Share Food Pantry, George Conlow, Jefferson Award Winner...

Congratulations, George Conlow, President of Share Food Pantry

Jefferson Award Winner

George is an admired volunteer, dedicating countless hours to feed the poor in Concord, CA and beyond. I am so glad to see George, and Share Food Pantry recognizd for their lifelong commitment to the hunger cause. Many warm blessings in the New Year.

CLICK HERE to view the CBS5 television interview.

Share Food Pantry relies entirely on volunteer support and donations from our community. Your tax-deductible gifts of canned food, fruits, vegetables or money to purchase food is greatly appreciated. CLICK HERE to visit: http://www.sharefoodpantry.blogspot.com/ for more information.

Thursday, January 13, 2011, CBS5 and KCBS will host an awards ceremony at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco to honor the 2010 Jefferson Award Winners. Tune in to CBS5 television for coverage of that special event.

Share Food Pantry, 3039 Willow Pass Road, Concord, California, (925) 827-4273

The Fratello Marionettes. We're going to a puppet show...

I bet you didn't know Friends of the Library Foundations sponsor such stunning Puppet Shows (free to the public.) A real treat for any child, Mommies and Daddies too. Ava was thrilled to see the Fratello Marionettes at the Lafayette Library last week. Lucky us, we'll bring more friends to enjoy another show in Berkeley on Wednesday!

CLICK HERE for my post about upcoming Puppet Shows at Local Libraries.

Let the children have some fun. Enjoy!

Puppet Shows - FREE Family Fun, Local Entertainment...

Photo Courtesy: http://www.fratellom.com/

Enjoy an unforgettable Holiday Treat! Puppet shows are a dazzling experience sure to captivate children, and the young at heart. Last week at the Lafayette Library, Ava and I were fortunate to see the Fratello Marionettes perform The North Pole Review. Shows at libraries are usually FREE sponsored by Friends of the Library Foundations. It was a full-house, fantastic performance, stunning puppets and delightful puppeteers. The children simply did not want to leave the show.

We're lucky to find more performances by Fratello Marionettes next week: Berkeley Library (Wednesday, December 29th) and at the Salida Library (Thursday, December 30th.)

CLICK HERE for Frattello Marionettes Schedule Details.

Photo Courtesy: http://www.nbpuppets.com/

Mark your calendars. Nick Barone Puppets, T-Rex Thunderlizard's Wild West Revue is Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 6:30pm at the Pleasant Hill, California Library. CLICK HERE for details.

Photo Courtesy: http://www.magicalmoonshine.org/

Mark your calendars. Magical Moonshine Theater is performing on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 6:30pm, Pleasant Hill, California Library. CLICK HERE for details.


Visit the Contra Costa County Library Website and find other exciting events, such as Magic Shows, Origami Instruction, Science Classes and much more. They have an updated SEARCH feature. Check it out!

Pony Rides This Weekend. Windmill Farms, San Ramon...

We love pony rides. Ava saw the darling ponies as we were driving by. We just had to stop and see what the fun was all about! We'll be back, with a car full of boys and girls tomorrow - sharing some holiday joy with sweet little friends we know. :)

Pony Rides are Friday thru Sunday
(conditions permitting)

CLICK HERE for details:

Windmill Farms
"Finest In Produce"
2255 San Ramon Valley Blvd.
San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 820-0747

P.S.
Windmill Farms sells Christmas Trees and an excellent variety of produce. Its an old-time favorite farmers' market/country store - a San Ramon landmark for over 35 years. Just across the street from In-n-Out Burger near the Crow Canyon Road exit off the freeway. Look for the Santa Claus in a Hot Air Balloon and the "Pony Rides" Sign at the Parking Lot entrance.

Fun Things To Do This Weekend. Concord, Clayton, Martinez, Walnut Creek...

Santa is Skydiving into Buchanan Field and Byron Airports

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Concord at 10am

Byron at 2pm

CLICK HERE for details.

City of Clayton - Annual Caroling and Holiday Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 6pm

CLICK HERE for City of Clayton, CA Events Calendar.

