Mary Yonkers

A few months ago I sent a letter to a childhood friend, Carol Moran Thorton, who now lives an hour north of San Francisco.

Over dinner at the Spinnaker Restaurant in Sausalito, CA we determined that we had not seen each other for 43 years, but we spent 4+ hours trying to catch up. Fortunately our husbands found things in common because I think we pretty much ignored them most of the evening. As kids growing up in Oil City, PA our nickname was the "Pearl Avenue Magpies" because magpies chatter a lot. I guess we haven't lost our touch.

Carol & her husband, Ken, agreed to pick us up at the cruise terminal and were our tour guides for several hours before taking us over the Golden Gate Bridge. Carol's choice of restaurants could not have been better as the Spinnaker Restaurant was beyond comparison. Even though Carol & I were busy talking, we did enjoy an excellent meal of crab cakes and sworfish accompanied by our favorite chardonay wine. Upon returning home in PA we found a bottle on our doorstep, complements of Carol & Ken.

A toast to you, Carol & Ken.

Over 1,ooo songs have been written about San Francisco so I couldn't decide which one to use in this post. See this link: Songs about San Francisco and choose your favorite.

Whether you have kids or grandkids, ZOO BOO is a great way to celebrate fall. Last night was my first year making the trek to the ZOO BOO 2009 at the Erie Zoo. Now I am hooked. I am sure that I will plan to attend ZOO BOO every fall.

Would you like to see a few photos I took last night before it got too dark? Do these kids look anxious to go?

So many people, but very organized. Each of 12 Treat Stops were decorated, staffed & loaded with yummy treats throughout the Erie Zoo. Some of the areas were decorated by local organizations like a Girl Scout Troop. Very creative!!!

Left: Alien Spaceship Landed (My favorite display--VERY CREATIVE)

Right: ZOO Tube hosted by one of Erie's radio stations. Kids are rock'n. Such Fun!!!!

No Halloween display is complete without a graveyard. The names of the buried were another example of the creativty. My daughter said 2009 ZOO BOO was the best she has seen.

I couldn't resist taking this little girl's picture. Perhaps you can see that her wings and antenae light up. Her face is coated with just a tiny bit of glitter. So precious!

So until next year . . .

PS: Events are great place to "softly network for business." Be a host, like Wegman's, McDonald's, Bob Evans, radio stations. The list is limited only by your imagination. Remember: Have fun! and enjoy your family, too.

Arriving home after three weeks vacation we needed to get back to the basics of a Healthy-Lifestyle of living and eating. Hence I planned a few very basic menus even though I was invited to join this Bon Appetit group. To me 'Bon Appetit' says gourmet food, but fortunately over the years I have learned that gourmet does not need to be unhealthy good. Good food that is prepared with a little flair with emphasis on Presentation can be just as gourmet and deserving of the 'Bon Appetit' logo.

Grilled Salmon Glazed with Honey & Dill

Fried Zucchini with Hint of Dill Lettuce & Spinach Salad

Salmon: Notch the top middle of salmon fillet to remove brown section (tastes fishy). Place on rack or pan covered with foil. Drizzle with fresh lemon or lemon juice, sprinkle with dill (fresh or dried). Broil till tender but not over done. Drizzle honey over salmon. Place under broiler until golden brown. Let stand on stove top two-three minutes.

Zucchini: Peel zucchini, cut 1/2 inch slices. Fry in olive oil till brown; turn once.

Lettuce & Spinach Salad: Open your refrigerator & be creative. Sometimes I have carrots, olives, onions, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes.

PS. The zucchini was from the only veggie from Dave's flooded garden.

There is no place like home. Home, Sweet Home

How often we hear or see these words, but until you have been away you don't really appreciate their meaning. Vacations are fun. We look forward to going, enjoy the places and the people we see,

There is no place like home. Home, Sweet Home

Even though we saw mountains, fiords, glaciers, whales, dolphins, eagles, totem poles and so much more along the Alaskan Inside Passage & down the west coast to San Diego, I missed my (almost) daily walks to Lake Erie.

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So join me today as we walk to Lake Erie. Enjoy the fall foliage and brilliant fall colors.

At end of my road & across the highway to Avonia Rd leading to Lake Erie

Just one of many scenes along Avonia Road. Oops, what happened while I was gone? Township is buiding a parking lot & plans to add picnic table along the lake front.

Mouth of Trout Run being rebuilt with barriers to prevent Steelhead trout from migrating upstream as this is a nursery/stocking stream. Fishing is allowed in the lake, but not in the stream. This is the same stream that flooded our property June 30th as we live one mile upstream.

Coming home we were greeted with wind gusts up 54 mph and temperatures in the forties by the next morning. (Trees on left are on our property; right is near the lake)

Fall color outside my kitchen window

Alan Kells Schools of Real Estate

Classes start soon in Erie, Pennsylvania

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• Do not delay - register today to reserve your seat in this premier class

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