Halloween Blog Post

Welcome!

I have a very special Halloween blog post for you since Greg and I got to visit a very special place in St. Francisville, Louisiana, The Myrtles Plantation!

Here it is!-

Although it's a very attractive place, The Myrtles has a dark secret, it's "one of America's most haunted homes"!

Greg and I became aware of The Myrtles from various television shows like "Ghost Hunters."

We enjoyed an interesting, informative tour of the historic antebellum house.

We were pleased that we got to take pictures (without a flash, except for one mirror) since that's what we love to do. (Some historic homes don't allow any pictures to be taken.)

Greg and I took several pictures of the house, but we found that the room above was the most haunted. Notice the red color emanating from the light above this portrait. There is also ectoplasm to the right of the closer vase, at the bottom of the portrait (two places), and on the the wall to the left of the mantle, there is a white orb (unless, instead, it's actually something mundane like a light switch!)

Here's another room in this lovely home, but we didn't catch anything on camera in this room. Instead, when you look into the green room to the left, there is something strange there.

Here's a close-up of that room-

Notice the white orb! Guess what? This is the very same room that has the ectoplasm near the portrait above (two pictures back). This is also the room with a creepy little girl portrait that was finished from a "sitting" after she died!

You never can predict what will happen when you take paranormal pictures.

Some days, some places, you'll easily get lots of great paranormal photos. Other times. the orbs, ectoplasm, and apparitions are few and far between even in the most haunted of houses.

There are different reasons why your paranormal photographs turn out to be good or not so good:

-The weather-for instance, stormy weather seems to attract more spirits, etc,
-You need to use a flash when photographing old mirrors. Otherwise, most of the time, nothing significant will show up.
-The photographer needs to be in a good frame of mind.
-Sometimes, spirits hide, which makes capturing them on camera impossible.
-Usually, taking plenty of pictures insures success in getting paranormal photos.
-Sometimes you get paranormal photos when you're least thinking about them. It's best not to try too hard. 

For example, I was just taking a picture of this lovely country road in Mississippi when the large moving orb was picked up on camera. Wow! Love it!

Now, you might want to try your own paranormal photography skills which can be quite an adventure!

There's plenty to do the next couple of weeks Halloween-wise-visiting haunted houses, forests, etc. (fake and real), trick-or-treating, attending Halloween parties, or even hosting a party of your own!

You might want to head to The Myrtles Plantation in the deep South where you possibly could see or hear something supernatural like some of  the workers and some of the visitors have. If you're brave enough, you could even spend the night there! Find out about the legend of Chloe, and get a paranormal Chloe postcard like Greg and I did! Great inexpensive souvenir!

Anyway, whatever you choose to do this Halloween, be safe and have fun!

Thanks for visiting! Until, Saturday, November 17, 2018, Becky

Octagon Hall, Franklin, Kentucky

Welcome!

This is a very special blog post about a very special place in Franklin, Kentucky, Octagon Hall. It is steeped in Civil War history, and it is also very haunted!

Octagon Hall

According to the Octagon Hall brochure, "It has been featured on A&E, Travel Channel, Syfy Channel, History Channel, and others." Also, it "has been visited by over 250 Paranormal Teams." The popular "Ghost Hunters" television show featured Octagon Hall during season 9.

The reason that Octagon Hall is so haunted is because of tragedies that happened to the Caldwell family that once lived there. It's also haunted because of the slaves that lived on the property. In addition, Octagon Hall has ties to the Civil War. Some soldiers even died there.

I must say that it is one of the most haunted places that Greg and I have ever visited, and we have plenty of paranormal photos to prove it! Over half of the photos that we took there have a least some ectoplasm in them.

Here's one of the first photos I took on our tour featuring our guide, Debra-

We knew we'd be successful getting more paranormal photos that day at Octagon Hall after I captured this large orb on camera.

Debra told us some very interesting stories about the house including the fact that the piano in that very room (above) was haunted.

We also found out that there are different entities that come and go as well as the regulars like Mary Elizabeth, a young girl who tragically died when her clothes caught on fire at the fireplace in the basement kitchen.

Notice the ectoplasm in the upper part of the photo. There is also some ectoplasm on the wall beside the fireplace. I couldn't believe it when I saw a YouTube video of this same room that had some ectoplasm similar to mine.

We were told that a small boy, who fell down the stairs and died, haunts this place. We aren't sure if these are the steps, but nevertheless, there's a large orb on this stairway.

Greg and I had about the same number of paranormal photographs of this place, and here are a couple of Greg's-

Notice the white glowing ectoplasm in the picture hanging on the wall on the right.

These costumed figures add to the creepiness of this place, and I believe they help attract the spirits that are there.

I cropped off Greg's photo to better show the ectoplasm that is on this figure. Notice the white ectoplasm on his body, and also right above the boot. As I was researching more today to write this blog post, I found out from a video that one Confederate soldier who had been with General Morgan's group had been wounded in the foot. He died from his wound in that house after he took off his boot. Could the ectoplasm in this photo be related to that? When I first saw the photo, I thought it was strange that ectoplasm showed up near the boot like that. Might the Confederate soldier ghost be attached to this figure?

