Boo! H.H. Holmes

I know you are asking yourself who in the world is H.H. Holmes and why is he being featured on my 31 Days of Spook?  The name sounds so plain and innocent.  But I assure, it is not.  You see H.H. Holmes is the common name of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes (who was actually born Herman Webster Mudgett – try to figure that out huh?)  H.H. Holmes is considered America’s First Serial Killer.  Does the name sound innocent now?

Most people that want to become a doctor go into the field hoping to prevent death. H.H. Holmes went to school to become a doctor to help him out more in causing death and destruction.  Let’s start from here and let me explain to you what H.H. Holmes actually did.

It starts out in 1886 in Chicago.  H.H. Holmes built a hotel right in town near all of the fair activities.  In the time that he was building it, he often brought in different construction crews to add things and then fired that crew afterwards.  Again the next day hiring a different construction crew to work on something else at the hotel.  That way, not one construction crew or person knew of the intricacies of the hotel.  What intricacies?  Well like 100’s of windowless rooms, doorways that opened into brick walls, stairways leading to nowhere, doors that opened from the outside and don’t forget the fun rooms.  The rooms that had soundproof walls and gas lines in them to asphyxiate the guests.  Or rooms that had walls covered with iron plates and blowtorches to incinerate guests.  Or the secret hanging chamber… or the basement where he would dissect, strip the flesh off guests and then sale their bodies to medical schools.  What a host huh?

The hotel was nicknamed the Castle by the people of the area and it was three stories and a block long.  The name of the actual hotel was called the World’s Fair Hotel.  Yep, you guessed it.  The hotel was right there in the same area of the World Fair in 1893.  Just think of all of the innocent people coming to  Chicago for the World’s Fair.  They see this nice, new hotel and check in thinking they are safe… and then they are never heard from again.  Thus in the end, the hotel was then called the Murder Castle.

In the end, justice was given to H.H. Holmes.  He was eventually caught and although he claimed to have killed 27 people, it is actually thought the count could be well over 200 people!  What’s even more interesting is that H.H. Holmes is even linked to the likes of Jack the Ripper.  Some people even think that they may be one and the same.  H.H. Holmes was actually in London during the killings of Jack the Ripper.  And of course, Jack the Ripper was actually a very clean cut killer – some believe that he had a medical background.  With all of the killing that H.H. Holmes did, I would think he would fit that bill.  Do you?

Picture Mugshot from Wikipedia

 

Shopping Around the World

Shopping Around the World this month is being hosted by our great friends Shoko and Kali with Canadian Cats – thanks ya’ll! ❤

  This month we are highlighting seafood recipes.  Now mom/dad usually go out to eat seafood but there is the rare occasion when mom uses the big box in the kitchen for something more than a paper weight and actually cooks dinner.  Now having this assignment of seafood, mom thought she would fix one of dad’s all time favorite meals in the world.  She fixed it and then dad sat and wondered did he miss an important date?  Was he in trouble for something?  Did mom overspend on a credit card?  What was the special occasion.  That’s when mom told dad that she loved him ❤  So, here it is my friends – mom’s seafood special.

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 Are you hungry yet looking at that picture?  I had to fix the hub unit’s favorite meal – ribeye steaks, french fries and fried shrimp.  Of course you don’t see the salad on the side.  I have to get the hub’s veggies in somewhere with this meal.  I’ll tell you the prices for everything and break down the shrimp for you.

◊ Ribeye Steak – I had some in the freezer.  I usually buy the entire loin and have the butcher cut them for me.  The last time I bought steaks, it cost me around $50 and I got 16 steaks. I then take them home and wrap everything up individually to freeze.  By buying the entire loin like this when it is on sale, the price per steak comes out around $3.15 per steak.  Two steaks $6.30

◊ Two large baking potatoes.  Buying a pack of potatoes at Sam’s Warehouse it costs $8.00 for about 20 potatoes.  That’s around $0.40 each potato.  Two potatoes $0.80

◊ One pound of fresh shrimp (or frozen but make sure they are thawed out).  I got large 31-35 count shrimp this date from the market.  They cost right $8.00 a pound.  And trust me, I fixed them all for dinner and none were left.  My hub will snarf these down like potato chips ❤

So the entire meal will cost less than $17.00 for two people.  And yes we could stretch the meal; but, this was the hubby’s special meal and he likes to pig out on it – and you will too.

