The Shore is Waiting

Does it get any better than this?

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Watery Wednesday: OCNJ We're going on VACATION!

It's been a long, rainy summer here in Connecticut. And it's been a harder year than last. I am looking forward to taking a deep breath of ocean air on Friday afternoon. Ocean City, New Jersey has been a favorite vacation spot of ours for over 10 years now and if I can just see the ocean once a year, I am refreshed.
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Watery Wednesday: Above the Falls

Once you climb the trails to the top of Kent Falls, the scene changes. There is peace and quiet, the trails widen. The water is placid and lazy. Peace of mind. Lovely.

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Skywatch Friday: OCNJ Kites!

We go on vacation in a little less than a month now. I can't wait! I am looking forward to taking some excellent shots of the kites this year. There are always about a zillion of them up in the sky. It's really cool when you see 5 or more kites on one line and see the sky loaded up with them.

To see more awsome Skywatch shots, please visit http://skyley.blogspot.com

Watery Wednesday: Kent Falls babbling brook

at the base of the falls are picnic tables, charcoal grills and this babbling brook. It makes for a restful afternoon. For more great Watery Wednesday pics, please visit http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

Buddy Friday: Living on Your Own in College

My oldest daughter just completed her second year of college. She moved out of the dorms and into an apartment so she could intern over the summer. She was very excited at the prospect and grateful that she has a job waitressing to cover her expenses. We thought the opportunity would be good for her both for the experience of interning as well as the experience of "living on her own." We figured it would give her a good idea of whether or not she was ready for an apartment setting for the school year.

There are a lot of things a college kid doesn't know (even though they're convinced they know everything). How to set up a budget, how to balance a checking account, when is rent due, how does a wire work. All this was new to her. She asked questions, got answers, but felt like she should have been imparted with this knowledge somewhere along her educational journey.

I told her I would look for some sort of reference for her. I didn't know if it would be a beginning budget or bookkeeping book, i really didn't know what I would find when I went to the bookstore. The answer was "not much". It is funny, there is a huge push for college shopping, outfit your dorm room with the coolest, latest, greatest stuff. $pend money, money, money (after you've paid the tuition$$ mind you). But there is no reference for a college student to spend their money WISELY.

I plowed through the section, looked through books and the best I could do was a woman's guide to living independently. I did buy a copy as it did have a chapter on how to budget your money as well as how to save, how to invest. A grow into guide if nothing else. I may find myself writing a book.

Caitlin has decided to live off-campus this year, has found a rent and a roommate. I'm very proud of her. I'm also glad she has the opportunity to learn how to live on her own with the safety net of college and mom and dad before it's just her, an apartment and work.

I would love to know: What is your best tip for a college student living on her own for the first time?

Watery Wednesday: Kent Falls After the Rain

It has been very wet and rainy in Connecticut for the better part of the last six weeks. The Fourth of July was the first sunny warm day in a very long time. We visited Kent Falls on Sunday along with thousands of our closest friends! It was a beautiful day, the trails were a lush green and the falls were thundering loud. Even the smallest inlets were full of water. It was a beautiful day. For more great Watery Wednesday posts, please visit http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com.

One Less

Our Community lost a piece of its future tonight. In one earth-shattering moment, one of our children was taken away from us forever. What was supposed to be a day of celebration, the completion of another school year in sleepy New Fairfield turned tragic at a party. No, alcohol wasn't involved, no there was no mean-spirited hazing, yes the parents were in attendance. But in one swift moment our lives were changed forever.

We're not supposed to lose our children. They are to out-live their parents, out-shine them in their abilities. They are supposed to make the world a better place. Catherine Burke will never have that chance. She should be lazing the summer away having her mother tell her to get up each morning. Now her mother walks past her empty room. One less at the table, one less in the car. One less.

Instead of gathering for the next party, our community gathers for a funeral. Our hearts have been changed tonight. Our sympathies go out to the Burke family. The loss of one child diminishes us all.

Skywatch Friday: That's Atlantic City!

Ocean City, New Jersey is literally an island unto itself, located about 20 miles south of Atlantic City. This picture was captured early in the morning before the haze lifted. Normally invisible, it was amazing to see with such clarity, the outline of the ACNJ skyline.

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Watery Wednesday, Kent Falls

This is one of the many inlets of Kent Falls. I was in a reflective, quiet mood today as my eldest daughter turns 20. I looked for a picture to post that expresses the calmness and thoughtfulness that I feel. I am so proud of my daughter.

Love and Happiness to all.

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Skywatch Friday: Roadtrip to Hartford

The sky has been laden with clouds over the last month. Some good, some bad--we've had a lot of rain. The sky was bright and pretty on our ride up to Hartford a couple weeks ago. The perfect backdrop against such an interesting building.

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Skywatch Friday: Steubie U

My eldest daughter just finished her sophomore year of college. Two years ago this summer we were looking at schools together. It seems like yesterday. One of her selections was Franciscan University located in Steubenville, Ohio, a mere 9 hours away from our home in Connecticut and located in a part of the country I had never visited. These were a couple of shots from the area.

Built in 1990, this is the New Steubenville Bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge connecting Steubenville, Ohio and Weirton, West Virginia. The sky was angry when we came into town. And then the storm came in as we were trying to find a place to eat that night!

This is the chapel at Franciscan University, or "Steubie U". We were lucky that our tour was the next morning as it was a beautiful blue sky. The perfect way to see a prospective college! We stayed on campus until about 3 when it was time to head back to Connecticut. We had a wonderful trip and some great memories. Caitlin didn't end up going to Franciscan but it is a visit that we have not forgotten. By the way...a caffeinated daughter for a 9 hour road trip is an interesting experience...
for more great skywatch pics from around the world, please visit: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Watery Wednesday: Fishing Club Pier, OCNJ

This is a view of the Fishing Club on Boardwalk and 14th in Ocean City, New Jersey. The colors and shadows are so beautiful late in the day and I love how calm the ocean is in this picture. Please visit more Watery Wednesday posts at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com.

One Glorious Summer

This is my favorite time of year, my favorite feeling. Summer lets us slow down, appreciate the warm weather and lazy days. Memorial Day has come and gone, the beginning of a very short season here in Connecticut. Enjoy.

For one glorious summer time did not matter
Every day was Friday
It was always 5:05 on our deck
Ready to relax

For one glorious summer our home was the place to be
Friends came to stay
Our way of life becoming theirs
Their hearts have never left

For one glorious summer we loved each other
And our children
And our friends
As if there was nothing more important on this earth

…and there’s not…

For one glorious summer we felt the love of friends long lost
And made new ones as well
Our world and our hearts becoming bigger
With each addition

For one glorious summer time did not matter
Family and friends did
We were happy
We were home

For one glorious summer we changed our lives forever

It was one glorious summer…

Summer 2008, Laurie Gerry

Watery Wednesday: Bull's Bridge/Appalachian Trail

We were hiking on the Bull's Bridge portion of the Appalachian Trail in Northwestern Connecticut. It was our first hike as a family and we did get a little turned around. The scenery, however, was stunning. To see more watery posts, please visit http://waterwednesday.blogspot.com.

My World Tuesday: One Room Schoolhouse

This is West Centre School, the last of 7 one-room schoolhouses for the District of New Fairfield. It is a landmark now but from the early 1800s to 1940 was a functioning school. The teacher made roughly $10 a MONTH in 1830. There was a wood stove for heat and no running water. The term began on October 1 of each year and it was each family's duty to provide firewood and a new broom. Oh--the two doors? One for boys and one for girls, each leading to their own cloakroom before entering the classroom.

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Watery Wednesday: Hazy days of August, OCNJ

I love peaking through the dunes and catching such peaceful scenes!

My World Tuesday: Spring has Sprung!

We have had a very long winter here in Connecticut! Snow fell early and stayed on the ground for most of the season, which is somewhat unusual. I felt the need to go out and take pictures of the early spring flowers, these were taken yesterday, April 26.

Spring has finally sprung!

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Watery Wednesday: Washington DC

The photo above is Meg's closeup of the fountain at the WWII monument. I found the scope of this monument overwhelming. It is large and all of the components from the fountain, to the states listed to the quotes inscribed are very beautiful and very moving. There were several vets on site having their picture taken.

The lower picture is the Washington Monument as seen from the reflecting pool from the Lincoln Memorial end.

