Day 112: Moving in

"I am grateful for the lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and floors that need waxing because it means I have a home"  ~ Author Unknown

 

Project 365: #112

It was good to see our container arrived safely after it's long journey! AND all our belongings were intact...despite all the missing nuts, bolts, and screws, which hopefully we will find before too long to finish putting together the furniture that was disassembled! It was a frenetic day trying to find space for everything and fit all our over-sized South African furniture into the smaller rooms! We even managed to squeeze our 10-seater diningroom table into the 10-ft room! We did choose one of the hottest days of the year to move in with 80% humidity! Who needs a sauna?? The container was unpacked just in time before a huge thunderstorm and downpour! We did of course see all the things that need fixing or doing...but I am still grateful, as it is our home, and feels completely different to renting a home. When I was completely exhausted after unpacking all day, I went onto the deck for some fresh air, and this is what I saw:

An eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly enjoying the mint flowers in the little herb garden! I am in heaven here! It is much easier to escape the chaos inside and appreciate nature outside!

Day 111: New school!!!

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet" - Aristotle

Project 365: #111

Another first today, the girls are officially enrolled at their new school. While we already met with the school in April, and have been corresponding since regarding transitions, and keeping the same curriculum, etc, the public schools are strictly zoned, so we had to wait for the official sale documents on our home. There were also mandatory sports and health physicals which had to be completed, and vaccinations to be updated. But all good...it was a huge relief to tick this off the list...and we now have a rising Senior and a Sophomore!

Long story, but this is our school of choice so the girls can complete their IB programme with mostly the same subjects. It will be a little different from their previous schools, with over three hundred kids per grade! We are incredibly proud of how the girls are managing all these transitions, and learning such vastly different education systems. I think that moving schools must be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences ever! While all these changes are hugely challenging for them, they are learning to be adaptable, and completely multicultural, and I am certain that the fruits of their patience and perseverance will pay dividends for them in the future.

Day 110: New house!!!

"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts" - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr

Project 365: #110

Well, today was an exciting day...albeit a long  one! We are officially home-owners again! Exciting but scary....so we closed on our house at 12, but the house was not vacated till after 7 pm! Anyway, here's the back garden and the house from the bottom of the garden. We did snoop around a whole lot, and even came across a chipmunk in the shed! It also could not have been a more stunning mid-summer day - 100 degrees F in the shade! The pool was most enticing! How blessed are we???? This will be a home where we love, that will always be in our hearts.

 

 

Day 109: Thunderbolts and lightening

"Thunderbolts and lightening...very, very frightening me" Queen

Project 365: #109

There is nothing nicer than an awesome thunderstorm after a boiling day! You can't see clearly in the photo, but it was absolutely pouring with rain after lots of thunder and lightening! After not having experienced many thunderstorms in the last few years, they are quite scary! The cats thought it was fascinating to watch until a loud thunderclap sent them scurrying under the bed. Our last big storm in Germany resulted in cricket-ball size hailstones shattering our windscreen and damaging the car while we were driving home on the autobahn with nowhere to find shelter...so I am a little wary of them. But this was awesome, I love the smell of summer rain on the tar! It brings back a flood of childhood memories of drenching rain after a hot summer's day of lazing around the school pool with all our friends, and eating freezing cold watermelon in the garden!

Day 108: Spooky Brook

 "Memory is a net: one that finds it full of fish when he takes it from the brook, but a dozen miles of water have run through it without sticking" - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr

Project 365: #108

Not unlike Germany, there are many small lakes and wetlands here....this one is 'Spooky Brook'! I can just imagine what gave it its name while wandering around in the forest next to it. This could not have been a more perfect mid-summer afternoon, without even a breath of wind. There were notifications around to say it had been stocked with trout for anglers, and although I have seen some fishermen about, I have not seen may catches, I think these fish have migrated elsewhere! So, like this brook, I have a spooky memory that does not seem to retain much!

It was late afternoon when we walked here, and the paths on the trail were starting to be lit up by fireflies. I also wondered why the trails were not cleared of the dead material in places, but then, after some movement caught my eye, we saw a shrew jumping about the roots of a fallen tree, and looking closer saw that the stump was teaming with bugs. Attached to one of these fallen trees was a notice - these decaying trees are actually called 'snags', (took me forever to remember this name) and their importance as ecological habitats and food sources is illustrated, which is why they are not removed! Yay, so exciting to see conservation in action!

