Being thankful is a great state of mind and one that we should all practice.  You can wake up feeling really poorly, but if you train your mind toward gratitude instead of grousing, it really does change the way you feel.  I've never been one to wake up happy.  I'm not sad, exactly, I'm just not ready to get up.  My normal body clock wakes me up around 7:30 AM, but my alarm clock wakes me up at 6:30.  At that point, I slam the snooze button and JJ, my little dog creeps up to my head for a cuddle, and we both fall back to sleep.  Until another rude jangling of music wakes us up again!  I usually hit snooze twice, but this morning it got hit a third time, and JJ, always ready for a snuggle, was just fine waiting for the next rude awakening!   About the only time I can't sleep in the morni... 10/14/2010

I've never been very good at endings.  I think I cried at the end of every school year growing up and I get very melacholy on New Year's Eve.  The end of summer just about does me in, particularly now that I have a son who goes away to college every September!  My brokers send us a motivational email every Monday morning to get the week started on the right foot and one of the quotes struck me as just right.  Don't cry because its over, Smile because it happened! Dr. Seuss So, instead of morning the end of summer, which I do, here is a peek at the beauty just outside my front door in East Goshen Township.  And a smile as I look back on the wonderful summer I had with my family and friends. 10/11/2010

Tomorrow is the big day!  It's the 8th Annual Chili Cook-off from noon to 3 in West Chester Borough!! This is such a fun event and the cost is relatively inexpensive.  $10 per person.  Children under 10 eat free.  There will be over 70 teams making chili and for the cost, you can taste every single team's fares!!  There will be vendors and lots of fun things to see and do. This is something I've enjoyed since the very first year.  It's also a good cause as the money made goes to further the good works of Rotary Club of West Chester and local charities!   10/09/2010

If you are a resident of East Goshen Township, you can participate in the township wide yard sale tomorrow, 10/2/10 from 9 AM to 1 PM.  Everyone else can just have a grand time perusing the participant's stuff looking for just that perfect treasure to add to your home! If you live in a gated community, you may call and reserve a place in  the township building parking lot.  East Goshen townhip's telephone number is 610-692-7171.  If you are driving around, don't forget to go to the township building's lot located at 1580 Paoli Pike between Rt. 352 and Boot Road and check out the treasures there!   Rain date is October 3, but hopefully, we've got most of the wet weather behind us!   10/01/2010

Woooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Ghost Tours of West Chester!!!!     This is a reservations required event and the cost is $10 per person for ages 5 and up.  You will be lead around town by a guide who will be dressed as a 1850's gentleman who will tell you tales and folklore about West Chester.   The tour lasts 90 minutes and starts at The Lincoln Room, 28 West Market Street at Wilmont News.  The building dates from 1833 and is a Federal Style structure built William Everhart, a former Congressman.  The web site states that the room retains its original molded tin ceiling and bead board walls and President Lincoln had his first biography written there!  It's said to be haunted by the ghost of a horse thief that was hanged across the street! Yikes! Call 610-696-2102 to reserve your spot.  T... 09/29/2010

    Don't miss the 70th annual Chester County Day House Tour on October 2, 2010.  This tour is always the first Saturday in October.  It is the oldest house tour in the nation and  features some of Chester County's most beautiful homes, gardens and landmarks. This year the house tour features homes in the northeastern section of Chester County from West Chester to Chester Springs, PA.  Three of the homes for this year's tour were on the very first tour in 1940!  Some of the properties featured this year include Town's End Farm (one of the original 3), Heartwood Farm (with a koi pond in the wine-cellar), Woodrow Home with its Mediterranean flare, Alderbrook Farm boasting scenic views from every window, and St Matthews Place, with a barn housing 16 carriages and sleighs.  There are a tota... 09/27/2010

I love the quote, "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things...  The quote was credited on the website about Inspirational quotes to someone named Antonio Smith.  The only Antonio Smith I could find was a huge 275 pound football player who I believe is a defensive linebacker for Houston.  Now I'm not saying he didn't say it, but I'm not saying he did either.   Whoever said it, it's so true.  Growing up I learned kind of early that life wasn't necessarily going to be easy and if I was going to be happy, I was just going to have to find reasons to be.  Of course, when I was young, I didn't realize that this was a conscious decision.  My mom, sometimes with little reason to, had a very happy outlook on life.  I'm thankful to have in... 09/23/2010

