Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday means I should be posting a picture and not writing anything.
But if you know me, you know I have trouble keeping my mouth shut - yak yak yak.
So I still wanted to write something.
I like this picture because it perfectly illustrates the weather; cold, but clear, and warm sun, with just a trace of springtime thaw...
I don't like this picture because A) it should be more about Iselin as a whole, and less about my own back yard, and B) I write way too much about the weather.

Like I've said before, this blog is a blog - not the news. So, for the most part, some days you'll get a post about what's going on around town, and somedays you'll get a post about what's going on in my head.

That's it, I'll stop talking now. :)

February Thaw

 

What a beautiful day!
And as the snow melts back,
you see proof that spring
WILL
someday
return!

It's a nasty cold day in February, which to me means it's time to start thinking about the garden!

I think gardening is way more fun in February than in July.  Because in July, it's TOO HOT to go outside and garden, and you sit inside in the air conditioning and feel guilty for not pulling weeds or something.  But in February, you can't do anything but plan and day dream, maybe start some seeds if you have a good window sill or a grow light.

 This year, I'm refining the plan from last year's garden.  Things got WAY too out of control.  I had plants EVERYWHERE, stringbeans hanging down that I couldn't even get to.  This year, I'm going to try a different variety of tomato.  It's gonna be GREAT.

I'm going to order some more heirloom seeds from the Victory Seed Company    - Click HERE for the link -   so I can get started.  I really like using heirloom seeds - they are old fashioned seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation, and not genetically modified or anything like that.  You can plant the seeds, and when you harvest the plants, you can save seeds from your harvest, and you don't have to buy them again the following year.  I ordered a whole lot last year, and I liked them all, and saved a bunch of seeds for this year.  All I need is that new tomato.  Although every time I read a garden catalog, I get greedy, and buy too much.

I'm thinking about putting more plants in huge pots on my patio. 

The following is from the VICTORY SEED COMPANY's web site, and it's the reason I'm into heirloom seeds, in case you were wondering:

Our Mission

Why Support the Victory Seed Company?

The primary reason for our existence as an organization is to help protect open-pollinated and heirloom seed varieties during a time when the diversity of plant life on our planet is quickly shrinking.

Regions of the planet that provided much of the genetic material for our domesticated crop plants is rapidly being destroyed or irreversibly damaged.  Additionally, in the past few years there has been a growing trend of mergers and consolidations among the seed industry.  With responsibility to shareholders as a motive, less profitable and similar seed varieties are being dropped from the seed lines of the combined companies.  In many cases, these plants are forever lost to us all.

As we witness the elimination of old varieties from other company's offerings, the emphasis of commercial unstable hybrids, and the proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), we feel an urgency in our mission.

We have therefore dedicated our efforts to preserving and promoting the use of open-pollinated varieties -- old commercial releases as well as family heirlooms -- and working towards the protection of our genetically diverse horticultural heritage.  We truly believe in teaching these principals to all who have ears to learn.

 

(and NO, the Victory Seed Company isn't paying me anything for this publicity. I just felt like thinking about my gardening. That's it.) 

Anyway, C'mon, Spring! :)

 

Make a wish for the world

This is the photo I sent for the "Lens" blog's photo submission request... see the story below :)
Have a nice Sunday!

A Day at Home... The Kentucky Derby will be on!

glitter-graphics.com
Did you realize that the Kentucky Derby is on today?
Are you ready?
Do you have a nice hat?
Do you have a good recipe for Mint Julep?
What IS a mint julep, anyway?

If you haven't already bought your hat, it's too late now.  That's ok, you can still have fun watching the derby. It's going to be on TV for quite a while; NBC's coverage starts at 4:00 EDT with the "Red Carpet Special" coverage, and continuing from 5 to 7. The race itself is scheduled for a 6:24 EDT Post Time.

  Have you done your research?  Who are you betting on?  You can take a look at the Kentucky Derby website, HERE, for a lot of the details.

And here's a recipe for Mint Julep, taken from Allrecipes.com

MINT JULEP....Original Recipe Yield 8 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
• 32 fluid ounces Kentucky bourbon
• 8 sprigs fresh mint leaves for garnish

Directions

1. Combine water, sugar and chopped mint leaves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow syrup to cool, approximately 1 hour. Pour syrup through a strainer to remove mint leaves
2. Fill eight cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice and pour 4 ounces of bourbon and 1/4 cup mint syrup in each. (Proportions can be adjusted depending on each person's sweet tooth). Top each cup with a mint sprig and a straw. Trim straws to just barely protrude from the top of the cups. Serve juleps on a silver platter, [in frosted silver goblets... if you have them!]

