Halloween Countdown, Day 15
Oct. 15th, 2011 07:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eldritchhobbitEvery year, my parents send their granddog, the fabulous Virginia, a Halloween costume for her to wear (as well as treats to bribe her to model for pictures). This year's was Princess Leia from Star Wars -- a bit of a family joke, as it was my Halloween costume when I was six. Poor Virginia, paying for my past! LOL.
As always, you can see more pictures of Virginia here.
Text of the Day: Today's short story is "The House of Nightmare" by Edward Lucas White (1866-1934).
Excerpt:
Conspicuous on the orchard side between two of the flanking trees was a white object, which I took to be a tall stone, a vertical splinter of one of the tilted limestone reefs with which the fields of the region are scarred.
The road itself I saw plain as a boxwood ruler on a green baize table. It gave me a pleasurable anticipation of a chance for a burst of speed. I had been painfully traversing closely forested, semi-mountainous hills. Not a farmhouse had I passed, only wretched cabins by the road, more than twenty miles of which I had found very bad and hindering. Now, when I was not many miles from my expected stopping-place, I looked forward to better going, and to that straight, level bit in particular.
As I sped cautiously down the sharp beginning of the long descent the trees engulfed me again, and I lost sight of the valley. I dipped into a hollow, rose on the crest of the next hill, and again saw the house, nearer, and not so far below.
The tall stone caught my eye with a shock of surprise. Had I not thought it was opposite the house next the orchard? Clearly it was on the left-hand side of the road toward the house. My self-questioning lasted only the moment as I passed the crest. Then the outlook was cut off again; but I found myself gazing ahead, watching for the next chance at the same view.
At the end of the second hill I only saw the bit of road obliquely and could not be sure, but, as at first, the tall stone seemed on the right of the road.
Read the complete short story.
As always, you can see more pictures of Virginia here.
Text of the Day: Today's short story is "The House of Nightmare" by Edward Lucas White (1866-1934).
Excerpt:
Conspicuous on the orchard side between two of the flanking trees was a white object, which I took to be a tall stone, a vertical splinter of one of the tilted limestone reefs with which the fields of the region are scarred.
The road itself I saw plain as a boxwood ruler on a green baize table. It gave me a pleasurable anticipation of a chance for a burst of speed. I had been painfully traversing closely forested, semi-mountainous hills. Not a farmhouse had I passed, only wretched cabins by the road, more than twenty miles of which I had found very bad and hindering. Now, when I was not many miles from my expected stopping-place, I looked forward to better going, and to that straight, level bit in particular.
As I sped cautiously down the sharp beginning of the long descent the trees engulfed me again, and I lost sight of the valley. I dipped into a hollow, rose on the crest of the next hill, and again saw the house, nearer, and not so far below.
The tall stone caught my eye with a shock of surprise. Had I not thought it was opposite the house next the orchard? Clearly it was on the left-hand side of the road toward the house. My self-questioning lasted only the moment as I passed the crest. Then the outlook was cut off again; but I found myself gazing ahead, watching for the next chance at the same view.
At the end of the second hill I only saw the bit of road obliquely and could not be sure, but, as at first, the tall stone seemed on the right of the road.
Read the complete short story.
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no subject
Date: 2011-10-15 12:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 12:14 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2011-10-16 12:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-15 02:24 pm (UTC)PS: You should post the picture of *you* for comparison. :)))
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Date: 2011-10-16 12:21 pm (UTC)I do suspect I'll have to be extra careful next year, though, as you say. ;)
PS: You should post the picture of *you* for comparison. :)))
LOL! I did post a link up there, but ultimately I had pity on my flist and didn't put up the picture itself. ;)
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Date: 2011-10-15 03:24 pm (UTC)We need to get her into an oatmeal jumper someday. ;o)
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Date: 2011-10-16 12:24 pm (UTC)We need to get her into an oatmeal jumper someday. ;o)
OMG, we do! Wouldn't that be a hoot? If anyone fits the bill for a Watsonian "tiny BAMF," it's Virginia.
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Date: 2011-10-15 04:50 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2011-10-16 12:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-15 09:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 12:40 pm (UTC)Thank you so much! Virginia thanks you, too.
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Date: 2011-10-15 10:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 12:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 12:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 08:35 am (UTC)http://boingboing.net/2011/10/15/123800.html
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Date: 2011-10-16 12:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 09:27 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2011-10-16 11:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 12:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-18 10:13 pm (UTC)well done, dogparents! i do wonder how they'll top this one next year.
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Date: 2011-10-19 11:07 am (UTC)I know one thing that goes through her mind is, "Just do it for the treats. Just do it for the treats." She demands her "payment" as soon as the picture-taking is through. LOL!
I can't imagine what they'll do next year. Scary thought! ;P
Oh. My. Goodness.
Date: 2011-10-19 05:36 pm (UTC)Rebecca
Re: Oh. My. Goodness.
Date: 2011-10-30 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-25 04:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-25 11:30 am (UTC)(I always have a tough time holding still long enough to take her photo, because I'm laughing so hard...)
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Date: 2011-10-31 07:46 pm (UTC)Obviously Virginia is cuter! That goes without saying.
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Date: 2011-11-05 12:57 pm (UTC)