"I'd like to thank the Academy..."

Do you remember the photo contest I entered this summer?  Well, I didn't win a big screen TV, but with your votes, I had two of my photos included in the book of New Jersey photos!

Isn't that neat?  You might remember the yellow foxglove photo (above),  or the photo of beach umbrellas at Wildwood Crest (below).

This was just such a kick for me, to see my photos in this really beautiful book.  Thank you SO MUCH for your votes -- your support means the world to me, and I couldn't have done it without all of you.  :)

Mary's Story

Last week, I showed you some photos from this historic church and cemetery in my town.  In addition to being a beautiful place to visit, it is also quite interesting.  There are 35 Revolutionary War soldiers interred here, as well as two United States' senators, one member of the House of Representatives, and at least one slave.  

But here is the story of  a simple wife and mother, who lived an extraordinary life:  

This is the gravestone of Mary Kinnan.  Sorry about the quality of the photo -- I had a hard time getting a clear shot of it.  It is very faded.  But here is Mary's story:

She was born Mary Lewis in Basking Ridge in 1763.  At the age of 15, she married Joseph Kinnan.  Together they moved west to farm in a place called Tygart's Valley, Virginia.

Eventually, they shared their home with two sons and a daughter.  Also living with them was Mary's brother, Jacob Lewis, and a woman named Margaret Ward and her son.  Margaret was the widow of a soldier who had served in the Revolutionary War with Mary's husband, Joseph.

In 1791, three renegade Shawnee braves attacked the farm, killing Joseph and their daughter.  Mary's two sons, her brother Jacob, and Margaret and her son all managed to escape.  Mary was taken captive to Ohio, and then to the Detroit area.

After three years, she managed to get a message to an Army courier, who promised to deliver it to Mary's brother back in Basking Ridge.  Unfortunately, the courier contracted yellow fever, and died before he could deliver the message.  He was quickly buried.   But because it was determined that he was carrying important Army messages, his body was exhumed.

Mary's message was found and delivered to her brother, who travelled to Detroit, rescued her, and returned her to Basking Ridge. 

 She lived to a ripe old age of 85.

What an amazing life this woman led!

My thanks to church historian, George L. Fricke, who compiled this and many other interesting stories from the cemetery at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church.

Golden

May your weekend be golden, dear bloggers!

Milk Glass by Lamplight

Do you remember my $2. lamp?  I found a $15. silk lampshade at HomeGoods, and have placed it on the painted chest in my dining room along with my beloved milk glass.  I'm loving how the pool of light makes the milk glass glow at night.

Do you have a lot of overhead lighting in your house?  I don't.  The only room that has recessed cans is the kitchen.  Here in the dining room, the crystal chandelier is on a dimmer, and I think it really helps to create ambience.

Just look how the milk glass glows in the lamplight.  Yes, I know I'm gushing.  But little things make me happy, ya know?

OK, I'll shut up now.  ;)

Proud

We have a new president-elect.  I have been never been more proud of my country, and more hopeful for the future, than I am at this moment.  And I am humbled to have been a part of this historic moment.

My World Tuesday: Basking Ridge, NJ

I'm sharing a few pictures of my historic town in autumn, for the My World Tuesday meme.  

This is the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, built in 1839.  The original church structure was a log building dating from 1717.  To the right of the church in the photo above, you can see the great white oak tree that overlooks the church's cemetery.

General George Washington and The Marquis de Lafayette are said to have met under the tree.  It was a favorite stopping point for soldiers traveling from Washington's headquarters in Morristown to an artillery encampment in Pluckemin.  The cemetery is the site of many graves from the eighteenth and nineteenth century, including the remains of 35 soldiers from the Revolutionary War.  

The tree itself is estimated to be over 600 years old.  

To take a virtual tour of places from all around the world, visit My World Tuesday.

Even Better

Do you remember this house, that I posted about earlier in the year?  I was in love with their garden, and called it my dream garden.  At the time, I told you that the house was under renovation.  They were adding a wing, and almost doubling the size of the house.

Here is a picture of the newly renovated house.  As you can see, they also painted.  Is this beautiful, or what?!

I am in love.  All over again.  Now it is my dream garden, and my dream house.  

Sigh.