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.