Pat's Addition

Great Blooms

2012-02-12T12:35:00.000-05:00

Re-blooms

Visit Today"s Flowers #181 for more beautiful blooms.

Where's Winter?

2012-02-05T16:21:00.000-05:00

Tulips and daffodils in the yard.

Pansies are perking up

Winter jasmine (?) only 2 blossoms, think I need to move this.

Down by the Rec Center.

and next door at the school

Note the dates on the sign?

Two days of no school here (this is a "modified calendar school", but we just had Friday off, but also have 2 half days at our school plus a full day off next week, so 16 days in class. But wait ... the last two weeks have been all about testing so no homework or regular class time. No wonder they wanted to start before Labor Day, a week early. They just lost a week here. What's wrong with this picture?
Anyway, stop by Today's Flowers #180 to see all the seasons around the world in flowers.

Kitchen Cabinets

2012-01-30T10:51:00.000-05:00

An update on my kitchen. I finally got the cabinets painted gray back in May! I can't get the hang of the "roll over the picture to change it" deal so here are just stand alone then/now images.
In progress....

Not all doors had to come off.

Finished and back together...

I changed up the art work to hang a new print.

and added a new chair.

Then ... before we moved in ...

Now ... new fridge.

Then

Now...new ovens.

Then

Now

And an alternate table arrangement.

I have my winter look of rugs (with foam insulation underneath) on the window ledge to cut the draft. We tried to insulate but it was impossible. This helps some.

I love my kitchen. (Wood floors would be the next upgrade.)

Frozen Greens

2012-01-29T12:26:00.000-05:00

Our only shot of winter so far this year was last week.

To see some flowers in bloom from places not under snow and ice visit Today's Flowers # 179.

Joe Pa

2012-01-22T12:09:00.000-05:00

A Passion for Purple

2012-01-22T01:50:00.000-05:00

A selection of purple flowers from the summer.

I'm honored to be the Guest Friend this week at Today's Flowers # 178. Come over and join us for a look at blossoms from around the world. We love your comments.

Little Kitty

2012-01-19T16:05:00.004-05:00

Portraits by E

Portrait by T

A sad day for C and the boys.

Little Kitty
1995 Berkeley CA

2012 Alexandria VA

A companion from law school, a comfort during sickness, a cozy friend to boys.

Gift Flower

2012-01-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

I got this lovely cyclamen over the holiday.

Love the ruffled bloom. Not the easiest plant to care for though! Visit Today's Flowers # 175 for more flowers and maybe how to care for them!

Estate Sale Score

2012-01-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

We got these over the last few weeks. Two great quilts, total $100. I passed up a yellow/white at $30 that had some major fabric issues. I saw it last week in my favorite shop for $80.

I've washed one since we had a day in the 60's. You can see the color of the water.

Three washes later.

Drying on the deck, really white. Thanks Oxyclean.

All different patterns in the design.

Ready for the guest room bed. These dishes were $5 each.

We had delirious oyster stew in them for Christmas eve dinner. So easy....diced sweet potato, leeks, T minced ginger sauteed in butter and oil till soft, a bit of flour to thicken, milk, oyster juices. I used my immersion blender, then added oysters and cooked till they curled. A little salt and pepper and delish first course before the baked salmon with spinach/feta stuffing.

Double Digits

2011-12-26T10:44:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe. Double boys.

Now in double digits.

My best Christmas present (after them).

Happy Birthday to two super guys.

Before and After

2011-12-26T10:26:00.007-05:00

Christmas Eve: The Before

Wrapped and ready.

The After Gifts:
Music Lessons

I may regret the amp.

Boy toys

Microscope

Remains of the day.

I hope your day was Merry and Bright.

Christmas Party

2011-12-14T10:35:00.000-05:00

Everything was ready but me! I didn't get ~~good~~ any pictures before the party started.
But imagine a slab of sliced, cured salmon arranged in in two rows, with cucumbers and deviled eggs done the center. Decorated with parsley and dill. A full silver pedestal with mini brownies and berries. A chafing dish with mini bourbon hot dogs. (Eight left.) Plenty of cheeses, grapes and crackers.

