Pomegranate Cowgirl Icecream

I promised you Pomegranate recipes - here is Numero Uno:

A no frills ice cream recipe, no need for fancy schmanzy equipment. Nothing but homegrown, organic not genetically modified ingredients.

Warning: I grew up with the metric system so you need to convert my measurements into your cups, stones, bushels and pinches if you can't do metric. I apologize for the extra step.

If you do not have fresh pomegranates, you can also substitute with 175 ml POM juice.

Ingredients:

3 pomegranates

1 lime

175 grams icing sugar
 Shaved dark chocolate to taste

500 ml double cream

• Juice two of the pomegranates as well as the lime. Strain the juices into a bowl. Save the third pomegranate to use the kernels for decoration later.
• Add icing sugar and whisk until it dissolves
• Whisk in the double cream until soft peaks form in the pale pink cream 
• Shave some dark chocolate into the ice cream and fold the deco seeds in
• Spoon and smooth the ice cream into an airtight container
• Freeze 5 hrs, overnight is even better                                                                                                                                                           Bon Appetite!    

Pony Up For Dreams - Bluegrass, Horses, Country Store, BBQ and Family Fun

 

Tours on a wagon, horse parade, a country store, and great food and bluegrass music, what more can you ask for? This fundraiser is not only fun, it will also benefit all the wonderful DreamPower programs such as therapeutic riding for special needs kids, our free veterans program, preschoolers, and so many more. Hurry up to buy your tickets in advance via Pay Pal or at the DreamPower Ranch on Wood Myst Farm, Crews Road! There will be no ticket sale at the door so giddy up!

 More info here

The homemade, handmade, and homegrown items sold at the country store should be a special attraction. I can't wait to see Garry Stauber's newest knife to be sold there and I donated my homemade jams, made with blue agave syrup instead of sugar - a healthier choice in my opinion.

Hello Gorgeous Fashion Show - Latest Hair Trends For A Good Cause

Don't miss this opportunity to check out the latest hair trends while helping a good cause: Coming Sunday, October 5th, at 2PM at Hello Gorgeous Hair Specialists on 8060 Santa Teresa Blvd., in Gilroy.

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Personal invitation from the owner of Hello Gorgeous:

Hello beautiful people! It's one of my favorite times of the year and the annual fashion/hair show is back! I absolutely LOVE this event. Not only is it loads of fun with a silent auction, fashion/hair show, Dj, food and drinks, but it's also to benefit abused children through ChildHelp USA!

Absolutely everything from the ticket sales, clothing, hair artwork, makeup, auction items and so on is donated. Pre-sale tickets are $25 and at the door it's $35!

Everyone is welcome! This is an important event to me. I know people have busy lives, but if you can find the time to make it, it would mean the absolute world to me!

If anyone wants to donate to the event, please let me know or call the salon directly (408) 846-0000!

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For my upcoming 55th birthday and trip to Hollywood, I got my make-over last weekend at Hello Gorgeous from my favorite stylist, my daughter Sarah Bichler: Hi lights, low lights, and make-up - check out yourself the before and after pictures. I am ready for the walk of fame!

Leaving Leaves in the Gutter Means Leaving Dollars In Escrow

It usually costs me one homemade apple pie to get my husband cleaning the leaves out of the gutters in fall but it's worth it!

One of those items that always appears on home inspection reports is indeed "Gutter needs to be cleaned."
You would be surprised at the added expense to the seller for this very easy to do task.

Pommegranate Harvest

The Fruit of the Gods as it is called, is hanging red and heavy from my tree. It's time to harvest the pomegranates and use them in salads, cheescakes, smoothies, cookies and even stews.

I will post different recipes in the upcoming fall season to promote this super fruit a little bit. It is one of my favorite.

Today I will mix the kernels into a salad of mixed spring greens together with candied walnuts, feta cheese, and pears tossed in a vinaigrette made of olive oil, lemon juice, a tiny bit balsamico for the taste (not too much as we have lemon as main acidic ingredient), salt, pepper and a little bit garlic. Not of this world!

And yes, you read correctly, it is the juicy kernels you use from this fruit.The best way to separate the kernels from the fruit is to break the pomegranate into pieces in a big bowl of water. Then pull the kernels out with your fingers UNDER water to prevent the kernels from bursing.

Once you are done, you will notice that the kernels remain on the bottom of the bowl while fibers from the fruit swim on top. Pour the water and the fibers out and voila, you have the kernels ready to use.   Here is a video showing you the process.

Storytelling Quilts

 Our Academic overlords not always recognize quilting as an art form. In my opinion, and if it is done right, it is one of the most extraordinary art forms we have combined with craftsmanship to perfection and a history lesson one square at a time. There is a quilt made by a migrant worker telling the story of her family, a Celtic wedding tree quilt from a Scottish immigrant, a Chinese dragon quilt, and Native American motives telling stories of great nations not to be forgotten, and there are the new themes of the younger generation such as a quilt showing comic book hero Superman and buddies. Every quilt has something to tell, a personal point of view stitched into fabric. Go check it out today, free admission and free parking. This is the largest quilt show here in the South County and part of the A Taste of Morgan Hill event currently taking place.

The above two examples are only two of many. The Frozen quilt was definitely the favorite one of my little granddaughter and I promptly got an order from her to make her one for her birthday. The patriotic quilt is part of a fundraiser benefiting veterans.

PorchFest Gilroy - Free Music Festival in Your Neighborhood

Welcome to the first annual PorchFest Gilroy. A gathering of local Gilroy musicians performing from the quaint porches of Hanna Street residents' homes. PorchFest Gilroy is a roaming neighborhood festivity for neighbors and community of all ages. The Saturday afternoon celebration brings the community together enjoying the tree lines of Hanna Street highlighting Gilroy as a welcoming place to live. Come join the fun, all Gilroy neighbors are invited!

Saturday, September 20th, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

HANNA Street, between 3rd and 6th Streets, Gilroy, CA

Porchfest Gilroy 2014 Musician Line-up
Please Note: Addresses go from North ( at 3rd St.) to South at 6th St.)


1:00 - 1:45

7691 Hanna St. Mariah Silva and The Usuals Rock
7550 Hanna St. Gilbert (cowboygil) Guerrerro Country Western & Pop
391 5th St. Herman Schmaltzried Austrian and German Folk Music
7451 Hanna St. Alvaro Juarez

1:45 - 2:30

7631 Hanna St. Janet Thompson Acoustic Blues
7551 Hanna St. Brandon Guevara Latin Percussion
366 5th St. Melissa Blas String Band
7430 Hanna St. Richard Simunic Bluer than Blue, Blues

2:30 - 3:15

7691 Hanna St. Liver and Onions Acoustic Classic Rock
7631 Hanna St. Bodfish Folk/Americana
7580 Hanna St. Adriel Berger Acoustic Alternative
391 5th St. Kendra Denson Cellist
7451 Hanna St. Patti Lemon Jazz, Vocalist

3:15 - 4:00

7631 Hanna St. Eric, Janet, and friends Folk/Americana
7571 Hanna St. Sam Woolsey Guitar and Harmonica
7540 Hanna St. Sufani Garza Contemporary and Alternative Rock
366 5th St. Bill Lowrey Jazz from 20's and 30's
7430 Hanna St. Headstrong Classic and Alternative Rock

4:00 - 4:45

7691 Hanna St. Salt the Bone Alternative Rock and Blues
7580 Hanna St. A Good Buzz Classic Rock and Blues
7460 Hanna St. Mariachi Estrelar Mariachi Music

This is a FREE Family-Oriented Musical Walkabout
Local Musicians Play on Residents' Porches as Neighbours Walk
or Ride Bikes from Porch to Porch

Discover the Violin in Gilroy

My 7-year-old granddaughter started in a new Elementary school this week in Gilroy, at Antonio del Buono - go Wolves!

The many extra curricular opportunities is one reason why we love this school. I strongly support to give all children as many opportunities to try out new things as possible and learning an instrument is such a precious chance to discover a maybe lifelong love for music.

Today was the information meeting for the violin program. The program is free and the school lends the instruments to the kids. What more can you ask for?

 The instructor with the German name, Lori Franke (have to further investigate whether she or her husband or both have German roots - inquiring German minds want to know LOL) is an excellent musician and educator and  has lots of accomplishments to show on her bio. She founded a renowned private violin school, The South Valley Suzuki String Academy - things to do in Gilroy which I did not even know exist.

Of course I allowed Adriana to enroll. I hope that music will become a treasured part of her life just as it had become in my one when I started to learn guitar and flute as a second grader. My sister played a melodica, my father harmonica and my grandmother sang all day long. Most people in my German hometown in the Bavarian Alps love music and play an instrument. Famous violin builders come from there. One of my cousins is a violin builder.

I look forward to be involved in that program and listen to Addy practicing even if it squeeks the fillings out of my teeth in the beginning.

Tea With the Queen at Northern California Renaissance Faire

The Northern California Renaissance Faire is upon us. Have tea with the Queen, get your Celtic Experience or listen to a Celtic Rock Concert here in Gilroy at Casa De Fruta on Pacheco Pass Hwy.Check out their schedule and different festivities.

New Volunteer Orientation at DreamPower Horsemanship

The next New Volunteer Orientation will be next Sat., Sept. 20 from 3-4:30 pm at DreamPower Horsemanship (located at WoodMyst Farm, 7460 Crews Road, Gilroy, CA). All potential new volunteers or anyone interested in learning more about DreamPower Horsemanship or meeting the DreamPower horses are invited to attend a New Volunteer Orientation. You will get a tour of the ranch, meet the DreamPower horses and learn about current volunteer opportunities. The minimum age to volunteer at DreamPower is 14. All ages and anyone interested are welcome to attend the orientation. Please email dreampowerhorsemanship at Hotmail dot com and let us know that you plan to attend. Thank you and hope to see you there!

I am a volunteer and a supporter of this wonderful 100% non-profit organisation and can say from the bottom of my heart that no matter if it was Trigger's Tea Party, the 4th of July Parade, the Hoof and Woof Poker Run or simply watering the flowers at "the ranch", all these opportunities to help gave back to me a little bit peace and hope for a better world where people look out for each other.

This Month in Real Estate - September 2014 Gilroy Edition

The Six Most Significant Changes of the Residential Purchase Contract Starting November 2014

Just one month shy before its 60th birthday, the California Association of Realtors, C.A.R., will introduce a revised Residential Purchase Agreement, known as RPA, in November 2014.

I apologize should I raise the flags too early for some people who live and work in the present. November is only a few weeks away. Being a pro-active personality, I already started to educate myself of how these changes will look like. They will definitely affect all of us - agents, buyers, sellers, lenders, and escrow officers.

In my opinion,  providing answers to clients' questions regarding the changes is not just an option, it is a fiduciary duty to be able to interpret the new contract.

C.A.R offers RPA workshops in a traditional class setting as well as webinars online. "Forms Tutor" in  the Zip Form Plus advisory feature is a free benefit for real estate agents provided by C.A.R and will assist you while completing the contract.

Below are the six most significant changes:

1. The default method for the buyer's obligation to bring a deposit directly to escrow has been changed to an electronic deposit rather than a check.
2.  The time to remove a loan contingency has been extended from 17 to 21 calendar days. Coinciding with this change is the removal of an optional paragraph allowing the loan contingency to remain until the loan is funded.
3. The revised RPA will take a unified approach to inspections and repairs. Wood-destroying pests and organisms inspections, and all other inspections, are now treated equally.
4. A new paragraph addresses the issue of items included in the sale that may not be owned by the seller and may, by  virtue of their presence, cause a lien to be recorded against property. (Note to myself: ask if this is also concerning long-term solar panel contracts with power companies).
5. The paragraph concerning what is included in the sale now specifically mentions "home automation systems" which are devices that allows a homeowner to remotely control certain home functions such as turning the water, lights, or applications on and off; setting the alarm, and adjusting the thermostat. 
6. No longer will the removal of the loan contingency automatically be deemed a removal of the appraisal contingency. These two key terms are considered to be independent.  If the appraisal contingency is removed and the buyer's chosen lender refuses to loan because the appraisal is too low, the buyer cannot rely on the lender's appraisal as a reason to cancel the contract without penalty.

There are more revisions, so don't procrastinate to get yourself familiar with them. As a Keller Williams real estate agent, I take pride in being on top of things and so should you because we owe it to our clients.