My Well Seasoned Life

Food and Travel

  • Home
  • Food
    • Appetizers
    • Entrees
    • Side dish
    • Soup
    • Desserts
  • Travel
    • Los Angeles
    • New York
    • Europe
  • Photos
    • Photos
    • Photo Challenge
  • Videos
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Favorites
  • Stories
  • Recipe Index

Photo Challenge: (Extra)ordinary

October 16, 2015 by Judy Lyness 7 Comments

Thank you Photo Challenge: (Extra)ordinary for this wonderful theme.

Autumn: how I yearn for your cool weather, warm hues and the sound of leaves cracking underneath my feet. Alas, the extended heat wave that has befallen Los Angeles shows little sign of abating.

To ease the heat I go back to New Jersey and Milton Lake where I spent most of my summers fishing and winters skating.Milton Lake

The lake is extraordinary in that it grew me up. Ordinary because it’s simply a small lake that lays between Rahway and Colonia, New Jersery.

As a tomboy I could spread my wings without the watchful eyes of an adult and their constant refrain, ‘girls don’t do that.’ I could tag along with my brother and his friends as long as I ‘didn’t act like a girl’. I was more than happy to comply.Milton Lake Rahway

I would follow my older brother Michael as we cut through Stanford’s back yard then through the pump station. Lake Avenue was the only obstacle that stood between us and the lake. It was a somewhat busy street, therefore, I was not permitted to cross Lake Avenue without the assist from Michael.

IMG_1491

Alas, without fail I would have to pee. Inevitably I’d forget to bring toilet paper so I could do it in the woods. Michael would not interrupt his fishing fun to escort me home. I had to find a solution to my predicament: How to get home without crossing Lake Avenue alone. My solution—the sewer. I would slip down the sewer grate and go UNDER Lake Avenue, but only if it hadn’t rained in awhile. Lake Avenue Rahway

Milton Lake is no longer the hub of childhood fun. Now overgrown and little visited it stands alone in its autumn cloak.Milton Lake Rahway

 

Photo Challenge:(Extra)Ordinary

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
Yum

Filed Under: Photo Challenge, Stories

Comments

  1. Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought says

    October 16, 2015 at 3:47 PM

    What great childhood memories and photos.

    Reply
  2. Christina @ Christina's Cucina says

    October 16, 2015 at 9:08 PM

    Judy, the first two pictures look just like the area in Michigan where I used to live. I loved ice skating down the river to the lake, chasing fish that we could see swimming below the thick ice. It’s sad to see how things change and I think the generations to come (and the last one or two) will miss and have missed the sort of wandering and exploring on their own which helps build independence and curiosity. It’s very sad.

    Thanks for posting these lovely photos and your memories!

    Reply
    • Judy Lyness says

      October 18, 2015 at 6:47 AM

      Christina, yes it’s a bit sad how the lake is deserted while holding such potential for fun.

      Reply
  3. Mette says

    October 18, 2015 at 3:53 AM

    I guess I’d be more drawn to Los Angeles heat than to the Scandinavia looking autumn in New Jersey, but I love your description of growing up by the lake. And crossing the street through the sewer.

    Reply
    • Judy Lyness says

      October 18, 2015 at 6:50 AM

      I love LA and miss autumn in NJ.

      Reply
  4. Mette says

    October 18, 2015 at 9:20 AM

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/fashion/where-have-all-the-tomboys-gone.html

    Reply
  5. Sippitysup says

    October 24, 2015 at 4:40 PM

    Wow, beautiful images both written and photographic. I too used sewer drains to navigate, not to avoid a busy street however. I used them to avoid the bullys that always lurked in the corners looking for very non-Tom-boy boys like me! XOGREG

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Categories

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 866 other subscribers
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Top Posts & Pages

  • Egyptian Roasted Chicken
    Egyptian Roasted Chicken
  • Beef Shank Sandwiches
    Beef Shank Sandwiches
  • Spicy Collard Greens with Corn
    Spicy Collard Greens with Corn
  • Pepper and Fig Salsa on Endive Spears
    Pepper and Fig Salsa on Endive Spears
  • Lychee and Cherry Clafoutis
    Lychee and Cherry Clafoutis
  • Blueberry Cardamom Compote
    Blueberry Cardamom Compote
  • Cronuts: Deep Fried Croissants
    Cronuts: Deep Fried Croissants
  • Salmon Cakes
    Salmon Cakes
  • Florentine Cookies
    Florentine Cookies
  • Sicilian Christmas Cookies
    Sicilian Christmas Cookies

Menu

  • Contact
  • About
  • Video Production

About

I moonlight as a television producer, mostly of food/travel shows (go figure). I've owned my own bakery, worked in many places in NYC as both pastry chef and cuisine. Read More…

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Recent

  • Thoughts and Music While Driving to Savannah on I-40
  • Summer Corn Salad
  • Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
  • Quick and Easy One Pot Artichoke, Black Olive, Tomato, Feta and Shrimp Combo With or Without Starch

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

%d