Saturday - 26 Dec/15

Like CBS Sunday Morning, I have a favourite TV program on Saturday morning. It is "The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation". Although aimed at the younger generation, it has facts that are interesting to all ages. The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI is one of the best in the world. If you are in the neighbourhood plan on spending a few days if you go.

We didn't watch the whole program today because we wanted to head out to the Market of Marion (Flea and Farmers Market) before it got too hot. There are more than 1,100 booths full of inventory of all types. There is something for everyone! They are open year round on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m.

We parked near the last indoor section: "H". Our pattern is to work down the center and do the aisles that extend out on the one side. We then do the other side of the main aisle and the side extensions on the other side on the way back.

Good News. We finally found Tupelo Honey. It is in short supply again this year. It is the gold standard by which all other honey varieties are measured. For two weeks every spring, White (Ogeche) Tupelo Trees in the Southeastern swamps bloom with fine sunburst-shaped flowers that glisten with nectar. Tupelo Honey has buttery undertones and a mellow, clean-finishing sweetness. It's like a thick, slow-moving river of liquid sunshine. Tupelo Honey complements a variety of foods
but it's so delicious, it is a treat just by the spoonful! It is the only honey that will not crystallize and is also the best for diabetics.

Since 1898 L.L. Lanier & Son's Tupelo Honey have been harvesting Tupelo honey from hives in the Apalachicola River swamps. In the spring of 1996, award winning director Victor Nunez purchased a jar of Tupelo honey from the Lanier's stand in downtown Wewahitchka. He then drove to their house, explained that he was planning to make a movie about a beekeeper, and asked Ben and Glynnis to help. Before he knew it, Ben was teaching actor Peter Fonda how to handle bees, and Glynnis, L.L. and Martha were cast as extras. Some of Ben's dialog was used in the script, and he worked with the film crew in an effort to make the beekeeping scenes in the film as true-to-life as possible. All of the swamp lands and bee yards in the film belong to the Laniers. The old truck where the money was hidden in the film, "Ulee's Gold" is still there! It is a good flick. Worth watching if you can find a copy.

Shopping in the Vegetable and Fruit section Charlotte found several items to purchase.

A regular stop of ours is at the booth that sells kitchen utensils. We always pick up a supply of bag clips that are great for sealing bread bags. The clips have a round center hole that is much better than the flat clips that are often used for potato chip bags.  This vendor makes the 4 hour round trip every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from her home in northern Florida. She brings her dogs with her. She is 80, yet doesn't look 60! She says keeping busy keeps her young. We will miss her next year. She will transfer her booth closer to home in May.

Charlotte finally found a pair of red baby socks. She now can make a hat for the smallest member of her snowman family that guards our Christmas Card table.

This is one of the larger markets and it took us almost 2 hours to check out all the booths. I finally found a business card holder. It is similar to the solid case credit card holders. Leather doesn't do the job because the cards get bent unless the case is solid. (Sitting on it will do that.)

It was cool enough when we came to go "Topless" in the Del Sol; however with the temps now in the mid-80's and the humidity even higher we left the top on and enjoyed the A/C on the way back.

Lunch was at Chili's. We made a stop at Publix for grocery refills before returning to OMS. We had thought of going to the 50' and 60's Record Hop in the Rec Hall from 7 until 9 pm; however we decided to relax and end the day with movies instead. "The Pelican Brief", "Flightplan" and "Now You See Me" rounded off the evening.