Wild kingdom in the backyard

This morning, a deer gave birth to three fawns in my parents wooded backyard.

The following photos were taken by my father.

Postcards from New Jersey - CLINTON

Today, while walking around one of the many picturesque towns in New Jersey, I thought about how my home state has such a bad reputation. Most recently, we were named to have "The most dangerous city in the U.S." We also have one of the most corrupt state governments, and of course, are home to lots of mobsters (ala The Sopranos).

What you might not know about New Jersey, if you have never visited here before, are the many beautiful and wonderful things about my home state. Here are a few facts about "The Garden State:"

• On the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the scenic Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers nature lovers 70,000 acres and 37 riverfront miles to explore. Created by the Delaware River, the Delaware Water Gap channel cuts through the Kittatinny Mountains - nearly 1,400 feet deep and 900 feet wide at water level.
• Island Beach State has more than 3,000 acres of pristine beaches, sand dunes, marshes, bogs, and nature trails, you can swim, picnic, hike, fish, or bird-watch to your heart's content.
• Attend the Cranberry Festival in one of the country's cranberry capitals - Chatsworth in Burlington County. You'll gain a whole new appreciation for passing the cranberries at Thanksgiving!
• Here's another reason why they call New Jersey "The Garden State"! Go to Leaming's Run Gardens & Colonial Farm in Swainton and see the largest annual garden in the nation. This is a beautiful 30-acre palette of flowers in every color of the rainbow. The garden is really humming in August as hummingbirds flock to the 25 gardens to sip nectar. For more relaxation, walk among the native plants, trees, and flowers at the Old Hickory Arboretum & Display Gardens.
• In the late 18th century, an "Underground Railroad" network of safe havens was established to help African-Americans travel north to find freedom from slavery in the southern states. One of the "stops" on this "railroad" was a town in Camden County called Lawnside, the first African-American community to be incorporated as a municipality.

So, once in a while I will be giving you a glimpse of New Jersey through my "Postcards from New Jersey" posts. This morning, Leah, my parents and I visited the town of Clinton, on the Raritan River. Clinton is home to the historic Red Mill, which is one of the most photographed buildings in New Jersey.





For more information on the history of Clinton, you can check it out here!

I'm in love

Had fun today taking lots of digital photos with my new Canon PowerShot SD600 (thanks again Mom & Dad). The camera has many different settings and functions so I had a great time trying them all out. Thanks Mary-Mia for the camera tips - the vivid color setting is very cool. Did I mention that I LLLLLOOOOVVVVEEEE this camera?

Ain't it purrrrty...

Here is my new digital camera. My parents were nice enough to purchase it as an early birthday present since I LOST my other digital camera nearly a month ago. This is the reason why you haven't seen any new "Corners of My Home" postings lately. Once I figure out how to use this darn thing I will be a picture posting maniac!

Three Movies Reviews (sort of)

We did get to sit down to watch Memoirs of a Geisha last night. I loved the book when I read it a few years ago, and was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed the movie (usually I hate the movie rendition of a favorite novel). As Julie said, it was beautifully filmed and I enjoyed the acting as well. Is it just me, or could Michelle Yeoh be any more stunning?

For her birthday, Leah received a Japanese animation movie called My Neighbor Totoro. It had been dubbed in English with Dakota Fannings voice for the lead character.



Even though I felt the movie was a bit odd, she really loved. So I picked up another Japanese movie by the same director, Hayao Miyazaki, called Howl's Moving Castle. This one I enjoyed a lot more (hmm, could it be that the lead character was kind of cute**). I don't know if this is the most appropriate movie for a four year old since part of the movie plot had to do with war, but again she loved it!




**how sad is it that I think the lead ANIMATED character is hot. Must have been Christian Bale's voice dubbing. XXOO

Parenthood and Geisha girls

This is really what parenthood is really like. You rent two movies (one for mini me, another for yourself and hubby). We have already watched the kids film twice. We haven't even cracked open the DVD case of Memoirs of a Geisha.

Wednesday night, too tired.

Thursday night, husband out AND daughter pees her bed.

Friday night, guest coming over.

Maybe tomorrow night? We shall see...

I've been tagged TWICE

I guess since I have been tagged not once, but twice I have to give away my inner most secrets (ha, ha)! Thanks to What about Mommy and Mommy at Home for tagging me.

Six weird facts about myself (to be honest, I don't know if they are really weird, just stuff you may not know about me):

• I spent lots of money to go to culinary school and then promptly did NOTHING with my degree (although I am a rather good cook).
  
• My girlfriend met Kevin Bacon's stage manager on a flight, which means I am only three degrees from Kevin Bacon.
  
• When I was little, I loved watching the TV show Davy Crocket. My father, who left for work very early in the morning, would wake me up so we could watch it together while he got dressed. I would then go back to sleep until it was time for school. I was probably about 7 years old.
  
• Again, when I was small, my sister and I loved eating bologna and potato chip sandwiches on white bread (and yes, I just did have to sing the Oscar Meyer song in my head to spell bologna correctly).
  
• I can only drink water when it is icy cold and drink coffee or tea when they are hotter than hell.
  
• Wine gives me a headache. Therefore, I like beer. My favorite type of beer is Heineken, which I love to share on warm spring/summer nights with my neighbor Ward (may I say sorry to his wife for passing over more than one open beer over the fence recently).
  
• I am a total sucker for ANY movie that is set in another century and has british actors (especially Hugh Grant and/or Colin Firth).
  
• BONUS: I cried like a baby when I brought my daughter to see Nanny McFee. I don't know if it was the site or Emma Thompson in the hideous makeup, although I am guessing that it had more to do with the whole british accent / Colin Firth thing!

Watch out, because you have been tagged!

Stay at Home Motherdom
Spilling My Coffee Beans...
Maylee Beezer
My Wooly Nest
One More Makes Four
Eva Las Vegas

If you have already been tagged, don't worry about it!

Here are the rules of this tag:
1.Go write weird facts/things/etc. about yourself in my comment box and on your blog, then tag six more people!
2. Then leave a comment that says "You are tagged" in their comments telling them to read your blog.

On the Move!

Finally, spring has arrived in NJ. There was no better way to enjoy the beautiful day than to head to our local park and take the brand new scooter for a test drive. Leah was in full "scooting" gear with her new helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. Apparently learning to ride a scooter is hard work, because after about two minutes she had to stop for a rest and a snack break on the park bench.

The Name Game

When my daughter was born four years ago, we hadn't found out whether or not the baby was a boy or a girl. We had picked out two names for each sex, because frankly I thought it was ridiculous to name a child you haven't even seen yet. When she was born, we both knew right away that she was a LEAH.

Now, it is naming time again. We know that we are going to have a girl and that she probably won't be coming home until sometime in 2007. Here is where I stuff my big fat foot in my mouth. We have already named her. I know, I know, I did say how silly it is to name a child before you see them but now I understand why people do it. I know, in my heart, what she looks like already. So for those of you who don't know, she will be named MAYA. There, it's down in cyber pen and ink.

My daughters Leah and Maya. Sisters Leah and Maya. I think it has a nice ring to it.

4th Birthday Party!

Leah's 4th birthday is on Easter Sunday. Yesterday, we celebrated with a kids party at our home. Six little girls came over, all dressed in their cutest dresses. We had cupcakes, played bingo, made door hangers and had an overall great time. Leah recieved some really cool presents (including a scooter from Joe and I). What a great day!

I live WAY to close to my hometown

I hate this when it happens. I walk into a public place and someone says to me, "did you go to so-and-so high school?" I am terrible about remembering people from my school days (apparently I must be blocking those years out) so I inevitably make small talk with someone I don't remember. Weird! And of course, what had I been doing before I met up with this guy. Working out for the last hour at Jazzercise. The dried sweat still stuck to my face. Lovely.

Corners of My Home #6

This is just a little glimpse of one of my favorite spots in my home - the bookshelf. It is overstuffed with some of my most loved reads and many books that I haven't even gotten to yet.

My husband and I are huge Harry Potter fans. Years ago, before Leah was born, I would read the Harry Potter books to Joe. It was a nightly ritual that we both really enjoyed. Since having our daughter, we haven't been able to read the last two books together (I read both on my own and Joe listened them on "books on CD" in the car). Along with all of our Harry Potter books, we have one entirely in Chinese. Joe and I found it while in San Diego about five years ago. We were shopping in a Asian market and when we saw it, we just had to buy it. Hey, maybe he should be reading this one out loud to me!