Tulipmania! When the world went wild for tulips. The history behind Timeless Tulips, Dark Diamonds- A Ghost Story.
When fourteen-year-old Lydia travels to Amsterdam with her parents, the last thing she expects is the weird incidents that plague her stay. Curtains flutter mysteriously, and unexplained shadows move through the kitchen unnerving her. But Lydia is more concerned with the potential move to upstate New York. She dismisses the odd occurrences blaming them on jet lag and the various symptoms of her migraine disease.
When Lydia’s father lands a new job and the family moves to an area first settled by the Dutch, the bizarre happenings continue. Suffering from migraines has never been easy, but now Lydia has to contend with what she may have inadvertently brought home with her.
How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, & Shape Our Futures
By Merlin Sheldrake
First off, did you know fungi is a kingdom of life— like a totally different category from animals and plants. Generally, fungi have been relegated to study under plants, and we know relatively little about this curious kingdom. One estimate is that only 6% of fungi species have even been described by science at this point. Yet without fungi, plants may not have developed root systems to evolve out of water. Additionally, fungi are the first organisms to break down bare rock to produce fertile soil. With diverse metabolisms, fungi can dissolve wood, rock, crude oil, plastic, and TNT. Some can clean up nuclear waste.
Most people don’t realize the extent to which we depend on fungi in our lives. Because fungi are more closely related to animals than plants, we use some fungal solutions to solve human health problems. Penicillin, cyclosporine, statins, many anti-cancer, and anti-viral drugs rely on fungi. Then there’s alcohol and magic mushrooms (psilocybin).
Humans depend on plant life and as it turns out, fungi supply plants with nutrients from the soil. In exchange, fungi get sugars and lipids generated from photosynthesis. This ancient relationship developed and continues to sustain life and us to this day. More than ninety percent of plant species rely on mycorrhizal fungi. This little understood ecosystem of fungal networks with plants became the life work of the author.
Sheldrake’s work (along with others) in this field have prompted new ways of thinking about the world. Fungi appear capable of very sophisticated behaviors pushing the need for new models to explain how these organisms communicate, solve problems, make decisions, learn, and remember.
Into the weird world of fungi:
Worm-hunting fungus: Generally, are happy eating decomposing plant material but when there is a shortage of food, they develop worm-hunting organs & produce chemical signals to lure nematodes.
Maze runners: Experiments with mycelium have shown they can work out the best routes between British cities creating a recognizable motorway (Lynne Boddy, PhD).
Burst asphalt: Some mushrooms take on water and are capable of pushing through asphalt.
Communication across the fungal network: The current theory suggests electrical signaling may convey information about food, injury, outsiders, or local conditions.
Fungal computers: Growing a mycelium ecosystem (in the future) may allow large-scale environmental monitoring.
What’s a lichen? A source of confusion. Where does one organism stop and another start? The more we know about lichens, the harder they are to define or classify. An open-ended question in science at this point.
Zombie fungus: One fungus which infects carpenter ants removes their fear of heights. The ant climbs a plant, clamps its jaw in a death grip, then mycelium grow from its feet binding it to the plant. After digesting the ant’s body, a stalk grows from the head dispersing spores. Called “zombie” because the fungus controls the brains of the ants in ways scientists can’t explain. The death grip is executed precisely in the right temperature and humidity zone to allow the fungus to fruit. Infected ants all bite together at noon, facing the sun and clamping a major plant vein.
Laughing mushrooms: In 1486, at the coronation of an Aztec emperor laughing broke out after consumption of the mushroom known as “flesh of the gods,” one kind of psilocybin mushroom.
Fungus partners affect produce: Tests with strawberries grown with different fungal communities changed the flavor of the berries. What does this mean for gardeners/farmers going forward?
Wood Wide Web: The vast connection of plants and fungus to transport everything from nutrients to signaling compounds. Poisons and hormones can pass through shared networks. Genetic material (viruses, RNA) may also be passing through fungal channels.
Bee Colony Collapse: Promising research is under way to see if white rot fungi can be used to reduce bee mortality.
I hope this dive into the strange world of fungus has whetted your appetite for more. There is a lot in this book. The author outlines some of the groundbreaking areas of research and production that are ongoing. Some of it feels like science fiction. He acknowledges the contributions of citizen mycologists who have pushed the field (and continue to do so). The kingdom of fungi may well hold solutions for humanity as we discover more and open our awareness to these lifeforms.
