Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a magical woman named Serena. Serena was known far and wide for her extraordinary powers of conjuring and her ability to create the most potent elixirs. People from all over the kingdom would seek her out for remedies to their ailments and for her potions that could grant them their heart's desires. Serena's skills were unparalleled, and she had an innate understanding of the mystical properties of herbs and plants. She would spend hours in her enchanting garden, carefully selecting each ingredient for her elixirs. Her garden was a spectacle to behold, with vibrant flowers and rare botanicals that seemed to possess a life of their own.
BLDGBLOG (“building blog”) was launched in 2004 and is written by Geoff Manaugh. More.
According to the press release from the researchers who validated the site, the city is planning a tasteful plaque or marker to memorialize the spot. What was once an ugly tangle of trees and brush on the side of the road is now a neatly landscaped arc of stone, inset with the 19 names of the victims along with their execution dates.
Her garden was a spectacle to behold, with vibrant flowers and rare botanicals that seemed to possess a life of their own. When someone sought Serena's help, she would invite them into her cottage, a cozy sanctuary filled with mystical artifacts and ancient books. Her curious visitors would be captivated by the shelves lined with jars of potions and brews, each one labeled with intricate handwritten notes detailing their purpose and effects.
Tag: Geo Refrigeration Crevice
While I was over in New York State last fall, reporting both the “witch houses” piece for The New Yorker and the Middletown High School piece for The Guardian, I stopped off in the town of Rosendale, enticed there by several things I noticed on Google Maps.
[Image: The Rosendale Trestle, photo by BLDGBLOG.]
First was what turned out to be a satirical reference to something called the Geo Refrigeration Crevice, which, even on its own, sounded worth a side-trip. But, in the exact same area, there were also photos of an incredible-looking railway bridge converted to a hiking path that I wanted to walk across; there were these gorgeous, ruined kilns built into the hillside; and there were supposedly huge caves.
How on Earth could I drive past all that without stopping?
[Image: Caves everywhere! Photos by BLDGBLOG.]
Being—perhaps to my Instagram followers’ frustration—an avid hiker, I spent far more time there than I should have, mostly looking down into jagged crevasses that extended past the roots of trees, carpeted in fallen leaves, often hidden beneath great, shipwrecked jumbles of boulders slick with the waters of temporary streams.
I crossed the bridge and was ready to hit the road again, when I saw another site of interest on the map. I decided to walk all the way down and around to something called the Widow Jane Mine.
Having visited many mines in my life, I was expecting something like a small arched hole in the side of a hill, probably guarded with a locked gate. Instead, hiking into the woods past some sort of private home/closed mining museum, the ground still damp from rain, I found myself stunned by the unexpected appearance of these huge, moaning, jaw-like holes blasted into the Earth.
[Image: An entrance to the Widow Jane Mine; photo by BLDGBLOG.]
I walked inside and immediately saw the space was huge: a massive artificial cavern extending far back into the hillside. Excuse my terribly lit iPhone photos here, but these images should give you at least a cursory sense of the mine’s scale.
[Image: Inside the Widow Jane Mine; photos by BLDGBLOG.]
Several things gradually became clear as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.
One, I was totally alone in there and had no artificial illumination beyond my phone, whose light was useless. Two, a great deal of the mine was flooded, meaning that the true extent of its subterranean workings was impossible to gauge; I began fantasizing about returning someday with a canoe and seeing how far back it all really goes.
[Image: Flooding inside the Widow Jane Mine; photo by BLDGBLOG.]
Three, there were plastic lawn chairs everywhere. And they were facing the water.
While the actual explanation for this would later turn out to be both entirely sensible and somewhat anticlimactic—the mine, it turns out, is occasionally used as a performance venue for unusual concerts and events—it was impossible not to fall into a more Lovecraftian fantasy, of people coming here to sit together in the darkness, waiting patiently for something to emerge from the smooth black waters of a flooded mine, perhaps something they themselves have invited to the surface…
[Image: Lawn chairs facing the black waters of a flooded mine; photo by BLDGBLOG.]
In any case, at that point I couldn’t be stopped. While trying to figure out where in the world I had left my rental car, I noticed something else in Google’s satellite view of the area—some sort of abandoned factory complex in the woods—so I headed out to find it.