City of Concord - Tree-Lighting, Mayor's Sing-Along & Santa's Grand Arrival

Downtown Concord at Todos Santos Plaza

Saturday, December 4, 2010 - 4pm

CLICK HERE for details.

California-Grown Certified Farmers' Markets

Saturdays, Sundays, YEAR-ROUND, Rain or Shine.

CLICK HERE to search Walnut Creek and other cities throughout California.

Holiday Frolic and Snow Park

Friday, December 3, 2010 thru Sunday, December 5, 2010

Downtown Martinez.

CLICK HERE for details.

FREE Admission to many San Francisco Bay Area Museums.

CLICK HERE for details.
Oakland Museum is FREE First Sunday of Every Month. (December 6th)

Pixieland Open Thursday thru Sunday. $7.00 Savings Coupon and more...

From www.Pixieland.com:

Thursdays - Half Off Book of Tickets ($7.00 Savings)
Fridays - Pixie Friday. Unlimited Rides $10.00 per person
November/December - Gobble It Up. Buy One Wristband Get One Free!
November/December - Buy Four Single Tickets, Get Two Single Tickets Free!

Visit Pixieland's Website, CLICK on COUPON tab for monthly specials and events. Coupon Must Be Present and can be printed from Pixieland's website.

We LOVE Pixieland and feel fortunate to have this darling amusement park so close to home. Our children are only young once - so get out and play EVERY DAY!

For a related post about Pixieland, CLICK HERE.

Rides at Pixieland:
Dragon Roller Coaster, Tea Cups, Windy Grove Cars, Frog Hopper, Red Baron Airplanes, Pixieland Express Train.

2740 E. Olivera Road
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 676-9612

Safari West. Fun News. We're going on a Safari!...

November 23, 2010

UPDATE: We went on our Safari last Sunday and we're so excited to be reserved for a future date too! CLICK HERE for videos and pictures from our trip.

November 9, 2010
All I can say, is this place looks fantastic! Just a day trip from Concord to Safari West. Wouldn't this be a dream come true for any child? We're so excited. Our tickets are purchased for a little pre-birthday fun for Ava and a few friends.

Once a year, Safari West has a Fall Open House which they offer an abbreviated tour at a wonderfully special price. $20.00 for an adult plus up to two children younger than 13 are FREE. Unbelievable! Looks like unbelievable fun.

CLICK HERE for details on Safari West Fall Open House.

CLICK HERE to join Safari West Mailing List and stay in the loop of upcoming events, special promotions and news!

I just spoke with a reservation agent. November 21st, approximately 20 tickets on the 9am tour are still available. UPDATE: Safari West just opened Sunday, December 5th and December 12th for tours. Reserve soon for some exciting Safari Fun!

No worries. You can still visit Safari West any time on their classic tours open Year Round.

CLICK HERE to watch an ABC7 television video of Safari West.

Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp
3115 Porter Creek Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 579-2551 or 1 (800) 616-2695

RESERVATIONS: 707-566-3667 or (1) 800-616-2695

Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Mini-Mondays: November 29, 2010...

Lindsay Wildlife Museum has many wonderful educational opportunities for children of all ages, such as, for preschoolers: Terrific Tuesdays - Animal Action. Licking Tongues, Wednesday Wiggles - Animal Movement Series, Thursdays - I Wonder About Weather, Fantastic Fridays - Magical Moments Series.

A trip to Lindsay Wildlife Museum would be especially fun for middle schoolers during Thanksgiving or Winter Vacation from school. CLICK: KIDS CLASSES AND CAMPS for school break class schedules.

Ava and I enjoy the Mini-Monday sessions for preschoolers, well-organized and lots of fun! Mini-Mondays are only offered the last Monday of the month. Some classes require pre-registration. However, Mini-Mondays are available on a drop-in basis. Great for last-minute plans!

Class schedules for all age categories are online. You must CLICK and SCROLL through several pages of the Lindsay Wildlife Musuem website to find the class schedules. SCROLL Slowly...or you'll miss it! (Better yet, visit their musuem for a class schedule brochure.)

