Mercato Market---Repurposed Atlantic City Racetrack

     I  went to the grand opening of the Mercato Flea Market on the grounds of the former Atlantic City Racetrack in Mays Landing, NJ.  I will say that overall I am delighted.  I am only a 15 minute drive to this flea market.  While it is not quite up to the variety of vendors seen at the Columbus Auction, I had a good time and I am hoping that it is a successful venture for the promoters.  I read a few reviews and there were some glitches.  I would assume that they need to look at their competition and copy the tried and true ideas. For one, skip the parking fee or the strong-armed donation tactics.   Secondly, they need  seating for those who might like to take a break for eating or listening to the music.  All the other complaints will probably iron out on their own like some cheaper food alternatives and more vendors. 

 On hand at the event was an acrobatic team:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eddie Berner, former lead guitarist of the ‘80s band Flock of Seagulls turned chef, performed for the grand opening.    I am not familiar with this man but he was quite a good guitarist.  Find out more about him on the link below. 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/rockinroadgrill

 

 

I do remember the glory days of the racetrack and went there a few times with my grand parents.  Betting at the track was so much more complicated than pulling a lever at a casino machine.  I remember my grand mom knowing all the jockeys, and her ability to understand the details on the race track paper.  Which horse liked mud and which did not. Which horse started late and pulled ahead at the end and many more details that helped you to select your bet.  There was so much to know before you placed your bet. Then there were the bet types like the exacta and the trifecta.  Some had to see the horse in a little preview area before they made their bets.  It was so exciting and bewildering at the same time.  The crowds roared and people stood up on their seats to yell for their favorite when the horses neared the finish line.  Sometimes you had to wait to hear the announcement of the winner when it was a photo finish.

Although the curbing in the parking area is crumbling and the asphalt is no longer smooth, I also remember when landscaping at the Atlantic City Racetrack was one of the best in the area.  I could be wrong but was it done by a Petrecca from Hammonton back in the old days?  Here below you see a remnant of those days with these crab apple trees in bloom.  I also remember there used to a small plot near the entrance where colorful flowering annuals spelled out the words: Atlantic City Racetrack. 

http://www.mercatomarket.com/

 

Well, I went to the market again this past Mother's Day with my son.  It was pretty much a repeat from the prior week except it had a singer that covered Frank Sinatra tunes.  They had another stilt walker and I guess all stilt walkers look alike to me because I told her I had photos of her from last week. She said she was not here last week and then I realized she did look different.  We had a nice chat and she told me that the girl from the previous week was a body builder and that is why she had those well-toned arms. They stuck with the no fee parking but they continued to have no place to sit to enjoy the food. 

St. Patrick's Day Parade, Atlantic City, NJ 2014

     It was a lucky day for the Irish and non-Irish revelers alike on this Saturday March 15th, before St. Patrick's Day.  After a long weary storm filled winter, it was a perfect day to celebrate one of the very few days that hinted that spring would soon be here.  As uniformed firefighters and police officers paraded by, you could not help but remember that their ranks were well represented by Americans of Irish heritage.  The Irish can be proud of their contributions to our American way of life especially as first responders.   The parade line-up featured bag piper Alex McKee, Atlantic City's Fire Department, local radio stations presentations, local pub floats, Pleasantville's Marching Band, Emerald Isle Academy of Dance, Cape Atlantic Bags and Pipes and the Avalon String Band.

                    Me and strangers-----that's how it goes with me. 

Is this a cultural thing?  There were many fine looking gentlemen---no women---sitting prominently on the back seat of the convertibles.  I liked that!

 This featured a the well-known chicken wing restaurant.  This vintage fire truck must be stationed at its sister restaurant near Atsion, NJ on route 206. 

 

This Lassie can kick!

 It isn't over until the cleaning truck

scoops up the stray candies

or maybe some lost green beads.