For more delightful Watery Wednesday posts from around the world, please visit http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com!

My World Tuesday: National Zoo

These curious otters and one very content panda were among the many animals we saw on our tour through the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. last week. To see more my world posts, please click here.

Skywatch Friday: Washington Monument

We spent Easter in Our Nation's Capitol: Washington, DC. We spent the morning on the National Mall visiting as many monuments as we could. I was overwhelmed at the sheer size and importance of the area . Lucky for me, my talented daughter Meghan captured this beautiful shot of the Washington Monument as the sun was peeking through the clouds. Please click on the image for more detail.

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Buddy Friday: Vacation Travel Tips and Tricks

Well, it's that time of year again when everyone starts to get the travel bug. I shared my birthday with Easter this year and did not feel like cooking and having everyone to my house. Instead, we took a short family trip down to Washington, D.C. to see our eldest daughter who is in college down there. It was a great birthday gift!

Now, the only time we had spent in D.C. previous was pretty much to bring her down or take her home and we basically did it in one day. (a 12 hour journey there and back with the least amount of traffic). We had never stopped to see the sights or smell the roses. This time was different. This time we left home on Saturday morning and returned on Tuesday evening. We had a great time and learned a little bit how to travel on mass transit around a large city. We live in a small town, near a larger town that only has bus transit. It takes us around 20 minutes to get where ever we have to go in our car and that is our only mode of transportation. When you live in the city, things are different.

1. It takes lots of time to get anywhere between walking to a metro stop and riding the metro. Have lots of it on your hands.

2. Take time to learn how the mass-transit system in the area works. Will you have to switch trains to reach your destination? Do you have to reach a certain stop to do that? (for more information on the DC Metro, please visit http://anenglishgirlrambles.blogspot.com/ she has excellent pictures and descriptions of the Metro on her "My World Tuesday" April 13 post.

3. Stop at the information desk and ask. That is what they are there for. Listen very closely to the directions. Ask to have them written down. That is what they are there for. They gave us something that looked like a hall pass for school with all the transfers and stops that we needed.

4. Don't worry about looking like a tourist--you ARE! We carried a camera bag and a backpack and a tote bag.

5. Carry your water and your lunch with you. We noticed that many, many people are opting for a picnic from home on a park bench or the ground. They brought their coolers with sandwiches and drinks and plopped right down. It didn't matter if we were at the zoo or on the National Mall (where all the monuments are located).

6. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have each member of your family wear their cel-phones and have them turned on. I was overwhelmed by the size of the area and by how easy it was to lose track of my family members. That was very stressful. (oh--btw, all the phones except my husbands were tucked safely away in my purse!)

Don't pack too many activities into your day!!! It takes time to get around the city and you don't want to cut yourself short on that. We had 2 activities planned each day. Sunday morning we went to the National Zoo and had planned to have lunch at a nice restaurant a stop away at 2:15. We could have spent a lot more time at the zoo and brought a picnic to boot. No one is spending $3 on water and $3.75 on PB&J, let me tell you. We did make it to the restaurant in plenty of time and had a nice leisurely brunch with our daughter. Monday's schedule was a little tighter.

The next morning we met our daughter on campus and she took us on the metro to the National Mall. We spent the morning there and had 2:05 reservations at the International Spy Museum, several blocks away. We could have spent ALL DAY on the mall, picnicing, taking pictures of all the monuments. We only saw 3 of them because of time constraints as the tickets for the Spy Museum were purchased in advance.

We left the mall hurriedly, got on the metro going in the WRONG direction (my eldest daughter was no longer there to navigate), got off 2 stops later and turned around. Got on the right direction, off at the right stop and RAN to the museum across the street. WHEW! Just made it! We went on an interactive experience there called "Operation Spy". It's great for the 7-14 year old boys. Not so much for the teenage girls. My son, who at 12 is not easily impressed, had a fantastic time. We left the museum, went back to school for my daughter and went out to dinner for my birthday that evening. The trip was a success, she looks fantastic, and we are home now. It was a great birthday. Enjoy your vacations, make the most of them. Take time to learn the local transit systems, pack your lunch but not your day and have fun!!!

for more Buddy's Friday posts, please visit Margaret's Ramblings.

