Merry Christmas Campers!

Ho, ho, ho campers!  The Big Day is almost here and I wanted to share two very cool Christmas greetings with you.  

First is the Christmas card that Momma Sharon designed and sent out to her camping buddies.  The second is a Christmas poem written by Marilyn King that was sent out to all her camping buddies too.  Momma Sharon asked her if it was OK to post it here as one of my Stories and she graciously said "yes".  Thanks Marilyn and give your T@B a special holiday hug from me!

  

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the camp

Not a creature was stirring, it was sleeting and damp

Our stockings were still wet from today's ten mile hike

(Next time please remind me to bring both our bikes)

The kids were all grown so our camper seemed big

And our dogs were asleep in the back of our rig

My spouse in a sweatshirt and me in my sack

We both settled in for a long winter's nap.

When out in the road there arose such a clatter

I sprang from my sleeping bag to see what was the matter

Away to the window I stumbled over a shoe

Grabbed a LED flash light just like any lookie-loo.

The moon was veiled by the clouds, so no light

And it was blacker than pitch-- no end was in sight!

When what to my sleep weary eyes should I see?

But a Ford Focus pulling a T@b into the site next to me!

That cute little trailer, it was yellow and white

I knew in a moment, I would get no sleep tonight

More rapid than anything he pulled into his site

And he called out to his wife, "Let's set her up right!"

"Now get out the BAL and level our T@b,

I'll turn on the propane, you pull out the tent bag!"

And together so quick they set up their camp

That I barely had time to don my shoes which were still damp.

I left my behemoth and hurried to their site

But they didn't need my help or my LED light

When I got there they were sitting all snug, warm and dry

In a cute yellow tent having a night cap and pie.

I spoke not at first as I gazed at the T@b

It was tear dropped shaped, real retro--not drab

The tent followed the shape and had gone up in a snap

And had so much character, so I opened my trap.

I ask them then if I could have a tour

And they beamed a tired smile and both told me "Sure,

But please, in the morning and after this sleet

It's bloody Two A.M and we both are beat."

So I nodded my head sadly and slogged back to my barge

This boxy old camper, without kids was too large

I heard them exclaim as I got into my site,

Happy Christmas T@B campers and to all a good-night!

"Peace, Love, Camping & Christmas!"

The Perfect Tree For Me

Can you believe it?  Two SplashT@B Stories in two days . . . woohoo!  I'm full of Christmas cheer!!

Momma Sharon and Wendy went to Asheville today and shopped at one of her favorite places downtown on Broadway called L.O.F.T.  That stands for Lost Objects, Found Treasures.  It's a funky place that's really crowded and has so much stuff it's hard to see it all.  You might not find something you need, but you'll definitely find something you want!

My Camper Mom didn't buy anything, but she took a photo of a Christmas tree that she said would be perfect for me.  Boy oh boy was she right!!  Take a gander at this . . . 

I've got lots of little camper ornaments that would be outstanding and if she threw in some peace signs, I would have the coolest Christmas tree in the whole campground!

If you drop back by next week, you'll see the new winter design for my Stories.  Merry Christmas y'all and remember . . . 

"Peace, Joy, Love & Camping!"

Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone!  Happy holidays . . . Merry Christmas . . . season's greetings!  I gotta get in all my salutations while I can since I never know when I can wrestle the computer away from Momma Sharon!

I just gotta show you the coolest picture I found tonight over on Facebook.  Yes, I check out all Momma's camping groups and sites over there from time to time.  Anyway, I found something you might really get a kick out of . . .

This was created by Terry Border and he even has a website you can visit if you want to.  Just go HERE.

If you'd to follow him on Facebook, go HERE.

If I don't get a chance to talk with you again before the 25th, I hope all your Christmas wishes come true.  Merry Christmas one and all and remember . . . 

"Peace, Joy, Love and Camping!"

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope you have had a wonderful day spent with all those folks you call family and friends.  Momma Sharon got to spend time with her favorite people in the whole wide world:  Wendy, Becky and Roger, Rob and Trisha, and Voncylle.

I'm so thankful for all the traveling we've done together for the last six years and I look forward to many more adventures to come.  I'm also thankful for my friends...RT, Rosie, Sunny Boy, Tiny Home, T@B-r-ific, T@Bernacle, T@Bby Chic, The Silvermine, R&T's Pod and so many others.  Y'all have a great holiday season and it will be time to go camping again before we know it!!

"Peace, Love, Camping & Friends!"

My New Sister Has Arrived!

I'm tickled to tell you that Momma Sharon and Aunt Becky had a safe trip to Michigan to pick up my new sister, The Coffee Cup.  That "little fatty" as Ella called her is cute as a button.  You might be wondering if I'm jealous.  Not one single bit!!  My Momma will love her just as much as she loves me and won't play favorites.  Her plan is to camp in both of us off and on the whole 2013 season and beyond.

I'm so happy for her and I'm also thrilled that she rescued and brought back to life one of my "ancestors".  Isn't that just too cool for words?!!  Let me show you what she looks like . . .

If you'd like to see more pictures and hear more stories about her, you can do that over on Momma Sharon's other two blogs . . . POSTCARDS FROM THE ROAD and THE COFFEE CUP.

I'm enjoying a cozy fall over at Aunt Becky's in my T@Bport.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

"Peace, Love & Camping!"

Red Sky In The Morning...

Hey everyone...happy Friday!  I hope you've had a great week and are ready for a big weekend full of fun.  I thought I would go back through Momma Sharon's photo album from our recent Natchez Trace Caravan and tell you the Story of a really scary day we had on Sunday, October 15th.

We all really hated leaving Trace State Park in Tupelo, MS because it was such a great campground.  But the Trace was calling us and it was time to move on south.  I woke up to strange colors in the sky that morning and knew immediately it wasn't a good sign.  I'll take a little liberty with the old saying, but you'll get my drift....."Red sky in the morning, T@Bs take warning."

T@B-rific's Papa Rich came over to the campground early to tell us that they weren't going to be able to travel with us because Momma Sue was in the hospital.  That really scared me and I was sad that we had to leave them behind.  That red sky warning was starting to come true!

About an hour down the road, the skies opened up and I drove into a terrible downpour.  The sky was dark, the wind was blowing, and I was nervous just like Momma Sharon because we were leading the caravan.

And to make matters worse, I had to go through a totally creepy part of the Trace where the big tornado last year wiped out acres of trees.  It didn't help that I was traveling under a tornado warning at that very moment!!  But we made it through the storm OK.

All the rest of the day the roads underneath me were wet and I got pretty dirty from all the spray coming up on me.  I'm kinda like my Camper Mom and don't like to get wet or dirty.....LOL.

We finally pulled into our campground for the evening and it turned out to be just as creepy as the whole day had been.  All the trashcans had "NO FISH GUTS" painted on them, there were dead squirrel carcasses hanging in the tree limbs, the bathhouse had a security gate on the door, there were gunshots off in the distance, the mosquitos were eating Aunt Becky alive, Momma Sharon found a dead snake, and it rained out our campfire.  I was afraid that Rosie and RT were going to take off and leave me behind because they weren't too happy to be there.

But we were all there together safely with our folks, we knew that T@B-rific's mom was OK, there was a decent internet signal, and we didn't hear banjoes playing.  "Red sky in morning" indeed!!

Thanks for checking in to see if I had another Story to tell you.....that makes me smile!!  Have a groovy weekend y'all and remember..

"Peace, Love & Camping!"

Autumn On The Trace

I scooted over to visit my Cousin Pod's blog this morning and saw the neatest collage.  So I told Momma Sharon that I wanted her to make me one too and she could use some photos of my trip down the Natchez Trace.  Here's what she made for me...

"Peace, Love & Autumn Camping!"

Tucked In and Safe

Hi everyone.  I just wanted to tell you that I'm tucked in and safe here in my T@Bport in North Carolina.  I'm really, really concerned about all my T@B and T@DA brothers and sisters in the Mid-Atlantic and in New England that are dealing with this powerful hurricane called Sandy.

My good buddy T@Bby Chic from Cape Cod is traveling in that storm today and I've got my little T@B toes crossed that she has reached her destination and is safe and sound with relatives by now.  We were camping together this past weekend at Stone Mountain Campground in Georgia.  Here's a picture of her along with our camping moms and dads.

Hold on tight up there y'all...be safe...I'll be thinking about ya!!

Travel Routines

We had a great routine for our Natchez Trace Caravan.  Our folks would pull us into a campground and set up camp for two nights.  While we were chillin' and hanging out together, they would go off exploring on the non-travel day.  It was super fun for me and my T@B buddies!

Momma Sharon and Aunt Becky have a morning routine where I'm concerned and they have a certain way of doing things when breaking camp and setting up camp.  I like that because there are no great surprises.  My Camper Mom is pretty particular about this stuff.  Sometimes Aunt Becky rolls her eyes, but it suits me just fine!

Here are some photos from our travel day on Thursday, October 13th...  

I followed my buddies T@B-rific and Tiny Home as we headed towards Tupelo, MS.

I took a break while Momma Sharon walked up a short trail to see part of the Old Trace.

She told me there were 13 graves of unknown Confederate soldiers along the Trace.

I was in a "buddy site" with Rosie at Trace State Park...it was so cool being next to her!

Gid & Terry are Rosie's parents and were relaxing before supper on Thursday night.

Girly is a Boston Terrier who loves to camp!  She gets to go on every trip her folks take.

This is Girly's mom, Dana who dropped by for a visit and happy hour.

"Peace, Love & Caravanning!"

2,245.4 Miles Of Fun!

