Saturday, February 16, 2008 - approximately 4:30PM - My friends Elizabeth and Joe and I have called it quits for the day - enough renovation work. Joe is sitting on the couch in the Family room. I'm standing about 5-feet away and Elizabeth is next to me. She asks, "Can you smell it?" and I ask, "smell what?". Elizabeth states, "flowers, like lilies". At first I don't notice the scent but then it becomes gently apparent and lasts for about 30-seconds. Did Lily come downstairs for a brief visit?
Saturday, February 16, 2008 - approximately 8:30PM - Joe and I have returned from supper at the Yellow Creek Inn. We're going to watch a DVD before he heads home. I'm complaining about how quiet it's been over the past 3-4 weeks at the "Haunted Mansion". He agrees and says, "I haven't even heard those small noises coming from rooms where we're not working". Joe's talking about those noises that can't be attributed to plumbing, the house settling, a tree branch scraping against a window or some small animal etc. Good! I've never told him that in the past when we were working I heard those noises too. I feel vindicated! But what's up with my "family"? - months of craziness and now complete calm.
Tuesday, Feburary 19, 2008 - approximately 8:00PM - I'm talking on the phone with my friend Susan and yet again complaining about the lack of recent activity at the "Haunted Mansion". I like consistency in my life and my "family" is not being consistent. Susan has no explanation. My job has taken me out of town and I retire to bed at 9:30PM. At approximately 12:30AM I'm startled and abruptly awakened from a deep sleep by a loud bang like a rubber mallet on sheet metal ductwork near the ceiling and door to the bedroom. I immediately say out loud, "Well Mike (the reported name of one of the spirits in my house), it's about time you did something. I'm tired of not interacting with you." I turn and look at the alarm clock thinking that I'm home in my bedroom but quickly realize that I'm not. Was that loud noise created in my dream (although I don't remember dreaming) or did one of my family travel to let me know they're still around? They've been known to travel. I guess it's just another one of those paranormal experiences. There really are no answers beyond a reasonable doubt.
Friday, February 29, 2008 � 6:30PM to 9:00PM - I went to a workshop held at a New Age store in Rockford, IL. The workshop, presented by a medium, was about expanding personal psychic ability. I talked with the medium before the workshop began and told him that the �Haunted Mansion� has been incredibly quiet. I stated that it will be embarrassing for me if the group investigating on March 15 doesn�t encounter anything especially after all my talk about how my house, buildings and property are so haunted. He told me that a member of my �family� (Sara) said it�s been quiet because they are saving their energy for the investigation. He also told me Sara informed him that I would be at the workshop and she also visited the investigative group�s co-founder to be certain that the investigation will happen.
I sat and waited for the workshop to begin after talking with the medium. I started to go into a mild hypnotic-like state. This has happened to me before and from what I know it seems to be when my �family� is trying to communicate with me. The group practiced clairvoyance and clairsentience towards the end of the workshop. We were told to focus on a subject and then observe what we sensed. I focused on Sara. First, I heard over and over in my head, �I�m your friend�. Then, I visualized female breasts. OK, I know that�s weird but I�ve been told that part of Sara�s role in my life is to spiritually nurture me. I spoke with the medium after the workshop about my experiences during the work session. He agreed with my interpretations and said, �Sara was next to you and behind you during part of the workshop�.
Sunday, March 2, 2008 � approximately 9:00PM - I was watching TV in the Family room. The weather forecast predicted rain, sleet and wind gusts. It was accurate. First, I heard noises coming from the basement under the Family room. The stairwell to that basement (there are 2-basements in the house) is open to the Family room. The noises sounded like wooden furniture being moved and banging together as it was placed. There is no furniture in the basement but there is a wooden hollow core door and wood 2x4s from demolition. I haven�t checked to see if they�re been moved but the sounds were from something heavier anyway. The event lasted between 15-30 seconds. I called out and asked, �Hey Joe is everything OK?� Almost immediately thereafter, I heard a very loud rustling like sound coming from the Kitchen, almost as if large trash bags filled with shredded newspaper were thrown from a shelf to the floor and someone was squashing them. The event lasted for at least one minute. I then heard Tyvek house wrap (I�ve removed siding and replaced sheathing for new siding to be installed this year) rustling from a gust of wind at the exterior of the Family room. So, I thought that the rustling in the Kitchen was probably caused by the wind. But I�m fairly certain that the Kitchen noise was coming from within the house and it was probably too loud and too long to be caused by a single, powerful gust of wind. Also, it was much louder than the noise from outside the Family room and lasted much longer. After this loud rustling from the Kitchen, I heard more rustling but it wasn�t nearly as loud and was clearly the sound of Tyvek coming from outside and the result of wind gusts. I stayed-up for another 1 � hours and never heard anything further like the loud rustling from the Kitchen.
I�m comfortable with black and white but this is all so gray. Has my �family� really been in-active and quiet or is the above evidence that they�re just as active as ever?
Thursday, March 13, 2008 - W.I.P.S. investigation Saturday, March 15 @ 10:00PM until Sunday, March 16 @ 3:00AM. Will it be a bust or will my "family" engage? 
Saturday, March 15, 2008 -Tonight is the investigation. I wonder about the outcome. It should be interesting regardless of what takes place or doesn't. The reality is that I know what I've experienced here over the past 15 months and I know what others have experienced! Let's see what happens!
Sunday, March 16, 2008 - Success! The investigation went well. Personal experiences of individuals from the investigative group confirmed that Willow Creek Farm is haunted. Technical recordings will take time to analyze and I hope that positive, substantiating information is gained through those. Although my first investigation, W.I.P.S. proved itself to be courteous, professional and thorough in every respect. Thanks to Ann, Chris and the investigative team for the long trek to Willow Creek Farm and the hours spent in preparation and execution of the investigation! 
Good Friday, March 21, 2008 - As time marches forward my experiences and the experiences of others with my �family� become even more fascinating. Here�s the most recent development.
Several �sensitives� over the past year have reported a little girl in the NW 2nd Floor bedroom who is blond and 3-4 years old. Two of these �sensitives� agreed that her name is Lilly. All �sensitives� agree that she is Sara�s daughter who is another member of my �family�.
During the round-table discussion after the recent investigation by W.I.P.S. its medium reported that a young girl between 9-10 years of age resided in the NW 2nd Floor bedroom and she is Sara�s daughter. He also reported that her name is Emily or something similar.
I was allowed to have two (2) guests attend the W.I.P.S. investigation. One of the guests is a teenage woman who is a �sensitive�. In the past when visting with her parents she has had contact with �Lilly� and she did as well during the investigation. This morning I received an e-mail from her mother which immediately prompted my phone call and in summary her mother said, �Ever since my daughter came back from your house I have had two dreams that were at your house. I don't normally dream or remember them because I generally don�t reach REM as a result of my health. But the dreams were about Lilly. Her name is actually Amelia and her nickname is Lilly because she would always bring her mom lilies in the spring. My daughter told me that the medium believes Lilly�s name is Emily but from my dreams I think it�s really Amelia although �Emily� is close.�
About three months ago another sensitive told me that Lilly and Sara loved to walk through the fields in the spring and Lilly would pick flowers for her mother. 
Friday, March 28, 2008 - Mike and Michelle are close friends of mine. They have three (3) daughters ranging in age from 10 to 16. The family helped me move in December �06 and have visited the house multiple times since. On each visit, all have had paranormal experiences except Mike. Amanda is the eldest and is clairvoyant. Michelle is �sensitive�. (See the Good Friday, March 21 blog above).
Michelle does not sleep well or for extended periods because of a long term illness and seldom, if ever, remembers her dreams. Recently, she�s been having intense dreams about Sara and Amelia (see above). Today she e-mailed me with the following.