On the way there, still totally alone and not hiking past a single other person, there was some sort of Blair Witch house set back in the trees, collapsing under vegetation and water damage, with black yawning windows and graffiti everywhere. I believe it is this structure in the satellite pic.
[Image: A creepy, ruined house in the woods, photo by BLDGBLOG.]
Onward I continued, walking till I made it, finally, to this sprawling cement plant facility of some sort just standing there in a clearing.
[Image: Cement world; photos by BLDGBLOG.]
I wandered into the silos, looking at other people’s graffiti…
[Image: “Born to Die”—it’s hard to argue with that, although when I texted this photo to a friend he thought it said “Born to Pie,” which I suppose is even better. Photo by BLDGBLOG.]
…before continuing on again to find my car.
Then, though, one more crazy thing popped up, sort of hidden behind those kilns in the opening photo of this post.
There was a door in the middle of the forest! With a surveillance camera!
[Image: Photos by BLDGBLOG.]
It turns out this door leads down into the massive document-storage caverns of Iron Mountain located nearby, a company whose subterranean archive fever was documented in The New Yorker several years ago (albeit referring to a slightly different location of the firm). I would guess that this is the approximate location of that door.
This was confirmed for me by a man sitting alone in a public works truck back at the Binnewater Kilns parking lot, near my rental car. He was smoking a cigar and listening to the radio with his window rolled down when I walked up to the side of his truck and said, “Hey, man, what’s that door in the woods?”
It was in this enchanting setting that Serena would begin her conjuring process. With a flick of her wrist and a few whispered incantations, she would bring the room to life, as if the very air itself was charged with magic. Sparkling dust particles danced in the air, and the room would fill with a sweet yet invigorating aroma. Using her knowledge and intuition, Serena would combine the carefully measured ingredients into a large cauldron, each step accompanied by a mesmerizing chant. As she stirred the mixture, the elixir would slowly transform, taking on the colors and attributes needed to tackle the specific ailment or grant the desired wish. The process was like watching a sublime dance, with Serena's hands moving gracefully and precisely. The elixir would bubble and simmer, releasing fragrant vapors that swirled around the room. It was as if Serena was orchestrating a symphony, conducting the elements to work together in perfect harmony. Once the elixir was complete, Serena would decant it into small vials, each one sealed with a cork stopper. She would hand the precious vials to her visitors, instructing them on the dosage and potential side effects. Serena believed in the responsibility of wielding such powerful magic and always made sure her clients understood the importance of using the elixirs wisely. People would leave Serena's cottage with renewed hope and a deep sense of gratitude. Serena's magical elixirs had the ability to heal both body and soul, giving people a newfound lease on life or granting their deepest wishes. Her reputation grew, and soon people from distant lands would travel for days just for a chance to meet the magical woman who could conjure such potent elixirs. Serena's legacy lived on, not only through her magical creations but also through the lives she touched. Her selflessness and dedication to helping others made her a legendary figure, and her name would be remembered for generations to come. The story of the magical woman conjuring elixirs would be told around campfires and whispered in eager ears, an enchanting tale of wonder and possibility..
Reviews for "Love Potion No. 9: The Role of Romance in the Magical Woman Conjouring Elixir"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - The title "Magical woman conjuring elixir" sounded promising, but I was quite disappointed with this product. First of all, the packaging was appealing, and I appreciated the use of natural ingredients. However, the elixir did not deliver the promised results. I've used it for a month, and I didn't notice any improvement in my skin or overall health. The taste was also quite off-putting. I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone looking for real magical benefits.
2. Mark - 1 star - I had high expectations for the "Magical woman conjuring elixir," but it turned out to be a complete waste of money. Not only did it not deliver any noticeable results, but the side effects were terrible. After a few days of using this elixir, I experienced stomach cramps and nausea. The taste was also unbearable, and it left a lingering aftertaste in my mouth. I strongly advise against purchasing this product, as it simply doesn't work and may cause unpleasant side effects.
3. Emily - 2 stars - As someone who has tried various elixirs and natural remedies, I was intrigued by the "Magical woman conjuring elixir." However, it fell short of my expectations. The taste was extremely bitter, and I struggled to consume it daily. Additionally, I didn't experience any positive effects on my energy levels or overall well-being. It's disappointing when a product promises magical benefits but fails to deliver. I wouldn't recommend this elixir to others, as there are better options available in the market.