Del Mar San Diego County Fair
July 16, 2012
I love love Del Mar, what a great fair, there were stilt walkers, aliens from outer space, food trucks.
This year was Out of this World, which it was!! I really loved the alien greeters, and the music right when you walk in the front gate.
Wait, I love HOW they open their fair in the morning with the raising of the flag and a real salute to our troops and our country!!
My favorite magician in the world was there with his amazing shows. Godfrey the Magician always has me laughing or in awe, how he can turn tennis balls into baseballs, or get 10 silver dollars to dance over his fingers, or change the numbers on a die is unbelievable to me!! I love his laugh and his interaction with the kids and adults in the crowd, he is a joy to watch.
And Calamity Jo!! She made a banana disappear in front of my very eyes!! I watched her do it three times, and I am telling you right now it is gone!See for yourself on the video if you'd like. I love how she teaches gun safety while someone carefully pulls a trigger and shoots up her stage.
I got to visit some really cool animals in the Area 50-fun building. And on top of that some really cool people. I just love the dedication of the Trekkies and Star Wars fans. They are a blast to talk to, all caught up in their fantasy worlds. And don't mix them up ^_^
I enjoyed the food, Rosa's Mexican food, my eclairs, my ice tea refills all weekend long.
AND WEIRD AL!!!!
Oh my gosh what a showman!!! I LOVE him, his music, my new t-shirt and every single minute he was on stage. I had the best seats ever!!
Del Mar never ceases to amaze me.
Great maps.
Parking at the Horse park will always be my recommendation.
Very clean bathrooms.
The rides and games were so much fun, I got a Hello Kitty!!!
I especially enjoyed the staff, they were very friendly, and considering that they had to do a lot of foot traffic control and cleaning up the place was very comfortable.
Del Mar San Diego County Fair
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Post from the Past - Pine-Strawberry Arts & Crafts Festival
Pine-Strawberry Arts & Crafts Festival (Pine, AZ)
May 22, 2012
We drove up to the Pine-Strawberry area, first and foremost because it is a beautiful area. I just love the people; they are so laidback and inviting. They wave when you drive by just to greet you with a smile. You NEVER get that down here in the valley, and I am spoiled since I was raised in the mid west where that was common place. I waved back to every single person!!
I like these little craft festivals, while there are no performers…. Clarification: Once in a while there might be a singer or a local group playing music, but not strolling performers doing magic or those type of shows. There are tables loaded with the talents of another kind. Woodworking, paintings, bird feeders made out of license plates, books made entirely out of fabric, photography turned into bookmarks, postcards and wall paintings.
Some of my favorite crafts include one lady’s version of a child’s crayon and coloring book bag for travel. She’d taken the fabric and folded it over once and sewed tall skinny pockets so that each crayon was snug in its little compartment, and then made a fabric pocket for a coloring book. The whole thing folded in half and had a handle. Brilliant!!
One gal designed a cook book for children in terms they would understand.
One man took all sorts of items from his tool box and re-created little animals and garden goodies. Adorable.
One of the vendors had leather work that was so intricate the details were like a fine paintbrush stroke and each little masterpiece held a story.
I love looking at the jewelry and the glass works, the candles and dog clothes, bags made out of denim and all the recycle and reusable items people come up with, their imaginations are incredible! How one person sees a stack of horseshoes and turns it into a lamp stand I’ll never know, but to see people that have mastered their crafts is beyond awesome.
One thing to watch for in this type of setting is a gift for that person that has “everything”; we found a few really unique gifts this year. When you have someone that collects unusual items or one of a kind item, this is also a great stop.
May 22, 2012
We drove up to the Pine-Strawberry area, first and foremost because it is a beautiful area. I just love the people; they are so laidback and inviting. They wave when you drive by just to greet you with a smile. You NEVER get that down here in the valley, and I am spoiled since I was raised in the mid west where that was common place. I waved back to every single person!!
