About Bandera County, TX

February is upon us, a wonderful time of year for most of us. The grey skies of January make way for the delightful sunshine and hope of February, with Spring not far behind.

Valentines Day, the day of love, brings out the best in friend and foe alike, not just by giving cards and flowers, butr with appreciation and good will towards others. The earthquake in Haiti, tragic as it was, has unleashed an outpouring of generosity from this country, even tho the economic times in the US are not good. The images of little children hungry and alone, have touched our hearts and our pocketbooks.

The Month of Love should be our theme every month, not just February when hearts and love songs flood the airwaves. Let's try to be more giving, understanding, compassionate and forgiving during the month, enough so that it becomes part of our nature and it carries over to March, April, May.......who knows? Anything is possible.

Today is my mother's 89th birthday, a fantastic achievement to say the least! She has been illness free all this time, just plugging away as she does, talking all the time, asking questions, giving her opinion, just like she did when I was a wee lass. I would very much like to take the trip to the Florida Nursing Home where she resides, but the budget says otherwise.

The year 2009 has not been a great one for real estate practioners. Yes, my overhead is low, I am very frugal with my expenses, but should I spend my extra cash to visit a loved one that may not even recognize me?

You all know the answer to that question- yes I should and yes I will!! I will just have to work harder, spend less, and pray for better times in 2010. I want to hug my mom and tell her I love her whether she knows who I am or not, I know who she is, what she has done for me, and that is what matters.

It's too easy to put off doing the important family things with excuses like "I'm too busy at work", or "Gas is too expensive, airfare is too expensive" etc. Let's resolve to make 2010 "Family Before Business Year". Maybe doing that will help disperse the fog that we have been working in.

Mom's longivity is to be celebrated- she is a success- her life is to be celebrated, now, before it is over. We LOVE YOU MOM!!!

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am sitting here thinking about all the things that I have to be thankful for this year. As a real estate broker, I am very thankful that I am still in business. Even in our small community, I know of other realtors that have had to seek employment elsewhere in order to make ends meet. Some brokers have sold their businesses, or gone to work for other brokers, I am thankful that I still want to and can keep my doors open. Sales are definitely down from last year, the traffic and the calls are half of what they were. All the sales classes and books say numbers equate to sales, the more people you talk to or see, the more likely you'll be able to sell something. I have confidence that things will improve, new opportunities will present themselves, I need to be ready and willing to change.

I am thankful for a loving considerate spouse, who continues to plug away at his job in the Health Care Industry, even though the future may hold turmoil ahead for that industry. My children continue to bless me with grandchildren (new bundles of joy Jack and Ruthie!). That joy is indescribable.

As Bandera County's Veterans Service Officer, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the veterans of this county and am extremely thankful for their service to this country. What I do for them pales in comparison to what they do for us.

As a citizen of the United States, I am thankful for the freedoms that I have to express myself and to have my own business, doing what I love, unencumbered.

Take time today and on Thanksgiving to tell those you love how important they are to you, and how grateful you are for knowing them.

As I grow older, it seems as though the years just fly by- it wasn't really a whole year ago that we were planning on attending the Chamber of Commerce's biggest fundraiser of the year, Hunters Bar b que. Where did all the time go? I was so involved in doing those things that produce business that I hardly noticed what day and month it was. Course, my busyness was helped by the fact that my daughter and new grandson had moved in with us temporarily. That would tend to distract anyone, including me.

Now I barely have two weeks to get it together for the 47th Annual Hunters Bar b que and Outdoor Expo, taking place at Mansfield Park on Friday, November 6th 2009. Originally started by the local businesses of Bandera in appreciation for the hundreds of hunters that desend on the county once hunting season starts, it became the mainstay of the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce ever since.

The festivites begin at 3PM and continue until 10PM, with exhibitors and crafters showing their wares, both related to hunting and hunters and those of us that stay at the campsite( meaning clothing, jewelry, edible concoctions, stuff to soften and beautify us while we wait for our heroes). There are also booths to occupy the very young, aspiring hunters as well.

A beef brisket meal with tea and dessert is $10 for age 12 and older, $8 for age 3-11 and under 3 is free. Live music while you eat so that you have energy to bid on the auction items that begins at 7PM. Each year there is a raffle, this year is no different, with most of the items for the hunter.

For more on this year's Bar b que, call 830-796-3280 or go to www.banderatex.com for a run down of all the events and a map to the park. Bring your appetites and your cash- all proceeds benefit the myriad of special events that Bandera County hosts, the Bandera County Junior Livestock Show, Memorial Day Parade, Riverfest, Celebrate Bandera, CCRA Rodeo, and the Veterans Day Parade, to name a few. I'll see ya there!

www.sweetheartrealty.com Mary Jo Schaffer 830-796-7448

My how time flies! Another year has come and gone, but wait, you still have time to make it to
Bandera, Texas for our annual "Celebrate Bandera" spectacular. Events have already kicked off at Mansfield Park with the Circle of Life Powwow and the Cowboy Mounted Shooters this evening at 7PM.

A don't miss starts at 11AM with the Longhorn Cattle Drive through downtown Bandera. All around the Courthouse are arts and crafts booths and food booths to satisfy the hunger in you. At City Park from 12noon to 6PM will be the Brazos Bottom Cowographers, the Buffalo Soldiers, Concho Cowboys, San Antonio Living History and Interactive Childrens Activities.

The Wild West Show starts at 5:30pm at Mansfield Park, with Bull Riding at 8pm. On Sunday, the fun continues with an Invitational Tie Down Roping, Barrel Racing shootout and NPBR Bull riding at 7pm.

For more info on this weekend's events, please see www.celebratebandera.com or call 830-796-4447, or 1-800-364-3833. It's not to late to head on over- we'll save a place for ya!