I'm embarrassed to admit that yesterday was the first time I've ever visited West Chester Borough during the Restaurant Festival.  I vaguely remember going years ago, but to be honest, this college town has so many shindigs throughout the year, that I am not entirely sure!  I did make the attempt to attend last year but arrived too late to find parking anywhere in West Chester.  Note to future attendees.... arrive early!!!  In addition to arriving early, the parking lot on Chestnut Street has reopened, so that will help! Jack and I got there around 12:30 yesterday and the place was hopping.   There were over 60 restaurants set up to sell samplings of their best food and it was a blast.  I stopped at Teca's and got their phenomenal bruschette and Jack stopped at Carlino's and had a hot r... 09/20/2010

Come on down to West Chester Borough today from 12 to 5:30 and get a taste of some of the best restaurants in the Brandywine Valley!   Today is the 31st Annual Chester County Restaurant Festival!!  The festival will be on Gay Street, between Matlack and Darlington and promises to be a great time.  This is a fun and well attended event so come early to ensure you get a parking space.   The new parking garage is now open at the corner of Chestnut and Walnut and parking for the day will be a flat rate of $3 starting at 1:00.  The Bicentennial garage on High Street will also feature flat rate parking for the day. As always, the Justice Center garage is free on the weekends.   So what can you expect?  Great food is a given with 60+ restaurants and food vendors!  There will also be 7 bands pl... 09/19/2010

West Chester PA  31st Annual Chester County Restaurant Festival! Date: September 19th, 2010 (Rain Date Sept. 26, 2010) Time: 12 Noon to 5:30 PM Free to Attend Located: Gay Street in Downtown West Chester Come out an enjoy more than 50 restaurants that are participating and about 110 arts & crafts vendors. Plus there is 3 stages for music. All restaurant booths will be on Gay Street between Matlack Street and Darlington Street. Vendors will be on High Street from Market Street to Chestnut Street. The Chester County Culinary Challenge. Four chefs will compete to win the title of the best chef in Chester County. They will cook an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Starts at 2:30 pm in front of the historic court house on High St. Music Locations:  Gay & Matlack Streets: 12:00 pm New Pony (Funk... 09/18/2010

My younger son Max is a man of action and I am happy to say that he is once again playing recreational soccer for Greater Chester Valley Soccer Association.  He's in the 14 and under league.  I took a photo of the gang at the first game last Saturday.  Max is in the back row, the dark haired boy on the left in the center.  They are a nice group of boys and really enjoy watching them play. Head Coach Matt Doyle is not pictured as he was on active duty in the reserves that day.  Thank you Coach Doyle for your time and talents both on the field and for our armed forces. 09/18/2010

I have the priviledge to work at a great RE/MAX office.  Not only is it a wonderful work environment, with everything I need to be successful, everyone is so great to work with.  From my Brokers, Mike and Mike, down through the office staff and fellow agents, it's quite a team of happy and upbeat people.   Once a month our two offices (West Chester and Newtown Square) form a S.W.A.T Team.  S.W.A.T stands for Still Without a Taker.  If the sellers are amenable to it and open to suggestions, we tour listings that have been on the market for 60 or more days.   Today, about 8 of us toured 3 listings.  Here are some of my fellow agents, sitting at one of the homes, making suggestions on what the seller and agent can do to help get the listing sold. S.W.A.T. is just one of the things we do to... 09/17/2010

In support of the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, I would like to promote this event!  It sounds like a great time. West Chester is one of the most fun places to be and you can support a very worthy cause while enjoying a lovely day in town! September 18, 2010 marks the 4th Annual West Chester Big Wheel Charity Watering Hole Tour!! The fun begins at 2pm at Barnaby's of America! Check back as we add more information on bars, prize, specials and more. Pre-registration price is $20 which includes t-shirt, drink specials, and a chance to win prizes. You will receive your t-shirt the day of the event.There will be a contest for the best big wheel at Barnaby's, so break out your arts and crafts skills and get to work!Register today at http://www.bigwheelpubcrawl.com/westchesterOnc... 09/16/2010

