"Mom, could you watch the kids on Sunday?" JacobHunter "Sure. I will take them to the zoo." And what a day we had.  First, I planned a picnic lunch & time on the zoo playground.  Jacob, almost four, would have been happy to keep playing here for hours, but his older brother, Hunter, kept asking to see the animals.  We just missed seeing the baby Amur Tiger who was going in for a nap.  Hunter, 9, remembered learning during an earlier zoo visit that the giraffe has seven bones in his neck as does a human. Dave & Hunter getting off the train We ended our day together with walk along the stream on our rural property.  The water is rather low due to lack of rain and the boys enjoyed walking in the water w/o shoes.  Let's just say that Mom picked up two rather wet & muddy boys.  In fact I wra... 08/15/2010

I Wish, I Wish, I Wish Upon a Star     Remember that ditty from childhood?  The last few days I have been on a quest for a purple star, "Called Shot Master."  Finally after five "SUGGEST'clicks I have my purple star!!!!   Wow!! This was more of challenge than I first thought it would be.  (You have to be one of the first to 'Suggest' a post to be a Featured Post.) Finally I started getting up early just like the 'Three Little Pigs'  who went to the market early to beat the Big Bad Wolf.   Finally a Purple Star****************     What's my next goal?       Join me in Real Estate Practice (Pre-license) this weekend.  Contact:  Alan Kells 1-814-967-9000  www.alankells.com   08/12/2010

Are You Ready to Improve?    Do you want to be a better communicator? Do you want to be a better leader?   Let's attend a Toastmasters meeting together.  Yes, it is a great way to become more comfortable working with people.  No, pressure just friendly people who want to improve.  Isn't that what Real Estate is all about?  Working with people? Noon-Timer Toastmasters meeting:  Noon - 1:00 Second & fourth Thursday Erie, PA Details:  contact Mary Yonkers, 814-881-7548 08/12/2010

  "Bad Gateway Upstream" Is anyone else getting this message when trying to upload photos?  I have tried and tried to upload photos from my Picasa program only to get "Bad Gateway Upstream" Such a bummer!  I thought the problem had been fixed.  I even sent a message to the AR tech gods, but   No response   Must be Sunday.  My mother always said that Sunday is a Day of Rest Still a bummer! Since I think ActiveRain is Fun and Not Work!   If you have any suggestions, please leave me a message.   ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Real Estate careers are very rewarding. Call Mary Yonkers, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services  814-835-1200 or 814-881-7548 Erie, PA  Real Estate classes begin soon www.alankells.com     08/08/2010

Are You Ready for a Career Change?  Are you self-motivated?  Are you a goal-oriented individual?  Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career?  Do you enjoy meeting and working with new people?  Are you earning what you are worth? Who Does Well with a Career in Real Estate? Teachers, nurses, CPA's, attorneys, college grads, other sales professionals, housewives and recently retired professionals as well many other professions. Essentially, if you enjoy working with people, and are filled with a personal drive for success and excellence a real estate career may be right for you. Advantages: Flexible schedule Unlimited income potential Learn More at Upcoming Career Seminars:  presented by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services August 3  7:00 pm  5620 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509  Con... 08/02/2010

Want to know how to furnish “two homes” for $4983.00 and have a high end brand new look? Craigslist and a Home Stager!   Saving money for our clients can be a real challenge. One of our most recent clients said “I need to have my home staged and I don’t want to pay for rental furniture. I don’t have a lot of money. My goal is to furnish my new home with the staging furniture to be added to my existing furnishings. ” What a great idea! This client gets a three bed one bath home furnished for “Home Staging” and an “Interior Redesign” for her new home all for one price! This home had a few pieces of furniture left behind when they moved out. Here’s my “Solution!” I “shopped” her home and found: * A purple dresser. * A small black and white desk. * Modern glass TV stand. * A wicker kitchen ... 08/02/2010

Inspire: to influence, stimulate, or impel to guide or motivate                                Dad                                   Mother Recently I was asked to give a speech to an inspirational speech at a Toastmasters meeting.  After reflecting about the topic for days I decided to talk about the people in my life who have inspired me to be the person I am today my parents.  Neither of my parents were well educated but they instilled in me the importance of an education and the value of hard work as they shared their love of family with four kids and everyone in our extended family as well.  However, I knew my father meant business when I heard him use my middle name, Mary "ELIZABETH" M. E. Mother wrote our initials on the blackboard in our kitchen along with our 'Daily To Do List'... 07/31/2010

Is this you?    Just one of the group? Mr. or Ms Real Estate Agent looking for buyers and sellers in a glutted Real Estate market?  Most agents  have full color photo business cards and personal brochures.  Some even have their own website.  But how will buyers and sellers find you? In Erie, PA there are more than 500 Real Estate agents.  The company I work for, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, has four residential offices with 130+ agents.   Why should a buyer/seller call me? SELL THE BENEFITS of working exclusively with me. This was part of recent class I taught on personal marketing  "Marketing Yourself." Instead of bragging about yourself, start by telling the buyer/seller how they will benefit by working with you.  What can you do for them that other agents can't or won't do?  Be... 07/30/2010

Where Can You Find 2010 Open Houses? Pennsylvania New York West Virgina Ohio  Join Howard Hanna at over 2010 Open Houses on Sunday April 18th and take advantage of the tax credit before it expires at the end of April    For all your Real Estate needs in Erie, Pennsylvania call Howard Hanna Real Estate Services at 814-899-3005   04/16/2010

Yes, the sun sets every day throughout the year, but the longer days of spring and summer seem to bring the best sunsets especially near the shore of Lake Erie where I live.  Either a quick walk or ride usually means a wonderful display by Mother Nature.  Let me share with you tonight's sunset. Just look at the buds as they seem to embrace the sunset. I am glad you were able to join me tonight. 04/15/2010

Your Presence Is Requested April 18, 2010 Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia including Erie, PA  Howard Hanna Open House Extravaganza April 18   For Addresses in Erie, PA You don't need to wait until April 18th to see these home, call now for an appointment.  Perhaps you are considering a career in Real Estate.  Contact me ASAP for details about Real Estate classes in Erie, PA through Alan Kells.   04/06/2010

While taking photos of the sunrise this morning I thought of Debi Boucher's post suggesting that we get Up Close & Personal with the photography.        I thought about trying to position the sunrise in the 'V' of this huge grouping of tree trunks and realized that execution of my bright idea wasn't going to happen.   But as I walked toward the tree the placque caught my eye and I decided to accept my limited ability.         Footprints in the Sand        The Footprints in the Sand placque was given to me as a gift when my father died six years ago.  Over time it has become imbedded in the tree trunks as a constant reminder of my dad and life's priorities.  This group of trees and the placque are visible from my kitchen window year-round.   Even though I can't read the words from afar I... 04/02/2010

Welcome to a New Day   Getting up early is not usually a problem for me most of the year when the days are longer and a  little warmer.  I go out to get the newspaper and feed the birds every morning whether it is raining, snowing or just a calm start to the day.  Sometimes I remember to take my camera with me. Here is what I saw this morning. And then . . . Enjoy the Day   04/01/2010

Price: $84,900 FIZBER.com ID 15412624 Single Family with 3 bed, 1.0 bath, in 951 West 24th Street Erie, PA, 16502 http://www.fizber.com/15412624/ 951 West 24th Street - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 951 West 24th Street, Erie, PA, 16502 Sq footage: 1320.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 1.0 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 1915 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Pennsylvania homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: It is almost like new with all of the updates: roof, siding, carpet, doors, windows, interior paint, motion lights, ADT security system, breaker box, bathroom, refinished hardwood floors and more. First floor includes kitchen, dining room and living room. Second floor has three bedrooms and 1 bathroom. This clean home al... 03/31/2010

Did someone order snow? Just a few minutes ago I looked outside and noticed that it is snowing again in Erie, PA.  Who forgot to tell Old Man Winter that spring is here? Maybe it was the friend who sent me an e-mail this morning asking if I thought we would have another chance to cross country ski.  She still has her skis in her car, but I already put mine in the rafters of the garage.   I am so ready for spring. Opening soon! Waiting for Creamland to open each year is an Erie ritual.  Shortly after New Year's the sign went up announcing how long Erie had to wait for the Un-Official arrival of spring.                     Notice the sunshine, too!!!!!!! 03/25/2010

Let's Rejoice:  Snow Drops   Yesterday the base of the tree at the end of my driveway was still blanketed by snow when I left.  Later in the day I was so excited to notice that a lot of snow had melted.  So I quickly found my camera and walked around the remaining piles of snow.  To my surprise the Snow Drops had poked their heads up through the remaining snow and winter debris.   Under the snow piles the Snow Drops are blooming Spring Is Here 03/12/2010

Even Ducks Enjoy A Sunset Over Lake Erie Despite the frozen Lake Erie the ducks were happy to swim in the mouth of Trout Run along with the steelhead & brown trout.   After working most of the afternoon on a PowerPoint presentation for next week's Continuing Education class I just had to take time to capture the sunset over Lake Erie. More to come as the weather gets warmer as Erie, PA has some of the world's best sunsets. Now to put the finishing touches on my class notes before dinner.   03/09/2010

  Are You As Ready for Spring As I AM?    Erie, PA                Your area ?   I am so ready to see flowers growing instead of the mountains of snow I see outside my door. Lately I have read a few posts from other areas of the country with beautiful photos of the first signs of spring in their area.  Just today Fred Carver shared a close up of a  Red tulip using tips by photographer Debi Boucher.  In my comment to Fred I said that I was going to try close up photos.  What better subject than spring flowers!!!      Now I let me be upfront and disclose the true source of my flowers . . .                One of my past times is working with silk flowers.  At this time of year I start putting together my spring bouquets. Each day I add to my collection.  Enjoy . . .     Maybe spring will co... 03/02/2010

By now most people are tired of 'old man winter' and are anxoiusly waiting for spring.  I just couldn't resist taking this shot of the sunrise after yet another snow storm in Erie, PA.   After getting the paper I decided that perhaps it is time to put Mr. Snowman up     in the rafters of the garage. Maybe tomorrow I will wake up to sunrise.  over the Atlantic . . . 02/28/2010

"'Ask Mary' Comes to Blogtalkradio" Are you someone who wants to learn new things every day? Is it important to you to stay on top of real estate trends? Are you ready to take your real estate career to new heights?  If you said yes to any of these questions, you need to listen to Mary Yonkers on Blogtalkradio at 9:00am MST on Thursday March 4, 2010. You can click here to set a reminder. And please call in with any questions, or just to listen at (347) 994-1903. Or you can listen online and participate in the chat room by clicking here. Mary is a real estate educator from Erie, Pennsylvania. Mary is extremely passionate about education having been a teacher at the middle school level for sixteen years before starting a career in real estate.  Currently Mary teaches real estate classes f... 02/26/2010