Historic Smithville and Village Green

Not the best shots...but some pics nevertheless!

We went to Historic Smithville and Village Green today in Smithville, NJ. http://www.smithvillenj.com/

It is a nice place to visit, with quaint little shops and restaurants and a great place to walk around on a beautiful fall day. They have a train and a carousel as well.

A Corvette brought him to tears!

I know that I have mentioned cars and Corvettes and my husband...but I have to take time to mention today just how much this heap of metal and fiberglass means to my darling husband...let me backtrack...

A week ago tomorrow...my husband took my son on a Toys For Tots Corvette Run hosted by Kerbeck of Atlantic City. Both Jim and Nick had been looking forward to this for several weeks...this is a fundraiser (obviously) that Kerbeck sponsors in which a few hundred Corvettes from this area meet at the Farley rest stop on the Atlantic City expressway then at a prearranged time, the southbound expressway is closed down completely from the rest stop to Atlantic City and the Corvettes are allowed to travel above speed limit to a meeting area across from Kerbeck. Each car is asked to bring an unwrapped toy, many donate money...lunch is provided by Kerbeck and there are items given away (doorprizes). There are usually some type of celebrities there (Miss NJ, car related celebs etc.)

My husbands beloved 1985 Corvette went about 130 mph on his trek...both Nick and Jim had a great time even though they didn't win any door prizes...and ended the day at another cruise at a local bar/restaurant where I met jup with them for dinner.

It was at that time that it was mentioned to Jim that his car was making a "ticking noise." :(

Jim didn't notice it because A: he has poor hearing, B: he had the radio up loud...and C: it is difficult to hear from inside the Corvette.

Monday the car was taken to the mechanic for it to be checked out.

When I came home from work on Monday Jim was not home...and I started doing some things around the house...when he arrived home he was pale and was almost in tears. When he started a conversation with me about the car...he started to cry. My husband was IN TEARS ABOUT HIS CORVETTE. ( I have only seen my husband cry 2 other times, and once was at the birth of his son) He was certain that I wasn't going to allow him to get the needed repair/s and that the car was destined to sit in the garage for Lord knows how long until he could get the money together. See...the thing is...my dear husband pretty much blew the engine on his nice fast jaunt on Saturday...his BABY will need to have the engine rebuilt before car show season starts in the spring.

lesson learned...

Don't drive over 65!...ok...certainly don't drive 130 mph!...especially when your car is 25 years old!

My 13th Wedding Anniversary!

Today is my 13th Wedding anniversary...who would have thunk it! That Jim and I would be married for 13 years! I've known him for 18 years...wow!!! I love this man with the deepest depths of my very being! Even though I know I complain about him at times (what wife doesn't complain about her hubby) I hope that he knows how much he is loved and appreciated EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Thirty Years of Friendship!!!!

I can hardly believe that it has been 30 years...THIRTY YEARS since I met my BEST FRIEND in the world!!! I wouldn't trade her for anything!

I do wish that we lived closer though!!! This whole NJ/Florida thing just isn't working for me!

I miss being able to call my best friend and get a hug on demand! I DO know that if I really truly needed her that she'd be here asap!

I love you Staci, you are my beloved friend forever!

It takes a long time to grow an old friend. ~John Leonard

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,All losses are restored and sorrows end.~William Shakespeare

But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one's self, the very meaning of one's soul. ~Edith Wharton

My WONDERFUL Son!

This is my 12 year old son Nick! He is my world! He is my only child and my life...my everything! I LOVE this pic that I took of him last weekend...it shows his funny side...it shows the depth of love in his eyes...it shows his spirit and control! It shows ALL of him in one simple shot! He is an intellegent, talented, quiet, open minded child...and I am proud of him in oh so many ways! I hope that you can see a bit of what I see!

Don't wait to make your son a great man - make him a great boy. ~Author Unknown

You are my sonshine. ~Author Unknown

An Autumn Leaf

A colorful leaf floating in our pond makes it all real!
Summer really truly is over and fall is here to stay!



"No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face."
- John Donne


"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band."
- George Cooper, October's Party