Day 28 August 18

Back to the Gretna Farmers' Market
It just has a nicer, small town pace, and it's
covered (cooler). I park across the street just
outside a neighborhood barroom. When patrons
open or close the door, there is a wave of that
wonderful/awful barroom smell. It is made from
wet, dark, smoky, air conditioned, yeasty,
beery, man smells. That smell is enticing on a
hot, bright day. I wouldn't go in there, but I like
to catch a whiff.


My first stop is always for a glass of fresh, fruit water. Those are muscadine grapes in the little baskets. I'm allergic to watermelon, so I always have mango, sometimes two glasses. Today I was served by a little girl standing on a chair. She smiled widely when I said, "Gracias."

Next stop was to checkout the seafood at Danny and Bonnie's. I bought some fresh catfish filets for Don and some shrimp for tomorrow. I'm using Cafe' Reconcile's recipe for White beans and shrimp, but I'm leaving out the heavy cream. Sarah says that will ruin it, even though she's never had it. That girl does like her butter and cream.

Mr. Danny was good enough to show me the crabs in his refrigerated truck so I could snap a photo. I wasn't up to dealing with those today. I think they were still alive, just chilly. They were too pretty too cook. If someone else cooked them, I would eat'em up.

Don't look there. Look the other way -orchids - which I'd been trying to ignore. I'm a loose woman when it comes to orchids. I just can't say, "NO." Soooo I bought one that's about to bloom, and took it to the office where I can enjoy it during the day. Mr. Russell has thousands of orchids at his house, just down the street from the market, and I'm invited for a tour. I'd need to prepare by leaving all money, credit cards and checks at home.