With Halloween around the corner, children are getting excited about the one night of the year they get to dress up.  What would you do if you had a four-year son who wanted to be a princess.  Yes, a princess.  No matter what costume is offered to him, he continues to want to be a princess.  Do you allow him to dress as a princess or do you deny him that privilege?

Is there a double standard when it comes to dressing up?  A girl can dress in a boys costume and not be judged but if a boy is to dress in a girl’s costume then they are looked down upon.  Is that fair?  What would you tell your son?

Last week the Fresno Bee had an article suggesting that teachers should be responsible for teaching students morals and ethics.  What happen to parents teaching their children morals and ethics?  Why should it be the teacher’s responsibility?  Teachers should be teaching reading, writing, and math.  Instead, teachers are having to teach respect, responsibility, right from wrong, and what it means to be a good citizen.  I think it is ridiculous that an articly published by the Fresno Bee would suggest such a thing.  Parents need to take responsibility for their children and their children’s behavior.  It should not be the teacher’s role. 

These are some great tips that really work.  I have tried many of them and sure enough, they worked!!!

Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove,
set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants; work the nutrients in your soil. Wet
newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of
glass- the fibers catch ones you can’t see!

No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn’t hurt the plant and the squirrels won’t come near it.

Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gif wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not
have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and - voila - static is gone.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don’t dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include
something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.

Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It’s a lot cheaper
than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It’s also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn’t like when you tried it in your hair…

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2″
with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it “home,” & can’t digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don’t have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Take baby powder to the beach
Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When your ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

I remember my first haunted house.  I was scared out of my mind!!!  I vowed I would never go in another haunted house.  After many years, when I was at college, I went with a group of friends to FRIGHTMARE.  This haunted house was in downtown San Diego and it was SCARY.  I will never forget being at the back of the line and feeling our way through the dark.  After screaming the entire way through the haunted house we saw a light at the end of the tunnel.  As the light grew larger and larger we figured we had survived.  That was until a man in a freaky mask came up from behind us and fired up his chainsaw.  My friend and I went from the back of the line to the front of the line in less than 1 second knocking over everyone who was in our way.  As we stumbled over the last person we looked up and saw the busy street of downtown San Diego.  We stood up looked at eachother and turned our heads back towards the exit of the haunted house just in time to see our other friends flying out the door of the haunted house.  We all caught our breath and just started laughing.  From that moment on I was hooked.  Each year I look forward to all the great haunted houses.  As Halloween approaches I can’t wait to go to a haunted house. 

 On that note.  the Sierra Lions Club of Oakhurst is hosting their 2nd Annual Haunted House at the end  of October.  Not only can you attend and get scared out of your wits but you can also sponsor a tombstone.  Let’s join together and help the Lions Club raise money for their organization.  I can’t wait to go! 

We live in a world full of diets.  Everyone you talk to is doing this diet or that diet.  Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, L.A. Weight Loss, Adkins, low carb, high protein- I think I have heard them all.  What all these diets come down to is choosing foods that are the healthier choice and eating foods in moderation.  I have found this great little book EAT THIS NOT THAT!   In our great little town of Oakhurst we have the convience of fast food.  What are the best options when we drive through McDonalds, Taco Bell,  Jack-in-the-Box, or KFC?

Jack-in-the-Box- Chicken Fajita Pit  NOT Chipotle Chicken Ciabatta

KFC- 3 Crispy Strips NOT KFC Famous Bowl

McDonalds- Quarter Pounder NOT Grilled Chicken Club

Taco Bell- 2 grilled steak soft tacos, fresco style NOT baja beef chalupa

 SURPRISED?!  Stay tune to more good choices.

Years ago when my family moved to Coarsegold my parents bought a home on Thornberry Mountain in the Mudge Ranch area.  I remember being told that some where on that mountain was a gold mine that was believed to be rich in gold.  The only problem was nobody had been able to find it. 

The legend goes like this:  During the California Gold Rush and father and his two sons came out west to strike it rich.  After much hard work in the gold mine they finally struck gold.  Before they were able to make a profit the father and one of the sons was sent off to war.  The son who was left behind vowed to remain at the mine until the return of his family.  The son who was sent to fight was killed during battle.  After many years, the father finally returned to find his son he had left behind.  However, he was never able to locate the mine and it is believed that somewhere on Thornberry Mountain remains a mine full of gold.

 Fact or Fiction?  Who knows.  All I do know is that it provided many hours of fun and adventure for my brother and I growing up.  Who knows, someday maybe we will find the mine and stike it rich!!!

This year so many families have been affected by natural disasters.  For those affected by such trajedy you’d hope that they would be able to receive assistance.  Mariposa County faced a devasting year of fires.  The Telegraph Fire and Oliver Fire left many with only ashes of memories.  With hope of assistance from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) many were ready to rebuild thier lives and build new memories.  However the hope of aid from FEMA was declined.  FEMA has now turned their attention to the victims of the hurricanes.  Is this fair?  Why is FEMA doing this?  Should everyone who needs it, receive it?  I was shocked to hear on the channel 30 news that local residents of Mariposa will not be receiving any assistance from FEMA.  I don’t think this is right.  One victim needs just as much help as the other. 

I read this article this morning and thought, “man, that is embarrassing.”  I feel really sorry for Jack Cust. 

The article was written to inform the world of a new American League record.  The Oakland Athletics American League baseball team has designated Jack Cust as the record holder for strikeouts.  Cust struck out for the 187th time this season breaking Rob Deer’s 1987 record.  To make matters worse Cust could challenge Ryan Howard’s major league record of 199 strikeouts. 

Although this Oakland Athletic’s new record is not one to brag about, you have to look at the positive side.  Cust does have 29 home runs and 70 RBIs. 

It is hard to know what and who to believe.  Some say our market is leveling out, others say we should expect another decline in the market.  From my point of view, all I have seen are the housing prices decreasing and the rate of foreclosures increasing.  When is this market ever going to change or level out?  I found an informative article that I wanted to share.

For more information, contact:
Walter Molony 202/383-1177 wmolony@realtors.org

Near-Term Home Sales to Stay in Narrow Range

WASHINGTON, September 09, 2008

The level of home sales is expected to show little movement in the months ahead, according to the latest projections by the National Association of Realtors^®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,¹ a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in July, fell 3.2 percent to 86.5 from an upwardly revised reading of 89.4 in June, which had risen 5.8 percent from May. The July index remains 6.8 percent below July 2007 when it stood at 92.8.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales continue to edge up and down. “Pending home sales are oscillating month-to-month, with the long-term trend essentially flat,” he said. “Overly stringent lending criteria imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past month no doubt held back contract signings.”

Even with the latest pullback, pending home sales have been fairly stable on a national basis for nearly a year, with dramatic local market differences continuing. “Contract signings have been steaming ahead, nearly doubling in activity from a year before in several California and Florida markets,” Yun said.² “The outer Washington, D.C., exurbs also are coming around very strongly. The Northeast region retreated following a robust gain in the previous month, and soft activity was observed in the broad midsection of America despite very affordable conditions.”

The PHSI in the Midwest rose 2.8 percent to 81.6 in July but remains 2.4 percent below a year ago. In the South the index was unchanged, holding at 93.7, but is 13.4 percent below July 2007. The index in the Northeast fell 7.5 percent to 73.6 in July and is 13.2 percent below a year ago. In the West, the index dropped 10.6 percent to 90.3 but is 6.5 percent higher than July 2007.

NAR President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said there’s been a surge in FHA mortgage applications. “Unfortunately, many people in high-cost areas aren’t familiar with FHA programs, which is why we produced a toolkit so Realtors^®, lenders, and other real estate professionals can familiarize themselves with this increasingly valuable program,” he said.

“FHA is taking a more active role in serving a broad cross section of home buyers, but it will take some time to fully get up to speed. We’re working with regulators to improve the process, and the good news is that this is becoming a big help to first-time buyers,” Gaylord said.

Yun said there are many ambiguities in the marketplace. “The economy is producing more, yet cutting jobs. A first-time home buyer tax credit and lower interest rates on newly conforming jumbo loans favors consumers, yet buyer confidence remains low,” he said. “Even with the Treasury Department’s direct intervention in the secondary mortgage market, it is unclear if we will go back to sound normal underwriting criteria, or if it will remain overly stringent. The housing market outlook is very cloudy.”

Yun mentioned that the speed and timing of a recovery depends on local market conditions. “Based on local market fundamentals, I expect robust home price growth in places like Denver and Houston over the next two years,” Yun said. “In addition, the frequent reporting of multiple bids in California and Florida may be signaling a bottom in home prices in these areas. Nationally, home sales are stable now but are expected to increase in coming quarters.”

Looking at middle-ground assumptions, existing-home sales are projected to total 5.01 million this year before rising 6.9 percent in 2009 to 5.35 million. After declining an average of 4 to 7 percent this year, home prices are forecast to rise by 2 to 4 percent next year.

New-home sales will total about 508,000 in 2008 and 463,000 next year, down significantly from 775,000 in 2007. With builders motivated to clear inventory, housing starts, including multifamily units, will probably fall 17.1 percent in 2009 to 801,000 units from 966,000 this year.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which also has been moving up and down, should trend up to 6.6 percent by the end of this year, edging up to 6.7 percent in 2009. NAR’s housing affordability index is likely to remain favorable throughout 2008, averaging 13 percentage points higher than last year.

Growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to remain positive with a growth rate of 2.0 percent for all of 2008, and 2.0 percent also next year. The unemployment rate is estimated to average 5.8 percent over the coming year.

Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is anticipated at 3.8 percent this year and 1.6 percent in 2009. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income is projected to grow 1.8 percent in 2008 and 2.1 percent next year.

# # #

¹The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

The decline from July 2007 was the most modest annual decline since December of 2006 when it was 3.9 percent below a year earlier.

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer relationship between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than with month-to-month comparisons.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.

²Market information is from unpublished snapshot data; please contact your local association of Realtors^® for more information.

Existing-home sales for August will be released September 24; the next Pending Home Sales Index / Forecast will be released October 8.

Where would you rather live?  In an area that gets bombarded each year by hurricanes or tornadoes or would you rather live in an area that may experience an occasional earthquake?  I can’t help but think what those individuals have to deal with each hurricane season as hurricanes threaten their homes.  As Hurricane Ike builds in the Gulf of Mexico and many mainland towns are are threaten, I wonder why would anyone want to live in an area that has to deal with this type of disaster each year.  I personally would much rather take the chance of having to go through an earthquake.  I like not knowing when something devasting will happen.  I think the anticipation of a hurricane or tornado would do me in.  What type of natural disaster would you rather deal with?