'57 Aloha Update

Tick tock, tick tock, the time is flying.  The '57 Aloha restoration is moving along but our due date is fast approaching too.  The electrical is finished.  Since that isn't Hubby's area of expertise it was painful.  The aloha can be plugged in or we can use 12 volt.  I knew he'd figure it out.  The 12 volt fixtures were difficult to find but eventually they were found at LFS Marine Supply.  I guess boating is good for something.

Shelly, Chris and Debbie came for a preview and cocktails this week. The Aloha isn't ready for all of the fun accessories yet but I did bring a few out so the girls could check it out.  And they brought me a cute basket of goodies too.

 The bed reading light isn't installed but I think we will end up just plugging it in anyway.

The curtains are sewn.  Remember I am no seamstress I am just sewing seams with stress.  Some are laying on the bunk, some are in the house.  The rings had to come from New York because I wanted silver instead of brass.  It ended up being a pile of curtains.  I lined them and I even used some seam binding from my Grandma's old sewing basket.

 The table got built last night but it's not in the pictures from earlier this week.  My little kettle for making hot cocoa is heavy aluminum with the lid and handle an aqua aluminum.  We bought the cutting board on Maui.

 I bought the stove magnets at Penny Lane and added the 5 and 7 with scrapbook stickers.

Sheryl gave me the cute tea towel.

 The little coffee canister is vintage and the happy camper sign is from the Lynden Pioneer Museum gift shop.

 The insulation is next and then the polishing.  Hubby and I have been watching Youtube videos on polishing and reading up on everyone's opinion on what works best.  It doesn't look to be fun or easy.

Anyone want to weigh in on what works best?

Some days I think we will make it to our church camp out and some days I know it's hardly possible.  If we didn't have to go to work, have yard work and house work it could happen.  In the meantime we just keep at it.

Tomorrow I am leaving for the Farm Chick's Show in Spokane.  I'll be looking for some glamping accessories at the happiest show on Earth.  It's a road trip with a stop for lunch and a farm tour with Max.  Last night he texted me to bring him a strawberry pizza or there would be NO lunch or tour.  

Honestly!

Enjoy your weekend!

Well Done

Sam is going to be finished with his military career in just a few days.  He was stationed and trained in Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Iraq, Oman and Washington.  Sam served as a Combat Medic and was a paratrooper.  He grew up, he worked hard, he studied, he made friends, he got married, he got promoted, he took good care of his soldiers.  Sam drove an ambulance, he treated injuries, he gave a lot of shots.  Sam earned the Expert Field Medical Badge.  Sam marched many miles, ran many miles.  He jumped out of a lot of planes with full medic gear, he had a parachute that didn't open.  He had a back up chute that did open.

Sam landed in a tree. 

 Sam came home for leave. His friends and family were always so happy to see him.

 He came home very thin from Iraq but otherwise unharmed.

Sam did funeral detail while in the Army.  He came home to give military honors to his Grandpa. 

We visited Sam and watched his promotion at JBLM.

After a long distance romance Sam  married Angela last summer.

Sam was prayed for by so many of you.  His family, his friends, the military moms, my blog readers and our church were faithfully praying for Sam.  I am so grateful for each of those prayers and for each person that prayed for Sam and Angela.

 He spent all of last week turning in his gear.  He has a few things to take care of this week and then has leave until he signs out for the last time in July.

Any time Hubby or I were on base we heard that Sam was a good soldier.  Thank you Sam for a job well done serving your country.  May God bless you as you begin a new chapter.  School, work and reserves and actually living with your beautiful bride, being a civilian again, so many good things.  Enjoy!

Psalm 62: 6-7

He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

7 

In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

Not Always Fun

In the last few weeks I have had several of my blog readers mention to me or comment that I seem to always be having fun.  I do have fun.  Life is about as fun as you make it.

That said, my life isn't always fun.  

It's not always fun but it's usually random. 

As random as this post.

It's been a lot of hard work and sadness helping my parents move to an apartment.  I feel so blessed that they were in the same house for 50+ years but it is hard to say good bye and it is hard to see them leaving what they loved.

Max is going to try to revive my Grandpa's tack for his tack room.

 I wish I could take the snowball bush.  Mr. Osgood, the original owner brought this snowball bush back from Asia.  It stays small, no pruning needed.  My Dad's tractor is staying since the trees have grown around it.  It's hard for my parents to leave their flowers and trees.

 My Hubby finally turned 50 and we took the day off from our jobs to celebrate.  We had a fun day however; I do not like clowns and will not be using the restroom at Home Skillet ever again.  

Not fun just scarred,

 After breakfast we drove to meet someone about a window for the '57 Aloha.  Trailer restoration is not for sissies, the faint of heart or chickens.  Some days you have put on your big girl panties and go places that don't seem like a good idea.  It turned out fine.  We made a new friend. and we got the window we needed!

 Hubby likes to go junking with me.  That's fun!  We also went to RV stores to find parts and bits that we are still missing for our Aloha.  That's not fun, it's boring.

 My decision making skills are terrible lately.  I have regret purchases and some regret ididntpurchase.  Is that a middle age issue?

Oh the angst of trailer lighting!

One decision I am not regretting is to plant every color of geraniums in the window boxes. I usually choose one color and try to be all classy like.  This year, not so much.

 I am starting to sew curtains for the '57 Aloha.  I keep telling myself that I am having fun but really, I am not a seamstress.  I am just sewing seams with stress.

Hubby is working on the electrical for the Aloha and there is some angst and stress there.  It's isn't fun when the outlets don't work but it is fun when the lights go on.  Experienced electricians are invite to stop by and give some advice.

Today is Max's birthday.  Happy Birthday Spanky!  I wish I could hop in the car to drive to George, WA and make him dinner but instead I am going to a funeral. 

 Hubby is working every day of this holiday weekend.

So friends, I hope you feel better about all of my fun.  There is some not so fun here too.

Most of the time I choose to be happy even when it's not fun.  And I hope you do too!

Happy Birthday Hubby

Tomorrow is Hubby's birthday.  It's a BiG birthday and he's a BiG deal so it's pretty special.  Last week he thought he was going to Kulshan Brewery for an IPA and a burger from Streat Food food truck.  Just a typical Wednesday evening at Kulshan with Mark and Karen.  Then more friends and family just kept showing up.  Hubby didn't want a party but this was okay.  He was very surprised. All of the fun of a party without the angst of a surprise party, it was a low key open house.

I baked a cherry chip cake from scratch, though he prefers a mix, because that is his favorite cake.  I also baked black bottom cupcakes and brought chips and salsa making it an instant party!

Sam even got to come up from Joint Base Lewis McCord for the evening.

He just happened to wear his Kulshan sweatshirt.  It was a Christmas gift from Max and Kassie.  Apparently, it isn't seasonal for him.

 It was a fun night celebrating my guy with the people he loves.  Best of all, he was surprised and honored so many showed up at his favorite brewery.

Happy Birthday Hon!

Cedar Chest Treasures

My parents are moved into their apartment in town.  Now it's time to get ready for a huge sale.  The sale will be on Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m.  We hope to see you there.  Early birds pay double!  The grand kids get to come on Friday night to take what they want and have pizza for dinner.

 This bench was in the barn when they moved in 50 years ago.  It's probably overheard many conversations.

 I sure hope Santa knows where to find Tami, Kathi, Kenny and Jodi next Christmas.  He's been making this stop for a long time. My Mom or Aunt Clarice sewed the stockings out of felt as each of us were born.  We were mostly nice so they were filled with toys and treats.

 I wore this little yellow dress and sweater set as a baby.

 There are pictures of me wearing the little red dress that my Mom sewed for me.

My sister Kathi and I had velvet jumpers one Christmas.  Kathi's was red and my Mom made it out of  her bridesmaid dress that she wore for Uncle Ed and Aunt Twyla's wedding.  I love the covered buttons down the back of my blue jumper.

 My Uncle Gordon was career US Army military police.  He traveled the world and brought back pajamas for me.  The black and white set is pretty worn.

 The blue set is in nice shape, I don't think it was as soft so I didn't wear it as much.  Kathi had a matching set in light blue.   I told my sisters that I hoped I have a grand daughter someday.  She can spend the night and wear my exotic PJs.  Jodi suggested we watch Mulan, the Disney movie.  Won't that be fun?

It is a lot of work to empty a house but it is a lot of fun too.  Good memories and making new ones as we work together.  I am still laughing about a conversation between my Mom and Jodi that I overheard on Monday.  There was a Fenton, hand painted vase that Jodi was googling and looking at carefully.  She mentioned that she would like it.  Mom tells her to take it!  Jodi mentions that it has a small crack on the bottom.  Mom told her she couldn't come down from "take it".  

Hahaha.  Yep, free is as low as it gets!

See you on Saturday!