JulieNachtwey.Blog

Home-baked cookies were “for sale” Sunday afternoon, during my Sunday Open House at 258 Alvarado Road.  Three young entrepreneurs who live down the street set up their sales booth at the bottom of the driveway. 

Angelie (Girl Scout Cookies’ Sales Ace) had been baking cookies all weekend with Younger Sister Isabelle and Mom, Jeannie. They offered refreshing lemonade as well as cookies. Neighbor and friend Elisabeth (wearing sunglasses) offered for sale lovely bouquets of flowers tied with ribbon.

With all the open house visitors coming and going, stopping for a break at their booth was quite popular.  When Little Sister Isabelle came up the driveway to 258 Alvarado, to use the bathroom, she announced that she couldn’t stay long. She told me, “I have to get back to my work now.”

“They had such a fun time today!” said Jeannie, supportive Mom of Angelie and Isabelle. “ Let us know when your next neighborhood open house is!  They made $72!  They will be donating half to “Save the Children” and half to the Red Cross.”

Jeannie said the girls will probably be on the job again Earth Day.  Each year our neighborhood has an Earth Day Cleanup which is part get-together and chance to meet people, as well as part neighborhood beautification. 

photos by R.Parker Blackburn Fine Art http://www.rparkerblackburn.com/

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION 2010 
This Saturday from 9 to 12 noon come meet your neighbors while beautifying our neighborhood at Vicente Canyon Neighborhood Association’s 14th Annual Earth Day Cleanup!

Date: Saturday, April 17

Time:    9 am – 12 pm

Where: open space at the base of Willow Walk

Meet for coffee, juice, and camaraderie at the base of the Willow Walk steps.

(Only heavy rain cancels)
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. What better way to start the celebration than joining your neighbors in a neighborhood cleanup party? We’ll pull weeds, prune trees, clip grasses, and maintain our common pathways at Willow Walk, Sunset Trail, Eucalyptus Steps, Vicente Place Steps, Claremont Hotel Steps, and Garber Park. 

 Meet for coffee, juice, and camaraderie at the base of the Willow Walk steps at 9:00 a.m.

Photos courtesy of R. Parker Blackburn Fine Art Photography  http://www.rparkerblackburn.com/

TO BROWNIES

Putting my sweet tooth aside, I simply cannot say no to Brownies.  Especially the ones in the neighborhood.  So when Angelie Cecka knocked at my door, selling Girl Scout cookies, I couldn’t resist.  Two boxes, well that’s the minimum.  Four boxes, now we’re getting somewhere.  Six boxes seemed just right. Why not?  I can give some to my sons, Rob and James, can’t I?

Having two boys, I especially appreciate getting to know the daughters of family friends.  Like Angelie.  She is 9 years old, in third grade at St. Theresa School in Oakland.  Angelie and her equally adorable sister Isabelle live just up the street from us.  In recent years they have set up booths on various occasions, like Earth Day, offering cookies and lemonade. But now Angelie started pounding the pavement, peddling cookies, under the watchful eye of her parents, Walt & Jeannie Cecka. It’s gets complicated. Angelie must track of who ordered what, well, for how much — that’s taking salesmanship to a new level. “This is her first year selling Girl Scout Cookies and she sold 136 boxes!” said her mom, Jeanne.   “Her favorite flavors are Thin Mints, Lemon Chalet Cremes, Tagalongs, and Do-Si-Dos.”

One of her best customers is the Wrubel family across the street.  Brad & Kathleen have two boys; Nick and Conner, who love cookies so much they had to place a second order.

The Cookie Sale is the main fundraiser for the Troop, according to Angelie’s mother.  “It pays for many fun and interesting activities throughout the year.”  Angelie says that some people who purchased her cookies donated them to the Military.   When asked what she likes best about Brownies, Angelie said it’s fun to do special activities with her friends in Brownies.  Her favorite trip was an overnight at the Oakland Zoo with lots of other brownies.  Congrats to Angelie and her whole Brownie Troop 32899.  They sure sold a lot of cookies.  All I can say is, “WOW!”