Truth Revealed

Hi all!
Well, it turns out that our ghostly shadows had a little bit of flesh to them. Thanks to one of our friends who is more technically savvy than Mom or I, the shadow on the porch has been shown to be in actuality two people, most likely crew members, when her screen shot is zoomed in on. While we are a little bummed...it would have been really cool to have something there, it can keep the warm fuzzies a-coming with the building and stave off the heebie jeebies!
Kerry

Our Ghost Video details in post below

Our Dear Not-So Dearly Departed

Here is a link to a video that we just stumbled upon at our local newspaper. The little title was ghosts in Waynesville and so we clicked on it. Little did we know that they had done a bit on our home! Trendy Bindi's Boutique is in the Stetson House and they interviewed some folks up at the Friend's Museum who had had some experiences in the upstairs room when the property was the Cranberry Bog. Is that neat or what? Our own 5 seconds of limelight!

We've known for a long time, even before we started our business, that this building was supposed to have some ghosts, but other than some little things like lights going on and off or hearing someone in the back room we haven't really had any crazy experiences. Though a woman did stop in at the Sauerkraut Festival and told us she and her husband had been on the porch alone and she had felt someone other than her husband tug gently on her hair. Maybe since we have retained the upstairs for private business use, our ghostly friends are happier (we've slept up there and not had a problem, the house gives us the warm fuzzies instead of the heeby jeebies.)

Here is the link to the video:
Ghosts in Waynesville

You will need to click on the index of the videos and it should be under the index for the latest videos.

Enjoy!
Kerry

p.s. I saw this and mom thought I was crazy until I did a frame by frame and at 1:23 into the film, you can see a black form moving across the porch from the door, close to the post, to the right by the yellow potting bench. What do you think?

Sauerkraut 2008

Its here. The Sauerkraut Festival. Gulp.
Let me tell you something, Sauerkraut Festival is one crazy, crazy weekend here in Waynesville. Starting Friday, the town pretty much shuts down (even the kids get out early from school...coincidence I think not!) and the set up begins. Last year, we were Sauerkraut newbies. We had never even attended as "civilians" before and let me tell you it is crazy, crazy, crazy! There are just so many booths set up along main street with all sorts of handcrafted goodies not to mention all of the yummy (or so those who actually eat Sauerkraut tell me) Sauerkraut foods, everything from Sauerkraut pizza, to Sauekraut fried cheeseballs (which I can attest are quite yummy!) and the FAMOUS Cabbage Rolls from St. Augustine's Church. There are loads of people and the shops have lots of sales, so it is a rather festive and crazy good time. This year a Beer Garten has even been added. So come on down to Waynesville...eat, walk along and check out the artisans, and enjoy yourself!
Kerry

Framing Your Memories

A lovely way to keep the christening gown that has been in your family for years or those lovely hankerchiefs that are sitting in your drawer preserved for future generations and to enjoy everyday is to frame it. The Framing Place and Art Gallery here in Waynesville will be happy to frame your memories for you. Ted, the owner, does absolutely beautiful framing work and has experience in framing such items as christening gowns and metals, etc. You can call him at 513 897-2787 or visit his shop on the web at www.framingplaceartgallery.com.

I know that it is a theme that I maybe "harp" on in this blog, but so many people just don't enjoy the lovely things they already have. I have had customers look at our hankerchiefs and say that Aunt Mary's handerchiefs are setting in a drawer and, although they are beautiful, they don't know what to do with them. Frame them. Even if you don't use Ted's services, go to the dollar store and pick up some frames. My mother has some medals that were my great great uncles' who fought and died in the Civil War. They would make a unique display for her home and a tribute to my great great uncles.

We all have such beautiful and unique items in our homes, we need to display them. As much as I would love to sell you instant heirlooms, look about your house for the ones you already have. And if you still need some lovely handerchiefs or a vintage piece of jewelry that would make a special one-of-a-kind statement in your home, then remember us and Ted. We will be very happy to help you.