July 4th commemorates the famous day of the boat ride, when legend has it, the story of Alice was first told.
In 1862, the Rev. Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), who was a mathematics don at Oxford, took three little neighbor girls out for a ride on a boat. On a hot, sunny July day, and in the company of his friend, Robinson Duckworth, the don began to spin yet another fantastic story for the amusement of the girls. Alice, who was ten at the time, begged Mr. Dodgson to write down the tale for her. She was presented with a handwritten copy of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground, illustrated by the author during Christmas 1864. That copy resides in the British Museum and is probably the most famous book in all children’s literature. The next year the rest of the world welcomed Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland into history.
ORDER HERE:bit.ly/3roGX9f
SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE: Contact himalayaspencerellis@yahoo.com for more info!
A short video about Timeless Tulips, Dark Diamonds- A Ghost Story. The video covers the premise of the book, why it is historical fiction, and why it’s my most personal book.
Shocking twists and turns when worlds collide… Haunting. Disturbing. Unsettling. The face of the Dutch girl glared back at her with dark eyes and a mouth twisted in a cruel grimace. From the hall came a sinister laugh. Fear twisted in Lydia’s gut. After a family trip to Amsterdam, 14-year-old Lydia finds herself closer to the past than she could have imagined.
During her stay, a bizarre series of events that seem to defy all logic is set in motion. Either something really weird is going on, or she is going crazy. Both ideas scare her. When Lydia’s life is threatened, she is forced to solve a centuries’ old mystery to uncover the truth about Annika, the angry ghost of a little Dutch girl, her story, and how their past and present connect them.
Whether Annika is really a ghost or Lydia is in a time warp really doesn’t matter. Lydia finds herself closer to the past than she has ever been. But what can Lydia possibly do to help someone who died over 400 years ago? Will Annika kill Lydia if she can’t solve the mystery of the timeless tulips and dark diamonds? Will Lydia succeed in saving herself from the hands of a… ghost?
Happy birthday, Cancer! It’s your turn to shine this month.
You are a cardinal, water sign—an initiator, intuitive, and nurturing.
Home and family are important to you. Cancer people are emotional and sensitive beings who become deeply attached to people. Your intuitive and sentimental nature allows you to empathize with others and their pain. Cancers can be difficult to get to know since they often like to keep parts of themselves hidden, especially aspects of their personal lives.
Cancers are subject to the changing emotional patterns created by moon cycles. The world may seem like a harsh place until significant learning and coping strategies have been learned to deal with the realities of life. Cancers are very sensitive as children and may need extra care and protection.
You tend to avoid conflict when you can. However, known for your loyalty—especially going to great lengths to fight for those you love, your real mission is to learn to stand up for yourself. You find personal happiness surrounded by a loving family in a comfortable home. Your sign teaches that the unseen world of emotions matters.
Symbol:
Your symbol is the Crab. The crab appears in a Greek legend as Karkinos, who is rewarded by Hera and placed in the heavens to shine forever. A crab has a hard shell that protects it. The association with the symbol of the crab allows for a protective shield for Cancer’s vulnerable emotional self.
Ruler:
Your ruler is the moon.
The moon is associated with emotion. Cancers are animated with powerful and constantly changing emotions.
Have you ever wondered what astrology has to say about your past lives?
This was a blockbuster haunted house-type story with a twist. Set in the 1950s in Mexico, Noemi is a glamorous debutante who answers her cousin’s call for help. Noemi can’t figure out what is going on with her newly married cousin with whom she used to be so close. Are there problems in the marriage? Is the cousin going insane? Is the house the problem? The residents of High Place are strange to say the least. The surrounding community is isolated and stuck in a prior age. Noemi doggedly pursues the truth that may end up being stranger than anything she ever imagined.
I chose to read this book because I thought it would dive into cultural perspectives and topics I was unfamiliar with. This book is not that. Think English mansion horror story. Much more on the horror side than I usually read. There is an interesting perspective on the house as a living, breathing entity.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts- Katherine Arden
World War I must have produced many ghosts. Laura Iven served as a nurse on those battlefields where she was wounded and eventually sent home. After her mother and father are killed in an explosion, Laura doesn’t think things can get much worse. But then she receives word that her only brother is presumed dead after a battle. Something is wrong though because the government returns both her brother’s dog tags. As a nurse, she knows that one should have stayed with Freddie’s body. Was it possible? Could Freddie still be alive?
