Has Christmas become too comercialized?  Have we forgotten the true meaning of Christmas?  I feel the true meaning of Christmas has been over-shadowed by the gifts, Santa, and worrying about who will be having having Christmas dinner.  We have forgotten that Christmas is Jesus’ Birthday and we are to celebrate the gift God sent to us on that day.  We have also forgotten about the meaning behind Santa, St. Nicholas.  It is fine to participate in all the holiday cheer but it is important to remember and teach our children the true meaning behind Christmas.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

This Saturday, October 25^th,  I will travel up to Gods country to visit my pal Dennis Fairbanks, in Coarsegold California. We are going to attend the annual Tarantula Festival at Coarsegold Historic Village, located on Hwy 41 in downtown Coarsegold. This year there will be an 8 foot tarantula carved by local woodcarver Wayne Boring. There will be a contest to name the bug that will be a permanent fixture in the area. Who knows this unnamed spider may become as popular as Oakhurst Talking Bear.

The weekend events will include a pumpkin pie contest, scream-off contest, Pizza eating contest and a live Tarantula derby.

Today I took my children to the Historic Cobb Ranch located just North of Fresno off of Highway 41.  When we arrived I did not realize that it cost $5.00 just to enter.  My first thought was to turn around, go to another pumpkin patch, and save that $5.00.  I paid the measley $5.00 and was glad I did.  It was such a cool experience for the children.  The Cobb Ranch really knows how to entertain its guests.  The grounds are unbelievably tidy, there are animals to see, a corm maze to get lost in, a hayride, a train ride and many others attractions.  My children had such a blast.  I was happy to support such a wonderful place.  I know their Christmas Tree Farm is just as exciting and wonderful. 

This past weekend, while checking out real estate in Eastern Madera County, I decided to take a short drive to Mariposa where they were holding the 2^nd annual Blazing Hogs BBQ competition.  My good friend, Dennis Fairbanks, a Realtor for the Fairbanks Real Estate Group at Montecino and Associates Real Estate, was competing in the contest with his famous ribs and chicken.  Being a retired CHP officer, Dennis joined up with retired officer Dave Huskey and active officer Jim Mann. They call themselves “3 Guns a Smokin”. 

I arrived just in time to see the three chippies running franticly to meet the meat turn in time. With their fancy water smokers and kill to die for rub and sauce, they captured prizes in all categories.

It appears the 2^nd annual Blazing Hogs BBQ was a huge success with proceeds going to help Mariposa’s only hospital, John C Fremont. With record breaking attendance, outstanding entertainment and great weather I am sure next year will be bigger and better.

Next time you drive through the town of Coarsegold drop in the local real estate office and ask Dennis when and where they will be BBQing again, you’ll be glad you did.

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. 

RUN FOR THE GOLDCAR SHOW IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC CARS, YOU’LL ENJOY THIS ONE.THE OAKHURST SIERRA SUNRISE ROTARY WILL BE HOSTING THE ANNUAL CAR SHOW THIS COMING WEEKEND, AS FOLLOWS: FRIDAY NIGHTLOCATION: OAKHURST LODGE (HWY 41 AND 426)INCLUDES: A WONDERFUL DINNER OF                                    TRI TIP, HOMEMADE CHILI BEANS, RICE                                     RICE PILAF, SALAD AND GARLIC BREADCOST FOR DINNER: $12.00 PER PERSONTIME: BEGINS AT 5:30 P.M.THE LODGE WILL HAVE A FULL ARRAY OF CLASSIC CARS FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE SO COME ON OUT AND ENJOY THE CARS AND A GREAT MEAL. SATURDAY 8:00 UNTIL 2:00 P.M.THE CARS, APPROXIMATLEY 150, WILL MOVE OVER TO THE OAKHURST COMMUNITY PARK.THERE WILL BE SEVERAL MEAL VENUES FOR YOUR APPETITES WHILE YOU ENJOY THE CAR SHOW. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE.

We are certainly seeing a change in weather here in Eastern Madera County, California. As I ride my horse in the foothills of Coarsegold, the days are getting shorter and the nights are cooling down.  I was told we are coming into autumn.  I thought we were going into the fall but was corrected that the proper term is autumn.  My research showed that autumn, also known as fall in North American English is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn is the period between summer and winter, usually in September (northern hemisphere) or March (southern hemisphere) when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier. In the northern hemisphere, the meteorological start of autumn is on 1 September and it ends on 30 November. In the southern hemisphere it starts on 1 March and ends on 31 May. The astronomical start of Autumn is on 23 September and ends on 20 December in the northern hemisphere, and 20 March and 21 June in the southern hemisphere. In Ireland, autumn begins on 1 August and ends 31 October, due to the Irish calendar.As for me, fall is easier to spell and it will be fall until I see snow and cold.

It is reported that in China, restaurants such as McDonald’s and KFC have been flourishing all across the country. In many parts of China, small hamburger chains have opened up to capitalize on the popularity of hamburgers with children.

In supermarkets and corner stores, one can buy “hamburgers” (”hanbao”) off the bread shelf. These unrefrigerated so-called “hamburgers” are nothing more than ultra-sweet buns cut open with a thin slice of pork or ham placed inside without any condiments or vegetables. The hanbao are a half-westernised form of the traditional Cantonese hamburger. The Chinese word for hamburger (hanbao) often refers to all sandwiches containing cooked meat, regardless of the meat’s origin.

Do you have an ant problem?  During this hot season ants are out looking for water.  Why do they come in your house, isn’t there more water outdoors?  Almost everyone has an ant problem now and then.  Short of calling an exterminator or selling your real estate there is a better answer.About a year ago I read that ants do not like the smell of peppermint.  Therefore an easy way to rid yourself of these pesky pests, sprinkle peppermint leaves near their favorite entrances (window sills, doorways, floorboards etc).  I tried this recently and it really worked.  Best of all, its cheap and nontoxic. A good alternative to commercial pesticides which meets the now popular Green Earth motto.