CLICK - EDUCATION
CLICK - KIDS CLASSES AND CAMPS
CLICK - PRESCHOOL CLASSES
CLICK - SEE THE SCHEDULE FOR PRESCHOOL CLASSES

VOILA!

Mini Monday-Birds
Mon, November 29, 2010
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Ages: 2-5 plus Adult

Member price: $8.00
Non-member price: $10.00
Come explore nature in this fun, relaxed program. Stories, arts & crafts, activities and animal encounters make this an exciting morning filled with many fun teacher-led activities for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Mini Mondays are the last Monday of the month. Pre-registration is not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Fee: $10 for the first child ($8 museum members) $5 for each additional child ages 2 and up. Children under 2 free with one paid admission.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Ave, Walnut Creek, CA USA 94597, 925-935-1978

Snow in Martinez. Friday, December 3rd thru Sunday, December 5th...

Snow in Martinez!

A Winter Wonderland with real snow at the Main Street Plaza between Starbucks and Bank of America. Mark your calendars, plan to stay in town this weekend.

Friday, December 3rd thru Sunday, December 5th 2010.

Let's toddle together for a fun-filled day of sledding, bundled-up, snow play adventure - so close to home. Restaurants and coffee shops nearby. How about hot coco for the kids? Bring the friends. Bring Grandma and Grandpa too.

CLICK HERE for details from Main Street Martinez, California website.

Sunday Farmers' Market and a Museum...

Sunday is a perfect day to visit an outdoor Farmers' Market. Rain or shine, year round, we are fortunate to have so many fresh shopping opportunities in California. Visit California-Grown Certified Farmers' Markets website to find a Farmers' Market near you, almost every day of every week. A market we really enjoy is located Sundays on Locust Street in Walnut Creek, California. Open Year-Round until 1pm.

For a bit of afternoon museum fun, there is often a FREE MUSEUM DAY located in a town near you. This particular Sunday, The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California offers free admission - (Second Sunday of every month.) Have fun. Be inspired.

CLICK HERE to find other FREE MUSEUM DAYS in a city near you.

Child Care Teacher Awards. 50 Awards at $1,000 each. Nominations Open.

This is a thoughtful way to recognize an exceptional child care teacher. Show your love and nominate your child care teacher for a Child Care Teacher Award. $1,000 of award money can help fund an educational project benefitting your child too! Imagine how happy you can make someone with a small gesture of kindness. Dream of a garden, fresh veggies, or an urban fruit tree harvesting project. Children are ever so eager learners.

CLICK HERE for The Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s TYLENOL® National Child Care Teacher Awards™ website.

CLICK HERE for the 2011 Nomination Form. Nominations must be postmarked by December 6, 2010.

Nestle. Very Best In Youth Competition - Nominations Extended until November 8th...

As Parents, Teachers, Community Leaders and Activists, it is up to each one of us, every day to raise our children with goodness and compassion. We must encourage our youth to make the world a better place. I blog often of inspiring ways to recognize youth who are making a positive difference in their own communities. Although, my precious daughter is not yet 4 years old, we are continuing to raise awareness on hunger and other social issues in our world. We hope you become inspired to join the fun!

Today, I bring you a reminder from Nestle. "Nestle helps young people, who want to make a difference, realize their dreams..." CLICK HERE to learn more from Nestle's website. Nominations have been extended until November 8, 2010.

CLICK HERE: For other inspiring ideas about CONTESTS and GRANTS.

You may also subscribe to "the lemon lady" blog via email. Scroll on the lefthand sidebar and enter your email address. More inspiring ways to volunteer, recognize and reward volunteerism in your community coming soon!

Museums or Fruit Picking? November FREE Dates To Remember...

de Young Museum Free Admission

Tuesday, November 2nd

Legion of Honor Free Admission

Tuesday, November 2nd

Bay Area Discovery Museum Free Admission

Wednesday, November 3rd

Exploratorium Free Admission

Wednesday, November 3rd

California Academy of Sciences Free Admission

Wednesday, November 17th

Museums on Rainy Days. Fruit Picking on Sunny Days!

Donate Fruit to Feed The Hungry. November is bursting full of pomegranates, persimmons, apples, oranges and lemons. Call for free pick up and delivery to a nearby food pantry.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

Cell: 510.406.1625

CLICK HERE to learn more.

California-Grown Certified Farmers' Markets. Open all year. Rain or shine...

Did you know there are farmers' markets almost every day of the week, all year, rain or shine in California? We love the farmers and the markets. So much fun to be out and about! Breathe crisp morning air, listen to music, delight in the beautiful assortment of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Have fun. Visit a market soon!

CLICK HERE to FIND A MARKET in a city near you.

Here are a few local markets to pique your interest. You will find many more markets in cities throughout California. Simply search the California-Grown Certified Farmers' Markets website above.

Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets (CCCFM)

SATURDAY thru November 20, 2010
ORINDA, California: 9am - 1pm

Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA)

SATURDAY, Seasonal thru October
CLAYTON, California: 8am-noon

CCCFM

SUNDAY, OPEN YEAR ROUND
WALNUT CREEK, California: 8:00am - 1pm

Downtown on Locust Street

CCCFM

SUNDAY, Seasonal thru October
MARTINEZ, California: 10am - 2pm

PCFMA

TUESDAY, OPEN YEAR ROUND

CONCORD, California: 10am - 2pm

Todos Santos Plaza

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and Concord Chevrolet Food Drive = $9.95 Oil Change...

From the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano website:

Concord Chevrolet Food Drive

Concord Chevrolet believes in supporting the local community! With a donation of 2 cans of food, your GM vehicle Lube, Oil & Filter Special is just $9.95* (a $49.95 value) through 12/31/10. Please call (925) 682-6400 for a service appointment. Giving has never been so easy and helpful to others in our community!

*Plus tax and hazardous waste disposal fee. Only GM - Chevrolet, Saturn, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and GMC passenger vehicles and light duty trucks. Does Not Apply to Synthetic Oil Vehicles, Diesel trucks, Medium duty trucks and High Performance vehicles. CLICK HERE FOR COUPON which must be presented when service order is written. Cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts or specials.

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
Fairfield warehouse, 2339 Courage Drive, Suite F: Monday through Friday – 7:00 am - 3:30 pm; Saturdays by appointment
Concord warehouse, 4010 Nelson Ave., Concod, California: Monday, Friday, Saturday – 7:00 am - 3:30 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

FREE Website Design For Non-Profits...

Example of a food pantry website created by Anna, The Lemon Lady.

Many food pantries do not have a website. This is a problem. I can change that! If you are a non-profit or a food pantry, anwhere in America, I will gladly create a website for you - FREE of charge!

One common reason food pantries lack fresh fruit donations is that neighbors who own fruit trees simply don't know food pantries exist in their own city. Homegrown urban fruit can be donated to Women's Shelters, Homeless Shelters, Soup Kitchens, Churches, Community Centers, County Food Banks and other food distribution points across the United States.

A lesser known food pantry in Concord, California is SHARE Food Pantry. Share receives very few donations simply because they do not have funding to support staff and publicity expenses. Like thousands of volunteer food pantries across America, they are too busy hauling and distributing food to the poor to manage publicity and marketing campaigns.

You can now find Share Food Pantry in internet search results. We can make this a reality for all food pantries across America. Let's end hunger one website at a time!

If you are a non-profit and need a website - please give me a call or send an email. I'm happy to help, no cost to you. If you know of someone who may need assistance, please spread the word. Nationwide. Do good. Have fun. Share the harvest!

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
(510) 406-1625

If I were a teacher...Inspiring Students to Make a Difference. $25,000 Community Grants.

I'm a Mommy to a caring, sharing almost 4 year-old. The Lemon Lady "Mommy-Daughter" campaign against hunger helps solve a serious hunger and nutrition problem by engaging volunteers near and far - and personally harvesting or delivering over 100+ tons of healthy fruits and vegetables to the poor and hungry. Volunteers are always welcome and always needed. Contact your local food pantry or county food bank. Find out about hunger in your community. Believe me...hunger IS a problem in every community! Let's do something about it.

If I were a teacher, I'd begin this project in the schools. Teach children to share and care. Who better than energetic middle-schoolers to help spread the word? FRUIT GROWS ON TREES and FRUIT CAN FEED THE HUNGRY. It can't walk itself into a food pantry. Community minded individuals are needed to help bring fruit to food banks! It really is a simple message and an easy way to make a difference in your community. Any Town, USA.

Be inspired. Harvest fruit for the hungry. Make a difference today.

CLICK HERE to learn about the Christopher Columbus Awards.

The Christopher Columbus Awards is a national, community-based science and technology program for middle school students. The program challenges the students to work in teams of three to four, with an adult coach, to identify a problem in their community and apply the scientific method to create an innovative solution to that problem.

Eight finalist teams and their coaches will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World® to attend National Championship Week and compete for valuable U.S. Savings Bonds and the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant, plus a $200 development grant to further refine their idea.

Youth Garden Grants. Dream. Garden. Grow. Share The Harvest...

Youth Garden Grants Sponsored by The Home Depot Garden Club, Presented by The National Gardening Association now accepting grant applications. Due date is 11/1/10.

I encourage children to grow up in the garden. There is so much to learn, so much fun to be experienced. Are you part of a school club, civic group, community center? Plant small. Grow big. SHARE the harvest with those in need. Happy Gardening. Happy Harvesting.

CLICK HERE for Youth Garden Grants Information

CLICK HERE for FREE Seed Catalogs

CLICK HERE for Food Bank Resources - Donate Garden Produce

CLICK HERE for Gardening Resources

Harvest Festival - Saturday, October 9th 2010. Event is Free...

Harvest Festival is Saturday, October 9, 2010. 10:00am-2:00pm. Event is FREE. Parking $3.50 per vehicle. Face Painting. Storybook Hour. Pumpkin Decorating. Games for Kids. Free Raffle. (Optional BBQ Hotdog lunch is $5.00.) How beautiful! Pumpkin fun, with spectacular views of San Pablo Dam Reservoir. CLICK HERE for Harvest Festival info. Visit San Pablo Dam Reservoir website to find more details about other fun events. Visit soon! Reservoir closes end of October and will reopen in February 2011.

CLICK HERE for my related post about San Pablo Dam Reservoir, photos and boat rental discount information.

For more information contact EBMUD, 500 San Pablo Dam Rd., Orinda, CA. 94563.
Tel. 510-287-0459

Website: http://www.ebmud.com/

San Pablo Reservoir
7301 San Pablo Dam Rd.
El Sobrante, Ca. 94803
(510) 223-1661

Exploratorium Museum FREE Day...

The museum of science, art and human perception

FREE Museum Day is Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

Exploratorium
at The Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

(415) 561-0360 - general information
(415) 561-0362 - Tactile Dome reservations

Open Tuesday—Sunday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays (except certain holidays).

FREE Musuem Day is the First Wednesday of every month.

For a handy list of other FREE Museum Days, CLICK BELOW.

Chabot Space & Science Center. Print your FREE tickets!

"Visit Chabot. Expand Your Universe."

Chabot Space & Science Center is an awesome museum worth exploring. Ava has been exploring Chabot since she was just a little baby. Bring a friend! Every child should be so lucky to visit this wonderful place. We especially enjoy the Tien Megadome theatre and Planetarium shows. A great benefit of becoming an Earth Family Plus or Earth Orbitor member are all the free shows you wish. Sometimes we just visit the museum for a quick trip to catch a movie, an experience that lets you feel like you've been out of this world.

Parking is easy and free, a cool retreat on a hot day. From Contra Costa County, driving to this museum is a breeze, just past the Caldecott tunnel. It's much closer than one might imagine!

Only one week until Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day. Enjoy FREE admission to Chabot Space and Science Center (they are a participating museum) if you print your tickets in advance for September 25, 2010.

