I'm Pleased To Announce...

That I am now a writer for The #gardenchat Blog and I've just posted my first Adventures In Gardening column! (Click here to go directly to the post).

Again, I'd like to extend my thanks to Brenda of BGgarden and #gardenchat guru extraordinaire for this exciting opportunity and for her friendship & support.

I will continue to provide the links for each post on Diggin' Around so be sure to follow me over there!

A safe & happy New Year's Eve to all!

Christmas At History House

Sandy Hook/Fort Hancock is just about my favorite place to go, especially off season when The Hook is returned to the locals and we can explore to our heart's content in the quiet of nature by the sea. An annual favorite is going to Christmas At History House (aka Christmas In The 40s) when History House is decked out with World War II era Christmas decorations and reinactors throughout the house dress in WWII era Army Officers uniforms and civilian dress. Depending on what weekend you attend, there's often hot spiced cider and musicians playing Carols in the foyer. I think Hubbs has bored of it by now, but I love going every year. Hard to explain beyond finding it magical. I can't help but wonder if all of this activity stirs up the houses' memories of the past.

If you're interested: For the NPS description of the event, click here and scroll to "History House" and "Christmas at History House." For information on Sandy Hook and Fort Hancock, part of the Gateway National Recreation Area of New Jersey and New York, click here and look for "Sandy Hook" & "Fort Hancock" links or click here.

For more of my photos of this area, click on the labels with this post.

Keeping It Local

Head on over to my (original) blog for two new "Keeping It Local" posts:

Christmas Shopping

Good Eats

I'm working on a "Whispers Of Our Past" slideshow of Christmas At History House which I'll hopefully have up soon. I didn't realize I took so many photos when we were there last Saturday!

Foggy December Days

Whispers Of Our Past: Autumn Flashback

I took this photo in 2009 from the first overlook going up Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forrest. It's one of my favorite places and within a ten minute drive of our weekend home up there. We didn't get to see the foliage from this spot last year as I was recovering from my second kidney surgery in the Fall and we didn't get up to our northern home much for the duration of my recovery. We tried to get up there earlier this Fall only to find the road closed because much of it was destroyed during Hurricane Irene at the end of this August and it's closed indefinitely. Heartbreaking. (We have more long-term damage from that hurricane up north compared with the damages we had on the coast - so many roads and bridges were destroyed up there and remain un-fixed because funding hasn't been made available yet to fix them).

An Autumn View

This is one of the many spectacular views from the hills in the neighborhood of where we live here on the coast. (Click on pic for larger view).

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Autumn In Our Country Mountains

(Click on pics for larger view).

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

A Coastal Autumn Walk

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, October 2011

If you'd like to see what's blooming in my New Jersey gardens, head over to my original blog by clicking on: Diggin' Around.

With My Head In The Clouds

I love this time of year here, but not just for the colorful show Autumn puts on in the foliage department, but because of the cloudy skies above. It's amazing to watch them here on the coast, swirling, whizzing & lumbering by. (The only unfortunate part this year is that they all apparently contain rain, of which, we've had more than enough of after 2 months strait of it!)
(Click on pics for larger view).
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Wordless Wednesday

View from our back gate.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Post Hurricane Irene

Many local roads & bridges were washed away by Hurricane Irene. Nearly a month has passed since she hit and getting around is still an adventure.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

I Can Never Forget...

And I hope you never will either.

September 11, 2001.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Hello Friends!

Despite badly flooded basements and not getting power back until 7pm last night (after losing it 12am Sunday morning), we are all okay & are very, very lucky that it wasn't so much worse right here (as well as at our northern home) and our town as a whole seems okay as well. Other parts of the immediate area and throughout the State are in ruins - your prayers for New Jersey and the rest of Irene's East Coast victims are greatly appreciated!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Prayers For The East Coast

As Hurricane Irene barrels up the coast towards us, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in her path of the East Coast from the Carolina's to the New England area, especially for all of us in NJ Saturday night through Sunday. It's been some time since we've been through a hurricane (many a tropical storm & nor'easter but last hurricane to make landfall on the coast was in the 80's, last to make landfall inland was 1999), but I haven't forgotten the drill!

We are preparing for the worst (as I hope you are too if you're on the East Coast) and praying, praying, praying & hoping, hoping, hoping for the best!

My love to all! I'll update here as I'm able to. -Jo
(I'll post pics as able, check the slideshow in the left hand column).
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Whispers Of Our Past: Shoal Harbor

We still miss the Meadowview Inn.

Be sure to drop by Diggin' Around for today's In My Garden Today post!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday fun, head over to Diggin' Around.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

An Unwitting Temporary Hiatus

Aside from posting the occasional photo, I realized I've been absent from bloggerland recently; it seems I've been on a blogging break!

And now a little creative re-focusing is under way so new posts will soon follow! (If you need a little creative refreshing, I highly recommend Julia Cameron's Walking In This World, so inspirational!)

I hope you're all doing well and Summer is treating you good so far!

Love always,
Me :-)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Wordless Wednesday

Along Route 23, Sussex, NJ.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

In My Garden Today: A Wordless Wednesday Post

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Gardens Around Town: A Wordless Wednesday Post (1 of 2)

Scroll down to the next post to view the remaining pictures. Also, click on any one for a close-up. (The photo's appear to have uploaded in backwards order in both posts, my apologies!)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Gardens Around Town: A Wordless Wednesday Post

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Announcing My First Guest Blog Post!

To read my first (ever!) guest blog post entitled, "Sharing Through 'Chatting' & 'Walking' Leads To Community" on #gardenchat's new official blog, please click here.

Wordless Wednesday, A 'Gardens Around Town' Post

Something new on the blog: Because my BlackBerry Style takes incredible photo's, it's has become my 'on the go' camera and I've posted a slideshow in the left hand column under the followers section which not only shows you more of my NJ, but also my gardens, food & other aspects of my day-to-day. It updates often so keep checking back for more photo's!

(FYI: You may have to scroll past today's slideshow and the BlackBerry one that appears in the left hand column to get them both to load & play).

Wordless Wedneday: Gardens Around Town

Click on photo's for a better view.
There's more Wordless Wednesday Fun over at Diggin' Around!

Gardens Around Town

Veteran's Park.
Click on photo's for a better view.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Wordless Wednesday

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Twin Lights of Navesink

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Ah Springtime!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

If You Never Step Off The Beaten Path...

You'll never find a unique breakfast place like this one, in Absecon, NJ. Good food, great character and sincerely friendly service. Chain restaurants can't compete in our book.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®