It started back in the 1960's when a few artists got permission to display their work on the courthouse steps each Thursday - which was the farmer's market day. It got so big they decided to limit it to two a year. When, a few years later, it had gotten REALLY big a move was started to change it to a weekend. The organizers polled the dealers and got a resounding "NO" to the change. Because, "If you change it to a weekend, the husbands will come and slow down the sales. Keep it on Thursday when the husbands are working and the women can come and spend as much time and money as they want." So it's still a one day sale.
We set up at the "Multi-Purpose Center" parking lot. A nice little civic center type place with meeting rooms and a large indoor horse arena.
The food, fun and friendship continued from Mystic Springs with about 80% same people and 20% new ones. Vince fixed red beans and rice one night and I think the entire Rally showed up.
On Tuesday we toured the Nissan plant. One REALLY big factory. Too many statistics to remember, but one I do remember is there are 23 miles of assembly lines. They are producing 400,000 vehicles a year.
On Wednesday we toured Jackson and visited the Planetarium. Thursday was Market Day. The Civic Center people who were hosting us arranged transportation AND opened the Visitor's Center in an historic hotel in the middle of town to us - and ONLY us! So we had clean indoor restrooms, a quiet air conditioned place to rest with cool drinks and hot snacks. Euna, a wife who had not been able to make it to Mystic Springs joined her husband, Hugh. She has an antique business and does most of her buying at garage sales and flea markets. The "craft" thing really didn't appeal to her so it was sort of a bus man's holiday. But we did find one church that specialized in antique dealers. I didn't buy ANYTHING that I couldn't eat !
Friday we went to the Natural History Museum. When we got there at 10:00am the ticket attendant to the parking area said, "You might want to come back after 2:00 because that's when most of the school children leave." Our driver asked how many there were - 1800. Some of our group turned around and left. Others said, "Happy Airstreamer's are all still children at heart so we'll fit in fine." And we did. Great exhibits of local flora and fauna. Terrariums with 6' long Timber Rattlesnakes that were actually moving around. Of course, those of you who know me well know I had the most fun watching the kids watch the exhibits. There was an exhibit of baskets made from the needles of the long needle pines that grow everywhere down here. The detail was amazing. I really couldn't do them justice, but here are my best efforts.
Since the Rally ended Friday evening, we moved to Roosevelt State Park in Morton, MS for the weekend. This is really a beautiful place. Built by the CCC with a new campground added a few years ago. It's a mile from the highway to the Ranger Station and another 2 miles to the campground. Big Lake surrounded by forest. We ate and laughed until they all left on Sunday. I stayed until Tuesday.
I found this flower in a boggy area, near the shoreline. I have NO idea what it is.
Here are pictures of the only others in the park during the week.
I couldn't get a clearer picture, but he has 2" buttons where his antlers will be later.I leave here Tuesday for Vince and Lonnie's place in New Orleans.
Life is good.
