My Aunt Is 96 Years Young - Sharp as a Tack 8/24/10

Yesterday, I called my dear Aunt Bea in Massachusetts for her 96th birthday. She is sharp as a tack. Her mind is amazing. We had a nice long chat. I was hoping the kids and I could take a quick trip up there to visit her before school starts. Sadly, we can't, unless we stay in a motel. Aunt Bea's mind is sharp but, she told me that she has fallen a lot. She has been taken to the hospital twice and, right now has stitches in her head. I'm concerned for her, as she lives alone, has to climb stairs and is really shaky. I will be calling her nephew tomorrow to find out what her status is. I can't imagine her leaving her home after all of these years to live in a safe environment. I believe she will insist on staying put.

Backyard Pretend Camping and Giant Marshmallows 8/18/10

We put up the tent for Antonio. It hasn't been used since Jess was a toddler. It smells like mildew but, airing it out is helping to get out the smell. Antonio talked about sleeping in it but, Stacy said she wouldn't sleep for worrying about him out there. Maybe Stacy can sleep out there with him one night. It has now rained on it so we have to check it for dryness.

Antonio's setup inside the tent.

Antonio spotted a rainbow. This is one half of it.

This is the other half.

Our pretend campsite.

Got this cool motion shot with a giant marshmallow.

Look how big this is!!!!!

Another campsite shot. Notice how dry the grass is. Our little garden can be seen in the background. We only lit the fire 'cause it had rained heavily the day before (wetting the ground) and we had the garden hose right near the firepit.

Another cool motion shot. The motion shots are the result of me not setting the camera back on automatic after I set it for night shots for pictures of the storm the other night. The shutter was slower so I more or less got double pictures. The marshmallow looks like it has ears. A white batman. haha

A giant marshmallow oozing off of the skewer.

A beautiful smile from Stacy.

Me toasting a giant marshmallow. I like my marshmallows torched. This one took a little longer then the regular size.

I toasted two. I'm eating one. I loved the idea of the giant marshmallows but I am over them now. They're too much. Four marshmallows in one. Below Antonio makes a 'smores with one.

One of the giants fell into the fire. It was bubbling and oozing in the fire. Creepy. It looked like it was alive. Eeeeewwww.

A giant on the 'smores fixings.

The 'smores giant!!!!!

Sophia enjoyed the fire better when she was sitting on Anita's lap.

Antonio decided to let one of the giants burn away on the skewer. Made for tough cleaning of the skewer.

Modern camping, laptop inside. Antonio put a campfire on his screen and he was showing it to me.

A shot of Antonio's computer screen campfire, through the tent screen.

Antonio seen on his computer through the tent screen.

Windstorm lashes Riverside area | AllPrinceton

Windstorm lashes Riverside area AllPrinceton

Click on the news article and read about the storm that hit the Riverside area on Monday 8/16/10.

Tornado Like Storm Hit our Old Neighborhood 8/16/10

You can't see storm damage but I thought the lights on the ambulance looked cool.

Antonio was shining a light on the bottom of this upended tree and somehow it made an L. Cool!

Antonio "Holding up a Downed Tree", one of hundreds that fell, this one on a street across from the house we lived in on So. Harrison St.

Just one of the units at Butler Graduate Student Housing owned by Princeton University that was hit with a tree. Four of the units were badly damaged, trees fell on houses, cars, lawns and across numerous roads. It looked like a tornado swept thru the area.

The sky after the storm. I filmed the rain on the flip camera but I can't quite figure out how to load the video on the Blog site. Flip videos specifically are the problem. In theory, it should work but, the videos won't load. Oh well!

Antonio looking at the branch that broke off our tree in the backyard. It wasn't until later when it was evening that I decided to jump in my truck and check out the rest of Princeton. I had heard so many sirens during the storm and after that I figured there had to be damage in town. I wasn't prepared for what I found. The news articles and pictures of the storm damage are posted on my facebook page. I think anyone can look at the pictures or, put in Princeton, NJ storm of 8/16/10 and then google will bring up the news articles.

My camera doesn't take good pictures at night. Since there were no street lights to help the lighting we had only flashlights. It was pitch dark when we weren't in the vicinity of Verizon and PSE&G truck lights or ambulance lights. The pictures are actually posted backwards with the night at the top and the day at the bottom. I figured the night storm shots were "the news" so, I put them at the top.

I'm in BLT Heaven This Week 8/16/10

We have ripe ramapo tomatoes and I'm eating BLTs like there's no tomorrow. Basically, I'm in BLT heaven. The ramapo tomatoes didn't grow as large as I thought they would but, they are tasty. Even tho I'm watering the plants, they seem to not be flourishing, as far as the plant itself goes. Still producing tomatoes tho. When I compare them with the plants at the school garden behind us, my plants look skimpy. It's almost as if the fence I put around the plants is hindering the full absorbtion of sunlight. I guess I could use lessons in gradening. It's my first attempt.

Giant Marshmallows!!!!! - Yum! 8/11/10

Anyone who loves S'mores has got to have mouths watering over these super huge marshmallows. Saw them once at Shop Rite but didn't buy them. Went back for them and they were gone. Yesterday, I found them at CVS. And, a super plus is that they're Campfire brand marshmallows. To me, Campfire is the best! There are no other marshmallows to compare in my opinion. We are anxious to have a fire and roast these puppies.

Princeton, New Jersey, Local Weather

Princeton, New Jersey, Local Weather

Miniature Golf Tonight with Friends 8/9/10

Tonight, Anita, Antonio and I went to play miniature golf with friends, Wendy, Peter, Woody and a friend of theirs who is visiting from England. We have often passed the course, on route 571, and commented that we should go there some day. It was fun and I'm so glad that we finally went. The owners are super friendly and the atmosphere is casual. And, the big winner was .....drum roll please. ME!!!!! We plan to go again as the cost is fairly reasonable and it's a sport we all enjoy. Maybe Stacy will come with us next time.

Anita's Second Vegetarian Dinner Cooked by Her 8/8/10

Anita prepared the second of her vegetarian meals. We were supposed to have a special salad with it but, put it on hold for tomorrow. The meal: Gratin Dauphinoise with Wild Mushrooms. Yummy! The two meals so far have been great but, expensive. Sooooo, we had a discussion about finding vegetarian recipes for financially challenged folks. I don't want to dicourage her cooking. We are on the lookout for less costly recipes. Anyone? Thanks Anita. Looking forward to the salad.

Prevention Magazine Presented Us With Many Tear Filled Laughs 8/1/10

We recently tried a suggestion from an old Prevention magazine that Stacy was browsing through from cleanup after our move. Anyone who has met Sophia, Anita's dog, knows that she is "psycho dog" when it comes to barking at people and noises. Prevention suggested putting pennies in a soda can and shaking it at the dog when barking. While shaking you're supposed to say "that's enough". Well, Stacy picks up the can, shakes it at Sophia, 'cause she's barking and, says, "be quiet". I'm told the look on my face was priceless as I reminded Stacy that she is supposed to say "that's enough". Since that episode, we have laughed so hard, tears streaming down our faces, everytime we think about Stacy saying, "be quiet". Thank you Prevention magazine for the laughs that we are still wallowing in. I am laughing as I type this story. haha

Had My New Hope, PA Fix Yesterday 7/31/10

Antonio's favorite place to eat. Big surprise for him; Weenie World was for sale last fall. Found it open for business yesterday. Yahoooo!!!!!

The end of the canal minus the water after a flood six years ago when one of the locks was damaged. The water was drained in most of the canal. I just read in a New Hope paper that water was let back into the canal, via the Lehigh River, just last week at the upper end.

Cat-O-Nine-Tails growing in the low water level at this end of the canal.

Another view.

You can see the small corral, at the back of the picture, where the mules are housed when the barges are running. I was surprised to learn that it had been six years since the canal was shut down. I hope the barges will be up and moving sometime soon. It was a pleasant and informative trip to ride the barges, music on board and a historian telling about the canal and the barges.

You'll notice that there is an air conditioner in the upstairs window of the Locktender's house. I'll bet they would have loved that back in the day. haha And the electricity to power it too.

Painted mule in the garden of the Locktender's house.

A bike that is art in motion.

Restaurants, one was once a church, the other an inn.

I've spotted this dragon from the bridge on Main St. but, found myself at it's location after I came out of a Vintage Clothing Store in the basement store in front of it. I was thrilled to get so close to it.

The dragon is near the beautiful garden restaurant of the Wildflower restaurant. Hope to eat there some day soon. Garden has flowers, twinkling lights, water fountains and ambiance galore.

One of our favorite shops on Main St.

Can you spot the giant suit of armor in front of the medieval store?

One spot of motorcycles that always line Main St. The town draws crowds from all walks of life. There's never any trouble. All mingle like brothers and sisters. New Hope is an eclectic town. If you can enlarge the picture, you'll see light reflected on the chrome of a few bikes.

Betty Boop stands in the front of a gift/antique shop. Inside the store had dolls for sale that I happen to have two of the same. Their price: $45. each.

I love New Hope, PA. About every six months or so I like to hit the town and wander. Last evening I took in "The King and I" at Bucks County Playhouse at 4PM. The show was excellent and the scenery beautiful. I truly enjoyed it. The King and I is my all time favorite movie. This is the first time I've seen it on stage and the show didn't disappoint. Then I strolled. I ate pizza and a soda. Then later treated myself to some homemade peach yogurt at Gerenser's. Yum. I went in most of the stores that were open, chatted with sales people and had an enjoyable evening. I stopped by the store that has Danielle's dresses but, found it closed. boo hoo Headed home at 10:30PM. I was stiff and tired but, fulfilled.