We’ve spent the last four days “down the shore” with friends at our neighbors’ shore house in Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island. For the next few days I’ll be taking you along with me ... down the Jersey shore.
I love early morning walks on the beach before most other people get there. The sands are freshly groomed and all traces of yesterday’s beach goers have been removed, leaving a clean slate for the new day. I share the sand with a few other early morning walkers, an assortment of gulls, and a woman with a metal detector. The other walkers are clutching their coffee mugs in their hands while my hands hold my camera. We nod and say “good morning” to each other, smiling as if to say “isn’t this a beautiful morning?” without saying it out loud.
The gulls eye me warily. Possibly sizing me up for a handout of food.
Gull crossing!
The waves lap at my feet as I walk along, leaving a foamy trail of suds behind.
Upended shells capture “sea suds.”
The water is warm this morning but the waves are mighty as they relentlessly pound the shore.
My footprints behind me in the sand look indelible.
But as the next waves washes over them they disappear as if they never existed.
The sand at the water’s edge is an ever changing canvas whose artwork lies in the shells and other objects left behind. Waves roll in and shells are deposited at its highest point. Some are carried back out, tumbling over and over, caught in the strong pull of the receding water. Each new wave rearranges the objects on the canvas of sand. It never ceases to fascinate me.
For a beachcomber like me, morning is the absolute best time of the day.
Certainly by now you’ve heard of the record flooding New Jersey experienced this past week after our torrential rainfall. Something every good New Jerseyian (or is that Jerseyite?) does at times of record rainfall is head to the Great Falls in Paterson. So when neighbor Kim proposed a field trip yesterday, I was more than game. It was a beautiful day for a change, sunny and mid 60’s.
The Passaic River falls 77 feet, making the Great Falls the second highest falls on the East Coast. Second only to the mighty Niagara Falls!
The river (we think) crested on Tuesday, but on Wednesday it was still pretty angry! With a mighty roar it thundered over the rocky cliffs.
We decided to walk over and go across the bridge for different views.
The river before it reaches the cliffs.
On the opposite side of where we were, with some of Paterson’s old factories in the background.
Just before crossing over the bridge there was a beautiful rainbow in the mist. I tried several different angles and shots.
On the bridge! Pretty scary! (Doubling up on rainbows.) The mist coming off the falls was just like being in the rain. We were drenched by the time we got to the other side.
On the other side of the falls there was this little observation point where you were ever so close to the falls. Motion sickness alert! It was mesmerizing watching all the water coming straight at you. It made me feel very unbalanced.
The following photos were taken from that vantage point in each direction. First photo is looking to the right. Middle photo is looking straight out at the water, and final photo is looking left and to the main section of the falls.
We walked around to view them from the back.
And back on the bridge again.
They surely were a sight that I might never see again.
P.S. Video to come!
P.P S. Since it was St. Patrick’s Day when we went, we tried to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but did not succeed.
Look what’s going on at my house today.
SNOW! Okay, it’s not too exciting in the amount department right now. We might get three inches, but I am not complaining. Oh no. I am ecstatic! An doubly so because today was the day we designated for getting the tree and decorating the inside of the house. How more perfect could it be? For once the weather forecast was spot on!
This morning we had to get up early to go to Goshen, New York to pick up Johnny’s tire. The other day when the traveling John Deere Spa came to our house to service Johnny and change out the mowing deck for the snow blower (what great timing!) they were supposed to bring a new inner tube for the tire but they forgot. They took the tire back up with them to fix it, and really, what good is a tractor without four wheels?
After that we did our grocery shopping for the weekend so we wouldn’t have to go back out. A few members of the local high school band were playing Christmas Carols outside the store. Festive! When we have no plans to go anywhere we just like to get everything done so we can just chill out for the rest of the weekend. It’s so peaceful and restful that way without any running around to do. We’re trying out a new recipe we saw on Food Network last week from Giada: Honey-Mustard Pork Roast wrapped in bacon. We’ll see how that goes a bit later!
Then we went to our favorite tree lot at Bear Swamp Farm (the same place where the CSA is), run by the Hosford family. (Allison Hosford also does our mushroom forays.) It was cold and damp and just starting to spit little fitful flakes of snow. The parking lot was jammed with cars; some already loaded with a tree strapped to the top while other still awaited their “topper.” They sell already cut trees fresh from Pennsylvania, or you can cut your own from the 15 acres available. No chain saws are allowed and they have a good supply of hand saws to take with you on your search for the perfect tree. People were singing carols as they searched, taking photos of getting ready to cut their tree, and just having a great time. Rick and I have cut trees from the same little spot for two years now, and after looking over some different areas decided to go back to “our” spot where there are mostly spruce trees.
Have you ever noticed that they look much smaller growing in the forest? We never learn. Anyway, after much deliberation between two trees, we selected our tree and carried it back to be wrapped up for transport. I couldn’t believe that they were selling big bundles of cut boughs for $1! I also bought a 20’ garland. Not sure just yet how I am going to use them. Neighbor Kim and I went back to Jungle Habitat and cut some fresh bittersweet the other day, so I plan to incorporate that into it somehow.
We get the tree home and into the house. We set it up still bundled in its netting. We unclip the netting, let down the boughs and ... it slightly overwhelms the space. It’s really too big. Not only that but in the forest the tree was gorgeous and perfectly straight up and down. This tree is, well, shall we say, a bit wonky? It grows straight from the trunk but something goes wrong about half way up. It’s totally crooked!!! Leaning like a drunkard, our tree is. Oh my. How could one tree look so different? Poor Rick twisted and turned the tree with me giving directions ... no, a little left ... maybe a bit more to the right ... trying to get it to look less crooked. I think we succeeded, finally. It will be beautiful once it’s decorated. Right now only the lights are on or I would should you a pic. Wait. I’ll get the camera. Hold on a minute. Now, remember, so far it’s just the lights.
See? You can’t tell it’s crooked, can you? I think it’s going to be lovely! (Note the snowy visage out the window!) A pic of the fully decorated tree in all its wonkyness will soon be posted. Right now I am going to pour myself a glass of nicely chilled Chardonnay and watch the snow drift past my window.
Have a peaceful night.
Addendum: Oh my goodness! I forgot our snowy visitors. They wanted to be included and I forgot them. They are too late for Thanksgiving, however.
Also, have you noticed the “On this day ...” in the right hand column of my blog? It shows blog entries posted on this day in previous years. This is today’s in case you missed it. Bella hasn’t changed too much ... except she’s much bigger. The attitude remains the same. But look at all the leaves in the yard! No snow yet!
We’re back now from our little shore trip. My brain feels mushy today. Maybe it’s all that salty air I took in while on the beach, or maybe it’s just the high humidity and heat we had yesterday. And, after three blissful days of not having to take care of the dogs and cats I find it hard to get back into the routine again. Thankfully the dogs are sleeping a lot, catching up on lost naps after the hectic pace of being in the kennel with lots of other dogs.
We had a great time and our neighbors were gracious hosts as always. We probably ate and drank too much but it was all good. The weather cooperated (mostly) and gave us sunny warm days for lounging or walking on the beach. We did get rain overnight on Saturday and into Sunday morning, but by noon on Sunday the sun was out again, although it was pretty steamy.
Here are some scenes I snapped while walking on the beach.
aah ... the Jersey Shore!
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