Copabananas

Lightning and Lightning Bugs

I took 3 days off from my full-time job as a massage therapist to go camping with Adam at High Point, in the Skylands of NJ. We love camping and I was really looking forward to getting away even though I have 2 different craft shows this weekend and I need to pack my apartment to move in 2 weeks, oh, and I'm closing my store at the end of this month. Getting away seemed like a reaaallllly good idea. Escape it all for a few days...get my nature on. Well, we got a little too much nature. In the form of an unbelievable thunderstorm that ended up passing through Yonkers, NY as "nearly a tornado".

There had been a brief thunderstorm shortly after we arrived at our campsite. We took cover in the Jeep and when it ended we decided to take a drive up to the Veterans Monument before dealing with the soggy tent we had put up right before the rain. We watched the storm traveling east and basked in the warm breeze and sunshine at the base of the monument for more than an hour. That's where most of these pictures were taken. We returned and hung out the tent fly and sheets to dry.

After we ate dinner we took a nice walk around Sawmill Lake. We were sitting in the campsite deciding our next move when the lightning began. It was cool to watch lightning bugs and lightning at the same time but counting the time between lightning and thunder was ominous. We listened as the storm seemed to move farther away and closer at the same time. It was a big storm. Just as the rain began I ran to the tent to grab the pillows and made it to the Jeep just as the skies opened. The storm was intense, and just when you thought it couldn't rain any harder, it did. We wondered about our neighbors across the road. Their lively camp had quickly darkened and only headlamp movement appeared occasionally during the storm. We both took out our cameras and shot pics of each other taking cover in the Jeep. The storm finally ended and eventually we fell asleep.

This morning we decided that despite the early morning sunshine, the forecast was too sketchy and the tent was too flooded to be comfortable enough for another night in the Jeep and we headed home. Though I regretted it the minute I stepped into my apartment, I'm now happy we came back. I worked on new products for the shows this weekend, made a few sales at the store, and pulled my display together for the show Saturday which offers very little space to exhibit. I guess just 24 hours away was enough to inspire me to carry on!

   

Cinco de Mayo Finds

Laundry Love

I just wanted to write a quick post about something very meaningful to me...laundromats. I started using them almost 5 years ago and back then I loved it. It was great to get every load done at once and be done with it. But lately the local laundromats have been leaving me wondering where their priorities are.  They don't change the batteries in the smoke detectors for years and they beep constantly, the change machines don't work at all, and the machines themselves break down constantly. I can't figure out how they don't see these as essential elements of their business. It has always been a dream of mine to own a solar powered laundromat cafe, so I think about these things. Besides, I'm doing my laundry there, and when 2 machines simultaneously didn't spin out my loads I swore off that laundromat for good. I returned to one I had gone to a few years ago. I don't know what happened there but the machines were in total disrepair and if I dropped anything on the floor I felt compelled to wash it again. Ew! A quick search for local laundromats turned up one in Bloomfield that I decided to try today. It was laundromat heaven! I wish I had gone there long ago! The place was immaculate and every machine worked! There was a variety of sizes of machines to choose from and instead of a change machine you bought a card, brilliant! And bonus, you get $2 extra when you load up a new card with $20! Splish Splash, you have won me over!

This Is That Post...A Year Later...

I did a post like this just over a year ago and I think it's time for another. So this is that post where I just list search terms people have used and found this blog...2009 edition.
copabanana public school game
Anne Taintor mugs
vmask (still!)
repurposed jeans
algae
crochet lunch bag
mad libs
easter cookie
sock bunnies
artistprofilefromamerica
halloween paper products
etsy copa bananas
mrsa finger puppets
vintage alley verona nj
ugly doll t shirt
1000markets
anne taintor cards
3d cat cards
cool pens
ella bloom nj
flyer to announce reopening of store
getting ready for easter
glen ridge eco fair

Satisfy Your Spirit

Today, Inauguration Day, was inspiring, exciting, special. Thanks to "Donnie Darko" that caused the water pipe to burst at Glenfield so I could spend this morning with my daughter, making waffles by request, and watching American History unfold. I am hopeful and grateful, for this chance for change, and awed at humanity's renewed energy. As we move forward with hope, my wish is to see entitlement melt away, priorities reorganized, and success achieved.

Mental Health Days

This week Adam and I went camping at Stokes State Forest. It was great to get away right before the election and before life gets busier in general. It was below freezing at night and very cold in the tent but we had a great hike and did lots of relaxing too. Here are some photos.

Rent, No Matter What

Nothing, not even sinus headaches and runny noses, could keep Abby and me from going to Clifton Commons today to see the film of the last performance of Rent on Broadway. We bought the tickets Friday night, before we were sick. Tissues and popcorn in hand, we thoroughly enjoyed the film, which was the last of the 4 day limited engagement. Now I'm going to take a nap.

Friends of Anderson Park Donation Raffle Basket

This is a basket I made as a donation to the Friends of Anderson Park for the raffle fund raiser they are holding at the park this Saturday, September 20th. They are raising money to plant trees and shrubs and to place the park on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The basket includes an oilcloth lunch bag, Montclair t-shirt, jumbo handlebar mustache, Democratic Dream coffee mug, Bookworm Giant Microbe, Bonechillers ice cube tray, Little Miss book, and a lot more!

Back In Time To The Music

Abby's camp wrapped up yesterday with the play "Back In Time to the Music". She played June, a flapper. Her song and acting were great and we were all proud of her! I forgot my camera and used my phone, sorry for the low quality pic.

Happy Birthday Abby!