How to fix the shrimp:

I like to put all of my shrimp in a colander and run them under cold water for a few minutes.  This makes sure that they are all thawed out.  Shake the colander and make sure all of the excess water is out and pour them in a bowl.  Here’s the fun part – making sure they are all clean and deveined.  Take this kitchen hint, you can buy them cleaned and already deveined.  You may have to pay a little more.  I have been cleaning shrimp all of my life.  It’s something that my dad taught me so it takes no time to fix them right up.  Once they are all cleaned, wash them again to make sure all of the ick is removed.  Once you start cleaning the shrimp, you will know exactly what that ick is that I’m talking about – LOL.  I like to take a mallet and pound my shrimp out a bit.  Don’t whack them too hard.  Just enough to smoosh them a little so they will lay flat.  (Look at mine above for size for flattening).

In a bowl mix together a cup of flour, a cup of cornmeal, salt, pepper and a little cayenne flakes.  In another bowl mix together, milk, 3 eggs, salt, pepper and cayenne.  (We like them a little spicy – you put as much or not at all according to your tastes).  Go ahead and put your grease on the stuff and let it get hot.  Here’s the secret to a really good crust on shrimp or chicken.  You want to dip your shrimp in the flour/cornmeal first, then to your wet mixture and then back to your dry.  After that, the little shrimp go for a swim in the hot oil.  When they turn a pretty brown, they are done.  If it’s like our house, most of the shrimp won’t make it to the dinner table because every one is hanging out in the kitchen eating them as they come up hot from the grease.  They are highly addictive.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you 🙂

 

Bacon’s Show and Tell

This month, we are focusing on gifts.  Since Christmas was just last month, let’s focus on that one thing that you received that was absolutely wonderful.  Maybe it wasn’t from Christmas – perhaps it was on your birthday last year.  What is it – why can’t you live without it?

Okay this month it’s easy.  What’s the ONE gift that mom can’t live without?  Of course, it would have to be her Apple i-Watch that her sister gave her.  It does everything.  It’s like an extension of her cell phone that she wears on her wrist.  It’s a watch.  It’s a phone.  It’s a trainer.  It’s a therapist with her breathing and stress levels.  It keeps up with her steps/her miles.  It challenges her to be more.  It does everything!  So yes, that would be the one gift that mom can’t live without.  Much, MUCH thank you to her sister – Tina!

 

Bacon’s Show and Tell and Shopping Around the World – Reminder

Hello my sweet friends.  It’s time to get ready for the next edition of  Bacon’s Show and Tell and Shopping Around the World.  Be sure to mark your calendars so you can participate.  It’s going to be a blast and I can’t wait for the delicious recipes (and hopeful pictures) and laughter to come.

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This month, we are focusing on gifts.  Since Christmas was just last month, let’s focus on that one thing that you received that was absolutely wonderful.  Maybe it wasn’t from Christmas – perhaps it was on your birthday last year.  What is it – why can’t you live without it?

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 25th to join Bacon’s Show and Tell.  Remember to link back to my blog – See you here!

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Me and my pal Fozzie will be holding another Shopping Around the World scheduled for Friday, January 27th. 

Do a posting on your blog linking back to mine.  That way we can keep track of all of the different prices and recipes from all over the world.

This month we are highlighting items that you are known for.   Do you have that one dish that everyone asks for at a party, at dinner, at the church?  What kind of ingredients do you have in it and what does it look like? Don’t forget to include prices and pictures if you can.

Come join the fun of Shopping Around the World – mark your calendars!

 

Bacon’s Show and Tell and Shopping Around the World – Mark Your Calendars

Hello my sweet friends.  It’s time to get ready for the next edition of  Bacon’s Show and Tell and Shopping Around the World.  Be sure to mark your calendars so you can participate.  It’s going to be a blast and I can’t wait for the delicious recipes (and hopeful pictures) and laughter to come.

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This month, we are focusing on gifts.  Since Christmas was just last month, let’s focus on that one thing that you received that was absolutely wonderful.  Maybe it wasn’t from Christmas – perhaps it was on your birthday last year.  What is it – why can’t you live without it?

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 25th to join Bacon’s Show and Tell.  Remember to link back to my blog – See you here!

 

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Me and my pal Fozzie will be holding another Shopping Around the World scheduled for Friday, January 27th. 

Do a posting on your blog linking back to mine.  That way we can keep track of all of the different prices and recipes from all over the world.

This month we are highlighting items that you are known for.   Do you have that one dish that everyone asks for at a party, at dinner, at the church?  What kind of ingredients do you have in it and what does it look like? Don’t forget to include prices and pictures if you can.

Come join the fun of Shopping Around the World – mark your calendars!

 

Bacon’s Show and Tell

Bacon’s Show and Tell – This month we are highlighting embarrassing Christmas stories.  There wI’ll always be the story of daddy buying mom the endless love jewelry collection and wrapping it over and over box within box upwards twenty times.  Thank goodness dad didn’t learn of the Saran Wrap wrapping method.  Have you heard of it? You wrap the presents however many times and then proceed to wrap an entire box of Saran Wrap around the package.  Yeah – mom would have hurt him.  

But I digress.  I think one of the funniest things was mom taking these pictures of dad without him knowing it n a restaurant.  I would say the were priceless.  What do you think?

 

 

Reminder – Shopping Around the World and Bacon’s Show and Tell

Hello friends – Reminder to mark your calendars with our important dates this month 🙂❤

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Shopping Around the World

  This month it is scheduled for December 30th – after the holiday so we can all make plans.  Since it is the Christmas holidays, this month we will again focus on appetizers, side dishes, salads, soups, main entrees or desserts.  What is something that you look forward to once a year at Christmas.  I mean yes we can have it throughout the year but having it at Christmas screams the holiday?  This gives you a wide variety of foods you can come up with.  Fix whatever your dish is, take pictures and post it with recipes and prices on December 30th on your blog.  Remember to link back to my blog posting so people can see yours.  This is a wonderful way to (1) meet new friends in blogville and (2) get some wonderful recipes.  And I’ll admit it.  This piggy has been known to visit on these days and lick the computer screen at some of your awesome dishes.  I’m just sayin’ – some of pictures look out of this world!!

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Bacon’s Show and Tell

To me, what better time of the year to share some embarrassing stories from Christmas.  Did you gather as a family for dinner and someone do something hilarious?  Did you have a mishap and spill your plate?  Go ahead my friends, let’s talk about something funny our humans do or did during their Christmas holidays.  I know these stories will be good!  Bacon’s Show and Tell is scheduled for December 28th.  Remember to do your blog and link back to my blog so we can all see what everyone shares.  Thanks my friend – can’t wait for some great stories.

 

Shopping Around the World and Bacon’s Show and Tell – Mark Your Calendars

Hello friends – Please be sure to mark your calendars with our important dates this month 🙂❤

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Shopping Around the World

  This month it is scheduled for December 30th – after the holiday so we can all make plans.  Since it is the Christmas holidays, this month we will again focus on appetizers, side dishes, salads, soups, main entrees or desserts.  What is something that you look forward to once a year at Christmas.  I mean yes we can have it throughout the year but having it at Christmas screams the holiday?  This gives you a wide variety of foods you can come up with.  Fix whatever your dish is, take pictures and post it with recipes and prices on December 30th on your blog.  Remember to link back to my blog posting so people can see yours.  This is a wonderful way to (1) meet new friends in blogville and (2) get some wonderful recipes.  And I’ll admit it.  This piggy has been known to visit on these days and lick the computer screen at some of your awesome dishes.  I’m just sayin’ – some of pictures look out of this world!!

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Bacon’s Show and Tell

To me, what better time of the year to share some embarrassing stories from Christmas.  Did you gather as a family for dinner and someone do something hilarious?  Did you have a mishap and spill your plate?  Go ahead my friends, let’s talk about something funny our humans do or did during their Christmas holidays.  I know these stories will be good!  Bacon’s Show and Tell is scheduled for December 28th.  Remember to do your blog and link back to my blog so we can all see what everyone shares.  Thanks my friend – can’t wait for some great stories.

 

Bacon’s Show and Tell

Bacon’s Show and Tell

This month we are sharing embarrassing stories from Thanksgiving or other family dinners.  I’m sure that we have a lot of material to pick from with the Thanksgiving holiday just taking place.

I’m letting mom take this one from a story from way back in the day – take it away mom!

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Many, many years ago we attended a family Thanksgiving get together.  There was snack food, drinks and then the main meal to be served several hours later when everyone arrived.   Me and the hub unit arrived and socialized with family members we had not seen in years.  This was way back in the day during the times that the hub actually had vision.  We got separated at one time and met up at the snack table.  With drink in hand, I was headed to this fabulous looking shrimp platter.  That’s when the hub unit grabbed my hand and guided me away to a quiet corner.  Now I’m thinking, “That’s what I’m talking about, let’s get a little kissy-kissy.”  Boy, was I wrong.

He went in for what I thought was a kiss but instead of a peck, he whispered in my ear.  Might I say there was not enough adult beverage that night to help me from practically rolling around on the floor laughing.  He told me that one of the children (and yes he named names) had been camping out at the shrimp platter.  This child was told not to touch anything.. so he didn’t of course with his hands.  He proceeded to lick all of the shrimp on one side of the platter.  No wonder the platter was still full.  About the same time that Jim told me this, the host saw what was happening.  But the child was right.  He didn’t ‘touch’ the shrimp – laughs.  And Jim did tell the host – all of this happened within minutes but seemed to have been frozen in time.

 

Shopping Around the World and Bacon’s Show and Tell – Reminder

Hello sweet friends – 

Don’t forget about our important dates next week – after the holidays.  Keep these in mind while you enjoy your holiday 🙂 ❤

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Shopping Around the World

Shopping Around the World is hosted by us and our friend Fozziemom.  This month it is scheduled for November 30th – after the holiday so we can all make plans.  Since it is the Thanksgiving holidays here in the States, this month we will focus on Thanksgiving foods.  So, you can post appetizers, side dishes, salads, soups, main entrees or desserts.  What is something that you look forward to once a year at Thanksgiving.  I mean yes we can have it throughout the year but having it at Thanksgiving screams the holiday?  This gives you a wide variety of foods you can come up with.  Fix whatever your dish is, take pictures and post it with recipes and prices on November 30th on your blog.  Remember to link back to my blog posting so people can see yours.  This is a wonderful way to (1) meet new friends in blogville and (2) get some wonderful recipes.  And I’ll admit it.  This piggy has been known to visit on these days and lick the computer screen at some of your awesome dishes.  I’m just sayin’ – some of pictures look out of this world!!

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Bacon’s Show and Tell

To me, what better time of the year to share some embarrassing stories from Thanksgiving.  Did you gather as a family for dinner and someone do something hilarious?  Did you have a mishap and spill your plate or cut the turkey in a strange way?  Go ahead my friends, let’s talk about something funny our humans do or did during their Thanksgiving holidays.  I know these stories will be good!  Bacon’s Show and Tell is scheduled for November 29th due to the holiday.  Remember to do your blog and link back to my blog so we can all see what everyone shares.  Thanks my friend – can’t wait for some great stories.