First No Show

So had my first no show through the Marketplace. Frustrating, but from what others tell me, to be expected. Why? If you change your mind, no problem, let me know and I'll put it back up for sale. Can't make it at appointed time, again, no problem Life happens. Send me a message and we can reschedule. I don't understand people who just don't show up and don't let you know. This should be a nonissue. Oh well, moving on. I certainly can't complain as most things are moving fast.

2 small tables awaiting pickup
another bag of clothes drop off to charity
several books going to library.
2 index card boxes going to library
Rest of our Santas and Snowmen have a new home to go to
Several books, a blanket, and other misc items found a new home
Sewing notions and such have been relocated and rest are awaiting pickup or delivery.
Complete contains of Kitchenware spoken for
Lighthouse collection awaiting pickup

WOW perhaps one of these days the house will look like it's getting emptier.

My Foray Into Facebook MarketPlace

Wow, What an initial experience. We have so much to get rid of between now, selling the house, and hitting the road. We decided it's time to start moving things along. Facebook MarketPlace was a recommended possibility as well as several local Facebook Groups. What's nice is when you use MarketPlace you also post to the local groups at the same time as well. Easy Peasy. Took some picture of several items, decided on prices and posted two of them. Bing Bing Bing went my phone, had people lined up to grab them in less then 10 minutes. Whoa. Posted 2 more and Same results. Crazy! Three of the items were bought and picked up in the same day. If this is normal then shouldn't have as much trouble as I thought! One item still out there but that's okay, if it doesn't sell in a couple weeks, I'll rethink the price and try again.
  Also easy to make the post. Go to Facebook, there on the left hand side (at least on mine) under Newsfeed is Marketplace. Clicking through on that will bring you to first screen, again on the left hand side in bright blue is +Sell Something, clicking there up pops a screen with three choices, Items For Sale, Vehicles For Sale, Homes For Rent. My choice was Items For Sale, which brings you to a form to fill out with the information about what you are selling. Category, Item you are selling, Price, Description of item, and where you can upload photos. Seems you can upload up to 10. After filling that out click next to choose where you want to have it posted. Click post and you're on your way. Now you just wait until someone contacts you. This will be in a private message and you can go back and forth to make arrangements for pickup and/or negotiate a price. Sometimes people will initiate deal but not follow through, that's okay, just wait for next person. I am truly impressed by how well it worked.
  It is recommended you either meet the buyer in safe location or if large item, have someone home with you when pick up is scheduled. I'd want someone with me in either case.  Looks like I may be putting more items up soon!

Went to the AC RV Show this past weekend. Had fun exploring the different rigs but was disappointed there weren't more of what we are actually interested in. There were lots of TTs, 5th Wheels, and super big rigs, but very few of the 24-28 foot Class C. Oh well, maybe the Philly show will have more. It was a beautiful day so we took advantage of the nice weather with a walk along the boardwalk. The show, the walk and a nice dinner out was a perfect way to spend our anniversary weekend.

Ta for now!

Stuff Moved Along:
Curio Cabinet
Dress Form & Customizer
Serger
3 coats to friend's church for their giveaway table
bag of clothes
3 boxes of herbal supplies
Older sewing machine and some sewing supplies boxed and ready for delivery on Thursday

A bit about Cheesequake

Paul and I were chatting the other evening, discussing plans and doing some dreaming. We agree as we travel to a new area we'd like to do a bit of research, finding out a little history about the town and perhaps an oddity or two about it. It's something we will be posted here in our blog as well as any touristy type places we visit. So we decided to get a head start on it and write about different areas here, as well as places we go and what we find there. Shall we begin...

We live in a rather quirky corner of the world, fitting since it is us who live here. The area is called Cheesequake, NJ which is a section of Old Bridge Township, which is in Middlesex County. Our mailing address is Matawan, which is in Monmouth County. Are you shaking your head yet, I do regularly. No, it doesn't make any sense to me either. 