Heffernan Foundation Sponsors First 5-Mile Walk for Humanity: Saturday, September 25, 2010

Heffernan Foundation Sponsors First
5-Mile Walk for Humanity
Saturday, September 25, 2010

Registration: 7:30 – 8:45 a.m. Walk Starts: 9:00 a.m.

Price: $20/person
Contact: Michelle Lonaker, foundationevents@heffgroup.com

Telephone: (800) 234-6787
Website: http://www.heffins.com

Description: This is the Heffernan Foundation’s first philanthropic walk. Donations from this “active volunteering” opportunity will benefit nonprofits that provide services in the areas of shelter, food, education, and the environment. All participants will receive breakfast and a tote bag with their registration and are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

The Heffernan Group believes that giving back, whether through volunteer opportunities or donations, is a way to improve the communities where we live and work for the future.

· Each Heffernan employee is granted four paid days off per year, one day per quarter, to volunteer their time at a local nonprofit.
· The Heffernan Group averages $1,462 in donations per employee annually.
· Heffernan Group was ranked number 43 out of 60 in the 2010 list of Bay Area “Top Corporate Philanthropists” by the San Francisco Business Times.
· The firm established its own Foundation in 2006. The Foundation’s grant making committee reviews all submissions each year in mid-December and makes grants from $1,000 to $10,000. Nonprofits that provide direct service are given priority.

Location: Walk begins at the Heffernan headquarters office, 1350 Carlback Avenue in Walnut Creek

About Heffernan Insurance Brokers
Heffernan Insurance Brokers, formed in 1988, is one of the largest independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States. Heffernan provides comprehensive insurance and financial services products to a wide range of businesses and individuals. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Heffernan has additional offices in San Francisco, Petaluma, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, and Orange, California; Portland, Oregon; and Chesterfield, Missouri. For more information, please visit heffgroup.com or call 800.234.6787. License # 0564249.

Anyone know a classroom who can use $2,500 + $2,500 for their school too?

Could $2,500 make you this excited about your classroom again?

Be inspired. 300 words or less and your classroom may win a $2500.00 makeover + $2500.00 for your school. Take a break from the hustle and bustle...get lost in your thoughts.

Even amidst budget cuts and education woes, we are still a community that must nurture our young - and support our teachers. Please share with your child's teacher and bring a little hope into the classroom. Entry deadline is November 13, 2010. I hope and dream for a better tomorrow.

CLICK HERE for more details about the Great American Financial Resources Classroom Makeover.

CLICK HERE for teachers deserve the best dot com, with other details and awards programs for teachers.

CLICK HERE for CONTESTS and GRANTS of other exciting ways the community can get involved to win money for their school, civic group or service project!

Beauty In Our Own Backyard. Boating. Coastal Clean-Up. Harvest Festivals.

San Pablo Reservoir

In between food hauling, farmers' markets, fruit harvesting, and looking for lemon trees, we still make time for family fun!

The Bay Area is such a beautiful place with easy access to reservoirs and boat rides, simple enough for an afternoon adventure. Have you ever visited San Pablo Reservoir? CLICK HERE for directions. We were pleasantly thrilled to find such a spectacular place, only minutes from home. A relaxing boat ride is a peaceful, perfect way to introduce little ones to the wonders of nature.

Enjoy weekday discounts on boat rentals.Monday: 10% Off Boat Rentals
Wednesday: 25% Off Boat Rentals
Friday: 50% Off Half or Full-Day Kayak Rentals

*According to the park brochure, Seniors, POWs, and Disabled receive 50% off boat rental fee Monday thru Friday. A great incentive to take Grandma and Grandpa out for a boat ride with the little ones!

COUPONS for San Pablo Reservoir: The Entertainment Book coupon reads: Enjoy One Boat Rental at 50% off the regular price. CLICK HERE to view the Entertainment Book Coupon for San Pablo Reservoir.
CLICK HERE for boat rental info. CLICK HERE for a PDF file with other rates and rental discounts. This is a fantastic after school or weekday adventure! Hurry. The San Pablo Reservoir will close during the winter months. They're only open mid-February thru October. Don't look for us under any lemon trees, because we'll be making memories, boating, picknicking and having fun.

