We Have Walls

Hubby and I had the same weekend.  A four day weekend off from work, at the same time only happens once every six weeks so it's kinda a big deal here.

We started with a dark and stormy on the patio and talked about all we were going to get done and all we'd enjoy in the next four days.

 The '57 Aloha restoration was at the top of the list.  The pieces were cut for the first wall so Hubby got busy on Friday morning putting it all together.

 We were pretty nervous about the curves.  Our strips were cut, laid out for glue, and then staggered, clamped, and nailed.

 it went better than we thought it would.

 He screwed the framing to the band of strips.

 I record the steps with photos and instagram once in a while.

 One wall is completed on Friday and another on Saturday.

 We also had some fun this weekend.  Sam and Angela came with Reagan and stayed at our place.  On Saturday evening we got to go to two parties.  We can go months and months, years even without going to a party and then bam! two in one evening.  Fun, pretty parties with fun interesting people.  We had a wonderful time and a nice break from projects.

On Sunday we celebrated my Dad's birthday with dinner.  I brought the Happy Birthday cake and my Mom made Dad's favorite picnic fare, fried chicken, baked beans, potato salad, fruit salad and chips.  In the evening we went to the brewery with friends.  We are treasuring those last summer evenings at Kulshan Brewery.

 Monday morning it was time to get back to work on the '57 Aloha.  I worked on hardware most of the day.  I'm not ready for an 'after' picture yet but they do look better.  At one point I was on ebay looking for new or better ones.  Not much luck there so I kept scrubbing and used a lot of steel wool.

 In between hardware clean up I helped Hubby.  His first task was to lay the marmoleum flooring.

 Before we set the walls, Hubby put a coat of tar on the bottom edge to prevent floor rot.

 It took both of us to set the walls so I have no photos of the actual process.  It was heavy and the a little tense but we did it.

 Hubby cut out the windows, added some braces in case of wind and then we wheeled her back into the carport.

I spent some time buying stain, creating sample boards and then repeating.  We are going to Benjamin Moore next to see if they can help us with the right color and patina.  It's hard to know if to use the poly, the stain, the shellac, a mix or separately, and what color.

We really had fun and it went better than we thought it would with the curves.  Cabinets are next for Hubby, the front one over the dining area.  We are racing against winter.

Happy campers here!

Clever and Creative Campers

Last weekend the Mt Baker Vintage Trailer Rally met at the Lynden Fairgrounds.  Hubby and I met up with the Aloha group on Friday evening.  Ed and Kathy brought their new Rainer, a close cousin to Aloha, for it's first rally.  They did a beautiful job of restoration.  We met so many wonderful people and got some good advice for our restoration project.

 We went to the swap meet on Saturday morning but didn't really find what we were looking for there.  In the afternoon we went to walk through the open trailers.  We needed to check out seams and welt trim.  Exciting stuff.  Trust me, I got sidetracked by pretty.  A lot of pretty.

 In addition to trim we saw a big bucket of creativity.  People that own vintage trailers are some of the most clever and creative people I know.  Very resourceful too.

We saw the most adorable map themed bathroom.  I think I wiped a tear.

 A lace screen door, of course.  The owner had some tips too, starch and lots of it.

 The upholstery in this one was a work of art.  Hey, we have that stove!

 A spice rack that was cute and useful next to the stove.

 Okay, now I need a vintage Life Saver rack for my maps.

 Many of the stoves had covers that when removed could be flipped over and used as a tray to bring dinner out to the picnic table.  There are handles on the sides.  The aqua one pictured above also had a tray cover.

 Vintage Christmas and vintage trailers all in one spot.  That would be my happy place.

 This ice box looks like a brand new Oldsmobile.  

 Ironically, someone turned an old cooler into a gas fire pit.  I wasn't kidding about all of the clever people that own vintage trailers.

 Speaking of clever, how about an old clothes drying rack turned into an outdoor kitchen?

 A fold down tiki bar?  Yes, please.

 I love a corner kitchen and this one was cute.

 This little trailer stole my heart.

We started with our '57 Aloha on a trailer but hope that by next September we can roll right into the Mt. Baker Vintage Rally.  Today, we work on framing the walls.

A Shower for a Dear Blushing Bride

Michelle and Bryce are getting married in October.  Shelly and I planned a shower for Michelle.  The SherylShellyDoreenTami group and their girls and brave, sweet Mother of the Groom, Kathy gathered on the patio for cocktails on Monday evening.  It is still nice enough in the evening to enjoy some patio time before it cools down. 

 We moved Grandma's chairs to the patio because their fabric is the perfect shades of blush and gold.  

 Shelly and I had everything ready but no guests yet so we snapped some selfies.  Hubby made us a G & T to help us cool down calm down.  We were a little giddy to have the girls come and enjoy the party.

 Here comes the bride... Michelle's dress was a gorgeous blush color with beading.  She sparkled!  Especially when she talks about her groom.  So in love and so pretty.

We served feta and caramelized onion tarts, prawns and water chestnuts wrapped in bacon, and rosemary raisin crackers topped with honeyed chevre and fresh blackberries and then drizzled with more honey.  All served with a blush wine or pink lemonade on ice.

 I love this mother and daughter picture of Sheryl and Michelle.  Bryce and Michelle are moving to Montana so I plan on Mama Sheryl crying into her wine at my house a lot this Fall.

 Michelle with her sisters and her mamas.  That dress!  Sweet fancy Moses it is pretty!

 After cocktails we went inside for dinner.  When you put two dish crazy friends in charge of a bridal shower this happens:

Shelly had the gold and I had the blush.

Since we think of Michelle as our little princess, the crowns were a perfect touch.

I found the velvet leaves in Seattle at Nancy's Sewing Basket.  I love velvet leaves.  I think we should bring them back for corsages.  Corsages with velvet leaves for everyone!

 Shelly and I went to the Heeringa's dahlia farm in the morning to pick the freshest flowers.

 For dinner we served an autumn chop salad with Heidi's Chicken and Rice.  I had shared this recipe with my friends and I knew that the girls love it.

 For dessert we served coffee and ice cream sandwiches.  Toasted coconut cookies with strawberry ice cream, triple ginger cookies with blood orange sorbet and chocolate chip cookies with coffee ice cream.  Small enough so that one of each wasn't too much.

 I don't have a group picture but I did get some small group ones.

And oh my, did we have fun.  And laughed and laughed.  Talked all at the same time and got so excited for the wedding and for Bryce and Michelle.

And that was just Shelly and I setting up and cooking for the shower.

Then the girls showed up and the party really got started.

I'm so blessed to have childhood friends that have shared their daughters with me.  Ooh, it was a good time.

I cannot wait for the wedding day.

Best Wishes, Bryce and Michelle!

Chop Chop

 Hubby and I have been eating a lot of chop salads.  I was buying the little salad kits sold on the produce aisle.  I needed a salad for Saturday evening and one for Sunday dinner.  I decided kits weren't the way to go for larger groups and I should make my own.  And I like it to look like I fussed.  After googling and looking at a few recipes I came up with my own.  Common sense, really.

Chop Salad

one bag of 3 romaine hearts

one bag of shredded carrots

two bags of coleslaw without dressing

one bunch of kale

one bunch of green onions

two red peppers

 Even though the carrots and coleslaw came shredded, I did a bit more chopping.

The romaine and kale got washed and went for a spin.  And then I chopped and chopped some more.

Kale is hard to chop so got the scissors out and cut it.

 I filled my Tupperware Lotsa bowl.  That is a lot of salad.

 It's pretty!

Before serving I added slivered almonds, craisins, wonton strips and dressing.

Any Asian inspired dressing would be good but the Trader Joes Sesame Soy Ginger vinaigrette is considered the best at our house.  If you don't live close to a Trader Joes, move.  It's that simple.

Stir everything in and serve.

I  just took some of the chop salad and put it in a pretty serving bowl and then added accordingly.

We had it on the patio Saturday night with guests, I took a bowl to Sunday dinner at Birch Bay, Hubby and I had it for a light dinner last night.  We had a BBQed chicken breast that had been marinated in Trader Joes Soyaki.  Chopped it up and added it to the salad.   It just goes on and on...It's still crisp and delicious today.  I know this because I just had a little bowl for lunch.

Variations:

Bolthouse salsa ranch dressing with tortilla chips and chopped tomatoes and shredded cheddar.

Ranch dressing with chopped tomatoes, and bacon for a BLT.

Poppy seed with chopped apples or pears, feta cheese and craisins.

I'll stop now... there are many variations and of course, you could shred your own carrots and cabbage, leave out the kale (not sure why you would though), make it Greek, make jar salads to take to work for lunch, etc.

Enjoy!  Now chop chop!