Happy New Year 2013

The HNJJ crew's traditional New Year's song - Mama Cass Elliot (1941-1974) performing New World Coming...

There's a New World Coming
And it's just around the bend
There's a new world coming
This one's coming to an end

There's a new voice calling
You can hear it if you try
And it's growing stronger
With each day that passes by

There's a brand new morning
Rising clear and sweet and free
There's a new day dawning
That belongs to you and me

Yes a new world's coming
The one we've had visions of
Coming in peace, coming in joy, coming in love

Santa Visits Hillsborough

Santa Claus visited Hillsborough's Municipal Building yesterday evening, arriving by fire truck, helping the mayor light the tree, and then settling into his house to listen to Christmas lists...

A Visit from St. Nick...

Over the last month-and-a-half, New Jersey residents have gotten used to events being rescheduled due to weather...So, Hillsborough's tree lighting ceremony and visit from Santa Claus (originally scheduled for last Friday), will be this evening:

According to the township, the following activities are planned:

•6:30 p.m. arrive and enjoy carols performed by members of the Hillsborough High School Choral •Fire barrels for marshmallow roasting
•Live animals from Norz Hill Farms
•Christmas Tree decorating by local organizations
•Hot Chocolate and Cookies to snack on
•7 p.m. Santa arrives to greet Hillsborough Township, followed by visits with him at the North Pole

 
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Photograph taken at the 2012 Hunterdon County Court House Quilters show.

Choosing Paint Colors...

The HNJJ post today is short and to the point because we had to spend a lot of time choosing the exact color that we want for some construction being done...

We picked Sahara Dunes Desert, number 1073.  Our contractor calls it "tan" or "beige".

Any homeowner doing any work on their house should watch Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

Rutgers Environmental Steward Class Sign-up

Hillsborough residents are lucky that the central Jersey Rutgers Cooperative Extension's Environmental Steward classes are offered right here at Duke Farms.  Sign-up for the class of 2013 has now started.  From their press release:

Consider joining the 2013 class of Rutgers Cooperative Extension's Environmental Steward training which will be offered in Atlantic, Warren, and Somerset counties, from January to June.
The curriculum is designed to introduce non-scientists to the science underlying key environmental issues in the Garden State. Leading authorities from academia are joined by colleagues from government and the non-profit sector to share understanding and insights with the students. “Students do not only receive facts, but also are introduced to a network of expert individuals and organizations who can be of service to them in the future as they wrestle with solving local environmental problems” said Bruce Barbour, Extension Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the programs originator.

Recruitment has begun for the Rutgers Environmental Steward Class of 2013. To learn how you can become a Rutgers Environmental Steward contact the appropriate coordinator for your region.

Training is regional. Please direct any questions about registration or schedules to the coordinator of the region in which you expect to attend classes:

Central/Duke
Training Location: Duke Farms, Hillsborough, NJ
Normal Class Time: Tuesdays, January to May, 2013; 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cost: $250
Contact: Rosalie Kelly, rkelly@ddcf.org , Duke Farms Foundation, 80 Route 206, Hillsborough, New Jersey 08844 (908) 243-3602

More information including application forms and the current schedule for lectures can be found on the web at envirostewards.rutgers.edu .

Duke Farms Re-opened

According to the Duke Farms website, "Duke Farms fully opened!!!"

"We are thrilled to announce Duke Farms is fully open to the public for the first time since Hurricane Sandy! Our latest blog will get you to take a new look at trees when you visit."

2012 Holidays and Hurricane Sandy

Due to Hurricane Sandy much of New Jersey missed Halloween and there was the feeling that Thanksgiving was just a few days to finish cleaning up.

But the holiday shopping season has arrived and the HNJJ crew discovered that many of the items they wrapped to give as presents were chosen as a result of the hurricane.

Suddenly a nice Coleman camping lantern seems like a great family gift...accompanied by a few extra batteries. Classic board games.  Flannel nightgowns.  Firewood. A container-grown or balled-in-burlap evergreen, maybe with a few ornaments on it, is the perfect present to restart landscaping that has been decimated. Replacement outdoor furniture or birdhouses or birdfeeders.

If you really want to go for it...a nice portable generator. Throw in an extra shiny-red gas can.

On a more personal note, look closely at the photo and notice the broken grill that was blown over on the patio...