Monday, April 11, 2016

Maiden Voyage In Our New Trailer

Well, we had our first trip in the new trailer, and I am happy to report that all went smoothly.  We were off like a herd of turtles at about 5:00 PM on Friday night.  Arriving at our destination less than an hour later. 
The only little hiccup of the weekend was with the first site that they assigned us.  We pulled up.  I got out to wave him in smoothly.  But, there was no way we were going to fit. We had to go back to the main office and have a new site assigned.  A larger, more expensive site of course, but it worked out perfectly.   My brother David and sister in love, Glenda, were already there waiting for  us.  They had not seen our trailer yet, and it was fun that they came down to share in our excitement.  They even brought us Sprinkles Cupcakes!!!   They had already eaten dinner, so didn't stay too long.  We grilled up some hot dogs for an easy dinner, and then went inside for the night.

Our middle daughter Erika and grandson Noah came along for the first night.  We got all settled in, trying out the shower, and making up beds, and everything seemed to work just perfectly. 
The next morning Greg made our coffee for us at the outdoor kitchen, using our favorite camp pot.  The kind that perks.  Oh how good it tasted. 
Bright and early, we had a visitor.  My nephew Chad.  He stayed for most of the day, and even though we did have some light rain off and on, we all had such a good time.  There was a rousing game of Uno under the awning.
 We had Mimosa's, and toasted to many good times ahead.
Erika and Noah and I went down to the community center to participate in one of their scheduled crafts.  We made chalk salt candles. 
It looks like sand.  I had never heard of such a thing as this before.  But it was so clever, and so much fun!  They had buckets of salt on the table, and each person had a paper plate, and there were many containers of sidewalk chalk to choose from.  We had our choice of two different shapes of glasses to use.  They were actually plastic.  You scoop a little salt onto your plate, and then take a color of chalk you want to make, and then begin to rub it over the grains of salt, until all salt is colored to desired shade.

Pour your colored salt into cup, and then make another color.  It was simple, and fun.  I thought it was very clever too.  When our cups were full to the top, we took it to the young people who were doing the class, and they sealed the salt with a thick layer of hot glue, placing a tea lite candle down in the center.  The glue keeps the salt from spilling out, and the tea lite can be replaced when it has burned down.

We lit them that night for dinner outside on the picnic table. 
 Aren't they so pretty!!!  What a great craft to do with your little ones.  And big ones too! 
Later on that day, Erika and Noah went down onto the beach where they were doing tie dye Tee shirts.  They each did one for themselves, and one for Geeps.  They turned out darling!  I wish I had made one too.  I did not get many photos this weekend.  I wish I had been better about that. 
Later that evening, we had a big dinner of fresh ahi steaks that my brother David caught on a recent fishing trip way out in the ocean.  Greg grilled them on our new Smokey Joe, and I steamed some fresh veggies, and made a Caesar's Salad.  I had also made a big pot of chili earlier in the day, so we had that too.  I think I caught Gregger's with a tester of ahi in his mouth.
That night, our son Drew and his girlfriend Christine came out for dinner.  We dined al fresco, under the canopy of clouds in the sky.  It was delightful! 
Eri and Noah went back home after dinner.  Drew and Christine hung around at camp with us.  We toasted some marshmallows and had S'more's.
After Drew and Christine left, we went inside and had nice hot showers, and then watched The Martian inside the trailer.  Well, we may have both fallen asleep about midway through, but we started to watch it.  It was good!  The bed in the trailer is so comfy.  I am not a good sleeper, anywhere.  Not at home, and certainly not away from home.  But I slept very well both nights in our new camp bed. 
It rained HARD in the night.  It woke us up at about 3:00 in the morning.  The next day was a bit muddy at camp!  We cooked breakfast outside in the outdoor kitchen.  Pancakes, bacon, sausage and farm fresh eggs.  I had squeezed fresh OJ and brought it from home.

I took over when it was time for the pancakes.  Or pannycakes, as our family calls them. 
Not a flattering photo, but oh my gosh, I see photos of myself, and boy do I need to lose weight!  And that hair.  Ugh...I think I hate it.  It was so attractive on my Dad.  But I feel like I am 100 years old with white hair!  I also have a skin condition called vitiligo.  My Dad had it too.  Both of us getting it at about 50.  The pigment is leaving my skin everywhere.  It has begun to spread across my face, starting at my forehead, and dripping downward, revealing a white and pink blotchy face.  I know that there are many things far worse that I could have.  And for that I am grateful.  But I feel like it leaves me looking lifeless.  And with the white hair too, I feel OLD!!!!
I brought my knitting, but only took it out of the bag one time, knitting only a couple of rows.  We were just so busy!
We had an absolute ball.  Fitting a whole lot into a weekend.  We also rode a 4 man bike (Surry?) for an hour.  My legs and fanny were screaming!!! 
And Geeps made us all some home made popcorn on Saturday afternoon as well.   So, for our first trip out, it was an A plus!!!! 
We got home, unloaded it, washed it, and put it away until next time.  We are shooting for a weekend away a month.  And then in the summer, probably a lot more weekends at Big Bear, as well as our week long vacation there.  We snuck a few minutes in every once in a while to watch The Masters while we were cleaning. 
A great weekend was  had by all!!!  We can't wait to go again!
Happy Trails........................................
PS Marsha Brown, you asked what we tow the trailer with.  I have a 2004 GMC Yukon Denali.  I love this car. I wish we did have more towing capacity, but we were not willing to also purchase a new car to do so.  When this car expires, I intend to get another one! 

20 comments:

Teresa Kasner said...

You two must be so fun and wonderful that your family will follow you anywhere! :-) What a great time it looks like you had! I think you look fab in that photo, I could only wish to be as slim as you. You're just right! I like the silver hair. I'm happy for you to get that great trailer. we're heading out in ours in a week or so!! To the beach we come! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Debby said...

Sure looks like fun. I love burndt hot dogs. Family visits are the best.
I have had white hair for a long time. I love it. Yours is pretty. I have been feeling the same way about what I look like. I hesitated to post pictures of myself lately. Then, I figured I am what I am.
Keep on having great times in your new camper.

Debbie said...

Well it sure looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time...and SOO many more to come for sure. You are soo slim compared to me! When I looked at all the pictures that were texted to me from the shower I was somewhat horrified. MUCH worse then I thought...sigh. Dieting is soo hard for me what with the IBS etc., and then the arthritis that keeps me from being very active certainly doesn't help either. I did go back blonde again recently too, lol. I had gone dark and cut it off and regretted it the next day and from then on till I finally started back in going lighter and growing it out. Don't know what possessed me, lol. I think I do better when I realize that at the end of the day I AM getting older everyday and the old body just isn't what it used to be, but each day the Lord grants me where I am basically healthy, [certainly then many people anyway], and can still do many things I love to do, then I am fortunate indeed. I do what I can to look presentable I guess, lol, but it isn't my focus anymore quite like it was. HOW fun this trailer is going to be for you and your family!

Betsy said...

Oh Kris, it sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful time in your new trailer! I'm SO GLAD everything went well the first time out. That kind of sets the tone of if you'll like it or not. So much fun to have your family visit you too. The food and fun all sound just perfect. I came home this afternoon, but I took some pictures of the inside of our trailer to share in a post, hopefully tomorrow. I realized it had been awhile since I showed photos.

You are gorgeous. I wish you had shown us your face though. You are perfect just the way you are. Sweet, beautiful and obviously loving because it seems your family can't get enough of you and Gred. :-). You are a sweetie.
Blessings my friend,
Betsy

Jeanna said...

I'm so happy everything went great on your maiden voyage. This post brings back so many wonderful memories of the times we had camping with out children...when they were small. We are looking forward to getting our next camper.

You have a nice setup and there isn't anything better than camp food prepared on the smoky joe!

Can't wait for your next time!

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

Wonderful investment Kris with fun times for the whole family! Now about that picture of you - I have come to see that I will never be happy about my own photograph and I have to laugh when I remember how critical I was of pictures of myself when I was 20 or 30 or even 50. Hell, I was damn cute and I should have appreciated that body that was working just fine and doing what I asked it to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm still not happy with pictures of myself and find fault with every one of them but I now know that I'll look back and think that I wasn't so bad after all. PS - Go ahead and dye you hair! I'm not going down without a fight and you can join me!

Deb~in~Denver said...

Looks like you had the perfect Maiden Voyage! Love that the kids joined you!
Isn't it funny that when we look at pictures of ourselves, all we see are the imagined flaws? I do it all the time. My sweet hubby tells me if I were as hard on him (and others) as I am myself, no one would like me! I think you look beautiful and I know you have a beautiful heart & soul!
Enjoy your new home away from home!

Unknown said...

So glad you got a trailer, isn't it the most fun? Such a wonderful way to spend time with family! Don't take your knitting, you will never get near it..haha! Looks like you figured out all that you needed for the trip and congrats on using the shower the first time out. Yay!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for answering about the towing vehicle. Our SUV isn't as large as your Yukon but our truck should handle one that size. If I gather a lot of info., maybe I can convince DH to go look with me. Glad you had a good time.

Kerri said...

Gosh, you make ME want a camper...and I'm not that big of a camping fan! I do think I would enjoy this kind of camping though! I love that you guys go away and family follows you! That must mean you're fun to be around...and have a good food! :) I think you look fabulous Kris...you know I always like your short haircuts...and I didn't say anything before...but I was thinking you are far too young to be sporting white hair! :)

podso said...

Congratulations on a successful first trip! By the way i think your white hair is pretty. Where I get my hair done a woman with white hair comes in to have it highlighted with gray and it comes out looking just like mine, which is gray. I see even blondes highlighting with gray now. Anyway, i'm glad all went well--looks like a lot of fun.

Mereknits said...

First of all I have to pass the trailer for a second and tell you I think thick white hair like your s is gorgeous. I am so jealous of it!! Really my hair is wispy and thin, yet I am proudly going g ray when none of my friends can do it. No judgement here, you need to do what you want but I am loving your hair. A medical foster mom i am close to has the same skin condition, she says it itches under her skin and says her vitiligo is on the move.

Okay now for the trailer, it looks wonderful and I am so glad you enjoyed it with your family. Such a great way for you all to spend time together.
Hugs,
MEredith

NanaNor's said...

Hey girlfriend, Can I tell you I'm a wee bit jealous of your new trailer! Sounds like you had a wonderful time and that it is perfect for you and hubby. So fun the family could join you! Ahi-yummm! WE had fresh Ahi tacos in Kauai last week that were so good. I sure wish we lived closer so we could hang out together, I know we'd have fun. Girl you are so young looking and I can't believe that you feel old. However, I know how we women can be. I ate salads the entire time I was in Kauai and do you think I lost any weight. Must have been the water retention when we were flying over there(sure right). Sending you big hugs tonight.
Noreen

Gracie Saylor said...

Kris, I think you are beautiful...seriously!!! I admire all white hair and mine is just mixed up even though I am much older than you. My dad had some skin pigment issues, but loved and admired and being very overweight has been a problem for me since I was a baby...but I am trying to eat and exercise as best as I can.

Besides being beautiful, I admire you. I appreciate your energy and creativity, and your love of family and life!

Your maiden trailer voyage sounded wonderful! Thanks for sharing the neat craft as well. xoxoxoxoxox

From the Kitchen said...

I have to say that I love your way of "roughing it"!! My sister and brother-in-law love their little mobile home and escape in it somewhere several times a month during the "season" (different in the mountains of Virginia). They've made some interesting new friends as well.

Best,
Bonnie

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Man! I'm so jealous! I want to go camping so badly, I can taste it. We are still trudging along with out little camper. We've almost got it to the point of getting it registered and able to pull it. The inside is almost as done as it's going to be-- I don't mind that it isn't new. (so I'm not jealous of your new camper...I'm not like that) I just mean, I WANT TO GO CAMPING! IN. MY. CAMPER!
You guys had so much fun! I can tell.
The other thing... I love your hair! I wish my hair would just turn already. Mine is salt and pepper. We are at that age aren't we? I think you always look great. Don't be so hard on yourself. You're a beautiful lady-- and truly genuine.
Seeing your pictures has gotten me in the mood to get out there and get to work on finishing up the camper, I don't even care if we get it painted on the outside...
Times a wastin'!!!
P.S.
I love grilled dogs and I love pannycakes!

Patty Antle said...

Looks like so much fun! Congrats on your new vaca home! I don't know if I answered your question, but we'll be in San Diego in July. We have a granddaughter arriving then!

kathy b said...

Oh what a great start! I loved seeing all that went on. Our family loves to play cards too. Hope you get to knit a bit soon

Jill said...

Love the quilt and what a cool craft! Hayley tagged me in a post and I completed it and I'm now tagging you. If you'd like to check it out and participate here is the link http://blessingsofastayathomemom.blogspot.com/2016/05/text-tag.html Thanks Kris! Have a great night!

Blessings,
Jill

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Missed this post, Kris...the camping trip looks like a great time! I know you will make wonderful memories!
I think we all have some issues with aging, but you are a beautiful, talented woman!