Last year gold-buying companies were trying to purchase our gold. I guess those people knew something we did not. I am also guessing that some people wish they had held on to the gold for a little while longer. In fact, as a hedge against a looming currency crisis, you may want to purchase gold. I believe that it is possible we are at the beginning of a global currency crisis.

I am not an economic guru, but some signs of pending global economic crisis are hard to miss.

• George Soros, a billionaire investor, recently stated that the U.S is already in recession. Back in October of 2009, he had recommended that the U.S. dollar be replaced with an IMF currency unit (MoneyNews).
• The United Nations recommended that gold replace the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency (Business Insider, June 2010).
• China, Iran and Russia have dropped the U.S. dollar for gold (Pakalert Press, November 2010).
• The president of China said that our current dollar system is a thing of the past (WSJ, January 2011).
• Pimco, the world’s largest bond investor dumped U.S. Treasuries in April, predicting the U.S. would default (UK Guardian, April 2011).

Gold, silver and other precious metals may not be as negotiable as a dollar bill, but these metals retain value and the dollar may be worthless.  I hate to say that, but with the U.S. dollar being dumped as the choice of trade currency, it is hard to stay optimistic.  Meanwhile, the Chinese Yuan is gaining steadily against the dollar, Europe is having its own debt crisis meltdown and the U.S. is almost $15 trillion in debt.

Sponsored post by Goldline. Visit their website for information on buying and selling gold.

Fall is Finally Here

Fall arrived with slightly cooler weather, but no rain.  However, as usual, we have gone maze crazy in Texas. You must visit one of the popular mazes this fall.  Grab the youngsters and the teens because they are going to have a blast.  So, how about some fall family fun?

Dewberry Farm

One of my favorites is just outside Katy, Texas. The Dewberry Farm: Corn Maze and Family Farm Fun!  Four-acres of corn maze, sixteen-acre Pumpkin Patch, not to mention more children activities added each year!

To see larger graphic click on the farm above.

General Admission Includes

Wagon ride to pumpkin patch, Corn Maze, Barrel Train Ride, Fort DewHickey, Hay Mountain, Giant Roller Slide, Black Mamba, Singing Chickens, Barnyard Area, Rubber Duck Races, Pig Races, Windmill Park with games, Farmer Flinger and Little Farmersville.

• Children 2 and under: FREE General Admission
• Kids (age 3-54) $12 (tax included)
• Seniors 55+ $9 (tax included)
• Military and Law Enforcement $10 (tax included)

Special Activities (additional fee)

• Goat Feeding 25¢ per container of feed
• Black Hole $2 per trip
• Corn Cannon $3 to shoot 9 ears of corn
• Face Painting $3+
• Punkin Hollar $3 per stroll
• Pony Rides $5 per ride
• Gemstone Mining bags of rough $5
• Flower Bouquet Picking $5 per bouquet cup
• Kidilla Hoppers $3 for all day pass
• Pedal Carts $3 for all day pass
• Slide Mountain $3 for all-day pass
• Zip Lines $3 for all-day pass

2011 Farm Hours/Dates

September 24 – November 13
Saturdays – 10am to Dusk
Sundays – Noon to Dusk
Monday, October 10, Columbus Day 10am to 6pm

Note: They open again on November 25 as the Dewberry Christmas Tree Farm. Admittance to farm is free at this time.

• Take a hayride to the “forest” on the back 40
• Search the Christmas Forest for the right tree
• Cut your tree (we furnish saw)
• Ride back  to Santa’s Workshop for tree baling
• Check out the country store and all the fun activities for children of all ages

Rocky Creek Maze on the Chaloupka Farm in Moulton, Texas

Fall 2011 Season

Open October 7 – November 20
Fridays  5-9 pm in October only
Saturdays 10 am-9 pm
Sundays   2-6 pm
Haunted Maze: Fridays & Saturdays, Oct. 14 to Oct. 29, and Sun., Oct. 30

Tickets|

Adult ages 12-up: $9 per person
Children ages 4-11: $7 per person
Seniors ages 65-up: $7 per person
3 and under: free!
Haunted Maze: $5 plus regular admission

Regular admission includes unlimited access to the cornfield maze, mini mazes, slides,
hayrides, barrel train rides, and butterfly garden.

Haunted Maze Opens Mid-October

YesterLand Farm in Canton, Texas

2011 Fall Season

Weekends September 24 – October 30
Saturdays 10 am – 6 pm
Sundays noon – 6 pm

Fall Farm Admission

Ages 3 – 54 yrs $10
Seniors (55 + yrs) $ 8
Active or Retired Military, Law Enforcement, Firefighters and First-Responders $8 with valid ID
Children 2 & under – Free

Farm Admission includes

Farm admittance, Corn Maze, unlimited Hayrides, Pork Chop Downs Pig Races, Farm Zoo, Rubber Duck Races, Play Area, Kiddie Western Play Town, Watch the Pumpkin Movie in the giant Tipi, Dress the Scarecrow, use of the Picnic Pavilion and Photo opportunities galore!

YesterLand Amazement Park – Ride Tickets are $1 each or $20 for 24 tickets – Most rides take 2 ticketsSanta’s Runaway Sleigh Coaster

• Tubs of Fun
• Kiddie Swingers
• Chubby Choppers
• Ride the Rattler
• Canoe the Rapids
• Barrel O’Monkeys Train
• Fire Trucks
• Red Baron Airplanes
• Merry-Go-Round
• Ferris Wheel
• Spinning Apple

Check out TheMaize.com for  more locations in Texas and across the USA and Canada.  If you cannot find a corn maize or a pumpkin patch, you are not looking!  Have fun!

I just finished the series on Preparing for Disaster. One thing I should have expanded upon is the importance of tarps in any emergency.

I will never forget standing at the door to my home, watching hail smash all the windows and skylights in my travel trailer. We ran around trying to find something to keep the water from coming into the trailer. Finally, we put opened umbrellas in the skylights and cardboard in the windows. A good tarp would have made the job so much easier and efficient.

I had the same problem when my roof started leaking, I had nothing to put on the roof to keep the rain out. In fact, I tried to put plastic on the inside of the roof and wound up falling through the ceiling into my bedroom. Lesson learned.

I have learned that a good tarp can save your roof, travel trailer, car, motorcycle, and riding lawnmower. You can use tarps for covering pools, lumber stacks, hay bales, open construction sites and even to provide a fire-resistant barrier for your tent when camping.

Roofs Covered Before Hurricane

Think of tarps as problem solvers. I had no idea there were fire-resistant tarps, snow-fence tarps, gym floor-covering tarps, sports field-covering tarps or lightweight backpacking tarps.  If you have always purchased your tarps at your local hardware store, you may want to take a look at what you are missing.

Tarp Surfing

While looking at tarps, I discovered a new sport!  Tarp surfing is the ultimate answer to the “I’m bored”  litany that children always sing when the parents are all set to put their feet up and relax. All you need is the tarp, a level surface, a slight breeze and a skate board. Set it up and prepare to be the most popular parents on the block.