May DAY 2012

Super Moon, Solar Eclipse, Meteor Shower From Halley's Comet On Tap In May, 

2012! click here

And for some musical notes on the moon, one of my fav. southern bands-lucky to see  




them many times LIVE live-




click on live. 

Celebrate the 5th of May: Cinco de Mayo
Sunday-May 6- Fanta Festival - McAlpine Creek Park - 11am-7pm
Address: 8711 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC

Live performers, dancing and singing, traditional food and folk dances and a Latino marketplace. Plenty of fun, check out the video (click on it).

YUM-A-LISH-ISH- In the mood for some good mexican food but don't know where to go? Try Loco Lime at 1101 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC. Opened in 2010 in the funky Plaza Midwood section of Charlotte. They serve corn tamales cooked in corn husks, made fresh and so delish.

 

Recipe to make your own! click: Corn Tamales

Check them out for Cinco de Mayo, May 5th with outside games and fun! Ask for their guacamole dip, made table side by your waitress and a MUST-the spicy Margarita. Burns going down and out! Here's a recipe to make yours at home. Do it a day ahead of your party so you can serve them up for poolside for Cinco de Mayo!

                            First: make your tequila spicy 24 hours prior to drinking by cutting hot pepper in half, (habaneros are the hottest!) and put into the bottle of tequila. 

Do I have to mention, don't touch your eyes, mouth, any body areas at all before thoroughly washing your hands after cutting the hot pepper??

• Ingredients:
• Ice
• 1 1/2 ounces spiced tequila 
• ½-ounce orange brandy
• Lime juice squeezed from 2 limes
• 1 tablespoon agave syrup or simple syrup

Add ice to a shaker, add the tequila, orange brandy, lime juice and the agave/simple syrup. 

Now-shake it like a polaroid (Click here for shaking inspiration

and a little OUTKAST music to shake by! What's with the green outfits?)

Use fun glassware and wet the rims, then dip the rims in rock salt or sugar, whichever you prefer.  Strain and serve. I ask you, "What's cooler than being cool? Ice cool!" Feel the burn...

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smART: Time again for cruising local art in NoDa, (North of Davidson Art district).

NoDa
Charlotte, NC

maps.google.com

Seems that NoDa is crawling with activities every weekend. A super cool place to hang and see art, have brews, catch a live show and see some funky folks digging the scene. It gets busy as the weather gets warmer...

“NoDA 1^st Annual Studio Tour”, May 4

Time 6-10pm.

http://nodarioty.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2012-Studio-Crawl-map.pdf

13 participating studios  to puruse on your self guided tour, map attached, click to check out and see local art! And say "hi" if you see me.

When you've had enough visual stimulation in NoDa and you're heading home and maybe need a little KICK to wake you up, drive a few blocks on North Davidson Street, south towards uptown (don't try walking it!), and stop in Amelie's. It will be packed, I can assure you, but just suck it up and get in line. Chat with your friends while trying to decide which wicked dessert treat to sample. I recommend: chocolate eclairs, bear claws, strawberry cheese croissants or the multi-colored coconut macaroons, (so cute-I always take a box of six home!).

 Open 24-7, no kidding, Amelie's has the best french pastries, freshly baked loaves of bread, espresso, wi-fi, and shabby chic lounging rooms. You can hang here and people watch while slurping coffee and getting a sugar buzz to go!

(They also have a satellite shop in uptown Charlotte on Tryon Street which pales in comparison though very convenient for a quick cup of joe and pastry!)

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Three major musical influences in my life (and tons of other folks, too, MAYBE YOU!), left this world in April to join the huge rock concert in the sky. First to go on April 18 was 82 year old Richard Wagstaff, known to his fans as                                                             Dick Clark. 

American's oldest teenager was yankee born and bred from Bronxville, New York, and a graduate of Syracuse University. Dick moved to the Philadelphia area in the early 50's and ended up taking over a new TV show when the original host was arrested for drunk driving. Talk about a break! In 1957 Dick opened his show with an interview from a shy southern newcomer,  Elvis the Pelvis Presley. American Bandstand became the longest running variety show in the U.S. and ended 30 years later.