I like these little craft festivals, while there are no performers…. Clarification: Once in a while there might be a singer or a local group playing music, but not strolling performers doing magic or those type of shows. There are tables loaded with the talents of another kind. Woodworking, paintings, bird feeders made out of license plates, books made entirely out of fabric, photography turned into bookmarks, postcards and wall paintings.
Some of my favorite crafts include one lady’s version of a child’s crayon and coloring book bag for travel. She’d taken the fabric and folded it over once and sewed tall skinny pockets so that each crayon was snug in its little compartment, and then made a fabric pocket for a coloring book. The whole thing folded in half and had a handle. Brilliant!!
One gal designed a cook book for children in terms they would understand.
One man took all sorts of items from his tool box and re-created little animals and garden goodies. Adorable.
One of the vendors had leather work that was so intricate the details were like a fine paintbrush stroke and each little masterpiece held a story.
I love looking at the jewelry and the glass works, the candles and dog clothes, bags made out of denim and all the recycle and reusable items people come up with, their imaginations are incredible! How one person sees a stack of horseshoes and turns it into a lamp stand I’ll never know, but to see people that have mastered their crafts is beyond awesome.
One thing to watch for in this type of setting is a gift for that person that has “everything”; we found a few really unique gifts this year. When you have someone that collects unusual items or one of a kind item, this is also a great stop.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Post from the Past - Arizona Renaissance Festival
Arizona Renaissance Festival in Apache Junction, AZ
May 2, 2012
The Arizona Renaissance Festival has had a lot of entertainment for a long time, every time I go I learn something new, I watched fire jugglers on the grounds, and fire eaters, which fascinates me, I don’t know how you decide that this is a vocation, but it is crazy cool to me for some reason. I just love the man that is a tree, or perhaps the tree that is a man. Of course there are the falcons and their trainers! I love the little lady faeries, and men in their capes and boots. Heck this year I saw a live Minotaur. I never know who the strolling performers vs. the patrons are; this is the only festival where I don’t ever want to know.
I think my favorite part of the festival itself is all of the costumes. I know that that’s why many people go, I personally don’t dress up, but I do carry my wooden sword because where else can you carry your wooden sword?? =) The festival itself is a lot of fun to be a part of, and this year I brought my Grandma, and since she is 92, we need to stop now and again, and the areas for sitting and eating were well shaded and easily accessed. They had a plethora of drinks to offer all over the place, they really took in account that it was getting hot and put up a lot more shaded areas than I remember from about 10 years back when I first started coming to the festival.
Grandma had two loves this year, and I will write this part from her eyes. She loves elephants and they had several of them giving rides to guests this year, and while she didn’t feel like her back could handle the ride itself the trainers allowed the people behind the fences to pet the elephants and touch their trunks. This turned my Grandma into a 12 year old little kid, we must have reached out and pet the elephant a dozen or more times. She grinned from ear to ear all the way home.
The other thing that completely fascinated her was the candle maker making candles with all the rainbow colors and then dipping and dipping and then cutting the slices out of the hot wax, twisting them and reapplying to the candle making all of these pillars turn into works of art. She fell in love with one with a rainbow and had to buy it. The thing I like about the candle is that you can use it all the way to the core, but the outer layers never melt, so you can add a votive candle to the center from now on and have a permanent design, additionally they are quite easy to clean too, I know this as I purchased one several years back.
From my own perspective they had a lot of permanent displays that are just my favorites to go through, the storybook house for instance is a display I could stay in for hours. I want you to see it for yourself, but I will tell you that they took many fairy tales and brought them to life in 3D fashions such that as you tour the house, each room told a story, literally. Don’t forget to look up! And down for that matter.
I had to get my bread bowl! You really need to be hungry if you order one, they are soooo good, and made right on the spot, so it is hot soup inside the delicious bread. I actually got too full to finish, that was a first for me. Mine was so big! Oh here’s another tip, keep your drink cup, if you want a refill they will give you one for a cheaper price, and they will refill your cup with ice for free all day long. I was so hot for a bit this year I refilled mine 3 times, the vendors understood and I appreciated this a great deal.
As far as the rides go, there was a giant rocking horse that intrigued my Grandma, she watched people climb in and out of it for quite a while. I am certain she had never seen something so big =) I for one would have ridden it if given the opportunity, it looked quite relaxing.
The vendors are so laid back; we bought our name on a crest. I hung it on the wall at home, it is very handsome piece of history, and I will always treasure that piece, they matted and framed it so beautifully. I like that you can make a wax hand, I would love to do this someday, I have seen it in many venues, I just haven’t decided what I want it to look like yet… chuckles, I have time to decide that I suppose.
The stage shows are funny as always. Don Juan and Miguel. The Clan Tynker family of siblings were so much fun to watch, except for the juggling of the knives around the guest, which I had to watch between clenched fingers laced over my face. Cast in Bronze is the main reason I wanted to go, that’s an amazing phenomenal Traveling Carillon… it is so beautiful. I know two Carillon players here in Arizona and they play for the holidays, I get goosebumps and just smile!!
Oh and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention hubby’s favorite sword swallower and comedian Thom Sellectomy. Grandma and I were totally grossed out by his willingness to take a nail and hammer it up his nose…. And he did swallow a balloon sword which I couldn’t watch either, in fact he swallowed a lot of swords I’m told. But it thrilled hubby to no end, we stay to the end of the show and laughed his head off, I stayed to the end of the show, but I was looking at my shoelaces quite a bit (sorry Thom), he was very funny and I laughed, I just am not sure about the nail up the nose thing. *chuckles*
All in all I will go back to the Renaissance Festival, it is a staple. I need to see the horses, and geese, and the costumes and I have to carry my wooden sword. =)
https://arizona.renfestinfo.com/
May 2, 2012
The Arizona Renaissance Festival has had a lot of entertainment for a long time, every time I go I learn something new, I watched fire jugglers on the grounds, and fire eaters, which fascinates me, I don’t know how you decide that this is a vocation, but it is crazy cool to me for some reason. I just love the man that is a tree, or perhaps the tree that is a man. Of course there are the falcons and their trainers! I love the little lady faeries, and men in their capes and boots. Heck this year I saw a live Minotaur. I never know who the strolling performers vs. the patrons are; this is the only festival where I don’t ever want to know.
I think my favorite part of the festival itself is all of the costumes. I know that that’s why many people go, I personally don’t dress up, but I do carry my wooden sword because where else can you carry your wooden sword?? =) The festival itself is a lot of fun to be a part of, and this year I brought my Grandma, and since she is 92, we need to stop now and again, and the areas for sitting and eating were well shaded and easily accessed. They had a plethora of drinks to offer all over the place, they really took in account that it was getting hot and put up a lot more shaded areas than I remember from about 10 years back when I first started coming to the festival.
Grandma had two loves this year, and I will write this part from her eyes. She loves elephants and they had several of them giving rides to guests this year, and while she didn’t feel like her back could handle the ride itself the trainers allowed the people behind the fences to pet the elephants and touch their trunks. This turned my Grandma into a 12 year old little kid, we must have reached out and pet the elephant a dozen or more times. She grinned from ear to ear all the way home.
The other thing that completely fascinated her was the candle maker making candles with all the rainbow colors and then dipping and dipping and then cutting the slices out of the hot wax, twisting them and reapplying to the candle making all of these pillars turn into works of art. She fell in love with one with a rainbow and had to buy it. The thing I like about the candle is that you can use it all the way to the core, but the outer layers never melt, so you can add a votive candle to the center from now on and have a permanent design, additionally they are quite easy to clean too, I know this as I purchased one several years back.
From my own perspective they had a lot of permanent displays that are just my favorites to go through, the storybook house for instance is a display I could stay in for hours. I want you to see it for yourself, but I will tell you that they took many fairy tales and brought them to life in 3D fashions such that as you tour the house, each room told a story, literally. Don’t forget to look up! And down for that matter.
I had to get my bread bowl! You really need to be hungry if you order one, they are soooo good, and made right on the spot, so it is hot soup inside the delicious bread. I actually got too full to finish, that was a first for me. Mine was so big! Oh here’s another tip, keep your drink cup, if you want a refill they will give you one for a cheaper price, and they will refill your cup with ice for free all day long. I was so hot for a bit this year I refilled mine 3 times, the vendors understood and I appreciated this a great deal.
As far as the rides go, there was a giant rocking horse that intrigued my Grandma, she watched people climb in and out of it for quite a while. I am certain she had never seen something so big =) I for one would have ridden it if given the opportunity, it looked quite relaxing.
The vendors are so laid back; we bought our name on a crest. I hung it on the wall at home, it is very handsome piece of history, and I will always treasure that piece, they matted and framed it so beautifully. I like that you can make a wax hand, I would love to do this someday, I have seen it in many venues, I just haven’t decided what I want it to look like yet… chuckles, I have time to decide that I suppose.
The stage shows are funny as always. Don Juan and Miguel. The Clan Tynker family of siblings were so much fun to watch, except for the juggling of the knives around the guest, which I had to watch between clenched fingers laced over my face. Cast in Bronze is the main reason I wanted to go, that’s an amazing phenomenal Traveling Carillon… it is so beautiful. I know two Carillon players here in Arizona and they play for the holidays, I get goosebumps and just smile!!
Oh and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention hubby’s favorite sword swallower and comedian Thom Sellectomy. Grandma and I were totally grossed out by his willingness to take a nail and hammer it up his nose…. And he did swallow a balloon sword which I couldn’t watch either, in fact he swallowed a lot of swords I’m told. But it thrilled hubby to no end, we stay to the end of the show and laughed his head off, I stayed to the end of the show, but I was looking at my shoelaces quite a bit (sorry Thom), he was very funny and I laughed, I just am not sure about the nail up the nose thing. *chuckles*
All in all I will go back to the Renaissance Festival, it is a staple. I need to see the horses, and geese, and the costumes and I have to carry my wooden sword. =)
https://arizona.renfestinfo.com/
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Post from the Past - Date Festival in Indio, Ca.
Date Festival in Indio, Ca.
May 5, 2012
Okay this is going to sound silly, but I have to tell you this struck me as laughable, here we are in California, where Dates are grown and picked and available at every corner fruit stand, and I couldn’t believe that they had one place to sell them. Now this was a great little place, they had date candy, dates in many varieties, free dates to taste, and date shakes, and it was a cute little tent market. But compared to the Lemon Festival which had some 12 or so lemon booths, it struck me funny that there was only one date tent. Is that bad?
There is no way I can go on without mentioning Hilby the Skinny Juggling Boy. OMGosh what a funny man!!! Our friend Greg Frisbee was the main reason we drove to California, his show is so funny with his 1 ball juggling!! Set to music =) As we were chatting he said “go see Hilby out on the grass”, I didn’t know what a Hilby was or where the grass was, but the map directed us and I spotted a unicycle, I wanted a front seat. (So-to-speak) the thing I love about Strolling Performers is the ability to be up front, and close. I instantly become a part of the show! I digress, Hilby walked out of thin air and I got the funniest experience I have been a part of in a very long time. And wow the talent!! He had 2 Diablo’s going at once! He ate fire, and carried a child on a unicycle ON HIS SHOULDERS! Who does that?? Hilby does!! If you can find him you have to stop and watch the show, you have to. I know it is California, if there is an earthquake, wait it out, it will be worth your time.
Now if I can return to our friend Greg Frisbee, there is another man with a bunch bunch of talent. His facial expressions are hysterical, and I love it when he grabs a kid from the audience and lets them so a trick. He can make 65 balloon animals that all suspiciously look like dogs. He juggles 5 balls, and as entertained as we were his downstairs neighbor, not so much!! Greg eats fire, he juggles fire too, but I won’t tell you how, you have to see for yourself! =)
The date festival had a wonderful sand castle, the talent of people that can carve pictures in 3D on sand and make it stand, and STAY, is beyond me. I can take a pail and make little piles of molded sand, but to build a camel and a band of thieves is more than I can dream to do! That’s something special about these fairs and festivals; I swear there are hidden gems all over the place. The man that saws (yes saws) your name into a ring (I have several of these over the years now). WOW!!!
We saw:
The wooden roses.
The women that wove baskets.
The little carved wooden animals and trains.
A new hand sewn wallet.
Oh and the painters that take your name and make it ART.
You can’t just go to the fair, eat deep fried foods, ride a few rides and leave. If you do you will rob yourself of some wonderful talented people doing what they know best. GO to each booth if you can afford the time, say hi to the people, yes they will show you their wares, but if you can see if you can spot the one thing you haven’t seen before. That totally unique gift for a friend or family member can be in there, we found an adorable purse for a gift and half dozen knives for my FIL and even a sword for my uncle.
Rosa’s food was great, if you want some Mexican food, their servings were huge. Oh and they had a little candy shack, I found my favorites for 50¢ each!!
You just never know what you will uncover. =)
May 5, 2012
Okay this is going to sound silly, but I have to tell you this struck me as laughable, here we are in California, where Dates are grown and picked and available at every corner fruit stand, and I couldn’t believe that they had one place to sell them. Now this was a great little place, they had date candy, dates in many varieties, free dates to taste, and date shakes, and it was a cute little tent market. But compared to the Lemon Festival which had some 12 or so lemon booths, it struck me funny that there was only one date tent. Is that bad?
There is no way I can go on without mentioning Hilby the Skinny Juggling Boy. OMGosh what a funny man!!! Our friend Greg Frisbee was the main reason we drove to California, his show is so funny with his 1 ball juggling!! Set to music =) As we were chatting he said “go see Hilby out on the grass”, I didn’t know what a Hilby was or where the grass was, but the map directed us and I spotted a unicycle, I wanted a front seat. (So-to-speak) the thing I love about Strolling Performers is the ability to be up front, and close. I instantly become a part of the show! I digress, Hilby walked out of thin air and I got the funniest experience I have been a part of in a very long time. And wow the talent!! He had 2 Diablo’s going at once! He ate fire, and carried a child on a unicycle ON HIS SHOULDERS! Who does that?? Hilby does!! If you can find him you have to stop and watch the show, you have to. I know it is California, if there is an earthquake, wait it out, it will be worth your time.
Now if I can return to our friend Greg Frisbee, there is another man with a bunch bunch of talent. His facial expressions are hysterical, and I love it when he grabs a kid from the audience and lets them so a trick. He can make 65 balloon animals that all suspiciously look like dogs. He juggles 5 balls, and as entertained as we were his downstairs neighbor, not so much!! Greg eats fire, he juggles fire too, but I won’t tell you how, you have to see for yourself! =)
The date festival had a wonderful sand castle, the talent of people that can carve pictures in 3D on sand and make it stand, and STAY, is beyond me. I can take a pail and make little piles of molded sand, but to build a camel and a band of thieves is more than I can dream to do! That’s something special about these fairs and festivals; I swear there are hidden gems all over the place. The man that saws (yes saws) your name into a ring (I have several of these over the years now). WOW!!!
We saw:
The wooden roses.
The women that wove baskets.
The little carved wooden animals and trains.
A new hand sewn wallet.
Oh and the painters that take your name and make it ART.
You can’t just go to the fair, eat deep fried foods, ride a few rides and leave. If you do you will rob yourself of some wonderful talented people doing what they know best. GO to each booth if you can afford the time, say hi to the people, yes they will show you their wares, but if you can see if you can spot the one thing you haven’t seen before. That totally unique gift for a friend or family member can be in there, we found an adorable purse for a gift and half dozen knives for my FIL and even a sword for my uncle.
Rosa’s food was great, if you want some Mexican food, their servings were huge. Oh and they had a little candy shack, I found my favorites for 50¢ each!!
You just never know what you will uncover. =)
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