Back to Cape May for 6th Anniversary

We are not big occasion people. We don’t buy xmas gifts, we don’t go on dates, we don’t dress up. But one thing that we have celebrated for the last six years is our wedding anniversary. We always try to take a little trip around this time and this year, we headed back to an old favorite: Cape May, New Jersey.

We took a leisurely time to drive down to Cape May and stopped at a few thrift shops we enjoy along the way. We arrived just in time for the sunset. They are usually quite spectacular in this town.

The night was easy and we took advantage of a warm room and a strong shower. In the morning we ate at the hotel restaurant before heading out into the snowy landscape.

The Victorian homes and square are particularly striking in the snow.

We always like to take a look at the sunken concrete ship at the end of the state.

Our trip was very brief but relaxing and lovely. Here’s to another year to decide where to go next.

Past trips:
Philly
Princeton
Cape May
Washington DC

A Night at the Fair

Every year Asbury Park celebrates Memorial Day weekend and the start of the Summer Season with gusto. Beaches are open, lifeguards are out, ice cream is everywhere and the fair comes to town. This was the first year we decided to attend. 

Although I delight in the lights and sights, I do not ride rides. We were lucky enough to have friends come along so my husband could ride.

We really enjoyed our time at the fair and ended up going back for a 2nd night. We will definitely be keeping an eye for it next year!

Zoo at Home, Zoo Abroad: Jenkinson's Aquarium

In January, while my BFF was in town, we visited Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant, NJ. This aquarium is right on the beach and quite small, but offers a nice variety of wildlife. 

Jenks has a ton of local exhibits, showing all kinds of fish and creatures found in NJ. I haven't been to this aquarium in years and it was great to see the exhibits were well maintained and updated. 

There are a few of my favorite things, like frogs, sharks, etc... But this aquarium is sadly lacking in jellyfish. 

There are a few surprises, like these creepy looking nautiluses. 

Jenkinson's has good sized touch tank, seal shows, and a lot of fun activity days and nights. Behind the scenes tours, night visits, and "seal-abrations" are just some of the fun activities guests can join. But be warned, their website's is pretty hard to navigate.  The staff is friendly and I'm sure calling will yield better results for actual information.  

In the Summer, Jenkinson's rules pretty much the whole Point Pleasant boardwalk, with amusements, restaurants, and arcades. But the aquarium is is still the jewel in my opinion. 

WIP 11/18/2015

WIP 10/21/15

Packing, unpacking, and quilt tops are taking up every weekend. 

I'm gathering all my thread ends for a friend's project... it's slow going.  

WIP 9/6/15

Working in clean spaces on clean lines and simple designs:

I'm hoping to get a lot more work done on this in a very short amount of time. Fingers crossed! (But I've said that before.)

Linking up with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday (for real this week). 

On My Mind on Friday Morning

A few month ago I tried to come up with a semi regular series about what I was learning about that week. I still really like the idea of that, but it didn't quite translate the way I was hoping. It was too long, too boring, and too time consuming to write. 
So instead, I'm just going to let you know what's On My Mind on Friday Mornings. 

Couches, couches, and more couches.  
This cute bralette.
A book I can really sink my teeth into. 
This view:

It doesn't look like much but it's pretty special.

Right now I'm asking YOU:
We're headed out to NOLA for a few days this month and suggestions are wanted! Any thoughts on where to eat, where to play, what to see? Ideas are much appreciated. 

Jersey Collective

This week I'm spending a lot of time on Instagram. 
I've taken over the feed @jerseycollective. This is a very cool project, where each week a different Jersey photographer posts photos to show their New Jersey.  It's been going on for a little over a year and growing momentum. They just had their first gallery show, and the feed is booked far into 2016. 

Being a Brooklynite more than a New Jersey-an, I was really thrilled that I could still participate. There's an interview with me up on the website. 

If you live in NJ, or visit often as I do, you should think about joining up for a week! I have found it's been a great way to reconnect with my Jersey roots and to show people what NJ is really like. And it's only Thursday! I've already booked another week in the Winter of 2016. 

If you start following them now, you can still catch the end of my week, and of course all the amazing photographers going forward (and back)! Follow my instagram for outtakes as well! 

3 Days in Cape May

Last week we headed Down the Shore for 3 days. It wasn't stress free, or entirely restful as vacation days go.  But it was an almost perfect Spring weekend spent in our favorite beach towns.  These pictures capture some of those perfect moments. I thought I would share them.
I hope everyone is having a lovely year, so far!

