The 4th Friday of September in California is Native American Day. In honor of this day, and the Native People, "Indian Week was celebrated around the State."

Over this week-end the 18th Annual Thunder and Lightning Pow Wow was held on the Morongo Reservation. In Banning there was also a nice exhibit at the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center on San Gorgonio. My family and I went to the new Center, and behind it there was an exhibit with a Kish set up.

Unfortunately we didn't get there early enough to participate in the flute making, but next year we'll know better. We left Banning and drove over to Palm Springs to see the Ramona Basket that was on exhibit for the first time ever at the Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum.

What a fascinating story of the Ramona Basket.

The Basket was woven by Ramona after her husband was murdered, and she wanted to die to be with him. She wove a big star in the middle of the basket, and a lot of little stars all around it. Ramona was so upset after her husband Don Diego was killed that she thought this basket would take her to heaven also. When it didn't she sold it to a friend. That was in 1878. The Ramona Basket remained in private collections until 2006 when the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians bought it.

If you get a chance to go see the Ramona Basket it is quite a story, and a beautiful testament to the weaving skills of the Cahuilla Indians.

The Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum is located right in the middle of Downtown Palm Springs at 219 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs....

Phone: (760) 778-1079

The Winter Hours are: Wed-Sat 10-5 and Sunday 12-5.

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty

Cabazon, CA is a small unincorporated area in Riverside County between Banning and Palm Springs. Cabazon used to be a City (1955-1972) but they voted to unincorporate. Currently Cabazon is the only Community/Town to give up being a City in Riverside County. Apparently the citizens of Cabazon all 2,000 of them, were tired of the Politics, and Scandals so voted to Unincorporate back in 1972. Well, that was then and this is now.

In 1972 Cabazon didn't have a lot going for it. Nothing in the area had a lot going for it. Development was slow to come to the area, and the ones that tried got voted out. Several years ago, after Cabazon had voted not to be a City anymore Banning voted against having the Outlet Malls, and so they built them on land that is was in the unicorprorated area of Cabazon.

Tax Dollars that would have gone to Banning, and now would have gone to Cabazon have to go to the County because Cabazon isn't a City. The County has, in all due respect given a lot of money back to Cabazon in the form of Infrastructure and Renovations.

Today, Cabazon is in the process of RE-applying for Citihood. Now I wonder if having all the Development from the Morongo Reservation has anything to do with that? In addition to the new Casino that draws thousands of people to the area, you have The Arrowhead Bottling Plant, the Outlets, a new Fire station, Great Community Center and Park, and a New Elementary School . All of these have changed Cabazon, and the desire of people to buy a home in Cabazon. Families make up a Community.

Owning your own home is one of the biggest benefits to civic pride. Cabazon has many new homes, and many new families; a different community then it was in 1972. So, if you are one of the citizens of Cabazon would you want to be a City? There's always good and bad to every decision, but this one can only benefit the citizens of Cabazon in the long run. They are currently benefitting in the short-run.

By: Kathy McGraw CELLing Realty in Riverside County

Banning CA, Stagecoach Town USA. It's been a long time coming for us to really get some new Development, especially in the heart of the city. Eighth Street and Ramsey is one of the major Intersections of town. It leads to the 243 to Idyllwild, and to Downtown Banning. Locals use this street to circumvent the train tracks, and to get to the High School on the South side. Any of the older Banning Residents remember the old Dairy Queen that used to be on this corner, but that was a long time ago.

Eighth Street is one of the major exits off the Freeway because of the underpass, but it has been neglected for years.

Different projects were proposed, and I for one am very glad that the gas station with Truck Wash didn't go in there. What a nightmare it would have been trying to go straight, or make that turn with trucks coming out onto 8th.

Anyway, we heard a Rite-Aid was going to go here for quite a while before Construction started. Then all of a sudden I saw this Building too. It seems to dwarf the gas station, and it takes away some of the Mountain Views, but it's so much nicer than an empty lot. The corner of 8th and Ramsey has changed in the last couple of years....

We have an I-HOP, Jack -in- the -Box, now a Drug Store, and this Big Building which I heard is going to be a Dental Office. Yes, this corner has finally benefited from the City of Banning's Infrastructure work.

I would like to thank Duane and all his Crew, and the other City staff that helped to change this blighted corner into a nice Commercial area for all of us.Thanks Duane, Thanks Mayor Salas, and all the people on the City Council and Planning Commission. Banning is finally getting some new business, and this new Development helps the residents of Cabazon, White Water, the Rez, and especially all of us that live on this side of town.

By: Kathy McGraw -CELLing Realty in Riverside County and Authoring the California Real Estate and Life

Blogging helps us to let others know who we are, and what we have to offer, whether it's hard core skills, or inspirational messages. But do you really trust the person you are reading? We can learn so much if we are open to new ideas, and take the time to see who is behind a blog. Staging was a term I had never heard of until I joined Active Rain. This Real Estate Network has so many different fields of expertise.

