Old Scout

We got Old Scout 6 years ago. It already had the name Scout on its wheel cover.

It is a 1964 Avion which is commonly mistaken for the Airstream.

The Avion has a nickle plated finish instead of the shiny finish of the Airstream.

I normally like to leave the original feel of older things but the previous owners had already painted primer on the interior walls so I decided to make Scout into a Western Bunkhouse.

I am known to visit the remnant bin at the fabric stores, not only do I like the discount, 50% or more, I like getting bits of this and that and seeing what I can do with them. I raided the bin and bought every chunk whos colors tied in with this remnant piece.

Want to take a peek inside?

When I showed Hubbie the paint color I chose, well lets just say he had serious doubts.

I told him to trust me and except for the time I attempted to paint the den purple, he usually likes what i come up with.

To the left as you walk in was a furnace which didn't work, so we removed it to get some valuable wall space.

I painted the cavity and hung hooks for hats and coats.

I put a basket for shoes and 6 years ago the whole family could fit their shoes in the basket. With my kids giant feet now, no way, so it is Frisbees and fire supplies.

I lucked out and found these rugs at garage sales.

The front of Scout is the couch, it pulls out into a double bed (hubbie and I sleep there) and has storage underneath for bedding. I found these Ralph Lauren blankets at Homegoods and made new covers for the cushions. I put zippers on them so I can remove them each season for washing.

On the overhead cabinet was this weird wood thing so I copied the fabric onto a paper grocery bag, tore the edges and decoupaged it and added a clock mechanism. It is battery operated so you don't need electricity to know what time it is.

Next to the couch is the kitchen. The walls had the shiny flecked laminate, same as the counters, and I felt it needed a bit of personality so I stenciled a western motif border. I didn't want to get a whole bucket of paint so I just purchased one of those sample pots in a brown color.

There were 2 big scraps leftover from the couch covers so I made a divider between the living area and the beds.

This is where the kids sleep.

There are closets separating the areas.

I used the stencil again to make a "headboard".

I made curtains with all the remnants and after I finished I took all the leftover pieces and made bunkhouse quilts. The girl who was 5 at the time, set out her pattern and then sewed this one while sitting on my lap. I had control of the foot pedal.

The boy who has no interest in sewing let me make his.

The back is the bathroom or outhouse.

I used the rest of the brown paint sample and swirled the walls to make it seem more rustic.

My MIL had this scrap that she was selling at a garage sale, I snagged it years ago and found it perfect for the curtains in this room.

I adore the curvy cabinets in here.

The PVC vent pipe looked out of place so I sponge painted it to look rusty.

We get interesting looks and one kid at a campground asked why it was so ugly. I laughed. Coming back from a Canada trip 2 summers ago, we got the thorough inspection from border patrol. I think they thought we were carting in drugs or illegals.

We are spending this weekend camping in Scout in our own front yard. My mom and her hubbie are bringing there camper over (its cute, I'll take pics) and other cousins are bringing tents.

There will be fishing, swimming, camp cookouts and NO TV!

I'll post pics of our Staycation on Monday.

Have a great weekend.

Home sweet Home

I have been so happy to be home this week.

I have only ran to town once to get scratch grains and to drop off library items.

I made salsa out of my 2nd and 3rd ripe tomatoes, 1 onion, 1 green pepper, and 1 jalapeno all from the garden. The salt, sugar and cider vinegar came from the store.

Blueberry coffee cake from the Betty Crocker Cookbook. The lemon glaze is delish.





We are getting ready for our Stay cation this weekend.
Like how mother and son are dressed up in their Pj pants?



Old Scout needed a good scrubbing.

"Do you have any Chicken News?"

"Why yes Freckles I do and thanks for asking."

Dot is wearing a French Beret.

The Dark Cornish have been out playing.

"Look at me Mom. Watch what I can do."

Wheeeee!

This breed looks prehistoric.

Ok, she looks cute.

Hamburg, our Silver Spangled Hamburg (free exotic) has been crowing quite a bit. He likes running around on those blue legs of his.

I am actually cleaning my house and I am caught up on laundry. Tomorrow I tackle the inside of the camper. I love being home.

