Happy 250th Birthday, July 4th 2026
A lot of stuff
Indiana fireworks laws and retail sales regulations
The State of Indiana is known for rather liberal fireworks laws when it comes to the everyday consumer. That is, of course, if you are talking about fireworks designated 1.4G class. These include wire/bamboo sparklers, bottle rockets, aerial spinners, firecrackers, Roman candles, fountains, and multi-shot aerial cakes. You must be at least 18 years old to legally purchase consumer fireworks.
A typical fireworks sales tent in a parking lot
Retail sales locations require Licensing from the Indiana DHS State Fire Marshall’s office. License fees aren’t cheap. The first location fee is $1,000 for the first permanent building location or the first tent location. Additional locations are $200 for additional permanent structure and $500 for each additional tent.
Setting up the fireworks retail sales tables
Back in Pre-COVID Indiana starting in May fireworks retail outlets sprung up nearly everywhere that had a vacant space in strip-malls, empty buildings or Walmart parking lots. After COVID and due to current strains on the economy the rush to open retail fireworks outlets has cut back to the weekend before July 4th. My son and I were out shopping today and noticed somewhat of a rush of three or four retail fireworks “stores” setting up. Oh, and if you set off fireworks at your house, please be careful!
Chief Tecumseh “Trail of Whispering Giants” statue at Vincennes Indiana`
Sher and I always enjoyed discovering interesting attractions when we were travelling. We found this striking likeness of the famous Chief Tecumseh near the Wabash River levee in Vincennes, Indiana. The statue is the creation of Peter “Wolf” Toth, a Hungarian artist, and is his most recent addition (the 74th) to his “The Trail of Whispering Giants” series of statues scattered across the country.
Chief Tecumseh, Wabash River levee in background
The history of the Chief
Signage and Tecumseh
Toth’s first monumental “Whispering Giant” was completed in 1972. He now has statues in all 50 states. His only tools were a hammer and chisel, with rare use of an ax and a mallet. Each statue is made using a native log from each state. Toth always meets with local Native American tribes and local lawmakers prior to beginning his work. While on your road trips keep an eye out for the magnificent “Trail of the Whispering Giants”.
Bali Makasih Bali Island Imports in Nashville Indiana
Nashville, Indiana is known for restaurants, wineries, breweries and of course shopping. One of the popular shops is the Bali imports shop. This business is American-Bali owned and features original hand crafted items imported from Bali, Indonesia.
Shop entrance, handicap accessible
Wonderful variety of inventory
First meditating frog I have ever seen
Literally all kinds of inventory, any size any price
There are thousands of items in the shop. Here is a quote from the Bali website that explains the inventory: “Bali Makasih features over 45,000 beautiful pieces of wood carvings, silver jewelery, clothing, wall decorations, statues, mosaic arts, incenses, essential oil, traditional instruments, Tiki and Totem, Sign, Decorative surfboard, Blowing glass, Mask and many more. Everything originally handmade, one of a kind, unique and straight from Bali, Indonesia.”
Pouch with ground coffee, take a sniff between samples of incense
Shopping Nashville is a true never the same adventure.
This shop is one that we always visit whenever we are in town. Restocking our incense supply is always on our shopping list at Bali. The incense inventory is quite large and has, it seems, any type of incense you can think of. We are taken care of by one of the owners. She is very helpful while we decide what incense to get on this trip. She showed me the coffee pouch trick to clear your nose between samples.
He-Man and Masters of the Universe showing in theaters now
I saw a trailer on TV for a new movie, Masters of the Universe featuring He-Man. I immediately decided that I wanted to see this film. My son noticed an ad for $5 movie tickets on Tuesday. Yes. I said, of course I want to go see He-Man. In 1982 the Masters of the Universe franchise was first introduced by Mattel as an action figure toy line. Since then there have been successful tv animated series and a 1987 live action film.
Theatrical release poster, courtesy MGM
Masters of the Universe is now showing in theaters with a fresh new story. It is a complete live-action film that gives the legend of He-Man. If you know some of the players in this genre you will be pleased with the portrayals of He-Man, Skeletor, Man-At-Arms and Cringer, aka Battle Cat and others. The scene when Prince Adam first wields the Sword of Power brought back memories of our kids watching the tv series and playing with the action figures.
Castle GraySkull (screen shot)
Prince Adam as a young boy (screen shot)
The story line bounces back and forth between Eternia and Earth, allowing for good character development and plot explanations. It traces the life of Prince Adam/He-Man from a child to his true persona. The action scenes are filled with intense air battles with the wild bizarre aircraft. The land battles are exciting with conventional swordplay as well as sorcery.
Cinema 10, currently showing He-Man
Tuesday movie bargain priced
Directed by Travis Knight and starring Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, the film combines references from multiple versions of the franchise. The story follows Adam discovering his home realm of Eternia destroyed and under Skeletor’s rule. Castle Grayskull is Skeletor’s target and the center of the plot line.
Both of us really enjoyed the two hours of He-Man fun. For me it was a nostalgic event, as I remembered our boys playing with the action figures and watching the cartoons. It is not a movie for everyone, but if you like a good sci-fic action adventure or have memories of He-Man, give it a try.
A picture that makes you look
Occasionally Nature will give you a view that, well, looks like something other than what it is.
Imagine seeing this “tree” coming out of a field on a gray foggy night. This thing has an otherworldly flavor and I’d no doubt run if I saw it coming.
Nashville’s Fudge Kitchen is a sweet shop
Nashville, Indiana is a small town in southern Indiana know locally as a popular tourist destination. The town is filled with many shops offering a wide variety of merchandise. One of the favorite stores in the downtown is the Nashville Fudge Kitchen.
The front of the fudge shop
Free samples are offered at this counter
We always put a stop at the Fudge Kitchen on our schedule when we visit Nashville. In addition to fudge the store also makes all flavors of gourmet popcorn and kettle corn. Samples of both popcorn and fudge are gladly offered to all customers.
A wide variety of popcorn sizes and flavors
Another counter filled with scrumptious fudge
Nashville is one of our favorite day trip destinations. Not only are there many stores and restaurants in town, but there is also an entertainment venue, Brown County Music Center. We have attended several concerts and events at the Music Center. Take a trip to Nashville and you’ll see what all the talk is about.
Duke Energy takes a huge Mulberry tree from our yard
Over the years our local electric utility has twice in the past stopped and announced they were going to remove a very large Mulberry tree from our yard. It’s growth was a hazard to multiple powerlines. Finally third time is the charm, as Duke Energy worked the past two days to remove this massive tree.
Large trunks flaring out from the base heading in all directions
Bucket truck reached in from overhead
First day started using a bucket truck for higher branches. This tree cluster had five large trunks that grew out from a center area. The crew had two men on large chain saws supported by six or seven ground workers moving the branches and waste up the steep bank to a road that runs on top of the flood control levee.
Hauling branches to the chipper
Lots of wood for hauling off the levee road
Lots of stump left to cut up
The large trunks were carefully felled to the ground. Once downed, the saw operators cut the branches for removal to the road above for processing in the chipper machine. It took great effort for the crew to haul all the branches and trunk wood to the road on top of the levee.
Lots of space opened up!
The finished product. Seems like we just gained 1/4 acre!
Highway 40 yard sale vendors
The Historic National Road (US 40) yard sale wrapped up Sunday after a successful five day run of this annual event. Our set up was at Dunreith, a small town between Richmond and Greenfield, Indiana. Nearly 30 different vendors had spots at which to sell their wares.
One very popular set up was selling home made fudge and fruit cobblers. Their selling spot had a large tent with the product shelving underneath. Blueberry, peach, strawberry and other flavor cobblers were available in either 4×4″ or large 8×8″ aluminum pans.
A truly delicious vendor site!
It seemed like the cobbler stand was quite busy. One day Pat had to go home to bake more cobblers when they sold out of several. Sher and I purchased one of the large blueberry cobblers. It was a wonderful treat, we enjoyed it over a couple of days!
One of the vendors likely would win the “who came the farthest” prize. Griffin Leather Company is based in Alabama some 460+ miles from Dunreith. Tim and Ruthie run the business together and travel extensively during the year to shows, festivals and other venues. They are true talented leather crafters.
Griffin Leather belts, gun cases and slings
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Their set up at the 40 Yard Sale included displays of adult and child size hand tooled leather belts. Tim on the spot puts names on the belts for personalization. Fancy rifle and shotgun cases and holsters for revolvers are also on the sale racks. Griffin Leather also makes beautiful leather gun slings. The business card has the slogan: “Our gun slings look so good your scope will be jealous.” You can reach them at their website.
Annual US 40 National Road yard sale
This week is the US 40 “Historic National Road” Yard Sale that runs 800 miles across six states from St. Louis to Baltimore. This year we are back to our same favorite spot at a private property in Dunreith, Indiana, a small village between Greenfield and Richmond. We have been setting up here each end of May for the past decade or so.
Our 2026 selling space
You never know what you will see!
Over twenty different vendors are set up on this site. The owner has modern restrooms available as well as quite a bit of on site parking. You would be amazed at the variety of treasures being offered for sale. You’ll find antiques of all sizes, home baked pies, new dresses, crafts, tools, yard sale finds and stuff you would not think of but can’t live without.
Over the years we have made friends with several folks who set up each year. In addition we have a few customers who shop our set up each year too. In a way it seems like a yearly reunion. The Historic National Road yard sale is a wonderful yearly event. It is worth a trip to see for yourself. Drive safely.
Roadtirement 