Sunday, October 25, 2015

Egads, Ghosts?


Please enjoy this repeat of a blog post from Oct 17, 2011.

It's that time of year, and I'm getting into the spirit of things
by taking a departure from my 'normal' blog post by
participating in the Blog Carnival:
True Spooks 2011: True Ghost Stories
 organized by Tui of Mental Mosaic.

Update: 

Tui was recently featured on Teal Gray's radio show 
during which they and their listeners shared Ghost Stories.
Tui read my story during that special Halloween show. 
To listen to the show (aired 10/20/2015), click on the link here:
http://tuisnider.com/2015/10/20/vote-on-your-favorite-ghost-stories-from-the-tgww-radio-show/

Without further ado, let's get to some paranormal talk!

My story begins with
a Closet Encounter
on Elm Street

I'd say I was between 8 and 10 years old, when this happened to me. 
I wouldn't call it a 'ghost sighting' but more an encounter with the other side. 
We had moved into a 100-year-old home on Elm Street 
in a small quaint town in Massachusetts. 
The house was huge and had lots of nooks and crannies to explore, 
especially for a curious young kid. 
Spider webs, bugs, critters, mud, nothing deterred the inquisitive spirit.



Home alone with only my Mom one day, I was on the 3rd floor (attic) exploring when I spotted a thick book up on a high shelf in one of the bedroom closets. I grabbed a ladder, climbed up, and gingerly lifted the book from the shelf and carried it down the ladder. I rested it on one of the steps and examined the aging leather-bound cover. It was a Bible, with a print date of 1833.

The book today

As I flipped it open, I found an old photo, a Daguerrotype image, of a family--a man, woman, and 2 children. Since moving into the house, I had wondered about the people who had lived there before us, and thought that these were the people. I was so excited about this discovery and of course I wanted to share it with my Mom. However, I wanted her to see how I found the book and its contents, exactly.

Today

So I carefully placed the book back where I originally found it. I ran downstairs and as I barely contained my excitement, I shouted, "Mom, come up here and see what I found!" She immediately joined me and we went back up to the attic together, proceeding to the closet where the newly found 'treasure' was located. I climbed up the ladder, carefully removed the book, and showed it to her. I told her about the photo as I opened the Bible to show it to her. To my surprise, it was no longer there. We then looked all around the closet, even lifting floorboards to see if the photo had slipped between the cracks. That day, and for years after, I continued to look for the photo, 
but it has never been found.

The attic window

That was the first of many unexplained occurrences 
that I recall experiencing in The House on Elm Street.

Please share your experiences
of encounters of an unusual kind!

~Kit Aerie-el

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Fiendish Fungus, aka Sporotrichosis


He that sows thorns should never go barefoot.  ~ Benjamin Franklin

Are you a gardener? Do you work with or around roses or pyracantha? Perhaps you handle hay while working on a farm or with horses? Maybe you mix up your own potting soil or make hypertufa pots, using sphagnum moss? Do you scratch about in the soil as you plant your favorite new nursery finds? Or perhaps you enjoy turning that compost heap?

If you answered 'yes' to any of the above, you need to know this. Sporotrichosis schenckii is a fungus that is found on the above items. If you are punctured by a rose thorn or stalk of hay, if you breathe in some of that sphagnum moss as you toss it, if you have an open wound and come into contact with the soil or decaying plants, it is possible for this fungus to invade your body and begin to grow.

Wingthorn Rose,
Rosa sericea ssp omeiensis f. pteracantha

Although it is uncommon, you can develop the fungal disease Sporotrichosis. You may know this as Rose Thorn Disease, Rose Gardener's Disease, Farmer's Disease, Rose Handler's Disease, or Gardener's Disease. While Rosarians may be familiar with this disease, many others are not. This disease can be difficult to diagnose because the fungus can be a deceptive infection. So you need to know the causes (stated above), the symptoms, and treatment.

According to the CDC website, it takes 1 - 12 weeks for symptoms to appear. Without anti-fungal medication, the area will swell, possible rupture, and can even spread to the lymph nodes, and to other parts of the body (in extreme cases, or in those with weakened immune systems). If you breathe in the spores, the symptoms are similar to pneumonia, with shortness of breath, cough, and fever.