 I grew up watching this show with my sister, mom and aunts. We learned all the cool dances (click here) from Philly: the watusi, the jerk, the stroll, the pony and of course one that everyone young and old knows, the twist! Bands who were on the top 40's record list would lip synch their songs while neatly groomed teens danced to Ike and Tina Turner, Simon and Garfunkel, Sam Cooke, Chubby Checker and even the Talking Heads! All of them had "good lyrics and a beat you could dance to". Click here for a stroll down memory lane if you're old enough to remember and if you weren't around back then, well you missed it! Nothing like it today though Ryan Seacrest (click on that) was mentored by Dick Clark and helped on his annual New Years Eve show from New York City. 

"Wait a minute Chester. You know I'm a peaceful man"...on April 19, 72 year old Levon Helm, singer and drummer for The BAND, took a load off and laid down his head for the last time. Born in 1940 to cotton picking parents in rural Arkansas, Mark Lavon (later changed to Levon) took up drumming at an early age and traveled to Canada where he teamed up with the Band members and called themselves Levon and the Hawks. In the 60's, they met and became the back up band for Bob Dylan (I didn't know that!) and played in 1969 at the Woodstock festival as THE BAND. (Did you go? I didn't because I was too young but I did watch the movie three times straight in a row=9 hours straight! Yeah, I was such a hippie with my bell bottoms and waist long hair. ) 

Levon loved rural upstate New York and  made Woodstock it his home. (So did Dylan). I tootled to Woodstock in March (see photo-that's me!), just last month. Word on the street was that Levon was still battling with throat cancer and was holding music nights called Midnight Ramble in his living room to help cover his medical costs. OMG. Can you imagine sitting that close and listening to the great voice of Levon Helm? That southern mountain voice echoes in my head for over 40 years-Up On Cripple Creek (click here), Rag Momma Rag, The Weight, and so many more hits- four grammy awards. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, in 1978 Martin Scorsese documented The Band's last concert after performing for 16 years in a film called, The Last Waltz. Get it on Netflix and learn about an all American Band that played with the great rock and rollers like Dylan and Clapton.

R&R TRIVIA: What band leader did Levon mention in the song, Up on Cripple Creek? Be the first to answer and you will get a copy of Levon's 2007 CD, "Dirt Farmer"; be sure to send your email address!

April 26 brought the sad news that 66 year old Pete Fornatale, Bronx-born radio personality, had died from a stroke. I grew up listening to WNEW-FM Radio where Rock truly LIVED.
Pete was a regular DJ since 1969 and hosted "Mixed Bag" in 1982. Those were the days when the DJ's ruled the air and got to play who they liked, no play list! Click here for more info on Pete. Who are some of the DJ's that you remember?



 Thanks to all for the great music that rocked our world!

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        Dandelions and white clover blossoms are blooming in my lawn right now.

Ok. I know! These are considered weeds and frowned on by the majority of grass loving groupies. But did you know in Canada that dandelion root is registered as a drug and used to treat kidney disease, respiratory illnesses, gallstones and anemia- just for starts! Yeah, it's been around since the beginning of time along with white clover which is also considered a pesky lawn infiltrator. Both are partially responsible for the vegetables and fruit we eat! How so? Dandelions and clover are food sources for bees and 90+other pollen eating insects. While you might shirk from the sight of a bee, don't reach for a can of pesticide unless you can live without edibles such as peaches, blueberries, apples, squash, and the list goes on...We need these industrious creatures if we wish to survive. Busy bees cross pollinate (or fertilize) fruit and vegetable blossoms which initiates food production.  Click here for scientific evidence provided by students of Virginia Tech. Look for the little guys with yellow or orange sacks on their legs, that's pollen that they collected from dandelions or clover and then share with their hive mates.

Staying on the subject of those little yellow flowers, right here in uptown Charlotte, we have the Dandelion Market. Open 7 days a week until 2:00AM! You can't find that in the suburbs. Stop in for sliders, flatbreads, pint brews and good wine.  Click here to see more! Personally, I haven't sampled it yet but it is now on my must try list. Send me your review if you have been there. And yes, they ARE serving dandelion greens, why not!


