Saturday, August 29, 2009

We are officially Farmers now

Last Sunday turned out to be a jeans and t-shirt sort of day. Pretty cool out, but with lots of sunshine. No rain in the forecast for a couple of days. That’s nice.
Went through town Saturday. It was crawling with tourists. More than we’ve see all year. Sure hope it keeps up that way, a lot of the stores are suffering this year. October is the big month though. What with the leaves turning and all.
Took Jennie for a ride the other day – about 80 miles round trip. All went well. Seems strange to be riding so low to the ground – now I look at the semi’s wheels – in Alfie I can look at the driver’s faces! Went over to where Alfie is and unloaded a bunch of stuff from her and put it in Jennie. Now I/we just have to figure out where it should go for the best ease of use. Will take a couple of rearrangements I suppose.
Have discovered that Jennie has more storage space than I first thought – the only problem is it is not convenient storage. Have to reach up over things or squat down and go under things. Good exercise for me I guess. Lord knows that’s the only kind I get. I really wonder how we managed to live in the Pace Arrow (7 of us for 1 year in 24’) at the time it worked okay. Guess it’s all in what you get used to. As in “spoiled.”
Bill carpeted the oven so I can keep stuff in there – good thing it has to be lit from inside so I don’t set things on fire. Very seldom use the oven – think I’ve used Alfie’s only a couple of times. So he is still doing things to Jennie. Built little corner spaces in the entertainment center area – keep things there that we might want when moving down the highway – easy to reach – like my glasses, snacks etc.

And he’s added catches to the ceiling to keep some of the cupboard doors open. Ingenious. Went back to Camping World – we need to stay away from there! Got 2 more drawers for under the table, they work great for all that little stuff you forever need – pencils, pens, stapler, note paper etc. Also a couple of tissue (Kleenex) holders – can’t be without tissues. Had to laugh, Bill called CW and asked if they had them in stock, the guy went and looked and came back and said “Nope.” So we bought a couple of wood ones instead. Well lo and behold when we got to CW there they were right on the shelf. Dah! We also got our magazine rack from Penny’s. It will work great for the campground books, maps, etc.
I forgot to mention he also built a holder for his shaver in the bathroom as there are no drawers in there.
We’ve spent the last couple of days crawling the Internet looking for the “Stick on States” maps of Mexico and Canada. Everyone has the US but it was a challenge to find the other two. Finally found them in an RV place in Las Vegas no less. Will put them on when we get them.
Did I mention we are now (in our eyes) officially farmers? We have a corn crop and a watermelon crop.

Of course there is only one stalk of corn and only two watermelons. But they are ours – we grew them! We also have lots of strawberry plants but the chipmunks and squirrels eat the berries before we can harvest them.
The side/back yard is looking good. Everything is growing and green. The pond is staying clean and looks great.

Must be good water too as we now have a bumper “crop” of tiny fish. Hope some of them make it through the winter.

Hopefully they will still be too small for the bobcat to want to eat them.
Not much else going on around here. The electricity and water haven’t gone out lately and no weird happenings in the Sherriff’s log.
Watched the truck race last night – Kyle won – again. He’s won three out of the last four races he’s run in. Two truck and one Cup. Probably would have won the Nationwide too if he hadn’t been wrecked by a rookie who came down across the track right into him. He was leading. As I said not much going on around here.
I discovered something new - to me anyway - the other day. Canada Dry makes a sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale in cans. It's pretty good. Refreshing.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Jennie Looks so Different

Well she is just about ready for a trip. Bill says he has no more to do inside.
I actually have done a couple of things too. REALLY, REALLY hard things. Like printing and framing a photo of the beach in Mexico.

Took Rubber Maid liner and made “cozys” to put around the glasses and cups so they won’t rattle when we’re moving.
Made a curtain to use at night to close off the front windows. Can just take it down and fold it up during the day – unless we want privacy! Found some real neat flamingo material so added pieces of it to the curtain. Kind of cute.


And what has Bill been doing while I've been SO busy? He ordered a cover for the dash. Looks good. Was going to order it from an RV place until he found it from a truck place for 1/8th the cost!
Put a drawer under the table to hold odds and ends – tape, scissors, pencils etc. Found it when we were at Camping World the other day. One of the ladies from the RV forum I belong to mentioned them a while ago so was on the look out for one. Lined for noise control.
There is very little counter space – really no where to put the coffee pot – can’t have that!!! The only space there was was taken up by the cover for the trash can. So The Driver thought and thought and came up with a clever solution. First he hinged the trash can cover so only part of it needs to be opened to drop in trash. Then he built a platform for the coffee pot that fits over the other half of the trash cover. Pot sits nice and useful there. But….what if we need to take cover completely off to get out trash bag? TaDa. The coffee platform is on hinges and just swings out of the way. The set up ready for use.
Coffee pot holder in place
Swung back to get to trash.
Then he built me a counter extension cutting board. Folds up when needed and hangs down when not needed. Picture of it open and down.

The area behind the TV (old bunk bed area) is a great storage area. Lots of room back there.
And in front on the sides there is more storage- for things we want to be able to get to with ease. Probably will keep the printer there for one thing.
His chair and table should work out great. Can keep magazines and stuff in table and he can use it for his laptop.

Between two cupboards kitchen – living area was a little space – just a space – so he built a bottom with a riser on it and now I can keep my file folder there. Easy to get to and utilizing wasted space. Measuring the area.
Looking back - you can see the upholstery is in good shape and not too ugly.

Looking forward -

He’s been doing a lot of work outside in the storage areas too. Will save that for another time.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Work getting done

Been busy the last couple of days and at the weather has been hot and humid. UGH! But no rain. Guess I spoke too soon. Just as we were going to bed it POURED again. And has poured every night since.
We shopped and shopped for a couple of days. First day we drove up to outskirts of Indy to Greenwood – only about 40 miles. Had to get a small end type table and a chair for Bill. Ended up at Lazy Boy where we found a recliner that isn’t too big.
Then to Camping world. That is always a mistake – just find too many things you can use there. But it turned out okay as almost everything we wanted/needed was on sale. The table was ½ price! and will work great. The picture from the front of the box -
Also got a sewer hose (needed), a cutting board with rubber backing for top of stove (helpful- also on sale), light bulbs (special kind) and plate separators (Rubbermaid circles) which now we really don’t need as we decided to take plates out of Alfie. Back to Home Depot where we were able to return three boxes of the flooring that we didn’t need. On to JoAnn’s for tablecloth material – vinyl type. Then to Famous Dave’s for a great lunch.
Things are coming right along in Jennie. The floor is done – has all it metal stripping etc. Looks very nice. Chair is in – takes up more room then we thought but will be fine. Bedroom is done: shelves are in closet, cupboard above bed is done, wall is painted and bedspread etc. have arrived from Pennys catalogue. They are very bright and colorful.

He also put a shelf in each bedroom closet so we can put more stuff in it.
Even have a matching shower curtain. And he put in an accordian door between bath and bedroom.
I still have to make the latch to hold it back when we're traveling.
Cabinet in bathroom is finished and up.Bathroom is done: towel, toothbrush racks are hung.

Then he added mirrors to the outside of the bathroom door. Makes things look bigger.
Befor
After

Don't know if I mentioned it or not but the outside of the freezer door is a dry erase board - that will come in handy.

Bought small glass tile squares for the kitchen wall – floor to ceiling. Really looks good.
Aren't they pretty?
The shelving for front cupboards is installed and carpeted. The carpet really helps cut down on noise when traveling.
Bill has finished most of the WORK work, just a couple of minor things left to do and everytime he finishes one project he thinks of something else he wants to do. Now he is building a folding extension for the kitchen counter – so I’ll have more space to cook. Cook? After our first trip in it we may find a couple of things more to do, but we’ll see.
Now my work begins. Putting everything in it and away. Decided to take some stuff out of Alfie as opposed to buying a 2nd set of everything. Always hard to figure out where to put stuff. Will rearrange things more than once I’m sure. Also making slip covers for the arm rests of driver's and passangers seats and covers for the top of those seats. We realized everytime we went up front we put our hands on the tops of the seats - wouldn't be long before they were dirty.
In the mean time I’ve been learning a new computer program to put some of our pictures into a slide show so we can watch them on the TV. It’s actually a pretty easy program, just time consuming.
And that’s about it for now.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

JENNIE is her name o

It’s just 7:30 a.m. and Bill is already out in the garage working! At this rate he is going to have everything done this week.
Should I change the picture on the top of the blog? Will that make Alfie mad? Also have to come up with a name for this one. I kind of keep thinking “Jennie” – I had an aunt named Jennie and she was a blast. Always ready for any new adventure – any where, any time, any place. Yep I think that might be it. Bill agrees - Jennie it is.
Well work is moving right along in Jennie. She has never had so much attention.
The cupboard in the bedroom above the bed is done except for trimming it out. Bill says none of the walls are straight. So what’s new?

The bedroom wall has been painted, but think it might need a second coat. That is our “accent wall” more like accident wall – the roof had leaked and damaged the wall board.

Before painting - just primed

The cupboard (excuse me - linen closet) and two of the of the four new towel racks are up in the bathroom
The entertainment center is about 1/3rd the way done. Still needs enclosing on the sides and TV and DVD and satellite stuff installed.
The flooring is down but still needs some metal strips.
The Driver hard at work.
So as you can see busy, busy, busy. Tomorrow in to town to return not needed stuff and see if we can find a small swivel chair and side table for where the sofa was.
At least the weather is nice now. Not too hot and not humid thank goodness.
Still lots to do. He wants to line all the cupboards with foam backed carpet (really cuts down on noise. Add a shelf in one of the big cupboards in the living area. Then put a shelf in each closet in the bedroom. Thinking about putting the little glass tiles on the wall by the stove. That’s still in the thinking stage though.

And what have I been doing? STAYING OUT OF THE WAY! The lady who painted the house a couple of months ago is helping out a lot. She put down the floor and painted the wall. I did do something - ordered stuff for bed room, sheets, quilt, pillow covers and matching shower curtain. So that's the progress so far. Quite a bit considering we've only had her five days.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Honestly - It Just Followed Me Home

Have we ever been the social butterflies since we’ve been back. Had company for dinner one night and two nights later went out to dinner with friends we hadn’t seen in too long. Italian one night and Mexican the other. And…we’re going out to dinner again Wednesday evening. Wow I won’t know how to act.
Today, Monday, is the last day we have to boil our water before we can use it. Thank goodness for bottled water. And wouldn’t you know as we were relaxing out of the heat the house shook from a big clap of thunder. It is very warm and humid out today. Finally started to rain in the evening and rained most of the night. So today – Tuesday – is another hot and humid one. Good day to stay inside.
Today was the day we took Alfie to the RV doc. Finally getting the recall on the refrigerator fixed and Norcold will send us a $50 gas card for the inconvenience. While there they will fix a couple of vent covers and one of the basement door latches. We told them to take their time (while it’s there the mice can’t find it.)
But I guess I should give you the real news. We are now the proud owners of TWO RVs – Yes, you read that right. For quite some time now we have been following the blog of a man who is traveling around Mexico in his Class C. He is able to go to many places in his RV that we would never be able to take Alfie. And it sounds like fun. So Bill started watching the ads and found something to go look at. So off we went to look at it. And wouldn’t you know IT FOLLOWED US HOME - we kept telling it "Go back. Go back" but she didn't listen to us.


It is – a 1997 Class C Fleetwood Jamboree 30 foot. Gas engine with 17,000 miles on it. A Ford Triton V10 415cid??? Has roof air, microwave, refrigerator and freezer, separated bathroom – shower on one side, toilet and sink on other, walk around queen size bed. Lots of storage under the bed. All windows have good venitian blinds that work and valances. Cupboards above both the dinnette and the sofa area. Shades of blue in color.All upholstery is in good condition. Seems like it got very little use.

Poor little thing has only been here a couple of days and she is all tore up inside already. Bill is remodeling. First thing to go was the carpeting. Putting in a wood grain vinyl in a cherry tone. Then the bunk above the cab was out. That area will soon be an entertainment center and storage. Bill is building the whole unit.

Oh, forgot, before taking out the carpeting the sofa bed had to go – will be replaced with a swivel chair and a small table for laptop. (Looking for them still.)
The area above the seats will be the entertainment center - not much of it shows here

Working on the entertainment center

Kitchen area-Kitchen has a built in spice rack, a double sink and 3 burner range and oven. Also a cupboard with long narrow shelves.


Looking towards back bedroom

This small useless shelf above the bed will be turned into cupboards.

Book shelves will be built in the bedroom and in the bathroom a linen cupboard will be built here.

He is going to be busy for awhile. Also one wall in the bedroom is going to be painted as there was some water damage there. The leak was fixed before it followed us home.
And the work has begun.

Will keep you posted as progress continues.