Sylvia Shults's Blog, page 14
December 13, 2023
The Twelve Nightmares of Christmas Returns!
That’s right! This year makes lucky number seven for the collaboration between myself and Darren Marlar, of Weird Darkness. Start off here, then hop over to his site, http://www.weirddarkness.com for more spooky treats. (Right now he’s gearing up for the holidays too, with The Twelve Slays of Christmas. FUN!)
Let’s start off by getting in the spirit of the season. Here’s a recipe for a truly delightful holiday drink called coquito. It’s sort of like eggnog, but not all recipes use eggs (and there are loads of recipes besides the one given here). The creamy drink, tasting faintly of coconut and liberally laced with rum, comes from Puerto Rico. I whipped up a batch this morning, and GOSH it is good.
Coquito
1 can evaporated milk
1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
3 cinnamon sticks
1 t whole cloves
1-2 star anise pods
1 can coconut milk
1 can condensed milk
1 can cream of coconut
1 1/2 c rum
Pour evaporated milk into a small saucepan. Add spices. Bring to a quick boil, then simmer for three minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
Pour the spiced milk through a sieve. Pick out cinnamon sticks and set the aside. Put the other spices in the compost (or leave the ginger slices in for this next step).
Put spiced milk and all other ingredients in a blender. (It will be FULL.) Blend thoroughly at medium speed. Pour into a glass bottle and add cinnamon sticks back in. Chill overnight; store in fridge. Serve cold with a dusting of cinnamon.
Pour yourself a big glass of this lovely creamy dreamy concoction, and settle back into your favorite chair for twelve days of Christmas ghost fun. And do visit Darren over at http://www.weirddarkness.com . He’d love to see you!
Does this look amazing or what?
December 11, 2023
Today I Learned …
Villagers in Chekka, Lebanon, spent 20 days building a 28 1/2 foot tall Christmas tree using 129,000 plastic water bottles. It had taken them eight months to collect the bottles needed for the tree. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Out of the Box)
December 4, 2023
Today I Learned …
A mass snowball fight involving 9,000 people, which was scheduled to take place at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Ocean County, New Jersey, on December 16, 2017, was cancelled because of too much snow. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Beyond the Bizarre)
December 1, 2023
December’s Here!
Welcome to December, everyone! We’re going to start the month off with a bang; here’s a link to the Odd to Newfoundland podcast. Jon and I got into a surprisingly deep discussion, and of course we chatted about Spirits of Christmas. https://podfollow.com/oddtonewfoundland/view… Enjoy! And stay tuned throughout the rest of the month, because if it’s December, you know the Twelve Nightmares of Christmas are on the way!
November 28, 2023
The Paranormal Podcast: A conversation around the campfire with Jim Harold
I had a great time chatting with the incomparable Jim Harold on his show, The Paranormal Podcast. If you’d like to join us around the campfire for some wonderfully spooky stories, just follow the link! https://content.blubrry.com/paranormalplus/Haunted_Amusement_Parks_and_More-Ghost_Insight_212.mp3
November 27, 2023
Today I Learned …
Toby Evans, owner of the 3 Sheets waterfront restaurant in Perth, Western Australia, placed a watergun on every outdoor table so that customers could fend off annoying seagulls. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Beyond the Bizarre)
November 22, 2023
Lights Out: We start our UK visit!
A trip to two of the most haunted castles in England? Yes please! We kick off our UK visit with a look at the history and hauntings at Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s stomping grounds, and Berry Pomeroy Castle, home to not one, but two ghostly ladies. https://youtu.be/CPFyUT6L6fg
November 20, 2023
Today I Learned …
Point Nemo in the South Pacific Ocean is located so far from land that the nearest humans are often astronauts. The International Space Station orbits Earth at a maximum altitude of 258 miles, while the nearest inhabited land mass to Point Nemo is more than 9,942 miles away. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Beyond the Bizarre)
November 13, 2023
Today I Learned …
The Boerne 0.5 K run — a charity race for “underachievers” — was staged at Boerne, Texas, on May 5, 2018. The course was only 0.3 mile long, and for an entry fee of $25, participants received free beer at the start and finish. Those not wishing to expend any energy at all could pay an extra $25 to have an old bus transport them the length of the course. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Beyond the Bizarre)
November 6, 2023
Today I Learned …
In 2018, Josiah and Anthea Carelse, from Lakewood, Colorado, unknowingly bought and ate a box of granola that had expired in 1997. The cereal was a decade older than the couple’s daughter. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Beyond the Bizarre)