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What's Charlotte's most ICONIC restaurant? Reviewed this month by another yankee tootler, Adam Richman, on the Travel Channel's Man Vs. Food TV show, it is tucked the plaza midwood section of the queen city and is over half a century old! The Penguin Drive-in. MUST have: fried pickles (the secret is revealed in the video-click here). We stopped in prior to seeing New York's favorite son, Jerry Seinfeld, who was appearing less than two miles away at Ovens Auditorium. We stuffed our gobs with juicy angus beef eight ounce patties slathered in pimento cheese and  served up by hustling hipster waiters. Walk right in and grab whatever seats are open unless the line is already out the door. Now you know where to go when you need a BFF= burger and fries fix.

Speaking of BFF's, CowFish in the Village of South Park is the only place that serves up "burgushi", a.k.a. sushi burgers. That's what I said, sushi-burg-AHHHS. I can't get enough of them. Small like sliders, paired up with parmesan truffle fries, you will not die and not go to heaven but you will be happy as pie. (What'd she say?) My waiter, just by chance, Joe from the Big A, gave us the low down and hit us with his best shot-"The Taste Explosion Roll." Click here."! As Arnold says, "I will be back!"

                             Calling all LOCAVORES

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                                             WHERE IS THIS? 

         
             Have you been here? It's in North Carolina, not far from Charlotte.
                                            Send me your guesses!
 If you answer correctly, I will email you a coupon for buy one get one free coupon to this place. Send your answer and email to: kbshoots55@gmail.com, subject line: Where is this?

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Member of the New York-based Professional Women Photographers and resident of my husband's home town, Maplewood, New Jersey, Pamela Greene hosted a book signing at The Words bookstore and I was privileged to attend! Her photographs of New York's meat packing district feature both blood and beauty, hence the title: Blood and Beauty. Stunning images of New York's  hustle and bustle in  a transitional neighborhood, this book is worthy of your collection. 
To order your copy, please visit:

http://­wordsboo­kstore.­com              *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *     Calling all Gardeners!! There's still time  to start some seeds at home. This bio-dome (click) from Park Seeds  is easy and so convenient to use! I have several.              *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   You might wonder why I include New York stuff in my blog.   Fact is I lived there, went to school there and still travel there as much as I can. I LOVE NEW YORK, but for now, I'm going back down south (click on the blue). Another all time GREAT BANDS!!

I'm in a New York State of Mind...

So I was in a New York State of mind (click on this!)
and decided to do a road trip. Tootled around up north for a week or so, crossing the Hudson a few times to see "the SI-TEE", my city. Just like I pictured it, crawling like an ant hill with activity, I packed in as much food and friends as I could and left wanting more of the above!
BTW (by the way) Homeboy Bruce was in town, too, playing at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, but did I score tickets? NOOOOOOO, don't rub it in, already!

A smorgasbord of sights, sounds, and smells, New York never stops moving and it's like nothing you can even imagine. It's hard to "pull over" out of the bustling surge of pedestrians just to snap a photo or two, never mind to look around. Keep moving even if you are not sure where you are going, listen to your GPS set to "walk" and watch the traffic lights! You can get mowed down or very close to it. Hey, New Yorkers are in a hurry. "What are you looking at?!" They have places to go and people to see, it's no joke pal. And I love it.

It's not like down south where people eagerly wave you to "go ahead" at a green light when they have the right of way. No, no! Move or get run down. Ok, so that might not be the healthiest attitude. But in New York, the streets are like one giant conveyer belt, hop on, hop off, but don't block the lane! Pleaze!

Need a break when you need to get far from the maddening crowds? 

Try PINKBERRY! So far, this is my #1 favorite frozen yogurt destination. While in New York, I hit the one on 32nd Street and found school had just gotten out. Bad timing. Kids galore! Some whining, some tantrums, (and that was just me!) but I waited online because it is worth it, I swear!

Two locales in Charlotte- at the Arboretum on Providence Road and Phillips Place-been to both and I love the decor: cheerful and retro; it makes me smile for many reasons. Occasionally, (really) I don't mind calling this lunch and sitting alone slurping down their "daily swirls". I prefer the solitude of taking my sweet ole' time to fully immerse my taste buds in each unique flava flav. My yums go to: salted caramel and pomegranite. OMG! Did someone say that it's also Kosher. Oy veh! Top mine with fresh fruit (no syrupy soggy stuff like some other yogurt places!) and toasted almonds. If I feel especially wicked, brownie bites and some shaved dark chocolate to send me swooning! Ok, enough exclamations, just go try it. Opens at noon and rocks into the night!

WORD UP Heard a new word listening to NPR driving for hours on end and thought I'd share:  Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. The term, an abbreviation for "no-mobile-phone phobia". Gotta love it.


smART: McColl Center for Visual Art has a gallery reception 6-9pm this Friday March 23 showcasing art from artists in residence- click for more details. Free to attend with a cash bar featuring $1.00 beer. 




MONSTERs anyone? Mad Monster Party (click on it) this weekend at the Blake Hotel, 555 S. McDowell Street, Charlotte. 

Over 40 monster movies will be screened, scary-queen contests, celebrity monsters will appear, such as the creature from the black lagoon, my friend dated him, I think! Creators of Monster Magazine in 2011, promoters Eben McGarr, writer-director-producer (House of the Wolf Man, Sick Girl) and Joe Moe whose many talents include filmmaking, writing and singing (his website also reveals that he "once operated the front half of beloved Muppet, Snuffleupagus". 
If you go, PLEASE send me some photos: kbshoots55@gmail.com and I will post them! 


REtail: Missing Sedona Boutique which had been in Providence Promenade some time back, I accidentally "rediscovered" it tucked behind Crate and Barrel at the Village at Southpark Mall. One of a kind items from around the world, shopping here is a visual delight. Everything is colorful, opulent and decorator perfect! Do hit the 50% off sale corner! My finds: great jewelry and colorful leaf bowls. De lovely. 

QUEENS CUP RACES/Tailgate!

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Where is this? If you know where this is, send me a comment. You can decipher the place by reading this sign- if you are dyslexic!

(in Charlotte!)

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JAZZY: MONDAY March 26 at 6PM
 Bechtler Museum of Modern Art features lecture and performance to highlight abstract art and hard bop jazz. Sounds intriguing! Cash bar opens at 6pm, Ziad Jazz Quartet and pianist Noel Freidline perform selections from Miles, Monk and Coltrane.

$8.00 admission fee   or free for members
Call 704-353-9200 for more info or click on Bechtler Museum (above in purple).

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Songstress from New York moves to our town! Lucky us- !

Presenting Liv Zato...performing 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 

Mugs Coffee 

5126 Park Road, Charlotte

Open: 7 am - 9 pm

Have a cup of Joe and support a home town girl!

February 20

EAT HERE: Give me-The Liberty!

Located on South Blvd heading north before entering uptown, Liberty is tucked in and almost invisible but don't miss it. If you want a juicy, thick burger, let Chef/owner and Johnson and Wales (Charleston) graduate Tom Condron handle the job. Mr. Condron previously worked at Mimosa Grill, Upstream, Zink and M5 before joining Matthew Pera to create Charlotte's First Gastropub. Affordable food, family friendly, loaded with 20 craft brewskies, cleverly designed with recycled furnishings, this place shouts FUN as soon as you enter. MUST try:  truffle cheese fries with the Liberty pub burger! 

WOO-HOO! Highland Brewing Company Dinner on February 22-Wednesday. Click the woo-hoo for the complete menu!

1812 South Boulevard  Charlotte, NC 28203 (704) 332-8830

REtail: Lee Lighting is the grandaddy of lighting stores in our area. Oodles of chandeliers, lamps, wall sconces, even decorative wall mirrors, you will find something gorgeous at Lee Lighting, next to Carolina Place Mall. Right now: 15%off everything plus:

Woo-Hoo! 50% OFF sale items  - ONE WEEK ONLY!!! 

                               Started: February 18

                                       11600 Carolina Place Pkwy
                                           Pineville, NC 28134
                                               704-540-5878

smART: Have you been to the Mint Museum yet? Not the newly located uptown Mint, this is the "other Mint". This Mint has great art, great classes, lectures and is featuring a New York transplant from England: Edward Lycett. In the 1861, Lycett moved to NYC from England and produced stunning ornamental ceramics for the Faience Manufacturing Company. Over 40 Aesthetic Movement style pieces including plates, vases and decorative ware will be on display as well as Lycett's personal family photographs and formula books. 
                                                              

Aesthetic Ambitions: Edward Lycett and Brooklyn’s Faience Manufacturing Company

Mint Museum Randolph

Woo-Hoo!    Sept. 17, 2011- February 26
Bridges & Levine Galleries

Woo-Hoo! Buy One,   Get One Free!

*Offer valid on  balcony 1 seats at Feb. 22 (7:30 p.m.), Feb. 23 (2 & 7:30 p.m.), and Feb. 26 (7 p.m.) performances.

LIVE: Yankee born and bred, the musical, Jersey Boys, opens  Feb. 22-March 11 at the Belk Theater uptown Charlotte. A must see for baby boomers who actually remember the Four Seasons-hits like, "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "SHHHEEERRRY, Sherry Baby." I could sing those songs in my sleep after growing up hearing them on WABC-radio-with cousin Brucie!

                                                                       Where is this?                                       Please enter your guess in the comment box.

                             

Note: WOO-HOO's are events that come and go in the blink of an eye! In other words, they have an expiration date, so act fast. Click on the Woo-hoo's to open up links to details and info. 

ABOUT KAREN COHEN (THE YANKEE BLOGGER- ME!)

Location	North Carolina, United States
Introduction	I am a born and bred Yankee from the New Yawk metro area. Say it loud! I tootle around town a lot: tootle means to walk or drive in a leisurely fashion, amble. I worked as a photojournalist for punk rock magazines in the metro area of NYC back in the 80's. I love punk rock and still think the Ramones and Patti Smith Group were some of the best live bands in the universe.  In the 90's, we moved to the rural hills of Appalachia-yeah, that's what I said! and we learned how to SIMPLIFY. Simply put, that meant no running water, no indoor toilet, no heat, no neighbors for a mile around. Might I mention how great that decade of my life was!! (More later...) During that time, I wrote a weekly column called Nature's Way in my local newspaper and TAWKED (pardonez mon accent!), about organic gardening and well, nature! Now I live in the "south" (below the Mason Dixon Line), and have been called a yankee more than once. The funny thing is, we northerners like being called yankees. After all, we named our baseball team, da Yankees. My aim with this blog is to pass on to whomever wishes (not only yankees!) some of my adventures tootling around the south.
Interests	Being a foodie and an organic grower, I eat out often and favor slow cooking and locally produced food. Being a photographer, I snap shots of whatever grabs my fancy and have several exhibits, solo and en mass, here, there and anywhere that I can! I'll let you know about those. I attend at least 10 concerts/shows per year so I can give you advance notice of shows and reviews! I love art, professional,amateur and even student art. I buy it, produce it and attend gallery openings,receptions and exhibits-details will follow!

Transplants and visitors to the Charlotte-Metro area of the USA will find my blog helpful. Remember, it is just one yankee's opinion! Please give me yours! Tips, photos, ideas, I would love to hear and share them. Hit the comment box and leave me your thoughts. Your comments are all screened first before they appear online, just to keep it clean!!

Eat, play and love!

Valentine's Day! Don't let it go by without saying "I love you" to someone special in your life. Take them OUT! And do buy a present, even if they tell you, "I don't want you to spend any money on me!" Do not arrive empty handed. Consider yourself forewarned!

Ideas? WOO-HOO! Wednesday, Feb. 8th, Guys Night OUT at the Boulevard on South End (1440 S Tryon Street Suite 100, Charlotte), sweets for your sweet and jewels-what girl doesn't like jewels? Even the florist will be there to take your orders and don't think there isn't something in it for you, mister! New World Beer, also in South End, will be hosting and pouring some brewskies just pour vous! 

EAT HERE! Did y'all see Emeril Lagasse with Colleen Odegaard on the Charlotte Today show Jan. 30? OH YEAH! Emeril is in the HOUSE- our house, so to speak, promoting his new restaurant e2. I have eaten at Emeril's in Vegas and New Orleans (see the photo), more than once and always find his offerings fresh, fun and totally hip.

The most recognized chef and winner of the James Beard Award, Emeril races ahead of yesterday's trends. With over 20 years of experience, this top chef premiered the cooking network on TV, especially for the men! My man included. Comfort food is his forte. In 2011 Emeril hosted "The Originals with Emeril", a new series on the Cooking Channel, visiting historic eateries in cities around the world.

I am thrilled that he is HERE in our town and have several nights reserved with friends to try out his signature dishes, especially the oysters! YUM. Make your reservations because word is the place is packed. e2 is at the Levine Center for the Arts, Tryon Street, next to the relocated Mint Museum, the Knight Theater and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Check out my review in the next blog!

RO-MAN-TIC! The ambiance is killer at Zink, which relocated from uptown Tryon Street to South Park Mall (Charlotte) recently. The same owners as my favorite seafood restaurant, Upstream in Phillips Place, and of Mimosa Grill in uptown, the interior has an ultra hip urban feel, dark lighting, a 30' zinc bar (hence the name), and live entertainment on weekend nights. Using local ingredients, chef Tommy Dyrness serves up comfort foods that your momma never thought of: lobster mac and cheese or sweet chili glazed pork wings! Sit down and shuddup! Perfect date food: buttermilk chicken sliders for the lady and a big juicy Rock House Farm Wagyu Burger for the guy and don't skip the fries! Awesome.

Cheap Date: WOO-HOO! February 9 at the McColl Center for Visual Art, bring your honey and warm up the night listening to funky, americana blues with HEYWIRE. Live music runs 7-10pm at 721 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC. $10.00 non-members.

Love is in the AIR! Saturday February 11- 7:30pm at the McGlohon Theatre
Carolina Voices bring CRAZY LOVE, their annual Valentine concert uptown, featuring songs from Patsy Cline to James Taylor.

Southern BLUZES! Five time grammy award winner, guitarist and vocalist, Robert Cray, hits the Neighborhood Theatre this SUNDAY in NoDa. Even if you have "No One Special", check out this true rhythym and blues legend.

Cray was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011.
 Call (704) 358-9298 for tickets and details.

smART: Pop up gallery at Atherton Mill, 2000 South Blvd. Charlotte
Opening reception: February 10, 5-8:00pm
Feeding the Soul and the Needy (Second Harvest Food Bank will accept canned food donations)
Featuring a month long exhibit of Carl Plansky

Yankee-born, New Yorker, Carl Plansky 1951- 2009. He was a prolific artist and paintmaker whose career spanned 35 years. This exhibit, sponsored by the Elder Gallery, will feature large paintings, charcoals and monoprints, some of which have never been seen.

WHERE IS THIS? I go here for music, food, art, shopping, people watching, tats, etc!

Note: WOO-HOO's are events that come and go in the blink of an eye! In other words, they have an expiration date, so act fast. Click on the Woo-hoo's to open up links to details and info. 

About Karen Cohen (the yankee blogger- me!)

Location	North Carolina, United States
Introduction	I am a born and bred Yankee from the New Yawk metro area. Say it loud! I tootle around town a lot: tootle means to walk or drive in a leisurely fashion, amble. I worked as a photojournalist for punk rock magazines in the metro area of NYC back in the 80's. I love punk rock and still think the Ramones and Patti Smith Group were some of the best live bands in the universe. In the 90's, we moved to the rural hills of Appalachia-yeah, that's what I said! and we learned how to SIMPLIFY. Simply put, that meant no running water, no indoor toilet, no heat, no neighbors for a mile around. Might I mention how great that decade of my life was!! (More later...) During that time, I wrote a weekly column called Nature's Way in my local newspaper and TAWKED (pardonez mon accent!), about organic gardening and well, nature! Now I live in the "south" (below the Mason Dixon Line), and have been called a yankee more than once. The funny thing is, we northerners like being called yankees. After all, we named our baseball team, da Yankees. My aim with this blog is to pass on to whomever wishes (not only yankees!) some of my adventures tootling around the south.
Interests	Being a foodie and an organic grower, I eat out often and favor slow cooking and locally produced food. Being a photographer, I snap shots of whatever grabs my fancy and have several exhibits, solo and en mass, here, there and anywhere that I can! I'll let you know about those. I attend at least 10 concerts/shows per year so I can give you advance notice of shows and reviews! I love art, professional,amateur and even student art. I buy it, produce it and attend gallery openings,receptions and exhibits-details will follow!

Transplants and visitors to the Charlotte-Metro area of the USA will find my blog helpful. Remember, it is just one yankee's opinion! Please give me yours! Tips, photos, ideas, I would love to hear and share them. Hit the comment box and leave me your thoughts. Your comments are all screened first before they appear online, just to keep it clean!!