We all know that April 1st is the day set aside for Tom foolery and practical jokes but this fun filled holiday itself may be the best joke of all. I intended to tell the historic origins of April Fools Day, instead I found myself giggling about the fact that no one really seems to know. Ironic, no?  There is a theory that the naughtiness began in 1582 Rome when the Gregorian Calendar we use today replaced the old Julian Calendar. The old calendar began each new year on or near April 1st and the new called for that to change to January 1st.  Some people refused to observe the change and continued to celebrate their New Year on April 1st. Those ready to roll with the changes began to make fun of the traditionalists by sending them on “fool’s errands”  and tricking them into believing harmless falsehoods. The fun has been spreading ever since. Many dispute this theory saying that the Gregorian Calendar wasn’t adopted in England until 1752 but April 1st mischief was practiced there long before the calendar change. HMMMM.

Another explanation of the origins of April Fools’ Day came from Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman Emperor that they could do a better job of running his empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event. “In a way,” explained Prof. Boskin, “it was a very serious day. In those times fools were really wise men. It was the role of jesters to put things in perspective with humor.” This explanation was brought to the public’s attention in an Associated Press article printed by many newspapers in 1983. There was only one catch: Boskin made the whole thing up. It took a couple of weeks for the AP to realize that they’d been victims of an April Fools’ joke themselves.

So I guess we may never know how the whole thing got started.  I’m just glad that it did. Everyone can use a good laugh at someone else’s expense and blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves for we never fail to be amused.

info courtesy of www.infoplease.com

photo from bigstockphoto.com

Bookmark to:

I don’t care whether I am in a tree lot, at a local nursery, or out in the middle of the vast woods, I am way too picky when it comes to finding the perfect tree. I would literally spend days on the project if they let me. Fortunately, my family knows me and they always push me into a choice I am not completely satisfied with. If this happens to you, try not to let them know. I’ve even been known to come home and fix my tree up secretly by drilling holes in the tree and whittling perfect size branches to shove into them. Looking back, I must say, it seems a bit ridiculous, since nobody noticed but me. This year I plan to accept my tree with loving appreciation, enjoy the scent of fresh pine in my home and most of all the people who gather around it (okay, so I will grab a few extra branches just in case). It is always good to save any branches you cut from the bottom of your tree. They make great wreaths, swags and add a mountain flair to other decorations. Be careful though! Candles and fresh greenery don’t mix!

The big day spent gathering the Christmas tree is a perfect opportunity for family fun. Make a batch of sandwiches and don’t forget the hot chocolate. A trip into the woods is always an adventure. It can also be dangerous and weather is unpredictable in the mountains. So watch weather forecasts before heading out, take and be sure you understand the map given to you with your permit, and don’t venture off on roads where you may get lost or stuck.

Enjoy the big day out and send us a photo of your family for next year’s holiday edition.

Tree Permits are available at a local forestry office or Ranger station. Find extended days and hours for tree permits at many Forest Service and Ranger stations. For locations, contact:

Almanor: 530-258-2141

Mineral: 530-595-3311

Butte Meadows: 530-873-0580

Susanville: 530-257-4188

Tahoe – Truckee: (530) 583-3593

In Plumas County, these businesses are also listed as permit locations. Check with the following merchants:

Portola • Blairsden • Sierraville Area:

Doyle Payless

Eastern Plumas Chamber of Commerce – Blairsden

Graeagle Outpost

Hallelujah Junction

Sierraville Service

Williams House Museum – Portola

Quincy • Meadow Valley Area:

Blue Sky Chevron

FuelStar/Beacon

One Stop

Plumas County Visitors Center

76 Unocal

Sav-More

Forest officials recommend cutting your tree early in the season before the higher elevations are snow bound. Trees can stay fresh for quite some time if cared for correctly. To help keep your tree fresh, cut two inches from the bottom of your tree when you get home and place it in water. Keep your tree watered and in a shady spot until you are ready for it in the house. Another helpful hint is to bring an old tarp to wrap your tree in. When you drag your tree out of the forest, the tarp protects the tree and helps you avoid breaking branches. The tarp can also help avoid wind damage on the way home.

Sources: Lassen National Forest, Plumas County Visitors Bureau

Bookmark to:

Travel themed gift wrapping

*Spread the holiday cheer with these green ideas, Mother Earth will thank you!*

• Save/Reuse sturdy store bags and cover the logos with old Christmas cards, personal pictures, or wrapping paper squares.
• Collect paper bags from gr ocery visits. Cut off handles and bottom square, creating a ring. Cut down one side all the way down to create a long piece of paper. Wrap so plain side of bag is on the outside. Decorate with personal drawings, hand-prints, or tie with a string of hemp for a simple look.
• Personalize your wrapping paper by looking through your piled up collection of newspaper articles and/or magazine pictures to reflect the interests or hobbies of the recipient.

• Wrap presents in holiday dishtowels or napkins and tie with a bow- serving as a double gift.
• Save wrapping paper from last Christmas for rewrapping or making handmade gift tags.
• Save your jars and lids throughout the year to package and gift your favorite soup or cookie recipe.

Bookmark to:

To make a mini book that will hang on the tree, YOU WILL NEED:

1/2 SHEET CONSTRUCTION PAPER • GLUE STICK • THIN RIBBON 4″ LONG • STAPLER • CLOTH TAPE OR DUCT TAPE

HANG THIS MINIATURE BOOK AS AN ORNAMENT ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE TO READ EACH YEAR.

Looking at it tall so it is taller than wide, cut and use the top half of construction paper, now wider than tall. Fold the page down in half, to make two equal rows. Now, looking at the folded paper wide and short, fold the left side to the right side, folding it in half. Cut it in two where you just folded it in half. Now open up both folded pages and cut each on the folded lines, leaving four cut rectangles. Looking at them short and wide, all in a stack, fold them in half all at once from left to right. Open to center and staple twice for book binding with sharp side of the staples to face inside on book binding. Now cut a ribbon about three times the height of the book. Loop the ribbon in half, leaving loop above book, tape the cut ends into the center of the book using a thin piece of tape the same height as the book binding. This strip of tape ribbon onto the inside center binding so it will cover the sharp staples. If it still feels sharp, place another strip of tape over the first one. Now cut between the pages on the white lines leaving page 2&3 as one cut out. Now paste the pages onto your book, starting with the first page as the cover. Enjoy! Merry Christmas From Mountain Valley Living Magazine. Written by E.Majors©. Not for resale, photos & art: BigStock Photo, Dreamstime.

Bookmark to:

This holiday season finds many of us tightening our purse strings, but a heartwarming gift doesn’t have to break the bank. A simple photo album or scrapbook can be a very affordable and touching gift. A few years ago I bought a small photo album and made a book of You and Me for my sister. On the first page I put a picture of myself holding her on the day my parents brought her home from the hospital. I filled many pages with pictures of us together throughout the last thirty years. I left several empty pages at the end to be filled with memories yet to come. The whole project cost under $2o and she was genuinely touched as she flipped through the pages. I know it is a gift she will treasure always. It makes me happy to know that she will think of me each time she adds a picture to our special book of You and Me. Stickers, pressed flowers, lace and ribbon are just a few things you can add to personalize your own special book. Another great gift album is pictures of holidays past. It is very inexpensive to make copies of photos, so everyone on your gift list could have one. Remember to leave those empty pages at the end. Filling them up is half the fun.

Bookmark to:

It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. (There is some dispute over where this captivity took place. Although many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, it is more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.) During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice-which he believed to be God’s-spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.

To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)

Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. (Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. The Irish culture centered on a rich tradition of oral legend and myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick’s life became exaggerated over the centuries-spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of the Irish way of life.)

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.

On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called “Irish Aid” societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.

Up until the mid-nineteenth century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to a million poor, uneducated, Catholic Irish began to pour into America to escape starvation. Despised for their religious beliefs and funny accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country’s cities took to the streets on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.

However, the Irish soon began to realize that their great numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the “green machine,” became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick’s Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Truman attended New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in America.

Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland ‘s St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks shows.

Courtesy of history.com

Bookmark to:

Okay, you just got your tree over Thanksgiving and now it’s time to deck the halls, the house, the tree and the yard. You climb up to that space over the rafters in the garage where the holiday decorations are stored. Maybe your decorations are in an attic storage, along with other seasonal decorations, suitcases, boxes of trophies and other school memorabilia from your kids, that broken touch lamp you knocked over last year and didn’t want to throw away…you get the idea.

The decorations are brought out and everyone is ready to go. Then, the real fun begins. You reach into the bag of lights and pull out what looks like a very large coiled monster ready to engulf you. It’s made up of numerous of those 100 mini-light strings tangled together. The rhetorical question, “who put these lights away last year?’ is greeted by a deafening silence.

Meanwhile, in another corner, eager kids are digging through a large bag with sparkling garland all twisted together and shedding as they try to untangle the strands. Glass Christmas balls roll across the floor from a shaky cardboard box.

After a month of holiday activities and entertaining, many of us just want to put away decorations and get ready for the new year. I promised myself I would organize my holiday decorations last summer. Well, it did not happen, especially since the attic storage closet is about 100° in July!

While at lunch last fall, I heard a woman at the next table discussing how she had finally organized all her seasonal decorations last year, about two months before Christmas. She said she brought all the Christmas decorations into her living room. Evenings, while watching TV or chatting with her husband, she would sort them and put them into marked boxes she had prepared earlier. She said she was really motivated to do it right before the holidays. She also followed through with clearing out decorations she had not used for years but could not let go of. All her children’s handmade decorations were put in a special “Christmas memories box.”

Well it is never too late to make a change. There are all types of holiday storage boxes available now, even molded ones for Christmas balls. I bought some last year, with the best of intentions, but never followed through. The holiday season is here, but you can pick any month to make organizing your holiday decorations a project. Invite you children, husband, friends, whoever stops by, to pitch in. Everything goes faster with many hands. Having project months might help with other tasks we tend to put off, such as organizing the sewing cabinet! I think a monthly project might be a good New Year’s resolution for me. Maybe it will work for you as well.

Bookmark to:

Every year you rush through the holidays in a frenzy of shopping, eating, drinking, and traveling. You spend too much. You overindulge. Your stress level goes through the roof. And when it’s all over, you vow that next year you’ll do things differently. You’ll reconnect to the spirit of the holidays.

Well, next year is here. Before you get caught up in the holiday hustle, remember last year’s mayhem. Then think about how you can bring spirituality and altruism to the holiday table.

Here’s one way to do it: Volunteer. Good for Others, Good for You

Whatever your interests, you can find an organization right in your backyard that needs some kind of help. The arts? Your museum needs docents. Kids? Schools, libraries, and youth groups need leaders. Sports? Your local basketball league needs coaches and referees. Health Care? Your local hospital needs support in a variety of areas.

And while you are helping others, there’s so much in it for you.

• You’ll focus on what really matters, which can lower your stress by helping you let go of the less important things in your life.

• You’ll connect to the outside world. A sense of purpose in the world brings inner peace, even when you’re alone or facing hardship of your own.

• You’ll make new relationships.

• You’ll be healthier. Scientific research seems to show that positive social interactions boost the body’s ability to heal itself, reducing blood pressure and chasing away anxiety. Studies have found that older men and women with larger social circles have a much lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease.


Do Well by Doing Good

Volunteering may even help you live longer. A few years back, researchers at the University of Michigan collected information on the health and habits of more than 1,200 older adults. Then they tracked their health over the next seven years. The researchers found, after taking all factors into account, that people who had been volunteers at the study’s start had the lowest death rate. Those who volunteered a modest 40 hours a year—that’s less than one hour a week—fared the best.

This holiday season, why not reach out to others. Look for opportunities to volunteer with organizations you care about. Do well—and be well—by doing good.


Volunteering: Where to Begin

1. Think about what matters to you. Hospitals, places of worship, museums, community centers, political organizations, environmental groups, youth sports leagues, and many others often need volunteers. Volunteering does more when it means something to you as well as to those you’re helping.

2. Do some research. If no organization springs to mind, try these Web sites:

• Volunteermatch.org

• Networkforgood.org

You can search for volunteer opportunities by state and area of interest.

3. Set up volunteer work with your co-workers. Ask your supervisors and managers if they’ll provide incentives for participation, such as a formal volunteer recognition program or a company match for fundraising ventures.

Banner Lassen Medical Center exists to make a difference in people’s lives and offers several opportunities for volunteers. For information about volunteering at Banner Lassen Medical Center in Susanville, call (530) 252-2231 or visit www.bannerhealth.com keyword: Lassen, or contact the health care facility in your area for information on volunteering.

Bookmark to:

Portola-Blairsden-Doyle-Sierraville Area:
Doyle Payless
Eastern Plumas Chamber of Commerce – Blairsden
Graeagle Outpost
Hallelujah Junction General Store
Sierraville Service
Williams House Museum- Portola

Quincy-Meadow Valley area:
Blue Sky Chevron
Fuelstar/Beacon
One Stop
Plumas County Visitor Center
76 Unocal
Sav-Mor

Bookmark to:

By Melissa Wynn

Christmas is a time of year that inspires wonders and awe in the eyes of the children. The winter world is all a-twinkle and their dreams revolve around Santa. Imagine presenting the wish list to the man in red himself on a nighttime ride aboard The Santa Train. Glowing with Christmas lights, the 5 car train is sure to bring squeals of delight.

On Saturdays December 6th and 13th Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a rare appearance at The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, Ca. Less than an hour from Reno, this quaint mountain village is the perfect home to this winter wonderland adventure. Rides in the cozy caboose train will begin at 5:00 p.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m. or until all wish makers have had their ride with Santa.

Sponsored by the Feather River Rail Society this magical experience costs a mere $5.00 per person or $12.00 per family. Steaming cups of coffee and hot chocolate are free along with the neighborly conversation and baked goods served in the museum.

Christmas comes but once a year and your children will only be little once. Enjoy their excitement and make it larger than life with a fantastic Santa Train ride. You can read more about the Feather River Rail Society and Western Pacific Railroad Museum online at www.wplives.org. Pack up those little ones and come join us for the night in Portola. A quiet winter morning in the mountains following an exciting night aboard the Santa Train, now there’s an overnighter to remember!

Bookmark to:

By President George Washington, 1789

As President, on October 3, 1789, George Washington made the following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America:

“ Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.”

Source: Wikipedia

Bookmark to:

Follow these NSF tips for a better night’s sleep: 16. Protect your sleep pattern. It may mean leaving the party early, but your brain, which regulates your internal sleep clock, will thank you later. 17. Can the cola. OK, so we’ve all heard this one. But caffeine products can affect some people for up to 12 hours after intake. 18. Watch the alcohol intake. Alcohol’s reputation as a sleep aid is not so well-deserved. While it is a sedative, it actually leads to less restful, disrupted sleep. 19. Don’t eat or drink too close to bedtime. You may have discomfort or heartburn, or need to use the bathroom during the night. 20. Talk to your doctor. If sleep problems persist, there may be an underlying cause. Your doctor can help diagnose the problem, prescribe a safe sleep aid or refer you to a sleep specialist. Fight the Flu The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 10 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu every year. “Unless you’re going to be a hermit, you’re going to be exposed to the influenza virus,” says Campbell: 21. Get your flu shot. Everyone-but especially very young children, the elderly and those with chronic conditions-should see their doctor for a flu vaccination. The flu shot is extremely low-risk, and it is well-documented in helping prevent the flu.” And despite what you may have heard, the flu vaccine does not cause the flu.” 22. Wash your hands. The best line of defense: Wash your hands often, especially in public places. For more information visit our website at www.bannerhealth.com. Banner Lassen Medical Center wishes you all happy and safe holidays.

Bookmark to:

CHESTER, CA

November 28th is the big night this year in Chester when holiday festivities will fill the small town nestled near Lake Almanor. Merchants will stay open late on that Friday night, most offering refreshments as well a big sales. Merchant’s Night has been a tradition in Chester for decades.

The annual Christmas tree lighting will take place at ABC Center, located at 372 Main Street in Chester. You are invited to bring out the family for an evening of fun. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand, talking to children.

There will be an outdoor fire at Peterson’s Place in Old Town Chester. The business open houses will take place from one end of Main Street to the other. This year will mark the second annual light parade. It is a great opportunity for local businesses and other groups to light up a float, car, truck, motorcycle, bus… or….any motorized vehicle with lights. If you are interested in participating, contact the Chester Chamber of Commerce at 530-258-2426 or just head on up for the food and fun.

Bookmark to: