Passengers in the fire trucks and decorated floats toss candy to younger spectators . ( A niece of mine, who comes prepared with a plastic bag, says her annual haul matches that of Halloween . ) On Monday there's a street fair with booths selling handmade crafts ( furniture, crocheted afghans, rag rugs and lots of tchotchkes ) and edible goods ( jams and freshly baked pies ).
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After lunch, I explore the crafts and antiques shops at the crossroads, where among the quilts, rag rugs, clocks, birdhouses and hand-forged iron candleholders, I run across a true oddity called Granny's Panties ( You can't miss it; look for the enormous underwear on the door ) and, across the street, another eccentricity called Gourdies-- gourds transformed into little people with paint and fabric by Mentone artist Sharon Barron.