I have been a victim of numerous rose thorn punctures over the years, but this year was different. Weeks after the punctures, my hand began to swell. Because some bacterial infections mimic the symptoms of Sporotrichosis, my doctor initially treated me with antibiotics. After 2 courses of them, and with symptoms returning even more pronounced than before, my doctor prescribed anti-fungal medication. I also subsequently saw hand specialist and infectious disease doctors.

Lacking a biopsy at the outset to identify the specific cause, the infectious disease doctor stated that he believes the correct diagnosis was Sporotrichosis based on my symptoms' response to the anti-fungal medication.


It is important to note that if any portion of the infected material remains in the body, no amount of medication will eliminate the infection. As soon as the medication stops, the material will begin to infect the body again, until the object is removed. To rule out the presence of a foreign body, I had an ultrasound done, which confirmed there was no foreign body remaining.

As I write this, I've been on medication almost three months, and my course of treatment isn't yet complete. I will continue to take the medication for an additional 4 weeks following the absence of symptoms. This isn't surprising because, according to the CDC website, the normal course of treatment for Sporotrichosis is 3 to 6 months of anti-fungal medication.

The New York State Department of Health has a fact sheet with suggestions on how to protect against getting Sporotrichosis. They include wearing gloves (I was wearing regular gardening gloves; I now wear thick rose gloves when I'm anywhere near roses), long sleeves, and avoiding direct physical contact with objects that could have the fungus. It's probably overkill, but I've also started wearing a good face mask whenever I work with potting soil.

My current 'rose' of choice,
not a rose at all.

Rose Campion, 
Lychnis coronaria

~Kit Aerie-el


(Disclaimer: I'm not a physician. I composed this information from research and personal experience. I had a physician review the article prior to publishing.)




Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Wordless Wednesday - Monarch Butterflies





 It's a Girl!


 This is a boy.
See the small black bulges on the lines near his body?



#SaveTheMonarchs #Monarch #Butterflies
grow #milkweed #organic
#nature #photography

All these beauties were in my yard, 
near St Louis, Missouri.

to see other images from around the world.

Until next time,
Happy Gardening!

~Kit 'Aerie-el'


Friday, June 26, 2015

Bella Madrona visit - Garden Bloggers Fling 2014

Hello dear blog readers!
It's been some time since we last met.
The schedule has been tough to carve out writing and editing time,
but inspiration abounds after reading so many of your blogs.


Garden blogs have been a-buzz
with details about the Garden Bloggers Fling 2015 in Toronto, Canada. 
All those wonderful posts have me looking back at the hundreds of pictures I took
at last year's #GBFling14 in Portland.


The Portland Fling ended on a magical note, with a visit to
the private garden of Bella Madrona,
where every turn of the 5 sprawling acres had 
beauty, whimsy, and lovely vignettes.


Upon entering the gardens, seating areas beckoned one to sit, enjoy, relax.
As I looked through my photos of this garden, a theme emerged-- 
the owners had thoughtfully placed a wonderful variety of seating 
wherever the visitor might enjoy a respite to enjoy the scenery,
rest, visit, and enjoy a beverage.












And then there was
the whimsy.......







And
sheer beauty......





As we embarked upon the final Fling journey back to the hotel,
we took with us the memories of friendships made,
treasures found, and an unforgettable weekend.


With many thanks to all the organizers of the Portland Fling 2014.
And a wish to all of you, that your summer or winter,
depending on your hemisphere,
is a wonderful one!

~Kit Aerie-el





Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Happy Spring!

Yes, Virginia....


there is a spring.



And it has finally arrived in St Louis.

 Happy Spring,
Happy Gardening!

~Kit Aerie-el


Saturday, March 7, 2015

Orchid Show 2015 - Missouri Botanical Gardens

Last weekend it was freezing cold outside, so where better to escape 
than to the warm, indoor display of gorgeous #Orchids
at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St Louis. 


If you aren't able to visit in person,
please enjoy a walk through the exhibit
through the lens of my camera.














































Wishing all of you in the northern hemisphere 
a fond farewell to winter and
a very happy welcome to spring!

~Kit Aerie-el