Day 107: Hot air balloons

 "God made man to go by motives, and he will not go without them, any more than a boat without steam or a balloon without gas" - Henry Ward Beecher

Project 365: #107

This weekend there is a hot air balloon festival in NJ, and while we haven't had the chance to get there, the balloons have dotted the skyline. Several were flying at sunset - providing the most spectacular views to those flying them, and spectators. There was no wind, and an almost-African sunset, reddening the horizon. Without gas, the balloons would have flown nowhere, and without motivation we go nowhere. I try to keep myself motivated with daily goals, and that way, I find enjoyment and beauty in most things, making me look forward to the next day. Without goals, I am aimless, unable to fly! I love that there is such a diversity of things to do every weekend, and I LOVE summer!

Day 106: Roosters on Elm Street

 "A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind' - Eugene Ionesco

Project 365: #106

Recycling as art...this is one of the cutest roosters I have seen, perched on top of the old pick-up! Art comes in many forms, and can be an entertaining adventure. This recycled art adds a new dimension to 'Elm Street', transforming it from a nightmare, to something fun and entertaining! The added  bonus, is that the scrap metal has been up-cycled into a work of appreciation, instead of lying in a scrapheap somewhere. Of course, not everyone shares the same zany perspectives as me...the girls think I am somewhat insane with my love of this rooster! Perhaps I need to get out more!!

Day 105: Blur of time

"Most days it feels as if the world is whirling around me and I am standing still. In slow motion, I watch the colors blur; people and faces all become a massive wash" - Sarah Kay

Project 365: #105

This is how the time has flown in the past year:

Most things have zoomed by in a huge blur, flying past with a few lucid snippits of clarity in-between! I took this photo out of the car window...it is amazing that the sunset reflection peeping through is perfectly focused, and the rest is blur. When everything is blurry, it is important to focus on the important things, everything else is superfluous! Important things for me are family and friends, and to never stop being grateful for what we have and the blessings we have been granted.

Day 104: Sunset surprise

"Keep looking up! I learn from the past, dream about the future and look up. There's nothing like a beautiful sunset to end a healthy day' - Rachel Boston

Project 365: #104

In the evenings after supper we have either been going for a walk to get some fresh air, or a short drive in the area to explore the new sites. Being summer, it only becomes dark after 8 pm, so there is plenty of time, and it is an awesome way to end the day. The weather has been very summery, averaging about 35 degrees C, often with clouds building in the evening, promising thunderstorms. On our outing yesterday, this was our view as we turned a corner:

You could be forgiven for thinking it was in Africa!! The power-lines give it away (there is just no escaping them here, they are everywhere!) A silhouette of a windmill at sunset! Reminded us of home, but totally surprised us as it was in a residential area down the road! Our new adventuring is exciting, as much as it is daunting.  It does not seem not quite so hard to fit in here, and despite the differences, there is a comforting similarity. Although completely developed and efficient, it is a little less tame than Europe, with distinctively more African qualities! I am relieved that while dreaming of our future I can still look up and enjoy an (almost) African sunset!

Day 103: Beauty in parasites

"A lot of us grow up and we grow out of the literal interpretation that we get when we're children, but we bear the scars all our life. Whether they're scars of beauty or scars of ugliness, it's pretty much in the eye of the beholder" - Stephen King

Project 365: #103

As I am effectively house-bound until we organise more transport, I am using all the photos that I have found beautiful or intriguing of the places we go to often. I love flowers, hence, lots of photos of them! This photo was taken on the towpath - it took me a while to work out where this stunning flower came from. Then I realised that it was from a vine parasitizing a tree. There were few leaves on the tree, and the greeness was soley from the vine. Here the flower of the vine was slowly killing the tree, yet it did not detract from it's beauty. Beauty comes in all forms, and the scars that we have accumulated, both physically and emotionally form who we are. I like to think that they give us depth, forging us into something other than literal beings. Each scar tells a story and leaves an impression. Each battle grows us a little, in whichever direction we are meant to take, but the choice is ours. I choose to make something beautiful and positive out of my scars...but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Day 102: Gardening ideas

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace" -May Sarton

Project 365: #102

Shopping mall, and public planters are beautiful and manicured, wherever you look here. I love gardening, so having been taking photos everywhere we go to get a good idea of what grows well and what doesn't for our new house. I can't wait to get stuck into the garden as it is a most amazing stress reliever! Gardening requires hard work, physical effort, creativity, nurturing, and patience. The fruits of gardening are rewarding, seeding awe and an appreciation for the cycle of life.

