Day 198: Shanghai at night

"And Shanghai is amazing. I'm a fan of science fiction so when you're there in the night with all the lights and all this modernity, it's like a set in a movie" - Berenice Marlohe

Project 365: #198

One of the benefits of having a husband who travels is the photos that he sends me of the sights and sounds he witnesses. This was on his trip from the airport to his hotel, and the view from his room. It is rather science-fictionish, and from afar could very well be a movie set. It is so exciting, and there is so much to see. One thing he did note is the air pollution is rather like thick porridge, and sadly dampens the excitement of the city. I could imagine the set of a futuristic movie where we humans completely disregard the environment, and end up not being able to breathe the air, for lack of oxygen-giving plants that we have destroyed through our greed. I do hope that this scenario does not become a global issue...while the views in Shanghai are amazing, I rather like my wooded, oxygenated environment.

Day 197: Cats in the treehouse

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath" - W.C. Fields

 

Project 365: #197

The puhdies are rather like dogs, and when I am outside, follow me around to find the next adventure, so they have now discovered the treehouse, and how to get up and down on their own. Campbell just scales the tree, but Mouse is more ladylike, and climbs up the ladder. Climbing/jumping/falling down is less dainty, and usually ends with a bit of a thud in the undergrowth and leaves! They have discovered this is a secure vantage point - and sit observing all those walking unsuspectingly by on the Patriot's Path at the bottom of the garden. They are also a little closer to the squirrels, but have not yet discovered that they are not as light as the squirrels flying from tree to tree...

Day 196: Evening reflections

"The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we inhabit are not only critical elements in the quality of life we enjoy - they are a reflection of the majesty of our Creator" - Rick Perry

Project 365: #196

Every day as I am out and about exploring the area, I marvel at the majesty of creation and our Creator. There is always something truly remarkable and beautiful to see. At the moment it is the changing colours, shown up beautifully in the evening reflections on the water. The air, water, land are things we usually take for granted when we are caught up in daily life, that we seldom see their beauty, and how perfectly they have been created. Only when we stop to reflect do we really notice the intricate detail painted on the canvas of creation. Perfect way to end the weekend.

Day 195: Colours on our street

"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up" - Allen Klein

Project 365: #195

This is a little experiment...the street in gray is bleak, looks like pretty much any suburban street in summer/fall, resulting in a bleak attitude, caught up in the everyday, mundane cycle of life. It is difficult to be positive with this constant outlook...

However, if we take off our gray-tinted glasses, we see the magnificent colour that there is to behold! There are so many colours at the same time, it is uplifting. They brighten the day, and the spirit! It is not difficult to be positive when creation is so vibrant...it is just important to notice it's vibrancy! The humour in it is that you won't be raking up the leaves at the same time...they will gradually fall as the colours change! Just when you think you have raked up all the leaves from one tree, another one drops its load!

Day 194: Jockey Hollow

"History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies" - Alexis de Tocqueville

Project 365: #194

My search for red leaves took me to Jockey Hollow, which is part of a is a National Historical Park just outside town. I was definitely not disappointed, but arrived just before 8 am, and the park is only open from 8 am to 6 pm, so was a little anxious at being out there alone. I am sure it is perfectly safe, but I didn't want to wander too far. This area is steeped in history from the American Revolutionary War. This pic is the homestead from Wick Farm, which was a productive working farm of 1,400 acres. This area became the camping ground for Washington's army of about 10,000 men over 3 winters from 1779 to 1782. Wick House became the headquarters for Major General Arthur St Clair who was the commander of the Pennsylvania Line. You can feel the history here, hopefully a history that will not be repeated! The gallery of pictures that comes out of Jockey Hollow now should grace nature magazines, and it will hopefully not be known again for it's part in a war.

