I don’t think you need to be an animal lover, or even a lover of horses, to appreciate the elegance and spirit of the Friesians in this video. But if you are … prepare yourself for a real treat. The magnificence of these animals is simply moving.
KFPS Friesians will not allow the video to be embedded, and in fact, the horses will be much better appreciated full screen. Take a look and enjoy.
It can pretty much be summed up in one photo … fresh, local farm produce.
They don’t call New Jersey the Garden State for nothing! And even though many people have the sadly mistaken idea that New Jersey is all about the refineries and crammed highways that occupy a very small portion of the eastern part of the state, far more of the state is devoted to agriculture. In fact, New Jersey is the number one producer of blueberries in the nation, and second in cranberries. And anyone who’s ever been here knows there is nothing like a Jersey tomato.
This morning I passed the small farm stand in Alpha where I’d stopped last week. The corn is outstanding – I bought bi-color and white, both super-sweet – tomatoes, white peaches – yum! (see above) and a few other items. Starting in the spring, and straight through summer and fall, there are farmstands and farmers’ markets everywhere, and you can easily find whatever is in season. A farm more local to me, Phillips Farms in Holland Township, has “outreach” if you will, into the city. Their produce is featured in farmers’ markets in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. If you live in the city, check here to see where great produce is near you.)
So you can keep your heat, your humidity, and crazy weekend shore traffic. My summer leans towards great fresh food!
I’ll be honest – I started this post on June 3, shortly after I had seen the movie The Bridges of Madison County and compared it to the book. There’s no time like the present, someone once said, so I’m finally the getting this up as a post. As I look at the novels I currently have waiting to be read, I must admit I am often drawn to those where I could watch the movie version as well.
However, when I think about other books that I’ve read and their movie counterparts, the results are mixed. I’ve listed a bunch, and again, these are very personal preferences reflecting what I like to read and which movies I’d go see.
The Shipping News – Annie Proulx – both movie and book excellent!
Shawshank Redemption – Stephen King – really liked both
Silence of the Lambs – Thomas Harris – book so gripping I couldn’t put it down, movie was also gripping, but not quite as good, though truly terrifying
Red Dragon – Thomas Harris – Book was excellent – the prequel to Silence of the Lambs; movie a huge disappointment, and almost nothing like the book
Because of Winn Dixie – Kate DiCamillo – both excellent, book still a bit better
The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd – book excellent, movie really quite good
Lord of the Rings – R.R.Tolkien, Harry Potter Series – J.K. Rowling, Narnia Series – C.S. Lewis – I lump these together – perhaps unfairly – because they are all series, fantasy and of epic proportions in film. I loved the books that I read from these series, and that was not always all of them, but I really loved the movies, too. Either way, you can’t lose.
White Oleander – Janet Fitch – Outstanding book, couldn’t put it down; the movie not really even worth seeing
The Invention of Hugo Cabret – Brian Selznick – I like the storyline, but it wasn’t a favorite book of mine; Martin Scorsese really brought the story to life. Preferred the movie.
2001: A Space Odyssey – Arthue C. Clarke – Movie by Stanley Kubrick – One of my favorite movies, and I feel it far outshined the book, but I’m real biased on this one.
The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan – an amazingly complex and engrossing book; the movie couldn’t possibly carry the book’s richness. Book better by far.
The Devil Wears Prada – Lauren Weisberger – Here’s a case where the movie was just fabulous and fabulously funny. I got the book after seeing the movie and was disappointed.
The Horse Whisperer – Nicholas Evans – I saw the movie first on this one and it was excellent, so I read the book. Also excellent and I’d recommend both.
Well, that’s my two cents. Do you have a loved book that was made into a movie and a thought or two about it? Or a great movie and the book you read later? Let us know!
Perhaps one of the most notable landmarks in Hunterdon County, NJ – if not the most notable – is Clinton’s Red Mill. It is rich in history, the museum grounds host all type of events including historical reenactments and music festivals, and annually, the museum itself offers one of the best known and most frightening Halloween hauntings for miles around. It is also one of the most photographed landmarks. Meeting a friend in Clinton over the weekend, I took the opportunity of photographing it myself from a few angles.
From the Leigh St. bridge
From the banks of the South Branch of the Raritan River, on which the mill sits
From a small park along the river further north
Should you visit Clinton, it will be hard to miss the Red Mill, but if you check their web site, you can time your visit with one of many events either at the mill or in the lovely town of Clinton. (I see the museum is showing Hugo outdoors on August 3!)
Note: All photos/drawings/art/images throughout this blog are © Jeanne Balsam and may not be reproduced without written permission. Thank you!
As I was perusing last Sunday’s Parade magazine, I noted a small mention of a new children’s book – The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by TV’s Glee star, Chris Colfer, (he plays Kurt Hummel.) At first, I sighed. It sure helps if you’re famous, I thought. This is not to say that Colfer’s book isn’t fabulous – it may very well be – but the road to getting published for the rest of us is a long one, it seems.
I couldn’t help but wonder … with so many celebrities being published in children’s books … can they all really be such talented writers? Or I am just experiencing a moment of weariness on my own path?
Here are just a few of the celebrities who have published children’s books – Jay Leno, Queen Latifah, Jamie Lee Curtis, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Tim McGraw, John Lithgow, Jeff Foxworthy, LeAnn Rimes, Ray Romano, Brooke Shields, Jerry Seinfeld, Henry Winkler, George Forman, Will Smith, John Travaolta, Katie Couric … and the list goes on.
It almost makes me wish I were famous, too, but for one thing …
There is one glowing gem in all of this … my journey to being published is just that … a journey. It’s been a road with delays and frustrations at times, it’s true, but also one with an endless and continuing richness of experience in the children’s book world, the company of friends and colleagues along my path, and a constant and evolving education on what constitutes a great children’s book. I know, when I am published, it will not be because I’m famous; it will be because I have written and illustrated something that is truly worthy of being in the hands of a child.
And that really counts for something.
Life is an interesting journey. Here are journals, stories, reflections of a traveller of this journey. (songoftheheartsite@gmail.com)
Sharing my journey of a calm, intentional life.
Sharing Information About Writing and Illustrating for Children
Aren't songs of grief lullabies to the lost?
Immersive Tales for the Curious Explorer
Life in a flash - a bi-weekly storytelling blog
Becky Ross Michael: author & editor
Observing, Gathering, Gleaning, Sharing
Official Home of Lavinia and Rick Ross
Thoughts on life, writing, creativity and magic
Canadian Author & Memoir Writing Coach
Still A Dreamer 