NOSTALGIA'S 'END OF THE YEAR' SALE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It's the end of the year - that means it's time to count the donuts. Because Bruce gets so grumpy about counting the stock we've put the entire store on sale to cut down on the time it takes to count the stock (toys, games & novelties; artisan-crafted jewelry & glassware, clothing & accessories, clo & more -- no real donuts will be sacrificed in the process). It's a win-win for all -- you get some great deals & we don't have to count as many items. All stock is 50% off. And at the mystery discounts at the register mean you might get another 5% off your cash purchase. Store Hours: Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm; evenings by chance

"Ride Around the Lake" on New Year's Eve

Happy Holidays! The Blue Heron Inn is hosting a horse-drawn carriage ride around the lake on Dec 31st @ 6:00pm. The ride lasts approximately one hour; the driver will provide lap robes & we’ll send you off with lots of coffee & hot chocolate. We’ve taken the trip ourselves and it's loads of fun! The carriage ride is not limited to guests or restaurant patrons – the public is welcome to join in the fun. The carriage seats 8 adults – the cost is $65.00 per couple and seating is on a first come-first served basis. Please let me know if you would like to reserve seats on the carriage ride! Due to limited seating we must ask for prepayment at the time of reservation (no refunds will be issued for cancellations.) The restaurant will be open for dinner from 6:00 - 9:00 pm and reservations are always appreciated! We hope your holidays have been filled with peace and love -- cheers to a bright new year! Tobi & Bruce

'GUYS NIGHT OUT'

LOCATION: Nostalgia @ the Blue Heron Inn Red barn behind Blue Heron Inn Main Street, Findley Lake, NY DATE: Sat, December 20, 2008 TIME: 6:00 - 10:00 pm CONTACT: P: 716.769.7852 E: stay@theblueheroninn.com Website: www.theblueheroninn.com Hey guys, Why wait until the last minute to shop at the mall? Get her something she really wants -- a gift from Nostalgia @ the Blue Heron Inn! Drop by on Sat, 12.20.08 & we’ll get your shopping all wrapped up – literally! And to make the job easier we'll offer FREE appetizers & beer specials at the bar all evening. Check out our hand-crafted jewelry & clothing, fun & funky martini & wine glasses, hand-blown glass sun catchers, Findley Lake tees & hoodies, games & toys. We'll offer mystery discounts of 20%, 25% or 30% on all regularly-priced purchases.

Or give the ultimate -- the gift of a night's stay at the Blue Heron Inn. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BONUS COUPON -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Spend $50 at Nostalgia & get a $10 Blue Heron Inn coupon (may be used for the purchase of food and/or beverages - one coupon per person)

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- We'll gift wrap or gift bag all your purchases so you won't have to.

Let us make this the best holiday ever! From our family to yours – wishing you the joys of the season! Cheers, Tobi & Bruce

Peek 'n Peak's Ski Slope Trail of Lights

Findley Lake, N.Y., December 8, 2008 The Trail of Lights at Peek’n Peak Resort and Spa is underway again this year. The spectacular animated light display is located on Finsbury Field, the ski slope right next to Pizzaiolos Italian Restaurant. Guests ride chairlifts and are taken high above 14 separate theme areas of large, colorful and animated light displays. The 20 minute ride will leave guests with an everlasting memory of Peek’n Peak! Operation times are every Wednesday-Sunday through December 21, 2008 from 6-9pm and will also be open on Monday & Tuesday, December 22 & 23, 2008. Tickets are $5 per person.. For more information please visit www.pknpk.com or call 716-355-4141 ext. 7154.While you’re visiting, be sure to stop by the Inn at the Peak where you will find one of the largest decorated Christmas trees in the area. The giant 24 foot tall and 12 foot wide tree was grown by Heritage Evergreens of Bloomsburg, PA. The tree is covered with over 5,000 lights and has a traditional theme of red and gold decorations. And be sure to stop in Findley Lake -- visit our unique shops and restaurants for a special holiday treat!

Girl's Night Out - Findley Lake Style

In spite of the cold, snowy temperatures and the questionable roads, 50 people braved the elements and enjoyed an evening of great holiday shopping in downtown Findley Lake last night! Shoppers who pre-registered for the special shopping event received holiday goodie bags upon arrival and enjoyed discounts & special activities at each of the shops. One shop offered mini tarot card readings, another featured free holiday fashion & make-up tips. Another shop featured custom-made Swarovski jewelry. Festive Christmas lights illuminated Main Street and the scene was joyfully reminiscent of holiday shopping in small towns years ago. There were Findley Lake neighbors who support the local shops year-round and shoppers who came from the nearby towns of Harborcreek, North East and Corry, PA as well as Jamestown, NY.

At 9:00 pm most gathered at the Blue Heron Inn ( enjoying complimentary hor d'ourves & seasonal drink specials) for the grand prize drawings.

Winners were:

• Lynn McGill, a local Findley Lake resident, won one dozen free votive candles for 6 months from Beth's Candle Cottage.
• Kathy Andrews, of North East, PA won a $50 gift certificate from Wonderments.
• Denise Andrews, also of North East, PA was the lucky recipient of a $50 gift certificate from Our Own Candle Company.
• Chris Kasper, a resident of Corry, PA, won a $50 gift certificate from Findley Lake Fashions.
• Marion Farrington won the evening's top price of an overnight stay at the Blue Heron Inn.

It was a fun evening & we can't wait to do it again! In the meantime we'll follow up with a "Guy's Night Out" on Sat, December 20th. Once again we'll offer mystery discounts, provide shopping assistance and offer drink specials at the Inn. Until then, may all the joys of the season be yours!

More Trails and Lifts Open at Peek 'n Peak

17 TRAILS, 6 LIFTS and 180 TERRAIN PARK NOW OPEN!

Findley Lake received another foot of snow overnight and Mother Nature isn't done with us yet! Click here for the current Snow Report.

180 PARK NOW OPEN!

The 360 and 540 Terrain Parks will open soon. Come to Peek 'n Peak now for great savings on lift tickets. Our early season lift ticket rates save you over 30%! Early Season Lift Ticket Rates $37 - Adult all day lift ticket $27 - Junior all day lift ticket

TUBING OPENS DECEMBER 12TH!

Hours: Monday - Thursday 4:00pm to 10:00pm Weekend and holidays 8:30am-10:00pm Buy one get one free tubing tickets Monday-Thursday (non-holiday) Rates 1 hour $10 2 hours $14 3 hours $18

PEAK FIVE ON SALE UNTIL 12/15/08

Peak Five Pass: buy 4 lift tickets, get one free -- it's a great deal!

TRAIL OF LIGHTS

Hours of Operation: Wednesday-Sunday 6-9pm

Cost: $5.00 for a lift ride; call 716-355-4141 x7155 for reservations

FIRST ANNUAL CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY DRIVE When: now through December 15th

Help needy children in the local area by donating unwrapped new toys and clothing. Drop off boxes are located at the Inn at the Peak lobby, Snowsports Desk at the Main Ski Lodge and at Pizzaiolos Restaurant. Monetary donations can be made at the hotel front desk via check in care of one of the benefiting charities.

... let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Turkey & all the Fixings

This was the 2nd year the Ahlquist family gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving at niece Emily's house in Warren, PA. Because the 2nd best thing about a holiday meal is the leftovers dinner at Emily's house meant we'd have to go without. To remedy the situation I pre-ordered a 20 pound turkey from Malady's Meat Market in Meadville, PA. Owners Bill & Cathy Malady own a condo at Peek & Peak and have been customers for several years. When Bill told me that he buys fresh, organic turkeys from the same farm that supplies the White House I reserved our first all natural, no hormones, no additives "celebrity" bird. So the Monday before Thanksgiving Bruce & I took a rainy drive to Meadville - about 1 hour south of Findley Lake - to pick up our turkey. Bill smokes lots of meats & cheeses so we took home some wonderful smoked pepper jack & smoked swiss cheeses as well.Bruce whipped up all the fixings, we invited a few friends, and we enjoyed our own family Thanksgiving dinner the night before the actual holiday. I talked Bruce into trying a couple of new recipes, cranberry horseradish chutney & roasted brussel sprouts with pecans, both of which were excellent & worth adding to future holiday menus. Hillary & I spent the day at home where even I was swept up in the food prep festivities -- I decided to make tapioca pudding from scratch. You know, soak the pearls overnight, then stir forever on the stove. After the tapioca was refrigerated I decided to assemble a tuscan-style crudite platter so while I roasted asparagus & worked on the assemblage Hillary helped me set the table, move laundry & (to her dismay) assist whereever needed. It was a nice, (albeit cooking-hectic because the kitchen is not my natural habitat) day at home together if you discount all the times Hllary exlaimed I was getting on her last nerve! The turkey itself was huge, meaty & delicious. The meat was sweet and delicate; it reminded Bruce of his grandmother's turkeys back in the days before hormones, saline solution & other various chemicals were added to the food chain. Needless to say the turkey was not inexpensive but Monday's adventure to Malady's and the resulting delicious meal were a bargain at any price. We were happy to support a fellow small business and look forward to continuing the tradition. Bill, better put us down for another 20 pounder come Thanksgiving 2009!

Giving Thanks!

“the thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest” – William Blake DREAMING ABOUT COOL HOLIDAY GIFTS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES? FORGET ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, THE CROWDS & THE HASSLES AT THE MALL Head over to Findley Lake, NY where the Blue Heron Inn & Nostalgia @ the Blue Heron Inn have teamed up to offer deals you can’t afford to pass up! The Blue Heron restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch & dinner on Fri, Nov. 28, and Sat, Nov 29 as well as breakfast & lunch on Sun, Nov 30. All weekend long the restaurant will reward diners with 25% discount coupons good on all purchases at Nostalgia. And lots of our cool gifts are already on sale.And at the end of this e-mail you’ll find a customer appreciation coupon valued at $10.00 – no gimmicks, no minimum purchase required. SOMETHING FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY A brand new line of nostalgic resort signs are in stock. Vintage, fade resistant metal signs sport the Findley Lake, NY name – they’re the perfect gift for the skier, boarder, boater and fishermen in your life! Customs signs are available to celebrate a family, cottage or cabin name. Lolita’s fun & funky hand-painted martini glasses, wine glasses, pilsners & coffee mugs are flying off the shelves! A few holiday designs are still in stock & mini Christmas ornament glasses have been a popular “secret Santa” gift. Quotable, Borealis Press & Shannon Martin cards, magnets, mugs & candles are thoughtful gifts – pick one up for yourself! There’s still time to order a “wicked cool” personalized platter, bowl or picture frame celebrating a special family, couple or significant other. Don’t forget about the “wicked cool” mom, dad & grandparent mugs. Our Bali clothing collection will dress you up in some serious holiday style. Again this year’s fabrics were sensational; check out the boucle sweaters, shawls & scarves. A few beautiful pashminas remain. Or look beyond the holidays & get a jump on what you’ll need for the much-anticipated mid-winter vacation season. Best of all, clothing purchases less than $110.00 per item are TAX-FREE! We’ve got a great selection of prayer flags, hand-painted Russian stacking dolls, smudge bundles, mini candles, Swarovski crystals, artisan-crafted jewelry, hand-blown & stained glass sun-catchers, friendship balls & witches balls in stock. THE "COOLEST STORE IN TOWN" IS ALSO THE STOCKING STUFFER OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY The holiday tradition continues -- peppermint pigs, pig puddles & yummy almond bark are in – stock up for the holidays. The candy counter is loaded with nostalgic candy treats: flying saucer wafers, wax lips, candy necklaces, taffy, candy sticks, sanded candy, bubble gum, imported chocolates, truffles, premium black licorice … Melissa & Doug™ heirloom-quality puzzles, puppets, magnetic & art activities are perfect for children of all ages! Check out Hip from Holland ’s festive hand-crafted cotton banner flags & creative totem kits that are half model and half puzzle kits for imaginative girls & boys We’ve got grown-up puzzles, magnets, cool Bananagrams, card games, tarot cards and then some ... And lest we forget – better load up on the sassy BLUE Q gums, magnets & car fresheners! ** GREAT GIFT IDEA – CREATE YOUR OWN FINDLEY LAKE GIFT BOX! ** Pick out the perfect nostalgic candy, novelties & games & we’ll pack them up in special carriers to make them present perfect! GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT Sat, Dec 6th – 5:00 – 9:00 pm – (check your inbox for an evite later this week!) Your favorite Findley Lake shops are hosting a fun-filled “Girl’s Night Out” on Sat, December 6, 2008, from 5:00 - 9:00 pm. The Blue Heron Inn, Beth’s Candle Cottage, Findley Lake Fashions, Our Own Candle Company & Wonderments invite shoppers to this first-time holiday event. The evening will feature tarot readings, holiday fashion consultations, build-a-gift basket displays, mystery discounts, in-store specials, free gift wrapping and hourly prizes. The lucky winner of the night’s grand prize will receive a free overnight stay at the Blue Heron Inn. Ladies, bring your holiday shopping lists or create your own list to pass along to your nearest & dearest. The restaurant at the Blue Heron Inn will be open for dinner and drinks and will feature seasonal cocktail specials as part of the evening’s festivities. Or kick it up a notch & turn the evening into an overnight visit. The Blue Heron Inn’s antique-appointed accommodations will be discounted for the evening’s participants. SKI SLOPES HAVE OPENED! Findley Lake received FIFTY ONE INCHES of natural snow last week and Peek ‘n Peak took advantage of the season by opening early, on Sun, 11/23. The Peak’s been making man-made snow for days and snowmaking will continue to operate around the clock as temperatures permit. And if that isn’t great enough, the forecast call for snow every day this week; more trails and lifts to open soon … We're thankful for you – our valued customers, guests & friends. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you & your families for years to come. We hope you’ve had the best Thanksgiving -- wherever the holiday finds you! Cheers! Tobi and Bruce

Looks like a WHITE Thanksgiving!

