Happy St. Patrick's Day "The Top Of The Morning To You" Its a chilly morning here today and foggy can't see the Marsh from Window has an Erie look to it. Well when the sun comes out guess I better work in the yard today got to do spring clean up and put down some fertilizer and weed prevent er, but if I stop the crabgrass then I won't have much of a lawn.
Patti's cell phone ringing "Hey Tom its my brothers Wayne and Bobby do you want to go to Columbus Market" "Yeah I'll go with you and your brothers" Wow the luck of the Irish getting out of chores and it was my wife's idea. Her brother Bobby is up from Tennessee with her parents for a surprise family gathering tomorrow for her brother David's wife she just got her doctors degree in education and is head of the Monmouth County Adult Education and career programs.
Well Wayne and Bobby are here lets go its a 10 mile venture to Columbus Market in Burlington County
Well we are here of course Wayne,Patti and Bobby can't wait. I usually make this trip monthly and when the weather breaks about every Saturday, for the produce market however so much more there are acres of out side flea market booths, inside are permanent stores and one big section of Amish goods. lets go see.
The produce is trucked in from all parts of the country year round and in season nothing like fresh Jersey fruits and veggies after all we are the garden state. I do have my favorite one here called Dutchie Boy.
"Ola Amigo" this man is here all the time I call him amigo and he says hello my friend we do talk he showed me pictures of his family I believe it was Ecuador.Call Patti brushel sprout lady she always buys sprouts and if none in stock she gets after Amigo about it and they joke back and forth over it. You can't beat the prices I spent $42.00 today and it would cost $70.00 in super market.
Lets go inside and check out what the Amish have
Oh my gosh!!! the aroma is so astounding, fresh backed breads,pies,cakes cookies and free samples try this hot oatmeal cookie the girl just took from the oven and sample the homemade peanut butter this Amish man has just put out numerous flavors of peanut butter. and the fresh homemade candies are drifting my way I'm going to gain 20lbs. just from inhaling.
And this gentleman is making sandwiches at the Amish deli they make all there own meats and cheeses pickles I can't take it much longer.
This Amish couple are working in the chocolate shop hot fudge,brownies,candy
These ladies and young lad are working the luncheon counter hot fried chicken, sausage, kielbasa, mac&cheese there homemade franks and barbecue , etc. are you hungry yet.
The aroma is pulling in airmen and soldiers from nearby McGuire Air force Base and Fort Dix at least they are use to long lines.
And the Amish butcher cutting up meat before our eyes the meats are so great a little on the pricey side but no extra additives in there products the whole chickens are like the size of turkeys and if you are lucky you might see the butcher running meat through the sausage machine to make thelinksand the meats are wrapped in the brown butcher's paper and taped not in prepackaged cellophane,and cut to order.
These ladies are working the pretzels and ice cream shop you know what is sinful you might want to try go over to bakery get a small fresh hot 6inch pie out of oven blueberry or strawberry rhubarb are my favorites, then take it over to the ladies with ice cream and say two scoops of vanilla please just put it on the pie and don't forget to ask for a spoon then dig into heaven its Saturday you can go to confession tomorrow.
The Amish also have a large craft store on site with homemade novelties also furniture store handmade bed frames, dinning tables, dressers, desk and outside they have Gazebos,wishing wells, sheds. OK lets walk through rest of the building check out some stores,then go outside to flea market
as we look we see that it is early in season and the acres of flea market is pretty desolate in summer it would take most of day to check it all out and there will be dozens of portable kitchens with all kinds of foods cooking Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Korean, American
Lets look over under the roof section, OK there is a lot to see everything from A to Z
How about some handbags
Maybe a buck delivering salt and pepper
Drunk cowboy wine bottle holder or cowboy boot wine holder
Whats this a troubadour
What's Patti found A Harley Davidson Hog
How about a tin Rooster
Well after the tractors and trains lets head for home still have to put the corn beef and cabbage on for to-night peel the potatoes for the green mashed potatoes yeah and green beer and soda bread then later top it off with a McDonald's Shamrock Shake. Well hope you enjoyed the trip to the market now that's weather warming up we have a lot more places in New Jersey to visit and don't forget Pennsylvania just the other side of Delaware River and Delaware and Maryland should be on agenda, But I have to get yard work done first.