Day 193: Tuba transportation

"I wouldn't want to hear Beethoven without beautiful bass, the cellos, the tuba. It's very important. Hip-hop has thunderous bass. And so does Beethoven. If you don't have the bass, it's like being amputated. It's like you have no legs" - Lou Reed

Project 365: #193

We are back to fitting the tuba in the trunk/boot of the car again - at least this boot is a little bigger than the last one! It brings back memories of having my car (with the tuba in the boot) searched during the 2010 World Cup Soccer match when the girls were going to dance at the stadium...not so easy to explain your way out of that one, except that it could potentially cause some destruction through it's low baritone notes! So exciting that Nicole is playing again, and that there is more than one tuba in the band (four at least), and more than one band too! They clearly understand the worth of the thunderous bass in their music. Band is one of her school subjects. Her past music teachers will be delighted to know that music homework includes recording yourself playing your instrument, so there is no pretending!! Homework is also graded! At least she has grown a little since she had to bring the tuba home a couple of years ago, a tad more manageable now!

Day 192: Field hockey county finals

"We just want to win. That's the bottom line. I think a lot of times people may become content with one championship or a little bit of success, but we don't really reflect on what we've done in the past. We focus on the present" - Derek Jeter

Project 365: #192

This was the start of the 2015 Field Hockey Tournament Championship Game for Morris County at 7 pm last night. No one can say they don't want to win, as everyone wants to win! The Mendham Varsity team has earned the number 1 seed in the county and made it to the final match of the championship to play Madison, the only team they have lost to in the season! This has been a busy season, with pre-season starting four weeks before school in the summer. What a privilege for Caitlin to have been able to be part of the team! It has required a great amount of commitment and dedication six days a week, and at least two matches per week. This match was played offsite on neutral territory - hosted by Boonton High School, and unbelievably professionally organised. Final score 2:1 down, sadly Mendham did not win,  but an amazing match to watch,  so exciting I chewed off all my fingernails! (I also now know why we have field hockey blankets to take to matches, brrr!!)

Day 191: X-factor

"Anything that is unexpected is the X-factor" - Dante Hall

 Project 365: #191

Predawn this morning: I happened to take my coffee outside in the hope that the cool (actually, freezing) autumn air would shock me into some form of wakefulness. I saw the most magnificent X in the sky! It was certainly an unexpected X-factor! As we are within 30 miles of NYC and three bustling airports, we have continual air traffic overhead and  see many vapour trails daily...it  is also the only way that we know we are relatively close to "the city". Anyway, these trails were unusual and caught my eye, like I had been left an unexpected message, like "X marks the spot".  We have been going through the ups and downs of settling somewhere new with all the hassles and anxiety attached, and have generally been battling to stay positive. I took this X as a reminder, that whenever I loose my way or forget my faith I should look up, and I will stay on course! I have been remarkably more positive for the rest of the day!

Day 190: Swimming pool is officially closed

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn" - Hall Borland

Project 365: #190

The swimming pool has been winterized and is officially closed! A very depressing day indeed, the only consolation is that winter does not last forever, and there is always spring to look forward to! We spent most of Saturday researching 'how to close an inground swimming pool" as the quotes for closing the pool by various companies have been ridiculously high! So, armed with extensive new knowledge, we proceeded with caution. Firstly, we fixed all the holes in the pool cover, then proceeded to lower the water level, blow out the water from all the pipes, applied "pool-friendly" antifreeze to pipes that could not be emptied, ran antifreeze through the filter and heat-exchanger, plugged all the inlets, rescued another snake from the skimmer box, plugged the skimmer boxes with expandable plugs to prevent cracking in extreme temperatures, treated the pool water with over-wintering chemicals, closed the pump down, skimmed the leaves (again, and again, and again) from the pool (it is currently raining leaves), and finally put the cover over the pool and secured it. Who would have thought of this in the middle of summer? At least one thing is ticked off the 'Winterizing the house' list...only about 20 to go, and we saved about $800 by doing it ourselves! Woohoo!

Day 189: Snow flurries and frost!

