Camping the Delaware Water Gap

Last weekend Adrian and I headed to the New Jersey/ Pennsylvania boarder to go camping for the weekend. We stayed at Camp Taylor lot 81. Adrian is a master camper, here he is showing how they made fires in the old days.

And we have FIRE

Breakfast the first day. Apples, Cheese Quesadillas, and cheesy eggs. It was delicious.

Our tent before the rain storm.

We rented a canoe and went down the Delaware. It was a lot more paddling then I would of liked, especially when the wind was blowing against us. However there were three places with stage one rapids. One was right on the other side of this bridge. I got soaked going through two of these rapid spots... and may of screamed a little as well.

Luckily Adrian likes to paddle

and climb rock ledges

So I could kick back and relax for part of the ride.

After surviving a thunderstorm night, the sun came out and we went for a hike. There was a 500 ft. climb straight up, but then we had this marvelous view.

And big rocks to jump off of on top.

Since we were in the Poconos I had to do a little Dirty Dancing on a log.

Live at the Gantries

A former Manhattanite attempts to ride the G train

Warning: this sign is incorrect... apparently it never extends. I ended up riding the G one stop to Court Square and barely get off in time before it turned around and went back.

Maintenance train in the subway station.

Happy 4th of July!

Wandering on the waterfront & around my neighborhood

The abandoned castle on Roosevelt island. Named, Renwick Ruins for the architect it was originally a small pox hospital and is now New York's only landmarked ruins.

This Pepsi Cola sign has been facing Manhattan from Queens for 72 years. It was recently dismantled and relocated to this spot near my building after needing to be moved when the Pepsi plant closed in 1999.
The fabulous grassy Gantry state park.

Gantry: Used to load and unload rail car floats and barges

The two gantries remaining in the park, are the parks namesake along with a reminder of the shores past. The building in the middle is mine.

On my way to and from the subway I pass this community garden.

Yesterday it was open so I took a stroll through.

Made from old tile flooring...

There was an area in the back where I could bring things to compost.

LIC Bar- Haven't yet been but want to go soon. Wooden floors and a garden area in back.

Living Room/Library/Garden/entertainment center

My window garden. The basil is doing amazingly well. I've even had some of it. The rosemary and thyme on the other hand isn't looking as good and I'm not sure how to use it, any suggestions?

My bookcase that used to be on my bed. My bed won't be surrounded by walls in my new place so I had to find a new location for the bookcase.

A girl cooks in Queens

My new kitchen!!! I'm very excited that cooking will no longer a challenge of balancing things all over the place and that I will get more exercise having to walk all over the kitchen when before I could reach everything I needed in the kitchen from one spot. But a kitchen of this caliber is nothing without food to cook.

I was told that the supermarket across the street was like a whole foods... Its a bit fancier. While whole foods at least has a store brand, this place was all premium food with lots of organics.

A few things I picked up: edamame, cabot shredded cheese (I must admit it is better, but not worth the price tag), and marinated artichoke hearts (yummy with some whole wheat pasta).

The fancy store was fun, but expensive and didn't have some of my essential ingredients. In steps Adrian&Car. We drove to Western Beef. I was a little timid to get out of the car. The store is bright orange and has poles around the entire building to keep people from taking the carts, but once I entered my excitement grew. There were sales and deals everywhere!
The store definitely had a Mexican flare with the largest Goya selection I have ever seen. The most interesting aspect of the store was the meat/dairy section. Its in a giant freezer that you just walk in to. I was wearing flip flops and a summer dress... next time I'll pack the winter coat. The cheese and meat selection was unreal. The butcher was in there too with meat hanging behind him. I ended up getting enough meat to last me awhile, but with the grills available on my terrace I figured I needed to get burgers. Two of my selections are below. The Fruta is pureed fruit that you mix with milk, sugar, and ice for a drink/desert. I can't wait to try it.

PS... I do usually use reusable grocery bags, but at my new place I'm low on trash bags, so I'm replenishing my stash.

Gazing out the window

View of Manhattan and the East River during the day.

Same view of Manhattan yesterday during a heavy downpour.

Wednesday I was watching the local Fox morning show only to see the weather man reporting live from Gantry State Park. I looked out my window and sure enough, there he was Mike Woods (in the mint green polo) reporting live.


The view of Greenpoint, Brooklyn from my apartment... this window is a little dirty (those aren't black spots in the clouds).