My Sussex County Week 5

 

 

Holiday Time

 

Tonight we started our holiday excitement.

After a weekend in holiday cheer at church I was all ready for some back at home.

After some discussion I talked Jeff into heading out to see some  lights.

These aren't just any lights these are drive through Christmas lights!

 

Yes Sussex County has a one mile drive through light show.

For the first time Skyland Stadium is hosting this light spectacular.

So corny ass me baked up some chocolate chip cookies for us to snack on.

Well kind of ADD me was so into the lights I forgot to eat the cookies.

 

I'm a sucker for Christmas lights and Christmas music so tonight was perfect.

I'm now just waiting for that amazing white piece of heaven to fall from the sky.

Can you imagine my excitement to have snow, lights, and music?

I'll load Winnie back into the car to drive through again to enjoy the show!

 

 





 

My Sussex County Week 4

 

 

 

Undisturbed Wilderness

 

 

 

I know I know it's November!

This picture was taken in May.

The reason I'm showing you it today is simple.

Right now it is 34 degrees outside.

That doesn't say come explore my wilderness.

But the beauty of the wild flowers does.

 

Many of you probably haven't heard of the Tocks Island Dam Project.

It is the perfect movie of the government having to much power.

Entire towns taken over by the government for one single reason

Build a dam at the Delaware Water Gap

And make a reservoir for water supply, sports, and electricity.

 

To do this thousands of acres of lands were bought out.

Families who had lived and worked the land for generations were told to leave.

Only a few with money could stand their ground and fight.

Meanwhile houses sat falling apart, road became over grown.

Luckily the Tock's Island Dam Project was abandoned.

 

Now we have the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

We have 100 year old houses falling away to the ground.

Old farms turning in to forests and road becoming deer trails.

It is as if someone pushed a pause button and time stopped.

 

I've have become in love with the history,

Learning as much as I can about this amazing land.

The government has forgotten this land and along with it the history.

There are still a few who celebrate it but many in our state have no clue.

 

You would think something like this would have happen in the early 1900's

It didn't instead it happen from 1965 to 1974.

The goal get more water to New York City and Philadelphia.

But make it look like the surrounding areas would benefit also.

 

Now these amazing woods beg to be explored,

The history to be rediscovered.

Town even our government have forgotten.

So look close and maybe you will see the locale kids running free!

My Sussex County Week 3

 

 

 

Lakes and Planes!

 

 

 

I have two great loves since childhood.

I love water preferable fresh water.

I love things that are man made that fly.

 

I grew up fishing and swimming in a lake in New York State.

I would sit on the rocks looking out over the water to calm my mind.

I would rush down with my fishing pole and radio to escape work.

I would jump in or row across as much as I was allowed.

 

I also grew up sitting in my back yard watching the planes.

On average we would have a new plane over our property every 15 seconds.

Big planes, little planes, helicopters and blimps.

I even became an aircraft mechanic because of this love.

 

So imagine my joy when Jeff introduced me to Lake Aeroflex.

Nestled in the heart of Andover this lake takes your breath away.

Then the antique planes start to take off and land.

It is like going back in time of the great classic movies.

 

You lose yourself in the quietness of the lake and all that nature truly is.

Then in the distance you see a plane coming closer and lower.

The beauty of the movement brings you to a time long ago.

It is a simple sight that I can only find here in Sussex County.

 



My Sussex County Week 2

 

 

Quiet Lunches

 

 

When I lived in California my Uncle Dennis introduced me to real Mexican food.

Not Dell Taco or Taco Bell but the small privately owned Mexican restaurants of the desert.

When I moved to Texas I learned the difference between CaliMex and TexMex.

Seasonings vary across the south west giving your palette an exciting trip.

But the one thing I did learn was that there is so much more then food in shells.

 

When I came back to Jersey the hunt for the Mexican food I learned to love.

But all I could find were tacos and burritos served counter style.

They weren't half bad but I missed that sit down home cooked taste I grew to love.

Then I moved to Sussex County yes boys and girls I found good Mexican food in the hills.

 

The first time Jeff and I tried Riviera Mya I had the lamb.

It brought me back to those little restaurants I discovered on my travels.

I've now had a few of their dishes and I haven't found one I don't like.

Of course I eat those famous shelled foods like tacos more often then not.

 

We aren't the only ones who have found this great place to eat.

The emptiness of the picture was lunch time the best time to grab a table.

Dinner time is usually take out or patients while you wait for a table.

With friendly wait staff and food full of flavors its worth it.

 

 



My Sussex County Week 1

 

MY SUSSEX COUNTY

 

WEEK 1

 

 

 

This morning as Jeff and I were driving I thought of how I haven't Blogged in forever.

I love to express myself but I don't want to be one of those that post about everything.

So in the early hours of the morning I realized the one thing I like to share is where I live.

Each week I'll pick my favorite photo or photo's from around Sussex County.

 

Now a little back ground to My Sussex County.

As most of you know I was raised just outside of NYC in Bergen County NJ.

I spent many weekends away in Sullivan County NY.

I love and will always love both of those counties but those are my younger memories.

Sussex County became my home almost 5 years ago while still dating Jeff.

 

I always wanted to combine my two childhood counties and I believe Sussex is that.

I know Sussex and Bergen are completely opposites but I can find small likenesses.

First I grew up the small town of Rutherford with a great down town, small schools, and a great view of the city sky line. (there is only one city and that's NYC)

Sussex County has great small towns with cute down towns, and great views of mountains, farms, and valley's. (Go with me on this please)

Second Bergen county has amazing historic homes, great small restaurants, and a zoo.

Sussex county is full of historic homes, amazing restaurants, and a zoo!

Finally Bergen county feels like home and so does Sussex County.

 

Sullivan County is truly out in the middle of nowhere.

Sussex County is only one county away!

Sullivan county has plenty of wildlife, woods, and water.

Sussex county has never ending state and federal lands, abundant wildlife, and water everywhere.

 

These are the things that I wanted in a place to live.

I wanted to escape the crowds and traffic of Bergen County.

Yet Jeff wasn't ready to leave New Jersey.

So we settled up here in the Skylands of New Jersey.

A county that has more then double the land of Bergen County but less the a quarter the people.

 

So now I will introduce you to My Sussex County.

This is my point of view and the things that stand out to me.

Family

 

The Kitchen of Grace Church,

Rutherford, New Jersey

 

Unknown Date

 

 

  

"I don't think anyone has a normal family."

~Edward Furlong~

I didn't grow up a normal life.
Then again what is normal?
I was the second child of my parents,
Who are both twins.

My mother is an identical twin,
My father a fraternal twin.
In the picture above is my fathers twin.
Yes that olive skinned brown eyed guy,
Is my pale skinned blue eye fathers twin.

Also pictured is my favorite great Aunt Louise.
We lost both of them years ago.
They both had such major impacts on me,
And losing them both made me grow up.

 As different as they were to each other
They encompassed everything my family was, is, and will be.
My Aunt much like her sister aka my grandmother,
Is a pillar of a modern women before her times.
She was strong minded but very loving.
She didn't take no for an answer or ever pay full price.

My Uncle is much like the men in my family,
Hard worker who took much pride in his job,
But still made time to be with family.
Oh and just like all the men in my fathers family,
My Uncle taught me how to laugh at myself.

As much as I miss my childhood of,
Uncles making funny faces,
Aunts telling stories,
Or cousins playing games.
I am glad I am the women they helped me become.

I will always love my family no matter what goes on,
I will always miss those who have gone before me,
And I will always look forward to the future of my family.



Apple A Day

 

Oches Farm

 

October 5, 2013

 

 

 

 

Oh, the Lord's been good to me.
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The sun, the rain and the appleseed;
Oh, the Lord's been good to me.

~Johnny Appleseed Grace~ 

 

So I've been away for a bit!

Well I've been here just not blogging.

Why you ask?

Many reasons but now I have tons to share.

 

Above in the picture is my niece Vickie,

And my best friends son Van.

Yes I was apple picking with double V's.

What a fun time we had.

 

I love spending time with them.

Its always interesting when you take

A 6 year old and 17 year old apple picking.

First of all they eat a lot of apples.

Second of all when apple picking on the side of a mountain,

Their voices travel.......far!

 

But we did have a great time.

We searched for the best apples,

A certain someone was up in the trees,

And being held up high to reach the right apple.

Oh and causing it to rain because the leaves were so wet.

 

By the time we left there our feet were wet,

We had more apples then planned for,

And V & V are now "best friends".

As for me I was pulling the wagon and laughing the entire time.