Redesigning

I've been away from this for too long.  Time to regroup and redesign.  I'm working on the directories to add the mountain of listings I've collected and to make the directories simpler and more viewable.  

We're fortunate in New Jersey to have an enormous array of interesting and diverse small, local, independent business.  Despite the very difficult economy, these businesses are working to provide products and services.

It's our aim here at AwareNewJersey to help get the word out.

I particularly want to call your attention to:

Lost and Found Pets New Jersey - this is a great service that I want everyone to know about.  This Facebook page posts information and photos about animals that have been lost or found so they can be reunited with their families or new homes found for them.  Like them from your Facebook profile and share their posts so these missing and found animals can get to where they belong.

I'm currently working on the Animal Welfare section of the directories.  There are so many people throughout New Jersey, looking out for pets and wildlife and so many educators and educational organizations enlightening us about New Jersey wildlife.  I should have the directory revised in a couple of days when it will reappear in the list on the right.

In the meantime, Happy Autumn.

Photo acquired on Facebook, will post credit or remove on request.

Hot and Humid

Yesterday was difficult; very hot and humid. I heard thunder as the day wound down and hoped for rain but nooooo....

Just returned from the Montgomery Friends of Open Space Farmers' Market which has become a regular visit of mine on Saturday mornings.  Today there was a local artist displaying his paintings.  It's always nice to see new vendors and different wares.  I picked up a few things for a vegetarian pasta Alfredo I'm going to make later.  The Griggstown Quail Farm Market usually has a booth there with mushrooms, eggs and pies.   TreeLicious Orchards is often there all the way from Warren County, with fruits and vegetables.  There are several other farms and a winery that seem fairly regular.

I also stopped at the supermarket across the street and drove around the parking lot of the adjacent strip mall to see what's there. I'm still exploring the nearby area.  I might go out later to check out a pottery and an art glass place.  If I get there today, I'll post it here.  

Yesterday, on my way back from a nearly wasted trip to Trenton, since the State web site was down and the business I needed to conduct couldn't happen, I stopped at La Costenita (imagine the tilda) in Hillsborough.  I've been there a few times now.  Yesterday I had a chance to talk with la propietra un poco.  (My Spanish is so sad.)  Yesterday I ordered quesadillas de carnitas.  I love carnitas. I've had their soft tacos with carnitas a couple of times.  They use a seasoning in their carnitas that I don't use and can't quite identify although it's definitely familiar.  I like their food very much.  This is genuine Mexican food, not some Americanized version.  It will be a regular stop for me.  Their pastel de tres millas o tres leches is good but a little sweeter and richer than I really should be eating.

Visit the businesses I blog about and those in my directories which I add to continually.  Tell them where you heard about them.  Tell me what you like and don't like that you see hear.  Let me know about local shops that you like.

Have a great day.  Stay cool.

Getting Familiar with the New Neighborhood

Hi,

It's been a while.  The move has taken longer than expected and taken more of my energy and attention than intended.  But, it's mostly done.  Finally.

So, today, I have a little breather and decided to get around the area and see what I can find.

Where I live now

You might remember that I first discovered Robinson's Chocolates after I moved in.  They can make some custom items for special occasions, so I went in recently to see what I can get for an event coming up in a few weeks.  I'm happy with what I found.

I just got back from the Griggstown Quail Farm and Market  which I discovered is also a CSA (Community Supported Agricultural coop).  I looked around, had a little chat about a variety of neighborhood things and picked up a bunch of kale for a recipe I printed from online earlier this morning.  I'll be back later.  They have produce, chicken and other poultry, pheasant (in season), homemade pies and much more.  They're very near where I am now.

Next stop, after a small chore, is Norseville.  How I discovered Norseville is a little complicated so I'll try to simplify.  Physically, I'm in Griggstown which is a community, I guess you could say, of Franklin Township, also called Somerset.  I was surfing online, trying to find out what else is in the Griggstown area and found Norseville, another little community within Franklin Township.  I'm just going to drive to the neighborhood to see where it is.  There appears to be a flea market coming up so....

