Just Call Me Becky

Just call me Becky, as in Becky HomeEcY.  I just made fig jam, cooked fig jam that got sealed in jars.  I am usually a freezer jam kinda gal but there are no freezer jam recipes for fig jam.  I don't can.  No can can here.  So, it is a stretch for me.  Our fig tree bears fruit and something has to be done with it.  And the fig jam at Safeway is eight bucks for a teeny tiny jar.  After all, I am Dutch.

Lastly and most importantly, the fig jam is fantastic baked with brie cheese or poured over cream cheese and served with crackers.

 Since I have a lot of figs and I like the pretty color without a lot of green I peel my figs first, and then add just a bit of the green.

 I don't own a canner so I use a big deep fry pan on the stove.

 I really need my friend Becky here with me to make jam.  Becky moved to MO and jam making hasn't ever been the same for me.  Move back where you belong BECKY!

 On Friday evening some girlfriends came over for a little happy hour before we went to the vintage show at the Lavender House.  I happened to serve my last jar of fig jam.  I entertained in the '57 Aloha.  Just for fun and because I could.  It was cozy with the rain coming down.

 Speaking of the '57 Aloha, Hubby and I hitched her up and went for a little ride on Saturday.  I was so happy after three years of restoring to actually hitch up that I could not stop smiling.  I was giddy.  We went straight to my Dad to see if we had the hitch in order, turns out the chain needed to be crossed.  Thanks Dad!

I think her name has been decided, she is Huaka'i Annie.  Huaka'i is the Hawaiian word for a  journey or trip with a defined purpose to learn or see something new.  We've got purpose.  We plan to have and see some FuN!  She's Huaka'i Aloha Annie, Annie for short.

I will be posting a final trailer tour soon.  I am still hanging curtains, painting some things and enjoying the decorating.  This is the fun part for me.  Hubby is installing the rain gutters and one last polish before we hit the road.

ALOHA!

This and That and Pie

 It's been hot here in the Pacific Northwest.  It's been one of the sunniest sunny summers evah in the Pacific Northwest.  We turned our hot tub into a cold tub for some heat relief.  Our house has stayed fairly cool in spite of no AC.  I keep the shades drawn, windows open at certain times and fans humming.

Of course, we are still working on the Aloha.  I have little tedious jobs to do, parts to find and Hubby is polishing.

 The work is rewarding as I can see where I have been.

 We celebrated the 4th of July at Birch Bay in the evening with family and friends, berry pies, a beautiful sunset and a spectacular fireworks show.  I made the raspberry pie on the left and Sue made the one the right.  Her lime blueberry corner was sooo good.

 

'57 Aloha Exterior

The day our '57 Aloha came home Hubby and I had no idea just how bad of shape she was in and how far we'd have to go with her.  Good thing.

The pieces of aluminum have been stacked up in the carport during the rebuild.  There was a lot of scaling and oxidation.  There were many scars too, after all, the Aloha did blow over in the wind while in Sunland on the Columbia River.  Roll overs are hard on a body.

 As Hubby was finishing electrical, insulation and a gas line, I have been polishing.

 Everyone has advice and a method.  This picture shows hubby following some bad advice we got... deep ugly swirl marks that had to be removed.  

I really did the polishing even though there are no pictures of me.

 I continued to polish and Hubby wrapped her.

 After going through every piece, sanding and then polishing using a compound rub and a Vaper polisher; we decided I should go back and do it all again.  This time I used 600 and 400 grit wet sandpaper before the polisher with compound.  The wet sanding by hand was more effective.

 It is hard, tedious work but it is rewarding because I could definitely see where I had been as I sanded.

 Hubby took some dents out with a special hammer.  I sanded and polished.  Hubby started to put the tin back on the trailer.  I continued to sand and polish.  On Saturday afternoon I was finishing the last piece just as he needed it.

 I'll polish the aluminum once more with the tin on the trailer.  She has some tears and dents.  Hubby doesn't like that but she is 58 years old, and honestly I don't know any 58 year old girls without  some wrinkles, scars and age spots.  Speaking from experience here.

 I was covered in black from the oxidation, I was hot and cranky, and sore, but I did it.

Absolutely no thanks to the local auto parts stores and their employees.  I'm not a crazy feminist but I do have to say I was disrespected as a woman by the employees of parts stores during the process.

Well now little lady when your husband does this project he may want to... I'm doing it.

No you don't want that... Yes, I do.

You probably weren't in the right aisle.Then how did I find what is in my arms?

I'll tell you what you should do. Didn't ask.
You should go across the street.Really? Does your manager know you tell customers that?

I don't like shiny things so I just paint over 'em.I don't really care what you like, I just asked which product is better.

I'M DOING IT!  Hubby is busy.  I have researched for hours.

I am not necessarily ready for another trailer at this point. I think polishing an aluminum trailer is a lot like labor and delivery.  And just like childbirth, I'll forget and have another.  Just not too soon.