Zippee! Little Zippered Pouches

    I have never really abandoned my interest in sewing, embroidery, crochet and knitting since I was about age nine. The amount of time that I have put into my sewing crafts had dwindled during my 34 years of employment but now that I have retired and I am happy to return to these activities. During my childhood, I belonged to two youth groups: the Campfire Girls and the 4-H Clubs.  Both clubs encouraged girls in their sewing skills.  Also in the town where I grew up many women worked in local clothing factories so there were many talented seamstresses around including my mother and my grandmother.  There was no limit to their abilities and my mother would make us clothes and at  Easter, my sister and I had new handmade spring coats.  My abilities never rose to their level of talent but in the early years of my marriage I made slack outfits and dresses to save money.  Also because I was short, I was always altering my clothing anyway so it was a benefit to make outfits that were tailored for me.  

 

      The internet now is playing a huge role in driving my leisure activities.  If you have forgotten what a treble crochet is, just do a search on You Tube.   Sites like Pinterest  inspire you to explore all manner of crafty ideas.  I find it amazing that there are so many blogs with free step by step tutorials to help anyone looking for "Do It Yourself" ideas.  If you have a talent you can share it just for the joy of it on Wiki-How and so many other similar sites.  "How To" blogs for crafts, sewing and cooking have huge followings.   If you are a talented stay-at-home mom, I would be trying to make a little extra cash---who knows it might grow into something big.  I have no fantasy of developing a following like that so I make my blogs mostly for my own enjoyment and if I get a few views I am thrilled. 

 

   I remember reading in grade school a description of early American girl's calico dress.  I have been a fan of calico ever since.  I love printed cotton fabrics if I had more patience I would have started quilting for a hobby just to work with the colorful fabrics.  Since I seem to have senior attention deficit, I have been sticking with quick projects in the past year.  I have made needle books with a blanket stitch edge, ruffled scarves with the Sashay ribbon yarn, and now I am making lined zippered pouches.  I bought zippers by the "lot" on Ebay, quilt square packs and found several videos and PDF files that give you fool-proof directions. 

 

  I have a Kenmore sewing machine but recently came across three vintage sewing machines that I just had to have.  Two of them are still quite serviceable and one I bought just because of the golden decals.

 

Measurable Snow, January 3rd, 2014

     Woke up to about 4 or 5 inches of snow.  It was hard to measure because the wind had already started to make the snow drift by the time I got out there.  I was quite excited  that I was going to have my first chance at using my snow blade in three years. Because of all the past difficulties, it made this chance all that much sweeter.  It started when I first went to order this snow blade a couple of years ago.  I could tell the  John Deere salesman was reluctant to sell it to me.   Maybe he thought a I would not be able to handle the mechanism. I guess I ordered it around September and  I was not getting a call to say that the blade had arrived.  When I called back, I found that the order had to be placed again.  Luckily it did not snow that season and when it came the salesman came to install it and spent about three hours struggling to get it to work properly. Then summer came so I took off the blade and then I put it back on for the next season.  I probably never put it on properly but no matter. It did not snow that year.  So now it is the third winter season since I got the blade.  I put the blade back on removing cotter pins and putting back the pins that anchored it to the frame.  Then I had a chance to ask my neighbor to look at it and he said I had it all wrong but together we managed to get it on properly. It took a good 5 hours of work.  So even though I still have trouble angling the blade in two directions, I had a satisfying morning plowing the driveway and I decided it was time for a "selfie".  Selfie is a new word added to the dictionary because people are holding out their camera phones to get a photo of themselves.  I did not use a camera phone but I did prop up my Cannon camera on the trunk of my car and used the timer to be able to jump into the shot:

Notice the chains.  I installed those, too, with the help of a You Tube video.   I was careful not to push the snow into the highway out front.  I got stuck a few time but managed to get out.  So as several plows went by I was glad not to be in need of service for this storm.  

  Even when I was a kid I would try to beat my father and get out there before he did and I did that to my husband, too.  My husband was ready and willing to shovel but I think I had more motivation.  I am trying to figure out why I would enjoy this activity so much.  I hate the cold.  Especially when I feel the oil burner is running so frequently to keep it up to 68 degrees. I just want to stay under the covers but when I am outside but bundled up, I actually like it.  



 

Neither snow, nor rain, will keep

the US Post Office from functioning

 or the UPS people either for that matter:

 

 

So I was eager to use my tractor but here is

another purchase that I have not used yet.  I am not looking

 forward to using this generator: