This crazy real estate market so many of us are caught in is frustrating and confusing.  We have seen the prices of homes drop throughout the Eastern Madera County area.  Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, Oakhurst, Raymond, Bass Lake, Fish Camp, Yosemite Lakes, O’Neil’s, and North Fork are no strangers to the dropping market.  What can we do?? It seems as there is nothing we can do.  Not only is finding a buyer a problem but once we have a buyer and start the escrow process we run into so many more problems.  A huge problem that is emerging is the appraisal process.  Appraisers are being quite conservative, as if that is not bad enough.  Then the lending institutions want to send out their own appraisers at the buyer’s expense.  This is getting to be ridiculous.  Sales agents are getting frustrated, buyers do not want to pay for an additional appraisal (of course), and sellers are finding it hard to get through the escrow process.  Is this vicious cycle ever going to stop???  I find an interesting article on appraising that you might enjoy reading just go to the following link http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/17/RELP12AF53.DTL

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/ 

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.

Sierra Vista Scenic Byway We wake up every day to breathtaking views of the Sierras.  But who of us has ever experienced the hidden beauty that lies in the mountains we see every day?  The Sierra Vista Scenic Byway is just over 65 miles and takes you to nine stops of breathtaking scenery.  These stops include: Redinger Overlook, Jesse Ross Cabin, Mile High Vista, Arch Rock, Jackass Meadow, The Balls/Portuguese Overlook, Globe Rock, Cold Springs Summit, and Fresno Dome, my personal favorite.  This scenic byway takes you through beautiful countryside where you can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, bird watching and so much more.  On your way you will pass through North Fork, the exact center of California.  Take a day and truly enjoy what is around us hiding in our picturesque mountains.  A great reference sight for more information is http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2300/itinerary/58139.   

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

Every day we wake up in some type of mood.  Although we would like to wake up happy and rested, we often wake up depressed, anxious, sad, tired or excited.  We go through each day feeling a variety of ways.  In the book, My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, it talks about different moods and pairs them with specific colors.  As I read this book to my children over and over and over again, they are never bored.  We get the chance to talk about colors and feelings.  Feelings/emotions are important to teach children so they can be aware of how they feel and how to read the way people around them feel.  We have to teach our kids that it is o.k. to feel differently on different days.   It is a terrific and entertaining book to read and share with children. 

In continuation to the post on Monday.

Is your “behind” like a triangle?  If so, heavy weight denim with only a little stretch is the way to go.  It will help round out your backside.  Pockets that are set high toward the waist will help keep a balance in your rear appearance.

If you have a “low behind”, you will find that you might need a little lift.  Avoid jeans without back pockets.  Those jeans will make your backside look lower and thereby bigger than it actually is.  Slim fit jeans give the illusion of a higher backside because they make legs look longer and sleeker. 

If you find that your “behind” is a bit wide, you should avoid wide-leg jeans which cling to your widest point and no place else.  You should buy straight-leg or boot-cut shapes that have pockets that are closely set.  You don’t want too much fabric on the jeans.

According to About.com…. “In 1853, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. Levi Strauss, a 24-year-old German immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother’s New York dry goods business. Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what Mr. Strauss was selling. When Strauss told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, “You should have brought pants!” saying he couldn’t find a pair of pants strong enough to last.  The rest folks…is history!

Jeans should highlight your fine points and hide your faults.  Now everyone….get out there and shop!

This post is mostly intended for the female readership, but perhaps some of the guys have experienced some of the same problems that the gals have.  If not, I hope that you enjoy the comic relief!

Ladies….who among you has not tried to wiggle into jeans that are a bit to tight?  Have you ever had to lie down to button your jeans and then walk around like a stick figure until your jeans loosened up?  Do you ever try jeans on and go “Yikes, these don’t fit either!”?

Jeans have been around for since 1853.  Only now do we all have choices that make buying jeans fun.  A recent study on jeans was done.  Here are some helpful hints on picking out the perfect pair of jeans…..

If you have a “bubble behind” jeans that have a high waist and/or a contoured seam above the back pockets are most likely to look the best on you.  Jeans that have some stretch in them are recommended.

If your “behind” is non-existent, you should wear jeans with eye catching posterior details.  Pockets with buttons, flaps or designer stitching will help give the illusion of having more backside than there actually is.