Day 101: Tiger lilies

"None can have a healthy love for flowers unless he loves the wild ones" - Forbes Watson

Project 365: #101

Wild tiger lilies on the towpath, overlooking the Raritan River.  We have been walking or running along different sections of the towpath regularly, and every day I see something new. These tiger lilies just popped out, bright orange in the midst of all the green. If you look closely enough, there is always something to be grateful for, especially when you are not expecting  it.

Day 100: Expectations

"When one's expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have" - Stephen Hawking

Project 365: #100

Fun and explorations at the bottom of the new garden...

The suspense of moving to a new house that I have only seen from the street is killing me, so we went on a serious 'expoitition' on the path at the bottom of the garden this afternoon in the hope of catching a glimpse of the house! My expectations were certainly exceeded...it looks much nicer than I imagined! I am so excited that I am counting down the minutes, never mind the hours, until we can move in! It does help that it is the middle of summer, and the neighbours were having a delicious smelling barbeque for birthday celebrations, and it all sounded rather festive! To add to the beauty is this natural area and stream at the bottom of the property - heaven! I shall re-zero my expectations, so that I thoroughly enjoy our new experience without any pre-conceived ideas that might spoil it for me.

Day 99: Time flies...

"How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" - Dr. Seuss

Project 365: #99

This beautiful clock in in the main street of Chester...Chester still has an  historical feel, where the original buildings of town have been maintained. The clock is quite appropriate for where we are at right now...with moving, everything is hurry-up-and-wait. We had deadlines to get here, everything was a huge rush, and there was just not enough time in the day to do all that needed to be taken care of and organised....and now we wait...we can only move into our house at the end of the month, and while time has literally flown through this year, it can't fly fast enough now! Sometimes the clock ticks to quickly, and other times too slowly...

Throughout this journey, I have been reminding myself (and my whole family) to be patient...as in the words of Mary Pierce " Sometimes things aren't clear right away. That's where you need to be patient and persevere and see where things lead". So, the message is, have faith that things will work out as they are meant to, and patience not to hurry the process! In the meantime, enjoy each second for what it is, and do not wish it away!

Day 98: Exciting sights, sounds, smells...happiness for cats

"Happiness is like a cat, if you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come. But if you pay no attention to it and go about your business, you'll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap" - William Bennett

Project 365: #98

Mouse the mere-cat....although there is nothing 'mere' about her! Humiliating name for a cat...but nothing stops this feisty little ball of fluff! (She was as tiny as a mouse when she was rescued, hence the name). There is insect mesh on all the windows, which is awesome for the cats as we can leave the windows open and keep them safe at the same time. Mouse loves to watch all the excitement of the road, listening and smelling all at once, and occasionally growling at the dogs walking past! She will absolutely not be coaxed to you, and will only love you and purr  if you completely ignore her...very much on her terms. The pursuit of happiness is not unlike this...I have been disappointed many times searching for happiness, only to find the happiest moments when I least expect them. My motto - live each day without expectations, but with complete joy!

Day 97: Snow-covered streets?

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" - Ecclesiastes 3:1

 Project 365: #97

When you see these summery streets, it is hard to imagine them snow-covered. I am very grateful for our introduction to real snow while living in Germany...but I think I shall still be in for a shock here! Long may summer last!!! Seasons are the most amazing natural phenomenon to clearly mark the time, and to mark that there is a time for everything. One season passes to another, reminding us to find joy in each day, as no two days will be the same, but there will be new activities and challenges with time. It is also important not to be sad that seasons change, but to embrace what change brings.

Day 96: Sunrise on the Navesink River, NJ

"Get outside. Watch the sunrise. Watch the sunset. How does that make you feel? Does it make you feel big or tiny? Because there's something good about feeling both"- Amy Grant

Project 365: #96

Stunning sunrise over the Navesink River, this is what Mike woke up to this morning! How blessed are we to experience such awesome beauty. The sunrise makes me feel big and tiny at the same time. It brings the hope of a new day, and also makes me feel tiny in the magnitude of beauty that surrounds us!

Day 95: Conquering the traffic!

"Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears. Never let anyone bring you down. You got to keep going" - Chantal Sutherland

 Project 365: #95

Today was a day of regaining control, with a deep-end introduction into really driving in NJ/NY! (I lost a tremendous amount of confidence living in Germany, primarily because of the language factor that can be totally intimidating!) First it was to drop Mike off, so he could get to a three-day off-site workshop, then home to fetch the girls to drop Cait at Newark Airport for her flight to Washington for her workshop...talk about driving in rush-hour traffic, and then airport traffic! Well, I survived, and it was not nearly as bad as I had imagined that it would be! I even managed the toll-booths and numerous lane changes without being hooted at (you must remember that I learned to drive in a town with one working traffic light!!) So, now I feel as though I can conquer anything!

So, to cool down, I walked around the block. This beautiful garden is the entrance to a complex around the corner (there is a matching garden on the other side). Everything is so manicured here, and very much for appearances. So far, the elation of everything new is still outweighing the fear of the unknown and extended comfort zones! I am determined that nothing will bring me down, and I will keep going, no matter what! I am actually looking forward to tomorrow's challenges!

Day 94: More beautiful seaside

“The Victorian era was perhaps the last point in Western history when magic and science were allowed to coexist” - Jonathan Auxier

Project 365: #94

A few more pics of the quaint Victorian Ocean Grove, with beautiful architecture and gardens. I can just imagine these houses in their heyday. Several of these houses are right on the beach or one of the lakes. There are magnificent public gardens throughout the town, maintained by the Women's Auxillary, adding beautiful touches everywhere. These houses and establishments invoke a sense of magic, that were surely built by architectural engineering genius, using sound scientific principals!

 

Day 93: Ocean Grove, NJ

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul" - Wyland 

Project 365: #93

I have found my new favourite seaside resort - this is where I would love a holiday house! Today was the perfect summer's day - about 30 degrees C, and  almost perfectly blue skies. So we set off (with tonnes of patience) for a beach outing (and me driving, yeep!)...knowingly this time that it would probably be with most of New Jersey too! We  ventured to Ocean Grove and were delighted with this seaside town. It was founded in 1869 by a group of Methodist clergymen as a summer camp meeting site, and the land is still owned by the camp meeting association and leased to homeowners and businesses. Historic tented camps surround the great auditorium, filled with history and character. We even overheard a magnificent organ recital while walking past the auditorium. It is also not hard to see from the boardwalk why they chose this beach as their summer camping site - endless stretches of beautiful beaches! The ocean really does stir the heart, and my soul is truly filled with joy after this inspiring day!

Day 92: Bridges of hope

"Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future" - Mattie Stepanek

Project 365: #92

This is a beautiful bridge over the Raritan and Delaware Canal, where we started scouting the area from. Everything is so green and lush, with wildlife all around. The other side of the bridge leads to the parking lot, and a very busy road. But while here, you can temporarily forget that you are in the middle of suburbia, you can become lost in thought and memories. With moving countries twice, special memories and thoughts are not far away, especially as we have left behind all we know, and our precious family and friends. From our past experiences, we can hopefully share what we have learnt, inspiring hope in others, and building on past mistakes or experiences. The past has been enriching, and not always easy, but without which we would not be able to make better choices helping us to build the necessary bridges for a better future.

Day 91: Summer next to the pool!

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language" - Henry James

 Project 365: #91

Summer is truly here...relaxing at the apartment pool! Even though the clouds look like it is about to rain, we still caught some sunshine, and are not quite luminous white and sickly-looking. It is amazing what good old vitamin D can do to uplift the spirits! After spending the afternoon in the sun, the girls and I have a real holiday feeling, and feel as though our batteries have been recharged, and we are now rearing to go. Nothing is as relaxing as a real summer afternoon, with all the commitments and worries left behind. Just the pure enjoyment of lying in the sun, dozing in and out of contended naps!

Day 90: Stunning NJ rivers

"Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away" - Marcus Aurelius

Project 365: #90

All around there are beautiful rivers, calling to be splashed-in, paddled-in, cooled-off in, dunked-in...very inviting in the sweltering, humid summer. I can't believe that we have been here for a week already, and I have been doing Project 365 for 90 days! Time is certainly a river of passing events, you think that it will never pass quickly enough, but in a blink of an eye, another event is upon you! I couldn't wait for the move and all it entails to be over, and now I can hardly even remember the details. The river of time promises the excitement of new things upstream, and there is always hope and faith that things will improve, or at least change, as they always do, and the worries, anxieties and events of today are swept away, leaving just history and distant memories.

Day 89: New running routes

 "I could never resist the call of the trail" - Buffalo Bill

Project 365: #89

It is so exciting being able to explore new areas, and find new running routes. This is a towpath along the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which is now a recreational and wildlife area running through the center of New Jersey. The Canal was originally built in the 1830's for barges to move coal from Pennsylvania to New York City. Mules and horses provided the propulsion, walking along the towpath, pulling the barges. The canal still continues to provide drinking water for most of central NJ
(info from towpathguy.blogspot.com). It is awesome to explore these routes, and imagine the history of them. Our adventure even included the mandatory wildlife - the first time a snake has crossed our path since SA!