I read some Staging and Feng Shui articles but it wasn't until I looked on my County Dashboard that I saw there was a Stager near me. Janice Sutton of 1st Stage Property Transformation lives and works in Murrieta/Temecula.

I read her blogs, liked what I saw, and made contact. The first time last year that we attempted to stage a very needy house didn't work out. But a few weeks ago, I gave her a call again. One of my listings wasn't getting any activity and I was running out of options. Wanting a fresh perspective I called Janice. We set up an appointment for her FREE Consultation, and she gave me her opinions.......

Oh you should have heard me....

• "Oh no" I don't think my Seller would want to do that !"
• "But I like that Turquoise carpet"
• "What ? You want to take down all those expensive window coverings?"

Oh my I sounded like it was my house. This lasted about 10 minutes before I caught myself, and realized I called a Stager for Advice....so why was I being resistant? So I shut up and listened!!!

I still wasn't sure how I was going to approach my Seller to paint and re-carpet, and I couldn't give his name and number out without his permission.

But first I had to believe in what Janice was saying......and I did, as Staging is her area of Expertise.

Don't get me wrong....I was pretty protective of my client, and I wanted to save him as much money as possible, while getting help with the listing. I figure this wasn't going to be an easy task, but I would give it my best shot, and that's exactly what I told Janice.

I did call the Seller, and explained about staging, why I thought it would be in his interest to do as the Stager recommended, and the cost involved. I really thought he was going to refuse to relist, and just send me on my way. Not only had we not gotten the House Sold in 6 months, but now here I was asking him to pay out even more money. But actually he wouldn't be paying more money in the long run, just the first upfront fee for Staging, and paint and carpet. He said he'd think about it and let me know......and it didn't sound encouraging.

A week went by, and I got an email.....he decided to Stage his home.

I let Janice know and it didn't take long before she had the painter out there, and the carpet guy.

It was the same day the carpet guy finished that Janice was out there setting things up.

I was amazed at the energy that she had, and the way things were already starting to look when I got there. Furniture, plants, taking down the window coverings to let in more light; Staging.....she obviously knew what she was doing, and that's what I wanted.

Now that all her work is done, it's time for me to do mine :)

I did say this was a transaction with 3 Active Rain Members......

• First....Melinda Jones from Sun Lakes Realty in Banning gave me the referral. Working together in the past, and trust that I would do whatever I could for the client has resulted in several referrals from Melinda.
• Second.....That would be me :)
• Third Janice Sutton of 1st Stage Property Transformation in Temecula- a city about 45 minutes from the property.

Professional Respect and Working Together for the common goal of helping the client......Yes 3 Active Rain Members Working together.

I just love what Janice did with this home........and of course I thank Melinda for the Referral.

How about you, do you trust other Real Estate Professionals, or people that work in fields that are associated with Real Estate?

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty in Riverside County and Authoring the Blog California Real Estate and Life

The Art of Marketing You Group, here on Active Rain, has become my new best friend. I love new ideas, and love things that can increase my business. Like so many people, time seems to be more abundant than money these days. Reading Active Rain, and other Real Estate Networking sites keeps us on top of any new changes to the Market, or anything new for Marketing or Technology. Following marti garaughty's Blog and Wallpaper Tutorials is like a soap opera....each week we just want more :)

Well, Marti's last Post............was a great Tutorial on how to make our own Wallpaper. I was quite honored that Marti used one of my Photos as his example, and helped me make a September 2008 Wallpaper/Calendar FREE for download at my outside Blog California Real Estate and Life .

OK, this Post toots my own horn, but I am so proud of myself, and extremely Thankful to Marti.......

As soon as Marti's Post came out I started trying to make my own Calendar. Then I had questions....several actually. I know Marti explained it all, and in plain English to boot...but I still messed it up. This is my first attempt, and the picture took too much room, and my Icons didn't fit right. But I didn't give up. I commented back on Marti's Post, and then after he answered I tried again......and again.....and again.

Well.....today I got it.

I am so thrilled.....I have the October 2008 Wallpaper done. myself.....I did it :) This is a picture of the Progress I was making learning from the Wallpaper Tutorials. I had to keep my Active Rain Window opened to Marti's Tutorial in the beginning, but who better to stay with me hour after hour while I practiced.

And now that I can do it, it wasn't that hard after all :)

You can Download my September 2008 Wallpaper for FREE from my other Blog: California Real Estate and Life, and then the October 2008 Wallpaper/Calendar will be available at the end of September. If you can't find it on my blog...look under the Custom Calendars Category on the right hand side of the blog, in the Sidebar. Remember to check back each month for the new one, I am thinking about having 2 choices each month, but can't guarantee it :) If you would like a Custom Wallpaper/Calendar of Cabazon or something in the Cabazon/Whitewater area let me know, as I probably have a picture that I can make one for you. Just send me an email and I'll do my best.

By: Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty Author of California Real Estate and Life Blog