Strange movements about the house

     As I intend to mention anything strange that happens here, in this journal, this is todays event. Again I was in the library working on the computer. My dog was in the den, easily observable from my position in the library. My wife had gone upstairs to read and possibly take a nap. Sounds of footsteps coming from the rear staircase, through the dining room and the rusel of clothing, like a coat ,were very plainly heard. I asked my wife if she wanted the computer....no answer. The dog was still plainly asleep in his favorite chair. Perplexed, I got up went into the dining room....no one there, I checked the kitchen.... nothing. I went upstairs, it was obvious my wife was asleep in our bed, an open book resting on her. This has been a most active month for strange unexplained noises in this house, much more than usual.

My Dog

     I'm beginning to worry a bit about my dog. He's about 9 months old now. Again ,today, he had a snarling, hackle raised fit about the dining room. My wife and I were in the kitchen, just finishing up supper, which we generally eat at an earlier hour than most people I know. It was early, still light outside, though this house can be rather dark even when the sun shines brightly. The pup had been busily running from the kitchen through the dinningroom and into the library dispersing his toys all over the place. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, he stiffened, his hackles went up and he began snarling and barking toward the diningroom (we were in the kitchen); there was no quieting him down. My wife suggested I go into the dining room and show him there was nothing therein. He followed me, hesitatingly, jerking first forward than leaping back, until I entered the dining room. I walked around the dining room table, showing him there was nothing there. He turned and returned to the kitchen going to his water bowl to drink. I guess he strained his throat. I ,again, have no idea what he thought he saw or sensed. None of my other dogs ever reacted as violently. The most they ever did was face down the upstairs hall, at night, and emit low growls. This dog seems to have a "thing" about our dining room. Yet he often naps on a pillow next to the heat register in that room.

Phantom entrance

     Not a big deal, but I was working upstairs today, the dog was lying lazily nearby. My wife was at work. A sound that was distinctly like our backdoor opening and closing was clearly heard. The dog jumped up and ran down the backstairs to the kitchen. Thinking my wife had returned home early, I went down the stairs as well, asking her why they'd let her off early. No response. The dog was standing in front of the backdoor looking confused. There was no one around. Typical for this house; after a while you just accept it as a fact of life and return to whatever you were doing.

Footfalls and doors

     I said earlier that events most often take place in this house between election day and new years. But this year the house has been noiser than usual even into January. Footsteps have been heard on several occasions. Not in the upstairs hall and front staircase as is usual but coming out of the kitchen and into the dining room. In the past I have heard them coming from this direction and leading on into the library. But this year, I am in the library so the steps seem to end in the dining room.The downstairs back door on the western side of the house will not stay tightly closed even when locked. As the temperatures are hovering around 5 degrees here now at night, I don't need the backdoor to be ajar. The lock is turned and the door tested, it is tightly closed. Later entrance into the kitchen often finds the door ajar letting in considerable cold air. I may need to place a slidebolt on it; but that didn't cure the problem with the upstairs door to the porch. If this be spooks, I wish they would learn to close the door after themselves. My dog had a hackles up, snarling fit last night. I was in the library using the computer. My wife was not home from work as yet. The pup had lain about for some time in the vicinity of the radiator. He roused, looked intently toward the dining room and let out a couple low growls. I asked him what his problem was. He continued to snarl not taking his eyes off the darkened diningroom. His hackles went up and the snarls became almost frantic. I wasn't sure what had gotten him going but it unnerved me as well. I got up and preceeded to the dining room; turning on the lights. His reaction became less intent, but he was looking in the general direction of the diningroom table. Slowly, carefully, he made his way to the table, looked and sniffed about. Finally settled down. I have no idea what he saw or thought he saw.