Watery Wednesday: Spring is Back!

I guess we are all taking advantage of the sunshine after a long cold winter. Even this proud swan was enjoying his day in late March when the ice had all melted.


Please click on each picture for a beautiful image of the sun dancing on the water!
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My World Tuesday: Ten Mile River Bridge

I went hiking with my family on Saturday on the Bulls Bridge trails. These trails led us to Ten Mile River Bridge, which gave us a catwalk right over the river. The bridge rails came up as high as my head, I guess in an effort to keep the curious on-looker from leaning too far over. I loved the rusty railings in this shot. I was amazed at the level of corrosion on the bridge as well as the moss-covered tree trunks and rocks.

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Buddy Friday: 43 and Counting--Plan of Attack!

First of all, I have to say how embarrased and annoyed I was to have collected such a vast amount of supplies. Now, to be honest, I counted everything--container of rubber gloves, all the little dispensers of hand soap, the gallon jug that fills all the little bottles of hand soap. The sheer volume of supplies was overwhelming. The good thing is that they are in one place right now, ready to be used one by one.

After writing that piece, I knew I needed to come up with a plan, so I sat down with my crate of supplies and took another look. What do I need to keep? Can I share or donate some of these supplies? If I really will never use it, I'll put it in a pile for town cleanup day. I have already used up the last of 3 bottles with very little cleaner left. It is gratifying to turn bad habits into good and through the process of elimination, it will be good to replace these supplies with recipes and environmentally friendly products. 43 and counting!

Skywatch Friday: Ocean City, New Jersey

Watch your fries and ride the rides!

There are some days that I just can't wait for summer...this is one of them.

This view looks south and is taken between 8th and 9th Street on the boardwalk in OCNJ. The Strand theatre and Shriver's are institutions there. Watch the gulls! They'll pick the food right from between your fingers!

This view is taken from the Beach looking north toward Music Pier (building on the right) and Wonderland amusement park. In the month of August, OCNJ hosts a baby parade down the boardwalk among many other noteable events.
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Watery Wednesday: Kent Falls Experiment

I've been playing a lot with my camera lately. I'm a girl that until recently, has been happy to point and shoot on the automatic setting and not venture into the world of aperture and shutter speeds. It is only very recently that my curiosity has been peaked by technique, so after talking with a friend about how he gets those great captures of waterfalls, I decided to check it out.

The top shot is based on the effect I saw in my friend's picture that I wanted to learn how to capture. While it's not perfect, I'm learning. This was accomplished by setting my camera to Ap Prority AE, the shutter speed was 1/10 and the aperture was set at 32 with an ISO of 1600.

The bottom shot is taken with a more natural setting in mind. I took this picture last fall and again tried to stay away from the automatic settings. This one was taken with a shutter speed of 1/200, an aperture value of 6.2 and an ISO of 400. This picture was a happy accident. Both pictures are captured at the same vantage point at Kent Falls. I am still learning what all this means, but it is very interesting. The lovely thing about landscape shots is you can always go back and try again.

to see more great Watery Wednesday shots from around the world, please visit http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

My World Tuesday: Summer Spiderweb

This was a picture taken back in September. I took my morning coffee out onto the deck and lo and behold, there's a perfectly formed spider's web with the light shining through. Liam thought it was really cool. Here it is!

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One Single Impression: Listening

Sound of my own footsteps
Hitting sand on pavement
A cardinal’s call
The click of a camera
School bus passing
Truly listening
To the sounds surrounding me
Listening to the quiet
But not quiet
As I listen, I hear many birds
I am alone but not alone
For the birds are singing their song
Their praises for a beautiful day
Spring is on the way
Just listen

Buddy Friday: I Got a 46!

We've all seen those quizzes and forwards. Take the quiz and post your score, forward it to everone you know and send it back to me! We've played along too, some of them are just fun and pass time. Now I have a question for you: How many bottles of cleaner do you have in your house? Me, I have a whopping 46 NOT including whatever is in my garage and my laundry detergents. If I assigned a basic cost of $4 per bottle, I have at least $250 in cleaning supplies in my house right now.

How did it get that way? I'm not sure. Something can be said for shopping without a list. Something can be said for wanting to try the latest and greatest product to hit the market. Apparently I'm a sucker for floor cleaners. I have mostly wood floors in my house and truthfully, the only thing that will "help" them at this point is a professional refinishing. But no, I get sucked into these products. Are they all "green"? Unfortunately, no, though some are. In an attempt to make cleaning faster, fun and a cooperative effort, the industry has inundated the market with a cleaner for each scenario when a lot of the time one multi-purpose cleaner will do. They have introduced wipes when a cloth or paper towel and spray would suffice. It is amazing and overwhelming to see so many products available and in the process I have made poor choices monitarily as well as environmentally.

I remember my mom cleaning with Pledge, Pinesol, Ivory Liquid and a vacuum cleaner. Our house was spotless. You could eat off the kitchen floor. In my attempt to clean better, I have aquired all the trappings that say they will help you clean better. The only thing that will help me clean better is me. From this point forward, I have placed a moratorium on buying any further cleaning supplies and make a commitment to use and dispose of the products I have in a safe manner. I will begin to look for recipes for further supplies once I run out or buy their green counterpart. I'd like to get back to cleaning simply and keeping as few supplies in the house as necessary. I'd like to get to green and stay that way. So what's your score?

Skywatch Friday: Outside my Window

Having a high-schooler during Daylight Savings Time means I get to see a lot of sunrises these days. I am learning to keep my camera with me and was lucky enough to grab it this morning. I couldn't resist the bright ball rising into the purple hughes, i did not do the color justice, but it was beautiful.

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Sepia Scenes #24, Bulls Bridge Skyshot

My son and I went for a photo-hike on Saturday. This is one of his pictures; his favorite capture. He really liked the way the sun was peeking through the trees. He got some great shots for his first photo-hike! Well done Liam!

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Watery Wednesday, Bulls Bridge

These two pics are from Bull's Bridge in Kent, Conecticut. My son and I went up together on Saturday and tromped through the woods and trails. It wasn't a particularly sunny day but the rain held off, which was nice. He has a couple nice shots to post as well, which we'll do together a little later. He says I have his "permission" to use his shots--what a good kid!

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Skywatch Friday: Candlewood Lake

This pic of Candlewood Lake was taken just at sunrise as the mist was rising off the lake on St. Patrick's Day. They sky was so pretty that morning, I just couldn't drag myself away. The town beach was of course deserted, peaceful and quiet. It was a wonderful morning.

"Take Your Coat!"

I have a 12 year old son. His greatest desire in 4th grade was to play football. He begged us to sign him up. Football is BIG in this town. And it takes up a LOT of time. Don't plan on doing anything else once August 1 rolls around, they belong to the team then. Only my son hated football. Hated how physical it was. Hated that he was small. He would cry when I dropped him off at practice, he would beg not to go back. His father and I told him to stick with it, that it was good for him to complete something, that it would build character, that he was good at it and given the chance, he just might like it.

We ordered him a jacket, a token of being on a team, being a part of something bigger. All the boys had one. We ordered it in an adult size small, the smallest size available. It swam on him. He never played football after that one season, but the jacket has remained. Out the door he goes as I yell from the top of the stairs "Take your coat!" He could bring any coat from his closet and that would suffice. He brings this one. He dutifully takes it everywhere he goes. It is his constant friend and his loyal companion. Sometimes I feel bad that he has to hang around and wait while my son goes off to tackle the day's adventure. It'd be nice if he'd wear it once in a while!

Watery Wednesday: Bull's Bridge

Bulls Bridge is located in Kent, Connecticut. It is made up of a covered bridge, 2 or 3 miles in hiking trails and the falls, which is part of the Connecticut Light and Power plant system. I liked the juxtaposition of the glassy, reflective water above the storminess of the falls. The difference was amazing considering the two elements were mere feet apart.

My husband and I finally got out for a bit of relaxation on Saturday evening. The sun was setting quickly and we were losing the light, however what lighting there was perfectly suited this watery reflection.

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"Everybody Cut Footloose!"

All the driving and patience has paid off. This is the cast of the 2009 NFHS production of Footloose. Their opening night was last night and they did a great job. Congratulations to all and I am so proud of my daughter! Great job Hon! We love you!