There several different camps as to where the name Cheesequake comes from. All agree it is from the Lenape Indian language but differ in original meaning. The Lenni-Lenape, which means "Original People" or "Common People." inhabited this region for more than 6,000 years. Some say Cheesequake derived from chickhake, meaning 'land that has been cleared.'" or "Cheseh-oh-ke", meaning "upland", and yet others claim Cheesequake is named after a sub tribe/band of the Lenni Lenape called Chichequaas.

Cheesequake doesn't have a centralized town area but it does have a great Fire Station and First Aid Station. 

The largest portion of Cheesequake belongs to one of my favorite places: Cheesequake State Park. The park is on 1,610-acre and one of the oldest in the country, opening on June 22, 1940. Open fields, saltwater and freshwater marshes, a white cedar swamp, Pine Barrens, and a northeastern hardwood forest are the main characteristics of the park. It is has a great nature center, hiking, biking, fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, and several playgrounds. In the winter months, if enough snow, one can find sledding, crosscountry sking, or snowshoeing. The varied environment is home to many different birds and animals: Deer, raccoons, fox, as well as Great Horned Owls, Osprey, several species of woodpeckers and so much more. In recent years has even become home to a pair of Bald Eagles. Paul and I have spent many an hour hiking, swimming, camping, and enjoying this special place. I love taking early morning walks there.

Foggy Morning Walk into the park

Clinton Station and Spruce Run State Recreation Area

   Went up to visit with our son, Phil, today. Decided to have lunch at the Clinton Station Diner, Clinton, NJ. The Diner opened in 2004 and has had a booming business since. A couple of things set it apart from other diners and restaurants. The first thing you will notice is the refurbished, 1927 Blue Comet Train Observation Car attached to the side of the diner which actually offers seating. The Blue Comet Train once ran from Jersey City to  Atlantic City.
   If you go to The Clinton Station Diner  website, you can watch a video of the train car being delivered. At their site are also photos of the car being refurbished. What fun it must have been to see that traveling up the highway.
 Once inside the diner, you will soon notice the amazing dessert case, which is located right along side the cashier so as to tempt you upon leaving. Even better than the over fifty dessert options, is the menu. While in itself quite extensive, you must check out the burger section. There you will enjoy reading about the Greek God Burgers with choices from the 4 oz. Nano Bites right up to the 8th Wonder burger containing 50 lbs of meat!! There are several challenges for the massive burgers including: you and 8 friends finishing the 8th Wonder in a certain amount of time, it is on the house and you could win 2,000!  Needless to say, we did not partake in one of those!

The Clinton Station Diner (photo found online)

After lunch, we took a brisk and chilly walk at the Spruce Run State Recreation Area, also in Clinton. The park encompasses 1,290-acres and surrounds the Spruce Run Reservoir. The reservoir is the third largest in the state and one of the first water supply facilities to be constructed and operated by the state. It is a popular site for boating, fishing, swimming, camping and picnicking. It also offers a variety of historical and natural interpretive programs seasonally. During the peak summer season there is a small entry fee, the rest of year is free. Remember, if you are over 62 or disabled, you can get a special pass entitling you to free admission and parking at most NJ State Parks.
  Today, we didn't stay too long as it was cold and windy. Long enough to take a nice, brisk walk along the shoreline of the reservoir. Wildlife was quiet but there were lots of dog walkers enjoying the park. Was a pleasure to get out in nature if only for a short spell. And, of course, spending time with Phil is always a good thing!.

Check out the icicles hanging from the branches!

Traveling with a timeshare

Paul and I have a timeshare and have so enjoyed using it. It is located in the quaint town of Brigantine, NJ, just a half block from the beach. Combined with a membership to RCI, we have traveled with it up and down the East Coast from Maine to Florida, and almost every state in between. It has taken us to Washington State, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico and others. It has enabled us to bring our family and friends on many a vacation. Now that we plan to travel the country in an RV, we feel it is time to give the timeshare up. It is a one bedroom unit, floating week which can easily be traded up to a 2 bedroom or down to a studio. It is not assigned a particular week and can be used any time of year. We are asking $5,000 for it but are willing to consider any reasonable offer. If you or someone you know, would be interested in more information let me know.. If you would like to make an offer, here is the link in which to do that: LaSammana Resort, Brigantine, NJ

We will miss it, but are so looking forward to what comes next!

Downsizing Update

Small update on "Getting Rid Of It All"
  Another bag of clothes to take to Good Will
  2 dozen CDs donated to the library
  4 or so Tubs of fabric (just need to make arrangements)
  4 boxes of of miscellaneous herbal product supplies(also awaiting arrangements)
  1 bag of scarves given to various persons
  several cookbooks donated
  a whole drawer of pens, markers, highlighters spoken for (arrangements awaiting)
  One Older Sewing Machine awaiting delivery.
  Sewing Book collection dispersed (or awaiting dispersement)
  2 Dressers (awaiting arrangements)

Slowly but surely things are moving on.

Still a lot to go, will be putting some bigger items up for sale soon.  Sneak preview:

Serger Sewing Machine: 1 1/2 years old, (Brother 1034D 3 or 4 Thread Serger with Easy Lay In Threading with Differential Feed)  $75 or best offer
Curio Cabinet: $30
Ladies Rocking Chair: $25
Heavy wood desk: $20
Kitchenware: dishes, glassware, casseroles, pots, pans, utensils, etc Come see make offer
Kitchen Table and chairs: $50
Cute Red Bistro Table and 2 chairs, metal $20
Various other shelving units, cabinets, and lots of STUFF (knickknacks, whatnots, etc super low cost to mostly free for the taking)
Other items (if it's here it's up for grabs!)

Timeshare: La Sammana in quaint Brigantine, NJ, 1/2 block from Beach. 1 bedroom. $5,000 or best offer.

All items those prices or best offers, I'm reasonable.

Let me know if interested in any thing listed or if looking for something I may have.

 

Time Frame

One of the hardest parts of all this is the time frame. I don't like to rush my life away but knowing this will take a year to two can be frustrating. I so want to be out there on the road seeing all the amazing things there are to see.  I look through the Moon National Park book we bought and just dream, which to do first, which direction to head. There is so much to do and consider between now and then, I know the time will pass quickly. How often I have told myself and others: The days can be long, weeks can be long but the months and the years go fast.

The other part of Time Frame is trying to figure out what to do when as we plan and prepare. We need to get rid of so much but still need to hang on to certain things until we sell the home.  What I have been doing as I sort cabinets and closets is consolidating items I think we will be bringing with us. I have sorted out a lot of the kitchen and am putting the keeps in certain areas. We are learning to use just those and only reach for the get rid ofs when making something in particular. If we find ourselves reaching for something too often, it can be reevaluated. Same holds in the opposite, if we don't use a certain item but only on occasion, that too will get reevaluated and perhaps go into the get rid of pile. It rather fun seeing how little we actually need to use on a day to day basis.
  We are even changing our grocery shopping habits. Having lots of cabinets, large refrigerator and freezer, you tend to buy bigger, more, and store-able stuff. Once we are in an RV, our space will be much more limited so might as well start learning. We are going through the freezer and cabinets, using up those items that tend to just hang around and/or one have multiples of. We are trying to get better at meal planning so as to buy just what we need for the week, only restocking staples when truly needed. Believe me when I say our cupboards are looking bare! LOL  Interesting/entertaining note as far as cleaning out the cupboards: When was the last time you look at the expiration date on spice rack items, HA, Yeah, you know that one you bought for that one dish you made once, five years ago hahahaha.
  Speaking of spices, that is yet another item we are fine tuning. Paying attention to which ones we use the most and which ones are so seldom use easily replace with others. Cutting them down!!

Will soon be putting items up for sale or come and get! Would love to find someone just starting out that could really use kitchenware: dishes, utensils, glassware, pots/pans, casserole dishes, etc, not to mention bits and pieces of furniture. Especially, someone with very minimal funds. I would be happy to give so much away.  If you read this, and know of someone, please, let me know.