Sun - 12 Jan/14

For a day of rest today will be very busy.

This morning we ventured out to our first Flea Market - Renniger's Twin Markets in Mt. Dora (This year). This is a huge Antique and Flea market about  half hour away from the RV Park. There is everything and anything at this market.

Charlotte even (she's so brave) put her hand in the jaws of an alligator (grin).

We spent about 2 hours walking through the many buildings and outside stalls.

As usual, we found some items we didn't know we needed. Charlotte found a huge white wicker basket that she will use for flowers on our front porch at home. It now resides under out kitchen table in the motorhome and will remain there until we get home.

We indulged in a favourite Flea Market treat - a dozen freshly made mini-donuts. Mmmm....

A fresh produce booth yield 3 large tomatoes and we sampled boiled peanuts.

We also purchased "Tupelo" honey from nice folks (Sweet Oasis Honey) that we first met at the New Year's Eve party at the RV Park. We purchased excellent sandwiches from their food cart that they had set up at the event. I picked up their card and knew where they would be selling their honey.

"Tupelo Honey" is the gold standard by which all other honeys are measured. Two weeks every spring, White (Ogeche) Tupelo Trees bloom in the Southeastern swamps with fine sunburst-shaped flowers that glisten with nectar. This rare, seasonal, and utterly unique honey is the only honey that will not crystallize?Because of the specific ratio of different sugars, it's is said that Tupelo Honey is beneficial for diabetics due to the fact that it raises blood sugar levels slower than most other forms of homey. This is an ongoing debate - remember - all things in moderation. No matter' we are diabetic and manage Tupelo quite well.

The production of Tupelo honey is not easy. Beekeepers truck their hives right into the thick of it to get the best honey.They move to the groves of Tupelo trees, which grow along four rivers in northwest Florida and southern Georgia. Biologists estimate it takes two million Tupelo tree flowers to produce one pound of honey. George Watkins, a beekeeper in the Florida panhandle, loads his hives onto a barge and moves them up the river so that his bees can work deep in the tupelo groves. Watkins was a consultant on the film Ulee's Gold, with Peter Fonda, which is all about harvesting Tupelo honey.
 

We returned to the RV park for "Tacos-in-a Bag" at 2 pm. Tickets for this event are purchased a few days ahead of time to ensure enough supplies are purchased for the required servings. The Rec Hall was packed by 1:30 (probably  close to 200) when we arrived. Remember, at an RV park, arriving a half hour early means you.re 15 minutes late. Until it is time to serve everyone joins in conversations with those seated nearby. We joined the food line when our table was called. 

The Doritos Taco bags are pre-crushed and cut open. Then a scoop of cooked ground beef is poured on top. As you proceed down the line you can choose which other items to add to the bag: lettuce, tomatoes, grated cheese (2 kinds), diced onions, a spicy salsa and sour cream. At the end of the table you pick up a plate, fork and napkins before returning to your seat to enjoy.

"Tacos-in-a Bag" is similar to "Frito Pie", a treat we first enjoyed at the World Famous "Five & Dime General Store in Santa Fe, NM. The exact origins of the Frito pie are unknown though there are several stories as to its beginnings. One of the stories says that the Frito pie originated with Frito-Lay's founder Elmer Doolin's mother. It claims that Daisy Dean Doolin came up with the Frito pie sometime after creating the first Frito chip. Mentions of the Frito pie are nearly as old as the company itself which was founded in 1932.

Another story claims that true Frito pie originated only in the 1960s with Teresa Hernández, who worked at the F.W. Woolworth's  lunch counter in Santa Fe, NM.

In the 1950s, Nell Morris joined Frito-Lay where she helped develop an official cookbook which included the Frito pie. I have no idea who first substituted Doritos Tacos for Fritos. No matter what - it is a treat!

As soon as we finished eating we headed out in the car. Again, we really enjoyed today's perfect weather as we drove the half-hour to "Camping World" in Summerfield, FL. Finally, we found the clips required to hold the tablecloth onto the picnic table. We also found a few other needed items from light bulbs (for the outside lamp over the RV entrance door) to quick-links (holds the RV chains to the brackets).

We also picked up a mattress cover and a pair of folding fabric tables with their own carrying case. They are similar to the folding camp chairs (in a bag). The folding tables we have are good except for one problem - a bump usually spills the drink . These tables have 2 holders and are less likely to tip or spill.

We made it back to the RV park in time for "Trivia" session at 7 pm. Charlotte and I (Bill) joined Dave, Earl and Carol (not shown) to form one of the more than a dozen teams for tonight's contest. Again, we came close; but did not win.

One of the questions that stumped us was "What did the makers of  the famous "Daisy Air Rifle (BB gun) make before the BB gun?" The answer: Windmill. (Actually, a vane-less windmill ).

Legend has it that the board of the Windmill Company decided to build the gun and offer it as a premium item to every farmer who purchased a windmill. By 1895 the sales and popularity of the gun had grown to the point that the company ceased the manufacture of windmills, began producing airguns exclusively and changed its name to Daisy Manufacturing Company.

My guess was a "Sling Shot". I was close. Daisy did make a sling shot - but; not until after the air rifle.

Most of all, we had a fun time, and decided to meet and compete as a team next week.

On returning to the RV we watched a bit of the Golden Globe Awards. Now we know home many programs and stars we didn't know won for programs we haven't watched!

We "cut our loses" and switched to "The Mentalist" when it came on.

Another cold front is on it's way - we may need a few more covers on the bed tonight.