We were the lucky recipients of approximately 15" of snow day before yesterday and today it is snowing in earnest once again. Lucky you ask? Heck, yes - with Peek 'n Peak Ski Resort & Spa around the corner snow is winter's saving grace! The slopes are slated to open in one week & already we hear the snow machines hard at work, supplementing nature's own wintry bounty. Next week is Thanksgiving and according to the weather reports it's going to be a white one.

It's beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving in Findley Lake, NY

My last post was almost 10 months ago. Forget about it - on with the present. The lake is down to its winter level & the leaves are pretty much history. We had our first Findley Lake, NY snowfall day before yesterday - 8 inches of heavy, wet white stuff. It wasn't meant to be here for long - it's melting away as I write. Biggest news of the year? Bigger than Obama wins the presidency? (YEA by the way!) I bought my husband, Bruce, a laptop computer last month. Yes, Bruce Ahlquist - your eyes aren't playing games. So what does the man who never needed or wanted a computer do first? Catch this -- he created his own www.facebook.com account. He's up to 24 friends & counting. Go figure. He's doing a lot of recipe searches & learning how to e-mail. Best of all, he resurrected an old leather briefcase & totes his laptop whereever he goes. First it was his very own cell phone & now a laptop - he's certainly sailing on the info highway! Yesterday he demonstrated the art of googling to another non-believer who is awaiting his first computer. Safe to say he's a convert for life. It's the time of year for lots of turkey shows on the Food Network. Certainly my favorite comfort food, accompanied by Bruce's awesome stuffing. Thanksgiving will be at niece Emily's house in Warren, PA but we're planning our own dinner earlier in the week while daughter Hillary is home from college. This way we'll have all the leftovers we've come to know & love. And speaking of Hillary, she's closing in on the end of her 1st semester Freshman year at at Duquesne University in Pgh, PA. The parents have taken to the empty nest with the utmost of ease, to the suprise of many. Although I have to admit it's easy to keep in touch with our cell phones & computers. Home is now a drama-free zone without a teenager in the house, even a mature, well-behaved teenager! And we've thoroughly enjoyed our day trips to Pittsburgh, which was our old stomping ground some 25 years ago. OMG - 25 years ago! I think I need a nap -- later.....

winter get-away discounts

It's still snowing so we're offering some great get-away deals for skiers & snowmobilers! Call 716.679.7852 or e-mail stay@theblueheroninn.com for availability & nightly rates

SKI & SNOWMOBILE PACKAGES - Winter, 2008 - “Stay & Ski” Weekend Lift Ticket Special (Mon though Thurs) Stay 2 weekday nights and get a 50% discount off two all day ski passes! 2-day Lift Ticket Costs: Adult: $66.00 Youth: $54.00 Weekday Lift Ticket Special (Fri/Sat/Sun) Stay 2 weekday nights, buy one day’s lift tickets and get the second day lift tickets for free! 2-day Lift Ticket Costs: Adult: 29.00 Youth: $24.00 Discounted single lift tickets also available

“Stay & Ride” Present your Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club card & receive a 10% discount on all food purchases (alcoholic beverages not included) Weekend Package Stay 1 night (Fri, Sat or Sun) and get the 2nd night at half price! Weekday Package Stay 2 mid-week nights & the 3rd night’s on us!

My blog premier

This is my first foray into the world of blogging - so welcome to my blog! Once I get the hang of it I plan to tie my blog into our business web site, www.theblueheroninn.com. Findley Lake, NY, where my family & I call home, has received more than 2 feet of snow in the last 5 days -- it's glorious! No heading south for us - winter at the lake is breathtaking! Peek 'n Peak Resort & Spa, the local ski/golf resort, is located a mere 3 miles away & the slopes are finally humming with skiers & boarders alike. And the snowmobilers are hapily traversing the local trails, one of which our business, the BLUE HERON INN, is located. More about our great snowmobile & ski packages next time! In the meantime, enjoy the season - where ever it finds you!