If you find that you have a “flat behind”, you will find that jeans with some spandex or Lycra will give the lift you need.  Wide set pockets and embellished stitching will help keep things round looking.  Don’t wear stiff denim as it will flatten you like a pancake!

Please check back Tuesday for the conclusion to this post.

With nice weather comes the urge to get out the old nag (not your wife) and go for a ride. Horseback riding is a lot of fun. But like lots of fun things, there are dangers and risks as well as enjoyment when being around horses. To help minimize the danger and risk, there are a few rules I have found to observe. Around the Barn Always wear appropriate clothing. Open-toed shoes are a big no-no in the barn or on the horse. Protect your feet. They are almost as important as your horse’s hooves. Put away equipment. Make sure pitchforks, rakes, etc. are stored properly and not left out where human or animal can trip over them. Clean up. Always sweep after doing stalls, grooming, etc. Pay special attention after the farrier visits and make sure there are no nails left out where they could puncture someone’s foot. Watch out for flying hooves. Most horses will not kick someone on purpose. Usually they are startled or really going after a fly. Avoid walking behind a horse. If you must pass behind, walk close to the animal (so his feet cannot gain momentum) and talk to the animal so there are no surprises for either of you. While cleaning hooves be careful to hold the horse’s leg in a position that is comfortable for the animal and not to the side. Place the hoof down after cleaning rather than dropping it to avoid injury to the animal. Keep animals separate. Be aware of which animals get along and which ones do not like each other. Avoid bringing animals’ close together in confined spaces and respect their personal space. Lead them in. Do not allow horses to charge into the barn at meal times. It may take some extra time, but it is worth it to lead them in one by one and escort them personally to their stall. Use a lead rope. Leading a horse by just the halter is not wise. While 99% of the time this may not be a problem, it’s the other 1% when the horse becomes agitated over an imagined danger and ends up in the next county that can be a problem. Do not leave your horse in a pasture wearing a nylon halter. Nylon halters are actually too strong and if he gets caught on a branch, he could be trapped or worse. If you must have a halter on your horse, use a leather one. On the Horse Use an approved helmet! There are plenty of styles to choose from including safety helmets that look like cowboy hats. Your brain is worth protecting! A helmet can be the difference between brushing the dirt off your pants and jumping back on the horse and a trip to the hospital or worse. Wear sturdy shoes with a heel. Good shoes keep your feet safe in the stirrup especially at those times when balance may be hard to get. Wear long pants that fit. While they should not be loose enough to get caught on anything while riding, your clothes should also be comfortable and not too tight. Check your tack. Every time you ride check your saddle and bridle for problems with stitching or rot. Ideally you should clean your tack every time you ride and store it in a dry area to avoid conditions that may cause decay in the leather or stitching. Make sure your stirrup leather can easily slide out of the saddle and the keeper is down. If you do fall with your foot still in the stirrup, you do not want to be dragged. Make sure the bridle fits well and it has not been readjusted since you last rode. A poorly adjusted bridle can make for a horse with a poor attitude. Tighten the girth before getting on and check it again after riding a few minutes. Make sure it is snug but not over-tight. You should barely be able to slide your hand between the girth and the horse. Horses are a great way to reach responsibility and even great therapy for special needs kids. But kids under the age of eighteen should never ride unsupervised and even adults should not go off without a companion. After all equines are unpredictable animals and should be respected as such.

Did you know that today is a special day?  Do you know what we should all be celebrating?  I grew up knowing about Christmas, New Years, Yom Kippur, Valentines Day, Thanksgiving, all of the Presidents birthday’s, Martin Luther King Day, Easter, Memorial Day, and Labor Day….to name just a few.  When in the world did we start celebrating national food days?  I feel like I have just woke up from a weird dream!

Well today is a super spectacular day.  By golly, June 2nd is National Rocky Road Day!  Who had to work today?  Did I miss the call for a day off?  Where is my special Hallmark card?

Apparently in 1929, after the crash of the stock market, the founder of Dryers Ice Cream calmed his “Black Thursday” jitters by creating The Original Rocky Road ice cream.  Delicious milk chocolate ice cream was forever joined with mini marshmallows and almonds to create the now favorite that warrants this fine national holiday.

If you missed the Rocky Road holiday boat, no need to fret.  June 3rd is National Egg Day and on June 4th you can celebrate three holiday’s….National Cheese Day, National Cognac Day and National Frozen Yogurt Day!  Now that sounds like an interesting meal to be had!