Off the road

We're finally home from an almost two week trip that took the girls and I first to my parent's in Indiana, and then on to Northern Michigan to visit my grandparents. The trip was good, the weather was decent and while we had lots of fun, I'm glad to be home for a while. I feel like this summer vacation will be over before we know it. That might have something to do with the fact that Rachel starts kindergarten August 12, which feels entirely too early for me. I guess I don't get a say though.

I got in as much thrifting as I could, which included two trips to my parent's Goodwill, on to the Goodwill nearest my grandparent's and a frantic trip through the Bargain Barn on the grounds of St. Joseph's Orphanage in Louisville. This store was the best, but sadly was only open from 9-12 and it was probably 11:30 when I got there. I know there were so many more treasure to be had in there and I'm already kicking myself for not buying more buttons. They had a whole room that was just sewing patterns, notions and costume jewelry! Thinking about it just makes me short of breath. I did score these great buttons, as well as a really nice white vintage sheet that will probably be cut up and used in some quilts that are rattling around in my head.

This dress became mine as well. My Grandpa had a box in their basement filled with random things (old wallpaper, a pair of socks, a sheet that I've never seen on one of their beds and I can't even remember what else) that he told me to go through and take what I wanted. I felt like I'd hit the lottery when I saw this dress. I'm guessing that my Grandma must have bought it while they were in Hawaii at some point. The tag reads "hoaloha". I am loving in. I'd really like to turn it into something for the girls to wear, but what? The colors are just too good!

There were more treasures along the way, but I have to save something for another day! One of my biggest surprises though, was the discovery of this. Part of the road from my parent's house into Louisville was closed and my Dad showed me his secret mystery detour instead of the one indicated by the big orange signs that read DETOUR. I'm so glad I got to take his route, as how else would I have learned that this exists in Southeastern Indiana?

A castle? A secret site for Knights of the Round Table to rendezvous? The place is huge. I have never been to a medieval dinner theater thing, but I would guess that it's about the size of one of those places. There are no signs, no indications of what it might possible be used for, no sign by a mail box that says, "the Joneses'". Nothing. Lots of grass, no paved parking lot, no obvious front door, and also no drawbridge or moat. I am very eager to get to the bottom of this mystery, but a google search of "southeastern Indiana castles" turned up nil. This one's going to haunt me!