A day or so ago, I gave you a view of our home from the street, here’s what we see out our bedroom window. The leaves are just beginning to grow on the trees, so you are not seeing them in their full green glory, but it’s been quiet, beautiful and serene for the past few days.
I have a swing on the deck that I love to sit in on quiet evenings, as the sun is just beginning to go down. This picture wasn’t taken at that time of day, but it is beautiful looking across the lake…the water is still, with only the fish eating causing rings that spread out, out, and out some more, joining rings formed by other fish. An occasional mallard will fly and land on the surface. Geese will join them, and now the little gosling’s and ducklings are appearing.
This is our “little cabin on the lake”, it is set down over a foot below the the lawn and garden, with a rock wall that my husband worked on all weekend, he reset the stones which had shifted a lot in the years since we moved here.
Yes, in this cozy little cabin with a lake in the back, we have raised two children, and now the cabin is just the right size for the two of us…or three, as our son is still living with us at present. Will we ever move? I don’t know, it would be hard to leave behind the natural beauty that surrounds us, and all the memories we’ve made here. Time will tell.
Do you remember the show “The Wonder Years” that lasted a quite a few seasons after it’s release date in 1988? It was a show that many Baby Boomers can relate to, it was our time and stirred up so many memories. When my brother and I would watch the show, we could relate, right down to the late ’50′s to early ’60′s suburban developments with their perfect streets, sidewalks, neatly mowed lawns and, for us at least, ranch style houses.
Keeping a perfect lawn was a BIG deal in those days…I suppose it is in many places today, but living where we do now, in a rural woodsy area some 40+ years later, it’s not our lifestyle…we’re more a product of the hippie years, living close to the earth, natural living, and all that came from those years when we decided to rebel against “the establishment”. Of course enjoying nature and natural living is one of the GOOD things that came from those times, but back to those lawns.
Most men were out early on Saturday mowing & feeding their lawns, and keeping them trimmed along the sidewalks. Almost every front yard had two neat “squares” of green, parted by the sidewalk that went up to the front door, and a little strip of green along the road between the main sidewalk and curb.
My Dad would brush off this ritual between men of keeping the perfect lawn as “keeping up with the Joneses” as if it was something to be scorned, as if he were above all that. But believe me, he was right out there “keeping up” himself, and I have proof of his passion for the competition, think I’ll save that for my “Memories and Nostalgia” blog.
I live in Northern New Jersey, in a town called West Milford. There’s lots of “weird New Jersey” lore around our town, most of it originates short drive from our home, with stories of ghosts, ice-men, devil worship, and other strange sightings.
It was popular “scarey” fun for my children when they were teens to go out after dark and drive Clinton Road, and see if there was really anything to be scared about…they never saw much of anything, but did spend a good bit of time scaring each other. Below is one video that I found that will take you on a trip that we’ve driven many times. If you turn off the sound, you’ll feel like your driving down a beautiful country road surrounded by woodlands in the fall with rivers and streams and a lake or two along the way. But if you turn ON the sound, you’ll hear all the things that have made this road worthy of being included in the “Weird New Jersey” book.
What do I think of it all? My husband and I think this is one of many beautiful roads in our local area, we’ve driven it many times, and often get out and enjoy spots along the way…but drive it at night, there’s no street lights, and it is DARK.
Enjoy this video visit from youtube of a bit of my home town. Sound on, you’ll hear all the “scarey” stories, sound off, it’s like a pretty country drive…you choose!
Just a little 2/29/08 Update – A local newspaper, “The Messenger”, found this blog and picture last week, and asked if they could use the picture. I connected them with my son, and he took it from there, the picture was in the paper we received today, thank you, Messenger, and congratulations on a great job, my dear son, Mark!
By the way, we’re having more snow today and into tomorrow.
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We had the most beautiful snow today, making for a winter wonderland on our rural street. My son took some pictures, this facing toward the dead-end of our street. Our home on the lake is on the left, and on the right, the homes are backed by a State Forest. Have a great weekend everyone!