Summerfest

Friday at 11am the boy and I went to set my tent up for Summerfest. The girl wasn't feeling well and stayed home. Soon after unloading my sister and her girls showed up. We got the tent up and I bought my boy a $5 pizza and my sister took him home to feed the girl for me.

It was slow on Friday so I got to visit artist friends. My artist neighbor from last year Kate, http://chicalookate.wordpress.com/ , is a wonderful photographer and makes new items from old things.

My boy had to have this notebook she made from an old album cover. I got a pocket mirror from her which made checking my teeth for food during the show a dream. I like to eat at the shows and worry about stuck food.

She has an etsy shop and was the first artist to heart my etsy shop.

http://chicalookate.etsy.com/

Shout out to Kate!

I had only sold one bag Friday night and started questioning my sanity for choosing art as a career (not the first time I've questioned this).

Along with the craft show there are lots of other activities. One was a Vegetable art contest. I got home at 9:30, squeezed my fam, and raided the garden with a flashlight in hand.

They bring the artists a doughnut cart at 8am on Saturday and that was all the convincing I did to get the kids up early and out the door. (We never buy doughnuts)

The boy with the hollow leg needed more than one so we hit the baked goods vendors at the farmers market at the show.

We dropped off our veggie entries.

The girl made a veggie glade with an alligator, fish, logs, flowers and lily pads.

She got honorable mention in the 11-18 age group.

My boy made Moby Zucchini splashing over a small boat.

He took 3rd place in the 11-18 age category.

I knew I was going to win a prize with my entry, not because mine was incredible, but there was 3 prizes in each category and I was only one of 2 entries in the adult category. I love a guaranteed win!

My King of the Garden, which I made in 10 minutes tied with...

...Eve Tomato. Isn't she a beauty!

(my girl took the pics so I wouldn't have to leave my tent)

We all won various gift certificates around town, and...

... these adorable felted wool veggie pins made by my talented friend who lives 2 miles down the same road as me, Karen. Mine is the carrot one. I may steal the onion from the boy.

I love these pins!

The kids also got to make exploding art. Filled a balloon with paint, pumped it up and popped it in a box.

Pretty cool.





Hubbie brought lunch, visited a bit, took the kids home.

The afternoon weather turned windy so I spent the majority of the time keeping my tent from flying away.

The show was supposed to go till 8 pm but around 6:30 we got word of a storm on its way, lucky for me Hubbie came up early and helped me shut down. As I was shutting down I got a last minute shopping rush and sold more bags. Yay!

We had everything packed, hubbie ran to get the Monster Truck, and as we were loading we got a torrential downpour. I only need to dry out the tent, all my bags were tubed away nice and dry.

Tally

I sold 9 bags

4 tissue packs

and

2 polymer clay buttons

Not a gang buster show but I made a nice profit, had fun that included my family. Very nice customers and saw lots of friends. Well worth doing. 6 weeks until the next show!

farm news

I have a lot to share about my show but it will have to wait. I have so much happening around home to share so I prioritized and this is first.

(My photos usually are crap but you have to enlarge this one, I am proud and surprised at how great it looks)



I got home from my show last evening and discovered my first red tomato. Oh thank you wise tomato gods for waiting until now. I couldn't imagine blueberries, green beans, cukes, getting ready for a show, not to mention regular life stuff AND ripe tomatoes waiting for me. I am seeing fresh salsa, sauce and tons of canning in my near future.

Also in my future, I got the summons for jury duty. Third time in 3 1/2 years. Lucky me.

T-Bone says hi.

The chickens have been laying in the dog house more since the raccoon attack. They don't feel as safe in the coop.
(Chip and Freckles)

Speaking of raccoons, trapped #4 last night and discovered this nighttime damage to the coop. I am so thankful you ladies understand my dilemma with the masked wearing devils.

Does every farm, mini or big need this symbol somewhere? I think so.

Hubbie picked up this beauty at a garage sale for $15 bucks.

Small enough to hook to the 3 wheeler for mini jobs around here. Cleaning the coop is going to be so much easier. Not to mention wood hauling and garden work. Yay!




Yes that is duct tape covering the seat of the 3 wheeler, cheaper than a new seat right?

A future blog teaser...

...I tied for first place this weekend.

Next post will be about Summerfest!