It's Race Day

“The best horse doesn't always win the race”

- Irish Saying, from Thinkexist.com

Day Trip: Rutgers Day today!

Rutgers Day is a great event, and they are offering a lot of cool activities -- more than you could do in a day! Take a look at their website HERE.

According to the Rutgers Day Press Release,

Rutgers opens its campuses and classrooms to the public for the second annual Rutgers Day April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rutgers Day offers an eclectic mix of more than 500 free programs, something for every age and interest. Rain or shine, attendees can explore the campuses and meet experts, speak with students and engage in a multitude of activities. More than 50,000 people attended the inaugural Rutgers Day last year.

Each campus will have signature anchor events:

The College Avenue Campus will celebrate the university’s history with programs surrounding the Old Queens building. Visitors can take walking tours that include the university’s first dormitory built in 1809 and a Revolutionary War battlefield; the Geology Museum to see a mastodon and a 2,400-year old mummy; participate in a trivia game and scavenger hunt where clues lie inside national and state historic landmarks like the Old Queens building and Winants Hall. For architecture-enthusiasts, there will be a presentation on architect Henry Janeway Hardenburg.

The Busch Campus will feature the School of Engineering’s open house and a number of Rutgers Athletics events. Visitors to the engineering quad can try riding a Segway, view a glass-blowing demonstration and see student designs for such innovations as a tennis ball collector, a paint machine and an automated skateboard, among others. Sports fans can get a preview of the 2010 football season at the Scarlet and White intrasquad game at Rutgers Stadium, and watch the women’s lacrosse and softball teams play in Big East competitions. They also can get an early look at the 2010 men’s and women’s soccer teams as they both play La Salle University in a spring doubleheader.

The Livingston Campus will host the “World of Work” and feature international programming provided by the Asian Cultural Center. Those looking to advance their careers, select new vocations or find employment can attend workshops on resume writing, interviewing and employee rights. Also, job seekers will have the opportunity to talk with Rutgers human resources staff to learn about university employment opportunities. Cultural groups will offer fashion shows and dances as well as demonstrate their native customs and crafts like henna tattooing.

On the Douglass Campus the 36th annual New Jersey Folk Festival will celebrate the history, heritage and traditions of the Andes through an array of music, art, food and crafts demonstrations. Performers such as Eco del Sur, an ensemble of Latin American musicians, will perform their blend of ancient Andean and contemporary music.

The George H. Cook Campus is the home to Ag Field Day, featuring student exhibitions of dairy cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep; the New Jersey 4-H Dog Show; plant and flower sales; student club activities; and glimpses of agricultural, marine and satellite remote sensing technologies. Rutgers Day is sponsored in part by Saint Peter's Healthcare System, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, PSE&G WorryFree, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and Johnson & Johnson.

Parking is free for Rutgers Day. When you park, be sure to write down the campus location and parking lot number found on lot entrance signs. OR - even better - Take the Train! Check NJ Transit's info here. New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line provides service to New Brunswick. Children up to age 11 ride free on weekends. Signs will guide you to the College Avenue Campus and bus stops.

Have fun!

It's a brand new day! Have a good one!

"To laugh, often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Going to the Brook

So I ran outside to take some photos to blog, since once again it's a lovely day, and I really like to take pictures.


It's Wordless Wednesday! Yay!

Allergy Alert!

I don't have to tell you that the allergies are getting bad out there, do I?
Pretty much everyone around here is sniffing and sneezing. If you want to check the allergy forecast, they have that information on the Weather Channel, which you can link to HERE.

In case you aren't sure what allergies you are suffering from, right now, it's tree pollen.  It's making me crazy!

So many people are getting allergies that never had them before.  I've had allergies my whole life, so these are my suggestions for you:

1.  Shower before bed.  Sure, you can shower when you wake up, too, but pollen is in your hair and on your skin, and you'll feel better if you wash it off before you fall asleep. 

2.  If you have a dog, you might want to think about washing him, too.  Pollen is sticky, from what I hear, and it attaches itself to hair... or fur, I would think... and if you don't wash it off, it's going to make you miserable when you pet your puppy.

3.  Take allergy medicine.  You're going to need to talk to your doctor about that.  I personally take over the counter stuff, but I know what I need.  Find out from your doctor what exactly YOU need.

4.If your doctor says you can take the over the counter allergy medicine, ask him or her about taking the store brands.  I take the Shop Rite brand of allergy pills, and it's WAY cheaper. Yesterday, I brought the Target brand.  Pretty much every store has their own.  As long as it's the right ingredient, it doesn't have to be the name brand.


5.  Stay inside with the windows closed and the air conditioner on, at least until the worst of the pollen goes away.  You might feel silly, but it will definitely keep the quality of air in your house much cleaner, and make your allergies better.  Now is NOT a good time to start jogging.  Windy days are the worst.  But rainy days are actually not too bad.

6.  Don't rub your eyes!  That's always hard for me, because my eyes are so itchy.  But if your eyes are driving you crazy, get a nice cold wet wash cloth and just lay down for a while.

7.  Have a nice cup of tea.  That always makes me feel better, and I certainly don't think it can hurt! 

Feel better!

Gardening

Don't take my advice about gardening, OK?

Because I'm too excited to get started, and I'm jumping the gun.  I know that already, but I can't help myself.

Jersey and tomatoes go together like American goes with apple pie.  And I'm all excited after those last few hot days - even though the temperature has dropped down dramatically, and it's feeling more like April.

And someone told me the other day that an old italian guy told her (old italian guys really know tomatoes!) that you can put your tomatoes in as soon as you start seeing dandelions.  And yup - I'm seeing dandelions!

So even though it isn't Mother's Day yet - Mother's Day is the traditional day to put in the tomatoes - I've put a few experimental tomatoes into the garden already.

I bought a pack of seeds that I started in the house.  I got heirloom seeds from a mail order company.  Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been collected by old gardeners, and handed down over the generations, and then collected by this company to sell.  They are old fashioned and original varieties.  The way I hear it, seeds today in regular seed packets are bred to be able to grow veggies, but not to produce viable seeds.  Because if you could save one or two tomatoes and get your own seeds out of it, you don't really need to buy seeds again, do you?  So my idea is to try out these seeds, and if I like them, I'll save a few old tomatoes at the end of the season and put aside some more seeds for next year.  I wonder if that will work?  We shall see.

Well, I have a bunch of little tomato seedlings started in the house - way more than I need, actually.  I'm thinking that if I do have a garage sale at the town sale next week, I'll sell some tomato plants too!  And since I had more seedlings than pots, I put three of them into the garden already.

I'm going to talk sweetly to them and hope that they get over their shock quickly, and maybe I'll have some fine tomatoes very early in the season this year!

But I'll put the rest of them into the ground when I'm supposed to... on the weekend of Mother's Day.  They'll probably have a better chance, and one way or  another, I want nice fresh tomato salads this summer.

Day Trip - Roosevelt Park Sculpture

I was trying to think of a good day trip for today, but I don't feel like going too far. And I'm in a kinda "artsy" mood... so how about a nice walk in the park?

Roosevelt Park in Edison is a great place, with a lot of different kinds of attractions. For one thing, there are plenty of places to walk or bike or picnic, and there are the swings and ball fields of course. But being in an artsy mood, I decided to take a closer look at the public works statue near the "Plays in the Park" stage.

There are some signs posted to explain the statue itself, which is also a fountain, although there is no water running right now. The signs went over some of the symbolism, and the effort to restore it in the last few years.

The fountain, named "Light Dispelling Darkness," was designed by sculptor Waylande Gregory and erected in the park in 1938.  The upright pillar represents the good things in society holding up the world, as the evils -  death, war, famine, pestilence, greed and materialism - are dispelled.  There is a lot of interesting detail and use of color, and it's great that the county decided to restore the work rather than get rid of it.


View Larger Map

So, anyway, it's supposed to be a nice day... although I did hear that the temperatures are going to be much cooler than they were earlier this week.  But maybe it would be a nice day for a picnic lunch?
You could bring some charcoal, cook up a few burgers, and take a little hike around.


Have fun!

Wordless Wednesday - Merrill Park Animals

People often ask me if they still have animals at Merrill Park. Yup, even the horse.

It's Cherry Blossom time in Iselin

Time to think about GARDENING!

I've been working on my garden today, and I've been referring to this book a lot.

Given that my whole yard here in Iselin is 50' x 100', which includes the house and shed and driveway and front yard and patio, I don't have much space to work with. But I'm planning on having a SERIOUS garden this year anyway.

This book is perfect for me. It's simple and easy to put into practice, and the garden plan makes a lot of sense.

It's going to be beautiful this weekend, although it's still too cold to put in the tomatos... but you might want to check out this book for some planning before the planting. I highly recommend it.

And oh yeah - if you click on the Ad, Amazon even has a video that you can watch to learn all about it!

Don't forget - April 1st is the Egg Hunt!

JFK High School's 9th Annual Egg Hunt will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2010, from 5 PM to 8 PM. The event will be held RAIN OR SHINE, because all activities take place inside JFK High School.  The Egg Hunt is sponsored by the Concert, Chamber, and Show Choirs.

Admission is $5.00 per child, which includes 5 activities AND the egg hunt. Additional Activity tickets are available for 50 cents each or 3/$1.00, and additional Egg Hunt tickets are available for $1.00 each. There will be a kid's DJ, prizes, games, crafts and food available for purchase. There is even a moonbounce for $2.00.

glitter-graphics.com

Merrill Park - View of Suckers Creek

Merrill Park - View of Suckers Creek
Originally uploaded by Love, Iselin NJ

Another few rainy days in the forecast, and the brook is likely to flood again.
I keep referring to "the brook." Do you call it the brook? In my family, we always called it "the brook". I've heard other people call it the creek, and I heard somewhere that it's official name was Sucker's Creek. On the Google map pages, it's referred to as the South Branch of the Rahway River. (Not very exciting name, is it? Sucker's Creek is more interesting.)

I was talking to a friend yesterday, and he said to me, "The brook is still flooding, after all of these years?  Wow, when are they going to fix that?"

 My answer is ...I don't think it's really broken, is it?

I mean think about it.  All of this water has to go somewhere, doesn't it?  And the flood zone allows Iselin to have a nice little green centerpiece right down the middle.  If it stopped flooding, it probably wouldn't take too long before a bunch of people started trying to build more houses there.  I like the little wilderness area that it gives us... even if it's not too wild!

There are a lot of animals that call that little strip (and the rest of Iselin) home.  I've seen plenty of squirrels and rabbits, of course.  Less often, but still making their presence known, are racoons, skunks, and oppossums.  I had a ground hog in my yard once -- I don't know how many we have, but at least a few, I guess.

And it's a nice spot for birds.  I heard a woodpecker as I walked along Chain O'Hills Road yesterday, and I saw a pair of mallard ducks.  I've seen lots of the usual birds, especially robins, and occasionally cardinals.  Once I saw a snowy egret (I think that's what it is!)

I was surprised yesterday as I walked along the brook to see a school of about 4" striped fish.  Now, I have no idea what kind of fish they were, because I don't know one fish from another.  But they were bigger than I've ever seen, in our own little brook!  Of course with all the rain, maybe today they've washed away.


Well, take a walk along the brook one day, and see what there is to see.  It's a great part of Iselin!

Judy Verrilli Prepares for the Egg Hunt

Judy Verrilli Prepares for the Egg Hunt
Originally uploaded by Love, Iselin NJ

JFK High School's 9th Annual Egg Hunt will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2010, from 5 PM to 8 PM. The event will be held RAIN OR SHINE, because all activities take place inside JFK High School.

I stopped in last year to take a look, and I was amazed! It is a really fun spring activity for the little ones, and all are welcome. They have plenty of room and plenty of things to do. I wish my own kids were little, because they would have had so much fun. I'm sure this year the activities will be just as wonderful -- as wonderful as Ms. Verrilli, the Kennedy teacher who organizes the event. The Egg Hunt is sponsored by the Concert, Chamber, and Show Choirs.

Admission is $5.00 per child, which includes 5 activities AND the egg hunt. Additional Activity tickets are available for 50 cents each or 3/$1.00, and additional Egg Hunt tickets are available for $1.00 each. There will be a kid's DJ, prizes, games, crafts and food available for purchase. There is even a moonbounce for $2.00.

Tickets are on sale now!

The JFK High School Gift Auction is held every year to support Project Graduation. It is a huge event, with hundreds of prizes. Tickets are usually not available at the door, because it sells out almost every year. If you are interested in purchasing tickets for the Gift Auction, call the High School at 732-602-8650.

Spring in Iselin's "Garden for the Blind"

Yesterday afternoon was marked the "Vernal Equinox." So that makes today the first full day of Spring... and everyone is excited!

I marked the beginning of Spring by taking a walk through Iselin's "Garden for the Blind."

The sun was nice and warm, and the birds were singing.  The flowers of spring were there if you looked for them... but the evidence of winter remained.  It will be a while before spring is in full swing.

 The Garden is located next to the parking lot of the Iselin Library on Green Street. It's been there for years and years. You may know how much work it takes to maintain your home garden, so it's nice that the Woodbridge Garden Club volunteers to make the extra effort to keep a garden going for the whole town to enjoy.

According to the web site infoplease, March 20 (March 21 in some years) is significant for astronomical reasons. On March 20, 2010, at precisely 1:32 P.M. EDT (March 20, 17:32 Universal Time), the Sun crossed directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

Translated literally, equinox means "equal night." Because the Sun is positioned above the equator, day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes. A second equinox occurs each year on September 22 or 23; in 2010, it will be on September 22 at 11:09 P.M. EDT. This date will mark the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Southern (vernal denotes "spring").
"Vernal (Spring) Equinox." Infoplease.
© 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease.
21 Mar. 2010 .

Enjoy this beautiful spring day!