Canfield of Dreams » Destinations

Snow in Jersey

Sue L Canfield — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:53:15 +0000

We had our first stick-to-the-ground snow here in Blackwood New Jersey the other day. Of course it all melted by lunchtime. Fiona was excited anyhow.

We’ve all suffered from terrible colds: sneezing, coughing, aches, fevers, yuck, yuck, yuck! I think we’re almost all well. I hope we can get out this weekend and enjoy the sunshine and feel better.

It’s different now that we’re settled into a place for a bit. There’s the everyday work of making a living, cleaning up around the house, making new friends.

I’m glad we have a chance to be in one place for a bit. I’m not sure this is home permanently. Once spring comes we’ll have a better idea of where we want to settle longer-term. Or maybe we’ll do a bit more traveling. Hard to tell right now.

So I’ll just enjoy today – a beautiful, sunny day!

Living in Blackwood New Jersey for the Winter

Sue L Canfield — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:33:54 +0000

Yep, we’re living in Blackwood New Jersey for the winter. Technically the physical address we’re living at is in Turnersville. But our mailing address is Blackwood. Our son James is coming out in a week or so to stay with us as well. We’ll stay through February at least. Unless something drastic happens to change it all. Which in our lives, you just never know. But for now we’re here, making it home and want to share ‘home’ with you.

We’ve been enjoying some very nice weather. Though the temperatures are cold at times, it’s been very sunny. And I like sunshine! There was a bit of fog this morning; it burned off fairly quickly.

Blackwood Rail Trail Caboose

We’re in Gloucester Township, near Blackwood Lake. The Blackwood Rail Trail Caboose is here and you walk down a path and over a bridge. It’s beautiful!

We still hope while living on the East coast this winter to get to travel to some various spots – New York, see the Atlantic ocean, maybe pop over to Delaware. Stay tuned!

South New Jersey in the Fall is Beautiful

Sue L Canfield — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:27:24 +0000

We’ve been in South New Jersey for nearly three weeks now. You probably thought we fell off the face of the earth since we haven’t posted much here lately. No, we didn’t. We’re alive, and even well!

Let me first say that we’re enjoying the beautiful fall weather. Seeing all the different colors in trees everywhere is spectacular! I love that even when it’s cold, there’s usually sunshine. And it’s a nice 55 degrees right now at 5 pm.

So what is going on with us?

In August while we were house sitting for Rita and Carl again in Colorado, we were contacted about coming to New Jersey to house sit for several months. It seemed like this would be a good opportunity for us and arranged to make our way out here. In the meantime we also arranged for the Big Book Release Party on November 11, 2011 in Philadelphia.

As soon as we arrived we realized we wouldn’t be able to stay at this assignment. Joel immediately had very bad allergic reactions to what we believe is some sort of hidden molds in the home. We’ve been told by several locals that this particular area has had mold problems due to flooding. Within a few days Fiona also started having symptoms. We knew we had to make other housing arrangements immediately. And it had to be in this area since the book release party was coming up soon.

Someone in our local Bible Study group was able to loan us an air purification unit for a week or so to help alleviate the symptoms until we could find other accommodations. Within 10 days one of our new friends in the Study group had contacted one of their friends who had some extra rooms available. We talked with them and explained that we needed a place to stay immediately and that if possible, we’d like to work something out to rent their rooms for a while.

So now we’re staying with Cheryl and Joel. Yep, there are two Joel’s in the household! They are wonderful people and it looks like we’ll be with them for a bit.

To add to the fun, we had already invited our son James out to stay with us and join us in the business. We’re working out all the details but he’ll be joining us shortly. We do have a mailing address in New Jersey now. So if you’d like to send us a letter, just contact us and we’ll send that address along!

That’s the latest! We hope to travel to various spots here on the East coast while we’re in this area. So watch for more…

A Week to New Jersey

Sue L Canfield — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:37:28 +0000

We finished our house sitting gig in Minnesota and are now back in Rice Lake for a couple of days. Fiona has some assessment testing at school today. Wednesday morning we leave for an overnight stay with Joshua in Chicago. Thursday we’ll drive to Cincinnati and stay with the author of Around the World in Easy Ways. We’re really looking forward to meeting Lisa and talking about traveling with kids.

Friday is still up in the air. We’re hoping to find someone to stay with in West Virginia and have some feelers out there. Saturday it’s Philadelphia and overnight with Rick Wilson, co-author of Hits and Niches to be released next month. And then it’s New Jersey Sunday!

Visiting Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in Saint Paul Minnesota

Sue L Canfield — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:21:42 +0000

Saturday we had a chance to visit Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in Saint Paul Minnesota. They are open 365 days a year till 4 pm and until 6 pm April through September. The admission is free with a suggested donation of $2 per adult and $1 per child to help with costs. “You are always welcome whether or not you choose to donate.”

