Boo! Winchester House

Today, I’m focusing on the Winchester Mystery House.  Have you heard about this mansion that is located in San Jose, California?  Have you been there?  It’s claimed that some people are there and they have never left.  The Winchester Mystery House is just that – a mystery.  It was the residence of Sarah Winchester.

In 1862, she  married William Winchester – who came from the family that created the famous Winchester guns.  Everything seemed like it was grand and wonderful …for a while.

In 1866, the Winchester’s infant daughter, Annie, passed away from a childhood disease called marasmus.  (Marasmus is a form of severe malnutrition and causes a child to look emaciated.)  Losing her child caused Mrs. Winchester to fall into a deep depression.

In 1881, Mrs. Winchester’s husband, William, passed away from tuberculosis.  Can you imagine watching two of your very close loved ones pass away so early in life?  Mrs. Winchester was beside herself and sought help from a spiritualist.  Through consulting with the spiritualist, Mrs. Winchester believed her family and her fortune were haunted by the ghosts of the people who had fallen victim to the family Winchester rifles.  She was advised that the only way she could appease the ghosts was to move west and build them a house.  Not just a house but to continuous build them a house.

In 1884, Mrs. Winchester moved west to San Jose, California and bought an unfinished farmhouse .  Work began immediately.  Mrs. Winchester  would hold nightly seances to speak with the spirits to help guide her in how the house would be worked on the following date.  In the morning, she would meet with her construction workers and give them the plans.  Did the plans make sense?  You decide.

• There are roughly 160 rooms, including 40 bedrooms;
• 2 ballrooms (one completed and one unfinished);
• 47 fireplaces;
• Over 10,000 panes of glass;
• 17 chimneys (with evidence of two others);
• 2 basements with three elevators.
• It has gold and silver chandeliers and hand-inlaid parquet floors and trim;
• There are doors and stairways that lead nowhere and a vast array of colors and materials.
• The home’s conveniences were rare at the time of its construction. These included steam and forced-air heating, modern indoor toilets and plumbing, push-button gas lights and Mrs. Winchester’s personal (and only) hot shower from indoor plumbing.
• The number 13 is repeated frequently in the home – whether in stairs, candles, wall hooks, stained glass windows or even 13 holes in the drain covers.  Also every Friday the 13th, the large bell on the property is rung 13 times at 1300 hours in tribute to Winchester.   Mrs. Winchester even signed her will 13 times leaving everything to a niece and personal secretary.

Construction continued every day around the clock until Mrs. Winchester died on September 5, 1922.  Upon her death, all hammering ceased.  When they looked in Mrs. Winchester’s safe they found the things that meant the most to her.  Not money.  Not diamonds.  Not riches.  It was two pieces of hair – one from her husband and one from her daughter.

And until this day, it is said that you can still hear the construction work taking place, that you can see the workers inside and outside of the home.  And, people still say that Mrs. Winchester herself is still in the home.

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon – Who says that the natural order of things in nature have to be that we don’t get along?  My name is Gull and this is my close pal Gator.

We’re like two peas in a pod.  We often play in the water like this.  Gator protects me from other things in the water and we have fun.  Can you believe that it actually blows peoples minds when they see us like this?  Signed Born to be Different

❤

Dear Born to be Different – Hey my friends.  I think that is absolutely wonderful to have that kind of friendship.

I’m sure the other animals in the water look at you like a two piece snack from KFC but as long Gator is there to protect you – awesomesauce!

---

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Dear Bacon – The humans.  They will pay for this get up.  I feel totally ridiculous.  The nerve to dress me up as some kind of twisted frog.  I think the look on my face tells you everything you need to know.  Do you have any ideas on how I can get the humans back?  Signed Feeling Froggy

Dear Feeling Froggy – WOW!  Now that is some sort of predicament my friend.  I feel you 100%.  Your humans really did have some nerve in dressing you like a Kermit want to be.  I don’t know whether to laugh or cry with you on that get up.  As far as pay back – evil piggy snorts.

The humans they do have to sleep at some point.  I’m sure you can think of so many different ways to bring down the wrath of Froggy upon them.  Just act innocent in whatever you decide.

P.S.  Can I borrow that outfit for Halloween?  Maybe I can snatch Miss Piggy with it.

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Dear Bacon – Talk about animal labor laws.  I often read about your life at the Hotel Thompson and how they make you ‘work for your food’ in a way.  Never complain again my friend.  My humans put me to work out in nature in concrete.  It’s a hard and tedious job… especially in this get up.  Help me please.  Signed Mason

Dear Mason – Oh snap.  Your humans weren’t playing any games were they my friend?  Bless your little heart.  Not only did they dress you but you have to wear those indestructible construction boots.  Shakes piggy head.  I’m so sorry pal.  I will *never* again complain about having to bring my dirty stuff to the laundry room.  Ever.

P.S.  Dad needs some help expanding the driveway.  When you get done with that project, can you help a human out?