The Belle Mead Coop is next on the list.  I need some half barrels to try to start a container garden even though it's a little late to start.  I haven't planted vegetables in years but I want to give it a try.  I'm aiming for a couple of varieties of potatoes, tomatoes, lettuces, and herbs.  I want to use containers because I have no idea how long I'll be here and the ground on the lot is hard and rocky so this should work best for me.  I'll keep you posted.

I visited the Coop earlier in the week to see if they have scythes because there's grass etc. to clear where I want to put the garden.  They don't but I'll figure out something.  So going there today to see about half barrels, look around some more and probably pick up a few other things.

Actually, I think I should first go farther up 206 to Cammps Hardware and Lawn Products, in case I get plants at the Coop; I don't want them sitting in a hot car too long.  I'll see if they have a scythe, I don't want a hand cutter; I want one with a long handle.  Cammps showed up in a search for something and it's a local independent so I want to see what they have to offer.  Then I'll come back down to the Coop.  If I don't end this and get on the road, I'll be too late; it's nearly 5 pm.

And, this is just the beginning....

In the midst of moving

But, I finally found a few minutes to post something here.

I'm moving back to central New Jersey, combining a couple of households which is messy but necessary.

Here's a view from near the new location, taken a couple of days ago:

On the way to the market last week, I discovered Robinson's Fine Candies in the Montgomery Shopping Center on Rte. 206 in Skillman.  In business since 1978, they have a large variety of candies and make their own fillings as well.  Their products include dietetic chocolates and Coco-Vine Chocolate (wine infused chocolate).   I didn't partake that day but will be back soon to try a few things.

*~~~~~~~~~~*

The cicadas are coming.  This year is expected to be a bumper year for cicadas.  There are many species but this year is the year of the 17 year maturation of the Brood II cicadas.  Billions are expected to emerge from there nests in the ground.

Generally benign to humans, these heavy insects have scratchy feet.  While they don't normally bite not do they have stingers, as they fly around they can crash into you with an impact that can sting, take my word for it.  They make a huge noise while mating and buzzing if knocked upside down on their backs.

One of my previous cats loved them.  He thought they were toys.  He'd bring one in the house and bat it around until it landed on its back and spun around buzzing noisily which delighted him.  If he didn't tire of watching and fall asleep, he eventually would tear it apart (my apologies to sensitive readers) and eat the meaty muscles that hold the wings on.  Cicadas have been eaten in various parts of the world. Looking at a carcass after the cat was finished with it, I have to admit that the little pink chunk of muscle at the base of the wing looks as good as any other meat I've seen.  No, I did not try it.

*~~~~~~~~~~*

Camelot Horse Weekly and Auction House is new to me and I don't know much about them yet.  Apparently, Camelot is an auction house dealing with feed lot horse rescues.  Their Facebook page posts photos and descriptions of horse, mules, and ponies of various sorts available for rescue.  The photos show beautiful animals of various breeds, ages and histories and some in not such great shape.  My heart goes out to all of them.  If I had land, I'd be adopting constantly.  Prices range from about $400 up.  It's so sad that so many animals are cast off without a thought.  It's so wonderful that there are people concerning themselves with doing whatever they can to rescue and find homes for these animals.

Also associated with these horses and the efforts to do something for them is Helping Hearts Equine Rescue in Perrineville, NJ.  There is more information about Camelot Horses and about equine rescue efforts on their site.

Liberty Equine Rescue in Morris County also has horses for adoption.

You can also adopt a horse from Horse Rescue United in Allentown, NJ

Like all the other animals that need homes and have people trying to save them, please take care of your animals, have them neutered, find them a home yourself or ask for help if you need it, don't just dump them.  Adopt a pet, dog, cat, rabbit, horse, whatever rather than buy from breeders who don't necessarily care about the over population of domestic animals.  And, please, don't breed your animals.  There are already too many without homes, many of which will have to be euthanized for no other reason.

There is more in our Directory of Wildlife and Animal Welfare and we'll keep adding to the directory as we do all our directories.

