The ZYX’s of Obscure Things I Want In, On, or Around My Horror House
In keeping with our Horror House theme for March, here is some of my research for my manuscript concerning obscure horror house things because this world is a big beautiful bag of weird (all images courtesy of interwebs).
Z is for ZARF
ZARF: It’s to keep your fingers from burning off while you drink your potion.
Y is for YEW
YEW TREE: For the inner demon-child in you. Or it.
X is for XANTHIPPE
XANTHIPPE STATUE: To honor and welcome the inner banshee in all of us.
W is for WIDOW’S WALK
WIDOW’S WALK: I feel like it’s less awful than it sounds. Kind of like a mini-lighthouse on top of your home.
V is for VOMITORIUM
VOMITORIUM: Not as bad as it sounds. It’s just that exit way leading out of an amphitheater.
U is for UCALEGON
UCALEGON: Because nothing says “Welcome Home!” like a neighbor whose house is on fire.
T is for TILBURY
TILBURY: Because so much is riding on your zebras.
S is for SOLARIUM
SOLARIUM: AKA Greenhouse, orangery, or sunroom. It’s like an oven for your whole body.
R is for RUINS
RUINS: Better yet, underwater ruins at the bottom of my private lake with an underground river that connects to my basement poolbrary (See NATATORIUM, below).
Q is for QUARTREFOIL
QUARTREFOIL: These were hidden all over my hometown. I’m still convinced they were portals to a pocket universe.
P is for PORTICULLIS
PORTICULLIS: This is NOT what I pictured this word to look like. I’d call it deathfence.
O is for OCCULUS
OCCULUS: I cannot count the number of nightmares these windows give me.
N is for NATATORIUM
NATATORIUM: And if it was drained like this basement one, I’d fill the shallow end with books and the deep end with pillows. My poolbrary.
M is for MOTHERHOOD HELPER
MOTHERHOOD HELPER: I don’t know the name for it, but sign me up.
L is for LANTERN
LANTERN: I don’t know what it lanterns but I want eighteen of them.
K is for KEWPIE DOLL
KEWPIE DOLL: Just kidding. These are the stuff of nightmares.
J is for JIGGUMBOB
JIGGUMBOB: No thank you, please.
I is for INGLENOOK
INGLENOOK: Where you go to get warm or burned.
H is for HALLWAY
HALLWAY: Sometimes you should stay in your room.
G is for GARRET
GARRET: Like an attic, but worse because you’re convinced it will tidy up nicely for a fifth bedroom.
F is for FRIENDSHIP BALLS
FRIENDSHIP BALLS: AKA Gazing Balls, Looking Balls, or Butler Balls.
E is for ENFILADE
ENFILADE: A series of adjoining rooms in which the doors align and you’ll probably get stabbed.
D is for DOVCOTE
DOVCOTE: Where the doves go.
C is for CUPOLA
CUPOLA: Like a belvedere only more so.
B is for BELVEDERE
BELVEDERE: Not just an 80’s butler, but so much more than a cupola.
A is for ANTEROOM
ANTEROOM: You can wait here. You can wait here and you can like it.
kirabutler
I love this post, Erica.