Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas - Give the gift of home.

The Muckdogs Holiday Pack: four undated ticket coupons, a coupon for a 2011 yearbook, and a Muckdogs t-shirt for only $25.It's the perfect gift for every baseball fan on your list. You can purchase a Muckdogs Holiday Pack at Dwyer Stadium or by calling (585) 343-5454 and pressing 'zero' to order by phone (Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m). Season Tickets, Coupon Books, and Ticket Packs are also available for the 2011 season.
http://batavia.muckdogs.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t511

Welcome to Kutter's Cheese. Since 1923 Kutter's Cheese has stood for cheese of the highest quality and superb taste. Please enjoy your shopping experience on our web site. Feel free to contact us using the information below. We would be happy to take your order over the phone.

You can purchase Kutter's Cheeses or Yancey's Fancy Cheeses through their site.
Learn more about Kutter's Cheese by visiting their About Us page or watch the past unfold on their History page.
We also have a partnership with Hunt Country Vineyards as one of the first satellite wineries in New York. Through this partnership we can offer a large selection of wines and conduct wine tastings.
http://kuttercheese.com/

What says more than 'home' than Oliver's Candy. Sponge candy is always a welcome gift. Check our their holiday features at:
http://www.oliverscandies.com/

Mary Margaret is busy this week on the orders she received from loyal customers. You can still contact her for gift certificates. Or, wait until next week to order your gift from home for New Year's Eve or Day.
http://www.scratchbakery.biz/default.html

In 1989 we built a small retail market and a cold storage for over 60,000 bushels of apples. Today we have grown to include an ice cream shoppe, greenhouse, Watt’s Orchard Express Orchard Train and train station and an animal enclosure.
http://www.wattfarms.com/


Merle Maple was awarded four of seven first place ribbons in the maple categories at the New York State Fair in 2007 - and Best of Show for on our maple syrup the fourth time in seven years! We are dedicated to providing you with the best products available.
At Merle Maple Farm, we produce a wide array of pure maple products and gourmet foods to titillate the most discriminating palette. Welcome to our Farm.
You can order over this web page, on our email lyleanddottie@merlemaple.com, or give us a call at 585-535-7136. We accept Visa and Master Card.
http://www.merlemaple.com/

The Shop's Volunteers.

Kutter's Cheese delivered our order late yesterday afternoon.
We carry:

• mild, sharp, and x-sharp cheddars
• colby longhorn
• hot wasabi cheddar
• horseradish and smoked bacon
• cheese curds
• Sharp provolone
• Swiss
• Jalopena muenster
• Maple Cheddar

As usual, the volunteer didn't have time to get the cheese out of the box before people streamed in to purchase their favorites.
I love when the vendors arrive.  They have to come down a long hall to get to our shop.  Anyone in the common rooms knows they are there.  Scones fly out the door when Scratch Baking delivers.  The same goes for the cheese selection.  I'm no exception.  I put in a special order for a half pound of smoked gouda and a container of port wine cheese spread.  I never had to leave home.  Just run downstairs (no, I didn't actually run) and pick up my order.
Both Kutter's and Scratch Baking will fill orders by mail.  They are part of my mission to bring things to our customers from locally owned and operated businesses.

My volunteers, in the shop, are the best ever.  I have less than ten active volunteers who keep the shop open 6 days a week, 12 hours a day.  Three more are on medical leave.  I can't wait to get them back.
The average age of our staff is 72.  This is an age when most people are willing to sit back and enjoy their retirement years.  Not my team!  They feel their hours in the shop benefit them in many ways.
They tell me that interacting with their friends and neighbors tops their list.  They feel that they are making a contribution.  They all agree that being active is keeping them sharp and alert.  Many had retail experience in their careers. They know how to solve problems. They know how to deal with people who can be downright difficult at times.

I believe that my team is the real reason for our success.  This little shop, in a very small space, grossed almost $14,000 in it's first year.  Our mission is to provide quality items at affordable prices.  The net goes to the Residents' Council Treasury.  In our first year we gave the Residents' Council just over $4000.

We have a team dinner meeting four times a year.  This is our time to review what we are doing and discuss how we can improve.  The highlight of these meetings is my chance to recognize their service to our Residents' Council and our shop.  I look at them as true gems.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention several who go beyond the call. 

• Bob, better known as Shop and Stock is constantly looking for new items that would appeal ot our residents and guests.  He has the marketing experience to know what will fly off the shelves.  Without him, the shop would be in dire straights.
• Dennis, is our off hours clerk.  He is the go-to guy if one has the munchies after the shop is closed.  Dennis will open the shop anytime from 9pm to 9am so that someone can pick up what they want.  Dennis does a booming business from the late night wii games crowd.  Bowling and golf make you hungry and thirsty!
• Judy is my Friday morning wizard.  She opens on Friday morning and is the person who deals with the candy/chips/etc. vendor.  This is always a big order on Friday morming.  Judy is relentless when it comes to checking that order against the list Shop and Stock leaves for her.  What would I do without her?
• Bill is my Wednesday and Friday night guy.  He has the pleasure of making hot chocolate or hot tea for those playing bingo or poker on those nights.  Bill loves to talk and he has found a nicheto conduct cracker barrel discussions with his customers.. 
• Ruth, Maggie, Patty, Karen, and Marlene rarely miss their shifts in the shop.  If they do, it is always for a good reason.  Each of them bring a new personality to the mix.  They have people who will only shop when they are there. 

So, today is my personal salute to my volunteers day.  Have a wonderful Friday.

14 days til Christmas
Did I mention that the wind is still howling and a storm is brewing for the weekend?