We visited San Pablo Reservoir last night and the staff spoke of an upcoming Harvest Festival on October 9, 2010. CLICK HERE for Harvest Festival info. Visit their website to find more details about other fun events, such as September 25th 2010, Coastal Clean-up Day. Be inspired. Protect and Enjoy Nature. Have Fun!

For more information contact EBMUD, 500 San Pablo Dam Rd., Orinda, CA. 94563.Tel. 510-287-0459Website: www.ebmud.com

San Pablo Reservoir7301 San Pablo Dam Rd.
El Sobrante, Ca. 94803(510) 223-1661

Saturday, September 25, 2010. A Fun Day To Plan In Advance...

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day. FREE admission to 1,000+ museums Nationwide on Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day. Saturday, September 25th 2010. Something so fun to look forward to. And, we're in luck. California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco is a participating FREE museum on this special day. We've printed our FREE tickets. Have you printed yours?

CLICK HERE to select a favorite museum and PRINT your tickets!

CLICK HERE to find a participating museum near you.

For free museum admission, you must print a required ticket in advance.

Bay Area Discovery Museum FREE Day...

Take the toddlers for a day of FREE family fun!

Mark your calendars: Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Free Museum admission all day, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Free admission is the first Wednesday of every month.

Regular Admission Fees:
$8: Children (1 - 17)
$10: Adults
$8: Seniors (62+ years)
Children under 1 and members: FREE.

For a handy list of other FREE Museum Days, CLICK BELOW.

Clayton Pioneer. "The Lemon Lady" takes on bottle caps in latest community service effort...

Thank you Tamara Steiner and Denisen Hartlove of The Clayton Pioneer for sharing my newest conservation/recycling project. Bottle cap recycling is an excellent project for teachers and civic groups in Clayton, California, The Bay Area and beyond. The power to make the world a better place begins with each small action we take. Even my 3 1/2 year old daughter, Ava is a good little bottle cap recycler. ;)

CLICK HERE to read the August 20, 2010 Clayton Pioneer story on Page 7.

CLICK HERE to learn all about my Earth Day Every Day Recycle Plastic Caps and Lids Campaign and ways YOU can join the effort too!

For a FREE Collection Container, please email:
AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
(510) 406-1625

Navlet's Garden Centers 25% Off Sale. A Friendly Tip...

25% Off Everything in Stock at Navlet's Garden Centers, Wednesday, August 25th thru Friday, August 27th 2010. Excellent incentive to get a head start on weekend gardening - if you can stand the 100 degree heat.

CLICK HERE to join Navlet's Preferred Mailing List. That's how I learned of this great sale.

CLICK HERE to find Navlet's Garden Center locations in Concord, Pleasant Hill, Danville, and Martinez, California.

We Love Pixieland. Happy Fun in Concord, California...

We Love Pixieland Amusement Park! We truly do. I can't say it enough, how much we love this darling little park for our precious babies to grow-up in. We are so lucky to have a real-life amusement park in our own backyard, open almost all year. If you haven't been there in a while...well, tomorrow's Sunday. Don't miss it for the world. Train departs every 15 minutes!

Rides at Pixieland:
Dragon Roller Coaster, Tea Cups, Windy Grove Cars, Frog Hopper, Red Baron Airplanes, Pixieland Express Train.

When the park closes, we often take a stroll along the lake, feed the ducks, watch the turtles. In the summer, you'll find kids fishing and catching crawdads too.

CLICK HERE to visit Pixieland's website.

CLICK HERE for COUPONS from Pixieland's website. There are FREE ticket deals worth checking out.

Friday, August 27, 2010 is a special event open late on Friday evening from 6pm-9pm. Find those details on the Pixieland website. Great to know they are open late on August 27th, especially for busy parents with busy work schedules.

Pixieland Amusement Park

2740 E. Olivera Road

Concord, CA 94519

(925) 676-9612