It's been over two months since I wrote anything on this blog! A lot has happened in that time. All 200 plus boxes got packed up and moved to Fowler, CA. I am now unpacking and trying to find places for all the stuff. I took a break from that today and Gunther and I went on a photo "safari". We took pictures of some neat old buildings and signs and we captured some of the agriculture that is so important to the valley.
Welcome to Fowler. Our new home town! This sign is right at Golden State Blvd and Merced Street.
Elaine's Drive-In and Cafe... The sign off to the side says that they serve "the best tasting hamburger in the world, we also serve Chinese food!" And boy is it good Chinese food. I used to get Tomato Beef Chow Mein at Kowloon Kitchen in Clovis. Since moving away I have never found another Chinese place that serves it until now. Elaine's is every bit as good as Kowloon Kitchen!! I am a happy girl!
I was standing across the street at the post office to take the picture of Elaine's drive-in when I was surprised by the train. I'm glad I got this picture. The trains go by many time during the day and night.
Just five miles south of Fowler is Selma, CA. Selma is the raisen capital of the world! This vineyard is just a mile from our house. This is what they look like at the end of January. I will be posting a picture every month all year long to document the life of a vineyard. You can see those posts here at
A Year In The Life Of A Vineyard It will be interesting to see the progression. If you look closely to the right of this row of grapes you will see the branches that were trimmed off.
We have an orange tree in our front yard and if you look to the north up our street you will see this orchard. And see the houses in the upper right of this picture. We are surrounded by orchards and vineyards here in Fowler! Agriculture is the bread and butter of the valley and it is so awesome to be surrounded by it. Just two blocks to the west of our house is Simonian Fruit packing sheds.
Across Golden State Blvd is this old brick building. I don't know what it was originally but it really has some character. I love the old tree in the sidewalk and the weathered wood and brick.
Here is a view of the same building from across the street. The painted sign at the top says Labor Contractors. I can't make out the first word of the sign though. Maybe some research at the library will give me a history of this old place.
If you head south on Golden State toward Selma you come to the Freeway Lanes Bowling Alley. In the sixties my mother-in-law bowled many tournaments here! They even have karoake on Saturday nights!!
This is a California historical landmark. This one commemorates a dispute over railroad and land rights. Several people lost their lives including two deputy marshalls.
Close up of the plaque.
Further South on Golden State you come to Wells Fine Cars and Wells Used Cars. I love the fact that these old signs are still standing even though the effects of time and weather are written all over them. They are a statement from the past. Golden State is actually Old Highway 99 and it used to pass through cities and towns all up and down the valley. I imagine that when the new freeway was constructed and this place was by-passed it very well may have been the beginning of the end for Wells Fine Cars.
We headed back home to post this blog and wait for another beautiful sunny California day to venture out once again and capture the beauty that is our new home town!
Thank you to my Las Vegas neighbor, Susie Binney for the beautiful wreath for the front door!
Cathie
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