Spring is Coming!

And I really need to get back to my

 "little" project

in the garage.

It has been a bit of a rough winter.

I had such big plans to have this camper

done early in the spring.

Actually, by now.

Instead, there the poor girl sits

all lonely and deserted.

At least she is in where she is warm.

For those of you that don't follow

the chaos

anywhere else,

Starting in November,

life took some twists and turns,

and in January,

we lost my mother-in-law.

Soon after that,

we welcomed a new little baby

to our growing collection

of grandchildren

and

not long after that

I spent two weeks in Ohio.

with my Mom very sick.

I know that we can't predict the future,

but I am very hopeful

that I will have time this month

to work on my camper

and

hopefully have it ready for a

short

close to home

May camping trip.

Feet up at a campfire,

relaxing with friends,

camping trip.

The picture above

was a gift that I found on my porch yesterday.

What a great addition to my 70's decor!

Motivation I needed to get back to work!

Thanks, Bonnie and Linda!

 

This little fan was found at an

estate auction the other night.

Cleaned up,

it will be perfect sitting in the camper

and

it does actually work!

 

Not the safest thing,

I think it will be more of a conversation piece

than functional!

Still Buying, Not Working

With holidays

and

more work hours,

I have not had time to spend an

Evening with Ellie.

After all, this was to be my

WINTER project

and

technically,

it is not WINTER yet!

I found this

vintage cooler

at an antique mall and had to have it.

The suitcase and melmac

were

thrift store finds.

$2!!! 

I could not believe the price!

The fabric for the dinette,

not quite as

fun pricing!

But I love it!

The foam for the cushions?

Downright pricey! 

Wow!

I will be using the old foam

for the dinette,

not sure

where I am going to buy the foam for the bed,

but,

I might have to hit the lottery to purchase it!

She needed a name

and now she has it!

This is outside the door,

a memory of the last owner.

It is only paper,

so in the cleaning,

it is going to go away.

I think it only fitting

that her name is

Ellie J

for Ellen and June!

We have water!

But first,

I found these cups in my MIL's garage!

They are perfect for in the camper!

Love the colors

and

so

retro!

And

tada!

We have water!

JWS attached the hose and started

the water running,

handed me a flashlight

and

said to go look for leaks. 

Really? 

I would have rather been on the

"OH MY GOSH,

SHUT OFF THE HOSE

end.

I found leaks,

but only two

and that is not bad

for something that has sat outside

in

Pennsylvania

for

at least 40 years. 

And

more progress on the painting.

No one told me that you have to be a contortionist to work on one of these things.

This poor body of mine has been in positions

that it has not been in in years...

or ever!

I think that once I put the bunk down,

I will be channeling

Michelangelo.

That is

laying on my back painting.

I see so many people taking out the upper bunk,

I am not thinking that is an option for me

with six grandchildren,

four of which

are

awaiting the first camping trip.

Kitchen Remodel and a Painting Tip

First of all,

I am attacking this interior

one "room' at a time. 

Kitchen remodel first,

it is almost completed.

It is a small area to work in

and I am here to tell you,

this is a lot of painting and trimming!

Behind the stove was paper,

not in perfect shape,

a little wrinkled at the edges.

The question of removing it, briefly flitted through my mind.

I am way more into camouflaging issues

than making a worse mess sometimes.

So I painted it.

Then to "define" the kitchen area

I decided to stripe it.

Taped off,

and here is your tip...

If you paint back over the tape

with the base color,

it seals the edges of the tape

and

keeps the top color from bleeding through,

allowing for more crisp stripes.

And all the thoughts of

red

green

orange

cupboard doors?

Resulted in Honey Brown.

So far,

I am liking it...

I cleaned all the cupboards,

painted and lined the drawers,

scrubbed the floor

and before I left last night,

could not resist

placing a few decorative items out.

Wish I would have taken the curtains with me.

I am even loving the floor!

Now on to the dining room....

Then the living room!

More Decor

Jackson China

and

whatever that rooster plate is?

A Walston, Pa find.

Hand-crocheted rag rug that I just finished

1967 Tea Towel and pot holder.

Cocoa Beach, Florida

More Melmac dishes. 

Walston, Pa

and

Spaces Corners,

the

B and E Depot,

Two of my favorite junque shop stops.

In the box with the Melmac was the great cream and sugar set.

Doug, from the Walston store

was hesitant to sell the Melmac.

It was his grandmothers and he didn't want

it to go to someone who just wanted to resell it. 

He happily parted with it,

(as I parted with my $20 bill)

as I told him that I was going to use it in my camper. 

Grapes and Painting

I finally found the grapes! 

They were in the back of  a store in an alley in

 Melbourne, Florida.

The TSA folks studied my carry on for quite awhile trying to figure those out!

Carpeting up,

the linoleum is actually in good shape,

 not sure whether to keep it or not,

so I carefully taped it off. 

The black is the backing of the carpet,

but it is coming off also. 

What to do? 

It certainly is retro,

but maybe a bit too retro.

One coat of primer

and

two coats

of buttery, creamy paint

is really brightening

the old girl up.

A decision needs to made about the doors.

Orange?

Green?

Brick?

After all this,

I now think I want to try Gold.

What do you think?

Not sure I am a big fan

of the propane light,

but

JWS

thinks that it needs to stay.

He has high hopes of camping in it

within a month.

Not sure about that!