A few days later, I decided it was time to see if the new camera could take good food pictures, so I recorded Carole Messersmith's apple pie IMG_1929 from a prize winning recipe while Dana and Sarah watched IMG_1930 and Suzanne IMG_1931 debated whether to have a piece herself. We created this picture for Carolyn's birthday IMG_1932 and dragged Ben away from the next round of his penny sorting IMG_1933 to come along to deliver the card.

Then, the next day, knowing that the camera worked, we headed off on a real excursion with wheels up IMG_1934 at very close to on time. We went to Lucy's house IMG_1935 and while waiting for the pick up, I took a picture of my wonderful hat IMG_1936 which somehow got lost during the day. Lucy emerged IMG_1937 and she and Jane posed before getting into the car IMG_1938 so that we could drive past Jamesburg's old gas station pumps IMG_1939 and traffic light IMG_1940 at the intersection in town IMG_1941 or do they have 2 intersections?

Eventually we got to Mastoris IMG_1942 where they also do catering IMG_1943 and have a beautiful tree IMG_1944 in their parking lot. They brought us both menus (lunch and dinner) IMG_1945 which kept Jane and Lucy busy IMG_1946 and Benjamin hidden IMG_1947 while I recorded the offerings IMG_1948 and the bread course arrived IMG_1949 though efforts to record the restaurant's story with flash IMG_1950 IMG_1951 and without IMG_1952 were not highly successful though they filled the time until our drinks came -- hot chocolate for Jane, IMG_1953 apple juice for Ben, IMG_1954 orange juice for Lucy, IMG_1955 water for me IMG_1956 and ketchup IMG_1957 for the table.

The main courses were quite impressive -- burger for Ben IMG_1958 sausage for Jane IMG_1959 hashed browns for Lucy (since her twin sister had ordered enough food for 2) IMG_1960 fries (on the side) for Ben IMG_1961 and huevos rancheros IMG_1962 for me. In the second round, Lucy tried Ben's cole slaw IMG_1963 to see if it really tasted like fish. Then, Jane ate her bagel with lox IMG_1964 IMG_1965 which did taste like fish. I was the closest to the clean plate club IMG_1966 which made our waitress happy IMG_1967 as she inquired about our family situation, ...

We drove on to Brendan T. Byrne State Forest where we found the park office IMG_1968 and this lady IMG_1969 was nice enough to get us set on the trails. After the obligatory phone booth pictures without IMG_1970 and with headset, IMG_1971 we were ready to find the trail head IMG_1972 and start the hike. Benjamin IMG_1973 lead the way with Jane and Lucy IMG_1974 following as we passed the leaves and moss IMG_1975 and these pretty forest scenes IMG_1976 IMG_1977 IMG_1978 of the kids getting ready for a group picture. The ground cover IMG_1979 and some trees IMG_1980 were colorful. Ben found a 3 way acorn IMG_1981 that had lost its nuts. We marched on IMG_1982 and rounded the bend IMG_1983 as the nature area IMG_1984 spread before us. After another turn IMG_1985 we crossed the bridge IMG_1986 and peered at the water IMG_1987 IMG_1988 below. This marker IMG_1989 pointed us forward IMG_1990 tot he picnic table where we stopped for group pictures IMG_1991 IMG_1992 IMG_1993 which again took a few tries. The trees looked good IMG_1994 and my feet IMG_1995 weren't too tired, so we decided to hit the trail IMG_1996 again. But first, Ben decided to take pictures of me with the sun at his back IMG_1997 IMG_1998 IMG_1999 and then at his back. IMG_2000 IMG_2001 IMG_2002 he also took this picture of all of us on a diagonal IMG_2003 and then got us back in order IMG_2004 in time for Jane to do her Eminem imitation IMG_2005 which did not amuse the man who took this picture IMG_2006 though he would not let us take his picture. This group of hikers IMG_2007 marched away singing ``The ants go marching 2 by 2'' a little too loudly for us. But we were back at the picnic table and so could again try to get a group picture IMG_2008 IMG_2009 IMG_2010 in 3 tries. Benjamin studied the trail back IMG_2011 and we noted the nature signs IMG_2012 as we found the marker IMG_2013 heading home. We stopped at the bridge again and I tried to get the clear water IMG_2014 that you get see through as Jane did Eminem IMG_2015 and Lee and Krissy IMG_2016 were still an item. Another water picture IMG_2017 led Ben IMG_2018 and Jane and Lucy IMG_2019 to try to get closer to the water IMG_2020 IMG_2021 IMG_2022 IMG_2023 but this didn't help the pictures. Benjamin IMG_2024 walked around and hid in this tree IMG_2025 though he is still slightly visible. After one final picture of the bridge IMG_2026 it was time to move on, so we did. On the way out, we had to rescue Benjamin IMG_2027 from the soda machine so that we could take this promotional picture IMG_2028 for the value of a cold drink after an invigorating walk.