Remember preserve or creat your own piece of bliss,
Stephanie

Waynesville, "The Most Haunted Town in Ohio"

Well it is that time again, fall is here and nothing quite captures the spirit of the season quite like, well, spirits. (The ethereal kind, though the liquid certainly helps to warm you up to the subject too.) A little cider or ale or some cocoa as the nights turn cooler, a fire and some spooky tales shared with friends after the sun has set is a popular tradition for this season. And let me assure you, here in Waynesville, we have plenty of tales to tell.

Our town is known as the "Most Haunted Town in Ohio" thanks to the Haunted Ohio Books and for good reason. Our shop alone is well known for three different permanent inhabitants: Louisa Stetson, her brother the hatmaker John and a school teacher named Lilla. In fact there is even a picture of one of our co-inhabitants online: http://www.ohioexploration.com/orphanFrame.htm?http://www.ohioexploration.com/stories.htm This was taken a number of years ago.

While we personally haven't had too many stories to tell (this might have something to do with me and mom saying over and over "Please don't let me see anything, Please don't pop out at me!" Though we have had some little things happen like lights coming on or off and hearing sounds like someone browsing in the back room. However, there are many others who have had experiences and a great way to hear about them, as well as the stories of many of our other ghosts is on the "Ghostly History Walking Tours" offered by the Museum at the Friends Home. There are two tours. There is a tour of the historic downtown and then there is a tour also of the National Register's Quaker Hill Area, which I believe includes the museum.

Starting a couple of years ago, you can also now start the tour with dinner at the historic and haunted Hammel House restaurant. (I can attest both to the ghosts and the delectably yummy foods there.) Tours are offered Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings in October, except for the week of the Sauerkraut Festival starting around 7:30. You can also schedule tours for groups of 10 or more April through November. You can get more information and make reservations by calling the MFH at 1-513-897-1607 or by visiting their website at www.friendshomemuseum.com All of the proceeds go to a good cause supporting the museum of local Quaker history.

We went as a family a few years back (unfortunately before the dinners were added) with some family friends and it was a blast. I also believe that an effort is being made to make this friendlier to children too, but it might be a good idea to inquire about suggested ages because some children are more sensitive to nightmares than others.

Stop by and have some spooky fun!
Kerry

Second Sunday Stroll Artisan Profile: Julie Crusenberry

Well September's Second Sunday Stroll really turned out to be quite a day! First of all we were thrilled that our friend, Julie Crusenberry of Steph's Jewels, was able to settle herself in on our porch as our artist. Julie and her daughter Stephanie are another mother daughter team and we are just thrilled that we are getting to be such good friends with Julie...truly she is a person of bliss for us. We also want to send our congratulations to her daughter for making Julie a grandma to the cutest little baby girl! We met up for breakfast and had a blast admiring pictures of this little sweetie before opening up.

They are both very talented in creating unique and just fabulous jewelry using vintage components and Julie in particular has just such a gift for artistically arranging displays. In fact, she has been kind enough to fill in for us before and we can never wait to see what she has done with our shop!

I took a few pictures of her displays on the porch, and good thing that I did because it wasn't too long before she had to move inside thanks to Ike.

























Who knew you could have hurricanes in Ohio? I sure didn't! Main St. in Waynesville can be quite the wind tunnel and well, it isn't that unusual to lose power in the historic buildings so we just sat and chatted inside, while my dad and brother did some work on the clapboard on the side of the building totally oblivious to the true extent of what was going on.

The menfolk left before us and called to say some trees were down and power was out back home too but it wasn't till we drove home ourselves we got a real understanding of the power of this storm. A roof had blown off and into another storefront up the street, trees were down all over and the water tower had sprouted a leak at the top akin to Old Faithful.

At home we were out of power (though we were very lucky, it came on in the middle of the night that night) but trees and limbs were down all over our neighborhood. The neighbors behind us had watched a tree come down across both of their vehicles in their driveway. Two other neighbors are still without power because a tree was uprooted and brought the power lines down with it. All in all thhings are much better now and getting back to normal, but that storm was just something else!
Kerry

p.s. If you see something you love, Steph's Jewels consigns with us and we actually do have some of these pieces in our shop, and if we don't have it we can definitely put you in touch with Julie.