This is Billy Byrd, the Director of Octagon Hall. He has been there for 18 years.

Barry (Bear) Gaunt is a volunteer who is there quite a bit. He has a paranormal research group, "Night Stalkers" that investigates "Hauntings, UFO's, Abductions, and Strange Creatures" according to his business card. See nightstalkersparanormal.org for more info.

Barry said that whole area for miles around had a lot of paranormal activity because it's on the 37th parallel.

The three people I featured today on this blog were very hospitable and knowledgeable, and they have seen and heard a lot, especially at Octagon Hall. They do have stories to tell about all types of paranormal phenomena there. Besides ectoplasm showing up in photos and videos, they have also seen shadowy figures and have heard voices and strange noises both inside and outside of the house.

It even looks scary on the grounds of Octagon Hall! Notice the orb in the lower right side of this photo.

If you enjoy history or the paranormal, you'd love this place.

You could take a tour like Greg and I did, or you could even go on an Octagon Hall ghost hunt with Syfy's "Ghost Hunters," Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango, and Bruce Tango on May 26, 2018, if there's still room. Should be very entertaining for those who are brave enough!

FYI:
www.octagonhall.com

For more of Greg's and my paranormal photos, you might enjoy my book, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind" which is now available either in paperback or as a kindle download on Amazon.

http://amzn.to/2usXWIO

Thanks for visiting! Until Saturday, May 19, 2018, Becky

The Paranormal-What to Write About?

Welcome!

The last couple of weeks, I've been in a quandary about what to write for this blog post. Usually, there are at least two or three paranormal photos that I've taken in a month's time, but this past month, I've been busy with other projects, so that's why I have nothing to show as far as paranormal photos go.

Just last week, I told Greg that I had no idea about what to write since basically nothing paranormal had happened.

Well, a few days ago, all that changed. Bam, bam, bam! One after another, strange things started to happen. It's just as if the spirits were saying to me, "We want you to know that we are always around even though you may not be aware of us!"

Things tend to happen in three's, and these paranormal occurrences are no exception-

-I had been on an organizing job at someone's house, and I always take my hand soap with me in case I need it since I have very sensitive skin. When I got home, I couldn't find it anywhere, but a few days later, it turned up in one of my carrying cases, wedged among some other things, upside down, and some of it had even spilled out. I never would have put it in the case like that, and I can't understand why I hadn't seen it earlier.

-A couple of days later, I was fixing supper in our kitchen, when I heard a sound behind me that was coming from the dining room. It sounded like some glassware hitting against each other. Immediately, a went to the dining room, thinking the cats were jumping around in there, but there was not a cat to be found!

Glassware on Buffet in Dining Room

-Finally, just last night, I was watching a TV show that I really like, so I sat on the coffee table in our living room so I could see it better, so I wouldn't miss anything. Right behind me, it sounded like one of our cats jumped off the couch onto the floor, but when I looked around, Mitzi was sound asleep on the back of the couch, and Kallie was in the dining room, quietly lying on the rug.

A few minutes later, I noticed Mitzi quickly jumping off her perch on the couch. As she looked toward the dining room, she acted like she was stalking something. I thought she was after Kallie, but she wasn't. Kallie had since moved into the living room. Mitzi sat on the floor and intently stared toward the dining room for several minutes. I saw nothing. (Our two cats seem to be very psychic, and they see a lot of stuff we miss. Wonder what Mitzi saw?)

My psychic ability often manifests, of course, when I'm taking pictures. Also, I do sometimes hear strange things, and sometimes I have psychic dreams, but to my knowledge, I have never seen a ghost or a spirit with my own eyes. Keep in mind, however, that it is possible, to see and even talk with spirits that you mistake for real flesh and blood people!

Psychic ability takes many forms, and we're all psychic to a certain extent, but I have no idea what is behind the incidents above which I described. So, in a few days, I might consult with a psychic that does readings, to find out exactly what is going on.

If I found out anything noteworthy, I'll mention it on next month's blog post.

I recently found an interesting website-
 http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-paranormal-television-tv-shows-and-series/reference

TV fans can go on that site and vote for their favorite TV shows, including the paranormal ones.

Around 90 paranormal shows were listed to vote on. "Ghost Adventures" was number one.

Strangely, some of the most popular shows like "Ghost Hunters" (no. 3) and "The Haunted Collector" (no. 11) have been cancelled. What are these networks thinking?

I think that "Finding Bigfoot" should be ranked higher than 43. In my opinion, that show gets better with every season.

I believe I'll go to that website soon and vote for my favorites. Maybe voting will positively influence the networks to keep showing, and even put back on, the best programs.

Happy voting!

Thanks for visiting! Until, Saturday, March 18, 2017, Becky

Halloween Season Must-sees

Welcome!

There are many great Halloween-type things this year that I'd like to make you aware of in the next few weeks leading up to Halloween.

A Supposed-to-Be-Haunted House in Our Town (Do you see anything strange?) 

First of all, there's an interesting, really well-done all-year-long blog devoted to "celebrate all things Halloween,"  " Something wicKED this way comes."  It's in high gear right now that the Halloween season is almost upon us.

The blogger for the above-mentioned blog is Ked from my old hometown of Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  In fact, he and his family were our next-door neighbors.  He got his love of Halloween from his mother who would often dress up in a creepy costume on Halloween night, knock on our door, and scare the living daylights out of us!  It was all in fun, and we loved it!

So, to put some scary and fun in your Halloween, be sure and check out Ked's blog:
www.wickedwaysproductions.blogspot.com

Reminder, tomorrow (Sunday) night, The Weather Channel's new series, "American Super/Natural" is on  10/9 c with an episode entitled, "Legend of the Gray Man."  The preview, in my opinion, was pretty scary!

Also, the next episode of Syfy's "Ghost Hunters" (Wednesday 9/8 c) involves the overwhelming smell of chocolate during one of their investigations which is a very appropriate smell just in time for Halloween (as in "trick-or-TREAT"! Yum!).

On my next post, I'll fill you in on a must-see and -do haunted place that I believe you'd love if you the paranormal is your thing!

Thanks for visiting!  Until next Saturday (if you dare!), Becky

The Paranormal on TV

Welcome!

It looks like even "The Weather Channel" is getting into the paranormal, at least for a while, as this is the season for all things paranormal.

Photo by Becky Arnott 

"The Weather Channel" has a new show, entitled "American Super/Natural." This show (To quote "The Weather Channel") "gives viewers a never before seen look into how weather can shape local legends.  Small town Americana has been haunted for hundreds of years by monsters that weather created and and folklore fostered...Each episode...features a legend's fascinating origin story, history, weather, and first hand accounts told by the people who believe these tales."

"American Super/Natural" begins this Sunday night, October 5 at 10/9 c with "The Horrifying Legend of Moll Dyer."

I just recently became aware of a show on "The Learning Channel" ("TLC"), "Angels Among Us," which features psychic Rosie Cepero who can communicate with guardian angels.  She shares angels' messages on the show in the form of readings for those who want them.

"Angels Among Us" is on Sundays at 10/9 c.

Big news: The popular Syfy series, "Ghost Hunters," returns this Wednesday, October 8 at 9/8 c for their tenth anniversary and 200th episode celebration with one of the show's founders, Grant Wilson, coming back to help TAPS celebrate.

The rest of October, "Ghost Hunters" is on Wednesdays at 10/9 c.

Syfy also features the "31 Days of Halloween" in October.

It looks like there's plenty of paranormal on TV to keep us busy this month!  Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting!  Until next Saturday, Becky

  

Paranormal TV Shows

Welcome!

I happened to have Syfy on one morning earlier this week, and a rerun of one of my all-time favorite shows was on, "Haunted Collector."  I feel the show was really well-done and thoroughly entertaining.  They had interesting tidbits like, animal spirits can become attached to objects just as the spirits of people can.  Unbelievably, the show was cancelled late last year.  I recently posted a comment on Syfy's Facebook page that, in my opinion, it shouldn't have been cancelled.  A bunch of other people are of the same opinion.  I think that if we let those responsible for airing these shows know how we feel, maybe we can improve TV, one show at a time.

I also let them know that I was unhappy that "Fact or Faked" had been cancelled.  However, as I did further research, I discovered that maybe there's hope for that show, because as of now, no announcement has been made one way or the other for 2014 for "Fact or Faked."  Hopefully, they'll bring it back this year.  Greg and I both think it's ingenious, the ideas they come up with in the show, to solve the mysteries of  the videos that may or may not have been faked.  Sometime today, after I finish this blog post, I'm going on the "Fact or Faked" Facebook page to offer my support.

Let's let all these networks know how we feel!

In Syfy's favor, we're so happy "Ghost Hunters" and "Paranormal Witness" are still on.  Also, kudos to Syfy for airing "The Twilight Zone," which Greg and I both love.  We've even got "The Twilight Zone" DVD.  I'm planning on getting the rest of the show's episodes soon.

It's not just Syfy that has paranormal shows, as the Travel Channel has two great shows, "Ghost Adventures" and "The Dead Files."  The people on these two shows, as well as the ones I mentioned above, are, to me, just as interesting as the ghosts, etc.

For example, Zack and his team are so funny and entertaining on "Ghost Adventures."

Also, I kept wondering who the guy was on "The Dead Files" who goes through the haunted places and takes down pictures, etc. before Amy Allen does her walks.  I thought they should identify him on the show which, unless I missed something, they don't.  Anyway, I checked "The Dead Files" website where I found out that he's Amy's husband.  He talks about Amy, and what it's like being married to a psychic on a video on the site.  Also, she gives a tour of her hometown, etc.  Very interesting!

To show the popularity of the paranormal right now, even "Animal Planet" has gotten in on the act with their intriguing show, "Finding Bigfoot."

Through the above engrossing, entertaining shows, as well as a few others that I didn't mention, we are given glimpses into a world that for most of us is full of mystery, that would be hard to imagine without some of these great shows which are there for us to see, learn, and enjoy.

May the best paranormal shows always be on TV, as we all try to solve the mysteries of the universe!

Thanks for visiting!  Until next Saturday, Becky