A Whale of a Tale

Photo credit: Ocean City Patch / Douglass Bergen

Yesterday, a dead 40 foot whale washed ashore in our hometown of Ocean City, just 6 blocks north of where we live!

I found out from a friend who happened to be working from home at the time.  She sent me these pictures and at first, I had no idea what I was looking at.  Then, I couldn't believe my eyes!

Photo credit: Megan Williamson (Jan 23rd, 2:00pm)

 

Photo credit: Megan Williamson (Jan 23rd, 2:00pm)


Crowds started forming on the beach within minutes of the first spotting.  And they were still there this morning when Nate and I went to pay our respects before work.  It was a very sad sight...

The whale is either of the minke or fin species and is already badly decomposing.  Officials were waiting until today to see if the waves would push the whale further onto the beach, making it easier to access.  And the tide did its work.
 

Photo credit: Nathan Torok (Jan 24th, 7:30am)

Photo credit: South Jersey News / Philly.com

When the tide recedes this afternoon (it's low at 2:18 p.m.), the Marine Mammal Stranding Center technicians should be able to get to the whale to determine what species it is, what caused its death, and how they will remove it from the beach.  I'll keep you posted...

By the way, we've been told that its a good thing it's not summer, as sharks would have followed the whale straight to "America's greatest family resort" for a chunk of blubber...  How's that for too close for comfort?

Update @5:00pm 1/24: The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine identified the whale as 60-foot finback whale, the second largest animal ever to have wandered planet Earth. Only the blue whale is bigger.

Update @8:30am 1/25: Experts with the center spent the day yesterday taking tissue samples and performing a necropsy, the animal equivalent of an autopsy. They found multiple broken bones, suggesting the leviathan was struck by a ship, center Director Bob Schoelkopf said. “Animals are feeding, and they come up to take a breath, and they get hit,” Schoelkopf said. Before the city could do anything with the decomposing whale, employees first had to build sand ramps over jetties and outfall pipes north of Seventh Street to ferry the whale chunks to a burial site on the beach near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge. Burying whales is a tradition born from practicality in southern New Jersey. There is simply no easy way to get rid of 50 tons of rotting, disgusting blubber and bone.

1,001 Rules for my Unborn Son

Have you guys seen this site or read the book by TV producer/writer and blogger Walker Lamond?  I have wasted spent wayyyy to much time trying to read all of these...and couldn't resist posting some of my favorites:

   

  

By the way, in 2011 Walker was named one of Complex Magazine's "5 Style Bloggers You Should follow on Twitter" and CBS News named his blog one of "25 Genius Tumblrs." I think I need to add him to my daily reading list!

SUNday Post #3

(Image from FFFFound)

Happy (birthday) Weekend!

TGIF!  Anybody have exciting plans for the weekend?!  Looks like it's going to be a cold one!

We're headed down to Baltimore / D.C. tomorrow to continue Nate's birthday celebration and check out the Baltimore Boat Show with his brother, Jake, and his wife, Casey.  On Sunday, House Hunters is filming at one of the houses Nate built (and owns...but its for sale!) in Manayunk, PA!  (More details on that next week!)  Should be a busy but exciting one!

Bachelorette party - what to wear, what to give!

How do you get Taylor Swift hair?  This amazing curling wand!

Watch 3 teenage girls who won the Google Science Fair present at TEDx!  Amazing!

(Image from A Cup of Jo)

Craft of the Week: Valentine's Day series #1

If you know me, you know there is nothing I hate more than tacky holiday trinkets and decorations (especially of the Halloween and Christmas variety...and we'll throw Valentine's Day in there as well because I don't love the color red). 

But you also know that I lovvvvvvve homemade gifts...both giving and receiving! 

So this week I thought I would launch a 4 part "Craft of the Week" series of cute and creative Valentine's Day crafts to bring a little love to your home or to give to a loved one!!  Nothing tacky here, I promise!

Part 1- Scrabble L-O-V-E

Nate and I have been busy cleaning out our house and putting away some things in storage to de-clutter our living space and randomly, I found an old game of Scrabble in the garage.  I knew at once I could use the letters to make cute personalized gifts!  Perhaps in a frame?  So I went to the craft store in search of a small shadow box and happened to find one on sale for $7 that was filled with sea shells.  Worked for me!

Supplies Needed:

• Scrabble letters
• Shadow box (the length of your message will determine how large or small you should buy your box; mine is 5.5"x 5.5" matted to 4"x4")
• Hot glue gun
• Card stock
• Tape
• Paper Cutter
• Paint (if desired)

Directions:

1. First, if you're going for a certain color scheme, now is the time to paint your frame.  So, disassemble the shadow box (save those sea shells! they will be great for another craft!).  But, I liked the white and sand colors as it went well with the colors in our house so I kept it as is.  I'd imagine a nice pale pink would look cute and a little more girly, or a black frame might play well with the color of the letters.

2. Cut down your card stock to match the size of the matting or inside of the frame.

3. Place two pieces of small tape on the back of the matting.  Tape the card stock to the back.

4. Next, spell out your message with the Scrabble letters however you want them placed.  I measured to find my exact centers and then eyeballed the tile placement.

5. Hot glue each letter to the card stock one at a time.

6. Pop into your fame!

The great part about this craft if that you can create any color scheme or message, making it as good of a Valentine as it does a housewarming or baby shower gift!  Or maybe to give to your Words With Friends enemy friend?

Engagement present?



Baby Shower present?

J.Crew...Baby!

Great news Moms, Moms-to-Be, and plain old baby lovers like me!  J.Crew is finally making baby clothes!  Which means no more waiting until your child is 2 to fit into CrewCuts...and much more to "ooo-ing" and "ahh-ing" the next time your out doing a little retail therapy! 

The initial offering is small, but utterly adorable!  The perfect blend of prep and specialness...perfect for a gift!

Anyways, here are some of my faves:

Nautical striped baby jumper

"I heart" baby jumper

Cozy ribbed onesie

Adorable stripped booties

Soft and sweet baby blanket

And because every baby needs cashmere...

By the way, did you know that you can now shop J.Crew Factory Online everyday, not just on weekends?!  Score!  Also, J. Crew Factory also recently started carrying CrewCuts!

Now all we need is J. Crew to launch Maternity so fashionista's around the world will never have to worry about outfitting themselves or their families ever again!  You hear that Jenna Lyons?  We're talking to you!

Happy Birthday, Natey!

A very happy birthday to my darling husband, Nathan! I know you're going to kill me for making a blog post about your birthday...but I wanted you to know what an inspiration you are to me and how much I love you!  We are the luckiest...

xoxo Kaitlin

P.S.iloveU