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Dear Bacon – What?  Haven’t you ever seen a hamster with his lady working the pole?  Blondie is one of the best pole dancers out there.  I suggest this kind of get up for your bedroom pig.  You might get some girlfriends then.  HA!  Signed Boris

Dear Boris – OMP (oh my pig!)  My eyes!  What has been seen can not be unseen.  We really don’t need to see this my friend.  Although daddy was interested in that pole action, me and mom are not – snorts.  Ya’ll carry on in the privacy of your bedroom.  And don’t worry about me and girlfriends.  I have one 🙂

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Thoughts?

  So mom is traveling home the other day and she is stopped at a red light – go figure huh?

She’s looking around and sees this truck.

She then starts laughing and of course she has to take a picture.

Do you see it?

Is this a confidence builder in the company or a no way in heck would I use this company for anything.

Thoughts?  Discuss.

 

Texts from Bacon

Oh my friends.  Sometimes it’s up to us anipals to watch out after the humans.  For the most part, they take care of us but sometimes they forget to take care of themselves.  Here at the Hotel Thompson with all of the renovation, I have to make sure I check on mom.  She has the tendency to push herself way too much and too far.  This morning, I decided to send her a text at work.  Yep, nods piggy head.  During this three week time period renovation, she is also continuing to work full time.  That’s what I’m talking about in overdoing it.  She will be only taking off a day here/there for major projects that have to be done until completion.  Hardheaded is what daddy calls her.  But anywho, I sent her this email this morning.  My comments are in blue and mom’s are in grey.  Enjoy!

      

 

Paw Time with Houdini

Hey my friends to another week of Paw Time with Houdini.  As you have read on Bacon’s blog, the Hotel Thompson is now under construction.  I didn’t know what that word was until I started hearing all of the banging, pulling and ripping… and let’s not mention the grunting and groaning from mom and dad.  WOW – those two really can put out some elbow grease when they put their minds to it.

They said that this reconstruction would be better for ALL of us here.  I really hope so with the noises they are making.  And daddy says the worse is yet to come this weekend.  When I asked why he said because he and mom were hitting ‘the’ closet.  I must have looked confused still.  Daddy explained that most people have that one closet that no one ever opens because of everything that might fall out.  They are opening that closet here at the Hotel Thompson and cleaning it out this weekend.  Mom said it was for storage benefits.  I’m not sure about that.  I think I’ll go up and spend time with Nana while they fight the inner closet demons.

Last week when I got groomed, I came home and mom put me in my jammies.  The first thing I had to do afterwards and climb up on my pillow, stretch out and take a nap.  It’s a tough job being this adorable.  You know?  Mommy says this picture just tugs at her heart.  Nana says it looks like I was praying.  Barks!  I was totally exhausted.

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The next day, I moved to my bigger bed that I have learned to move around to my liking.  Don’t I look all cute and innocent in this one?  I was chewing on my toy keys.  I ❤ those toy keys.  I’ve had them since mom/dad adopted me back in September.  They are one of my favorite chew toys in the entire world.  Do you have something like that too?  They are falling apart now but I’m not ready to give them up just yet.

Well that’s all for me my friends – yawns – I hope you had a wonderful week as well.  Happy weekend!

 

Renovation What?!

Yep, you guessed it from yesterday April’s Fool’s Day blog posting.  The Hotel Thompson is now under construction.  Day 2 and I’m ready to move in with any of you for the duration.  Anyone at all.  I don’t require much… really I don’t.

You see, this entire renovation has snowballed into what dad’s calls a cluster.  You don’t understand cluster?  Let me explain it to you the way mom explained it to him.  Go ahead and get settled in – I’ll wait.  Are you ready?

Okay mom and dad were discussing buying new furniture this year.  Apparently what they have now came over with Noah on the ark.  Rolls piggy eyes.  It really didn’t but that’s how mom explained it.  Dad said fine.  We will get new furniture this year.  And he was fine with that because even *he* said we needed new stuff.  This is where it snowballed, went down a hill, around a curve and became a cluster.

Then mom said:

“Well, if we are going to get rid of our current furniture, why don’t we go ahead and get rid of the china cabinet, hutch and kitchen table that I hate so much as well.  And since all of that will be gone and the rooms would basically be empty, why don’t we go ahead and look at that new floor we wanted for the front room because you know this carpet is shot.  And hey, if we are going to do new flooring in the front room, why don’t we look at the kitchen and hallway too – that way it can all match and flow.  And oh my goodness – if the room is empty, we can paint a couple of walls to give it some color in here.  And then you know what honey, we can shop for the new furniture and accessories.”

I saw daddy writing something down the entire time he was listening to mom.  He called me over and gave me this piece of paper.  Snorts and rolls with piggy laughter.  But he’s a good man… I think.  He ended up saying the worse words ever invented for a man to say to a woman…. “Whatever you want honey.”  He then handed over the check book.  My friends, I really feel sorry for my dad.

Oh, and did I tell you the best part my friends.  Mom wants ALL of this done by April 17th, 2015.  Squeals and rolls – yeah okay.  Don’t worry, I’ll be taking pictures of before, during and after to share.  Right now, I would describe it as his/hers and ours in the making.  Wish me luck!

