The Season is Upon Us

Seasons Greetings Everyone,

The beginning of my favorite time of the year is on us. I want to say, thank you, to everyone for your patronage and support. From my heart, I want to wish everyone success and good fortune. Mostly, I am thankful that we can all be a part of something bigger and better. How do I know that? Well, the way I see it, if things are so bad then I am sure better is just waiting to happen.
With that said, I think this might be a nice time to tell you a little about me.

It is the coming of winter, when the leaves begin turning colors and the air takes on a fresh crispness; these are my favorite months of the year. I love the drift of the summer but the advent of winter brings its own seasonal festivities. It is all comfort and joy for me and I live for it. Starting with Halloween, I have been known to be involved in many haunted house shows. Currently haunting with the Boys Scouts of America’s yearly themed ice arena haunts, which had their origins in one of the Essex County Hospital Center (Overbrook) Medical Doctor’s Homes. When my children were young, there was always a military barracks and a few good men nearby to use for my earlier hauntings.

The trees are almost bare and the days in Jersey are sometimes wet and cold and sometimes very comfortably warm. The weather changes frequently. Halloween tucked back in the attic, and the celebrations of the season’s holidays are in the air. As a child my father decorated for this season and other celebrations. He had an imported Italian family business. My grandfather, my father and his 7 brothers all worked in the family ‘flag and decorating business'. My family grew up decorating the towns – literally. We had a warehouse full of rolls of garland and huge boxes of lights. The garland would be wrapped around wire frames and I remember helping to twist in the large colored lights. It was exciting for a kid, lighting up these huge frames to check for dead bulbs and the lights were bright and hot to touch. The men would work long hours stringing holiday decorations that spanned across the streets in town and lit up the night. It is a busy time of year for everyone, but I always felt I held an inside secret that no one knew about; the secret behind that spectacular finish.

Imagine my house in December? Oh Yes, the lights spelled out 'Seasons Greetings' and stretched across the whole length of our ranch home! I always loved it, the bright glow at night outside my window … did I mention that they blinked?

I still love the prep for the holidays… and it is no surprise that I opened a business where the busiest season is all about the holiday prep. It must have something to do with my circadian rhythm! This time of year, if you walked into Grove Baskets and Gifts you could see the elfin magic working. We are working on our own inside secret.

I love being part of the giving of thanks and the celebrating of the season. The bonus is that the business at Grove Baskets and Gifts is always about giving and celebrating, all year round. Each gift basket sends a message and we specialize in that spectacular finish.

Best Regards, Judy Bennett