"Frost is the greatest artist in our clime - he paints in nature and describes in rime" - Thomas Hood

Project 365: #189

Well, the weather has fallen over from relatively warm for this time of year to absolutely freezing overnight! We had our first frost of the season, and snow flurries! We were all so excited at the first snow of the season that we rushed outside, but sadly didn't capture it on camera - nevertheless, this is the girls in their exuberance. You can see that the house is toasty warm by what they are wearing! The frost painted a very pretty picture this morning, all the crystals on the leaves and trees glistened and sparkled in the morning light, promising delight in the cold of winter, not just darkness and depression!

Day 188: Leaf litter

"Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt" - William Allingham

Project 365: #188

The leaves, they are a-falling! The early mornings are now cooler, damper and mistier, and there is a carpet of brightly coloured leaves littering the paths. There is also the constant rustle of squirrels and chipmunks collecting nuts for their winter stash (at least I hope it is squirrels and chipmunks...not hanging around for too long to find out!) . The trees are burning from yellow to orange to red, and then melting slowly to the ground.

Day 187: Curb appeal

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today" - Dale Carnegie

Project 365: #187

As we have not been here for very long, I have not done anything to the front garden that is desperate for some attention. The beds are very shaggy and sad looking, and I have had absolutely no time or resources to give them the attention they need. However, ever-beautiful nature has come to the rescue with stunning changing colours. We don't even need to do a garden overhaul to create a magical rose garden, we have stunning nature blooming right outside our windows! It is a wake-up call to start living and appreciating everything around us!

Day 186: Halloween spooks

"But I love Halloween, and I love that feeling: the cold air, the spooky dangers lurking around the corner" - Evan Peters

Project 365: #186

It is fun walking around the neighbourhood - it seems that October is defined by changing colours, pumpkins and Halloween decorations. It is really exciting to walk around the neighbourhood discovering the new deco. It seems as though people build on their exhibitions each week, which is such fun. Our neighbours across the road have a giant inflated Frankenstein and a ghostly carriage in the garden and two giant spiders on their roof. Along with some piped spooky music and cackles that plays all night! A house down the road has this family of skeletons, including the dog...and it now has some hay-bales and mandatory pumpkins! It is also lit up with a red light at night. Spooky! 

Day 185: Pocono Mountains, Tannerville, PA

 "I think that women definitely have a special bond as friends that is hard to describe to men, and we don't often see that portrayed narratively"- Ava DuVernay

Project 365: #185

The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement and catching up with "old" special friends.  As a result, there are a few gaps in the blog as I have been so busy catching up on what I missed in their lives. It is so awesome to still be friends after all these years, with no expectations and no judgement. There is definitely a special bond that does not alter over time and the trials of life. Spending time together is such an awesome way to regain much needed perspective. We can breathe again and realise that we are all insane, and our families are all perfectly normal and happy in the big scheme of things. I am deeply grateful for friends, and that they have come all this way to visit and spend time with me! The scenery around us with the changing leaves also reflects the beauty of nature, and how, within change things stay the same, just as friendships. This is the view Mike woke up to this morning from his workshop in the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania -  stunning autumn colours reflecting in the lake at the bottom of the ski-lift.

Day 181: Homecoming

"I went to public school, elementary through high school. I went to homecoming, to football games, pep rallies, I got detention, I got an F. I've done it all" - Raven-Symone

 

Project 365: #181

The girls have certainly had many experiences: a South African public school, a German international private school, and an American public school. They have experienced many different cultures and activities, including football games, marching bands, pep rallies, and "Fs"...at least no detention. The latest adventure was homecoming! I am not sure that their "movie"expectations are living up to real life, but nevertheless, the new traditions are being experienced with exuberance! This is Nicole's corsage from her date! It is awesome that manners and special traditions are still being upheld! Both girls were even home way before their curfews, whew! I think we will be able to settle here eventually!

 

Day 179: Winter seaside

"That's why you can't be a true Yankee without winter: because all the best pleasures are earned - the fire, the fried oysters; the warmer seasons, too. Who knows the real worth of summer at the beach without a good taste of the seaside in winter?" - Julia Glass

Project 365: #179

We have had our first taste of a real cold-front, bringing a significant drop in temperature along with the first threat of a serious Grade 4 storm. Thankfully, it diverted it's direction out to sea. We took the advantage of a visit to the seaside on a sunny, but wintery day. It was absolutely stunning, and the temperature warmed up enough to give us racoon tans from our sunglasses. We had the most awesome walk along the promenade. I could definitely do this more often, even though the tangible summery feeling was not there and the beaches were all but deserted. The seasons do teach you to appreciate each one, and make the most of every moment!

Day 176: Pumpkin season

"I love the scents of winter! For me, it's all about the feeling you get when you smell pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread and spruce" - Taylor Swift

Project 365: #176

Pumpkin season is well and truly upon us. There are pumpkins absolutely everywhere, exemplifying fall. They do bring a bright splash of color to the more dreary and cooler days. This is a record breaking pumpkin - the largest in the county! There is no escape from all the scents, including pumpkin spice, but it does bring a sense of home and happiness, and all things warm, out of the cold of winter. Pumpkin and apple picking, and corn-maze walking are the current weekend activities to have a little fun out of the ordinary. Each season brings its own new excitement.

Day 175: Lanterns

"Faith means living with uncertainty - feeling your way through life, letting your heart guide you like a lantern in the dark" - Dan Millman

Project 365: # 175

We had to make an early trip to Morristown this morning for SATs. While sitting in the car waiting to make sure that all was good with IDs etc., I was catching up with admin when I looked up to see this lantern. I thought it was just a lamp in the yard, but then I realised it is actually a gas lantern. Amazing, interesting things to see everyday! It made me think of the importance of lanterns and beacons in our lives, and how they guide is in the dark, just as faith that everything will be okay in the end when we are really unsure of the outcome.

Day 174: Amazing creation

"The next time you see a spider web, please, pause and look a little closer. You'll be seeing one of the most high-performance materials known to man" - Cheryl Hayashi

Project 365: #174

We have literally jumped from summer at 28 degrees C to 10 overnight with cold windy conditions as a result of the first real cold front of the season. The sun has disappeared and there is definitely a more somber feel. But, there is still beauty around. This intricate spider's web caught my eye as the spider scuttled into a funnel when we walked  by. The fallen leaves do a good job at camouflage.  What perfect creation!

Day 173: Senior Day at field hockey

 "We are, at almost every point of our day, immersed in cultural diversity: faces, clothes, smells, attitudes, values, traditions, behaviours, beliefs, rituals" - Randa Abdel-Fattah

Project 365: #173

Today we were part of a special tradition at school of honoring the seniors at field hockey. The match began with all seniors, and afterwards they were presented with a cute bouquet, posed for a photo with families, and then celebrated with cupcakes. Another special part of the tradition is a poster made by the juniors that is hung next to their name. We are grateful to be included in these special traditions, even though we have just arrived; and we are honored to be immersed in different traditions and rituals to what we grew up with, the cultural diversity enriching our lives and broadening our minds.

Day 172: Watch this space

 "Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt"- William Allingham

Project 365: #172

Watch this space through the kitchen window...the leaves are changing. The tree at the bottom of the garden has a definite red hue - can't wait for two weeks. Every day they are a little more orange and fiery, and every day there are a little more on the ground. As the breeze picks up, it rains leaves. You can hear the ripe nuts and acorns falling through the trees onto the ground below, and the squirrels are going mad with collecting their hoards, preparing for the winter hideways!

Day 171: Budd Lake, NJ

"The lake and the mountains have become my landscape, my real world" - Georges Simenon

Project 365: #171

We ventured on a little trip in the area before heading back to the airport today. Sadly, all good things must come to an end...back to reality. This is Budd Lake, not far from home. We are so blessed to live in such and awesome area, with many lakes and mountains near by. The colour change of the leaves is just visible here...with the first couple of cloudy days in two months! The beaches are already closed and locked....summer is done, holidays are done, back to the real world!

Day 170: Central Park, NYC

"Joy comes from places you least expect it. It's usually the simple things, like watching my son play basketball or going through Central Park when the blossoms are blooming" - Dave Gahan

Project 365: #170

Today was an enormous adventure. Being the country bumpkin that I am, growing up in the backwaters of SA, a trip to NYC is quiet daunting! But, I couldn't have visitors and not make the trip there. So...after a little research we worked out that the best way in is by train on the NJ Transit from Morristown, directly to Penn Station. So, off we went, with google maps in hand with all the landmarks we wanted to catch along the way. On arrival, our aim was to head to Central Park via Times Square which we managed. It was the most amazing experience...Soph's and I could not believe that when we met 26 years ago we would ever have been living in the same country experiencing Central Park together for the first time! It was so special. After lunch in the park we headed to more landmarks,  catching the metro, and the train home! We negotiated public transport, maps, no-maps, two train stations, and a parking garage! AND we did not even get lost!  What an awesome, amazing day! My heart is filled with joy!

Day 169: Church of the Redeemer, Morristown, NJ

"Art used to be made in the name of faith. We made cathedrals, we made stained-glass windows, we made murals" - Julia Cameron

Project 365: # 169

There was a fair around the Morristown Green today, where the streets were cordoned off, and most of the societies, schools, churches, events were showcased. It was great to get a good idea of what is in the area, and  to do some more site-seeing. This was one of the stained glass windows in the Church of the Redeemer. The church was so beautiful, both in what it looks like and what it stands for, incorporating faith into our current existence in such a meaningful way, where as Christians we need to be examples of living faith, helping others without condemnation and judgement.

Day 168: Buttermilk Falls, NJ

"I love the sounds and the power of pounding water, whether it is the waves or a waterfall" - Mike May

Project 365: #168

We went for a little walk to  Buttermilk Falls this afternoon, although were a little cautious at the onset as the yellow sign does indicate that there are hunters in the area...at least they are not hunting with guns, but bows and arrows to cull the deer population. So, we did NOT veer off the demarcated paths, and were careful to listen for the whizz of arrows through the air! The falls were very pretty, but New Jersey has been declared a drought area in many parts due to the lack of rain, so the falls were very small, and the level in the river was very low. The trees were very pretty, just beginning to get a tinge of orange.

Day 167: Estate sales

 "I don't think estates are grim places" - Andrea Arnold

Project 365: #167

While still out and about, we saw a sign to an estate sale, so it was my first introduction into bargain hunting as we are here on a serious budget. It was such an adventure, and while I don't think that the estate was necessarily grim, it was a little strange!  It was a quick glimpse into someone's lavish lifestyle, from a glamorous theatrical bed, to silk shoes and mink coats, amazing art, and pewter kitchenware. I did find this lamp though, which was perfect as we have absolutely no lighting in the lounge!

Day 166: Friends and minions

"Friendship isn't about whom you've known the longest, it's about who came and never left your side" - DespicableMeMinions.org

 

Project 365: #166

So exciting having my best friend to take around to show me what is what, and what prices are good in supermarkets, and what products work, before spending loads of dollars on things you don't like.  It is even more exciting that we have at last ended up in the same country, even if it is a two hour flight away. During our sight-seeing, we had to stop off along the way at the nurseries to see what plants they are selling, and all the stunning autumn arrangements, with so many different types of pumpkins that I have never seen before. The hay-bale minion added some fun to the display. We couldn't have asked for better weather do do a bit of sight-seeing. I am so grateful for a friend that has not given up on me despite my poor communication skills! Amazing to just pick up where we left off!