“The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicolas will soon be there.”

You too can track Santa through his journey around the world.  Visit www.norad.com on Christmas Eve for Santa’s latest stops.

NORAD (Northern America Aerospace Defense Command) has it website up and running for all to enjoy even before the big night.  You will find games and fun activities for children and adults to enjoy.

NORAD has been tracking Santa’s adventures for 52 years.  In 1955, a Colorado based Sears store ran an advertisement telling kids that they can call Santa on a special hotline on Christmas Eve.  Unfortunately, the telephone number was printed wrong and the children were calling CONAD (Continental Air Defense) instead.  With the first call, officials were annoyed and thought it was a joke, but they soon realized that a mistake had happened.  Colonel Harry Shoup quickly instructed his staff to tell any child who called where Santa’s location was.

NORAD was formed in 1958 when America and Canada combined their national air defenses and the Santa tracking tradition continued.   Many people now enjoy the convenience of tracking Santa’s movement. There are over 800 volunteers who work very hard on Christmas Eve fielding calls and answering emails from curious little ones.  Most of the volunteers come from Peterson Air Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain.

In 1997, the Santa tracking program was expanded to the web.  NORAD receives thousands of emails on their Santa site.  Over 180 countries have checked in on his whereabouts.  Currently the website gets over a billion hits.

As you are preparing for the jolly ole sole in the big red suit, remember the reason for the season! 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Who among us has not over-indulged in the holiday goodies?  Heck, they are everywhere we look, just calling out to us!  From grocery stores, to desk tops to platters given by friends, you just cannot escape all the calories.  Sweet potatoes, cookies, pies and even grandma’s green bean casserole (healthy… nope), they are all torture to pass up during the holidays.

Tempting little holiday goodies and yummy holiday meals can add up to serious problems for your waste-line.  It takes consuming 3500 extra calories to add up to a weight gain of 1 pound.  The average person gains 2 pounds from Thanksgiving thru New Year’s.  Most people do not lose the weight that they put on during the holidays.  This weight gain will translate into 20 pounds over a 10 year period.  This additional poundage can cause serious long term health problems.

Here are some tips to help keep those calories away when you are going to a party:

Position yourself away from the buffet table so that you are not tempted to nibble while you mingle.

Have a healthy snack before you arrive at the party.

Minimize the amount of alcohol that you consume.  Not only does it have useless calories, it will dehydrate you and you will drink even more.

Use a small plate or a cocktail napkin to hold your food. 

Don’t forget the fruits and vegetables.  They are filling and have the least amount of calories.

With a little planning, you too can avoid gaining those unwanted calories!

The holidays aren’t quite here, but it never hurts to plan ahead. If you find that every year you are scrambling and searching for your favorite holiday ornaments and baubles, why not do something different this year? Then next year, you’ll be all set.
-Label and box your ornaments, lights, and tinsel so you know where they are next year.

-Get one of those tree disposal bags that you can use to bag up the tree for an easy cleanup. (Of course the key to using these bags is that you have to place one in the tree stand before you put the tree up. If you forget this year, there is always next year…)

-When you finish making cookies, wash and gather up the cookie cutters, cookie press, etc. and place all of these things in a box or large Tupperware container so they are together and ready for next year.

-If you are one of those people who buys gifts all throughout the year with the thought of giving them away at Christmastime, put them in a memorable spot.
Or send yourself and e-mail with a reminder of where you put what. There is nothing worse than knowing you bought someone the perfect gift and not being able to find it.

Kissing under the mistletoe has long since been a custom observed in the United States.  It is used primarily as a Christmas decoration.  Mistletoe is to be hung in a doorway.   It is customary that any two people who meet under the hanging greenery are supposed to stop and kiss.  This custom originated in England in the 18th Century.

According to custom, mistletoe must never touch the ground and it should be the last of the Christmas greens to be removed from the house.  In the Roman Catholic Church, mistletoe remains until Candlemas.  Candlemas is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin.  The Feast is celebrated on February 2nd and is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.

A Christian tradition says that mistletoe was once the tree that furnished the wood that was used for the cross that crucified Jesus Christ.  It is taught that once the tree was cut, it shriveled and was reduced to a parasitic vine.

Many years ago Mistletoe was left hanging year round.  The belief was that it would protect your house from lightning and fire until it was replaced the following Christmas Eve.

Mistletoe is a parasitic vine that cannot survive without a host tree.  Sometimes the vine grows so large that the tree will die, but most times, it will just stunt the trees growth.  Many animals feed on the berries, vines and leaves and it has become a vital food source for them in many regions.

At times, people confuse mistletoe with holly.  Both plants stay green year round and both produce red berries.

There are many Christmas songs nowadays referring to mistletoe.  Some you might recognize are “Holly Jolly Christmas”, “Chestnuts Roasting By An Open Fire” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”.

You should also consider the safety of your pet when you have a Christmas tree.  Don’t let your pets drink the water out of your tree stand, especially if you have added a preservative to the water.  Stagnant water is also not healthy to drink and can cause serious stomach problems.  Cats love to climb Christmas tress and dogs can easily knock a tree over with their powerful wagging tail.  Be sure to anchor your tree securely.  Keep ribbons, bows, tinsel and garland out of your pets reach.    Cats seem to especially love to eat these items.  Ingesting them can lead to surgery or death.  Be sure to clean up your dropped pine needles often as they can be toxic if eaten by your pets.

Keep your pet safe from your holiday lights by investing in a pet-proof extension cord or spray your cords with a product like Bitter Apple.  Pets who chew through cords risk electric shock or electrocution.  Never leave a burning candle out where your pet is.  It could be knocked over easily and a resulting fire could occur.  Scented candles are a wonderful addition to any home, but the fumes are deadly for birds.

Don’t forget to make the holidays special for your pet.  Buy them a special toy or yummy treat.  They will thank you for it in more ways than you can imagine.

The Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club had their 6th Annual Christmas Tree Auction on December 2, 2007.  They are reporting that it was a huge success.  Information will follow soon on their website, as to how much money they raised for their various charities.

If you missed the live auction, you still have a chance to bid on some fantastic items online.  The final day of bidding will be this Friday, December 14th.  Like before, the proceeds will go the The Harry H. Baker Boys and Girls Club.

Bidders are welcome to wage war and try to win a one-of-a-kind original painting that was painted especially for this occasion by artist Joan Brumley.  There are  other items still available for online bidding. Many holiday decorations, a family portrait session, glassware, jewelry, various collectible items, and the book, “Rhett Butler’s People”.

Not only will you find some fun items to put under the Christmas tree, you will be helping this worthwhile organization whose mission is to enhance and promote and the development of boys and girls in the Madera County area.

If you would like to see what see what all the fun is about, visit http://www.supportbgclub.cmarket.com for more information.  Let the bidding continue!

Real Christmas trees add a wonderful scent of pine and spirit to the holiday season. It is important to keep tree safety in mind when selecting a Christmas tree.  You should look for a tree that is green with no browning on the needles.  If you choose a spruce or pine tree, the needles should bend and not be easy to pull off the branches.  If you choose a fir tree, check to see that the needles snap when you bend them.  They should be somewhat like a fresh carrot.

Look for a trunk with sticky sap.  This is a clue that the tree is fresher than those without oozing sap.  You will want to cut off about 2 inches of the stump and place the tree in a tree stand with water immediately.  Don’t forget to add water daily.  Trees will drink more water when first purchased than they will as the season rolls on.

Make sure to place your tree away from all heating sources, such as a fireplace or a radiator.  Be sure to only use lights that are designed for indoor use and only those that display the UL label.  Using outdoor lights inside of the home will increase your risk of having a fire.  You should not connect more than three stands of lights together.  This is also a fire hazard.  Never run any cords under a rug.  Never place lighted candles on a Christmas tree, real or artificial.

Each year there are more than 400 residential fires nationwide involving Christmas trees.  These fires can have tragic results.

With a little planning, you too can have a safe Christmas tree and a wonderful holiday season.

The Golden Chain Theater would like to invite you to attend their Chistmas Variety Show, “Babes in Toyland”.  Shows will begin on Friday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m..  Additional shows are on Saturday, December 8th at 7:00 p.m. and a Sunday matinee performance beginning at 2:00 p.m..

Everyone is sure to enjoy watching this fun Holiday show with a special visit from Santa!

The cost will be $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 55 and up, $6 for children ages 4 through 12 and children under will receive free admission.  Parties of 24 of more will receive special group rate pricing and VIP status.

The Golden Chain Theater is a non-profit community theater.  They have celebrated 40 consecutive seasons of performances in 2007.  They strive to preserve the 19th century melodramatic and historic productions.  Visitors are greeted by costumed characters when they enter the lobby.  The theater boasts a 17,965 square foot facility with cabaret style seating for 265 patrons.  There is a family friendly saloon as well.

So come have some fun, take a step back in time and enjoy a performance at the Golden Chain Theater.  If you would like ticket information call (559) 683-7112 or visit (gctboxoffice@gmail.com).

The Cat’s Meow in Oakhurst, CA is your headquarters for paper, crafts, and all things connected to rubber stamping. Whether you’re new to stamping and other crafts or you’ve been an enthusiast for years, they have what you need. Stop by to see their selection of inks, pens watercolor pencils, pens, embossing powders and paints.

You can also find any and everything to fill up your scrapbook there as well: high- quality paper, scrapbooks, extra pages, basic tools, charms and many types of embellishments.

If you’re looking for ideas, they have samples, magazines and books to inspire you and of course the staff is very knowledgeable.

They not only provide you with the tools to complete craft projects, they can teach you how to complete them as well.

On Saturday, December 8 from 9:30-10:30 you can participate in a class that will feature the Stamp of the Month. This being December at The Cat’s Meow, this month’s stamp is Snowball the Cat. When you buy the stamp you can attend the class at no charge.

Then on Saturday, December 15, they will offer a free Procrastinator’s Workshop. You know you’ve got some half-finished projects at home, so come on out. Nothing solves the problem of unfinished craft projects like some help and a little friendly peer pressure. If you want to get those handmade Christmas gifts ready for this Christmas, you are going to need a little help.

Go to http://www.catsmeowstamps.com/ for more information and to see a schedule of upcoming classes.

If you missed your opportunity last weekend, you have yet another chance to enjoy some great fun in Madera County.  Come celebrate Christmas in the Mountains on its final weekend!

Local crafters, shop keepers and artisans welcome you to join their Christmas celebrations.  The festivities began last weekend and will continue December 7th through December 9th.

Patrons will enjoy experiencing the simplicity of Christmas past in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  There is something planned for everyone in the family in the communities of North Fork, Oakhurst and Coarsegold.

Come and enjoy the fresh mountain air with local artisans, candy makers, storytellers, and music makers.  You will also encounter roving carolers throughout your travels.  Whether you visit for one day or the entire weekend, your family is sure to have a wonderful time!

Motorists will be greeted by paintings of woodland critters. Your children will be able to enjoy Breakfast with Santa, photos with Father Christmas and Santa, and storytelling hours.  There will be a shuttle service available to Yosemite National Park as well. 

Visitors will be able to purchase their “passport” (a holiday bracelet) for $5.00 which will open the doors to special gifts from restaurants, shops and hotels during their visit.  These bracelets will be available at stores displaying a pine cone decal in their window.

The Vision Academy of the Arts is sponsoring this event.  They are a non-profit organization.  Their main purpose is to promote art in the mountain area.

If you are interested in attending any or all of the fun events scheduled, visit (http://www.visionacademy.org/CITMschedule.htm) for more information.