d have for a wood burning stove or pipe). It's called the "sewing" room. I explored nooks and strange little rooms, lots of wonderful hidden doors, and lots of interesting old things.

At the end of two days, I was also offered a job. I'm considering coming back for some weekends in the summer.

I find it incredibly ironic that they sent a horror writer to a great old ominous and haunted mansion in the middle of no where as…punishment.

On Saturday evening I made the Muppet some of my home made clam chowder...only I couldn't find the base recipe I originally modified from the Frugal Gourmet, but what I created will go down in history as the BEST. CHOWDER. EVER.

Vegans beware, this is not for you...but those of you who can do dairy and seafood, just omit the bacon and bacon drippings/fat, and use Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a substitute.

Here is the yumminess...oh, and by the by....you may want to cut this in half, as it makes 12 servings easily.

INGREDIENTS

4 cans clams, drained with juice set aside
3 1/4 cups vitamin D milk
2 cups half and half
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
2/3 cup fresh chopped basil
2 ribs celery
6 scallions, diced (save green ends and chop for chives)
1/2-2/3 cup flour
3 large russet potatoes cubed and boiled (mash half of them)
2/3 of a large yellow onion, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
Thyme to taste
Oregano to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
Sea Salt and Fresh ground pepper
1/12 sticks unsalted sweet butter
6 strips bacon (maple or hickory) chopped
1/4 cup bacon fat/drippings

Combine the clam juice with the milk and set it aside. In large stock pot heat bacon fat, 1/2 stick of butter, garlic, onions, celery, and a pinch of the fresh herbs at a time. Add another 1/2 stick of butter, more herbs and repeat. Cook until the onions are translucent, then add the rest of the herbs along with the thyme and oregano. (you are making a roux). Add flour and stir until incorporated, then cook while stirring frequently for 5 mintues. Slowly add the milk/clam juice mixture, stirring it in until incorporated.

Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add potatoes, both mashed and cubed. Stir to incorporate, then add cayenne, clams, and bacon bits. Stir in half-n-half slowly, then simmer for 10 more minutes.

Add chives to garnish in bowls. Serves 12~!

Labels: food, ghosts

posted by Rain at 11:50 AM

House Guest Meets House Ghost

The ghost has been interestingly active.

Tea Rose is staying with me until she gets on her feet here in the Bay Area, and she’s been attending my felines and giving them lots of attention while I’ve not been at home. She makes a lovely edition to the house, and is probably one of the few people I’d consider as a roommate if I ever was not so crotchety of a hermatic writer that likes having her own space.

Muppet Man has deemed one of my more Victorian ghosts “George,” though we are pretty certain that’s not his name…and “George” seems to like being recognized as George anyway…so the name stuck. Everyone’s just taken to calling him that. People catch glimpses of him occasionally – a vintagey dapper man of his mid-thirties, usually in a period top hat and coat or a suit with a handlebar mustache. He has dark features – brown hair and eyes. He likes to read the paper at the table in my chair, or in the blue velvet livingroom chair, which we have all deemed as “George’s Chair.” He likes that spot the best.

Before Tea Rose arrived a few weeks ago, I gave her the full disclosure on the several ghosties that happen to come and go and occasionally make themselves known. George being the most omnipresent, we had to explain how he likes to move things around in certain areas – namely the knick-knacks on the TV stand. Occasionally he’s been known to move things like Muppet Man’s wallet and phone, which he always puts in the same place, so that he leaves without them. He’s done as much to Midnight as well in the past – once rearranging some candles and photos from across the room and moving them to another spot. He once hid Lily_dove’s purse from her so she couldn’t leave until we asked George to reveal it. It turned up on the couch – a spot we’d both checked thoroughly with no luck. A purse is a big thing. You don’t just…miss it sitting right there on the couch when you’ve searched the couch *cracks*.

George has also been known, when in dislike of certain persons in the room, to fling the horn off the Victrola, or move objects that only the person of his annoyance can see. Der Stefanator witnessed several of these occasions, as he was not well-liked by George. Typically he dislikes males (he’s only ever flung the horn three different times, at three different males). He’s sort of like an over protective big brother…in that “I’m invisible! You can’t see me but I can see you, ha-ha!” kind of way.

George seemed to be very accepting of Tea Rose and has been quiet, but for reasons we could not understand, he flung a heavy red vase off my bookshelf in my bedroom when she was standing next to it, that was still bearing dried flowers given me by CelticCoyote many moons ago. I hadn’t cleaned them out, but had been meaning to before Tea Rose came to stay, just out of cleaning purposes…but forgot.

At approximately the same time George was flinging the dead flowers in proximity to Tea Rose (she caught the vase and replaced it on the shelf, and was rather startled), Muppet Man was buying me some lovely new flowers. We did not know this, however…until he showed up at my place with the bouquet – to which I was much delighted, and immediately cleaned out the vase since I didn’t have another. When I asked him when he’d bought them, the timing coincided exactly with the “George” incident, to which we all just guessed he was instigating me to clean out the vase in preparation…and was not at all expressing displeasure at Tea Rose.

The other ghosties are active most often in the Summer...where-as George is active year-round, and has become somewhat of a fixture in my apartment. So much so, that when he’s gone for periods of time, I actually feel his absence. He’s part of the house.

Suffice to say…I haven’t written much in this journal lately (as the Muppet reminded me this weekend). I’ve been busier than I’d like to be, and not at all writing much because of it. We are down two people at the office, and I’m taking up the slack. They’ve hired me a temp, but she can only do so much. To top it off, I may have to travel to Chicago and Vegas as a result of these new responsibilities. Chicago in February is not on the top of my list of “things to do,” unless the to-do list were more aptly titled, “Things to do that Will Give Me Frostbite.”

I’m still chipping away at the Novel I’m Not Supposed to Be Writing Because of the Other Novel I’m Past Due On…but the going is slow. Another 10,000 words and I’ll be 70% done.

It occurs to me that WHC2008 is just a few months away, too.

Labels: ghosts

posted by Rain at 1:35 PM