31st Annual Chester County Restaurant FestivalSunday, September 19th12:00 pm - 5:30 pmRain Date - September 26thOn Gay Street between Matlack & New Sts., West Chester FREE TO ATTEND!60+ Restaurants and Food Vendors110+ Crafters and Info BoothsBeer and Wine Garden on Church Street.Chester County Culinary Challenge - Watch 4 Chefs battle it out to see who is the area's top chef! Plus,  3 Stages with Great Bands!  Barakka* Dirk Quinn Band * New Pony*North End* Sounds from Atlantis *Steppin Razor* The National RifleSPONSORS:WC Dish, Otto's BMW, Otto's MINI,Brandywine River Nursery, WCHE 1520AMKnox Equipment Rental, PEPSIHannum's Harley DavidsonFor more Restaurant Festival information check out: 09/12/2010

Sometimes you just have to take some time to clear your head and commune with nature.  I walk my dog almost every day but I usually stay in our neighborhood.  Today, as a special treat to a special little dog, I went over to East Goshen Park.   JJ is buckled into the passenger seat.  He always sits with his head on the console and just looks up at me while I am driving.  Can someone please tell me how I lived the first 48 years of my life without him?  You can see his mommy is a working mom by the lock box keypad that shares the front seat with him! East Goshen Park is actually two parks in one.  On one side of Paoli Pike there are numerous sports fields for soccer and baseball, swings and slides and stuff for toddlers, a walking path, pavilions, basketball nets, you name it.  I used to... 09/10/2010

    While delivering meals on wheels in Hersheys Mill on Thursday, I came across this sign at the entrance to the Hersheys Mill Genuardi's.  There is so much to do at Hersheys Mill for active over 55 year olds.   A picture is worth a thousand words, so I will let this event speak for itself!       09/04/2010

Last night the gals from RE/MAX Preferred and I joined a large group of people for the last block party of the summer.  Billed as Swingin' Summer Thursdays, they run the first Thursday of every month from June to September.  Last night's gig featured reggae music and lots of fun.  There were two bands playing music although neither sounded especially Reggae to me, what do I know?  There was a juggler, and lots of booths with information on local businesses, and spare ribs!!  Woo hoo!  I got treated to dinner and drinks by my gal pals to kick off my birthday weekend and we had a blast!  Two of our very favorite places to enjoy, and both have outside seating are Doc MacGrogran's and Teca's.  I even ran into one of my very favorite clients and their beautiful daughter!  Jared and Jennifer,... 09/03/2010

Don't forget Swingin' Summer Thursday is tomorrow, 9/2/10 from 6:30 to 9:30 in West Chester borough!  The borough website says the party will be between High Street and Matlack on Gay Street.   Don't miss it as it's the last Swingin' Summer Thursday of the year!  This month is featuring Reggae Music by two bands, Three Legged Fox and INITY! I'll be there with the gang from RE/MAX PREFERRED! This is fun for the entire family.  Some folks even bring their 4 legged friends!   See you there! Parking at South High, near Market and Free garage parking at the Justice Center Garage (on Market between New and Darlington) 09/01/2010

What's happening in Downtown West Chester? There's a great website that you should definitely look at weekend that details all the fun stuff that goes on in our great college town! Click on Downtown West Chester and you'll know just what your plans are for the coming weekend!! Don't forget, public parking lots are free on the weekends and no money is necessary in the meters after 5 PM every day!! Coming up this week is the last Swingin' Summer Thursday of the year, falling conveniently the day before my birthday and First Friday (on my birthday), where the stores all stay open late to accommodate evening shoppers and show off this great place to be!  (That was not a hint for presents... just a coinkidink)! 08/28/2010

About two weeks ago, my cell phone rang and when I answered it, a woman said "are you a real estate agent in East Goshen"?  After assuring her that yes, I was, I asked her how she found me.  Her reply was terse.  "On the Internet, isn't that why you are there"?   I had to laugh.  Yes, that is indeed why I am there.  The woman who called me was trying to help a client move to Hersheys Mill, an over 55 community that I love right here in East Goshen.  She was a financial advisor to the woman and she made all the arrangements.  Over the course of the week preceding her client's visit, I found out through her what her client wanted and set up a tour. Last Monday a lovely woman met me at the gate of Hershey's Mill.  We toured 8 homes.  On Tuesday we toured her top 3 picks, along with her ver... 08/19/2010