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon,

Who says that the natural order of things in nature have to be that we don’t get along?  My name is Gull and this is my close pal Gator.  We’re like two peas in a pod.  We often play in the water like this.  Gator protects me from other things in the water and we have fun.  Can you believe that it actually blows peoples minds when they see us like this?  Signed Born to be Different

Dear Born to be Different,

Hey my friends.  I think that is absolutely wonderful to have that kind of friendship.  I’m sure the other animals in the water look at you like a two piece snack from KFC but as long Gator is there to protect you – awesomesauce!

.

Dear Bacon,

The humans.  They will pay for this get up.  I feel totally ridiculous.  The nerve to dress me up as some kind of twisted frog.  I think the look on my face tells you everything you need to know.  Do you have any ideas on how I can get the humans back?  Signed Feeling Froggy

Dear Feeling Froggy,

WOW!  Now that is some sort of predicament my friend.  I feel you 100%.  Your humans really did have some nerve in dressing you like a Kermit want to be.  I don’t know whether to laugh or cry with you on that get up.  As far as pay back – evil piggy snorts.  The humans they do have to sleep at some point.  I’m sure you can think of so many different ways to bring down the wrath of Froggy upon them.  Just act innocent in whatever you decide.

P.S.  Can I borrow that outfit for Halloween?  Maybe I can snatch Miss Piggy with it.

.
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Dear Bacon,
Talk about animal labor laws.  I often read about your life at the Hotel Thompson and how they make you ‘work for your food’ in a way.  Never complain again my friend.  My humans put me to work out in nature in concrete.  It’s a hard and tedious job… especially in this get up.  Help me please.  Signed Mason

Dear Mason,
Oh snap.  Your humans weren’t playing any games were they my friend?  Bless your little heart.  Not only did they dress you but you have to wear those indestructible contruction boots.  Shakes piggy head.  I’m so sorry pal.  I will *never* again complain about having to bring my dirty stuff to the laundry room.  Ever.

P.S.  Dad needs some help expanding the driveway.  When you get done with that project, can you help a human out?

.

Dear Bacon,
What?  Haven’t you ever seen a hamster with his lady working the pole?  Blonde is one of the best pole dancers out there.  I suggest this kind of get up for your bedroom pig.  You might get some girlfriends then.  HA!  Signed Boris

Dear Boris,

OMP (oh my pig!)  My eyes!  What has been seen can not be unseen.  We really don’t need to see this my friend.  Although daddy was interested in that pole action, me and mom are not – snorts.  Ya’ll carry on in the privacy of your bedroom.  And don’t worry about me and girlfriends.  I have one 🙂

.

*Remember friends – keep your pictures and questions coming.  Send them to me at baconthompson@gmail.com

 

Possible Careers for this Oinker at Large!

You know it gets to a point in a little pigs life that he has to start thinking about his future. Even Bashful has already started thinking about a career as a police rock. The little fellow has high ambitions. He’s working on his ‘demanding, authoritative’ voice now. It’s a work in progress.

So that got me thinking. I really need to start thinking about a career. You know, just in case I have to support mom/dad in their senior years. What? It could happen. So here are some possibilities that I have come up with.

 I’m still thinking about a life on the opposite side of crime. It kind of runs in the family. 🙂 There are K9’s out there that help detect bombs and drugs. Why can’t there be a Pig Detector? With my snout, I have a strong sense of smell. I think I could also detect bombs and drugs… of course with the right amount of training.

I wonder if the academy would take me? I think I’ll look into this and find the number in mom’s phone later. Maybe she can even pull a few strings for me and get me enrolled. And hey, if I get in then perhaps we can get Bashful in later? It’s worth a shot, right?

 

And I’m still not giving up on the idea of being a pilot. That would be pigawesome! If I could fly an airplane, perhaps this would finally put to rest the old saying about when pigs can fly. I mean heck with enough thrust any of us can take flight… even if it is only for a couple of minutes.

If I could fly a plane, just think of the possibilities. Do you think Delta would hire me? I could spruce up the old resume. How would you feel the next time you were flying and the pilot was ME? Of course, I would oink first before I told you we were taking off and I would try to keep the turbulence down. Thoughts?

 

 

Oh the days of being a cowboy.. running around the great pastures… all of that open space and fields.

Okay – maybe not a cowboy. I’m not that ready for nature yet.

Give me a little bit and I might change my mind.

But for now, let’s skip this for the time being.

 

 

What about working in road construction. Hey in Atlanta, Georgia, they are *always* working on the roads. I could direct traffic with the best of them. Maybe even my favorite news channel, Fox 5, here would do a special on me.

I can see it in lights now – “Tonight at 11PM – special on oinker that directs traffic in busy downtown Atlanta. Don’t miss it!”

Oh, that sent chills up my spine. This could definitely be a possibility my friends.

 

So what do ya’ll think my friends? Do you think any of these would work for me or do I need to keep looking for different jobs. Where was my guidance counselor when I was in school? Let me know. I’m up for suggestions my friends.  Just think of the possibilities! 

Oink XOXO – Bacon

Note: pictures found on the Internet