Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Groundhog Day

Memorial Day Remembrance

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

 

by John McCrae, May 1915

 

 



This week-end is our annual Memorial Day Celebration, which at our house is always enhanced by celebrating Rick’s birthday. We all have our favorite recipes, but before we get to the food, there’s the BBQ fire to get just right. Here’s a short video about how to get your charcoal briquettes burning without lighter fluid. Hope you find it useful.

 

Celebrate Pi Day

Celebrate Pi Day with, what else, a piece of pie.

 

Celebrate International Women’s Day

After more than 100 years, International Women’s Day draws millions to commemorate the advancements made in human rights and to discuss the challenges women continue to face in politics, education, employment, and other areas of daily life.
Here’s the full story from the Christian Science Monitor.

President’s Day

It’s an official holiday in our state, California, in our city, Gilroy, and even in our industry, Real Estate. We worked a little (inspections for a listing that just went into contract) and shopped a little (lots of good sales at the outlets.) What are you doing?

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

Acknowledging a Christian Religion Day of Significance

Today is Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar. Occurring 46 days before Easter, it is a moveable fast that can fall as early as February 4 and as late as March 10.

According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a reminder and celebration of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday.

This practice is common in much of Christendom, being celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and some Baptist denominations. 

Abraham Lincoln’s REAL Birthday

Even though we celebrate our 16th President’s Birthday lumped together with our 1st President’s Birthday, on a legally designated day that isn’t on either’s actual birthday, by going shopping, we wanted you to know that today is his REAL birthday. Here’s a few facts about Abraham Lincoln:

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Wikipedia

Born: February 12, 1809, Hodgenville Died: April 15, 1865, Petersen House Height: 6′ 4″ Spouse: Mary Todd Lincoln (m. 1842–1865) Children: Robert Todd Lincoln, Tad Lincoln, William Wallace Lincoln, Edward Baker Lincoln Vice presidents: Andrew Johnson, Hannibal Hamlin

 

A New Year’s Eve Song

What are YOU doing on New Year’s Eve?

 

 

 

Merry Christmas 2012

Have a happy blessed day, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing.

 

 

 

 

What a Night!

 

Not a mainstream carol, but catchy – don’t you think so?

 

 

Another Holiday Song for You

 

The Dean Martin version!

 

A Holiday Song for You

Christmas Carol Infographic

Last Minute Christmas Shopping Assistance

Holiday Cleaning: Tips for a Guest-Ready Home

Cleaning and guests are on our mind this week. We’ve been getting ready for week-end holiday guests. My family, the Murphey Sisters, plus some of the kids, are coming to visit starting tomorrow, and will stay through Sunday. We have lots of fund things planned and I’m really looking forward to the visit, but getting ready has been hard work. Here’s some tips for you if you, too, expect holiday guests. —Susan

How deep do you go when cleaning for holiday guests? There are some who take it to the extreme — but you can have a clean home without going overboard. If you think wiping down countertops and fluffing a few pillows in advance of the guest onslaught will land you on Santa’s “nice” list this holiday season, check that list twice. You can bring your home to sparkling guest-readiness without going overboard. A few of these tips will keep your home merry, bright, and clean:

• Scrub your entryway. Wipe down your front door, give the doormat a good shake, and make sure dust and dirt haven’t collected on floors and furniture legs. These are the first things guests will see when they arrive, so keeping them clean will guarantee a good first impression.
• Focus on the kitchen. People tend to gather around the food during the holidays, so make sure your kitchen looks and smells nice. Don’t forget to dust the light fixtures and flush sink drains with boiling water.
• Whatever you do, don’t neglect the loo. Don’t just wipe surfaces; break out the stiff-bristled brush and scouring powder to really scrub things clean.
• Sniff out bad smells. If you clean your home and something still doesn’t smell quite right, brew some coffee. The aroma will cover it up.
• Give your garbage disposal some love, considering how much it will “consume” this season. To cut down on odors, chop up a whole lemon — rind and all — and let the disposal gobble it up. Throw in ice cubes to sharpen the blades.
• Make sure you can see the guests coming. Keep windows clean and streak-free on the cheap with an easy mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Wipe down windows with a reusable microfiber cloth.
• With all your holiday cooking, stovetops and ovens are bound to get dirty. Baking soda and water make a simple scouring solution that can scrub off that baked-on gunk.

By: Courtney Craig at HouseLogic

Local News Monday

Here’s what’s happening in and around Gilroy for Team Patereau this week as we all gear up for the coming holidays.

Old City Hall is open again. In case you haven’t heard, the Station 55 crew including Fran and Bobby Beaudet have opened a restaurant there. The offerings are “California Coastal Cuisine” and they are open for lunch and dinner. Team Patereau is going to try to get over there this week. We may squeeze in a lunch, but for sure we’ll stop in on Thursday (date night!).

Holiday shopping discounts and bargains are everywhere. Team Patereau is going to get started on our shopping this week. We try to keep our holiday festivities to about two weeks. That way we are able to keep up our energy and enthusiasm for a wonderful time of year. House is decorated inside and out, with the exception of the tree. That doesn’t go up until next week.


Speaking of festivities, Susan’s family is scheduled to arrive on Friday, for a fun-filled pre-holiday week-end. The Murphey Sisters are gathering and have plans for taking in the lights at Gilroy Gardens on Saturday night, and shopping at the outlets every chance we get.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY