Things I learnt during Sandy
On the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy adventure, it seems like an opportune time to reflect on the good things we learned:
- Fallen trees are an expensive source of fire wood (when you factor in moving them from driveways and paying the guys with the cherry picker who repairs/trims what is left of the trees).
- A house full of unused Halloween candy is a bad idea. Halloween candy should either be the cheap kind that you don’t like or bought last minute. Unused candy should be donated ASAP if Halloween is cancelled.
- Alternative charging sources for electronic gadgets are of the utmost importance.
- Don’t tell nanny this one – but it took a Hurricane to get us all to go to church together. One of the local church halls was a fantastic place to let the kids run around and charge our gadgets.
- Chocolate, red wine and fires are an excellent source of warmth.
- It is a great time to meet your neighbours and it restores your faith in the community.
- In desperation, champagne can be chilled on front step when it is cold outside.
- The Library with its books, power outlets becomes the hottest ticket in town.
Thanks fully we didn’t have to put this new found knowledge to good use 🙂
Hoooowling in Lakota
Today we headed up to The Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia NJ.
(just at the base of the Poconos)
We saw stunning fall foliage:
Packs of Timber, Artic and Tundra wolves:
(who howled and put on quite a show. Luckily for us they were behind fences but the fences make for fuzzy photos. Although Bianca did have a good time playing with the settings on her camera trying to get rid of them)
Two red foxes:
(we learnt it doesn’t have to be red in colour to be in the “Red” fox family)
Two stocky bob-cats:
And Two unfenced cheeky rascals:
We came across a family of deer on the trek back down the hill for our picnic:
(there was another dad & his daughter there, who kindly shared their deer food – apples & sweet potato)
and a fish-filled lake:
It was lots of fun!
Supremo Pizza
Yummo! Nathan’s home made pizza…
Giant Pumpkins
Today we went back to the Bronx to the NY Botanical Garden.
We parked in good company – right next to HOOLEEOH the corvette
First stop was the Haunted Pumpkin Garden in Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Then to the main event, to see the Giant Pumpkin carving
We saw the world record watermelon (350.5 lbs from Sevierville Tennessee)
We did a little rock climbing…
We explored the pavilion with its creepy-crawlies and cool stuff set up for kids…
Eli gave us a puppet show and we were saddened when we saw the size of a tree that was knocked down by Sandy last year.
The gorgeous Kiku exhibition – the art of the Japanese garden
The Four Seasons exhibition (can you guess which three seasons are below?)
Then finally a little picnic in a secluded, sheltered, sunny hill-top within the park 🙂
Halloween Craft
The *fun* part about Halloween is the gruesome craft that comes home. Check out these Halloween eyeballs…
Today’s a great day to be a Superhero
Today we went into the city for the NY Comic Con.
Although we looked a little unusual on the train & NYC streets on the way in…
We felt most at home when we got there 🙂
There was so much to see, like the Awesome Artists Alley…
The kids room
The Show Rooms (including loads of stuff made out of lego)
Even the bag check for the guests was cute!
(others had been smarter and gotten dressed there – NOT at home!)
Random guests & friends we made
Notably they were celebrating 75 years of Superman 🙂
In the words of Comic Con – Today’s a great day to be a superhero!
We had a great time 🙂
Pumpkins, Doughnuts & Monster Trucks
It was rainy today and dad was away – but that didn’t stop us! Today we headed to Ort Farm in Chester NJ.
The leaves have started to change colour and so the drive and walk around the farm was very pretty…
There was time for a little doughnut eating…
Monster Truck riding
(HOLD OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!)
Climbing and playing 🙂
Checking out the pumpkins.
…before the rain set it. We timed it perfectly 🙂
Too many princesses?
You can never have too many princesses!
Thanks for the fun night xx
Becky & Richard’s Feast
We couldn’t make it to Becky & Richard’s wedding, so we had a feast in their honour with every good thing that we could think of!
- cheese
- chippies
- chocolate
- chicken nuggets
- popcorn
- candy
- milk shakes
It was wild! Definitely a night to remember!!!
(not being there as we would have liked – but the second best option – a celebration you would have been proud of!)
Thanks Aunty Becky & Uncle Richard. We wish you all the very best Xxx
The tight chain loom bracelets
Look at what I learnt to make from one of the fourth graders today. Cool huh?
Wallamble 