Eight pounds of baked ham, mini chive biscuits, a whole loaf of party rye.

A plate with chewy ginger cookies...from Bon Appetite's current issue. Thanks to T for helping to make those! Refilled twice, gone.

Use your imagination. You can see the flowers on the last post.

Getting To Look Like Christmas

2011-12-11T14:25:00.009-05:00

Finally got some decorations up. The big tree is done. Thanks to my decorators T and E.

This is a vintage ball from my MIL.

Catch the price.

The little tree is done with the White house ornaments and birds.

A few angels.

Balls for the chandelier. I got a great buy last year on Martha's ornaments.

And our vintage foil snow flakes from childhood.

A garland for the stairs.

I added greens (when it stopped raining) for a party on Saturday.

I used holly, box and cedar from the yard.

Oops...crooked shade! Or too much wine in the photographer?

Visit to Santa pictures.

Ode to the sea shore.

All white flowers...lilies, big and mini carnations, babies breath.

Big heirloom Rose Medallion tureen.

Kitchen table for a party.

Kitchen counter ($2 stand from Goodwill.)

Getting the spirit of the season yet at your house? Check out Today's Flowers # 173 for more beautiful blooms.

All Black

2011-12-07T18:57:00.000-05:00

The black belt crew.

T gets his belt.

E gets his belt

Best friend K gets her belt.

Forms

Admiration

Exaltation

Golden Grads

2011-12-01T12:20:00.001-05:00

It was reunion time for Long Branch High School '61. I must say we had a great turn out...141 from a class of 450. Many old friends came and we missed those who were far away.
Thursday Night mixer ....
Bob and my sister

Friday dinner....
Arlene and Jim

Mark and Sally

Elaine

Vivian

Elliot

Barb

Bob

Saturday breakfast ...
Sally and Ginny

Stan thought the dinner was Saturday night, but he made the breakfast.

Judy dropped by the Friday dinner but had another place to go. We caught up Saturday at breakfast.

My sister, class of '64 came since she knows most of the folks in my class.

Here's a shot of the classic Tudor style school, main doors and tower. My home room was on the top corner with Frank Lawyer, my English and drama teacher.

The other end of the building.

I'd really have liked to walk the halls. But like so many things in Long Branch it has all changed. A new and bigger campus has grown around the original building. The Junior High is on the property now. The football stadium has changed.

This is as close as you can get to the original building. The building has been gutted.

It was great to see old friends, not so great to see the school.

More Tradition On The Table

2011-11-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

On the Thanksgiving table we used the cut glass tumblers from my great-grandfather (1857-1919), who was possibly a pattern maker. All are samples in different patterns . Some are very minor differences .... the center of the flower, or the band at the bottom. Honesdale PA was a center for cut glass in the 1800's.

All very lovely together. Photos from the iPad don't do them justice.

Thanksgiving Traditions

2011-11-24T10:54:00.001-05:00

Where were you Thanksgiving Day 1957? Our tradition was high school football before the turkey.

LB Cheerleaders

RB Cheerleaders

Boosters

Our team

Not a clue who won then. The LB vs RB game is on today: 10:30, away. Bring a can of food and get in free.

The Thanksgiving game is not a tradition in Virginia. Our athletic event is the 5 mile Turkey Trot. We have four runners. One (my son's new dog) has already dropped out. We figured two miles would tire him out enough to preserve the house. The kids need all five miles.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Less than Six Degrees

2011-11-19T09:58:00.000-05:00

If you are local to Alexandria and want a riveting theatrical experience come to the last performance of The Laramie Project written by Moises Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project at T C Willimas High School, Nov. 19 at 7:30. The cast of 18 play between four to six roles apiece. If you know of the show you will recall that it is a documentary about Mathew Shepard's death in Laramie Wyoming. Rather than scenes there are "moments" set over the course of a year and a half. Here are some pictures taken by Quinn from the light booth.
Moment: A Definition. Opening monologue by Greg Pierotti/Sgt Hing

Doc O'Connor

Moment: Angels in America. Jedadiah Schultz

Moment: Journal Entries. Moises Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project

Moment: Rebecca Hilliker, head of the university of Wymoing theater department.

Moment: Alison and Marge. An interview with Greg Pierotti. (Alison is played by Keira Moran, a talented singer, whose CD Wondergirl comes out on iTunes Thanksgiving Day. Any downloads that day benefit the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. Listen for an interview on NPR.)

Moment: The Word. Town ministers

Moment: A Scarf. Stephen Belber and Zubaida Ula

Moment: Fireside Bar

DJ Shadow/Matt Mickleson/ Matt Galloway

Moment: McKinney and Henderson. An Anonymous friend of the accused

Moment: Finding Matthew Shepard
Arron Kreifels describing the scene at the fence

Moment: Medical Update. Hospital spokesperson Rulon Stacey. This actor had two pages of dialogue for this "moment" alone.

Moment: Arron McKinney. Interrogation by Rob Depree

The final scene we added: All the company and crew placed roses at the fence to the music of Paul Simon's Sounds of Silence. (Used with permission.)

Bows to the light booth and sound (Yeah, I did that light design ).

Final standing ovation.

Student director Joseph Powers with the cast and crew at "Talk Back".

And here's what I mean about the six degrees of separation. At talk back with the cast this local gentleman took the mic to commend the performances and to say his brother owned the Laramie Wyoming land and the fence that played the defining role in the story.

Come see the show.

Dalhia Delayed

2011-11-14T13:06:00.000-05:00

I've been busy and did not post this on Sunday, but it is too pretty not to share.

On the kitchen counter.

Enjoy more beauty on Today's Flowers # 169.

Burgandy and Gold

2011-11-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

Redskins football territory.

Join Today" Flowers # 168 to see more amazing scenery.

And join me Nov. 6 from 4-9 PM EST on a live web stream as I produce the 17th annual Telethon for the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.

Since 1986, The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria has provided financial aid advising to thousands of Alexandria students and their families and awarded scholarships with a total value over $8 million to more than 3,400 deserving T.C. Williams graduates. Each one has a story to tell of dreams pursued, challenges met, and social contributions made. Over the last 25 years the Fund has provided $3 million dollars in aid to T.C. Williams students going on to higher education.

Music from our main stage and stories of some amazing students.

In The Halloween Spirit

2011-11-03T19:30:00.000-04:00

On the Outer Banks you find little family grave yards near the homesteads. Some of the stones really tell a story you'd like to know more about. The close death dates of several children...an epidemic of some kind, or an accident? We'll never know. Here's a tour of family resting places I've seen while on vacation on Oracoke Island, NC. Every old family home seems to have one.

Then there is the British Cemetery.

They are not close to home like the others, but they are well cared for.

The Idea KId

2011-10-31T18:44:00.000-04:00

Every Halloween it is a new challenge. It was easy before they could talk. RR engineers in Oshkoshs and kerchiefs, construction workers in hardhats riding toy trucks. Then we grew up and got our own ideas.

We've been fish.

Ever popular and varied Star Wars characters: Luke and R2D2, Ewok, Darth Vader

An easy runaway boy (but with a "pirate shirt" from a museum where he had me take the measurements of a role playing costume.)

An ice cream ball rolling down the street and an empty cone (mom)

A Smart Car

Harry and company

Now a Tarantula.

It involves a skateboard and shooting string.

I think I convinced him walking upright was a better bet for candy carrying.

Thank goodness for Harry.

Then there were the good old days as shown in this old print from an estate sale.

Happy Halloween.

Flowering Grove

2011-10-30T12:19:00.000-04:00

The Grove is an upscale shopping center in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. The landscaping has really come into it's own with many interesting plant combinations in the pots and plots.

This was only a sampling. To see more worldly flowers visit Today's Flowers # 167.

Bloomin" Begonias

2011-10-23T12:54:00.000-04:00

The pots of begonias are at their seasons best.

Visit Today's Flowers #166 for more beauty from around the gardens of the world.

Dilly Of A Dahlia

2011-10-16T13:28:00.000-04:00

Dahlias are about the only thing just starting to bloom.

Hop on over to Today's Flowers # 165 to see more beauties.

If I Wanted More To Collect....

2011-10-11T14:10:00.000-04:00

I'd visit The Iron Horse in Manassas Virginia.

On a break between soccer games at the Manassas Columbus Day Tournament that's just what I did..

I found all these. (Didn't buy them.)
Yard sticks by the yard.

Old funnels

Sports equipment ... boy's room decor?

Billard balls ... in long frames for a game room?

For the kitchen ... milk bottles and egg beaters.

Glass knobs for an old house restoration, or installed for a coat rack

Great old lawn sprinkler

Vintage suitcases.

These tempted me for the laundry room.

But my very favorite were these Kentucky Derby glasses.

I did get a mini white platter.

Tournament scores were 0-0, 1-2, and 4-1. They found their game too late.

Going To Seed

2011-10-09T10:44:00.000-04:00

The end product of a flower's life. In the garden:

In the market place:

Join Today's Flowers # 164 for more of the world's beauty.

Takananssee Beach

2011-09-25T22:46:00.003-04:00

Takanassee Beach was our beach for many years. This photo is from Facebook group Takanasee Memories.

"Tak" is/was a 5 acre site with three historic U.S. Lifesaving Service buildings dating from 1878-79, a beach and a lake. See some of the history here. It has been in the hands of a "developer" since 2007. Star Ledger article here.

I rode my bike down Elberon Ave to the lake. There were two horses along the lake front road, across the lake from St Michael's, and I always stopped with carrots. In those days we had a cabana on the back inside row so I didn't have to carry towels on the bike.

There was no pool at that time. Our swim lessons were in the very vegetative lake along side the Peter's house.

Facebook

We really envied the folks who rented the apartments in the old life guard station for the summer. They got the first pool that was installed. Later a larger pool went in on part of the parking lot. The same faces manned the entrance booth for years.

Now

Facebook

There was a lively group of families who ate many meals outside the cabanas in the evenings. An elaborate tailgate almost every night.

We were generally on our own as kids since mom worked full time. We had to be home by five. It was so much safer and easier then for kids to roam. Creative post cell phone use of the public phones. I used those pay phones a lot as a kid.

After we moved to Garfield Terrace we had a private beach to play on. When mom moved to Reid St she went back to Tak. We were all gone from Elberon by then but the best part of summer was coming back to Tak.
Here are some pictures from the summers of 2004,5 and 6.
Big pool, little boy.

Now

Facebook

Favorite spot

July 4th

Surfers

It must have been late in the day, just us on the beach.

Lunch from the snack bar.

Life guards, ever alert. "Get off the ropes."
Dick Martin , Captain 1961-82

His wife is Nancy Steadman, daughter of Dick Steadman, long time swim coach at Monmouth College. He taught swimming and diving to my 6 year old daughter in a summer program at Monmouth. She's 4th from the left.

Nancy now heads the Surf Lifesaving firm her late husband founded to teach life saving skills. Here is a bit from their website about Tak life guards.

In 1961, he became the lifeguard captain at Takanassee Beach Club, where he stayed until 1982. His lifeguards at Takanassee were legendary for their victories in many lifeguard tournaments. His guards at Takanassee included Jonty Skinner, world record holder in the 100 m. free and currently head swim coach at University of Alabama; Mark Tonelli, silver medalist in the 1976 Olmpics and currently Wide World of Sports Sportscaster in Australia; and John Cannon, nine year veteran defensive end of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Tak lifeguard team's victories include the Nassau County Championships, as well as the East Coast Championships. Moreover, Dick was the captain of the 1983 Monmouth County Team that won the National Lifeguard Championships. This was the only time a New Jersey team met with victory in a National Championship.

I remember taking these pictures. This was the most lovely, glorious, perfect beach day.

Mom's last summer at Tak.

In all the wisdom of citydom and development this is Tak today. Check out Robert S iliato's Photography site to see what it has become. And these are some more of the photos posted on Facebook Hometown Long Branch,NJ.
The back pool for renters in the apartments.

Facebook

Makes me cry.

Living UpTo Its Name

2011-09-25T14:42:00.000-04:00

Butterfly bush and Monarch butterfly.

Visit my friends at Today's Flowers # 162 to see more of the world of flowers.

O Columbine

2011-09-16T12:02:00.007-04:00

I'm honored to be guest host for this Sunday's edition of Today's Flowers. Take a look at my columbine from this past spring.

Many wonderful color combinations.

Delicate leaves nodding in the breeze.

Intricate design of petals make a fairy cap.

Can you imagine garden fairies coming at night to try on the heady creations? To see more flower creations from gardens around the world visit Today's Flowers #161. Thanks Luis and the Today's Flower team.!

What's Left in the Garden

2011-09-11T12:59:00.000-04:00

Late summer, earthquakes, hurricanes, tropical rain, heat have left the gardens fairly bare. But garden pots are still alive.

Remember the fallen.

9.11.01 - 9.11.11

Visit Today's Flowers # 160 for more views of gardens from around the world.

Happy New (School) Year

2011-09-09T10:34:00.003-04:00

It's the start of school.

Hop on the bus Gus!
In Philly for kindergarten.

In Alexandria for 4th grade

Ring the bell! The start of a new year.

Wild Ride, Wild Horses

2011-09-05T14:02:00.004-04:00

We took a ride up to the 4 wheel drive area to observe the wild horses of Corolla. (Very rutted sand and very bumpy when taken at speed.)

The NC/VA state line is just to the north with 4W access.See the map here. Finger canals have been dug for development. I don't think EPA allows this anymore.

This was before Irene came through. The area has some enormous houses built in the dunes. I can't imagine the effort it takes to bring in all the material to build and furnish these homes. Some have 27 bed rooms.

There are some year round residents and the kids go by boat to the main land for school.

We rode down the beach close to the dune line and then up and over.

We spotted horses right away. They move in groups of two-four mares and a stallion.

They are bird friendly.

A second group.

Theyu like to shelter under the houses. Some houses have real grass lawns (why?) and have fences.

This little guy was quite brave.

They must be used to posing for the tours.

The original coast guard station.

The Irene waves were just starting to roll in.

After a two hour wild ride, we drove back near the surf line, much easier on the back! These art pieces are all over the area.

Seaside Vegetation

2011-09-04T18:19:00.003-04:00

Varied vegetation from North Carolina's beaches.
Grasses

Bay berry

Pines

Cactus

Lesson learned: Don't touch! Team of three to pick out very very fine stickers.

To see more flowers from around the world visit Today's Flowers # 159.

Elberon Avenue Part 2: Our House (Speaking of Hurricanes)

2011-08-30T23:35:00.002-04:00

So we've had a history lesson about Elberon. That turned out to be a term paper. On with the story of the house when we lived there.

My mom was a big newspaper reader. Her father had been a typesetter on several NY papers, including the Wall Street Journal and her grandfather had been an engraver on New York papers. The Sunday Times is still devoured in our house. Including the classified ads. One fine Sunday mom saw an ad for a house in Elberon and took us for a ride to the Shore. It was love at first sight and my folks bought the house. It was big ... 17 rooms. We lived in an extended family situation so it was perfect. My Nana, Aunt Jean, my parents and three kids all living together (mostly in harmony). And sometimes my grandfather. We were a dysfunctional family even then.

Our north Jersey friends thought we were nuts. No one lived year round at the Shore. There was only one other family on our block year round. The commute to Newark and East Brunswick was an hour. Both my parents worked and commuted north every day. Nana retired from the offices of Wallace and Tiernan, makers of Desenex Foot Powder, in Belleview to stay home with us. My brother was not yet in kindergarten.

This is the first floor:

The first floor had a big hall. The windows had many small panes in a diamond pattern. What a chore to paint.

The music room we later filled with an old huge grand piano from the house that was on the opposite corner of Lincoln and Elberon that was being leveled. Nana played and tried to have us learn ...that didn't take. The living room had wonderful windows down to the floor. Mom painted it a warm red with paint from Sipersteins Paint Store on Broadway. She had the house exterior painted black. I have her old wood ladder with all the colors.

These rooms shared a chimney and each had a fireplace. There were pocket doors between the living and dining rooms and to the next room back which we used as a family room. The back set was kept closed. The paneled family room had a fireplace and a door to the best porch in the world. Round and enclosed with lattice, but not screened, it was the place where we lived all summer....every meal taken at the picnic table.
Christmas 1957 showing the paneling, sliding doors and door to the porch. See that little iron table? It is on my front porch.

The fireplace had a raised hearth. Our bunny Hoppy would stretch out on it like a dog. We still have the andirons.

There was a butler pantry with the original built in cabinets, sink and stove. It's where we did our "science" experiments. I remember one Christmas when Dad exploded a pudding onto the ceiling. Total bedlam! Next was a big kitchen with original cabinets on the left wall against the back stairs and a breakfast bar counter where Nana always had an after school snack waiting. Back stairs went up to the front hall landing. Stairs led down to the basement. The basement was divided into "rooms". One had Dad's power tools, one we used for our marionette theatre, and we skated all over. And it had the fated electrical box.

Between the kitchen and laundry room was a walk in pantry. Every time we went by we walked in. We grabbed a maraschino cherry from the huge jar my grandfather brought from the wholesale food market in NY. There were half baths in the hall and laundry.

We got a puppy when we moved to keep Nana company and "protect" the house. He was a small version of a lab, a plain black dog we named Elby after the town. His friend Elmer Dog, a slightly large version, would come to the back laundry door and ask if he could come out to play. Dogs ran loose in those days. There were many black Elby/Elmer dogs around as a consequence. He went to the Elberon Library, with or without us. Mrs. Goddard let him in, gave him a bowl of water and he slept under the new books display right inside the front door. My library number was 1132. This was originally a private subscription library, for the residents of the Elberon section that has now been incorporated into the Long Branch Public Library system.

1960 Kevin and Elby, after our fire on the front lawn at 1023 Ocean. The tower in the back was a WWII German sub spotting station. Very eery.

This is the second floor.

The second floor had a similar big hall with a large bath at the top of the stairs. It was partly over the porch so it was always freezing in winter. Going counter clock wise the first bedroom was my sister’s and opened to a small balcony. Next in the front my parent’s room, behind it on the south side was Nana’s room. They shared a long porch. Staying on the south side there was a long hall with built in linen closets along one wall. Then Aunt Jean’s room (also where mom sewed) and finally at the back corner my room. A bath was at the end of the hall, a large closet across from my door (the room's closet was small). And a WC. Back off the main hall at the foot of the steps to the third floor was my brother Kevin’s room.

This was the third floor.

Upstairs on the third floor starting counter clock wise from stairs in the hall was a bathroom, storage room (it would have been called the luggage room in the era the house was built) and a small bedroom that I used in the summer. It had a tiny balcony and was compensation for my sister’s room and balcony. On the south side there was a suite of rooms with sloped ceilings my grandfather used when he was in residence (seldom) consisting of two rooms and a bath. I expect that would have been the housekeeper’s domain. (I think it had a bath...we weren't allowed to go in much so my memory is fuzzy on this.) Facing the back and looking into the top of the sycamore trees that circled the drive was a larger guest room with twin beds. Finally a smaller room Dad used as his "man cave" though then it was called an office.

Out back was a great carriage house. Stalls, tack room, space for a carriages, second floor had living quarters...two bedroom, living room plus a hay loft over the stalls. I had my fantasies about restoring it to live in or stabling a horse. (Ha ha, no chance of that.)

The driveway came in under a porte cocher by the front door, a boon in wet weather. Can you picture the carriages pulling in after the Runyon wedding? The drive ran along the north side under the kitchen windows made a big circle with a branch back to the carriage house. The drive was all pale yellow beach pebbles. It was lined with tall old sycamores. We spent many an hour raking up the pebbles and sycamore “shed” of both leaves and bark. The funniest thing with the trees was Nana trying to ride a bike (the one and only time). She ran into a tree, giving us quite a scare.

Dad and Kevin 1955. You can see some of the sycamores in the background. This may be the day we first went to see the house. We moved down in 1955.

Easter 1958 looking to the front corner and the street.

The side yard was huge and took a lot of mowing by Dad. The privet hedges in front were cut low with flower beds inside.

The privet between our house and the Curtain’s house to the north were huge it was all Dad could do to keep it pruned back head high. Halloween 1958 and the hedge is high. Mom made all our costumes, and most of our clothes.

A bamboo grove thrived near the barn. My brother spent a lot of time on the other side of the hedge with old Mr. Curtain who puttered in the little greenhouse in the back of their yard while his son Jim and his daughters commuted to their Regina vacuum company in north Jersey.

Next door to the south was a huge brown shingled house that had been L.B.Brown's casino. The fireplace in the main room had at least a 6 ft opening. The owner was a little scary but turned out to be an OK neighbor. The land was still planted in formal gardens surrounded by an 8 ' hedge. He grew prize winning dahlias taller than the hedges. That part of the property is occupied by two ranch style houses today. He rented out the garage apartment that was right on our property line. That is still there today. You can see our house with the two chimneys in the center of the post card.

School had just started in September 1960 when Hurricane Donna came up the coast. Over crowding and sending districts put us on split sessions. Juniors and seniors in the morning, freshmen and sophomores in the afternoon. My brother and I went to school. My sister was not in school (second session) and was home with Nana. She discovered the fire. My folks went to work. Mom now worked at Monmouth Junior College, which then used the high school for classes with offices across the street in a white house. Any one who graduated from Monmouth College thru about 1990 has her signature on their diploma. Dad was at work in New Brunswick. Hurricanes did not stop the world, or maybe forecasting is a whole lot better now and we didn't know the danger back then.

I was in chemistry with Mr. Kolibas, already not my fav subject or teacher and it was only the first week of school. The school secretary came up to say my mom was there from across the street to take me home. He made fun of me as I left for going home early because of a little rain. I never got along with him or liked chem any better after that.

In fact the storm had sent a sycamore branch into the wires and started a house fire in the basement. It had been put out, but my mom wanted me home to help clean up. We went home and she wisely took the silver and important stuff from the house because it turned out the fire still burned. It climbed up between the walls to the third floor. It suddenly broke out of the roof. It was now the height of the storm, the firemen were still on the scene with the truck bogged down on the front lawn. The wind blew so strong they could not/would not go up the ladder. By the time they controlled the fire the top floor was gone. We watched it from the house across the street. The whole house was water logged. The smell of smoke permeated everything. We rescued what we could. My brother's room and toys took the worst hit on the second floor. My back room was wet, and I hate to say this, but my silver charm bracelet was missing. My clothes were unwearable.

This article is not quite accurate.

From The Red Bank Register, Sept. 13, 1960:

The link above goes to the full 18 page issue that has some great ads, TV schedule, and article on the school enrollment. Great pictures of the hurricane damage in the area.

Luckily, we were able to go to my "sorta uncle's" house on Ocean Avenue. The house shook with every wave. As I looked out the second floor window the entire set of stairs down to the beach rose up over the sea wall and pulled away in pieces. We never lived in our wonderful house again. Eventually our friend Marty Schneider's son bought it. The third floor was cut off and a roof slapped on.

Through Facebook's HometownLongBranchNJ I've found the family who lived there 1964-1987 We've been talking about our shared home. Here's what Nancy said about the house:

The house was a huge mess when we bought it. My dad sent my mom, sister and me to stay with our grandparent's for most of the summer while he worked on it. Mrs. Wolf let her animals poop all over the house. It was in serious disrepair and my mother called it "Witts End".

We had such good times there. It was a lovely neighborhood and a wonderful place to grow up. We picked our home in Bound Brook because it has a similar yard and charm.

My bedroom in Elberon was the one with the doors that opened to the side porch. I shared that porch with my parents. My sister's bedroom was red and led out to the flat black-top roof that ran parallel to the hallway leading to the back bedroom. The back bedroom was so cheery and sunny.

Before the house was torn down we too went over and took some things. We have bamboo all over our yard now and have even brought some to Sea Bright. I also took some of the bricks from the fireplace. One of our childhood friends went over after it was taken down and found some old Army men in the dirt and took them home.

Two men bought the house next door (that was also torn down to build that huge monstrosity). They took it back to the glory days and it was beautiful. They had wonderful parties out on the porch. When we first moved in, the Curtin family lived in it and then after they died it was sold to a family with 9 kids and then Bob and Jerry moved in.

Now when I drive over there I get really depressed!

Me too!

The property stood empty and was torn down in 1999. I took these pictures then. This walks you around the house.

My sister's balcony.

My mom's. This had an awning in the old post card picture. Can you see the General and Mrs Runyon having morning coffee out here?

The window and door at the end of the porch were Nana's. The two end windows are Aunt Jean's and mine.

First floor family room windows, second floor mine and Kevin's.

Basement stairs and window over the butler's pantry sink.

My bathroom and the small WC window on the second floor.

Laundry room, small bath (my daughter peeking in) and two kitchen windows three powder room and front hall windows.

Half bath and hall windows.

Carriage house

Back paddock, wild and over grown.

The house next door was Curtain's house now with new owners and in very good shape. Totally restored and lovely but that too was knocked down.

Here's the replacement built in 2001: two story, 6793 sq ft on 1.62 acres estimated value $2,918,935. The building bottom right is the carriage house/garage from the Casino. Looks like they've added on.

For what they spent they could have rehab-ed and had some history. Just monstrous. They did leave the side hedge between the old Casino property.

Property Details new house on property

Earthquake?

2011-08-29T12:22:00.000-04:00

I don't know...you go away for a couple of ~~weeks~~ days and everything happens. We went happily off to Corolla for a two week vacation at the beach and there was an earthquake and a hurricane. I must admit, I didn't feel the earth move in NC, but some folks did. Probably because I was lugging stuff up from the beach at the time and jumping from foot to foot in the hot sand. My sister called and said only pictures were moved at our house. I'll say! Nearly every picture on all three floors was askew. Sorry for the off lighting, I was just so anxious to get them back on an even keel.

And after righting them we had to take in all the outside stuff to make way for Irene. No damage so it all went back in place Sunday.

Sunday Flowers

2011-08-29T00:30:00.000-04:00

Coleus and lilies for the Sunday breakfast table a couple of weeks ago. Hurricane Irene blew through Saturday and soaked the garden. No major damage, we were lucky. Except for being evacuated from Corolla NC after only five days of a two week vacation. Bummer.

Visit Today's Flowers # 158 for more interesting flowers from around the world.

Weird Flower

2011-08-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

What is this? The vendor at the farmers market called it a "hay ball".

It is hollow and hairy. To see more of the flower world visit with our friends at Today's Flowers # 157.
And I'm off to the beach.