Day 88: Sunday Farmer's Market at Chester, NJ

 "Look at our farmers' markets today, bursting with heritage breeds and heirloom varieties, foods that were once abundant when we were an agricultural nation, but that we have lost touch with. Bringing all these back helps us connect to our roots, our communities and helps us feed America the proper way" - Jose Andres Puerta

Project 365: #88

This was our adventure yesterday - the local Farmer's Market that runs every Sunday through summer. It was a chilled atmosphere with live music playing and loads of delicious looking eats and fresh produce. We enjoyed the local produce, and bought home nice fresh veggies for supper. This is the perfect entertainment for a hot, lazy Sunday afternoon. The raspberry lemonade was perfect, zingy and refreshing, not to mention the most deeevine chicken! This will definitely be a regular outing for us, and a perfect way to integrate and connect with the community. 

Beautiful day-lilies are flowering everywhere.

The local shops were open, perfect for a gentle stroll down the street, enjoying what the town has to offer.

Day 87: Lake Hopatcong, NJ

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time" - John Lubbock

Project 365: #87

We have been surveying the area where we live, and discovered beautiful Lake Hopatcong, the largest freshwater lake in NJ, and only about 12 miles from home! So pleased to have found such a big lake so nearby. This has become a largely residential area, with a few summer homes scattered in-between. I wouldn't mind week-ending here! It is very charming, and quite relaxing...not sure about winter though!

I just love this boathouse! I can imagine a nice relaxed summer lifestyle, out on the boat on the lake, back for cool sundowners on the deck! Lying in the grass, listening to the water, and watching the clouds, imagining all the different changing shapes they make. Forgetting reality for a few minutes at a time. Oh, to dream!

Day 86: July Fourth!

"We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world." - Franklin Roosevelt

 "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" - Nelson Mandela

Project 365: #86

Celebrating our first Independence Day in the US, and the 239th Anniversary of Independence here! Our new soon-to-be home-town, Mendham NJ, with flag-lined streets. Independence is significant for many reasons - one is primarily freedom, in its many different forms. Freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship God, economic freedom, and freedom from fear. Everyone has a right to freedom, but it does not mean that one can simply do anything, it comes with a responsibility. For temporary residents in a new country it is our responsibility to ensure that we live in a way to respect and enhance the freedom of others. It is fitting that we celebrate independence and freedom considering our history, and important to remember not repeat the mistakes made in the past, so all can enjoy freedom going forward.

Day 85: A visit to the seaside

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever" - Jacques Yves Cousteau

Project 365: #85
It was such a beautiful morning that we decided on a visit to the seaside! We ventured down to Island Beach State Park (along with the rest of New Jersey at the start of the long weekend) to find the much-missed beach. We have so missed living near the sea, and it is absolutely true, that once the sea has cast it's spell, you are spellbound forever. It was an absolutely perfect day on the beach, the sun was hot, with a cool breeze. Perfect surfable waves, and clean grainy sand. The beaches were of course in a pristine condition, maintained by an entry fee payable on arrival.

Driving home through Seaside Park there were cute little stores, all dressed up for the 4th of July celebrations. It is perfect for hiring a bicycle and cycling to the beach. Definitely a good destination for a summer holiday!
 

Day 84: Grocery shopping...XXXL

 "A simple rule of thumb is to shop the periphery of the grocery store - that's where you'll find meat, fish, dairy, and vegetables. Choose high-quality protein such as healthy, grass-fed beef and lamb and organic chicken and pork, and eat them in moderation" - Suzanne Somers

Project 365: #84

This will be our new supermarket...not far off home! ShopRite

 

Of course, inside everything is available in enormous sizes. Snacks for example! I don't think you can get anything smaller than XXL...

I do think it very good advice to shop the periphery of the store, avoiding all the processed, XXL foods in between. The variety and availability of products is so exciting, that I think it is going to take a great deal of discipline when shopping to stick both to the financial and calorie budget! It is a whole lot of fun though, but I have been advised by the family to stop staring and looking like a total tourist. Oh, and to not talk so much, as my ZA accent seems to be becoming stronger, making blending more difficult! My brain is also doing a bit of a workout, as I have to constantly convert kg's to pounds....and rands to euros to dollars...quite exhausting actually, but nevertheless, still an exciting adventure!