Polish American Deli, Rennemede, NJ

Hello!  I haven't been taking any day trips lately, and my car is in the shop now, so I won't be going anywhere for awhile HOWEVER, before my car broke down, on the way to the Dog Park at Timber Creek, off Chews Landing Rd., I stopped in the Polish American Deli. 
I'm not Polish but my ex-husband was and his mother was an exceptional cook.  She made pierogi's, golumpki's, cherry soup, and any number of other delicious things the names of which I can no longer remember.  
Although I've passed that store a million times, this time, a sign spoke out to me.  It said Pierogi!  So I stopped in and I will tell you now, it isn't open on Monday, so be sure to go on another day.  I couldn't choose which pierogi to get, cheese, potato or sauerkraut, but I've had the others recently so I picked sauerkraut.  I like the contrast of tastes anyhow, the vinegar against the dough.  
In case you haven't ever had Polish food, a pierogi is a lot like a ravioli in that it is a pocket of dough with a filling.  A golumpki is a pepper or cabbage stuffed with a meat mixture  I used to make a vegetarian version that was brown rice - just as good.  But if you want the real deal, stop by the Deli and try some.
For dessert, I bought chocolate cheese rugelach (pronounced Roo gel ah.  So good.  Next time I plan to get the plum rugelach.  
The addres is 125 N. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, NJ 856-939-9505 and their card says they also have babkas, kielbasy, and take-out and party trays.  Enjoy!
Happy Trails, Jo Ann

Fall Festivals

I suddenly sprang from bed tonight, hoping I hadn't missed the annual artisan's fair in Greenwich, NJ.  It seemed to me it often fell at the end of August.  As it happens, I was wrong and it is held in September.  It is a favorite day-trip event for me.  Aside from the beautiful and unique objects crafted by the artisans at the fair (including musical instruments, pottery, baskets, wood-worked things like burl wood bowls, and many other hand-crafted works of art) there is also music, and sometimes the Gibbon House is open for tours.  Just strolling down The Great Street is a treat in itself.  If you've never been there, you should go, but if it isn't during the fair, take your lunch with you!  There is a nice little local cafe' but it closes relatively early.  I like to walk from the Historical Society Library  parking area to the the Cohansey River and read all the historic markers on the charming houses.  The Great Street has my vote for the most charming street in South Jersey.  And the Historic Society Library has hospitable and helpful people as well as a house and street map you can buy for added information on the historic houses many of which date back to the 1700's, the time of the "Tea Burning" for which there is a monument.  If you get there on a day when the Prehistorical Museum is open, you are going to enjoy another Greenwich treat in the great number of handsomely mounted collections of Native American artifacts.  
http://www.cchistsoc.org/prehistorical-museum.html
(Keep this in mind - only two locations with a restroom, so if the Library and the museum are closed, you are out of luck until you get back to Bridgeton.)
You can have lunch at Hancock Harbor and boat marina if it is open, but don't count on it - best to pack a picnic just in case, and if you get lucky and the harbor is open, you can save the picnic and take it  back home.  
http://www.hancockharbor.com/Hours.html

That is only one of many fall festivals in South Jersey's remaining farm region.  Here is a link with lots of information on others:  Happy Trails!  Jo Ann

http://entertainmentguide.local.com/greenwich-new-jersey-fall-crafts-festivals-6840.html

Archeaology Lecture Coming Up

Just got an e-mail from the head of the James & Ann Whitall Volunteers group about this upcoming event:
"The Gloucester County Chapter of The Archaeological Society of New Jersey will meet on Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:00 PM, at The West Deptford Public Library, 420 Crown Point Road, Thorofare, New Jersey.

         Our guess speaker for this evening is Archaeologist and Curator Jeffery Norcross. His lifetime passion for archaeology can be seen at the South Jersey American History Museum in Glassboro. He will share this passion with us by presenting a lecture on  "What is Archaeology?" The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to share interest in this educational evening.'

Back a few blog entries I had written about visiting this museum.  Any one with a passion for collecting can appreciate it when someone gets to make an entire museum from his or her collections.  

Another museum created from the collections of private individuals that I have always enjoyed is the Prehistory Museum at Greenwich, NJ.  A dozen or more men who began collecting Native American artifacts that they found hiking the woods and beaches of the rivers and creeks of SJ put their collections together to make this outstanding museum.  This is from their web site:

"The museum is open on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 4, and Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4 PM. Group tours are available by calling 856-455-8141 during those times."

 http://www.cchistsoc.org/prehistorical-museum.html

Tonight I'm meeting a couple of friends for a regular Wed. diner and walk evening.  We have the healthy platter at the Phily Diner on the Black Horse Pike and then we hike the upper pasture trail at the Timber Creek Park on Chews Landing Road.  There is  a near-the-end-of-the-season concert at the Haddon Heights Dell tonight at 7:30, but I don't know if I'll be up for that - busy day today.

Happy Trails!  Jo Ann 

   

Purple Martin Migration at Bivalve and More

Just got back from Timber Creek Dog Park - Paradise for dogs and dog-loving people.  Met two fine young people there who just moved to NJ from North Carolina.  I was sorry I didn't have my 'card' on me because I wanted them to be able to access this blog so they could find lots of places to go and things to see in their new home!  Welcome Brandon and Shannon!  My e-mail is wrightj45Wyahoo.com.

Had an e-mail today from my friend Barbara Spector who is an animal shelter volunteer and a bird watcher, a hiker and all around nature-lover.  I told her I was going to post her Purple Martin Message, so here it is:

"Just got back from an unbelievable day.  Frank and I went to Millville, went to the Irish Pub on High St.   Very good veggie burger!  Then we drove to Port Norris and decided to follow the signs to Bivalve....there is a boat there called the Bodacious that goes out to see the Purple martin Migration.  It was so amazing to see the sunset on one side, the full moon on the other, a weather perfect night and then swarms and swarms of Purple Martins.  A naturalist was on the boat to talk about it and answer questions.  He said it was peak migration time, estimated close to a half million birds that we saw. Spectacular 

sight!!!!  It is absolutely something not to be missed.  There is one last boat going out next Friday night.  Call in advance for tickets as the boat sells out."  Barb

I wish I could join her but I'll be in Ocean City that day and don't think I can make it back in time.   You need to be there before 6:00 and it is an hour and a half drive from here and FRiday Night and seashore traffic.  Oh well, maybe next year.

I hope some of you can make it however! 

FriendshipDayCheescakeDayMORE

August 3rd was International Friendship Day and I celebrated it with three friends having lunch aboard the River Lady on Tom's River and then riding the ski lift along the beach at Seaside Heights - a great way to spend the day. Coincidentally the dessert that day was cheesecake.

Also, July 30 was National Cheesecake Day and I cannot praise the Phily Diner more highly - theirs is light, fluffy, flavorful and the best cheesecake I have ever eaten and I've had home-made in Germany!  The Phily Diner is on Black Horse Pike just beyond Clement's Bridge Rd. at Barrington.  Although cheesecake originated in Greece, and is famous in France AND Italy, and has a version invented in our own New York, I always connect cheesecake with Germany, maybe it is my ancestry.  The cheese they use in Germany is called quark (pronounced Kvok) and it is a version of ricotta.

Most recently, I had the adventure of searching out the graves of the aforementioned German ancestors in Philadelphia, Pa. at New Cathedral Cemetery at 2nd and Luzerne Sts.  We stopped in a local bakery on the way, my sister Susan and I, for almond coffee cake and seeded rye bread.  We found our ancestor's graves, sadly unmarked by stone or marker, but close by a handsome and ancient tree and near a lucky fairy circle of mushrooms.  Also at the cemetery, I met a cat, a friendly fellow rubbing my legs and making his wish known to come home to New Jersey and live with me.  He is now my new cat, named after the German Great-Uncle that I knew from the Young family when I was growing up, Uncle Yock.  Being a young fellow however, I am calling him "Little Yock" to avoid disrespect o my ancestor and avoid identfication problems when I refer to the cat in the future.

Although I usually end with Happy Trails and Happy Tails, this time I'd like to offer the advice I take myself which is to CELEBRATE for any reason you can find.  Life is short, let's live it to the full and enjoy every day of it.  I might add, my cats and dog most definitely help me to enjoy every day that I have on this earth.  Jo Ann 

PS.  I wanted to add the BEST VET in South Jersey, while I'm on the subject of the cat - Dr. Ed. Sheehen in Fiarview.  His web site link is under the cat, but you can look him up.  He is truly the most compassionate, and the most talented vet I've ever met and I've had cats and dogs all my life.  He is wonderful.