As some of you know, my daughter Kathryn, fresh out of Lafayette College, will be heading to NYU this January for her master’s.

A little earlier than expected, thanks to the abysmal job market, but she’s genuinely excited about diving back into school and city life.

This week, she’s getting a head start with a solo trip to the city.

And I’m trying very hard not to hover.

She’s lived “down the shore” since elementary school — small-town rhythm, bikes and beaches — so Manhattan’s energy will be a shock to the system.

I keep reminding myself: this is how you learn.

Getting lost on the subway, realizing you can’t outwalk the entire city in one afternoon, and discovering that “uptown” is not a state of mind.

Both my boys went through it, too, and yes, I still remember those frantic phone calls: “Mom, I think I’m in Queens by accident.”

I lived in the city for years, it’s where I learned to hustle, walk fast with the crowd, and eat dinner at 10 p.m.

But that was a few decades (and a few hairstyles) ago.

Truthfully, I don’t think my hair has changed much since then, which probably says something about me.

It all reminds me how much I loved my late twenties and early thirties in New York.

But I also love my 60s here in Cape May, no subways, no horns, just the occasional seagull and a wheelbarrow squeak for background noise.

Farm Happenings

Thank you to everyone who ordered our Cut Flower Seedling Kits! Orders came in fast this week, and I couldn’t be happier helping you grow something beautiful.

I’m adding a third growing shelf (and maybe a bit of insulation) to the seed room. The little heater will get a break, and hopefully, my electric bill will too.

We’re finishing up peony transplants and tidying rows for early spring. I leave sections untouched so the beneficial insects can overwinter – they’re small but mighty workers.

Speaking of overwintering… I’m now accepting leaf donations!

And, freshly cut magnolia branches. We’ll even come and prune some of them if you like … just reply with your address.

If you’re raking and bagging this fall, please drop them off by the flower stand instead of the recycling center (“the dump”) that’s just opposite us – I really appreciate it.

I promise they’ll live their best second life as mulch.

Still waiting on tulip bulbs (they’re fashionably late), but the ranunculus corms have been soaked and are getting pre-sprouted.

And, registrations for our Winter Wreath Workshops are coming in!

They’re festive, fragrant, and honestly one of my favorite parts of the season.

If you can’t make it in person, I’ll also have Winter Wreaths and Door Swags available for preorder soon, pickup or shipping, your choice.

And Since You Didn’t Ask…​
When there’s nothing decent on TV (and lately, that’s most nights), I turn to books. Thanks to my ongoing friendship with insomnia, I get a lot of reading done between midnight and 3 a.m.

At that hour, it can’t be anything too heavy, so I’ve fallen headfirst into the fantasy/fae world. You know, the Court of Thorns and Roses kind of stories where everyone’s immortal, gorgeous, and emotionally damaged in just the right way.

Surprisingly, some of them are really good .. wildly imaginative, beautifully written, and a perfect escape when your brain won’t shut off.

How about you? What do you reach for when you can’t sleep: books, snacks, or bad TV reruns?

P.S. I read every single reply. So, if you’ve got city tips for Kathryn, a favorite NYC bagel shop or Chinese restaurant, or a pile of leaves looking for a new home, hit reply and tell me.