Field Guide to the Little People

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I would share the exact definition of a leprechaun according to the Field Guide to the Little People by Nancy Arrowsmith.

The leprechaun is the Faeries’ shoemaker and goes by various names, depending on what part of Ireland you are in, and they only reside in Ireland. They are called the cluricane in Cork, the lurican in Kerry, lurikeen in Kildare, and lurigadaun in Tipperary. The leprechaun loves tobacco and whiskey; can be smiling and happy one minute, and drunk and depressed the next; and is the ultimate con man. Not even the most clever person has been able to cheat him of his pot of gold. Leprechauns are between 6 and 24 inches high and have light grey skin, wrinkled faces, and bright red noses. They wear three-cornered hats, green jerkins and waistcoats with shiny buttons, leather aprons, long blue stockings, and high-heeled shoes with large silver buckles. They are often seen smoking a pipe while busily hammering on a shoe.

If you happen to find yourself in Ireland, pay special attention around the roots of trees and near castle ruins in quiet, secluded places. You may spot a leprechaun, but just know that he can disappear from sight in the twinkling of an eye.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I’ve used intuition in many circumstances and it is very interesting to look back and think of where it directed me in certain situations. I tend to make up my mind very fast when a decision must be made, especially a large one. If it feels right, I go with it and don’t doubt myself. However, there was a person that I dealt with in the past who made me doubt my intuition. Every time I went with what felt right, it always blew up in my face. I thought my intuition was off and started going against my gut feeling. It took me too long to realize that all of the gut feelings that caused the blow-ups were trying to tell me something: don’t have anything to do with this person. It has taken me a while, but I’m finally back to trusting my intuition, and I feel that I’m back on the right path.

Do you let your intuition guide you? What are some examples of where it’s led to something wonderful for you?

On a fictional basis, who are your favorite movie/tv/book ghosts?

My choices are:
Movie: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Television: Casper the Friendly Ghost

Book: Midnight Champagne by A. Manette Ansay

What are some of yours?

If you live in Salem, Oregon, and are looking for a new place to live and are worried about previous and current spirit tenants, you can give this team a call. It brings up a good point, though. If you have every other piece of your house inspected, why wouldn’t you have a ghost hunting crew come in and see if they can pick up anything on their instruments, but they will also see if anyone has died in the home or on the property. It could definitely cause problems down the road when you try and sell the property.

I admit, I was a bit squicked out when I learned that someone was murdered in a former apartment of mine. I had already signed a lease, and while the place was haunted, I never felt dread or threatened by the ghost(s) in my apartment and building. It added to the atmosphere, but it does make you think.

I’ve never owned a house, but I would like to know if anything major went down before I bought it. My luck, I’d find the perfect house, buy it without researching the history, and then hear from the neighbor as I move in, “I’m surprised anyone would buy that house considering what happened in it…”

Has anyone called in a ghost investigation team or researched the property’s history before purchasing a house?

I’m not a meteorologist and don’t remember much about that section of science class, but I think it’s strange that two very different climate areas would be able to produce such similar and distinct cloud formations. If these cloud formation can happen anywhere, why don’t we see them more often? Or maybe the question is: does the formation appear often? Our eyes usually aren’t aimed at the sky. They are kept down, focused on a million different distractions. I’m taking these cues to keep my eyes open and look to the sky. Maybe I’ll see something, but maybe staring off into the clouds, wondering what is out there, will give my mind a rest and remind me there’s so much more out there to see and explore.

This story reminded me of the story from last year where another ghostly apparition was captured on film during a family visit to Tantillon Castle in Scotland. Experts seem to be baffled with this case.

Have you ever captured anything mysterious with your camera?

Have you ever had an experience with a doppleganger? I’ve been told that I look like someone, and actually met someone who everyone thought we looked alike, but neither she nor I could see it. (And her name was also Amy; but that is a very common name for women my age!) We were even asked by someone walking past if we were related. Nope…

My cat Saberhagen is very perceptive to things. (Her sister, Salem, is too self-absorbed to be bothered by anything other than the food dish.) Saber’s eyes will be darting all over the room and there isn’t a shadow around. I always wonder what she can see. If only cats could talk…