On March 11, Lines on the Pines will be held again at the Frog Rock Cuntry and Golf Club in Hammonton, New Jersey. It is a book signing event, music, paintings, crafts, cyber presence (as in those who have created and maintained suich sites as ghosttowns - all Pinebarrens inspired! In the past I have met wonderful people there to talk to and share an interest in the Pines, such as archaeologiest, Bud Wilson, publishers, John Bryans, and historian, Paul Schopp, who has also been a keynote speaker.
Linda Stanton, a great resource of energy and inspiration, organizes this wonderful event.
I'll be there with my two self-published books and a few landscape paintings inspired by the Batso River. Hope to see you there! Jo Ann
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Shellpile, New Jersey
On Friday evening, January 13, two friends and I set off for Port Norris for "Tides and Skies" a big event held at the Delaware Bayshore Discovery Project site. A series of old oyster sheds have been converted into an art gallery, a cafe' and a museum. I've been there on numerous occasions to hike across the street on the boardwalk into the salt hay marshes especially during bird migration seasons.
On this occasion, it was bitterly cold and very windy and we didn't expect to see many people at the 2nd Friday Open House, though they promised music, and an astronomer who would talk about the night sky and take us outside for a look at the stars.
Nonetheless, the parking lot was jammed with cars and the buildings were thronged with interested and enthusiastic visitors. The oyster bar/cafe' was too crowded for me to even attempt to see if there was any vegetarian food available, but I enjoyed the music and the photography show in the gallery. Also there was a short documentary film in a small room off the gallery and I enjoyed that too. On the 2nd floor, crafters made things for sale and there were craft tables for people to try making stuff.
I bought a historical society scrapbook, some cards made from light house water color painting reproductions, and a pair of alpaca socks which I have since worn and can promise you are very soft and warm.
I had hoped to get there in time to hike the boardwalk and watch the sun set over the marsh but it was too cold and we were too late. It was pitch dark.
Meanwhile, I had borrowed one of my friend's garmin gps and I was so impressed with the way it got us around Yock Wock Road and out to the Bayshore Discovery Project that I just bought one for myself at Pep Boys earlier today.
There will be another event like the one I attended on Friday in a month. It is called Second Friday, and there is a theme for each one.
I was told this was the fourth and that they were all well attended.
My favorite part of the exhibit was the poster boards with oral history commentary from the workers, especially the workers from Shellpile, New Jersey.
I hope you go there and check it out!
On this occasion, it was bitterly cold and very windy and we didn't expect to see many people at the 2nd Friday Open House, though they promised music, and an astronomer who would talk about the night sky and take us outside for a look at the stars.
Nonetheless, the parking lot was jammed with cars and the buildings were thronged with interested and enthusiastic visitors. The oyster bar/cafe' was too crowded for me to even attempt to see if there was any vegetarian food available, but I enjoyed the music and the photography show in the gallery. Also there was a short documentary film in a small room off the gallery and I enjoyed that too. On the 2nd floor, crafters made things for sale and there were craft tables for people to try making stuff.
I bought a historical society scrapbook, some cards made from light house water color painting reproductions, and a pair of alpaca socks which I have since worn and can promise you are very soft and warm.
I had hoped to get there in time to hike the boardwalk and watch the sun set over the marsh but it was too cold and we were too late. It was pitch dark.
Meanwhile, I had borrowed one of my friend's garmin gps and I was so impressed with the way it got us around Yock Wock Road and out to the Bayshore Discovery Project that I just bought one for myself at Pep Boys earlier today.
There will be another event like the one I attended on Friday in a month. It is called Second Friday, and there is a theme for each one.
I was told this was the fourth and that they were all well attended.
My favorite part of the exhibit was the poster boards with oral history commentary from the workers, especially the workers from Shellpile, New Jersey.
I hope you go there and check it out!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Washington's Crossing January January 11 2012
On Wednesday, Barbara Spector and I went to Washington's Crossing State Park, stopping at the Lambertville Flea Market as well.
We had two purposes at the Park, one was to get another stamp for our Passport to Adventure booklets, and the other was to hike in the woods. Our unexpected good luck was in arriving at theJohnson's Ferry Tavern building just as the interpreter was arriving so we had a tour of the "oldest building at the part" and a building where General George Washington stood before the fire to warm himself and discuss strategy with some of his officers.
Naturally, I took my dog, Blizzard with us as he is good as gold under most conditions, but he did manage to drink a good deal of donut oil that was cool and sitting in a big pot inside the cooking hearth. The interpreter assured me the oil was destined for disposal anyhow and she just hoped it didn't make the dog sick. It didn't.
Turned out it was a great day for a hike, followed by days of rain and wind.
Despite the wind and cold, Barbara and another friend and I are headed down south to the Bayshore Project for Second Friday, where there will be an opening of a photo exhibit, the new clam bar and cafe' and music! It begins at 5:30 and ends at 8:30 and you'll find a review here.
For anyone who doesn't know where the Bayshore Project is located, it is just outside of Port Norris which is down Rt. 55 (40 miles from my house) then turn onto 47 South then onto 670 or Mauricetown Crossway Re, to 649 to Port Norris and look for the sign for the Delaware Bayshore Discovery Project.
I'm going to buy a Garmin GPS very soon now and kiss google maps goodbye forever.
Happy Trails fellow history buffs and hikers!
Jo Ann
We had two purposes at the Park, one was to get another stamp for our Passport to Adventure booklets, and the other was to hike in the woods. Our unexpected good luck was in arriving at theJohnson's Ferry Tavern building just as the interpreter was arriving so we had a tour of the "oldest building at the part" and a building where General George Washington stood before the fire to warm himself and discuss strategy with some of his officers.
Naturally, I took my dog, Blizzard with us as he is good as gold under most conditions, but he did manage to drink a good deal of donut oil that was cool and sitting in a big pot inside the cooking hearth. The interpreter assured me the oil was destined for disposal anyhow and she just hoped it didn't make the dog sick. It didn't.
Turned out it was a great day for a hike, followed by days of rain and wind.
Despite the wind and cold, Barbara and another friend and I are headed down south to the Bayshore Project for Second Friday, where there will be an opening of a photo exhibit, the new clam bar and cafe' and music! It begins at 5:30 and ends at 8:30 and you'll find a review here.
For anyone who doesn't know where the Bayshore Project is located, it is just outside of Port Norris which is down Rt. 55 (40 miles from my house) then turn onto 47 South then onto 670 or Mauricetown Crossway Re, to 649 to Port Norris and look for the sign for the Delaware Bayshore Discovery Project.
I'm going to buy a Garmin GPS very soon now and kiss google maps goodbye forever.
Happy Trails fellow history buffs and hikers!
Jo Ann
Monday, January 2, 2012
Whitesbog
New Year - Hiking the Pines in Winter
Happy New Year! I celebrated the new year by hiking with the Outdoor Club of SJ yesterday at Atsion. It was seven miles of high water on the ground and spectacular beauty all around. We hiked around the Hampton Furnace area and along several fallow cranberry bogs. Passing the bogs gave me an itch to get to Whitesbog. Today, another hiking buddy with me and my dog, Blizzard, headed to Brendan Byrne State Park but the office was closed so I couldn't get a stamp for my State Parks Project booklet Passport to Adventure. But I did get to hike around one of the prettiest little ponds I've ever seen, Pakim Pond.
Back in the 70's a group of my friends and I used to rent a cabin there in the winter. So much fun.
After we hiked around the pond, we headed over to Whitesbog, not a long drive from there and hiked around the bogs, very beautiful and very cold as it was windy today and the forest blocks the wind but the bogs let it blow right over you.
Here is some background on Whitesbog and Elizabeth White, cultivator ofthe blueberry at Whitesbog:
Elizabeth Coleman White, born in 1871 in New Lisbon, NJ, was the oldest of four daughters of Mary and Joseph White, also Quakers. Mary was a descendant of another group of original settlers, the Fenwicks. The Whites owned a 3,000 acre cranberry plantation and Elizabeth took great interest in both the business and the horticulture.
Elizabeth was disappointed when her father handed over the business to a son-in-law. She turned her attention to the propagation of the wild huckleberry by offering rewards to local people for bringing the best specimens. She invited another agriculture specialist working on the same project to Whitesbog and together they developed a commercially viable berry.
Elizabeth White was an innovator in packaging and she also developed a business in holly growing and sales.
Before she died in 1954, Elizabeth had become the first woman to receive a citation from the NJ Dept. of Agriculture, to be admitted to the Am. Cranberry Assoc. and she had founded the Holly Society of America. Her home, Suningive, is a museum open to the public.
The village of
Happy New Year! I celebrated the new year by hiking with the Outdoor Club of SJ yesterday at Atsion. It was seven miles of high water on the ground and spectacular beauty all around. We hiked around the Hampton Furnace area and along several fallow cranberry bogs. Passing the bogs gave me an itch to get to Whitesbog. Today, another hiking buddy with me and my dog, Blizzard, headed to Brendan Byrne State Park but the office was closed so I couldn't get a stamp for my State Parks Project booklet Passport to Adventure. But I did get to hike around one of the prettiest little ponds I've ever seen, Pakim Pond.
Back in the 70's a group of my friends and I used to rent a cabin there in the winter. So much fun.
After we hiked around the pond, we headed over to Whitesbog, not a long drive from there and hiked around the bogs, very beautiful and very cold as it was windy today and the forest blocks the wind but the bogs let it blow right over you.
Here is some background on Whitesbog and Elizabeth White, cultivator ofthe blueberry at Whitesbog:
Elizabeth Coleman White, born in 1871 in New Lisbon, NJ, was the oldest of four daughters of Mary and Joseph White, also Quakers. Mary was a descendant of another group of original settlers, the Fenwicks. The Whites owned a 3,000 acre cranberry plantation and Elizabeth took great interest in both the business and the horticulture.
Elizabeth was disappointed when her father handed over the business to a son-in-law. She turned her attention to the propagation of the wild huckleberry by offering rewards to local people for bringing the best specimens. She invited another agriculture specialist working on the same project to Whitesbog and together they developed a commercially viable berry.
Elizabeth White was an innovator in packaging and she also developed a business in holly growing and sales.
Before she died in 1954, Elizabeth had become the first woman to receive a citation from the NJ Dept. of Agriculture, to be admitted to the Am. Cranberry Assoc. and she had founded the Holly Society of America. Her home, Suningive, is a museum open to the public.
The village of
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