Next up, all of the windows and eyebrows need sanding and polishing.  Hubby will install and hook up the lights.  Honestly, it's not fun anymore but we intend to finish strong.

Summer Reading and Projects

Since my road trip I have been digging my way out of the laundry room, weeding in the yard and working at the museum.

On Friday I started a project for the '57 Aloha.  I had some old suitcases with squared bottoms.  I wanted to paint them using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  Initially, I was going for turquoise (Provence) but then decided to use Old White.  I added His and Hers stencils with a fleur de lis for his and a crown for hers.  Hubby and I can pack our things in the cases and then keep them on the canvas bunk in the Aloha.

I have been reading again, after a very long dry spell.  I Love You More is a mystery told by a young girl.  I totally enjoyed this book even though I don't usually choose a book from the mystery shelf.  It's a great summer read.

Savor, I am not reading this as a yearly devotional, I am just picking it up and reading a day or dozen here and there.

 A Spool of Blue Thread was a timely read for me about a house, the people who lived there and when the parents age and move.  I enjoy Anne Tyler's books and this was no exception.

I have just started  reading The Rosie Project.  It's going to be hard to get my chores done today because I reaalllly want to read.  I was laughing out loud last night in bed.  If you know anyone with Aspergers syndrome you'll appreciate this story of Dan and his quest to find a wife.

Today I am sanding and polishing aluminum.  It's rewarding but tedious.  We want the '57 Aloha on the road.  Happy trails!

It's a Farm Chicks Wrap

Farm Chicks road trip continues on Sunday with coffee and yogurt at Riverside Park.

It is such a beautiful park and the falls are really rushing this time of year.

 

 We did some junkin' in Spokane on Monroe Street and then drove to Rockford to visit Hurd's Mercantile.   The road that leads to this quaint small town is very scenic.  The store is beautiful too, We planned to have lunch there but the bikers were having a poker run and there wasn't any room for us.  We then tried other spots for lunch and let's just say it could have ended very badly.  We decided to drive to Couer d'Alene and have a late lunch slash early dinner at the resort on the lake.

 Our last night we stayed at the Worldmark Resort on the Gozzer Ranch near Harrison.  On the way we found Hutton's General Store and though they were closed the manager opened up so we could buy ice cream.

 Sheryl, Shelly and I enjoyed a quiet evening on the lake.  Our room was spacious and pretty.  We laughed most of the evening.  By this time our sides were hurting.  Three days of laughing is hard on a body.

Rules schumules...

 We stopped on our way out of town at Hutton's just because it was so quaint and the manager had been so nice to us the night before.

 Poptarts in a vintage scale.  I don't care who you are, that's cute!

We drove as far as Ellensburg to have lunch at the Red Horse Diner.  I love that diner and I told the girls it'd be worth their wait.  It was.  It is cute and the food is good.

We stopped at the Thorp Fruit and Antique Mall for some fresh cherries and asparagus.  We then drove home through some snarling traffic.  It was a safe trip thanks to my copilots and Gabby.

I am so thankful for my girls, the safe trip, and all of the inspiration I experienced on this road trip.  God is good.

Oh and you may be wondering if I found any treasures...

Possibly...

I hoped for a  vintageaquasmallcollapsiblebarcart  for the '57 Aloha.  I thought I'd have to settle on one without all of those qualities.  Nope.  I found it all in one sweet little cart.  The ice bucket and pitcher were found in different towns but match perfectly.

Winner!

 The vendors' postcards which advertised their business and other shows were so pretty I may just frame a few for the Aloha.

Oh, and I bought some deer antlers because everyone else was doing it.

Peer pressure.  It's real.

Farm Chicks Part Deux

 The Farm Chicks Show is a lot of beautiful junk set up by very clever artists.  There were many light fixtures that you wouldn't find at Village Lighting.  If you want a new chandelier, go to an old farm grab something out of the barn, add some bling and voila you have a swanky new light.

I have the one as pictured below.  Hubby had just hung it on the patio before I left for Farm Chicks.  His Grandma had made it from a kit many years ago.  It's fancy and fun.

 The women dress up for Farm Chicks whether it's an apron, a petticoat, fancy boots or a hat, most get into the spirit of the show and dress like a Farm Chick.  It's farm slash ranch fashion couture at its best.

Before I left on the trip I cleaned out a cupboard and tossed an old bundt pan.  Honestly.

 I loved Wood & Wool's booth.  I did buy a paint by number painting and I hope to capture their idea by painting a quote over it.  I loved their pictures but they weren't the right size for me.

 Oh deer, aren't you swanky?  Sheryl, Shelly and I all purchased some antlers.

 Peonies are in season.  There were gorgeous bouquets everywhere.

 I know, let's take an old horse hair sofa and make it into a planter!  Who thinks of these things? There is so much re-purposing creativity.  It is mind boggling at times.

The girls and I loved the show.  We agreed that one day is enough for us and that we don't have to go every year but will want to return down the road.  We still had room in the Jeep after the show.  

More stops and fun coming up!

To be continued...