Sea, Sand, and Snow, for Second Anniversary

For our second wedding anniversary we headed down to one of our favorite beaches. A year earlier, the weather was warm, and mild and we spent our time in Washington DC. This year we ran into quite a bit of snow Down The Shore. 

Flat, calm, ocean before the storm. 

We stopped by Ocean Grove on our way down, partly for business, but mostly to see the beach on a freezing, still, day. We found a bit of glass and jet but had to head on when our toes went numb. 

Sun sets over the boardwalk. 

Sunrise at one of our favorite hotels. 

We woke up the next morning in Cape May to easier temperatures, and set out to the beach again. 

Met a shy friend. 

Deserted places.

Ice capped jetties. 

This tall fellow. 

Cold and colorful. 

Ship wrecks at sunset.

We beach combed, thrift shopped, walked, and ate as many fish sandwiches as we could find.
We are always surprised and amazed at how different the beach can be. Last time we were in Cape May, the beach was rich with finds. This trip, we barely found any treasures. Whether we find things or not, the beach is a rejuvenating place for us, and we rejoiced in relaxation. 

Blue Pig breakfast. 

The next day, after a leisurely breakfast, we headed out into a dreary rainy NJ drive. Soon, the rain turned to snow, and the snow turned to blizzard conditions. Partly to avoid the road, but mostly out of excitement and curiosity we headed back to OG.  

Brave souls. 

No glass here.  

Asbury Park in deep white. 

We didn't find any glass or even very many shells, but the blizzard beach was worth the trip!

Another look at the boardwalk. 

Over all, our 2nd anniversary was relaxing, calm and a little cold, but wonderful. We got to enjoy some of our most favorite pastimes. A happy way to spend a happy date. 

Cape May Getaway

Cape May is a resort beach town that sits at the southern most tip of New Jersey. It's known for it's brightly colored Victorian houses, dripping with gingerbreading, and classy but casual beach atmosphere.  Like almost all Jersey beach towns, it's a mad house in the summer, attracting tourists from all over, particularly Philadelphia. Despite getting very crowded, it's less of a wild party town than neighboring Wildwood. Cape May has gorgeous beaches, fancy B&Bs, and a more conservative nature.

I grew up visiting Cape May with my mom in the off season, and know it as a quiet, pretty town, with some hidden gems. I recall there being cats everywhere, in every shop and on every stoop. My mom and I often dreamed of writing a children's book staring the feline population. We used to go there quite often, but I haven't been back in more than ten years. So I was pretty delighted when our friends gave my husband and I a gift certificate to one of the most prominent hotels in town. Congress Hall is steeped in history and is quite luxurious by NJ standards (and by our standards, too!). 

Built in 1816, burned in 1878 and rebuilt the same year. 

I had always seen the hotel on previous visits, but never entered and certainly never stayed there. Congress Hall's expansive creamy yellow building with white columns, and tidily manicured grounds are iconic in Cape May.   

The rooms are equally manicured with pastel blue and yellow details, the hotels signature colors. 

The bathroom in our room was almost as big as the living room in our Brooklyn apartment. There is a nice bar, The Brown Room, and a decent restaurant, but sitting on the balcony or taking a long soak in the tub was more our speed this trip. 

I had to sneak in some time for sewing, of course. 

Although we explored the town some, we were more interested in the beach as the weather was practically perfect. We saw dolphins, horseshoe crabs, many birds, and many stones and shells. 

Dead sand shark. 

Beach and sky.

We particularly like the southern most point of town where you can walk a rocky beach, picking up Cape May Diamonds and exploring the lighthouse grounds. 

The lighthouse has a great little nature museum and Purple Martin hotels. 

Light house impression. 

The brief trip yielded many great treasures. Cape May Diamonds, smashed pennies and a fossil are just a few things we took home with us. 

Fern fossil, coral found at Sunset Beach, Cape May Diamonds, pink rocks and sea glass in a jar, and an enamel pig pin from The Blue Pig. 

We did manage a trip to the Cape May County Zoo and the ferry, but were not able to see some of the interesting nearby sights. We can save those for another trip.

There's something about shore towns that speaks to us. Something about the ocean, and the people who have chosen to make their lives near it, that's soothing and inspiring. Shore towns are relaxed, but hard working, calm but diligent, very much like the waves hitting the beach. I will always visit them.