Category: Our Projects

Let Me Introduce You To My Town- La Fiesta Restaurant- Part 11

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Last year, I found that Walmart was selling the game Hanfordopoly. It’s like Monopoly, but for my town. Well, I had to buy it! Then Lauren and I went around town and took pictures of each of the places on the game board. It was so much fun! I can’t wait to introduce you to our sweet little town and some of its history.

Part 1-Freddy the Firetruck and Carousel

Part 2– Hanford Mall

Part 3– Fox Theatre

Part 4– Civic Auditorium and Civic Park

Part 5 – Downtown

Part 6 – The Plunge

Part 7 – Kings Art Center

Part 8 – Hanford Library

Part 9 – Renaissance Faire

Part 10 – Centennial Park

Yum!!! Today we are eating amazing Mexican Food at La Fiesta Restaurant! We love this place! We go very often and the food is always great!

La Fiesta opened 39! years ago. Wow! It is obviously a well loved place and they have a lot of regular customers. They serve large portions at reasonable prices.

This bougainvillea is so huge! I have been there when they cut it back and the next time it is huge again! It loves the smell of Mexican food too.

They always serve chips and salsa, many times the chips are still warm.

I forgot to take a picture before I started eating! Ha! Obviously it was very good! This one is the special burrito with chili verde and green sauce. Yum! There are lots of combination plates and other special items on the menu.

Outside, you can enjoy the sound of a waterfall and watch the koi as they swim around. They always welcome your company! The owner says this reminds her of her home in Mexico.

Are you hungry now? I am! Do you have a favorite restaurant in your hometown? This is just one of several I have! Thanks for stopping by today!

Let Me Introduce You To My Town-Centennial Park- Part 10

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Last year, I found that Walmart was selling the game Hanfordopoly. It’s like Monopoly, but for my town. Well, I had to buy it! Then Lauren and I went around town and took pictures of each of the places on the game board. It was so much fun! I can’t wait to introduce you to our sweet little town and some of its history.

If you haven’t read the other My Town posts, you can read them here:

Part 1-Freddy the Firetruck and Carousel

Part 2– Hanford Mall

Part 3– Fox Theatre

Part 4– Civic Auditorium and Civic Park

Part 5 – Downtown

Part 6 – The Plunge

Part 7 – Kinga Art Center

Part 8 – Hanford Library

Part 9 – Renaissance Faire

Centennial Park is one of the newer playgrounds in town. It was not here when my kids were small . It opened in the fall of 2021. The new playground features universally accessible and shaded play structures with slides, swings, large climbing net, musical features and tic-tac-toe. 

“This playground provides a variety of innovative, fun, safe and engaging play features that are accessible to children of all abilities,” Hanford Sentinel.

There is a walking path around the whole park. I’m not sure how far it is in total, but it looked like a nice walk.

There is a dog park that is separated into two sections, one for small dogs and one for large dogs. I didn’t even know this dog park existed! It was pretty warm on this afternoon, so the park was pretty empty.

Anyone for a game of volleyball?

Or a picnic? I know you can reserve spots if you have a large gathering too. This would be a great place for a birthday party.

“When choosing the type of play structure, it was important to the City Council that the new playground include shade and be inclusive for children of all abilities, according to a release.  This includes rubberized surfacing and play features designed for all to enjoy. 

The new playground at Centennial Park is one of many recent improvements to the park.  Over the past year, the City has beautified and re-landscaped the front entrance, installed new disc golf baskets, added two additional competitive horseshoe pits, planted trees, and added a pipe and  cable barrier to prevent vehicles from driving in the park. ” Hanford Sentinel

This climbing structure intrigued me! It was so interesting looking. I had never seen one like this before. It kind of looks like a giant spiderweb.

This xylophone is so pretty with the rainbow colors!

Some tic-tac-toe?

Lots of shade for the climbing wall and slides. There were 3-4 different slides of all different heights’ and lengths.

In our area, we definitely need the water features. This is a great way to cool off in the summer.

Do you have a favorite park in your area? We used to visit all the different parks in our town. The kids would even rate them and say what they liked about each one. Thanks for joining me today!

Let Me Introduce You To My Town-Renaissance Faire- Part 9

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Last year, I found that Walmart was selling the game Hanfordopoly. It’s like Monopoly, but for my town. Well, I had to buy it! Then Lauren and I went around town and took pictures of each of the places on the game board. It was so much fun! I can’t wait to introduce you to our sweet little town and some of its history.

If you haven’t read the other My Town posts, you can read them here:

Part 1 – Freddy the Firetruck

Part 2 – Hanford Mall

Part 3 – Fox Theater

Part 4 – Civic Auditorium and Civic Park

Part 5 – Downtown Hanford

Part 6 – The Plunge

Part 7 – Kings Art Center

Part 8 – Hanford Library

This fall my husband and I went to the Renaissance Faire. I don’t think I had been for 20 something years. My husband says we took the kids when they were younger, but I don’t remember. 🙄 My memories of it from my youth aren’t very good, but now going back, it wasn’t so bad.

“Return to the English Renaissance with Henry VIII and his court, at the Hanford Civic Center Auditorium. Arts, Crafts, Comedy, Music, Dance Shows, Interact with Costume Performers, Food, Drinks, and much more; FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!” This was the 44th year of the Faire. That’s a lot of Faire’s!

You see many people in costumes, both vendors and guests! It was a very warm day, so I don’t know how they survived in all those layers!!

There are tents set up all over Civic Park. There are a lot of different events that happen throughout the couple of days. Come on by to watch some belly dancing!

Of course, most of the park is filled with vendors selling all sorts of Renaissance products. These tankards were so cool, but I can’t see spending that much on a mug. They were all wrapped with leather with those fabulous designs.

So many beautiful rocks! My great uncle was a ‘rock hound’, and these booths always remind me of him. I wish I had learned more about rocks and gemstones. My mom still has some of the rocks from him and a couple pieces of jewelry made from opals he found. A lot of his rocks were also donated to our Christian school for a rock garden.

These are some old types of games that were played during the Renaissance time. I didn’t get all the instructions on how to play so I can’t tell you anything about them.

There were many places selling beautiful jewelry and other ornamental items.

Maybe a weapon? These were just plastic ones, but there were plenty of places selling the real thing too. These would be great for Halloween too!

These wooden rocking horses/unicorns were amazing! They were huge! You could pay a fee to sit on them and have your pictures taken. They actually rocked back and forth too. I can’t imagine how long these took to carve!

I was watching these fancy royals as they were looking at some bling. I was kind of laughing because the one gentleman had on a Burger King crown. The taller man was trying on rings. He turned to me and said “It’s so great to be king and be able to wear all this bling!” So, I met the king!

I’m really glad we took the time to go to the Faire this year! It was nice to see how much it has evolved since the last time I had been there. Do you have faire’s like this in your town too?

Let Me Introduce You To My Town-Kings County Library- Part 8

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Last year, I found that Walmart was selling the game Hanfordopoly. It’s like Monopoly, but for my town. Well, I had to buy it! Then Lauren and I went around town and took pictures of each of the places on the game board. It was so much fun! I can’t wait to introduce you to our sweet little town and some of its history.

Part 1-Freddy the Firetruck and Carousel

Part 2– Hanford Mall

Part 3– Fox Theatre

Part 4-Civic Auditorium and Civic Park

Part 5– Downtown Hanford

Part 6– The Plunge

Part 7 – Kings Art Center

Today we visit the library! I love to read, especially a good mystery! I have borrowed so many books and still do, I just reserve them online now! When my kids were little we borrowed books, videos and went to story time here!

The current library opened in August 1968. In July 1975 two libraries were consolidated, and the Hanford library became a branch of the Kings County Library. This building is very 1960’s looking. Not my favorite building, but I love the books inside!

I really love how the children’s section looks! It didn’t look this way when my kids were young, it is a more recent remodel.

I just love the rows and rows of books! So many good ones to choose from.

There are also some computers in various places and games for the kids

Her is just one of the many rows for adults. This is the mystery section, of course!

Does your library still have these stools? I remember being fascinated by them as a kid, the way they would go down a little when you stood on them. Simple pleasures. 🙂

I like this colorful little area! It just makes me happy. Libraries have come a long way from the drab and dreary places they used to be.

There is a small loft area at this end of the library. I went up and took this picture so you could see the layout a little easier. The opening at the right side of the curves in the ceiling is the kids area.

I thought these pictures were so neat! The first one on the left is the original library. It is now the Carnegie Museum. I will cover that one a little later. The second picture is inside the Carnegie. The third picture is inside the Civic Auditorium. I covered that one in Part 4. I’m not sure what event this picture is from, but it’s cool to see the inside of the building.

Here we have the current library. 1. When it was first built, 2. at night, and 3. inside. Looks much like it does today.

Do you still go to the library today? What’s your favorite genre? I still would rather have an actual book rather than a kindle or other media device. There is just something about holding a book!