STRAWBERRY FEST IN FLORIDA

Plant City is a big deal here for strawberries.  Their festival lasts for days and features top names in country music.  We attended the first day and had a great time.  Eating "fair" food and strawberry shortcake were the highlights of the day.  Oh wait, the real highlight was meeting a young couple running a pretzel stand, at the gate we entered.  They left their Amish community and now are selling pretzels at fairs and events.  Feeling bad for them, yet excited for their new life, I started a conversation with Elizabeth.  Her parents are not accepting to their choice ~ Ben's parents are OK with it.  So sad there has to be controversy in families, about choosing a different path in life.  
Ben's Pretzels ~ WOW ~ they were the best, tastiest, largest; most amazing pretzels ever!  My sister, Geri, had hers with cinnamon; mine was dipped in cheese.  We enjoyed the samples Elizabeth gave us, then totally enjoyed our pretzels.  She gave me an extra one and told me to warm it up in the microwave, in the morning.  She said, "Not too long, I'm just learning about microwaves."  I'm sure there is a lot this young couple will have to learn to live in the English community! 
They mentioned they have been asked to sell at the WI State Fair ~ so if you are from WI and see Ben's Pretzels, be sure to stop and have one.  The price is right, you won't regret it!  We told all we passed to get a pretzel from Ben's Pretzels ~ this young couple are definitely on the right track!

              Lots of strawberries, this was only a small section of the display!

                                                      

From this man we bought small brushes, made from a palm tree.  They are good for many small jobs.  I bought it to use on my glass top stove.  He claims it's the best cleaner for glass tops ever.  Now, amazing and curious that years ago someone figured out how to make cleaning brushes from the inside of a palm tree! 

 One of the singers featured at the fest.  Country music filled the air.  It was worth sitting in the warm tent to hear this singer belt out his songs.        

Solomon's 

Castle

Yes, it is a castle!

The windows are stained glass.  Some are nursery rhymes, nine of them are the planets. Many windows depict nature, the arts and well known stories. 

 Metal works are plentiful at the castle. Howard Solomon is an artist.  He has a sense of humor and uses every "pun" in the known world to create pieces of art.  His metal creations are made with junk that have no more use in this world.  

Wooden montages are a specialty of Mr. Solomon.  They were my favorites. Some were made with over 200 pieces of wood. 

All doors in the castle were made by Howard
Solomon.  Many of them being metal, most are
of wood with stained glass insets.  Stained
glass being one more of Howard's crafts; he is
excellent at it too!

A car made from the tinplates that cover the castle.

Where in the world is Waldo?

A train that runs~but goes nowhere.
The tour guide, on the first tour I took.
Yes, I've been to the castle twice now.
Second time Mrs. Solomon was our guide. 

The Cat in the Hat wooden montage.  A chair made from beer cans, 80 some beer cans!

Metal art - junk metal turned into interesting art.

 Wooden montages ~ so many pieces.  He likes to copy famous artists.  There were many "copies" in the castle that were representations of famous art.  Of course, Howard puts a twist to them, creating a humorous display.

 Our tour guide was very engaging, humorous and detailed in relaying to us the hows and whys of Mr. Solomon's creations.  This elephant was made from barrels, many barrels. The colorful blanket, on the elephant, depict the labels from the barrels.  The tusks are ribs from an animal. The toenails are seashells.  Another favorite of mine. 

Mae West above the stained glass windows.  The windows are not really visible, due to the sun. 

Wooden montages of famous baseball players.  These represent enlarged famous stamps. 

  Self portrait in wood.

Redneck coat of Arms ~ Solomon style.

SCREAM

The seasons in stained glass.

Part of the tour includes the Solomon home.  This is their sunroom. All furnishings being handmade by Howard.  This building and art has been going on for 40 some years.
An accumulation of his life, in his art.

 All of the arts in stained glass.  The stained glass was amazing.  Better definition and color from the inside of the buildings. The windows in the hall are amazing.

The nine planets are the stained glass windows on this side of the castle.  The balcony is off the Solomon's guest bedroom. 

                          The Boat on the Moat Restaurant.  
Excellent lunches were served to us!  The boat was built by Howard, a restaurant being inside of it, run by his daughter, son-in-law and grandkids.  We ate out on the patio, over the bridge from the boat.  Very calming atmosphere.  There is also a gift shop off the patio.

 Even the doors on the sheds and garages were made by him.  
He is now in the process of making life size marionettes.  We met him in his workshop, which is huge and fully equipped.  He was so personable and willing to answer all of our questions. 

Howard Solomon ~ a very creative person. 

As I previously mentioned Howard creates his art from puns of the world. After visiting the Alamo, in Texas, he built this Alashmo next to his workshop.
Not quite the same as the original.  Looking closer, the second time I was there, the Tin Man is in one of the windows.  Across the road from this building is another, where his daughter and family reside.  They call it the Chocolate House.  Sitting on their porch was very relaxing.  Rocking away in the rocking chairs with vines hanging down and butterflies fluttering by.  Someday, they told us, the Chocolate House will be a bed and breakfast.