A New York Jet?  I don’t know about that.  It will be hard to watch Favre play for any other team than Green Bay.  He is a great quarterback and will always be remembered as a Packer, not a Jet.  Although I will watch him play; I really think he should just retired, sit back  and relax.  Actually what I really think is that he should move out to California buy a nice place in the foothills of Madera County- Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Fish Camp, Mariposa, Raymond, North Fork are all very nice places- and help by coaching some of our local sport teams.  Wouldn’t that be nice?  Well good luck to Brett as a Jet.

Brett Favre returning to Green Bay?!  I thought he retired!!!  As much as I enjoy watching Favre’s skills on the field- I had come to terms with him retiring.  Now he has had a change of mind and is back.  I can’t help but wonder if that is fair to the starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and all the other teammates who have been preparing themselves for a season without Favre in the picture?  Don’t get me wrong, it is great to see Favre back but I would like to know how Green Bay Packers will be able to accept him as their leader once again.  I hope the team will be able to pick up where they left off with or without Favre behind the center.   The only thing I don’t want to see is Brett being traded.   I would die to see Brett go to the Minnesota Vikings.  Favre is a Packer and forever will be. 

Is the cost of California real estate overvalued?  California is a great place to live.  You have the beaches, the desert, the mountains, Disneyland, Hollywood, Yosemite, and many other famous attractions.  There are parts of California with highly desirable weather and parts with breathtaking beauty (Yosemite, Mariposa Groves, coastline, and Giant Sequoias).  But is the cost of living in California overvalued?  I know there are many parts of California that I would never be able to afford a home- even with a double income from two well paying jobs.   I often ask myself- should we move to another state where real estate and the cost of living are less expensive?  Is it worth the money to buy and live in California?  I don’t know.  What do you think?

A BBQ competition here in Mariposa?  On September 20 the 2^nd Annual “BLAZIN HOG” BBQ Competition will be held at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.  Not only will there be food, lots of good food (I suspect), drinks and music but there will be other activities for children.  What a great event to take the entire family to and know that all proceeds will benefit the JCF Hospital Foundation.   If you want more information regarding this event log onto www.blazinhog.com. Enjoy the food!

Are you looking to do something new for a change?  The Golden Chain Theatre is a great way to spend an evening full of fun and entertainment.  Now through September 14^th, they are currently presenting Love, Sick, and Montezuma’s Gold.  Opening night, August 2, is already SOLD OUT!!  The Golden Chain Theatre has a long history in Madera County’s Oakhurst area.  It is a 19^th century historic and melodramatic theatre.  This theatre located on Highway 41 just north of town in Oakhurst has been around 1965 when community members thought that Oakhurst needed something to offer its tourists on their way to Yosemite National Park.  For more information and tickets log onto http://www.goldenchaintheatre.org/ 

This year is the worst fire season on record. It seems just as one fire is contained another begins. The Telegraph fire in Mariposa is posing a huge threat to the Mariposa’s communities. As of 11:30 last night, it has burned nearly 30,000 acres, has destroyed 25 homes and 27 other structures. In addition, 4,000 residences in the communities of Midpines, Briceburg, Mariposa, Greenley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley, and Mt. Bullion Camp are still being threatened. In a situation like this we need to pull together as a community and assist all those in need. The American Red Cross is doing its part and we need to do our part. This fire is not only affecting the residents of the community but others around the valley. The air quality remains unhealthy and it is recommended to stay indoors and avoid outside activities. Lets join forces and lend a helping hand to all those in need. If you have any ideas what we as a community can do to help out let us know by responding to this blog.

I found this article to be very interesting and wanted to share it with all of you.  Remember there are buyers out there; they are looking for the best deal.

by Mike Wiegert

Quote-

“On a national level, existing home sales increased in May as buyers are reacting to lower home prices according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  May figures indicate 4.99 million existing home units sold, up two percent from April’s sales of 4.89 million sold units.  This number is still a far cry from May 2007 sales at 5.93 million units. The reason for the latest increase in national  home sales was summed up by NAR President Richard F. Gaylor,  “Home buyers are starting to get off the fence and into the market, drawn by drops in home prices in many areas and armed with greater access to affordable mortgages,” he said. “Today’s buyer plans to stay in a home for 10 years, which is a good strategy for building long-term wealth.” 

NAR Chief economist, Lawrence Yun, indicated last week that there is a significant inventory of homes.  “The large supply of homes on the market clearly favors buyers, and it should take several months to draw the inventory down,” he said. “Stabilization in home prices can only occur with buyers returning to the market, so we are encouraged by rising home sales, particularly in distressed markets. Foreclosures and short sales appear to be a larger part of the market, particularly in California, and are creating a drag on current home prices.””

My favorite thing to do in August is to hike up to the top of Fresno Dome in Eastern Madera County and lay back to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower.  The night sky will be filled with grazers and shooting stars.  There can be up to 60 shooting stars per hour.  They are best viewed at pre-dawn but can be seen all night long.  Fresno Dome is a perfect place because it is quiet and peaceful, away from any lights, and just a short drive up Sierra Sky Ranch Road.  This meteor shower takes place every year in mid August.  I look forward to this annual event and can’t wait to share it with my children.

What are the benefits of living in one of Eastern Madera County’s little communities rather than in a city?   I am sure you asked this same question when you were making the decision to relocate.  Having grown up in the mountains and moving to the city for college, I now look back at my childhood and realize its many benefits, some of which I took for granted.  Living in a small town where you saw familiar faces in the grocery store and waved at the passing cars is something special that you don’t always have in the city.  I realize now how lucky the children are to attend one of our small mountain schools.  With the small classes, teachers are able to give the students more individual instruction, they are able to keep a better tab on the progress levels, and can easily differentiate instruction to meet the many diverse needs in the classroom.  Not to mention our high schools competitive athletic programs.  Our small mountain towns offer fresh, clean air and unforgettable sunrises and sunsets.  Living in Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Fish Camp, Raymond, or any other of our communities there are many outdoor activities to take part in.  You can go hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing, swimming at the lake or a local river, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, snowboarding, snow skiing, or many of the other activities; all this just a short drive away.  These are just a few of the many benefits the small communities of Eastern Madera County have to offer.  Eastern Madera County is a great place to raise a family.

The Beauty that Surrounds us

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  We are so fortunate to have it in our own backyards.  Any day of the year we can visit the valley and enjoy many of the wonderful activities it has to offer.  Just a short drive from Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Mariposa, Fresno, Merced, or anywhere in the Central, San Joaquin Valley and you can be surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery you will ever experience.  While in the valley you can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming in or floating down the Merced River, backpacking, bird watching, camping and much more.  Take a day, get out of the heat, and enjoy what we are so fortunate to have in our backyard.