Things Wild and Extreme - Wouldn't Change a Thing.

The store front of what used to be the
Five and Dime in the 70's



Greetings fellow readers and new readers just joining us today. Looks like I have some explaining to do. As everyone knows my passion is to write, but with my extra busy creative mind, things happen and before I know it - I find myself behind a paint brush bringing ideas to life on glass. That's what happened over the month of October and derailed my intentions for spooky stories and crazy legends. So today I wanted to share with you what transpired that took the words that usually build into stories, and turned into painted creations. I don't think many of you know that I own my own business. It's very small, but for me - it keeps me out of trouble.  It all started when my mother took me, as a small child, to a 5 and dime store. For years I had always thought it was my Nana that took me, but writing this story today, one key piece of this story has clarified that it was not my Nana - it was my mother. She had a paper sack from a local grocery store and she told me that we could only get enough Christmas decorations that would fit in this bag. I remember the day like it was yesterday. Their was a huge stow banking from a plow truck that was trying to keep up with the endless amounts of snow that continued to fall to the ground that day. My mothers favorite thing to do, was to go out in weather like this, snow covered roads were nothing to be afraid of, she looked forward to the challenge and so did me and my mother. I remember the windows of the store being decorated with think strands of gold garland, a hug plastic Santa that was illuminated by one single 20 watt blub and plastic trees and toys finished off the look. I remember the chain link rubber floor mat that held that chunks of snow that fell from out boots, and the water stains on the old wooded floor, that creaked as we walked around. The glorious tones of Burl Ives singing "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3s1qLkNU38. I always had loved "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" so this music that had been on my favorite Christmas special - was the icing on the cake. The store was located in Lakeport, NH. I tried to find a picture on the internet of what the store looked like when it was a Five and Dime store, but to no avail. I found a bit more current from Google Earth and took a picture of with my camera to post.

 

Ok, so back to my story. I remember my mother and I being awe struck by the twinkling lights from was used to be screw in light bulb strands with colors of blue, red and green and could be swapped with lights of white and yellow. I still remember the smell of the lights as they got hot and the smell of the lead tinsel if it touched a hot bulb. She bought ornaments that looks like Germany old world designs, she got tinsel, lights, loads of gold garland, and the most important piece and what brought my memory back - the angel for the top of the tree. It was beautiful and was finished with real spun glass angel hair like looked like rays from heaven when the tree was illuminated each year.

 

Mom's entire paper sack was filled and flowing over, yet her entire purchase never exceeded five dollars, and back then spending five dollars on decorations was unheard of as money was tight. We were so proud of our finds and even more excited to take them home to decorate a tree. I loved that feeling of joy and glee. That with each year, I would be more and more excited for the holidays to arrive - hoping for the feeling of Christmas and family that had filled my heart at such a age. Many years later, I would find myself with my own family and having money problems and unable to find that feeling that I had once had so many years ago, until Christmas night in 1994, I was reminded in a dream - how to change things in my life.

 

Go to www.etsy.com, type in this store name: Ukanducrafts. It is here you read about how things became Wild and Extreme - and looking back on it - I wouldn't change a thing, but is the reason why I was unable find my words for the Halloween season. Enjoy.

 

 

Here is a sneak peak at some of my art work.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/211655856/extreme-snow-snowmoblie-extravaganza

 

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/169500411/its-wild-snow-handpainted-snowman-on-a-3?

ref=shop_home_active_11

 

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/210651022/seabee-handpainted-on-3-bubble-glass?ref=shop_home_active_10

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading my story today and I hope you enjoy browsing and/or shopping my online store. I ship all over the world and can personalize just about everything I sell. Blog ya later alligators. 

"Black Bird" Part Two

 

17 Days Until Halloween

 

“Black Bird”

Part Two

Original Story By: Stacey L. Bolin

Music to set the mood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E3zNHd936c

 

As she looked at the Black Bird, she watched as his eyes turned from black to hell fire red, then flapped its wings and crashed itself over and over into the picture window. Kim threw herself from the couch back onto the floor, the wind screamed in unison with the thunder as the rain beat heavy on the roof. The Black Bird squelched and hissed as he flew hard against the window several times until the raindrops that found their way onto the window began to turn a bloody red color.

"GO AWAY!" Kim screamed, "GO AWAY!" The Black Bird continued to slam the window over and over as the storm outside grew, with each hit the blood smeared the window until a small crack began appear...it was only a matter of time.

Slam, Slam, blood spattered with each forceful hit as the sounds of the glass cracking intensified. She grabbed the blanket and pillow she had on the couch, and did her best to cover her entire body to protect herself. Just as the blanket and pillow gave her a feeling of temporary refuge, the Black Bird crashed through the picture window. She felt the Glass, wind, and rain, fall upon her. The Black Bird Screeched and flew through the room in a full devil induced rage. It flew without caution as it slammed and smeared blood on the walls. She felt it hit her several times as it made it way aimlessly around the room and could hear it knocking over things and tearing apart the fabrics on the couch and chairs. Then in an instant the sound of breaking glass and a heavy thud to the floor was all she heard over the howling wind and rain.

She waited a moment, and then slowly peered out from under the pillow she had placed over her head. "The Black Bird, must have found its way out." she sighed a breath of relief. She was careful as to where she stood, as she got up, knowing that the room was filled with broken glass. As she slowly tried to make her way out of the living room towards the kitchen to call for help, she heard the cawing sound of a bird. She cautiously turned to see the Black Bird next to their entertainment center lying on a framed picture that had fallen and its broken glass all around it.

The thought of what her grandmother had said, about birds crashing through windows and dying, meant someone in the home was going to die, never crossed her mind as she stood waiting for it to gasp for its last breath. She was filled with anger at the mess it had caused. The once beautiful walls covered in blood stains, the lamps and decorations destroyed, the couch  tour by the birds sharp talons, and the rug ruined by the wind and the rain. One Black Bird had done all this damage. She remain standing as she watched the Black Bird twitch and then the hell fire red in its eyes turned to a glazed gray black. It was dead.

She went into the kitchen to call her mother at work to let her know what had just happened. You could hear the concern in her mother’s voice as Kim told her what had taken place. The call didn't last long, as her mother had instructed her to stay out of the living room and that she was on her way home to take pictures of the damage - maybe their insurance would cover it. But the one thing most important of all was when her mother said in a worried voice, "Do not touch that animal leave it lie. I want proof it was all because of a dang bird."

Kim, sat in the kitchen eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, when she heard her mother pull into the driveway. The car doors shut as her brother and sister exclaimed in unison as they quickly rushed up to the house to get out of the storm,  "Wow who broke the window!?"

"A bird broke through the window,' said their mother,  "so when you go into the house, please stay out of the living room. I think your sister is in the kitchen. Please ask her to get you both a snack."

Kim's mother just stood in the living room doorway, completely shocked at the sight that met her eyes with each glance around the room.  It resembled more of a horror scene from a movie like "Nightmare on Elem Street," or better yet, "The Texas Chainsaw Murders." She had called the insurance company to report the damage, to which they replied, they would need proof that it was a bird that caused the damage. She was glad to know that Kim had left the Black Bird alone so that she could take a photograph for the claim and the extensive damage that had been done; otherwise it was going to be a hard sell to explain this.

She took one picture after another, until she finally came to where the Black Bird had taken its last breath, upon a broken picture frame. A strange feeling began to well up in the pit of her stomach as a cold chill raced up her spine. Something was wrong. When she took all the pictures of their unwanted guest, she pushed the bird to one side to flip the picture frame over. Panic and sorrow cocooned her as she stared at the torn, bloody picture that had been of her husband that had been on the entertainment center where the rest of the family pictures had always been displayed.

"Strange" she thought to herself, "The rest of the pictures don't have a mark on them, and had not been moved according to the dust that was gathering on and around them. “Again, her stomach felt strange, nervous, ill, something, but she just couldn't put a finger on it.

She made the necessary calls to the insurance agent, and they immediately came out to the home so that they could make arrangements to get a carpenter over to cover the broken window, until it could be replaced. The cleaning of the home and the replacement of the damage or destroyed items, that would take a day or so to schedule a cleanup crew and get the necessary monies dispersed. Even the deductible of $1,000.00 was easier to deal with, than the thousands of dollars it would have cost without insurance, for all the repairs that one good sized Black Bird had caused.

Her agent took all the pictures of the damage, but felt a shroud of sorrow and death looming as he stepped through the room, I did his best to hide his concerns and went out his way to show compassion as Kim's mother walked with him in disbelief. When they were finally done, they both walked out into the kitchen to where all three kids where sitting around the table. It had been a long day for Kim, but somehow she managed to stay calm in front of everyone. The insurance again remarked to Kim, how happy he was that she had not been hurt in all of this.  But had she? As the storm continued to rage on,  the carpenters had hammered the last nail to secure a large sheet of plywood over the broken window. 

"If you need anything Ma'am, please contact me. This is my direct number." said the insurance agent. 

"I will, and thank you for coming out so quickly. It's not easy trying to get things done when my husband is out of town, especially when unexpected events take place."

"I understand Ma'am. Again, if there is anything you need, please contact us."

"Thank you," replied Kim's mom, as she walked him to the door. 

They managed to refrain from going back into the damaged room. They ate their dinner and then went upstairs to their rooms to get ready for bed.  Kim and her family realized that it was getting late, and no matter what had happened, it was over and it was time to get some rest. Nothing more could be done until morning and the worst was behind them…or so it seemed at that moment.

Join me tomorrow for the conclusion of "Black Bird" and delve into the hallows of the evil that awaits. Until then - I'll blog ya later.

 

 

Update on "Black Bird" and a glorious Bloomin' Bakes Apple Receipe - A Must Try

(I'm just seeing that this was posted Today - Tuesday - and not yesterday - Monday. As much as I hate to say it - I do believe it's time for a computer upgrade).

Being that it is a Holiday today, I remember as a little girl going to the Sandwich Fair, on the last day of a three day event, that always ended on a Monday - enjoying the baked apples, and all kinds of glorious fall desserts. So in honor of Columbus Day, I stepped to one side, holding off on the "Black Bird" Part 2, until Tomorrow. This was sent to me on my Facebook page. Can't find where the link went, but if I do, I'll put it on here so the author/chef gets the credit they deserve. Until tomorrow - Happy Holiday.

http://www.thegunnysack.com/2014/09/bloomin-baked-apples-recipe.html

 

 

Bloomin’ Baked Apples Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Honeycrisp apples (or other crisp apples)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp brown sugar, packed
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 4 caramels, unwrapped
• Optional toppings: vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. To get the blooming apple look, you need to cut the apples. Slice off the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the apples. Scoop out the core. I don’t have an apple corer so I used my metal 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon. Then, use a thin knife to make two, deep circular cuts around the center of the apple. Next, turn the apple over and make narrow cuts all the way around the apple. Flip it back over and you can see all of the cuts.
3. Place the apples in an oven safe dish and put two unwrapped caramels into the center of each apple.
4. Heat butter and brown sugar in the microwave for 30 second, stir and continue heating for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir in flour and cinnamon. Divide the mixture over the top of the two sliced apples.
5. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and use a large spoon to move the apples into bowls.
6. Top with a scoop of ice cream, drizzle with caramel and sprinkle with cinnamon. The ice cream will cause the caramel in the center to harden so eat quickly or put the ice cream scoop on the side.