Thanks for all the well wishes and congratulations on the chili cook off I won.
I still think it's kind of funny my ghostly brother told me I would win and I did.
Bean dishes are right up my alley. I always have bean something around. They are nutritional super foods. With a crockpot, making dried beans is super easy. So easy you can make them while you sleep.
Dried beans taste superior to canned beans. I think the judges tasted this too. I found out later, that I was the only one to use dried beans from scratch.
Also, I have my own unique ways of flavoring foods. People asked about what was in my chili when I started rattling off the seasonings, most were quite surprised when I got to these:
Fennel Seeds?
Gumbo file?
Old Bay Seasoning?
Sage?
Allspice?
Ginger?
A look around my motorhome and I do seem to carry an astonishing array of herbs, spices and condiments. I wanted some red wine to throw in, but had to settle on some white cooking wine. Then I figured the balsamic vinegar would kick it up a notch tempered by the blackstrap molasses.
The grape jelly I had on hand by accident. I didn't buy it, no one else left it here, kind of a mystery where it came from. Years back I remember someone telling me something about the chili with the grape jelly always wins.
What is a tad embarrassing, is I do honestly believe I might have forgot to put the cumin in the chili.
What a riot! Probably the only time I made chili without cumin. To me, this is hilarious.
If chili is all you make with beans, consider branching out. Beans are like a white pallete to paint upon. They love to simmer and slow cook with lots of flavors. Once you make your own dried beans, it's easy to get used to their superior texture.
Occasionally I have leftover bean dishes. I love to take the last 1/2 to 1 cup of leftover beans and turn it into a dip or spread. Just whiz away and throw in something like crunchy onion or jalapeno to jazz it up. If it's too thin, whip with cream cheese. If it's too thick, toss in some V-8 juice. Makes for a healthy snack on not so healthy crackers. But if you fry up some corn tortillas, then corn plus beans make a complete protein, no need to eat meat.
Whee!
Thanks for all the wonderful comments and emails.
Adventures in a Mini Motorhome RV by an eccentric traveler, her dog and a bicycle...
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
I Won The Chili Cookoff
Well I am super excited. It was a sad day for me, but I plowed through it determined to go ahead and enter the chili cookoff.
So why was I sad? Well 2 years ago, I called my brother. Someone else answered and told me he had just died. I was in shock and super sad. I was promised his ashes, but some major problems occurred and it was many months before I could finally procure some (not all) of his ashes.
I was able to take him everywhere he wanted his ashes. It took me a few months, but I got him to all the places he wanted to be.
Now we could both rest in peace.
This morning I looked at the beans I had cooked overnight and thought I was too tired to mess with this chili cookoff. I heard my brother talking. He said, oh go ahead and enter. You will win first place!
I laughed as the absurdity of listening to someone who has been dead 2 years, tell me that today I would win.
But I spent the morning concocting a delicious chili dish in my 3 quart crockpot. I took it to the cookoff. The professional judges tasted all the entries.
An hour later it was announced, I WON "Best Overall!"
Well, ain't that something.
My brother was right, God rest his soul.
Here's the ingredient list:
3 dried beans, slow cooked overnight, then drained and rinsed. I put them back in the crockpot with the rest of the ingredients and cooked all day until the contest at 4pm.
red kidney beans
white northern beans
black beans
chopped tomatoes
chopped jalapenos
chopped red onion
ground beef
Hormel bacon pieces (no fat, just the meat)
white cooking wine
balsamic vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
picante sauce
bay leaf
fennel seed
garlic
cayenne pepper
paprika
cracked black pepper
Himalayan pink sea salt
gumbo file
allspice
cinnamon
ginger
old bay seasoning
sage
beef boullion cube
grape jelly
black strap molasses
And that about covers the chili ingredient list. Just a few odds and ends to make it tasty.
I still can't believe I WON!
The four judges made me feel terrific, they said they really enjoyed the taste, texture and flavors.
Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
Life is goof.
So why was I sad? Well 2 years ago, I called my brother. Someone else answered and told me he had just died. I was in shock and super sad. I was promised his ashes, but some major problems occurred and it was many months before I could finally procure some (not all) of his ashes.
I was able to take him everywhere he wanted his ashes. It took me a few months, but I got him to all the places he wanted to be.
Now we could both rest in peace.
This morning I looked at the beans I had cooked overnight and thought I was too tired to mess with this chili cookoff. I heard my brother talking. He said, oh go ahead and enter. You will win first place!
I laughed as the absurdity of listening to someone who has been dead 2 years, tell me that today I would win.
But I spent the morning concocting a delicious chili dish in my 3 quart crockpot. I took it to the cookoff. The professional judges tasted all the entries.
An hour later it was announced, I WON "Best Overall!"
Well, ain't that something.
My brother was right, God rest his soul.
Here's the ingredient list:
3 dried beans, slow cooked overnight, then drained and rinsed. I put them back in the crockpot with the rest of the ingredients and cooked all day until the contest at 4pm.
red kidney beans
white northern beans
black beans
chopped tomatoes
chopped jalapenos
chopped red onion
ground beef
Hormel bacon pieces (no fat, just the meat)
white cooking wine
balsamic vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
picante sauce
bay leaf
fennel seed
garlic
cayenne pepper
paprika
cracked black pepper
Himalayan pink sea salt
gumbo file
allspice
cinnamon
ginger
old bay seasoning
sage
beef boullion cube
grape jelly
black strap molasses
And that about covers the chili ingredient list. Just a few odds and ends to make it tasty.
I still can't believe I WON!
The four judges made me feel terrific, they said they really enjoyed the taste, texture and flavors.
Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
Life is goof.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Valentine's Day
Valentine's day was wonderfully surprising!
Red roses brightened up my world.
I was delighted.
Life is goof!
From $17 and up
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Should I be worried?
Harley ran away today.
I didn't even notice.
Bad mommy!
Some how "hound-dini" managed to slip off his leash and tether then trot over to his friend's RV. My friend never heard or saw him walk up. Suddenly Harley was in his lap with his tongue triumphantly hanging out!
I thought Harley was being a nice doggy. Quietly playing on his tethered leash on my lot in the RV campground.
My friend looked around for me to show up, but I was no where around.
Finding a spare leash, he walked his dog and my dog back to my RV spot.
I was so embarrassed.
Bad doggy!
I told my friend "That's the third time today I've given him away but people just keep bringing him back!"
Maybe Harley is getting wild ideas from a new doggy in the park. His new best friend.
One that is more worldly than Harley.
Here is his picture.
I mean I want my little pooch to have friends, but this one does look um... a bit different in lifestyle tastes. Adventurous yes, but what's he hiding behind those shades?
Should I be worried?
I didn't even notice.
Bad mommy!
Some how "hound-dini" managed to slip off his leash and tether then trot over to his friend's RV. My friend never heard or saw him walk up. Suddenly Harley was in his lap with his tongue triumphantly hanging out!
I thought Harley was being a nice doggy. Quietly playing on his tethered leash on my lot in the RV campground.
My friend looked around for me to show up, but I was no where around.
Finding a spare leash, he walked his dog and my dog back to my RV spot.
I was so embarrassed.
Bad doggy!
I told my friend "That's the third time today I've given him away but people just keep bringing him back!"
Maybe Harley is getting wild ideas from a new doggy in the park. His new best friend.
One that is more worldly than Harley.
Here is his picture.
I mean I want my little pooch to have friends, but this one does look um... a bit different in lifestyle tastes. Adventurous yes, but what's he hiding behind those shades?
Should I be worried?
Dindim The Penguin
My Brazilian friends sent me this story. It's so unique, I just had to share it here. Enjoy.
The Penguin and the Fisherman -
Today’s most heartwarming story is brought to you from a beach in Brazil. It’s the story of a South American Magellanic penguin who swims five thousand miles each year to be reunited with the man who saved his life.
Retired bricklayer and part time fisherman Joao Perei de Souza, seventy-one, who lives in an island village just outside Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, found the tiny penguin, covered in oil and close to death, lying on rocks on his local beach in 2011. Joao cleaned the oil off the penguin’s feathers and fed him a daily diet of fish to build his strength. He named him Dindim.
The prodigal penguin returns
After a week, he tried to release the penguin back into the sea. But, the bird wouldn’t leave. ‘He stayed with me for eleven months and then, just after he changed his coat with new feathers, he disappeared,’ Joao recalls. And, just a few months later, Dindim was back. He spotted the fisherman on the beach one day and followed him home.
Look who’s back
For the past five years, Dindim has spent eight months of the year with Joao and is believed to spend the rest of the time breeding off the coast of Argentina and Chile. It’s thought he swims up to five thousand miles each year to be reunited with the man who saved his life.
“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me,” Joao said. “No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. He lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and pick him up.”
It’s thought Dindim believes the fisherman is also a penguin
‘Everyone said he wouldn’t return but he has been coming back to visit me for the past four years. He arrives in June and leaves to go home in February and every year he becomes more affectionate as he appears even happier to see me.’
Biologist Professor Krajewski, who interviewed the fisherman for Globo Television, told The Independent: ‘I have never seen anything like this before. I think the penguin believes Joao is part of his family and probably a penguin as well. ‘When he sees him he wags his tail like a dog and honks with delight.
And, just like that, the world seems a kinder place again.
The Penguin and the Fisherman -
Today’s most heartwarming story is brought to you from a beach in Brazil. It’s the story of a South American Magellanic penguin who swims five thousand miles each year to be reunited with the man who saved his life.
Retired bricklayer and part time fisherman Joao Perei de Souza, seventy-one, who lives in an island village just outside Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, found the tiny penguin, covered in oil and close to death, lying on rocks on his local beach in 2011. Joao cleaned the oil off the penguin’s feathers and fed him a daily diet of fish to build his strength. He named him Dindim.
The prodigal penguin returns
After a week, he tried to release the penguin back into the sea. But, the bird wouldn’t leave. ‘He stayed with me for eleven months and then, just after he changed his coat with new feathers, he disappeared,’ Joao recalls. And, just a few months later, Dindim was back. He spotted the fisherman on the beach one day and followed him home.
Look who’s back
For the past five years, Dindim has spent eight months of the year with Joao and is believed to spend the rest of the time breeding off the coast of Argentina and Chile. It’s thought he swims up to five thousand miles each year to be reunited with the man who saved his life.
“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me,” Joao said. “No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. He lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and pick him up.”
It’s thought Dindim believes the fisherman is also a penguin
‘Everyone said he wouldn’t return but he has been coming back to visit me for the past four years. He arrives in June and leaves to go home in February and every year he becomes more affectionate as he appears even happier to see me.’
Biologist Professor Krajewski, who interviewed the fisherman for Globo Television, told The Independent: ‘I have never seen anything like this before. I think the penguin believes Joao is part of his family and probably a penguin as well. ‘When he sees him he wags his tail like a dog and honks with delight.
And, just like that, the world seems a kinder place again.
I like you a lottle.
It's like a little, except a lot.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
February 22 ONLY
Today get $8.62 discount at Amazon with code BIGTHANKS.
You can also shop the coupons page first, picking out items with coupons (Amazon puts these in for you) then at checkout enter the BIGTHANKS code for the final $8.62 discount.
Enjoy!
Good until midnight Pacific time.
You can also shop the coupons page first, picking out items with coupons (Amazon puts these in for you) then at checkout enter the BIGTHANKS code for the final $8.62 discount.
Enjoy!
Good until midnight Pacific time.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Another Harley Video
Harley is in the limelight in his beach video playing soccer with a beach ball.
Watch him bounce the balls off his paws, his nose, his head and then kick the ball back to the human for another go round.
Share this video with your friends if you think it's funny or cute or a fabulous fun waste of time.
It's short only 15 seconds of giggles.
Here is the youtube link:
https://youtu.be/fPUA6eXsipk
Help feed the doggy please, shop Amazon with this link. We arf very grateful!
Watch him bounce the balls off his paws, his nose, his head and then kick the ball back to the human for another go round.
Share this video with your friends if you think it's funny or cute or a fabulous fun waste of time.
It's short only 15 seconds of giggles.
Here is the youtube link:
https://youtu.be/fPUA6eXsipk
Help feed the doggy please, shop Amazon with this link. We arf very grateful!
Sunday, February 19, 2017
A Fun Book That Is Comical and Truer Than Fiction
This is a delightful book full of humor and fun stories.
It's a great book to enjoy a few stories at a time, no need to read the entire thing in one sitting. Each story seems unique.
Lots of insight into working with the public in the middle of nowhere.
Tourists at their finest moments!
Being a workamper myself, I can relate to some of the foolishness presented by folks who somehow got through life this far.
Enjoyable read! Buy it!
It's a great book to enjoy a few stories at a time, no need to read the entire thing in one sitting. Each story seems unique.
Lots of insight into working with the public in the middle of nowhere.
Tourists at their finest moments!
Being a workamper myself, I can relate to some of the foolishness presented by folks who somehow got through life this far.
Enjoyable read! Buy it!
Confessions of a Work Camper: Tales from the Woods
Friday, February 17, 2017
9th Annual Fleetwood RV National Rally
9th Annual Fleetwood RV National Rally
June 7-11 2017 - Shawnee, OK
Heart of Oklahoma Conference Center. Shawnee, Oklahoma
Fleetwood RV is hosting the 9th Annual National Owner's Rally with a new motorhome display, vendors, seminars, meals, entertainment, and access to factory sales, service, and product development teams. All owners of Fleetwood or American Coach motorhomes are invited to attend. We also welcome you to bring along friends and family, regardless of the motorhome brand.
The National Rally will be the exclusive debut 2018 Fleetwood and American Coach motorhomes.
REGISTER TODAY!
Learn more at www.fleetwoodrv.com/event/9th-annual-national-fleetwood-rallywww.fleetwoodrv.com/event/9th-annual-national-fleetwood-rally
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Resting Up
Harley has taken over my chair when he's not sleeping on top of me.
I've caught some awful bug I can't seem to shake loose.
Every few hours I go back to bed. I lay on my side, staring out the window at my lonely bicycle. Harley climbs on top of my rib cage and guards me.
We both miss the bicycle. We were traveling to the dog park daily with it.
Some days the dog park is empty and Harley has no little dogs to race with. He loves to show off that he is the fastest in the pack. He also has the most stamina. As the other dogs fall out of the race, he is the last to stop. He looks so triumphant at this accomplishment!
When the dog park is empty, we bring out the ball and play fetch.
It took some effort to teach him fetch a few years ago. With loads of encouragement and treat rewards, he got the hang of playing fetch with a ball. He needs a load of exercise daily. Walking 10 miles is fun for him, but not for me. So I taught him games that involve running.
Lots of running.
Next we moved up to Frisbee playing. He loves this! Most times he is dragging a 20 foot rope with him too. There is a grassy green area in front of my RV site. We let him drag the rope and run fetch Frisbee. He brings it back and we toss again. Back and forth he runs so happy he can play Frisbee. Most times I throw it 50-60 feet and he races after it, dragging his rope. So far no one has complained. PHEW! When he is tired out, we tie the rope up to the motorhome.
Now he plays fetch for the sheer fun of it and I don't have to have a bowl full of treats to entice him with. Oh he still gets treats.
Yeah. He is a tad spoiled.
Last night he had lasagna. Another night he had mac and cheese.
The little piglet eats wet food, dry food, people food and dog treats too. Yet he is holding steady at barely six and a half pounds.
He is a joy to have around or a pain in the elbow. But I love the little bugger anyhow.
Travels with Harley.
Life is goof.
Speaking of goof... I been trying to give away $10 Walmart coupons so I can earn a $10 coupon. So far I have earned one. If you need $10 of Walmart groceries, then please claim your $10 coupon. I will get one too, when you get yours. Claim here.
By the way, Amazon has coupons too. Check them out on this page.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Ten Tips For New RVers
Re: What advice do you wish someone told you before you went full time?
I like tiny home living and the RV has certainly provided that.
The best advice I wish I had been told early on has been summed up in my TEN TIPS below. Enjoy!
Trees moves, especially when you are backing up.
Finding a hard working honest RV repairman is akin to winning the lottery. Playing the lottery is expensive. Beware, all repairmen think we are mega rich.
Buy heavy duty quick connect for all your outside plumbing, heaven on earth!
Take a picture of everywhere you overnight.
Keep a simple log book near the driver's seat. Invaluable info will accumulate, that is super useful when you are back in the same area.
The first year, you will need to dump at least half your clothes and figure up an easier wardrobe based on your daily lifestyle and routine.
Keep the rig ready for all types of emergencies. You will be glad you did when the need arises.
Gloves, gloves, gloves. Buy thick leather gloves, heavy rubber gloves and a box of disposable gloves.
Life is more fun with a bicycle.
Life is more love with a pet.
I like tiny home living and the RV has certainly provided that.
The best advice I wish I had been told early on has been summed up in my TEN TIPS below. Enjoy!
Trees moves, especially when you are backing up.
Finding a hard working honest RV repairman is akin to winning the lottery. Playing the lottery is expensive. Beware, all repairmen think we are mega rich.
Buy heavy duty quick connect for all your outside plumbing, heaven on earth!
Take a picture of everywhere you overnight.
Keep a simple log book near the driver's seat. Invaluable info will accumulate, that is super useful when you are back in the same area.
The first year, you will need to dump at least half your clothes and figure up an easier wardrobe based on your daily lifestyle and routine.
Keep the rig ready for all types of emergencies. You will be glad you did when the need arises.
Gloves, gloves, gloves. Buy thick leather gloves, heavy rubber gloves and a box of disposable gloves.
Life is more fun with a bicycle.
Life is more love with a pet.
(I get a $10 one too when you do!)
24 Hour Selections
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Mystery In The Campground
Brick Mystery
Who goes camping with this many bricks?
How many bricks do you carry camping?
I carry exactly zero.
But my camp lot came with a load of bricks in a custom cart. These were all used bricks. Like someone tore down their brick and mortar barbecue to bring it out camping. For reassembly?
Now that's an interesting approach to the idea of camping lightly. Don't leave home without your used barbecue bricks.
The cart kind of bordered between my lot and the next. All the sites here are laid out erratically, so the dotted line between sites is extremely vague. Most neighbors make it work agreeably since the lots are mostly generous.
People were asking me almost daily "Are those your bricks? Where did they come from? Whose bricks are those? Have you called the office?"
I ignored the bricks. People would stop by and sometimes take a brick or two. I didn't call the office. The bricks were pretty quiet. They weren't in my way. They weren't noisy.
Campers came. Campers went.
Everyone kept asking about the bricks.
Finally new neighbors came from the great white north to camp on the adjacent lot for a few months. They did not like the bricks. Why are these bricks here? Who do they belong to? Have you called the office? We don't like those bricks here.
They called the office. Come gets these bricks we do not like.
Maintenance management came and stared at the bricks. They drove in their little club car all around the bricks giving them a good long stare.
They groaned and drove off in their little club car.
The bricks stayed. The neighbors complained.
A week or so later, different maintenance workers drove up in their club car. They gaped at the bricks. They rolled their eyes and drove off in their little club car leaving the bricks exactly where they found them.
The bricks went through several days of stormy weather.
More maintenance workers came to glare at the bricks. They tried to tow the handmade cart with a rope but the flat tire wouldn't let the heavily laden cart budge even a half inch. Nobody knew how to tie a proper knot for towing anyhow.
They drove off without any bricks. The bricks stayed. The neighbors complained.
A few days later two club cars and four workers came back to glower at the bricks. Eventually they moved a bunch of bricks from the little cart to their little club cart. They moved maybe ten percent of the bricks over the course of several hours. They drove away with their small bounty.
A day or so later they came back and pumped up the flat tire. Finally they were able to tow off the rest of the bricks.
No one knows when the bricks appeared. No one knows how the bricks got here. No one knows who they originally belonged to. No one knows why the bricks were here at all or who left them behind. Did they just fall out of the sky one day?
I was camped here for over 8 weeks with the mystery bricks. They never bothered me.
The neighbors still ask about the bricks. What happened to the bricks? Did someone take them away? Who did those bricks belong to? Where did they go?
An unsolved brick mystery.
We may never know the truth.
Thank you for using my Amazon links! I don't know who buys what, I just get the final commission and I do appreciate this. Thank you VERY much!
You can still claim your $10 Walmart grocery coupon. If you claim your $10 coupon, I get a $10 one also. Thank You!
So far I have earned one coupon. Thank you!
Who goes camping with this many bricks?
How many bricks do you carry camping?
I carry exactly zero.
But my camp lot came with a load of bricks in a custom cart. These were all used bricks. Like someone tore down their brick and mortar barbecue to bring it out camping. For reassembly?
Now that's an interesting approach to the idea of camping lightly. Don't leave home without your used barbecue bricks.
The cart kind of bordered between my lot and the next. All the sites here are laid out erratically, so the dotted line between sites is extremely vague. Most neighbors make it work agreeably since the lots are mostly generous.
People were asking me almost daily "Are those your bricks? Where did they come from? Whose bricks are those? Have you called the office?"
I ignored the bricks. People would stop by and sometimes take a brick or two. I didn't call the office. The bricks were pretty quiet. They weren't in my way. They weren't noisy.
Campers came. Campers went.
Everyone kept asking about the bricks.
Finally new neighbors came from the great white north to camp on the adjacent lot for a few months. They did not like the bricks. Why are these bricks here? Who do they belong to? Have you called the office? We don't like those bricks here.
They called the office. Come gets these bricks we do not like.
Maintenance management came and stared at the bricks. They drove in their little club car all around the bricks giving them a good long stare.
They groaned and drove off in their little club car.
The bricks stayed. The neighbors complained.
A week or so later, different maintenance workers drove up in their club car. They gaped at the bricks. They rolled their eyes and drove off in their little club car leaving the bricks exactly where they found them.
The bricks went through several days of stormy weather.
More maintenance workers came to glare at the bricks. They tried to tow the handmade cart with a rope but the flat tire wouldn't let the heavily laden cart budge even a half inch. Nobody knew how to tie a proper knot for towing anyhow.
They drove off without any bricks. The bricks stayed. The neighbors complained.
A few days later two club cars and four workers came back to glower at the bricks. Eventually they moved a bunch of bricks from the little cart to their little club cart. They moved maybe ten percent of the bricks over the course of several hours. They drove away with their small bounty.
A day or so later they came back and pumped up the flat tire. Finally they were able to tow off the rest of the bricks.
No one knows when the bricks appeared. No one knows how the bricks got here. No one knows who they originally belonged to. No one knows why the bricks were here at all or who left them behind. Did they just fall out of the sky one day?
I was camped here for over 8 weeks with the mystery bricks. They never bothered me.
The neighbors still ask about the bricks. What happened to the bricks? Did someone take them away? Who did those bricks belong to? Where did they go?
An unsolved brick mystery.
We may never know the truth.
Thank you for using my Amazon links! I don't know who buys what, I just get the final commission and I do appreciate this. Thank you VERY much!
You can still claim your $10 Walmart grocery coupon. If you claim your $10 coupon, I get a $10 one also. Thank You!
So far I have earned one coupon. Thank you!
Friday, February 10, 2017
Tips On Painting Your Cabinets
Painting is not easy. I am lousy at it. But what little I know is that the PREPARATION takes ten times longer than the actual painting.
So if you plan to paint, do lots of preparation so you have complete success.
Jo commented:
I was wondering if those cabinets are the same as the ones in my kitchen and seems they are. I was told not to paint them because they would peel. doesn't look like you had a problem at all. Look much brighter.
Jo, you might want to just buy one spray pay can, some sandpaper and just do ONE cabinet face to see how it goes.
I used to oil my woodwork. This is a no no for painting. Luckily I am behind on housekeeping and haven't oiled anything in awhile.
Just the same, the preparation took a very long time, or so it seems. I am inpatient. I was anxious to see the end result!
First the cabinet faces were removed.
Then the brass drawer pulls were removed.
The hinges at the top of my cabinets were taped over with blue painter's tape rather than removed from the cabinet faces.
The cabinet faces were moved outside and diligently sanded and dusted. We used a fine grit sand paper folded up to palm size then sanded by hand. You want to remove any shine so the cabinet face looks bare naked. Mine also had the plastic faux brass inserts as part of the trim. While I loved the brass pulls, I was not fond of the silly plastic inserts. This was roughed up with the sandpaper so the paint would stick.
After sanding, be sure to dust all over because you don't want that dust in or on the paint. A small whisk broom and a microfiber rag will do this just fine.
Next we covered our outside table in a cheap plastic drop cloth, then spray painted the cabinet faces in very thin light coats. The first coat will look awful. But do it THIN. The second coat will look awful too. Spray a THIN coat. Do not try to cover. I can't stress this enough. Patience!
Let dry, which is pretty quick like 30-60 minutes. Repeat with another thin coat. Let dry. Repeat and on on until you get the look you desire.
When finished painting try to let the cabinet faces have another 24 hours of dry time. Then reinstall the cabinet pulls, then hang back up on the hinges.
Now the hard part, try NOT to touch the cabinet paint for at least a month. We are being super careful to open with the pulls and not touch any of the paint.
I was told by a very successful professional house painter, that a month to cure any paint would make it last a super long time. He said it takes about a month for the paint to fully cure. If one can avoid touching the paint for at least a month, it will resist dirt and grime and last.
So far this project has set me back about $10 in spray paint, drop cloth and sandpaper for 3 drawers and 4 cabinet faces. I have leftover paint too, and more cabinets to do. By the way, you can cut up big garbage bags to make your own drop cloths.
Try to do just two cabinets or drawers at a time, maybe three at the most. Especially if you are LIVING in your motorhome while doing this.
Take your time!
Be patient.
So if you plan to paint, do lots of preparation so you have complete success.
Jo commented:
I was wondering if those cabinets are the same as the ones in my kitchen and seems they are. I was told not to paint them because they would peel. doesn't look like you had a problem at all. Look much brighter.
Jo, you might want to just buy one spray pay can, some sandpaper and just do ONE cabinet face to see how it goes.
I used to oil my woodwork. This is a no no for painting. Luckily I am behind on housekeeping and haven't oiled anything in awhile.
Just the same, the preparation took a very long time, or so it seems. I am inpatient. I was anxious to see the end result!
First the cabinet faces were removed.
Then the brass drawer pulls were removed.
The hinges at the top of my cabinets were taped over with blue painter's tape rather than removed from the cabinet faces.
The cabinet faces were moved outside and diligently sanded and dusted. We used a fine grit sand paper folded up to palm size then sanded by hand. You want to remove any shine so the cabinet face looks bare naked. Mine also had the plastic faux brass inserts as part of the trim. While I loved the brass pulls, I was not fond of the silly plastic inserts. This was roughed up with the sandpaper so the paint would stick.
After sanding, be sure to dust all over because you don't want that dust in or on the paint. A small whisk broom and a microfiber rag will do this just fine.
Next we covered our outside table in a cheap plastic drop cloth, then spray painted the cabinet faces in very thin light coats. The first coat will look awful. But do it THIN. The second coat will look awful too. Spray a THIN coat. Do not try to cover. I can't stress this enough. Patience!
Let dry, which is pretty quick like 30-60 minutes. Repeat with another thin coat. Let dry. Repeat and on on until you get the look you desire.
When finished painting try to let the cabinet faces have another 24 hours of dry time. Then reinstall the cabinet pulls, then hang back up on the hinges.
Now the hard part, try NOT to touch the cabinet paint for at least a month. We are being super careful to open with the pulls and not touch any of the paint.
I was told by a very successful professional house painter, that a month to cure any paint would make it last a super long time. He said it takes about a month for the paint to fully cure. If one can avoid touching the paint for at least a month, it will resist dirt and grime and last.
So far this project has set me back about $10 in spray paint, drop cloth and sandpaper for 3 drawers and 4 cabinet faces. I have leftover paint too, and more cabinets to do. By the way, you can cut up big garbage bags to make your own drop cloths.
Try to do just two cabinets or drawers at a time, maybe three at the most. Especially if you are LIVING in your motorhome while doing this.
Take your time!
Be patient.
Thursday, February 09, 2017
New Paint Old Rig
Wheeeeeeee!
Painting Cabinet faces Satin Ivory Silk, check out before and after.
I love the new look!
Painting Cabinet faces Satin Ivory Silk, check out before and after.
I love the new look!
Wednesday, February 08, 2017
New Color
Before and After
Work in Progress
My whole life is a work in progress. I am living in my forever home, an old little Class C that is 28 by 7 feet. No slide outs or pop outs.
It's tiny home living!
Since I have no car, I spend an inordinate amount of time at home. One would think this would be a fabulous money saving idea.
Mostly it is!
But I get tired of the decor and I am often seeking inexpensive solutions to change it up to something soothing and comfy.
My motorhome like many came with a lot of real and fake wood. Too much wood!
I wanted to paint the interior cabinets. However the work to do that and the resulting cost is just way out of line with my skills and budget.
Lately I have a friend visiting me and we have loads in common. Mostly that we are both eccentric and beat to a very different drum. After that we are vastly different.
Think outside the box!
We found cabinet faces in the dumpster that were stark white and carried them back to my rig. None of them fit, but it gave me ideas. What if just the cabinet faces were painted off white buttery?
We returned the found cabinet faces since we could not use them. They had newer brass pulls but the screw holes were radically different so that was a no go salvage too.
My friend pointed out the path of least resistance would be to remove them, and spray paint them outside then put them back up.
So we did a few drawers as a test run.
The spray paint color available was either full on yellow or beige. I wanted a pale buttery color, but I compromised with a lean towards beige.
Here are some work in progress pictures.
This is the view from the entry door with the kitchen counter and drawers straight ahead, the kitchen to the left and the dining/desk booth area to the right.
We had already snatched the bottom drawer out for a test run. Then we decided to do all 3 drawer faces. The 4th one at the top will be done later.
Here we have our test look finished. Those are the original brass pulls, we kept them. They cost a fortune. We tried to clean them up some what to look nicer. They've had 23 years of grimy handling.
I love the new look, while it's not as buttery as I had hoped, they do seem to pop and give the rig a new look.
On the left is the lower side of my infamous galley wall that hasn't come tumbling down yet.
What's hanging on the lower hooks are some of my beloved and well used collapsible bowls and colander.
The purple bowl is a "Squish" 1.5 quart and the green one is a 5 quart. Squish makes a 3 quart which I do not own (yet!).
I prefer Squish because it comes in fun colors, there is a hole for hanging, they are oval, they have a spout. I use elastic bowl covers if I store something in them. Mostly I use them for mixing bowls then decant the final recipe into a smaller bowl with a screw on lid.
The colander is red with stainless steel and silicone. It is awesome. I use it almost daily washing produce or draining things like beans or pasta.
Gotta run now, more sanding and painting to do.
Life's a mess!
Work in Progress
My whole life is a work in progress. I am living in my forever home, an old little Class C that is 28 by 7 feet. No slide outs or pop outs.
It's tiny home living!
Since I have no car, I spend an inordinate amount of time at home. One would think this would be a fabulous money saving idea.
Mostly it is!
But I get tired of the decor and I am often seeking inexpensive solutions to change it up to something soothing and comfy.
My motorhome like many came with a lot of real and fake wood. Too much wood!
I wanted to paint the interior cabinets. However the work to do that and the resulting cost is just way out of line with my skills and budget.
Lately I have a friend visiting me and we have loads in common. Mostly that we are both eccentric and beat to a very different drum. After that we are vastly different.
Think outside the box!
We found cabinet faces in the dumpster that were stark white and carried them back to my rig. None of them fit, but it gave me ideas. What if just the cabinet faces were painted off white buttery?
We returned the found cabinet faces since we could not use them. They had newer brass pulls but the screw holes were radically different so that was a no go salvage too.
My friend pointed out the path of least resistance would be to remove them, and spray paint them outside then put them back up.
So we did a few drawers as a test run.
The spray paint color available was either full on yellow or beige. I wanted a pale buttery color, but I compromised with a lean towards beige.
Here are some work in progress pictures.
This is the view from the entry door with the kitchen counter and drawers straight ahead, the kitchen to the left and the dining/desk booth area to the right.
We had already snatched the bottom drawer out for a test run. Then we decided to do all 3 drawer faces. The 4th one at the top will be done later.
Here we have our test look finished. Those are the original brass pulls, we kept them. They cost a fortune. We tried to clean them up some what to look nicer. They've had 23 years of grimy handling.
I love the new look, while it's not as buttery as I had hoped, they do seem to pop and give the rig a new look.
On the left is the lower side of my infamous galley wall that hasn't come tumbling down yet.
What's hanging on the lower hooks are some of my beloved and well used collapsible bowls and colander.
The purple bowl is a "Squish" 1.5 quart and the green one is a 5 quart. Squish makes a 3 quart which I do not own (yet!).
I prefer Squish because it comes in fun colors, there is a hole for hanging, they are oval, they have a spout. I use elastic bowl covers if I store something in them. Mostly I use them for mixing bowls then decant the final recipe into a smaller bowl with a screw on lid.
The colander is red with stainless steel and silicone. It is awesome. I use it almost daily washing produce or draining things like beans or pasta.
Gotta run now, more sanding and painting to do.
Life's a mess!
Monday, February 06, 2017
Living the Dream
Living the dream!
Sometimes I snap candid photos of my galley for fun and mayhem.
Life in motion.
The tiny sand dollar is a fond memory of my favorite place in the whole wide world.
My kitchen wall has not come tumbling down in spite the mountain of baskets, condiments, utensils, spices, lists, magnet holder, hooks, dishes, chopping board, clock, thermometers, coffee pot and general chaos.
The stove is covered with a pot of boiling eggs, in back is a metal tray with carafes of purified water for drinking and cooking. I make my own purified water with a super wonderful Berkey system that is so simple it requires no electricity, no plumbing, no water pressure. It works on gravity with the aid of amazing renewable ceramic type fixtures. It's portable so in the event of disaster, it can be relocated to a nearby stream, river or lake.
The small white 1.5 quart crockpot is cooking the latest dried bean dish. The dish drainer is never empty. As quick as dishes are put away, more appear to wash and dry. The long skinny basket on the end of the counter holds apples, an avocado and usually a few bananas. The other tiny basket holds my dish washing soap, a small bottle I refill as needed plus my sponge. The white plastic basket of spoons belongs in the drawer, not the counter, but the drawer is outside being painted as we speak.
That huge white cutting board hiding the second sink, also hides dirty dishes waiting to be washed. I never cut on that white board. I want to keep it very new looking without any cut marks. That is because it's the first thing I see when I walk in the door and where whatever is in my hands at the time, gets dumped for future sorting and storage. When I need the second sink, I just set it aside and use both sinks at once as needed. I have a nice bamboo chopping board on the wall that I put on the white counter board to chop with. If I need a huge board, well I have those flexible roll up cutting boards to protect my pristine white non-cutting board that I use as a counter top extension and sink cover.
It's funny that while taking this picture, my favorite drinking cup is sitting there wrapped in a worn out cozie that reads LIVING THE DREAM. It holds a stainless steel tumbler that is 12 ounces. I have four of those that live in the freezer door when they are not stuck in a cozie for drinking water etc. I bought them early on for my RV and they've held up beautifully all these years.
My built in coffee pot is on it's last legs, it leaks like crazy once the water is added, so I make coffee in a hurry then turn it off and reheat it cup by cup as desired. The carafe doesn't leak but the innards seem to be disintegrating. I am afraid that one day soon I shall have to uninstall it. It's the original 1994 coffee maker!
In the rear is my bed which is built in on three sides. It's a bear to make up.
It has lots of pillows and a big fluffy comforter. I have medical problems that can be super painful. In those times I can prop up in bed with pillows to make my own reclining lounge chair. It also has a heated mattress cover, so I can use the heat for therapy or for warmth on chilly nights.
I am so lucky the bed has 3 big windows around it, so I am not depressed if I am forced into bed to recuperate more than I prefer.
Take a good long look at my cabinet doors. These are in the process of being painted in an off white color to see if that brightens up the place and gives me a new look. I would love to paint it all in off white, but that's not happening.
Over seven long years in this tiny motorhome!
I am always trying to fix it up, repair it, maintain it and sometimes redecorate to keep from being tired of it. Because I have no car, I spend an inordinate amount of time at home.
I hope to live to a 100 just to see what happens next.
By the way Harley's latest video will be available at this link:
https://youtu.be/a_lZUYD4z0A
Sometimes I snap candid photos of my galley for fun and mayhem.
Life in motion.
The tiny sand dollar is a fond memory of my favorite place in the whole wide world.
My kitchen wall has not come tumbling down in spite the mountain of baskets, condiments, utensils, spices, lists, magnet holder, hooks, dishes, chopping board, clock, thermometers, coffee pot and general chaos.
The stove is covered with a pot of boiling eggs, in back is a metal tray with carafes of purified water for drinking and cooking. I make my own purified water with a super wonderful Berkey system that is so simple it requires no electricity, no plumbing, no water pressure. It works on gravity with the aid of amazing renewable ceramic type fixtures. It's portable so in the event of disaster, it can be relocated to a nearby stream, river or lake.
The small white 1.5 quart crockpot is cooking the latest dried bean dish. The dish drainer is never empty. As quick as dishes are put away, more appear to wash and dry. The long skinny basket on the end of the counter holds apples, an avocado and usually a few bananas. The other tiny basket holds my dish washing soap, a small bottle I refill as needed plus my sponge. The white plastic basket of spoons belongs in the drawer, not the counter, but the drawer is outside being painted as we speak.
That huge white cutting board hiding the second sink, also hides dirty dishes waiting to be washed. I never cut on that white board. I want to keep it very new looking without any cut marks. That is because it's the first thing I see when I walk in the door and where whatever is in my hands at the time, gets dumped for future sorting and storage. When I need the second sink, I just set it aside and use both sinks at once as needed. I have a nice bamboo chopping board on the wall that I put on the white counter board to chop with. If I need a huge board, well I have those flexible roll up cutting boards to protect my pristine white non-cutting board that I use as a counter top extension and sink cover.
It's funny that while taking this picture, my favorite drinking cup is sitting there wrapped in a worn out cozie that reads LIVING THE DREAM. It holds a stainless steel tumbler that is 12 ounces. I have four of those that live in the freezer door when they are not stuck in a cozie for drinking water etc. I bought them early on for my RV and they've held up beautifully all these years.
My built in coffee pot is on it's last legs, it leaks like crazy once the water is added, so I make coffee in a hurry then turn it off and reheat it cup by cup as desired. The carafe doesn't leak but the innards seem to be disintegrating. I am afraid that one day soon I shall have to uninstall it. It's the original 1994 coffee maker!
In the rear is my bed which is built in on three sides. It's a bear to make up.
It has lots of pillows and a big fluffy comforter. I have medical problems that can be super painful. In those times I can prop up in bed with pillows to make my own reclining lounge chair. It also has a heated mattress cover, so I can use the heat for therapy or for warmth on chilly nights.
I am so lucky the bed has 3 big windows around it, so I am not depressed if I am forced into bed to recuperate more than I prefer.
Take a good long look at my cabinet doors. These are in the process of being painted in an off white color to see if that brightens up the place and gives me a new look. I would love to paint it all in off white, but that's not happening.
Over seven long years in this tiny motorhome!
I am always trying to fix it up, repair it, maintain it and sometimes redecorate to keep from being tired of it. Because I have no car, I spend an inordinate amount of time at home.
I hope to live to a 100 just to see what happens next.
By the way Harley's latest video will be available at this link:
https://youtu.be/a_lZUYD4z0A
Saturday, February 04, 2017
RV Spots
I'm alive and moving around.
The days fly by as I try to cram so much into each day.
Wheee!
I went on a road trip with a friend to go look at some other RV parks. What we found were tiny crammed spots for hermetically sealed living without nature.
I want nature, trees, grass and minimal pavement plus a neighborhood to ride my bicycle around.
I guess there is a huge market for cramping, if you want to sit in your RV all day with the windows closed up tight and a view of the TV rather than a view of nature. Some spaces were so tight you could pass the salt to your neighbor by just opening the window!
No idea where I will end up.
Life is goof.
The days fly by as I try to cram so much into each day.
Wheee!
I went on a road trip with a friend to go look at some other RV parks. What we found were tiny crammed spots for hermetically sealed living without nature.
I want nature, trees, grass and minimal pavement plus a neighborhood to ride my bicycle around.
I guess there is a huge market for cramping, if you want to sit in your RV all day with the windows closed up tight and a view of the TV rather than a view of nature. Some spaces were so tight you could pass the salt to your neighbor by just opening the window!
No idea where I will end up.
Life is goof.
Wednesday, February 01, 2017
20% Off Food
My budget has changed dramatically because my income has spiraled downward when I am working hard to make it come back up to an efficient existence. But such is the complexities of living in America with a body that is thinking up new ways to torture me.
I've been battling for my life, plus patching up the old RV and sometimes it all takes money too. I scour around looking for ways to slash expenses, avoid costs, make do AND be happy about it all! But I love food, and enjoy eating. Ha ha ha, I think most of us do!
Smile! I woke up alive and life is awesome. I still have an addled brain, I can figure this out, given enough time.
I tried the Walmart $10 coupon for online grocery ordering with free pickup. Delivery is extra.
It worked pretty nicely though Walmart has a long ways to go on getting this set up efficiently. It started when I received a $10 coupon which required an online grocery purchase of $50 or more from Walmart.
I went through their site, picked out $50.63 of groceries, then took the $10 off leaving $40.63 due. There is no sales tax on food in Florida where I shopped.
We drove to pick up the order. They have a smart phone ap, but I have a dumb phone, so I called in person to let them know I was on my way. The cheerful lady told me to pull in to Walmart to the designated pickup area, which in this case was on the left side of the building. There was parking for 5 vehicles to pickup. We were the only one,
She showed up a moment later pulling a cart with the groceries. We signed for them and drove away. Never set foot in the store.
As a bonus, they gave us two small cloth gift bags with treats such as water, cookies, mixed nuts, a snack munchie bar and strangely some samples of Splendide which I refuse to touch and regifted. The gift bags were the smaller cloth kind for shopping. Harley dog likes the small cloth bags cause he needs toys and treats of his own for his humans to carry around for him when he goes out and about. Matter of fact, Harley gave the nice lady an enthusiastic welcome when she brought out the groceries, he was literally jumping for joy.
Walmart doesn't have everything on the online ordering for groceries yet. I hope they strive to improve this, but they did have a huge selection including fresh produce, organic items and lots of other choices.
Now, I can offer YOU a $10 coupon. When you claim it, I get a new $10 coupon also. SO we BOTH save $10.
Pretty nifty!
If you buy exactly $50 in groceries, then the coupon savings work out to 20%. Not bad!
So claim you coupon today, and I will get one too.
Thanks!
Get your $10 coupon with this link.
It worked for me and it was kind of fun.
I've been battling for my life, plus patching up the old RV and sometimes it all takes money too. I scour around looking for ways to slash expenses, avoid costs, make do AND be happy about it all! But I love food, and enjoy eating. Ha ha ha, I think most of us do!
Smile! I woke up alive and life is awesome. I still have an addled brain, I can figure this out, given enough time.
I tried the Walmart $10 coupon for online grocery ordering with free pickup. Delivery is extra.
How it works
It worked pretty nicely though Walmart has a long ways to go on getting this set up efficiently. It started when I received a $10 coupon which required an online grocery purchase of $50 or more from Walmart.
I went through their site, picked out $50.63 of groceries, then took the $10 off leaving $40.63 due. There is no sales tax on food in Florida where I shopped.
We drove to pick up the order. They have a smart phone ap, but I have a dumb phone, so I called in person to let them know I was on my way. The cheerful lady told me to pull in to Walmart to the designated pickup area, which in this case was on the left side of the building. There was parking for 5 vehicles to pickup. We were the only one,
She showed up a moment later pulling a cart with the groceries. We signed for them and drove away. Never set foot in the store.
As a bonus, they gave us two small cloth gift bags with treats such as water, cookies, mixed nuts, a snack munchie bar and strangely some samples of Splendide which I refuse to touch and regifted. The gift bags were the smaller cloth kind for shopping. Harley dog likes the small cloth bags cause he needs toys and treats of his own for his humans to carry around for him when he goes out and about. Matter of fact, Harley gave the nice lady an enthusiastic welcome when she brought out the groceries, he was literally jumping for joy.
Walmart doesn't have everything on the online ordering for groceries yet. I hope they strive to improve this, but they did have a huge selection including fresh produce, organic items and lots of other choices.
Now, I can offer YOU a $10 coupon. When you claim it, I get a new $10 coupon also. SO we BOTH save $10.
Pretty nifty!
If you buy exactly $50 in groceries, then the coupon savings work out to 20%. Not bad!
So claim you coupon today, and I will get one too.
Thanks!
Get your $10 coupon with this link.
It worked for me and it was kind of fun.
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