Clearwater

Environment

New Jersey Friends of Clearwater

38th Annual Environmental Festival

Great Lawn Beach, Long Branch, NJ

Sunday, September 15, 2013

The Arts

Montclair Film Festival

Shop Local

New Jersey vendors

Spirituality

If you're interested in the ideas and teachings of G. Gurdjieff ... or email me.

Steampunk

Culture


Steampunk   is coming - May 17-19th, 2013


Did you know that New Jersey is home of one of the world's largest Steampunk events, The Steampunk World's Fair, in Piscataway?

I've just recently become acquainted with the phenomenon.  I love it.  Steampunk is a cultural phenomenon associated with a mixture of Science Fiction and Fantasy catagories.  Settings can be early Industrial Revolution, Old West or a mixture of present day and these or Victorian or Edwardian eras.  Cogs and gears, steam, trains, machines, industry are all elements.

There's a literature such as:

Steampunk by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer

I've been watching films and tv series related to Steampunk.   

Giorgio Moroder's Metropolis has modern music as the soundtrack but remains true to the story of industrial laborers rising up against repressive industry owners.

Hugo is one of my favorites.

The music of Steampunk is more difficult for me to define.  In the films, the sounds of metal against metal, chains clanging, whistles, hammers against anvils and other mechanical sounds abound.  I'll hazzard the opinion that Tom Waits' Rain Dogs is an example of Steampunk,  with its metallic sound effects and its dark atmosphere.

Clothing and accessories are an appeal and include elaborate corsets, top hats, jewelry made from gears, nuts, leather, watch parts as well as heavy leather and canvas industrial work clothing and metal helmets and other head and body gear.  The Steampunk Emporium online has a wonderful assortment of Steampunk fashion.

It's great fun.

You find more related films and books in the Monthly Selections in my Shop.

Have a product or event related to Steampunk?  Email us and we'll post it here.

News

Animal Rescue Force - in East Brunswick

COUNTING DOWN!!!

 Only 6 days left to buy your advanced tickets to the biggest fundraiser in town! Don't miss out on the fun. To be held on April 6, 2013 at the East Brunswick High School on Cranbury Road. 

Prizes include a weekend nite stay in a NYC hotel, restaurant and excursion(worth $500) in addtion to a 42" flat screen tv, $500 Visa Card, $500 Target card, Lap top Computer, I Pad, camera, printer, Gift Baskets, Theater, Restaurant, etc., gift cards. Two 50/50 raffles, door prizes and more. 

$5.00 admission only if you buy tickets in advance. $8 at the door the night of the event if there are tickets left. Doors open at 6:00pm and ticket pulling starts at 7:30pm Must be over 18 to play. Free coffee and pastries. Help support the animals in need. 

ticket prices are: Level 1 (up to $49 value) 1 sheet (of 25 tickets) for $2.
Level 2 ($50 – 99 value) 1 ticket for $2.
Level 3 ($100 – 499 value) 1 ticket for $3
Grand prize ($500 plus) 1 ticket for $5
The value packs are $40. 

For advance tickets, please send a check payable to Animal Rescue Force, P.O. Box 418, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 along with a self-addressed stamped legal sized envelope. Upon receipt the tickets will be mailed to you.***deadline to mail tickets will be April 1, 2013****

Now Reading:

Round House by Louise Erdrich

An excellent novel about the aftermath of the rape of a Native American woman seen through the eyes of her teenage son.  I haven't finished it but I highly recommend it.

Books, Bytes and Beyond - in Glen Rock

Annual Warren County Seniors’ Art Show - 10 AM and 12 NOON on Monday, April 15th at Shippen Manor

New cheese shop in Clinton - Fourchette

108th Annual Spring Sale at Spitaleri Furniture in South River

In Red Bank:

Internationally Famous Watercolor Artist Tom Lynch is headed to Colorest!

Internationally famous watercolor artist Tom Lynch will be teaching multiple workshops and a demonstration from April 25 until April 29.

Be sure to register soon as spots are very limited.

 Holistic dentist in Milburn

Steampunk World's Fair news coming soon.