There’s a free shuttle from various parking lots in the area. It’s best to use the shuttle and to check their website for parking locations. We got a shuttle painted like a giraffe that Fiona loved!

There’s a carousel that’s just $1.50 to ride. Fiona decided not to ride this time. Maybe next time.

We saw primates, tigers, lions and bears. In addition to the polar bears, there were brown bears being housed temporarily. They had been in North Dakota but needed a new shelter for a bit due to the flooding in North Dakota.

The conservatory was full of beautiful plants and flowers. Fiona also enjoyed the Children’s Gallery & RibbitZit area.

It was a very relaxing and inexpensive way to spend Saturday afternoon.

The Boys Learn Pizza Making Techniques from Joel

Sue L Canfield — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:35:25 +0000

Last night our new friend Adam had us come over so Joel could teach him and some of his friends how we make our home made pizza – from dough made from scratch to the sauce made from scratch. What a lot of fun we all had.

Adam learns to make crust

Adam and his roommates thought this was a special treat. Along with nearly a dozen other friends, it was a night full of pizza making and fun company. These ‘boys’ actually range from 25 to 35 – right about our older kid’s ages who range from 22 to 30.

Adam's really getting into it now!

Matt is married with a teenage daughter. We got to meet Matt’s wife as well and had a very enjoyable chat. We certainly think they are pizza pros now! Of course we brought along our baking stone – another kitchen staple that goes with us everyone. It’s not only perfect for baking pizza on, we use it for our home made bread.

Matt enjoys the pizza making process!

House Sitting in Minnesota with Two Boxers, Three Cats and One Homeschooler

Sue L Canfield — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:34:37 +0000

We’ve been house sitting in Saint Paul for about 10 days and have about 10 days to go. Our host is on vacation in Europe and has two boxers and three cats that needed to be cared for. It’s actually not that hard. The boxers are very friendly and most obedient. It was a challenge one morning when the male decided to stay under the house when we wanted him to come back in to his kennel so we could leave for a bit. He finally came in though and we got done what needed to be done.

One of the cats can be seen often and likes to sleep on the bed at my feet. No problem. Two of the cats I didn’t even see for a few days. The like to hide. Last night all three of them came out to the living room and wanted attention while Fiona and I were watching TV.

And then there’s our homeschooler – Fiona. She started second grade on September 1st. We have a huge pile of all kinds of fun books to learn from. She loves the geography book and the map of the world puzzle.

We’ve made some new friends and will be visiting with the niece of one of our friends in California later this week. We’re planning the next leg of the trip the first week of October as we leave here, go back to Wisconsin for a few days and then head towards Philadelphia and New Jersey. We’ve got that big book release party to prepare for in Philly in November.

A Playground for Fiona and Morning Glory for Sue

Sue L Canfield — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:25:33 +0000

We’re currently staying in St. Paul Minnesota in a nearly 100-year old home. Right outside the window are morning glories. I’ve loved morning glories since I was a kid and always hoped to have some of my own. Now I do for a few weeks while house sitting.

Diagonally right across the way is a playground. So guess where Fiona will be spending her P.E. time? And it’s great that there’s a Trader Joe’s only a few blocks away!

Grandma Mumsie and Fiona in Rice Lake Wisconsin

Sue L Canfield — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:49:59 +0000

Our visit here in Rice Lake is about to come to an end. Sunday morning we leave for St. Paul for our 3-week house sitting job. Fiona has enjoyed her visit with her grandma Mumsie, as we call Joel’s mom. She’s also loved coming back to The Rice Lake Public Library. Yesterday she had fun with the American Girls Book club here. She got to make a craft – a glass vase with colored sand glued to the outside. Not we have to find a safe way to transport it without it getting broken.

Last Monday Fiona and I went over to the lake and she got to wade in it quite a bit. Grandma came out in her electric wheelchair and we all stopped for a visit in the local book store. Yes, we’re a family of avid readers!

School has also started for Fiona. She’s now in second grade and the homeschool program through the school district here is great. We have lots of fun school work to keep us busy.

I’m really looking forward to our 3 weeks in St. Paul and then spending the winter back in New Jersey. More on that later…

Puppies in Nebraska

Sue L Canfield — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:32:54 +0000

After an overnight stay in Colorado Springs with Couchsurfing hosts John and Chris, we traveled to Ogallala Nebraska where we stayed with other Couchsurfing hosts with puppies. Fiona loved seeing the three-week old puppies.

Today we traveled through Nebraska to South Dakota. Driving north through Nebraska we stopped at the Missouri River. Fiona dangled her feet in the water and loved it! I too think I love that area. It’s on the list of possibilities for future residence. Particularly the area of Valentine.