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This is probably the last photo I will post for this series. Once again it is from Hoffman Park. Now I am not certain but I believe the low building on the right is for the cattle to seek shelter in times of extreme weather. I walked over and there isn't much left to the lean-to type shelter but it definitely looks like that is what it was used for. If someone knows better please let me know so that I can offer the correct information.

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This is a view of Hoffman Park from up at the entrance taken from the parking area looking toward Manny's Pond on the left and Heron Rd. in the middle of the frame. Off in the distance, after the tree line, and before the mountain on the left you can see Spruce Run Reservoir. The farmhouse from the previous photo would be over my right shoulder, behind, and above me.

I rarely saw my Aunt's Farm in winter since she spent her winters in Florida and Nassau in the Bahamas. We only spent summers there when I was little. In fact I actually don't remember ever seeing it with a blanket of snow. The transformation is wonderful!

My Aunt and Uncle started aquiring properties in the county in the 1930's. They would lease the land to farmers for livestock (cattle) at a monthly per animal rate. They owned land in four other townships in Hunterdon County as well as in Florida and the Bahamas. My Uncle was one of the Hoffman's from the Hoffman Beverage Company from many years ago.

As I have mentioned before here, the farm and her other properties in the county were transferred to the county by my Aunt with the stipulation that it remain "pristine parklands".

If you would like more information about Hoffman Park click here.

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This was taken on Saturday the day after our First "real" snow. It is my Aunt's old farmhouse which is located on part of the Hoffman Park Property which is now off limits. The house was grand and beautiful at one time, but has quickly fallen into disrepair and I fear that if the county doesn't restore it soon it will be too late.

I couldn't get any closer because this area is off limits to the public and it was being heavily patrolled by the park rangers because the hills were open for sledding. From this vantage point you cannot see how badly the house has deteriorated. It still looks grand to me. Last year I did "trespass" onto the property and left a rose on the porch in memory of my Aunt. It was then that I saw how really bad the house had gotten and it was pretty tough to see it.

Saturday remained gray all day. I had hoped for a little late afternoon sun, but it didn't happen. I still had a good time getting out and taking winter landscape photos. I am now really ready for Spring!

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Sunday afternoon we took a ride out to Hoffman Park, which was my Aunt's Farm up until a few years ago when she sold it to the County and Township to be preserved as open space never to be developed, at least that's the hope.

The farm was a place that I loved to visit as a girl. Not only did I love to see my Aunt, I just loved the farm and all that went with it. I am really happy to be able to still visit whenever I want since even though my Aunt is gone, the park remains open to the public.

There are 353 acres with some 32 ponds for fishing. It looks different since there is a lot more wooded land now than when I was a child. I remember more open pastures for the cows that once grazed there. The buildings have fallen into disrepair which is very sad for me since I loved to see the beautiful farm house and barns which are off limits to the public. Maybe they will be restored?

We didn't get to walk and explore as much as I would have liked since a thunderstorm blew up when we were well into the property and had to turn around to get back to the car before we got a thorough soaking or worse. I witnessed many too close for comfort lighting strikes there when I was a child and those are not my fondest memories!

I converted this one to black and white since the light was rather flat that afternoon and it just didn't look very good in color to me.

For more info on Hoffman Park please visit here.

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I was challenged by Alice (My Life in Focus) to do a self-portrait, and I tried, I really did, but I'm a bit stressed and under the weather, probably from the stress. (Leaky oil tank remediation nightmare saga continues. Some of you may remember that and it's still ongoing...ugh...long story.) Anyway I've failed miserably getting a self-portrait that I'd be willing to post. I look hideous, with big dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep and stress. I want you all to think I'm a gorgeous vixen instead of the truth. ;-) I will try again tomorrow.

This was shot the same day as the previous one. I like barns very much and the way the light was hitting the tops of the silos appealed to me. I liked it best in black and white since the unusually green grass from the warm weather didn't feel right against the winter gray in the rest of the scene. If the grass had been the typical dull green/brown of winter it would have set off the weathered dull red of the barn nicely I think.

Winter is finally making an appearance. No snow yet but it is cold and is supposed to stay that way with maybe even an inch or two of snow in the next couple of days. I normally don't get excited about snow, but I am excited about it this time. That is, as long as it doesn't mess with the concert my kids have on Saturday, then I won't be happy.

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