Amelia loves butterflies...she has the "kitten" the furry one [my comment � I had a furry 6-month old female kitten that ate poison and died 4-months ago. Michelle didn�t know about the kitten but accurately described her in a phone conversation yesterday] with her and often they play with the kitten at your house. Her mom Sara loves lavender...not sure if it is the smell or the color. Amelia was the youngest child [my comment � same reported by other mediums] and was with her mom a lot as the others did chores or were at least gone. She loves being with her mom. Sara said Amanda [my comment � Mike and Michelle�s 16-year old psychic daughter] looks like a family member and Amelia is fascinated with Amanda�s clothes and makeup. Sara watches over you just as she does others in the house. I saw a lot in my head tonight and plan on going back to sleep now to see if I wake up with more thoughts about them. Update: In a phone conversation today Michelle told me that very recently Amanda has been missing jewelry and small articles of clothing that turn-up several days later in places other than where she remembers leaving them. Amelia are you playing?
Thursday, April 4, 2008 - Tonight I had a phone conversation with a friend and he described his dream from the prior night. In the dream he turned right onto a country road from a main road. He crested a hill, saw a farm, then turned into a dirt path (my driveway?). In the front of the white farmhouse there were some trees and also woods in the back. There was a creek too. He knew the name of my farm (Willow Creek) but has never visited it or seen pictures of it until after he had the dream and visited a site where I've posted pictures. The house is a typical white Midwest farmhouse from the mid 1800s, there are trees in the front, woods 1/2 mile at the back of the fields and a creek that is to the left of the house and drive. He does not claim to be psychic. Is this simply coincidence?
Friday, April 4, 2008 - The house is a construction zone and very dusty. Tonight I noticed "Hi" written twice on top of a very dusty two tier bookcase. There are also finger prints, adult size. Each "Hi" isn't neatly printed but they're unmistakably "Hi". Two weeks ago I noticed the same type "Hi" written in the dust on my computer screen. I asked three people on separate occasions if they saw anything written in the dust on the monitor and without missing a beat each said, 'I see "Hi" written in the dust". Hmm, is it Mike, Sara or a guest? It's not Amelia based upon the fingerprints I observed tonight.
Sunday, April 6, 2008 (afternoon � time not noted) - I was walking from the Dining room into the Living room and felt something like a light breeze pass by me. But it wasn�t a breeze it was more like electrical energy. I really can�t describe the feeling. All of a sudden, after taking several steps in the Living room, my right ear felt as though I had blockage from a head cold. This was accompanied by a high-pitched buzzing sound. My ear then popped and the sound stopped. I walked several feet further and the ear occurrence repeated itself. Sylvia Browne, in her book Contacting Your Spirit Guide, describes the sensations when spirits talk to you. What she describes is nearly identical to what I experienced. I really didn't give the experience much thought until I talked with a friend last evening who has also read Sylvia Browne�s book. My friend stated that my experience was exactly what she�d read in the book too. Was one of my family or a guest trying to communicate with me? My friend thinks it was Sara? Perhaps, or maybe I simply had a brief body malfunction. What do you think?
Saturday, April 26, 2008 (6:13AM)
My cat has recently begun spending the night sleeping on the foot of my bed. Occasionally, I�ll wake to find him alongside me near my chest. That was the case when I went downstairs and used the bathroom at approximately 5:45AM and returned to bed drifting off into a semi-conscious relaxed state with my eyes half closed. I was suddenly jolted by a huge bang coming from downstairs. It sounded something like a large Armoire that had been pushed over. The cat, curled up next to me with eyes closed, jumped and immediately awoke. He sat-up on his haunches with his back stiff and front legs in locked position. I stroked his back and wondered out loud, �Hey Mr. P, who do you think that was?� He looked at me then went back to staring with alarm and intensity past the bedroom door, through the nursery out to the hallway. It was nearly time to arise anyway so I got out of bed and threw on some sweats. Only then did Mr. P relax his stance and stop staring towards the hallway. We headed downstairs. A quick 1st floor investigation yielded no clues. Nothing had fallen, nothing was turned-over.
