Take Time to Refind What You Love

At noon I had the decision to go to the pool or go to the beach.  Only one week left of summer, so I decided to go to the beach.  I went to get a daily badge and found a really cool store: http://www.Refind43.com/ I bought a necklace with a key and she wrapped it in blue and white fabric with twine(pictured on the left).  I walked to the beach and the only thing between the beach and my car was a trail of petunias and hydrangeas.  I read part of my book....the best part so far, found some sea glass, cooled off in the ocean and stared at the sand so long it started to sparkle.  Got back into the car and heard the song "People Have the Power" by Patty Smith.  I thought we sure do!  We have the power to make or break our own day.  I am so glad I made the decision to go to the beach.  Then driving right towards me was a Volkswagen bus the color of the sea glass in the picture above(the one on bottom right) It was that color and white and all the silver was shining and there was one of those huge racks on top for suitcases.  I did a heavy swoon and gave the driver a thumbs up.  So, I guess I am having a pretty good day so far!

Pleasant Valley Sunday

So, with the vacations over for the summer, I am trying to make the most of every single day off I have.  I think of all the things I want to do, and see if I can accomplish it.  I was reading about the Lavender Farm about twenty minutes from my home and realized I could fit that in with a trip to the food store.  

 Avie was very helpful telling me the  about the English and French lavender and how to take care of them once I took them home.  I plan on planting them close to the entry of our home.

Since, the idea of moving was planted back in my head about ten years ago, I stopped buying a lot of things.  It has always helped my mood and was pretty hard for me to do.  So, really back when Boscov's closed in 2008 and we knew eventually we were putting the house on the market, I started selling my things and downsizing.  Now, that I am back to work full time I like to indulge in buying something here and there.  I bought the beautiful Laura Ashley quilt a few weeks ago, and took a picture with some of the lavender I bought.  I bought a lavender spray for the store, too.  It really was a treat, and my favorite part was the scent of the air as the  wind blew.  Lavender always reminded me of my grandmother.  It also reminded me of when I worked at Crabtree & Evelyn or  the soap store as my kids referred to it.  Nancy, the owner, had huge jars of lavender and when residents moved back into their summer homes they would fill up bags to help with the musty smell of being closed all winter.  I am thrilled there is a Lavender farm in New Jersey and that Carole King's song Pleasant Valley Sunday was written for the Monkee's in New Jersey.  So much to be proud of without looking very hard.

Thank you for sending a thank you!

Thoughtful Tuesday here to share a few thoughts.  I have a strong belief system in how you think is how you feel.  I believe in vacations no matter how happy you are in a job.  Your mind and body need some time to rest and relax.  I still can't believe how well my vacation went.  I never wrote down, but I did tell a co-worker, when I sat down in my car to go to my first day back to work, the radio was playing Lighthouse by Ziggy Marley.  I smiled all the way on my commute to work, even when I was stuck in traffic on the Driscoll bridge.  Sometimes, if we can take the most simple things and be grateful for them, it will get you through the toughest time.

I am so grateful we were able to open our store in Convention Hall this summer.  It is challenging to work full time and have the store and not burn out.  I am so grateful to my husband, daughter and her friend Katie who have carried the weight of working at the store.  I am so grateful we are having beautiful weather this summer, because that is the most important part of having business in our store.  I am so grateful to our customers, who tell us how cool we are.  I am so grateful for channel 12 news for featuring our store.  If there is anything I would have wished for this summer would be something on TV to share what my husband makes and they covered it beautifully.  I am thankful for our customers who, still send cards in the mail.  I am thankful for our customers who still play records or appreciate the beauty of them enough to hang them on the wall as a clock.  I am thankful  to all the Bruce, Frank Sinatra, BonJovi fans who make pilgramages to places like Asbury Park, Red Bank and Hoboken.  I am thankful for my son playing in bands and enjoying music so much.  I am grateful to the Billy Walton Band whose music soothes my soul every week and all the friends and family of the members who make us feel like part of a family.  I am grateful both my children have started full time work.  And last but not least I am thanking someone who sent me  a thank you.  Just putting it out there, never knowing whether she will get my thank you for her thank you.  It has been said in proper etiquette there is no need to thank someone for a thank you.  But, isn't that silly?  Our lives are so busy, what is wrong with that?  I appreciate anyone who still takes the time to write an handwritten note.  Ok, now I can't stop but, I am thankful I am still writing a blog since, I have started in 2008.  It goes to show how much I enjoy it and it helps me immensely.  

Final thought is I am thankful for ebay for making buying items so easy.  It gives the opportunity to having a garage sale at your finger tips at all times.  I am looking forward to when I have more time in January to give it more of a chance to sell items.  I tried it and had a little success.  It was really fun.  But, I am always afraid I am too busy and  I won't have the follow through.  I am looking forward to selling more on it next year. 

The Promised Land

So, my vacation I wanted to document a trip to the seven coastal lighthouses in New Jersey.  I am so proud to have finished the goal and document it through words and pictures.  What I wish I could bottle up and share is the serendipity of moments of the trip.  I was able to do this on facebook, but as I would write on the blog some time would go by and the excitement would have fizzled.  But, lately the song I have heard on the radio, (especially on my vacation) would coincide with everything I was seeing.  It was crazy!!!!  I really loved it.  It was as if I had this secret companion.  This support system that seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear at the exact time I was seeing something.....what an amazing.....amazing feeling.  And one that I was feeling all by myself.  Sometimes I feel the need of having company to enjoy life.  But, I am really terrible when I feel the NEED to have a companion all of the time.  It is relaxing for me to just be myself and just soak all the moments in and breath out with no conversation.  This post is celebrating that.
  The last leg of my journey included the Twin Lighthouses in Atlantic Highlands and the Lighthouse in Sandy Hook.  I became totally distracted by Fort Hancock.  It is so haunting to me.  Of course, there would be some attachment to Bruce Springsteen as he just filmed his newest video there called:  Hunter of Invisible Games.  As I watched the video I knew I had seen the backround before.  But, as I am driving by I am listening to a concert.  He starts talking about Asbury Park.....I didn't write it down.....damn.  But, hopefully I will figure it out....it was a July 27th concert I think the 2003 one and it is a nice shout out to Asbury Park and how the Art World is helping with the rising and for the concert goers to support the city....he dedicates this song as I am riding by the empty officers houses...I decide to video tape it, so I hope by this time you can really feel how truly amazing this journey was, full of serendipity.  I feel such an attachment with the Jersey Shore and want only the best for it.  I have a hard time with the politics of what is happening, but have only high hopes that everyone involved with the future of coastline is that it will all be for the good.  And, that means for all to enjoy and a true reflection of what our country is all about.  I want people (tourists) to come back and enjoy all that New Jersey offers including Atlantic City.  I want us to rise up and move forward, not backwards.  Let's think of what is going to waste and what is being enjoyed.

 This is a Sunday afternoon.....beautiful day.

 Ironic........the twin lighthouses were the end of my journey.  Just like my life.......my children who are twins are the enrichment in my life.

And, so worth when you would actually make the venture up the stairs.  The views and vista was well worth making your legs a little sore and wobbly.  So, a lot of little life lessons learned here at my Jersey
Ger's Lighthouse tour of the shore.  Most of all, the promise you make to yourself is the most important promise to fulfill.  Then if you are in a position to  promise  others, be prepared to  never promise anything you can not fulfill........the feeling is never worth it.  I will pray for all the caretakers, members of the government, landowners and anyone else who make promises.......  be the best for our Jersey Shore and keep your promises.

Land of Hopes and Dreams

Very ironic that every picture I have tried to load into this post........is not loading.  Very frustrating and that is not the point of this story.  I will try again later and hope I didn't lose any pictures.  I did visit all seven lighthouses that dot the Jersey Shoreline from Sandy Hook down to Cape May.  I am sort of glad that I can't finish this at this moment or anytime too soon.  I will have to take my computer and phone and figure out how to get some more memory on the both.  I think my memory has been tested lately too and wish I could take myself to a Mac store and see what they can figure out ;).  But, really happy with how I spent my vacation and documented it and now happy to give the phone and the computer a rest for a while.  Meet me in this Land of Hopes and Dreams.

I Believe in Mermaids

 Barnegat lighthouse just wasn't calling my name yesterday.  I took beautiful pictures and enjoyed the cool breeze of the inlet.  But, I had passed by some stores on the way that called my name more then the 217 steps did.  My legs stopped aching but, I wasn't ready to make them feel like that again.

 My story of making this Mermaid is a long one, and I think I should write about it while it is fresh in my memory but, so much happened yesterday.  I think I will wait until I pick up the finished mermaid in a couple of weeks.

I can't wait to get back there.  The stores and the experience were as magical as mermaids.

 The stores were an open door to inspiration.

 I walked out of the one above sort of in a fuzzy zone and thought I really need to get to the beach.  The store How To Live was at the top of the list and a few miles back on the southside of the island in Beach Haven.  I was debating what to do as I walked to my car.  I looked across the street and there it was their second location.  I bought some cards I will share in another post.  I headed for my car for my beach chair and walked to Surf City's beach.

 The night before I did some reading about the type of shells you can find on the island.  I saw a shell I had been picking up lately and never knew the name of it and it said they are known as mermaid toe nails.  When I went to put my toes in the water I picked up quite a few of these shells.

 When I sat back down......I couldn't help but, put the shells on my toes for a picture.

 This is from a sign at Anchor's Bend which is located across from the store.  I went in to see if they could put the news on from Channel 12 and this is what was on.  We were interviewed and landed on the website and the news!  WOW!!!!!!   What a day!!!!!

Here's a link to the video and thank you to New 12 team for giving us key chains and T- shirts bearing the name News 12 on the Road which are perfect!!!!!  Thank you also for showing so much product.  We couldn't ask for a better exposure to all of the creations Glen has been so busy making all summer!   http://newjersey.news12.com/multimedia/otr-asbury-park-greetings-from-geralyn-1.8894943  

Wish for What You Want

So, my wish is to keep making product for the store with only materials I have around the house.  Sometimes it gets a little boring and I need some kind of motivation.  Getting out and looking in gift stores really helps me focus and visualize what I could make.

 Above  are the boxes I made yesterday.  We have a ton of cigar boxes we use to make boxes from record covers and sleeves.  I was inspired to make what I call Dream Keepers.  A box to hold lottery tickets, concert tickets, words to songs, prayers, love letters etc.

 These are cards and lined envelopes I made from record sleeves.  I love these!  I can't wait to make more.

The little box I bought and it was my inspiration for my boxes.   Also, this is a picture of  what I would put in my dream keeper.  It would be about time I put the bamboozle bracelet somewhere other then my  night stand.  The gold circle on the leather strap is an actual brass ring from the carousel in Asbury Park.  It was gold leafed and put on a leather cord to be worn as a necklace.  It was made from a very good friend and I wear it a lot.  Especially times when I just feel I need some reassurance and hopefulness.  She is not online and we used to spend a lot of time in the Grand Arcade.  I really miss her and our chats.  Especially our chats about Convention Hall and it's future.  I think I will e-mail her this post, so she knows how much I miss her.  Alright, I am inspired to make some more products for the store.  Today I will be making postcards!