At Home On Wheels

The freedom to choose

Posted on July 7, 2011 by admin

July 4th weekend was a great time of celebrating with family and friends. I headed for Pennsylvania Thursday to visit my mom and uncle. On Friday my sister arrived from Virginia with my daughter, niece and nephew, whom I was transporting back to New York.

Saturday morning we left for New York. After dropping my niece off at her Dad’s, my daughter , (great) nephew and I headed for camp. My nephew met us there to hang out and get his son. We had some great food and got to hear all about the kids vacation in Virginia.

They had a bon fire here at camp that night.

The next day, our friends Grayhair (he has white hair…), Scary Larry, and Scary’s new GF came to camp for the day. We had a blast- Scary Larry and Grayhair are a bundle of laugh’s.

Up at the rec hall, they had a DJ, and then fireworks at dark. Someone had wappatolli’s (sp?)..I had to try one…or two.

Monday we got another dose of Grayhair. Good time as always!

My daughter wanted to have a get together for her friends that night. They got one of the moms to take them to Walmart, and they all pooled their money together to buy streamers, balloons and snacks.

Today is Thursday and we’re still here. We really didn’t see a reason to go home, since I work on the computer and Ron is a diesel mechanic on call. He can go on road calls from here just as easily as from home.

The kiddo has kids to hang with everyday and a pool to swim in. What more can you ask for?

Praise the Lord for older children who stay home and babysit the house

So what did you do for the 4th?

Next post: Bringing dogs camping

Posted in Camping, July 4th | Leave a comment

Making ourselves at home

Posted on June 27, 2011 by admin

I arrived at camp Friday afternoon ready to pack up the old camper and get it ready for it’s new owner to pick up the next morning. My new camper was coming around the same time and I was praying all went well.

The minute I pulled in, I was greeted by three smiling faces…..the kids a few doors down that have adopted Ron & I as adult friends. They are amusing kids, so we let them hang around for the most part.

They asked if I needed help.

Heck yeah!

They helped me carry everything in, then they dropped the bomb. “J” said since they did me a favor, I need to do them a favor….take them to the pool!

Campground rules are such that at least two adults need to be in the pool area at all times. Their mom said she would take them swimming if they could find another adult.

The last thing I wanted to do (or had time to do…) was go to the pool. I asked them if they could wait a short while so I could take care of some stuff. Their baby sister was napping, so mama couldn’t go right then anyway.

Fortunately for me, it started storming … thank you, God!

The funny thing is, my kid isn’t even here…she’s in Virginia visiting my sister. Yet we still have kids here…..

The rain persisted throughout the evening. I was afraid it would put a real damper on my camper switch the next day. Then to make matters worse, one of the campground managers informed us that the bridge which you must cross to get into the campgrounds would be closed from 9:30- 10:30 a.m. the next morning!

Everyone was meeting here at 11:00 a.m. I tracked down Dave, the fellow that was working on the bridge. He assured me it was really only a 15-20 minute fix…they were just putting in a slab of concrete in where the water flows from the pond when it has too much water into the other side of the road . They were stopping the flow so the pond could fill back up.

They were done just in time!

Unfortunately, Ron got called out on a road call around 7:30 a.m. so I was on my own.

I have never unhooked septic lines and such!

Praise the good Lord for neighbors. The father of our three little friends, along with a few other campers came down and helped out.

It all went beautiful- slid one camper out, slid the other in.

Ron returned when it was all over-lol! The guy next door yells- “The work is done, you can come home now!”

I told everyone that helped that I owed them a spaghetti dinner! Probably not over the July 4th weekend, but probably the next.

I love campers…they are some of the best people you will ever meet!

Here are a few pics from the weekend- my camera pooped the bed so these are from my cell phone camera:

Dining area...

Posted in friends | Tagged friends, new camper | 1 Comment

A newer, bigger home!

Posted on June 24, 2011 by admin

Ok, call me crazy….I know in the last post I wrote about projects we would be doing in the camper. Well, they are are put on hold- forever!

Last week, a camper I had been keeping an eye on for over a year came up for sale. I checked it out, and because he had a bit of water damage on one spot on the bedroom wall, he was selling at a killer price.

I decided to see if I could sell my camper for enough (or close to it) to buy it. Although our camper has a bit of charm and good bones, it is not exactly a great hang-out on a rainy day. The dinette is very cramped, and there is no couch area.

And, because I work at home, I needed somewhere to set up my laptop and printer.

This camper I was looking at was 8 ft larger, complete with a couch with a table you can set up to work at the couch! Yee-haw!

It sold the day before the buyer for mine was coming….

I had my heart set on a bigger camper and my buyer was very excited by mine! She bought mine contingent on me finding a new camper.

So I kept looking around. One guy sold one right out from under me, and two others sold just before I got there.

But in the end, I found one. Paid a bit more than I had planned, but it’s a gem. It is actually 20 years old, and in mint condition!

It has the couch and a chair in the front, with the kitchen area and dinette in the middle. Tons of closet space, full bath and a rear bedroom with a WALK AROUND queen sized bed! We have a full now, and I have to climb over Ron to get in and out.

It has a rear door, so if Ron gets a road call at night, he can slip out the back way!

Ironically we saw it days ago, but the guy is on a seldom traveled road, and he said when he went out today, the sign was off it.

Was that a good omen????

Also, he will deliver it … another thing off my mind!

So Saturday, we get our new home. She’s dirty on the outside- a bath is in order- but the inside is like new.

Can’t wait!

Some pictures….

She needs a bath....

Check out the leather on the fridge!

Looking through kitchen to bedroom

Bathroom sink and cabinet above the toilet

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Projects

Posted on June 10, 2011 by admin

Last Friday, Golden Child accompanied me to camp where we spent several hours painting the walls around the table area in the camper.

I wanted to brighten it up in there since we are shaded for most of the day. Also, the camper was previously used as a hunting camper . I think someone gutted it and made it specific to their own design. There are probably 4-5 different kinds or wood/paneling in there.

So, painting it makes it a look uniform.

I used a salmon-type color. Now that we have two coats on, I think it’s still a bit too dark once the curtains are back up and the cushions are back on the benches.

I have some “yellowy-white” paint left from something else. I may try mixing the two and coming up with a lighter, brighter version.

If all else fails, they were each just over $5.00 at Walmart (paint rejected by someone)……..makes for a good undercoating!

Here are some pics so far…..

: Yes, I got paint on the outlet…thought I could be careful. Now I have to clean it off!

Once I get this how I want it, we go to the next project:

A counter-top/computer area!

Behind this door hides a shower that we don’t use…..the camp showers are deliciously wonderful…hot and powerful.

Everything our shower at home is not.

The camper is a dinosaur so it will probably live out it’s days where it is.

So we’re tearing out the shower (across from stove) and putting in another counter which can also double as a computer station.

It is just over 3 ft wide and (I think) around 2 ft deep. Pretty good size…

We have Internet, but nowhere to set up the computer. The table is too high for me to comfortably work.

Then, we want to build a deck or enclosed room…….

Hey, isn’t camp SUPPOSED to be about relaxing?

I do have my eye on a nice camper down the road…is it possible it has everything we want and need ????

Then we could relax…..

RIGHT!

Posted in Camping, painting a camper, remodeling | Tagged Camping, painting, remodeling | Leave a comment

Campy things…..

Posted on June 2, 2011 by admin

The Memorial Day weekend with our friends went well. They rolled in after work Friday night. I had to leave a few minutes later to get Ron from the airport.

Ron’s flight was delayed an hour and it started storming while we were at the airport. His flight did manage to make it in before it got too bad. Driving back to the house was a nightmare- the rain was falling SO hard and I couldn’t see.

By the time I dropped Ron off at the house to get his service vehicle it had let up a bit. We eventually got back to camp around 11 p.m. and hung out at Ed and Tammy’s fire until around 1 a.m. By the time we got done with showers and such, it was 2 a.m. We JUST laid our heads on the pillow when Ron’s phone went off- he had a road call. After not working all week, he was out the door in a flash!

That’s my man for ya!

Saturday was filled with hanging out, taking the dogs for walks and just doing nothing really.

Our friends have 4 little dogs- they are crazy!

