Any time now...

Okay, we bought the trailer over a year ago.  I am so wanting her to be done so we can, I don't know, go camping?!  We are constantly working on her.  Even in the rain!

A couple weeks ago, we built a double gate for to the side of the house.  Another project we have never done before!  Chain link...you really should measure at least 6 or 7 times before you actually pour the cement!  Okay, so we were off by a few (8) inches.  We figured out how to remedy the situation.  And, on the 5th, 6th or 7th trip to the hardware store - we accomplished finishing the gate.  Next we were put to the task of moving the trailer from our neighbor's back yard through the alleyway down the street around the corner and finally to be backed up into our back yard via the front yard.  Easy peasy!. Yeah, right!  Apparently, our street is bowed.  The high part is in the center of the street the low part is at the curb.  Then into our yard it is bowed again.  OMG!  Trying to miss hitting the trees, cars, neighbors etc - we cannot get it to back into the yard without taking off the back bumper via the driveway apron.  Thank goodness for our neighbor!  This wonderful man made us ramps and then HE backed the trailer up into the yard.  The next day, Cynthia backed it up into the back yard where she now sits.

New gate



Finally home

Last week we nailed all the outside panels onto the frame.  Sprayed every seam with paintable sealant.  Finished the inside painting.  Installed the ice box and table.  Hung a shelf above the back bed.  And, finally, ended the week by installing all the cupboard doors and the closet door.  Wow!  We are so close now!

Daisy, Cynthia & our middle daughter, Amy

Counter top

Closet

Above dinette

Above counter

Back bed

Shelf over back bed

Hey, they really work!

In the middle of all this, we managed to pick out the fabric for the cushions.  We were expecting to pay $25.00 per yard.  What we got was $7.00 per yard and then we got 40% off the purchase.  We also managed to find the perfect fabric for the curtains.  Again, expecting to pay $9.99 per yard.  We were so excited to actually get curtain fabric for $3.50 per yard.  I know it sounds crazy but we really thought that the upholstery and curtain fabric was going to be the major money sucker for us.  We spent $51.00 total on both.  Gotta love coupons!!!

This weekend is wash & paint outside panels.  Just plain white for now until we decide on a pattern.  Once the painting is finished, we install windows, trim and then we can hang curtains and decorate.  Of course, I will actually have to sew the curtains and cushions.  We are truly looking forward to decorating her.  We went to the "Junk from my trunk" vintage show today, here in Newport, WA.  There were several vintage trailers on display and we got so many ideas from looking at them.  It was such a great day!

We have a couple of friends who we introduced vintage trailers to;  Kathy and Nancy.  They became as obsessed with them as we are.  So much so, that they kidnapped Cynthia and the three of them drove to Portland, OR.  There, Kathy and Nancy (with help from Cynthia) purchased a 18' 1988 Shasta trailer.  Their trailer  just needs a fresh coat of paint inside and out and a few little fixes here and there.  We took them with us today to Junk from my trunk.  They also got some great ideas and bought little knick knacks for their trailer.  I'll post pictures of their trailer soon. 

Here come the Brides...

After waiting for what seemed forever, Washington State passed a law that Gays & Lesbians could have the same rights as straight folks to marry.  Being a wedding minister - this made me happy.  Being a lesbian - this made me ecstatic!  My partner and I had been together for 11 years, raised 3 kids, and now have two grandchildren.  And, now we are legally married! 

We have three couples that we are very close with who were also able to marry.    J & S were the first of our friends.  They married in a different county of Washington.  Here in Pend Oreille County,  A & Y were the first to marry, I married N & K (they were #2s), I married the third couple and Cynthia and I were the 4th couple to marry!  Pretty cool, huh?  We have a couple friends, R & E, who married in another state and are now legally married here!

 

We do!



With our bestie peoples -
Timmy, Cynthia, Teri & George

 

 

 

Mrs. & Mrs.

Life is good and the way is should be.  I'm so thankful to Washington lawmakers and the people who voted the law into place.

And, it being the weekend for me...we are working on Avalon for the next two days - will post pictures tonight or tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day & enjoy the beautiful weather if you have it!  (We do!)

Easter day 2013

First time to breathe since Thanksgiving when we closed her up.

We finished & hung the closet door today.  Looks great!

 

Only spent a couple hours today working on her.  She's gonna need another coat of paint and of course - paint outside too!  If we work every weekend - should have her finished by June 2013!  And, of course, if we have friends that like to work & wine...she'll be finished sooner!

 

Wait til you see this!

We accomplished so much today!  It was amazing.  I know I use the word amazing quite a bit - but if you knew us you would understand that it is truly amazing that we accomplished anything!  Between me working 50 hours a week plus 10 travel hours - I'm exhausted and don't really want to do anything when I get home let alone doing physical work.  And, on my weekends, I just wanna sleep and quilt.  So, like I said, what we accomplished today was amazing!

The snow is coming this Friday with a high of 30*.  Today we worked our arses off.  We got the insulation installed - not an easy project - and itchy!!!  Then we attached most of the paneling. 

During all of this, I was the 9th caller at our local radio station KPND 95.3 for VIP Tickets for four to see Milo Greene and lunch at Capones in Couer d'Alene, ID and the newest CD.  Gonna take our besties and their daughter.  Yes, I know it is five people but it is a restaurant!  What a great day!

PS.  Congratulations Mr. President! 
PPS. Looks like I can marry my best friend - legally!

File under category: WOW

Seriously, WOW! 

Apparently, we will be getting our first snow this coming Friday.  :(    Which means that we will not be able to truly work on the trailer until probably.....March.  Ugh!  (That thought really depresses me!)  According to the weather people today and tomorrow are our last nice days til.....March.  Next Monday, during the first good snow, I'll be getting the snow tires put on Louise; our Volvo.  I know, I know...I'm whining.  Sorry, I just REALLY hate the snow season!  Back to our regulary scheduled program:

We got up early this morning, ya right.  It was more like 8:30am - but early enough.  We were working on the trailer by 10:30am.  Not too bad.  What we accomplished was amazing!  We got the dinnette seating area finished.  We got the entire back wall up.  We installed the bed too.  OMG!!!  Like I said, AMAZING!  And, with the help of George and Dennis - we having working running lights and tail lights.  Woo Hoo!!!

Tomorrow, on our very last nice day (ever) until March 2013, we will put the siding on her.  Can you believe this???  I'm mean, seriously, we have been working on her since MAY!!!  Of course, during the snow season, we will work on making curtains, bedding, cushions, and LOTS of quilts!  But, for all intents and purposes, she will just need a paint job in & out, and then we will need to put on the cupboard doors and install all the trim outside. 

I don't want to jinx us but I really do think we will take her out on her maiden voyage by next May!  (Knock on wood.  Fingers' crossed.)

And, now:  WOW!



Dinnette seating area




Storage




Vent frame - check!




Cynthia getting ready to smack 'er in!




Back bed




Rear window  (Hey, isn't that a movie?)



Surprisingly...we are this much closer (thumb and forefinger an inch apart)

Okay, seriously, for us this is AMAZING!  It poured and hailed last night with wind gusts up to 45 mph.  We both woke up early early, used the bathroom and went back to sleep til 10ish. We were just gonna be sloths today.  Instead, we made coffee, ate a half a bag together of pecan sandies, cleaned the downstairs while the coffee brewed then watched the rest of a truly horribly written scary movie that we had started last night.  We even watched the credits to see if it would explain why the movie was so BAD!  (It didn't). 

At 11:30ish, we decided to get dressed and see how the trailer made it through the storm.  Impressively, it fared quite well.  As long as we were out there, lets work on the back until the storm hits again.  Needless to say, it never hit again!  It only sprinkled a couple times.  We worked until 5 tonight, taking a 15 minute break to eat some wonderful soup...chickadilla soup.  Here's the recipe, seriously, this is one of the best tasting soups we have ever tried!

Chickadilla Soup

1lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
30 oz. diced tomatoes
10 oz. mild enchilada sauce
4 oz. chopped mild green chilies
1 quart chicken broth
2 15 oz. cans of pinto beans
10 oz. frozen corn
1/2 med. onion chopped
1 tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp. each of cumin, chili powder & salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

Place all ingredients into a 6 quart slow cooker.  Mix.  Cook on low for 6 - 8 hours or on high for 3 - 4 hours.  Once the chicken is fulled cooked, remove & shred, then return to pot and stir.

Serve with fresh chopped cilantro, shredded cheese and sour cream.

(Generously, serves 8.  Freezes well.)

Okay, back to the trailer story. ..

We worked diligently and FINISHED the framing for the back end!  I cannot tell you how excited we are!!!  This weekend we will put the paneling up on the back end and install the bed! 

And, now - pictures!

The wide board is to secure the bed and the tail lights.  We even finished the wiring in the back end too!



Apparently, I don't get to use the camera when Cynthia looks bad!  (lol)  She just gets to when I look bad!





Tarped up for a few days until we have a couple afternoons for us to work on it.  Nothing like using every tarp we own!  Yep, it looks good, taking my Kleenex and going home!



Flooring, cabinets and benches oh my!

We got the flooring template made, cut out the linoleum and laid it too!  Then with the help of George again we got the kitchen cabinet and bench inside the trailer.  Nothing is nailed down yet - but there is always tomorrow!



As always - Nemo must help!




Cabinet & bench





Counter top - not sure about it yet.





Benches & storage





So, do you like the flooring that we picked?





So, while Cynthia was scraping the panels - she won tickets from KPND radio station to CITIZEN COPE at the Knitting Factory!!!  This is a REALLY bad picture of both of us - but what the hell?!  It's better than we usually look on the weekends!