There is a common saying in Appalachian folklore & culture: if you blow away the seeds of a dandelion, you'll be granted one wish. Here is a more detailed account of the dandy lion and its dandelions. As the spring thaws frosty earth, a familiar, hardy seed sprouts. The warm rays of light call it to surface; it unfurls its jagged leaves, debuts its soft, bright yellow mane, lets out a soft mew. Unlike its newborn kin-flowers, this one is sentient and magical. Size, Life Expectancy, and Population Dandy lions range between twenty and fifty centimeters tall, with four to five centimeter wide flowerheads, and twenty foot long taproots. They also grow five broad, green, toothy leaves that can reach forty centimeters and can gently grasp neighboring plants. Unlike other dandelions, a dandy lion will only have one flowerhead at a time. If undisturbed, a dandy lion can live up to thirteen years before its roots shrivel up and decay. During this time, a dandy lion may produce a maximum of one-thousand-two-hundred-and-eighty-seven offspring. Due to their reproductive cycle, germination requirements, and an increasing usage of weed killers, dandy lions are a rarity; there may be fewer than thirty left in existence. However, even if the dandy lions cease to exist, their mundane, yet cheerful offspring will most certainly carry on. Life Cycle and Reproduction The dandy lion is a male fey creature and rooted plant. Like all dandelions, it sprouts from a seed and grows a lavish bloom, which wilts and is replaced by a white puff-ball composed of umbrella-like seeds. Each dandelion flower can produce between fifty and two-hundred seeds, but a dandy lion's bloom will always produce exactly ninety-nine once a year; out of these, all but one will generate a regular dandelion through self-pollination. However, in order for the dandy lion seed to germinate, it must be cross-pollinated by a female field fairy. Once pollinated and carried away by the wind, the seed must land in a location outside of a tree’s shade. Additionally, the seed must be exposed to the full moon's light within seven days of touching ground, otherwise it decays. If requirements are met, roots develop and spread rapidly. Next, a thick, hollow stem pierces the earth, growing jagged leaves and a single bud. The flower or seed head is the source of the creature’s consciousness- which is absent during development, wilting, and rebudding. While aware, the dandy lion lightly interacts with its small, consistent world by pulling or pushing other plants with its feeble leaves. More notably, dandy lions sometimes mew at nearby creatures- a sound that is often mistaken for a far off, kitten cry. Once a bloom has seeded and dispersed, the head will wilt and decay. A new bud will develop in a year. A dandelion is typically only conscious during the late spring, remaining unaware for most of its life. To kill a dandy lion, no more than half an inch must be left in the earth. If more than that remains, it will regrow. Potent pesticides will prevent regeneration, and some will even destroy the entirety of the taproot, effectively eradicating the fey. If regeneration is prevented, the creature will live on, but will remain unconscious and unable to reproduce. Habitat Dandy lions can be found in almost any vegetated habitat: fertile gardens, rocky hillsides, boreal forests, temperate woodlands, prairies, and other grasslands. Behavior and Abilities Dandy lions are a gentle, infantile species. Unlike many fey, they cannot speak and can only make a few distinct noises. They also are unable to move, aside from weak actions performed by their broad leaves. When happy, the flowerhead will open and close its mouth repeatedly. When angered, it will slowly wave its leaves in a circular motion. If saddened, it will close up its bloom or appear to droop. The most well known ability of the dandy lion is wish granting. In fact, its cherished talent has passed into dandelion folklore of the Appalachian region. This knowledge was passed to humans by other fey creatures, but has become distorted over the years, now referencing any old dandelion (which has been greatly beneficial to the spread of the plant). If you pluck a dandy lion and blow away its seeds, it will be immensely happy that you’ve sent its offspring far into the world where they may prosper. In thanks, it will grant you one wish. However, the plant cannot tell you so! Thus, it is up to the individual to differentiate between the common dandelion and the dandy lion- or make a wish on every bloom. However, if a dandy lion is maliciously or carelessly killed, the individual will have thirteen years of bad luck, and their unsaid wish never granted. Dandelion & Dandy Lion Recipes Since plucking the flower, stem, leaves, and some of the roots does not kill the plant (and can even help it), try some of these recipes: Dandelion Tea 1) Roast finely chopped dandelion roots in a non-stick or cast iron pan on medium heat until lightly browned and aromatic (do not burn the roots; it will make the flavor bitter). 2) Mix eight ounces of boiling water per one teaspoon of roasted root. 3) Steep for ten to fifteen minutes, then strain. 4) Flavor to taste with milk, honey, and sugar. Dandelion Jam 1) Pick dandelion flowers and remove the stem (green sections). 2) Pour eight ounces of boiling water over petals per quarter of a cup of petals. 3) Let steep at room temperature overnight until a dark yellow color. 4) Strain brew. 5) Mix three cups of tea, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and one box of powdered pectin in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. 6) Add four and a half cups of sugar, mix, bring to a boil for an additional two minutes. 7) Pour mixture into jelly jars. Make sure to leave a quarter of an inch between the jelly's surface and the rim. 8) Use on toast, butter rolls, and pancakes.
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The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert, boasting 3.6 million square miles of varied, extremely harsh terrain. Here, little water or vegetation can be found, but life persists; hyenas, rodents, snakes, antelope, and insects thrive here, as well as an elusive canine known as the adjule. In 1928, French naturalist and Sahara Desert expert Théodore Monod was on a research expedition in Mauritania. There the Tuareg, a semi-nomadic people, told him stories of a strange beast, the adjule. The dogs had thick, reddish hide that had a blue tint in direct sunlight, webbed toes with sharp claws, and stood about two and a half feet tall, weighing about 45 pounds, and always could be found in a pack. Females, or tarhsits, sometimes could be seen roaming the barren plateaus in groups of 3 to five, hunting far away from human settlements. Groups comprised of tarhsits and kelb-el-khela (males), have been spotted in movements of up to thirteen dogs, boldly scouting locations regularly accompanied by human presence. Adjules survive on small prey, such as desert dwelling reptiles and jerboa, or larger meals like camel and unlucky travelers. However, some say the canines are more dangerous than the fangs and claws they bare. Folktales state that the adjules have an obscure power- they can produce an unscented pheromone that causes discord in human prey, making them easy targets. Other stories say they aren’t corporal beings at all, but malicious, evil demonic beings that take on the form of a reddish dog or wolf with mange. Today, the adjule has not been reportedly seen since 1992. Most people believe the creature was a misidentification of an African Wild Dog- which is extinct in many areas of the Sahara-, or even an undocumented, isolated subspecies of African Wild Dog. Some believe the century of sightings can be attributed to wild and domesticated dogs with mange. Yet, there are those out there that refute all these ideas, claiming that the adjule once existed, and may still, harboring intense survival mechanisms, stealth, and perhaps, otherworldly secrets. For me, drawing always begins with a story. Most of these stories remain shallow or conceptual, though several evolve, growing plots, characters, and conflict. Narrative ideas are conceived way before any sketches are, and work primarily as illustration outlines. Before I ever put pencil to paper, I dream up people and monsters, and the things they could be doing together or against one another. Sometimes I sit on these imaginings for weeks, before concreting the idea with a hesitant sketch. I've never published my stories alongside images for two main reasons: 1) I like people to guess the story and/or make up one; 2) I'm a bit embarrassed of them (whether it be their literary quality or subject). Someday, I'd like to step away from-or at least face-that fear and exhibit a collection of short stories paired with illustrations. Writing and drawing has been something I've loved and dabbled with since I was a kid. I hope to continue to combine words, narratives, and images throughout my career in both ink and clay. The Necromancer, 18 X 24 in.This large drawing was completed with various Micron pens (005-08 and a S brush) on Mixed Media Paper. It is the largest pen & ink drawing I've ever done, and ever want to do. As every artist usually says, the last 10% is the hardest to complete; while I was at the 90% mark, I still had several hours of work left that I was both uninterested in and frustrated with. I still could go back in for another 6 hours to fix linework, increase the contrast, and obtain the lighting effect I was shooting for, but sometimes you need a to have nothing to do with the piece for a while, so that you can justly judge it, then make alterations. Since I work best under stress (at least that what I tell myself), I planned to do this drawing within a 7 day period for a macabre gallery event. I soon regretted that decision, but I'd already committed to it. By the end, I'd probably put in 50+ hours of linework, revision, sketching, research, and all the other things that go with drawing. I usually am very happy with and excited about the first 50% of anything I'm doing. However, something happens within me during that second 50%. I rarely still contain that happiness and excitement during the latter half. In fact, I hate almost all of my artwork by the end, and the Necromancer is no different. I continuously think about all the things I could and should have done different, as well as pinpoint every flaw. And while it sits in a frame, that's all I can see. It takes about 3 months for these feelings of hatred and disappointment to subside, before I can more accurately determine whether or not I've made something good or worthwhile. Regardless, I put in a lot of valuable practice time with my Microns and stepped out of my comfortable 8.5x11 paper size. The Necromancer actually came about because of Dungeons and Dragons. My husband is obsessed with the game, and somehow I became the Dungeon Master (the person who runs, sets up the game/story/etc.) for our small group of friends- it is a very fun and creative game if you've never played before (in which case I'd suggest trying it out or watching Youtube videos of gameplay, or listening to my fav DnD podcast: The Adventure Zone). This means I spend a lot of time writing stories for the players. One type of character that comes up a lot in these types of games are necromancers- which are individuals obsessed with death, practice dark magic (like resurrection, zombie-stuff), and are typically of the evil alignment. I'm always drawn to dark subjects and things (I don't know why), so of course I have necromancers in my game. Currently, we're are playing a 'lawful good' group campaign, and I wanted to make one of the NPCs (a non-playable character controlled by me or the acting DM) the group befriended delve into dark magic and necrotic art. The setting is a mix of Classic Camelot/TV Series Merlin (which is amazing, watch it on Netflix) game, so the acting government sees all magic as evil and nonpermissible. So, I wanted these knights of the round table to have a moral dilemma along their journey, where a friend loses a loved one, is met by a few Necrotic Sages (which I based on owl/human skeleton hybrids and classic mage design), and is tempted to pay a hefty price to revitalize their lover. Spoiler alert, though, you should never make deals with demon-like entities; the lover is resurrected, but acts as a zombie, containing no soul. The new necromancer loses some humanity, becomes bitter, and must promise fealty to the sages in exchange for their gifts of power. If you're in the El Paso, TX area, stop by the Kaleidoscope Art Space- 2104 E Yandell Dr, El Paso, Texas 79903! I'll be exhibiting work there, as well as vending! Announcements
I'll soon be posting updates of a graphic novel I'm working on-a short collection of stories pertaining to cryptid mythology. Additionally, I'm working on setting up a way to record/edit drawing videos. In the early summer of 1955, in the small town of Loveland, OH, a businessman spotted three strange creatures on the side of the road. The unnamed witness claimed the human-like figures were leathery and hairless, had webbed hands and feet, deep wrinkles on their heads, were bipedal, had faces like a frog, and were between four to five feet tall. The most interesting detail though, was that one 'frogman' waved a cylindrical, 'wand-like', metal object around its head, emitting flashing lights and sparks. The businessman watched the entities for around 3 minutes, then ran away. There are several other versions of this tale, with the only major differences being that the frogmen were under or sitting on top of a bridge. No version specified the location of the encounter, the name of the witness, nor the time of day. But, that is only tales from Loveland. Farther west, in Evansville, Indiana, on August 21, 1955 a strange event occurred- thought to have spawned the vague Loveland legend. Mrs. Darwin Johnson was swimming in the Ohio River with her friend, Mrs. Chris Lamble. As they were swimming in 15 feet of water, something grabbed Johnson under the water and latched onto her knee. The creature dragged Johnson underwater twice before she was able to kick free of its grasp. After the pair frantically swam to shore, they observed bruising on her leg, as well as a pale, green palm-print that strained her skin. The Little Miami drains into the Ohio River, and Evansville is 240 miles southwest of Loveland. Yet, this story is not the first about a creature part frog (or reptile), part man. Shawnee and Twightwee Native Americans told early settlers (around the 1600s) about a species of creature called the Shawnahooc (or roughly translated, 'River Demon'). Shawnahoocs walked on two hind legs, lived along river banks, had no nose, but a frog face, and were reptilian in nature. The entities were said to guard the riverbanks and were thought to be immortal- delving deep into the waters if injured. At one point in their history, the creatures continuously threatened native peoples, causing them to send their greatest warriors to drive the 'demons' back and out of their territory. The Shawnahoocs lost the fight, and were forced back into the waters, where they hid. This first encounter raised the question: Alien, Hybrid, or Primitive Life? The second documented encounter occurred on March 3, 1972 at 1 a.m. (seventeen years later). After some rain, the cool, night air made Loveland's roads icy and dangerous, causing Officer Ray Shockey to drive slowly and carefully. As he was travelling on Riverside Drive, an animal scurried across the road and he slammed on his brakes. At first, because of its size, he thought it was a dog, but then, as his headlights illuminated the creature, he realized it looked nothing like a dog. The figure- between three and four feet tall and fifty to seventy-five pounds- was crouching like a frog, had leathery skin, and also looked like a giant frog. The frogman stood up on two legs, looked through the windshield at Shockey, climbed over the guardrail and escaped into the Little Miami River. An investigation by other police officers revealed that there were distinct markings (scratch marks and abrasions) on the guardrail exactly where the creature reportedly climbed over it. However, no pictures were taken- or at least kept- as evidence Two weeks after this incident, fellow officer Mark Matthews had a run in with the creature. He was also driving down an icy road late at night, when he thought he saw a dead or dying animal lying on the road. He pulled his vehicle over to remove the carcass, but the creature stood erect on hind legs when he neared. The unexpected movement and frog-like visage scared Matthews, who pulled out his revolver and shot once at the figure. The frogman fumbled over the guardrail and escaped out of sight. Matthews gave the same description as Shockey, though during his encounter, he claimed the entity had a tail.
"The creature was three to four feet tall, 50 to 75 pounds, leathery skin, possibly wet - matted hair on its body that made it look textured, possible tail, a head and face like a frog or lizard, and could leap over the roads' guard rail." -Matthews' falsely reported account. Later, Matthews recanted his story (whether this was due to guilt about lying, or because of local humiliation is unknown). He stated that he only had seen a large lizard, or maybe a large pet iguana that escaped or was released. He reportedly tried to capture the lizard to support Shockley's story. "It was and is no 'monster'. It was not leathery or had wet matted fur. It was not 3–5 feet tall. It did not stand erect. The animal I saw was obviously some type of lizard that someone had as a pet that either got too large for its aquarium, escaped by accident or they simply got tired of it. It was less than 3 feet in length, ran across the road and was probably blinded by my headlights. It presented no aggressive action." — Mark Matthews, Skeptoid.com, The Loveland Frog An anonymous local farmer also reported seeing three strange creatures around this time while inspecting his fields (which were located near the Little Miami River). The farmer reported the the frogmen had large, circular eyes, pale, greenish-gray skin, and wide mouths full of sharp teeth. The creatures looked at the farmer and ran back towards the river, out of sight. Years later, Shockley approached the Loveland council in an attempt to have them recognize the Loveland Frogman as a sort of mascot and capitalize on its notoriety. The idea was dismissed. The most recent sighting occurred on August 3, 2016. A couple, Sam Jacobs and his girlfriend, were playing Pokemon Go between Loveland Madeira Road and Lake Isabella when they spotted the creature. "We saw a huge frog near the water. Not in the game (Pokemon Go), this was an actual giant frog. I took a couple of pictures and a video 'cause I'd never seen one that big. Then the thing stood up and walked on its hind legs". Jacobs went on to say he realizes some people will think he's crazy. "I swear on my grandmother's grave that this is the truth", Jacobs said. "I'm not sure whether it was a Frogman or just a giant frog. Either way, I've never seen anything like it." (Fox19, August 4, 2016; picture below) Whether or not the Loveland Frogman exists, it is an interesting and enjoyable story. The Ohio River and its surrounding areas, like the Little Miami, are considered to be a cryptid hotspot, with several strange creature cases and sightings. Sources/Further Reading Cryptopia Fox19- "Local Legend: Does the Frogman Live On?" Week in Weird Mysterious Universe The Lineup |
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August 2018
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