Christmas in New Jersey

Do you love Christmas time and soaking up as much holiday spirit as you can? Well I know I do! Christmas came early for me this year. For Halloween my roommates and I decided to be  Christmas elves and instead of putting up Halloween decorations, we transformed our apartment into a winter wonderland!

Me with my roommates Jenn, Lauren, and Megan

New Jersey has lots of fun things to do but I know sometimes they might be hard to find. So I organized a few ideas and events going on throughout New Jersey for the month of December so everyone can get into the holiday spirit because no one likes a grinch! ( 25 Days of Christmas ) Hopefully this is helpful and I will be adding more to it! Feel free to browse around! Ideas from cooking ideas, star gazing, parades and more!

 

Christmas Tree Tradition

Gallina Family Tree Shopping 2008

This year I think that everyone should throw out those fake plastic Christmas tree imitations and go out there and cut down a real tree! Ever since I can remember, our family has picked a day in early December and we head out to a Christmas tree farm to find the most perfect Christmas tree. We go with my cousins and we compete to see who can find their tree first. It’s not easy and it normally takes a few hours because we are picky people. When I was little this was always one of my favorite days of the year and as I got older it is still just as much fun. We get to the farm and they give us a red ribbon. This ribbon is for when we find the tree of our dreams.  We use it to tie around a tree to claim it as our own. Proper etiquette means that you can not choose a tree that already has a red ribbon on it. That would be stealing. And nobody likes a thief.

Christmas tree searching 2007 with my cousins Tina and Matt

During our search we drink the hot cocoa they serve in the barn and eat the candy canes that they normally give out. I love searching for a tree in the snow but some years there is no snow. After everyone finds the perfect tree we stand in front of it and proudly take a picture with it. This will be the last photo of the tree connected to the earth before we chop it down and take home. It’s not a sad thing because shortly after we bring it home, we display it in our living room and decorate it with beautiful ornaments. Before we go home we all go out for dinner. It’s been our tradition since I was a little girl and I think that everyone should try it! It’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and it’s a fun bonding experience.

Isn't she a beauty?!

Having a real tree in our house really makes it feel like Christmas. Yankee Candle can’t recreate the smell from the real thing. It’s just not the same to have an artificial tree for the holidays. Its fun to decorate the tree while listening to Christmas music. Our cats love sleeping underneath the tree. One year we couldn’t find one of our cats and it turns out they we nuzzled in the branches of the tree. Christmas morning wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have our perfectly picked tree!

Here are a few farms that I found online that look like great places to check out:

Evergreen Valley Christmas Tree Farm (Washington)

Belly Acres Christmas Tree Farm (Franklinville)

Hendershot Christmas Tree Farm (Newton)

Shale Hills Farm (Sussex)

Cherryville Farms (Flemington)

Anne Ellen Farms (Manalapan)

 

Thanksgiving in Bucks County

The Indian Rock Inn (photo from their website)

The Indian Rock Inn is having a traditional three course all American Thanksgiving feast on November 26th at 7pm for those families out there who don’t feel like slaving away in the kitchen for hours. This Inn is located in Bucks County which is only a 5 minute drive from New Jersey! The menu for the evening includes butternut squash soup, roasted turkey, glazed ham, stuffed flounder, and a variety of homemade pies! This is a great idea for people who are looking for something new to try! It would be interesting to share this day with some new people and turn some strangers into friends. My family is set in their traditions so this would be out of the question, especially because the menu doesn’t mention anything about stuffing and that’s the best part of Thanksgiving in my opinion. This holiday is right around the corner so if anyone out there likes this idea, you’d better make your reservations soon! (610-982-9600) 

 

Pickup Trucks

Driveway of pickup trucks

It is not unusual to see an abundance of pickup trucks on New Jersey’s country roads in the rural areas. They are the farmer-friendly vehicle of choice. In high school there was always an abundance of pickup trucks in the senior parking lot. A lot of kids would go to school during the day and afterwards head to the farm to do work. It’s a hectic life for families who own farms and livestock but pickup trucks can make their lives a little bit simpler. On the road its a lot better to get stuck behind a pickup track than a tractor. Sometimes it feels like tractors move more slowly then snails! If you ever find yourself stuck in one of these situations here’s a book that you might want to have on hand if traffic comes to a halt because of a slow moving tractor. Even though tractors may be slow, there are still some perks to owning one…  follow the link to YouTube!

