Grants Pass, OR

Beaver State Mascot Wreaks Havoc! - Grants Pass, Oregon

Just when we in Grants Pass start thinking we have moved into the "big city" status something happens to remind us how close we are to nature.

When was the last time you heard of America's best dam builder causing problems? Well, it happened Saturday night in Grants Pass. Thanks to the Beaver State Mascotpower went out for 17,500 people in our town, which is over half of the population. The cause? A beaver!

That's right, our Beaver State Mascot chewed through a tree, and the wind did the rest, knocking out power for a time, and reminding us how close we still are to the wilderness. So anytime we get thinking that we're becoming a big city, all we have to do is look at the state flag to be reminded of the Beaver State Mascot.

THE OREGON STATE FLAG IS THE ONLY FLAG WITH DIFFERENT PICTURES ON EACH SIDE!

Brigadoon Fudge - Grants Pass, Oregon

You've heard the story of BRIGADOON, the mythical Scottish city that appears only for one day every 100 years, and each 100 years is just a day in the lives of its' residents. This legend was made into a movie with Gene Kelly and Van Johnson, and they pictured Brigadoon as a wonderful place.

What does that have to do with this fudge? Well, Brigadoon Fudge is almost mythical in itself. It seems to come out perfect about once every 100 tries, but when it does it is absolutely worth the wait! The other 99 tries are still fantastic, but it makes you want to keep trying after it has once turned out perfect to keep going until it happens again.

I remember when I was growing up, each Christmas season, my mother and grandmother would be trying to achieve the perfect Brigadoon Fudge. However, that was not the name they had for it, but after seeing their frustrations at trying to make it perfect again and again, and then when one of them would achieve the perfect results, the jubilation they experienced after trying so hard for so long, always made me think of Brigadoon.

So here's my Grandmother's recipe for Brigadoon Fudge.

• 3 Cups white sugar
• 1 Cup white Karo syrup
• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
• 1 Pint whipping cream
• Dash of salt
• 1 10oz. package of pecans

Combine sugar, Karo syrup and whipping cream in a medium saucepan. Boil on medium-high heat until it forms a firm, but not hard ball in cold water.

Cool, then add pecans, salt and vanilla. Beat until shine is gone. Pour into an 8x8x2 greased pan. Refrigerate until set, then cut into squares. ENJOY!

The Realtor ABC's of Thanksgiving

T is for the trust you earn each day
H is for the heart you pour into your work
A is for all the time you devote to others
N is for your excellent negotiation skills
K is for kindness and the thoughtful deeds you do
S is for smiling, even when you don't feel like it
G is for gratitude, all blessings great and small
I is for ideas, let your creative juices flow
V is for the value you add to every deal
I is for the infinite wisdom you possess

N is for playing nice with your fellow Realtors
G is for Grants Pass Oregon Real Estate

River Kids - Grants Pass, Oregon

These have been here for a while, but they are so unique they deservce to be mentioned as they are just more gifts for our city from Brady Adams at Evergreen Federal Bank.

These bronze River Kids figures were created to tell of a "simpler time in our history." These River Kids are life-size figures of children engaged in "childrens' adventures" along the Rogue River, set in the 30's to 50's.

This is just another gift from the "Santa Claus of Grants Pass," Brady Adams.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

A Brief History of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is now a favorite American holiday...but did you know it took awhile to catch on as an annual tradition?

According to scholars, the first known Thanksgiving took place on September 8, 1565 in Saint Augustine, Florida when Spanish settlers held a Mass of Thanksgiving after arriving safely in the New World. English settlers in the Virginia Colony held a similar day of thanks in 1619. Two years after that, the colonists at Plymouth Plantation celebrated the most famous Thanksgiving, during 1621.

It wasn't until October 3, 1789, that it actually became a holiday, when then President George Washington proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving...but just for that year. In 1795, Washington again proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving, and President John Adams also declared Thanksgivings in 1798 and 1799.

After a decade and a half without the celebration taking place at all, President James Madison renewed the tradition in 1814, and even went so far as to declare the holiday twice in 1815!

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln finally proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving that should take place every year. Years later, President Franklin Roosevelt stated that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month - as opposed to landing on the occasional fifth Thursday.

Happy Thanksgiving!