so, i’m having a baby!  hence, my new desire to blog all things baby-to-be.  i miss belocaling but just cant bring myself to update.  i am sure some of you can relate.

good news is that i’m still sharing at babynotes.tumblr.com.  if you’re into babies, having babies, know babies, perhaps you’ll be interested in checking it out and sharing with me there. 

i’m itching to tell you how much i like chimney hill estate and inn in hunterdon county, nj right outside of lambertsville

and how much i hated (though thats normally not my style) hamanasset bed and breakfast in brandywine, pa.  good to know though is that the river museum in brandywine is so lovely - the building itself and the art gallery within

and that if you are in the catskills near pheonecia or big indian you must MUST must visit Yvonne at her house where she is still selling home cooked pot pies and jams and all things yummy - on route 28, passing Pheonecia heading north look on your left for her handmade signs.  

but, i’d so much rather look at nurseries and pick out mobiles.  

no doubt i’ll be back - eventually.  please feel free to message me any questions for suggestions, etc. 

My Top 5 Counties to Get Away To in Summer (when distance matters)

1. Ulster County, NY - trees and sweet air and fresh produce and creeks and art and stars and side-of-the-road finds all centrally located to dip into the other lovely neighboring upstate counties; 120 minutes 

2./3. Bucks County, PA/Hunterdon County, NJ - inns and galleries and flea/antique markets and lots of open land straddling the Delaware River with Jersey on one side and Pennsylvania on the other; an amazing 90 minutes flat

4. New London County, CT - sea air and old nooks and crannies and winding back roads and lobster all beautifully drawn out on those colorful tourist maps you can find in every shop on the Main Streets; 180 minutes on a good day

5. Monmouth County, NJ - beaches and farm stands and ice cream and light houses and miniature golf where the summer woozy nights are short and sweet; 60 minutes of reckless driving

(Via WhatisFresh)

Last week, I braved the BQE, navigated the Verrazano, and drove to Pittstown, NJ.  Sixty miles away and one hundred sixty acres translated to a different world from where I had been a mere hour before. Oak Grove Plantation is an entirely family-run farm that grows an enormous variety of fruits, vegetables, plants, and herbs, in addition to onsite milling and hog operations…

click pic for more

mark your calendars

The 28th Annual Festival of Ballooning in Readington, New Jersey

July 23 - 25th, 2010

125 special shaped balloons, hot air balloon rides, concerts, flying acrobats, people jumping from planes, carnival games, fireworks and more - this is quite the spectacle. 

click the pic

Rice’s Market in New Hope, PA

This is insane - a 30 acre outdoor flea/farmers/artisan market that is a mash up of Canal Street, Chelsea Flea Garages and the most local town’s greenmarket.  Just about a 90 minute drive from NYC, Rice’s Market is family run and been around since 1860.   Open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7 am - 1 pm.

Make a weekend out of it and explore more of the beauty of Bucks county and the neighboring Hunterdon County in Jersey. 

pics from their facebook fan page.

WEEKEND GETAWAY

Riverbank Arts and Meil’s Restaurant and Phillips’ Fine Wines and Liquors in Stockton, NJ

Compared to its neighbors Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA Stockton is this tiny jewel in Hunterdon County on the Delaware River.  A New Hope local artist told me to go to Stockton for the restaurant Miehl’s and Phillips’ Wines, though warned me that is all there is to it.  I would knight him ‘best local advice giver ever’ if he had included Riverbank Arts, quite possibly my favorite gallery find to date.  Overall, I can’t use enough good adjectives when describing my evening in Stockton.  If you are anywhere near the area, plan an evening there for comfort food at Meil’s (all homemade from local fresh ingredients), prepare for the BYOB by stopping into the enormous Phillips’ Fine Wines and then feast your eyes on Riverbank Arts.  Like a packed bookstore full to the brim with books, Riverbank Arts showcases the work of over 300 artists and has art pouring out of every crevice of the gallery. Owner and artist, Susan Roseman, told me that she just cant turn an artist away.  It is simply a most inviting place and the perfect start to an evening at Meil’s.  Even more so than New Hope (yeah, I said it), I’m excited to share Stockton with family and friends.