 

Only 43 Days Till Christmas…

View from the road - The Olde Lafayette Village

Time to put up those Christmas trees! Well maybe that’s pushing it but it is a good time to start thinking about your holiday shopping. If you have already started your Christmas shopping than, wow, I am impressed!

Not sure where to start? Just follow the signs...

My normal routine for buying gifts is to hold it off as long as possible and then frantically try to find a store that is open just hours before Christmas. But this year will be different!! I am going to plan my time much better and get gifts that people are going to fall in love with and I hope that you do the same. ! I love finding the perfect present for people I love but sometimes it is incredibly difficult to come up with a fun new idea. That is why I am offering a great antique village that has some beautiful gift ideas and it’s also a very friendly and cozy village to wander around. Olde Lafayette Village.They have tons of cute shops to choose from so you will definitely need to put aside a few hours for your visit. It is a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon filled with shopping and feeding the ducks.

More signs...

 

They have a pond in the center of the village and the local ducks are always waddling around, swimming, and enjoying the people who feed them. They have The Lafayette House which is a fantastic restaurant that has an unforgettable  all-you-can-eat breakfast around. They have cute cafes with everything homemade. There is a Cheese Shoppe, Bass Outlet, an old fashioned Candy & Ice Cream Shop, clothes boutiques, a Rock and Gem store, and tons more. The Barkery is my mom’s favorite store. (considering we have 4 dogs at home)The village offers lots of fun events throughout the year.  Every Sunday they have a farmer’s market where the local businesses come and sell their produce, fruits, flowers, and more. They even have live music and tons of recipe ideas.

The Chocolate Parfait

You must stop here before you leave.  As soon as you walk in you can smell a mix of the delicious homemade fudge and the ice cream aroma. I never thought ice cream had a strong smell until I came here. They have every kind of candy that you can think of. The best part is the marshmallow kabobs. Impossible to pass up! This is a great spot to get your stocking stuffers – the only hard part is not eating it yourself.

Relaxation chairs

The Cheese Shoppe behind these chairs is amazing. It is very small, intimate and quite pricey but I just go in there for the free samples and to look at the bottles of wine. They are very friendly and will tell you what wine goes well with different foods. Do you have relatives who enjoy fine wine? This would be a perfect place to pick them up a bottle for the holiday parties that are coming up.

The pond in the heart of the village

The pond is always swarming with ducks. The ducks seem to love diving under the water and chasing each other. They have birdseed feeders scattered throughout the village so they are well-fed from all the eager tourist and passerbyers. They are very comfortable with people and don’t scare too easily. It is a fun atmosphere, even if you just want to stop through for a cup of joe or find a good spot to read a book. The antique shops will have tons to look at so Christmas shopping should come easily. So I hope this helps your Christmas shopping adventure. I know it’s a hectic time of year but this should be a nice relaxing escape from all the humbugs and Walmarts out there!!

 

Jersey Fresh conquers the Appalachian Trail

West Virginia

Rachel Weinrich is one of the most determined country girls I know. She constantly surprises everyone and when she sets her heart to do something, she does it. She has lived in Sussex County her entire life with her Mom, Dad, and her sister Sarah. I met Rachel when I moved to Sussex County when I was 10 and we became close friends in high school and have been close ever since. She graduated from High Point Regional High School in 2006 and instead of going off to a four year college right away she decided that she was going to venture out in the wilderness and hike the Appalachian Trail. This was no shock to the people who know Rachel. Rachel loves the outdoors, she respects nature, and she has a zest for adventure. She packed her things, read lots of books about the AT, chose the name, Jersey Fresh, as her trail name, and she headed for the mountains. The Appalachian Trail extends from Georgia to Maine but for her first time she decided to hike Jersey to Maine. She agreed to talk with me and answer a few questions about her experiences on the trail. These pictures here are from Rachel herself and Dustin Brewer. (one of the many friends Rachel made along the way) Thanks guys!

Rachel at the border of Vermont and New Hampshire

What made you realize you wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail?

I have always thought about it and my Dad always talked about it. I couldn’t decide on what school I wanted to go to and no school was too appealing to me. I decided it would be more fun to hike from New Jersey to Maine instead of settling on a school that I wasn’t too excited for. It was a great alternative for me. I started the beginning of June and finished at the end of August.

How did you come up with your trail  name, Jersey Fresh?

My family helped me come up with it. I am from Jersey and when I started, I started with people who have already been hiking for awhile. So I was the new one. Also, in my family there is lots of farming so it fit well. Plus I already had a hat that said Jersey Fresh on it.

Rachel among the trees

Was it scary to venture out all on your own?

Yes. I had first started with a friend, Gina, but she decided not to do it the last minute, so that was a little frustrating. I hiked 12 miles alone and I just kept thinking what am I going to see in the woods? It was scary but it was also exciting and thrilling to be out there on your own.

What was the most exciting part of your adventure?

Every week you are in a new town. One second you are in the woods having a good time and all of a sudden you end up somewhere new. Crossing state lines was always exciting because you were actually walking right across it.

What did you miss most about being home?

Seeing my friends and family. Sometimes at a shelter I would have the chance to go on the computer and see pictures of my friends from home and I would feel like I was missing out. I missed eating dinner with my family and having home-cooked meals.

Rachel hiking up Mount Cube

Do you think your upbringing in the country gave you enough experience to go out in the wilderness?

Some. I have never really done an overnight camping trip before. I was comfortable with the woods but that is different than going out into the woods for a long time and figuring out how to survive. Before I went I did one trial night at Sunrise Mountain and it was the first time I’ve done something like that before.

On top of Mount Garfield with some friends during a beautiful sunset

Was this experience something that has changed you as a person?

Yes, definitely. If I was to think a back on my life, this would be a big part of it. I was able to think all day long about my childhood and the people in my life. I realized that there is a whole society of people in the woods who have their own world aside from our own and I got to be a part of it. Sometimes when I am walking to class and I see someone sitting on the ground, I think back to the trail. It was a happy time in my life. I never felt so good about myself.

Rachel and a little rest and relaxation

What is some advice for a person who is getting ready to hike the trail?

Ask a lot of questions. I did a lot of reading before I left but it’s nothing like being out there. Because I was the youngest and a girl, I wasn’t really shy. I was constantly asking questions because I didn’t care. The people you meet out there will know more or at least something different than you so just ask. They are your best resource. Nothing will prepare you for it completely so you just need to be open-minded.

Rachel is now a student at Rutgers University. After graduation she plans to get back on the trail and complete the parts she still has yet to hike. (Georgia) Hopefully this encourages people to get out there and start living life the way it should be lived! Out in the Jersey Fresh air! If you want to know about Rachel’s adventures visit her Trail Journal! Thank you for your time Rachel!

Did I forget to mention that Rachel came face to face with a moose!?

 

Bear Swamp

You read right. I live on Kemah Lake Road in Frankford and right across the street from me is Bear Swamp. I have lived here for eleven years and the bears definitely live up to the name. I see bears wandering around all the time. I have become numb to it although I still get excited when I see a bear and run to grab my camera to get a good picture…

Bear crossing the road.

I took this picture when I was running on the road. (yes i bring my camera with me because I am a nerd) My mom tells me to bring a whistle with me to protect myself incase I run into an angry bear. It is a good idea but I don’t always remember to bring it with me. Under normal circumstances, if you come across a bear, it will be more scared of YOU, then you of HIM(or her). They are gentle creatures, but it is always better to be safe then sorry. This will tell you to NOT GIVE THEM FOOD and NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS. That’s all you really need to know. The worst the bears have done to us is break into our garbage cans in the middle of the night. It is frustrating because they knock over the cans, rip open the trash bags, have a feast, make a mess all over our front yard, and leave it for us to pick up in the morning. Living among the bears is a messy job but it is worth it to see these beautiful animals climbing trees or playing with their cubs.

Mama bear and her cubs.

This is a picture that is hanging in our house to remind us of our neighbors. My mom is always rushing outside to get a good picture of the bears. (That’s where I got my photography skills from) The bears pictured here come by quite often, especially when it gets close to the winter time. We have lots of fruit and nut trees in our yard so the bears come here to feast. An article in the New Jersey Herald came out two weeks ago about bears and their love for acorns. So if you have acorns in your pockets or you smell like an acorn, you best be careful.

“There is nothing more gentle and beautiful then seeing a mother bear with her cubs.” Jackie Gallina

It truely is a beautiful thing to see a mother bear with her cubs trailing behind, tumbling and playing with one another. You tend to forget that they can be dangerous creatures when crossed at the wrong moment. But truth be told, they were living here long before us.

 

I took a drive around my town

and there was so many beautiful things to see. New Jersey has a bad reputation and i think it is important for people to see the countryside of New Jersey- not just the turnpike and urban area.

Sunflowers days before they were cut down.

This barn behind my house looks more like a painting to me.

These are called "silo's"

Sussex Branch Rail Trail

Every good farmer needs a tractor.

Hay stacks... everywhere.

Beautiful views from the road.

 

Squash Season

(thank you for the picture Mike's Table*)

It is SQUASH season! Butternut is my personal favorite. This fruit (not to be mistaken for a vegetable) is very similar to the pumpkin and other winter squash such as acorn and zucchini. It has yellow skin and a vibrant orange inside. This delicious fruit is a wonderful addition to any garden.

One very important part of living in the country is contributing to the community  you live in. There are many ways this can be done. Harvesting fruits and vegetables and taking the role of a farmer is a great way to give back and to live a healthy lifestyle. There are lots of family owned farms scattered throughout New Jersey and lots of them are even organic. My family and I always try to buy our produce from local fruit stands and farms but it is difficult because of Shoprite convenience. It is a great feeling to know that the food you are eating is not being processed and you are completely in control of how it is being grown. The food taste that much better and the recipes that you can come up with are endless! Here are a few simple butternut squash recipes ideas that are my favorite:

BUTTERNUT SQUASH CRISP: This recipe is recipe is ridiculously simply and delicious. The crisp is the best part and it is a great dessert to bring to a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I always leave it in the oven a little longer then called for because I like my crisp extra crispy!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND DILL SOUP: There are tons and tons of butternut squash soup recipes but this one takes the cake. I am a big fan of dill. I like to put it on everything. (popcorn especially)

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP: Here is a much more complex butternut squash soup recipe, but if you have the time and energy it is delicious!

And if you have no time at all but you still want to enjoy the deliciousness of butternut squash you can cheat and give Campbell’s V8 Golden Butternut Squash Soup a try. I just recently tried it and I fell in love. I know that this goes against staying true to buying foods from local farmers, but sometimes time gets the better of us.

*Mike’s Table

 

Ideal Farms

Pumpkin Season

The first job I had was working at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show as a snow cone scooper. That job was a week long and it was easy as pie. My next job during high school was a cashier at Ideal Farm and Garden Center. I absolutely loved this job. I worked behind the register, made donuts, planted flowers, watered flowers, picked flowers, fed the goats, sold Christmas trees, made wreaths, road on the gator, sorted apples, decorated the haunted barn, listened to some classic music, and had  fun.  If you live around here then you know what Ideal Farms is all about. It has beautiful flowers in the summer time, water fountains, bird baths, and garden tips from Ben and Jan. (the owners) In the winter time, this is where you come to chop down your Christmas tree, buy your homemade Christmas wreath, (it takes hours to make just one but they are beautiful and they are worth it- plus when I worked there, we listened to Christmas music all day long and I never ever get sick of Christmas music. ) and chose from a variety of Christmas decorations, cards, and hot chocolate to keep you warm.

The best time of year is Fall! I loved working during this season because of all the excitement!!! They have a haunted barn, a hay ride, apple picking, pumpkin picking, delicious apple cider donuts, pies, loaves, and cookies from the Amish (the cookies were my favorite part of working here), and the overall atmosphere is unbeatable. I worked here for three years but I still come back every year to visit…

folks relaxing in the shade

 

perfect pumpkins

 

playground

 

Here’s a photo of the playground for kids in the front. And you can see in the back a fence. In that fence is the playground for the goats. Jan Jorritsma and her husband, Ben, are the proud owners. They raise goats and they really love their jobs. It’s easy to see.  I am good friends with their son, Kyle, and it is easy to see that he is a country boy at heart. He drives the tractors around and works hard. He comes home from school every weekend to work on the farm. His day starts at 6am and sometimes he won’t be done until well after dark. It’s not easy being a farmer.