Random Catch Up Today

On Saturday my family gathered at Greenwood Cemetery to remember my Aunt Shirley .  It was so good to see family and remember my aunt. 

After wards some of us went out for lunch.  My sweet Mom misses her sisters.

A Decor Project

Some of my readers remember that earlier this summer I was looking for old books with blue or green covers.  The local thrift store had their half price sale in August and I finished my project using a lot of 12 and 1/2 cent books.  I felt like it looked a bit dark so I bought a lamp for a dollar and installed it behind.  It gives off some pretty back light and makes the gold on the bindings pop.  Thank you to everyone that left books on my doorstep.  I loved the wood rounds that I had in the unused fireplace but I also knew that spiders were camping behind the wood and it was time for a change.

Of course, now Hubby want to read the book on the bottom.

Trailer Restoration

Oh Ava Jean! Hubby and I got home from camping and we felt a bit overwhelmed by Ava so we listed her on Craigslist.  We felt as though we should maybe step back from so many projects.

Hubby was working so I took care of the ad. Please, please, please, for pete's sake, the next time I want to place an ad on Craigslist remind me NOT to do it. If I ever want to sell something, please  remind me to put it at the end of the driveway with a free sign or bring it to Goodwill or something. Actually, anything but Craigslist.  

Oh, I've bought things on Craigslist but selling is different.

When I put in the ad that the trailer needs a total restoration and needs to be rewired, I am not kidding.  You cannot buy it and live in it tomorrow if it is a gutted trailer.

I had so many emails, calls, offers of hundreds of dollars more than the asking price if they could just come right now with cash in hand, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Long story short, though it may be too late for that as I have rambled on here.  We are keeping Ava Jean and plan to restore her. I still love her and my design for her.  Hubby is still good with restoring her, we were just temporarily overwhelmed.  The three days she was listed on Craigslist are three days of my life that I will never get back.

Pioneer Woman and Kassie

Kassie and I have our tickets to meet Ree Drummond in Seattle. I think Kassie is Ree's mini me.  A gorgeous red head moves from the city to the country because she is in love with a rancher/farmer.  Yep, same song, second verse.  This trip to meet Ree is just the beginning because Kassie and I are going to Oklahoma to The Mercantile someday.

Oh Bo, I love you. Yes, the ring did end up in his mouth. It was retrieved and I hope Max doesn't try that trick again.

I love this picture, it was just after Max got the ring back.

Back to School

School starts for me tomorrow. Or not. Since I substitute teach I have no idea what day will be my first day.  I bought some new back to school clothes and my bag is loaded.

I'm ready!

That's all for now, and honestly, that's enough.  Enjoy your day!

Camp-Heep-A-Big-Fun

The Nile Valley Rally is the highlight of our summer.  We love the rally, the location and most of all the tribe that makes it all happen. Hubby and I stopped at The Brick in Roslyn for lunch. It's the oldest watering hole in Washington, it's been open since 1895. We met the Pendleton Whisky reps and had a nice visit with them.

Camp counselors, Rita and Denise had a summer camp theme this year. I cannot stress enough what a great job these two women and their families do every year to put together this rally.  Different themes and so much fun planned for us makes it my favorite rally.

 The Camp Store had postcards, candy including candy cigarettes, chick-0-stix, and other childhood favorites, badges, and banners.

They had many opportunities for the campers to earn badges including building bird houses, ax throwing, knot tying, wood burning, paint by number, flamingo floating and getting toasted.

I loved getting my wood burning badge and now I have an album to keep my memories.

There were rubber duck races and just sitting at the river and my favorite activity, floating in the river.

World problems were solved, thanks guys!

We parked Huaka'i Annie in a pretty spot in a good neighborhood.

Yep, those are hubby's boxers with his name sewn in, just for camp, hanging on the door.

I love Wendy's Aloha.

Ed and Kathy's new to them 1962 Aloha made her debut camping trip.

The public could tour on Saturday morning.  I did some touring too.

Twin bed envy.