Saturday, May 3, 2008 (8:00PM to 1:00AM approx.)
Certainly I'm biased but look at the photos labeled May 3, 2008. Feel free to comment. My friend Steve, and friends Mike his wife Shell with their three (3) daughters visited yesterday and took the photos in my gallery. Now I have a comment for those of you who think Willow Creek Farm is a rather typical haunting. Oh really?!
Friday, May 9, 2008 (10:00PM)
There is a child's rocker in Lily's room. It was given to me by my parents when I was about five years old. It is now Lily's. I arrived home and walked into her room before retiring to bed. I noticed that her ball and stuffed bunny were behind the two adult rocking chairs within two feet of one another and adjacent to the east window. The bunny was face down. I moved the adult rocking chairs from the Nursery to Lily's room last week because I'm beginning renovations in the Nursery and needed uncluttered space to work. Earlier in the week, the ball was next to the children's rocker and the bunny was in the it. The two rocking chairs are approximately 4-5 feet from the child's rocker. Perhaps my kitten Mr. P moved them.
Sunday, May 10, 2008 (approx. 6:30AM)
I was awakened this morning by what sounded like loud rattling. We had a strong storm last evening that lasted into early afternoon today. There were gusts over 40 mph. I thought that the rattling was from 145+ year old windows being buffeted by wind. But I know better because I heard that too and the rattling that woke me was different. It was louder and came from downstairs. It also didn't correspond to the increase in wind speed and it was ongoing for well over one minute.
Same day (4:00PM)
A friend stopped for a short visit today. He too is a believer. I described the Friday (May 9) incident and showed him Lily�s ball. He thought it highly likely that Mr. P (my kitten) moved the ball but he wondered why there were no kitten paws in the heavy dust on the child's rocking chair. Mr. P would have had to stand with front paws on the chair to reach the bunny. This is curious!
Also I wiped clean, dust from the 2-tier bookcase at the front door last weekend (see related story above dated Friday, April 4). Today I noticed that there are more fingerprints - no messages just fingerprints. My friend also pointed out that they are fresh prints. Hmmm? I wonder?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
This evening I was having supper with my friends Ross and Carol. We were talking about the May 3 photos. Carol reminded me that when they visited last September (2007) with their three daughters, the middle daughter age 4 at the time, told her the next morning that she couldn�t sleep the evening they visited because there was a lady in her room. Carol asked her daughter to describe the lady; she couldn�t. Sara travels. I wonder?
Friday, May 16, 2008
I arrived home and the radio was playing loudly in the Family room. I swear I turned it off when I left. It�s part of my house-check routine � stove off, lights out, doors locked, radio off etc. Did I forget to turn it off? Nah.
Sunday, May 25, 2008 (6:20AM)
Here we go again, a repeat of Saturday, April 26. I was suddenly jolted awake from a deep, sound sleep by a huge bang coming from downstairs somewhere between the Dining and Family rooms. It was the same sound that woke me and Mr. P on April 26; something like a large very heavy (Oak) Armoire that had been pushed over onto a wood floor. I guess Mike wants me to get-up and out of bed. There are things to do and no time to waste. But this time I fell back asleep and got out of bed around 8:30AM. A quick 1st floor investigation proved that nothing had fallen, nothing was turned-over.
Early June 2008
Faith is the 14 year-old daughter of the farmer who farms on my property. She was required to give a seven-minute oral presentation to her 8th grade class on a topic of her choice. I was honored to hear that her topic was the history of Willow Creek Farm but also its haunting. Her teacher commended Faith�s presentation. But here�s what�s really interesting. She also stated that one of her students several years prior had given a report about the Haunted House on Spring Valley Road in Shannon. It was the same house � my house. Creepy!
Sometime in June 2008 on a Friday evening.
I went downstairs to the basement under the Family room. I haven�t spoken with Joe recently. As I stood on the north side of the basement I had a subtle but distinct feeling that I was being approached by a presence from across the room that came and stood immediately to my right within one foot of me. Yes Joe, I�m glad to see you too and I�ve been neglecting you recently.
Saturday July 5, 2008 (Evening)
My friends Mike and Shell visited for a barbeque with their three daughters and a friend. We sat outside at the back of the house enjoying a wonderful summer evening, good company and typical barbeque fare. Shell and her daughters went exploring the house after we ate. They know my “family” well. Amanda, the eldest daughter, has the “gift”. I thought that Amanda seemed almost dazed when they came back from their exploration. I asked Michelle if Amanda was OK. Michelle told me that while upstairs in the Master bedroom, she noticed Amanda having an odd reaction as Amanda sat with her friend at the foot of the bed. Michelle asked Amanda if anything was wrong. Amanda told her Mom that she felt as though energy had entered her. I couldn’t help but notice how exhausted Amanda looked as she slumped in a folding yard chair and was completely quiet – unlike her usual high energy self. I asked Amanda how she was feeling and her response was, “exhausted”. She told me the story about feeling energy enter her and how it seemed to take control for a moment. She said, “I felt as though I was in a dream-like state”. Within the hour everyone said their “good byes” and left. Amanda was the first to enter the van. She slumped in the back seat quietly looking both dazed and exhausted.
Thursday, July 10, 2008 (approx. 9:00 PM)
The Family room drywall is being taped. I’ve gotten rid of the Wood burning stove and will replace it with a replica Pot belly stove. The metal flue for the wood burning stove is leaning against a wall at the bottom of the Basement stairs. I was laying on the couch watching TV and Mr. P was resting on my stomach. We were interrupted by a huge sound of sheet metal being dragged or moved that came from the basement. It startled and scared me and Mr. P even more so. He jumped up and stared towards the stairs. I got up, investigated and found the flue in its same spot. Explain that one. It’s been so quiet here for nearly a month; no unusual sounds, no strange feelings - nothing. Earlier that evening I’d gone down in the Family room basement to visit with Joe. I told him everyone has been very quiet for awhile and that they should let me know they’re around.
Friday September 12, 2008 (approx. 9-10:00PM)
I keep revisiting the Machine shed incident from last weekend. The “shushing” sound could very easily be the fluttering of bird wings. Birds fly in and out of the shed during the day and sometimes you can hear noise from their wings as they brush against the steel wall panels when they take-off from the steel trusses or land on them. The sound was located only at the east end of the shed approximately 10 feet off the ground just below the eave line. So birds or a bird is a possible explanation. But that sound was immediately followed by numerous loud bangs against the steel wall panels (like someone pounding their fist) from the same location in the shed. The total duration of this pounding sound was between 1-2 minutes in my estimation. I’m trying to find some plausible explanation such as a raccoon doing ?????. But nothing fits. Even more interesting is that the cats were at my feet and they both stopped their activities to stare at the left side of the shed until the banging stopped. My immediate thought was to go and investigate but my intuition told me not and I didn�t. As much as I want to believe that there is some natural and plausible explanation for this event it is certainly within the realm of possibilities that this was simply another paranormal occurrence at Willow Creek Farm.
Friday September 26, 2008 (8:30-9:00AM Approx.)
I moved the Dining room table to the edge of the Family room and covered it with plastic in preparation to paint the Dining room. I heard noises coming from the area of the table as I sat at my computer in the Parlor reading e-mail and news. It was as though items on the table were being re-arranged. I did the denial routine attempting to explain away the noises as those “typical” noises heard in every house; but I knew better.
Sunday, October 5, 2008 (10:30PM)
I’d just gotten into bed in the Master bedroom when I heard a sound as though someone was playing with the plastic sheet that I’ve used to cover the 6 foot tall bookcase in the adjoining Nursery. I’m painting and I’ve covered the few pieces of furniture in the rooms with cheap, clear plastic sheets to protect them from paint splatter. This sound continued for several minutes. Mr. P was in the house but downstairs. Skeptics would say that it was Mr. P. I know better. It was Sara.
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