One Year Ago Today... Oh, Sandy!

One year ago today, Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast. The devastation was simply mind-blowing. So on this anniversary, I thought I'd give you a look back at my own personal view of the after-effects of one very scary day and one terrifying night...

I've been absent for quite awhile because Hurricane Sandy swooped in and devastated parts of New Jersey! But, wow! We made it. We’re safe. We’re so, so, so, very lucky! Hurricane Sandy hit the New Jersey shore on Monday, October 29th and she was relentless. I’m sure many of you saw the destruction she caused on TV. It’s really heartbreaking. 

this gazebo is from the OTHER side of the lake!!

I live 3 blocks from the shore and 2 blocks from a lake and the Atlantic Ocean actually came up to our front steps!

I had some damage to the third floor studio. . . an entire piece of wall caved in during the height of the storm! 

And it was just me bracing myself against it at the height of the storm with 70mph winds, while I tried to drag a dresser over to keep it from completely caving in! Then we found a neighbor to help us batten down the hatches and as he was putting the last screw in.... Poof! The electricity went out. And stayed out for 11 days. Yes, 11 days. It was cold. I was cranky. It was a whole new world. An Amish life. It was like indoor camping. Not only that but our cellphone towers were knocked out. So there was no way to communicate with friends and loved ones for quite a few days. 

We're back up and running now and I'm trying to catch up on 2 weeks worth of life, work and sleep! I could tell you all the stories I heard, but I'm sure you all saw more than me on the television (that we were without for nearly 2 weeks!). So I'll just let the pictures tell most of the story of our little square mile that is Ocean Grove... which was lucky!

Neighbor's gigantic that did not hit our house!!

Lots of fish on the streets and sidewalks.

End of pier and fishing house gone!

The debris and cars just floated everywhere. This is a few blocks in from the beach.

And so is this!

Bulldozers piled all the sand from the roads back up toward the beach before another Nor'Easter hit only days later!

The boardwalk actually has so many peaks and valleys now... that it looks like a roller coaster. But the funny thing about the shore and the people that live here is that they were walking on it like nothing ever happened. We're just like that. We live at the shore. These things happen. We stay strong and we rebuild. We work together and help each other. Neighbors helping neighbors. And that's the beauty that comes out of something like this. Amen!

Update: So other than the third floor damage you saw in my post, we had flooding in the basement and plenty of roofing issues with the high winds from the hurricane. After lots and lots and lots of conversations with the insurance company and FEMA, all the construction and replacement work has finally been completed. Our tiny town of Ocean Grove is actually back up and running. But I cannot say the same for others. In times of distress we really do help each other and work together... but the point of all this is to remember that's the way it's supposed to be all the time. So let's not forget it. Let's not make it take more disasters to remember. We are all in this thing we call life... together. So let's just help each other out all the time.

Michelle
xoxo

Oh, Sandy!

In case you hadn't heard... there's like this little storm brewing off the eastern United States. Her name is Hurricane Sandy and she's heading right for New Jersey and is expected to land sometime later this evening! Although we've been feeling the effects since early Saturday.

I happen to live in central New Jersey... 3 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and 2 blocks from a local lake. And so this morning, my mom and I took a ride down to the beach to check out the morning high tide situation. I was pleased to see that the waves weren't even as high as they were on Sunday around 4:00pm.

...and that the ocean's edge had not even reached the boardwalk yet. This is good. But the relentless waves and wind were still making their presence known to our tiny little fishing pier.

My family and I have chosen to stay. If there are any water surges, they aren't like tidal waves that overtake the streets... it's more like a creeping water level you can see or react to in plenty of time. If we lose power, I'd rather be in my dark house than a dark hotel room. My 2 kitties agree!

I'll be posting more as the storm progresses. You can follow me on Twitter or check out what's happening on my Facebook page. For everyone in the path of this storm... stay safe and stay smart!

Happy Independence Day!

I know it's a day early, but hopefully you won't be on the computer tomorrow. Instead you might be at an old timey 4th of July parade, or at a yummy BBQ, hanging with family and friends, sunning on the beach, going to a local fair, or any number of fun summertime activities.

I'll be heading into town for Ocean Grove's annual parade... then to the beach for a bit... and finally, drinks at the Watermark in Asbury, with a roofless view of the firework celebration. I hope you have a happy and safe holiday!

Thoughtful Thursdays: Down Time!

Can I just say how happy I am that it's Summer? Here at the shore, I call it summer as soon as Memorial Day weekend rolls around. Well, actually I call it Summer as soon as a weekend day that's over 70° rolls around. And I just love to spend my down time at the beach. It's only a short 3-block walk from my house, and I love to bring lots of reading material, sketchbooks, pencils, and other projects I might be working on at the moment. I've pinned sewing projects, cut out material, stuffed dolls, collaged, pasted, painted, glued and journaled on the sandy shores of Ocean Grove, New Jersey! And sometimes, I just sit quietly in my beach chair and do nothing but listen to the waves crashing and the seagulls cawing. It's a total recharge for me.

So... what's your favorite Summer down time activity?

Thoughtful Thursdays: A Look Back!

This Christmas and New Year brought some absolutely gorgeous, early Spring-like weather to the New Jersey coast. Being grateful sometimes makes you think of why you are. So I thought you might enjoy a look back at my blog post from right about this time last year...

Well, I'd love to say that as a work-at-home artist, I am diligently working away on this Monday. But I would be fibbing. I am actually still in my pajamas... I mean, who is going to come to my door today? In fact... being the tiniest town within the Township of Neptune, Ocean Grove is always the last to have their streets plowed. And the likes of this snow is something else. Perhaps they'll get to us around Wednesday?

Here's a few highlights from the neighborhood. Although they are all taken from inside my house as I can only open the door this much right now...

This is our neighbor's house... what you see here is her front door and the clothes line! There is no working back door! Good thing she is away visiting her son!

View from the front porch...

Duuuuude... where's my car?

Neighbor's house directly across the street. Check out the snowdrift on the right side of the house!

Good thing it's plastic "wicker" furniture...

Winds still whipping the snow around...

Various neighbors digging out. We're going to wait until the plows come through though.

   

Whew! What a difference a year makes!

Thoughtful Thursdays: The Beach!

Having grown up near the Jersey coast, my love of the beach took hold a very long time ago. Today, I am lucky enough to live in a quaint little Victorian shore town called Ocean Grove. So, you might have guessed that Summer is my favorite time of year. I love going to the beach with my mixed-media magazines, sketchbook and colored pencils, or perhaps an interesting art project that's "portable". 

However, sitting around doing nothing but listening to the waves crashing with my toes in the warm sand ain't bad either!

And there's plenty of wildlife to watch as well. Birds, fish, little crawly creatures, and the like!

And if you get tired of just sitting around (which does not happen that often, for me at least)... you can always take a stroll on the boardwalk. I just love the clip-clop sound of my flip-flops on the aged wood!

But no matter what time of day it is... what season it is... what mood I'm in... or why I felt the need to go there.... the beach is always a place of inspiration for me.

Whether it's the gorgeous colors of nature, the shells that collect at the edge of the sea, or the serenity that I feel when I'm there... for me it's like going home again.

I'd love to know... what places inspire you?

SUN-day...

More hurricanes visiting this weekend at the Jersey shore... but oddly enough... the rain stopped and the sun came out today! So, as my rule goes...

If the sun is shining and it is at least 70º out... I must go to the beach!

I did some sunning, some reading, and listened to some relaxation CDs. I also did a little beachcombing and found this really interesting piece of driftwood. Did someone carve it that way? Is it some kind of wormwood? Did it happen naturally? Hmmmm.....

Bill Visits The Jersey Shore...

Hurricane Bill dropped by for a short visit to the Jersey shore this weekend. But that didn't stop the local fishermen, parasailers, beachgoers, surfers and the all-around curious from coming to enjoy the festivities. Waves were high... crashing loudly... you could hear them as far as a mile from the shore!

Oh Noooo... Mr. Dog Toy?

You never know what you'll find washed up on the beaches of Ocean Grove! This weekend I came across a blowfish dog toy sitting right at the edge of the shore. I don't think he really likes the water! Oh noooo...

Yay... The Sun Came Out... Yay!

Wow! I really can't believe it. We finally had two great beach days over the weekend. I spent every possible moment sitting in the sand and soaking up the sun. I even plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. The waves were great. Ahhhhh... sweet relief.

I Know, I Know... But It's The Law!

Okay, I know I should be packing and shopping and sorting and getting ready to leave for Art & Soul in two days! But it was 80 degrees on Sunday, not a cloud in the sky, with a gentle breeze blowing. Here in a shore town, it's kind of "the law" that on the first nice day of Spring you have to go to the beach. So I snuck down for 2-1/2 hours. But I still cut my hair, washed my car and picked out my wardrobe. Tomorrow's another story...

Clear The Mind...

Took a walk on the beach the other day to clear my mind. But I always find good stuff when I go there... so I make sure to bring a ziplock bag now. I discovered lots of glass from an historic building being torn down, tons of my favorite shells, some sea glass, and even a skull of some sort. All-in-all a very good haul... and I did manage to clear my head too.

A Walk On The Sand Clears The Mind...

Yesterday was a really strange weather day... windy, cloudy, and very warm. It had to be over 60 degrees! Which, in a New Jersey winter is like a heatwave. So I took a walk down to the beach. It was so nice. And theraputic too! I was feeling a little under the weather (no pun intended!) and it was good to get out of the house and stretch the legs. And what a place to stretch them! I'm pretty lucky.

It's Still Summer Today!

One more day at the beach! Yay! 80 degrees, light northerly wind. Waves crashing. Seagulls cawing... ahh, it's still Summer today!