I could have laid down and took a nap in Bev's cozy trailer.

Don't mind me I'm just snoozing in your trailer.

Saturday afternoon was the flamingo float on the river.

Saturday evening we had dinner and then closing ceremonies. Badges were awarded and the flag ceremony took place.

On Sunday morning our hosts fed us a sweet cream pancake breakfast benefiting the local fire hall. It was time to hit the trail and we said our good byes and gave our thanks for another fantastic rally.

Hubby and I had reservations at Rimrock Lake Silver Beach Resort.  Jeremy and Rene decided to join us.  It's so fun when you leave camp to go camp s'more and then your peeps get to join you.

It turned out to be a great spot to watch the solar eclipse.

The mountains and lake back drop were perfect.

Annie had a waterfront site at Rimrock Lake.

It was so good to see our vintage trailer tribe, enjoy the mountains, the river and the lake and relax.
O-WA-KI-YA

Family is Best

Danny, Jess and Huxley road tripped from Michigan to Lynden.  We had a great visit with them.

 Sam and Angela came from Bellingham a few nights and met us in Bellingham too.  Kassie met up with us a few nights and Max drove from George for the weekend.  Our three guys each have a dog so it was a little crazy at times.

 I got my wish and had dinner with everyone on the patio.  We have more occasions coming up this year where we will all be together.  I don't think there is anything better.

While Danny and Jess and Max and Kassie were at the Fair we stayed with the dogs.

We took them swimming and for a long walk.

Hubby's Mom and Aunt Ruth and Uncle Hank came for a day too.

 The kids all left and I went to have a pedicure, get groceries to prepare for our next adventure. I got to have lunch with my cousin, Nancy.  She was visiting from Pennsylvania with her family.

The New York City girls were reunited.  We enjoyed lunch, got caught up and talked about what will be our next adventure.  Boston anyone?

After lunch I went home and packed up for camping.  

I'll post about our camping trip next, but laundry. A lot of laundry.

Angst with Ava Jean

Hubby decided to replace part of the Avion's floor.  The bathroom got torn out, the floor pulled up where it needed replacing and then he crawled underneath and removed the belly pan.  Things got real and ugly.  The frame is rusting out.  Bad frames are a deal breaker for us.

 We were sick.

We decided to walk away for 24 hours and work on the yard, clean the house and not talk about it.

I packed up all of the building materials with their receipts to make returns.  I contacted other Avion owners. Both of us were thinking of calling Z's Recycling.  Cut our losses and walk away. I can hardly write about my feelings during that time.

Saturday morning Hubby asked me on a date for that evening and then left for work.

We had dinner at Drizzle and talked it through.  We aren't quitters. We didn't want to jeopardize our relationship during this project. People get divorced putting up wall paper!  We had to give up our timeline for this project.  He wanted to see my vision for the interior and I loved him for that because I am so excited about what I chose. Hubby has always wanted to take up welding.  We enjoy the rescue of vintage trailers.  We could set new goals.  We agree that while Ava can be fixed and we will enjoy her, she isn't going to to be our end all trailer.  The Curtis Wright Model 6 is going to be our best work.  Practice makes perfect.

Yep, we're both in. There were negotiations and a shared dessert.

I am pretty happy to not have to return a sofa, two chairs, two twin mattresses, Pergo flooring, nine light fixtures, sheets, mattress pads, quilts, a table, wallpaper, fabric, an outdoor rug, and cabinet hardware.

And I am glad that all of the cabinet sanding and prep I did isn't for nothing.  Or the paint removal from the bath tub.

I am thinking of coloring my hair in January (after Max and Kassie's wedding) to a silver because the gray is coming on fast with this project.

Seriously, I like it.

Meanwhile at home.

The figs are ripe.

Danny and Jessica are coming this weekend.  They are road tripping from Michigan.  We are so excited to see them. All this mama wants is one night with her three guys and their girls, and isn't that all that matters?

And our favorite trailer rally is coming up in August.  Nile Valley or bust!