TRAVEL TUESDAY - The Mill Vintage Market

Good morning, friends!

A few months back I noticed those big flags announcing a business along Hwy 60 just west of Elsinore MO. Then I saw the sign shown above.  My curiosity was piqued but I didn't have the opportunity to stop in until a few weeks ago. 

I'm so glad I did! 

Cathy and her husband have set up a unique and classy place to shop. 

Here in the Ozarks most places that offer booth spaces to rent are full of whatever people just want to get rid of or have purchased at an estate auction the Sunday before. In most of those types of places the booths are not kept very well and the merchandise is not displayed to its advantage.

TOTALLY different scenario at THE MILL

Each booth is clean, and artfully arranged. You can tell the sellers take their time with their booths, showing off their items to the best advantage. They also rearrange their displays frequently. 

As I told Cathy, her place has an elegancy that is so inviting -  more like a 'high end market' without the high end price.

Case in point, One booth had a vintage Tupperwear measuring cup... the kind where you can measure one cup of liquid or flip it over for a dry ingredient measure.... and only $5!  Well, I held off on buying the cup.  A couple weeks later I went back to get it... couldn't find it... but found this gem instead...

A perfect find for this junk journal maker (incidently, there is a booth where I lady has junk journals for sale! Nice ones.)

Of course, Bob thought he needed to quiz me... LOL 

The measuring cup was still there, as was a Paper Doll set of Princess Diana with her most important gowns. I couldn't spend much, but the cards had to come home with me. If I'm to have either of those two items, they'll be there when I have a bit more to spend.

You will find The Mill on Facebook & Instagram  You'll also find their hours listed on the FB Page

I'll be making more trips to The Mill. I look forward to seeing how this place evolves with the holidays. I can't wait to stroll through there this fall and into the Christmas season, Maybe I'll find a gem... maybe I won't. But one thing I can assure you of... 

I will

Enjoy the Journey

~Kelly

ROAD TRIP - Cabool MO

Saturday, I took a drive to Cabool to the Dollar General. That location has the best selection of cold/ frozen food items I've seen at any of the other chain locations. They're prices are lower or comparable to Walmart.

Before shopping, drove downtown and found this Mexican restaurant. I can see why they have a 4.8 rating.  The food was excellent, the portions large and the price better than most places. The staff were friendly and accomodating. The restuarant also offered plenty of room for social distancing.

While they did not offer Wi-Fi, I was able to use my data and sit in on a two-hour business meeting. They were okay with that. 

After my trip to Dollar General, I had a taste for something sweet. DQ is just out the highway...

The small town also features a different food truck on Tuesday's. I hope to check them out soon. I hope you'll come back tomorrow for Part 2 of my trip to Cabool when I'll share more of the history.

In the mean time, take a drive down Hwy 60/63 West between Willow Springs and Mt. Grove. You'll love the charm of this small, inviting community.

Safe Travels!

SILVER DOLLAR CITY- Pumpkin Nights!

I don't get to Silver Dollar City very often but I have to say, this new event they have going on may have to be a trip to take:

CLICK HERE

for your chance to win 4 tickets to:

Silver Dollar City Pumpkin Nights
1 Meal Voucher for 4 at Silver Dollar City

Showboat Branson Belle

2 nights at Silver Dollar City Campground

Once you enter, you'll receive a link to share with YOUR friends for more chances to win!

ROAD TRIP - Ozark Sustainable Living Festival

Last Saturday I braved what I thought was going to be a pleasant weather day to attend the Ozarks Sustainable Living Festival at the Next Step Seventh Day Adventist Church in West Plains MO.

The church hosted a similar festival two years ago with what I believe was a much better organized, attended event (both by vendors and those interested in 'sustainable' living. First, I'm going to show you what I saw then give a this year verses two years ago critique.

These first pictures were taken from three different vantage points around the field/ track of the church yard.

as I approached from the parking area

to the left facing the church

from the back side of the track

I was disappointed in the number of vendors. I realize the weather was questionable, after having survived three days of heavy rain. Two years ago, we had an organic beef meat processor educating as well as offering burgers for sale from their food trailer. There were also a lot more educational booths on sustainability and prepping-type information.

I understand the lack of food availability on the track may have been due to the church offering a vegan burger plate inside the church. (Though I can NOT be sure that was the reason for lack of other options.. just an observation.)

Booths on the lawn included:

Blacksminth Matthias Pen from Ava MO

Garden of Hope (Killian) from Doniphan MO

Garden Nursery, Air Plants, Succulents

Activities for kids such as Balloons

I did not get this gentleman's name but he appeared as if this was the last place he wanted to be.

 Very unapproachable. Notice Tupperware in the background. 

While Tupperware has been around for generations, any prepper knows that plastic is NOT the best way to store long-term. 

There were1 -hr  time slots for seminars in the Main Hall:

Sustainability - The Big Picture Overview  /w Larry Sweet

Food - Our Unsustainable Food System -- help change it  /w Dan Leary

Energy - Everything Needs Power /w Craig Wiles 

Community - We're All Part of This  /w Galen Chadwick

Shelter - Earthships for Sustainable Living /w Allen & Mary Severin 

Panel of 'Experts' - Bring Your Questions

Economics - Prosperity without 'growth' /w Mike Luster

I missed the first seminar, got in on the tail end of the second and sat through part of the third. What I did hear was a lot of 'background' information but no how to put the information into practice. They did offer a sign-up to get an MP3 disk of all the seminars for $5. I signed up for one to hear the ones I missed. 

I couldn't sit through the rest of Energy and rain moved in so I headed out for lunch and to pick up a few things at the box store. Before I'd finished lunch, the sky opened up and began flooding the streets so I bypassed the box store and headed home. I later heard on the news that had I not left when I did, I might have been camping out at the local Comfort Inn for the night due to impassable roads.  

Sustaining Sponsors (contributing $1000 or more to support the event):

Next Step Seventh-day Adventist Church

Beard Law Firm

Maranatha Farms

Professional Resume Writers (Mick Slack)

Aside from vendors and children's activities, there was to be music. There wasn't anyone there while I was there.

In comparison to the festival of two years ago, I was disappointed in this festival and would have accomplished more staying home.