Blogs from Kingsburg, California, United States, North America

Advertisement

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg July 4th 2023

From 2015: For those of you who live outside of our country, the 4th of July is celebrated in a BIG way here in the United States. It is our nation's birthday and commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. We celebrate with family picnics, barbecues, parades, concerts, and fireworks. Many loyal Americans also fly an American flag on this day, as well as other significant patriotic holidays. In July of 1776, there were only 2.5 million people here. This July 4th we will have over 320 million people. More than one-fourth of the hot dogs and sausages consumed on July 4th originated in Iowa. And chances are, the beef hot dogs, steaks, and burgers on the backyard grill came from Texas. For chicken, it probably comes from Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina ... read more

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg November 24th 2022

For 2022, the world is a much different place now. We have a war between Russia and the Ukraine, record-setting inflation, greater awareness of climate change, and contentious politics here at home. Thanksgiving this year, in my opinion, gives us a chance to be thankful for our wonderful lives, free of war mostly, and now, post Covid (I hope), a bit more normalcy in the world. A Thanksgiving meal is going to cost much more this year. The cost has increased 26%, from $52.59 to $66.39. Since most of our holiday meals will last for several days, the cost per meal becomes a bit more realistic. I enjoy leftover turkey, as well as some of the dishes listed below. My two favorites, beside another dinner, are turkey curry soup with vegetables, and turkey enchilada casserole. Very ... read more
 Cosmo Tukiye Day
Turkey or Cow? haha

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg October 19th 2021

I am reading one of great travel writer, Paul Theroux's Deep South. He talks at length about what travel writers write about, usually some part of the journey that stands out, either really great, or really bad, as in arduous, troublesome, and memorable. He seeks to make a connection with people, something I like to do in my travels as well. In the "Deep South", he finds these stories, and tries not to judge. He walks into a small Alabama convenience store. He notices the jars of penny candy on the countertop. He tells the clerk, "When I was a boy, we used to call it penny candy." The clerk, perhaps in a moment of defensiveness, replies, "Road candy, eat it while you're driving." Suddenly, I flashed on something I completely forgot. I fondly remember my ... read more
Car trip

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg March 4th 2021

Now 2021, everything is starting early this year, due to the warmer weather. Check it out!!! The famous Blossom Trail here in Fresno County officially begins this weekend. I will personally commemorate it (back in 2019) by riding my bicycle on Saturday's Blossom Trail Ride. The official Blossom Trail begins in February and runs through March. Nine valley cities participate in this annual event, including my hometown of Kingsburg. The peak bloom period runs only about three weeks. In general, pink blossoms are peaches, and nectarines. White blossoms are almonds, plums and apples. Some basic highlights of the trail include: Simonian Farms, at the corner of Clovis and Jensen Avenues. This fruit stand started back in 1901. He built and placed a memorial to the Japanese who were incarcerated after Pearl Harbor. Heading east, the Blossom ... read more
A few blossoms
Mostly pink and white!

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg March 1st 2021

This was my favorite song as a young pre school boy growing up here in the Valley. My first dog was a Cocker Spaniel, named Betsy. I was about 3 or 4 at the time. I even have a photo of the two of us, somewhere in the archives. It was Patty Paige, with these great lyrics for the little boy (me): How much is that doggie in the window?The one with the waggly tailHow much is that doggie in the window?I do hope that doggie's for saleI must take a trip to CaliforniaAnd leave my poor sweetheart aloneIf he has a dog, he won't be lonesomeAnd the doggie will... read more
Buddy, the German Hunting Terrier
Lexi, the mini Labradoodle

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg July 10th 2020

While I recently posted a photo of me and my Dad for Father's Day, there is a better one. You may have seen it before on my FB page. It was taken by a professional photographer from NY back in the Fifties. As I recall, it was published nationally, and may also have won some awards. The photo is my paternal Grandmother, Yuki Kataoka, and my youngest sister Carolyn. It was taken on the ranch next door to ours, then leased by my Uncle Sus, and eventually purchased by him when the owners finally sold. The ranch had an old house, which is still standing, a tank (water) house, a storage shed, and a chicken coop. The photographer was visiting his widowed sister (Mrs. Lawson) when his keen photographic eye caught my Grandmother carting my sister, ... read more

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg June 1st 2020

From NPR: During the Depression, the federal government began a reserve program meant to stabilize raisin prices. Each year, a board of raisin producers would meet and decide how much of the overall crop should be set aside for a reserve, with the set-side raisins used for charity, government programs, or export. The program worked for decades, until in 2003, a pair of raisin growers charged that it amounted to an unconstitutional taking of their property without compensation. The government responded that the farmers were free to sell grapes for wine, instead of raisins, and so there was no taking of property. In 2015, the Supreme Court sided with the dissenting growers. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the government's "let them eat wine" argument was "probably not much more comforting to the raisin growers than ... read more
Thompson seedless grapes
Laying the raisin trays in the sun

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg May 18th 2020

I always wondered. Now we know, thanks to Trivia Genius: Back in the 16th century, the majority of Europeans couldn’t read. In fact, an estimated 61 percent of men in Norwich, near London, couldn’t even write their own name! For shopkeepers and craftspeople, this widespread illiteracy was something of a marketing problem: How could they advertise their businesses to a public that couldn’t read? url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oBxyaj3b50EC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=guild+signs+illiteracy&source=bl&ots=D51kDoXcmT&sig=ACfU3U0fP3de2--QTRndoiiPSOaRrafE3g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJi5L01e3nAhUylHIEHblCCwQQ6AEwDXoECAwQAQ#v=onepage&q=guild%20signs%20illiteracy&f=falseOne solution was craftsman, or guild, signs. Above the doorway of most medieval businesses hung a metal emblem url=http://www.electrummagazine.com/2012/10/medieval-guild-sig... read more
First hair cut!
Just awful period!

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg January 19th 2020

I have been reading about the history of California water wars and land grabs. I recently read about the beginning of the raisin industry here. A physician named John Stentzel, farming in the Alhambra Valley (not far from where we once lived), was one of the fathers of California pomology. He planted plum and pear trees, as well as the infamous muscat grape. Growing up in Budapest, Dr. Stentzel learned how to ferment and dry grapes. Soon, he was making some of the best wines and certainly the first raisins in California. He won Blue Ribbons at the 1861 California State Fair with is wines. Interestingly, the Alhambra Valley is now dotted with a resurgence of grape vines, mostly Zins on its hilly scapes. One of our friends (a friend of a dear friend) is now ... read more
John Muir was a wise man!
Sun Maid, our preferred brand!
The famous dancing raisins

North America » United States » California » Kingsburg July 9th 2012

Geo: 36.5139, -119.553... read more




Tot: 0.211s; Tpl: 0.008s; cc: 9; qc: 71; dbt: 0.1348s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.2mb