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!

Old Barns and Surprises in the Barnyard, Quakertown, PA

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Is Your American Dream to Live or Work in a Converted Barn?

Just beyond the covered bridge I showed you last week, I came across a picturesque barn with a surprise in the barnyard. I'd call the surprise picturesque, too; tell me if you agree. 

I like the look of it--a stone wall, vines, weathered wood...

A close-up of the weathered, viny effect.

Not a cow, but a---

--Silver Streak, which Google tells me is a Pontiac. 

I think it had a V-8, a snarly, powerful engine. The stories this car could tell...

Another view of the barn.

The front door. Tell me, do you like old barns, old cars? Pennsylvania? Comment below, or sign up to follow this blog. RT and Share, would ya? Thanks!

American Dreams of Vintage Car Ownership

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I've dreamt of tooling around in a fabulous, restored vintage car -- have you? 

Actually, that dream came true on my wedding day, 35 years ago. My father surprised me, not with a typical limo, but with a beautiful red 1932 Rolls Royce, complete with radiator mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy. It had been reconditioned and reupholstered lovingly by a friend of his from church. It was a gift from my Dad to me, saying that he loved me. It was beautiful. 

The only problem was it had no air conditioning, and my wedding was on one of the hottest July days of the year. As my new husband and I rode to the Summit Arboretum for pictures, we were very, very hot. Strangely, we passed a jogger going uphill in full sun in late afternoon heat. Oh well!

These are the cars parked in the architect's office. I don't know the make of all of them, but ain't they lovely?

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What kind of toys do you like to collect?

Morristown Architect's American Dream

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An American Dream from early spring

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

I parked my car in Morristown, NJ, and noticed a beautiful building across the street. It was the office of an architect who loves historic cars. His collection is parked within; he works upstairs in one of the most glamorous spaces imageinable. His American Dream has come true, I would say.

What a beautiful building! Notice the red sportscar lurking in the front window.

Here it is, close up, a Corvette.

Inside the building was a beautiful staircase and atrium.

Another shot of the ground floor and atrium above.

Peter Dorne, architect, let me take pics of his cars (see next post). This was early spring, so the trees were bare.

This is one of the entrances to his building. He's a talented architect, wouldn't you say?

An Adventure in East Millstone, NJ

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An American Dream: An Eclectic Collection

I passed interesting houses on a walk in East Millstone, NJ, where a family member lives. This was early spring--the trees were still bare. At this house, people had been collecting things for a long time: there was a lot to see.

The big view.

A close-up of the merry-go-round horse.

The gate to the side door. Note the picket fence on either side: the owner made use of it.

The fence appears to be propping up this outhouse, complete with ladybug.

Useful for displaying boots...

And birdhouses.

An inviting seating area with blue glass behind it.

Closeup of the glass display.

This is a shot of the front door.

This is another house in East Millstone, near Somerset County's Colonial Park. Note the Porsche 928, a classic, parked in the drive. I was even more stunned by the twin weeping cherry trees.  How about you: which would you prefer: an amazing car, or amazing trees in your yard?

How Do You Define the American Dream?

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Your American Dream: A Great Car?

I'm focusing on the U.S. again.  In this and future blogs, I'll talk about the American Dream we are all caught up in some way, since we are steeped in it from birth. 

To kick off my return to the U.S., let me give you one definition of the American Dream.  This is part of Wikipedia's definition, and I hope it gives you perspective on your personal American Dream:

          Historian James Truslow Adams popularized the phrase "American Dream" in his 1931 book Epic of America:

But there has been also the American dream, that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.

His definition is one of many.  What is your definition of the American Dream?  Some people define it as freedom of speech or religion.  There are as many definitions as there are people.  Comment below with your definition. 

Owning a motor car is part of the American Dream for many people.  Some exceptional ones can be seen  Friday nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day in Somerville, New Jersey (warning: not all models are made in America): 

A Triumph.

Austin Healey, maybe '63 or '64.

A vintage Thunderbird.

Love those T-Birds.

This is a Victory motorcycle engine.