In an effort to confirm her brother’s death, Laura volunteers to return to the battlefield using her spare time looking into what happened to Freddie. Accompanied by two other women, Laura returns to Belgium, lives through an attack on the way to the army hospital and takes shelter at a tavern overnight. There the women encounter a surreal experience shaking them all. Later, Laura hears whispers and rumors about a strange man who runs a bar and hotel whose wine induces altered states. Most think the idea fantasy but after what the women experienced; Laura can’t let it go. As the war intensifies and the frontline draws closer, ghosts and the living move in the same spaces.
This is a well-written story with meticulous historical detail. The writing is sufficiently atmospheric, and the characters are believable. Of the two books, I definitely liked this one better.
Travel to Amsterdam. Inadvertently attract a dark spirit who attaches herself to you. What could possibly go wrong?
Shocking twists and turns when worlds collide… Haunting. Disturbing. Unsettling. The face of the Dutch girl glared back at her with dark eyes and a mouth twisted in a cruel grimace. From the hall came a sinister laugh. Fear twisted in Lydia’s gut. After a family trip to Amsterdam, 14-year-old Lydia finds herself closer to the past than she could have imagined.
During her stay, a bizarre series of events that seem to defy all logic is set in motion. Either something really weird is going on, or she is going crazy. Both ideas scare her. When Lydia’s life is threatened, she is forced to solve a centuries’ old mystery to uncover the truth about Annika, the angry ghost of a little Dutch girl, her story, and how their past and present connect them.
Whether Annika is really a ghost or Lydia is in a time warp really doesn’t matter. Lydia finds herself closer to the past than she has ever been. But what can Lydia possibly do to help someone who died over 400 years ago? Will Annika kill Lydia if she can’t solve the mystery of the timeless tulips and dark diamonds? Will Lydia succeed in saving herself from the hands of a… ghost?
Finally! It took forever, from hearing the library ordered Down the Treacle Well until it was placed on the shelves.
Description:
While visiting a museum in England, Ben and Kyle experience the extraordinary. Gazing at the Alfred Jewel, an ancient Anglo-Saxon artifact, they watch as it spins, contorts, and evaporates from its case, taking them with it.
Whisked back to Victorian England, the brothers are shocked to find themselves sprawled on the floor before Mr. Charles Dodgson, also known as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.
They soon learn that the famous author’s muse, Alice, is missing. Alice has used the Alfred Jewel to enter Wonderland and, by so doing, has upset the time continuum. The only way for the boys to return home is to locate Alice and return her safely.
But Wonderland is a strange and dangerous place…
ORDER HERE:bit.ly/3roGX9f
SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE: Contact himalayaspencerellis@yahoo.com for more info!
Happy birthday, Gemini! It’s your turn to shine this month.
You are a mutable, air sign—dynamic, enthusiastic, and smart. Communication is your forte and while you often talk about surface topics, Gemini is known for its emotional intelligence. Constantly looking for your missing twin, you seek connection. With your quick wit and optimism, your active mind is restless pulling you into the future you have often already imagined.
Gemini can understand both sides of an issue and that sometimes leads to being called two-faced. The surface level of conversation can also be called shallow (or gossipy) but this often masks the true intention of the conversation. You are loyal and tend to voice your opinion when you deem it necessary. But as an air sign, you are very interested in other opinions and gathering ever more information.
Gemini is social and can be the life of the party using their positivity to lift others. You also have a deep emotional side that needs attention. Time to engage the mind in creative activities can recharge Gemini’s spirit. Your worldly gifts are inspiring and motivating others in a way no other sign can.
Symbol:
Your symbol is the Twins.
From Greek mythology, Gemini is connected to the story of Castor and Pollux. This set of twins was conceived by different fathers. When Castor died, Pollux asked Zeus to grant Castor immortality. This was accomplished when Zeus united them in the skies above.
Ruler:
Your ruler is Mercury.
Mercury is the planet associated with thought, communication, and decision-making. Mercury bestows you with skills in articulation and thought.
Have you ever wondered what astrology has to say about your past lives?
ellisnelson 