Here’s Ed sporting one in a purse…yes he’s that daring for a laugh!

Ed and his buddy, Louie

Sunday we had church and then my nieces birthday party, so we didn’t get back to camp until around 7 p.m.

Monday they did “Bowling for groceries” for the kids. Each kid was supposed to bring a snack or toy as a prize. They also threw in some camp T-shirts.

You win what you hit with the ball

Other campy things…..

Falling through the bunk.....

When folded up, the bunk becomes a cupboard. As my daughter was scooching down, the cupboard door broke open and her butt fell through!

Dirty feet

No way around it, you CANNOT keep your feet clean at camp!

A little food fun!

Aren’t you supposed to EAT IT?

Caution- do NOT eat the cheese curls at my place!

And that’s about it.

This weekend, our friend Grey-hair (Greyhound to others…) is supposed to be tenting at our camp.

Details to follow…..

…and please say a prayer that the pool is open this week!

Posted in Camping, dogs, tenting | Tagged Camping, dogs, tenting | 1 Comment

Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on May 27, 2011 by admin

This weekend is the kick-off to summer time fun! It is the official start to “summer” here in Central New York, although the calendar would tell you otherwise. Most beaches and campgrounds open this weekend, although our camp has been open since May 1st.

Our friends are renting a tent site here at our camp this weekend, so it should be a lot of fun. I’ve been up here since yesterday. Ron went to Florida the other day to visit his mom, who is in the hospital. My daughter is at a friends until tonight, when we pick Ron up at the airport. The boys, being 19 y/o and up, could care less about hanging with ma.

So here I am……

Although it will be a fun weekend, let us not forget the people who served our country and died for our freedom.

Although they are not here physically, hopefully they are here and in spirit and can hear our “Thank-you’s”.

Also, thank-you to those presently serving.

I have several plans for the camp, but we won’t work on those this weekend.

They include tearing out the shower and putting in a counter/computer area.

Behind this closed door lies a shower!

The dimensions are 3 ft wide by 2 ft deep. This will be very cool as it is right across from the stove, so if I need more working space when cooking, I have it. There is also a small window there, which will bring in a bit more fresh air and light.

Another project to expect this summer? Either a deck or an enclosed room…I’m rooting for the enclosed room, but it will depend on what materials we already have available and cost of new materials.

That’s it for now- I have a coaching session with a new client soon and have another two blogs to update, then consider me on vacation!

Enjoy your weekend!

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You can create a profile, and add your blog, Twitter and Facebook links in the appropriate groups.

Why not join in the blog-hopping fun?

Posted in Camping, camping blogs, Memorial Day weekend | Leave a comment

Rain? So what?

Posted on May 16, 2011 by admin

Well they predicted rain for the weekend and they were somewhat right. It really was quite nice Friday, which gave me a chance to construct my “Portable Garden”.

It is a bunch of tomatoes, peppers, green beans and cucumbers in containers and on a portable unit. I wanted it portable in case I had to “chase the sun”. But I think it’s sunny enough for most of the day right against the trailer:

There are wheels to the left (off pic) so it can be moved around...

If it stays sunny by the camper, I can grow my beans up the camper – that would provide shade and then I wouldn’t have to add something onto my portable garden for the beans to climb up!

I may transplant the tomatoes into the ground near the back of the camper if it’s ok with the owners. AND if the sun is in that area long enough each day.

We are surrounded by trees, but the sun does sneak in through the middle….

Friday night Ron and I were “kid-less”. Unfortunately about 8:30 or so, just as we were ready to make our steaks (yeah, late night romantic dinner…) Ron got a road call.

So I played on the computer for an hour or so, then at 11 p.m. made my steak on the fire. As I was eating it, Ron called and said he was on his way back. So he ate around midnight! We ended up staying up till 2 a.m. between eating, hanging by the fire and showers.

The boys and Ron napping for an hour or so before everyone comes….

Rons in there somewhere, too.....

Wait a minute…I was up until 2 a.m. too!

Yet I had to cook, clean, etc….

We’ll have to see about THAT in the future

It drizzled all day Saturday but it wasn’t so bad. The kids still played outside and we still had a fire and cooked out.

Then we had a couple of competitive games of shuffleboard.

You can see it's a pretty wet game!

Of course, it REALLY started raining then, but we weren’t scared away!

They ended up canceling the lawnmower races, but it was still a fun day!

Sunday I went to church. The Princess and Ron stayed at camp. They missed a good service.

Their loss, but they had some good father-daughter time. They went up to the rec hall and played ping-pong, pool and cards.

After I got back from church, we decided to go home. I was hoping to stay another night, but I will admit it was yucky out.

So we came home, had supper, then Ron and I cuddled on the couch and watched about 9,000 episodes of Alligator hunters.

All in all, a good weekend!

How was yours?

Posted in Camping, games | Tagged Camping, lawn mower races, shuffleboard | Leave a comment

Have a big weekend planned

Posted on May 12, 2011 by admin

We’re headed back to camp tomorrow- without the child! Or any visiting children….

My daughter has a sleepover for her friend’s birthday.

I’m so happy my son remembered to feed the ducks while we were gone last week- he’s a farmer at heart!

So Grandma and Grandpa are swinging it alone until Saturday!

We may have friends over, we may not.

Because….

Saturday night starts lawn mower races at the town Fire Department.

So that may turn into a little gathering as well.

And in between, I’ll keep busy with these…..

Anyone up for a game?

Flower pots for my "Mobile Garden"

I found this croquette set and flower pots at a neighbors for sale. She wanted $10.00 for the Croquette set and a $1.00 for ALL the flower pots!

I went to give her a $20.00 bill- all I had at the moment. All she had for change was a $10 so she told me to just take the flower pots. Some are nice heavy clay pots!

I was looking for some big flower pots to make a “Mobile Garden” of sorts. I want a tomato plant or two, a green pepper and a red hot pepper plant. I plan on growing them in containers on a sort of mobile device- either our kids wagon or an old wagon I currently have in my front yard.

That way I can move the plants with the sun, since we have a lot of shade.

So, check back soon to see what progress I’ve made with my little project.

Oh yeah, one more picture!

These are so yummy...and they are little "meatball poppers"....you can't stop popping them in! I had to freeze them so I would stop eating!

These are just one of the goodies I’m serving on race day!

Posted in camping blogs, lawn mower racing, meatballs | Tagged camping blogs, container gardening, lawn mower racing | Leave a comment

We’re back!

Posted on May 9, 2011 by admin

This weekend marked our official first weekend at camp. We brought my stepsons girlfriends 4-yer-old son. That kid is a piece of work….

He is a Krazy Kid!

We got to camp Friday night and had some hot dogs made over the campfire- yum…yum!

Saturday started with coffee and donuts up at the rec hall. Then my daughter and I got into a shuffleboard game, where I was kicking butt.

She quit and Ron took her place.

And kicked my butt!

The rest of the morning was spent at the playground, and going for zillion mile walks.

Later my nephew and his son came bearing games!

The 4 year old did darned good!

We played a heated game of beanbag toss. Surprisingly, the four year old scored quite a few points!

Later we ate all kinds of good food cooked over the campfire….then we had Smores!

On Sunday we went to church, then had a birthday party we had to stop in at. We got back to camp around 3:30.

We kept going back & forth- do we want to stay another night or go home? My daughter does 1/2 day home school and 1/2 day public school so she didn’t have to be there until 11:00 a.m. today.

We decided to stay another night.

Ron had to go on a road call first thing this morning so I had to haul everything, including the dogs home. That danged car seat took up a lot of room- I’m not used to that anymore!

All in all it was a good weekend. I am almost re-packed for this weekend- the clothes are almost all washed. I’m ready to go back.

Actually, I think I left Ron’s phone charger there so may need to go back tonight….

Hm…should I come home or stay?

What would you do?

King Cosmo found a throne to sit upon!

Posted in Camping, games | Tagged Camping, games | Leave a comment

Well, it’s over!

Posted on October 15, 2010 by admin

Our Little Baby is all tarped up and looking so lonely! The last weekend was a lot of fun, though. Our grandson, Little Man came with us and stayed all 3 nights. He loves camp sooo much! Friday morning I … Continue reading →

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