American Dream: Designing Something Like the HighLine in NYC

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Dreams of High-Impact Design

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

I wish I had thought of it: Convert an old, elevated railroad track through a gritty part of New York City into an elevated park.

What a great concept! Probably stolen from some other city, but executed in a grand manner here in NYC.  These shots are from July 2014, just before I went on the grandest adventure of my life (so far): a one-year creative writing sabbatical in Paris! More on that later.

Good, clean design. Unfortunately, not designed for me! I need back support!

Lush vegetation along the HighLine.

A gardener working (I want that job!) and people enjoying.

The people in this building get a bonus view.

Lovely plantings -- wait, that's not cannabis, is it? :)

Artfully placed plants -- or perhaps one of nature's serendipitous juxtapositionings.

Restful greenery and flowers in a high-density area.

A shady perch, with back support.

An extension of the HighLine in the process of being completed.

Now we go to Maplewood, NJ, to an indie bookstore called Words.

This is a great space for a writer to see, a place where people can buy books and read about another person's viewpoint. And not be so alone.

A sign in the window. A reminder for when life gets hard.

A reminder for every day. This is how the HighLine started, as a dream. "Nothing happens but we dream it first," Carl Sandburg said.

How about you? Are you dreaming about what could be? You're never too old to stop dreaming! Comment below on your dream, or on bookstores, or on the HighLine.

American Dreams: the Ivy League: Princeton

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An American Dream, Found and Lost

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

These gothic buildings have been peopled by men (until not so long ago, only men) who went on to careers in business, medicine, science. But you'll see below that some got their education and then lost their lives in service of their country.

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Love the small-pane windows!

Another set of arches leading to the quad. Frisbee anyone?

Princeton reeks of history. Here, the class of 1905 commemorates one of its members, who died while serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Service in 1918. They named a dorm after him.

Another fabulous historic house, across the street from the campus.

And a little bonus: magnolias in Colonial Park, Somerset County.

Happy spring, everybody! How about you? What's your American Dream? Something you aspire to?

Princeton is Kinda Cute in Spring

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American Dreams: An Ivy League Education

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

Princeton looks good in spring--an probably fall, and every other time.

A gate that leads onto a quad.

Details of another gate.

I'm a sucker for the crenelation at the top of this gate.

An exceptional historic house across the street from the gates above. Possibly faculty housing.

Another gate leading into a central quad. Very romantic. Didn't the Great Gatsby go to Princeton? I think F. Scott Fitzgerald did, for a little while at least.

Not too far from Princeton is a Somerset County park on Mettlars Lane.

Close-up of a tulip magnolia in all its spring-time splendor. Say, RT this blog, or +1 it? Thanks!

American Dreams: Princeton, NJ

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American Dreams: An Ivy League Education

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

Who hasn't dreamt of being a Princeton grad, with the world your oyster? On a spring visit to Princeton, NJ, I wandered the campus, the closest I'll get to an Ivy League education. No regrets, I've taught myself a lot, and life has taught me other things some kids in Princeton will never have the opportunity to know.

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Can't you just hear the professors' minds whirring behind these windows? I'm a sucker for anything gothic and crenellated at top.

A tiger on a plinth. The school colors are a ghastly orange and black, like a tiger's stripes.

Here's another view, with gothic, small-paned windows in the background.

Don't know what it's called, but it's kind of magnifico, is it not?

American Dreams: Gaining Inspiration from Time in the Wild

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American Dreams: Alone in the Vast Expanse

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

I'll take you into the Great Swamp again, covering new territory today, the Orange Trail. This is about as wild and untamed as it gets in New Jersey.

These are autumn pictures, but that's okay, it doesn't look too much different right now.

I'm leaving my imprint on nature (my shadow).

See the path through the center? It's nearly lost in the undergrowth. This is not a well known place.

That's the path, low in the center. Will I make it back to civilization?

The path, through the middle again. It's just a smudge...

Evidence of Superstorm Sandy: mature trees snapped like twigs.

They almost made it into a fourth airport for New York City in the 1960s. How about you? Do you have a county, state, or national park near you? Do you find solace in it?  Comment below!

American Dreams of Wandering in the Wild

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Dreams of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

We're waiting for dreams of spring to come true. While all is still dormant, I want to show you one of my favorite haunts, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris and Somerset counties, New Jersey.

I especially enjoy being in my other favorite haunt, New York City, with its crowded sidewalks and bustling millions in the morning, and taking a solitary ramble in the Great Swamp in the afternoon.

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What color combinations nature gives us!

The far reaches of the swamp, still showing the impact of Superstorm Sandy.

More Sandy damage.

Fabulous lichens.

Growth rings, stress marks, grays and browns.

This is called "Plymouth Wreck" on the maps. Every year it's a little more sunken, more decrepit. How did it get here, in the middle of all these big trees? A mystery of the Swamp. How about you? Do you like to wander alone in the woods? Or in cities? Or both? Comment below!

The Real Jersey Shore: Away from Prying Eyes

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American Dream: A Private Garden at the Shore

by Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

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Ever dream of sipping your favorite beverage in a private garden, with the sound of the ocean washing over you in the twilight? Well, keep dreaming and working toward it, it may just happen!

This is a private home's side garden. To the left, it's private, for the residents' eyes only.

But maybe you can find a bed & breakfast with a private spot.

This place is across the street from the boardwalk and beach. I want a room overlooking the ocean!

Looking west from the boardwalk. 

A few minutes later. How about you? Do you love being near the ocean? Or are you a mountain person? Comment below!

American Dreams: The Real Jersey Shore

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In Search of the American Dream: A Cottage by the Sea

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

If you haven't been to Ocean Grove, NJ, you need to put it on your list. The Victorian architecture, from cottages to mansions, is an experience in itself, along with the beach, coffee shops, and the delightful downtown with plenty of places to eat outdoors.

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This might be my dream house.

No, it's this one!

If you want to try it before you buy into it, you can stay here in Ocean Grove.

Or here.

No, this is it, my dream cottage! Not too big, with an upstairs porch to hide on.

Scenes like this could be yours regularly. How about you, are you a shore fanatic, too? Have you been to the Grove? Comment below!