Monday, June 1, 2026

13 May 2026 Mantua: Making Art and Visiting Strip Malls

 


Mantua is a slice of small town New Jersey.  There is a tank in the park, funky shops in the strip mall where Leslie got her nails done (rather poorly).  So here is a view of one section of this small town.


Leslie and Kristine admiring the new flowers


A rock duck!


A little bit of epoxy


Add the epoxy and then tape to keep it in place


A Target parking lot with what might look like a red kick ball, fyi it is a concrete sphere and definitely not for kicking


So the tour of the shops in the strip mall, laser skin care


Get ready to kick some....


What?  Huh?


This is where you can get a IV when you are hungover


Pal Joey was a Frank Sinatra movie


Hoagies, subs, sandwiches!


Do not frequent this nail salon


We also got haircuts for only $15 each


What might this place be?  USA USA USA!


Banana!



 It has been 3 years and 339 days since we began our Migration

12 May 2026 Mantua: Winterthur the Grounds Around the House

 


Several smaller buildings and water features were located adjacent to the main house and we took the time to explore them as well before heading back to New Jersey



Of course there were finches to say hello


Ferns to marvel at


Blooming bushes


Statues


Azlias


Hedges of blooms


Bright colors 


Massive peonies


Colorfull


Irises


Meow!  A cat bird entertained us as well


A fuzzy mystery



Rustic rock wall


Look at the pattern on the tree trunk, it is vary basket like


Quite a tall tree with such a backet like base


Elaborate light fistures


Sassy little cherubs


Looking back to the house


An out door lounging area


Here a cherub, there a cherub, everywhere a chubby cherub


Leslie watching from the window


Water plants


A different type of seahorse


Squeeze the fish!


Tadpoles


We passed several couples getting their photo-shoots


Fountain


A rock wall with wagon wheels


Wrought iron gate


This is something to crow about


Big koi, little koi


they build a little waterfall


It added a lovely splashing sound


More water loving plants


So delicate


Heading back we pass a blast of yellow


Older greenhouses 


Natural birdhouses




 It has been 3 years and 338 days since we began our Migration