After traveling 2,245.4 miles, I'm tucked safely under my T@Bport.  It's good to be home after 12 days on the road!  I had a FANTASTIC time hanging out with my five T@B and one T@DA cousins.  And true to form, Momma Sharon took so many photos of me, I lost count several days into the trip.

I've persuaded her to let me share them with you over the coming days.  So hang on campers, here I come!

Here I am parked at the Tennessee Welcome Center on the first day of my trip.

I spent my first night at Seven Points Campground on J. Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, TN.

This sunset put me to sleep that night at Seven Points.

After driving across it, Arch Bridge was the perfect backdrop for me on my Trace Caravan.

That's the ancient Indian mound behind me called Bear Creek Mound.

T@B gnomes left this message at J.P. Coleman State Park.

I stopped for a rest break at Tishomingo State Park just off The Trace.

"Peace, Love & Caravanning"

Hangin' With My Buddies

Mornin' everyone from J.P. Coleman State Park out in the middle of nowhere in Mississippi.  While Momma Sharon is in the shower, I grabbed the Mac so I could send you greetings!

Yesterday at 10 a.m., I pulled out on The Natchez Trace for our 444-mile trip south.  It didn't take long for my Camper Mom to herd us all in a row so she could start taking photos . . . she's predictable for sure!

I want to introduce my friends to you.  This is "T@Bernacle" . . . her Camper Mom is Diane from Atlanta, GA and she and my Mom are big buddies!!

This is "RT" . . . her Camper Mom & Dad are Susan & Bob from Pittsboro, NC.  I really love RT because she has special colors just like me!

This is "Sunny Boy" . . . his Mom & Dad are Deb & Bob from Florida.  (It's kinda nice to have a fellow with us instead of all girls . . . tee hee)

This is "Tiny Home" and her Mom and Dad are Dana and Larry from Bradenton, FL.  You'll notice she looks a little different from us . . . that's because she's a T@DA.

This is "Rosie", who recently had some cosmetic surgery, and her Camper Mom is Terry and her Camper Dad is Doctor Gid.  She hails from Dover, DE.

This is "T@B-rific" who used to live in Albany, NY but recently moved down South to Pittsboro, NC.  Her Mom and Dad are Toolbelt Sue & Daddy Rich.

And of course you know who this beauty is!!  It's ME . . . "SplashT@B" from Newton, NC.

This is what we look like when we want to show off!!

Wanna see our Camper Moms and Dads?  Here they are posing in front of the National Park sign designating the beginning of the Natchez Trace Parkway.  They are a great looking bunch . . . just like us!!

Oops . . . gotta scoot.  I hear Momma and Aunt Becky coming.  Y'all have a great day and check back soon to hear another Natchez Trace Caravan SplashT@B Story!!

Stories' New Look

Hi everyone . . . thanks for stopping by on this gorgeous fall Friday.

In case you haven't noticed, Stories has a new look!  Momma Sharon loved the autumn look of R & T's Podding Blog so much, that she promised to give mine an autumn make-over too!  Despite being all techno on the outside, my interior has comfy, earthy colors, so I really like this new color scheme.

Tomorrow, my Camper Mom is taking me to the beauty parlor.  Well, actually, she's bringing it to me down here in my T@Bport.  Why all the attention?  I'm heading out for Nashville, TN on Monday to join my T@B brothers and sisters for a grand trip down the Natchez Trace Parkway!  

"Rosie" from DE, "T@B-r-ific" & "RT" from NC, "T@Bernacle" from Atlanta, "Tiny Home" from FL, and another FL T@B (whose name I don't know) are all joining together for a whole lot of caravanning fun!!  Momma Sharon and all the other moms and dads have been planning this trip for about two years and it's finally happening.

I probably won't be sharing a big bunch of Stories with you along the way, but you can check by any time you like to see if I get a little computer time.  You can pick up Momma's Postcards every single night starting on Monday too.

Happy fall y'all!!

"Peace, Love, Camping & Caravanning!"

I've Been Camping!!

Hey everyone!  Guess where I've been for the last four days . . . camping in Townsend, TN.  My Camper Mom and I left home Thursday morning and had a great drive through the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains on our way to a Sisters on the Fly event called "My Grass Is Blue".

We drove for a little bit on the Foothills Parkway and look at this neat photo of me!  Momma Sharon put me right in the middle of the Parkway sign . . . pretty cool huh?

Every time I turn around, she's got that camera pointed towards me snapping picture after picture.  You would think that after six years of camping with me, that she would have enough . . . LOL!

I spent the weekend in a campground I've never been to and quite frankly, didn't even know was in Townsend.  It used to be called Tuckaleechee Campground after the nearby caverns, but when it was sold recently, the new owners changed the name.  I don't really care what they called it, I was happy to be there!

That is until I found out that the spot I wanted to park in was under huge walnut trees and they were falling like bombs out of the air.  I knew that my Camper Mom would never park me under a walnut tree and I was right!  She picked out another site, but it was the rockiest place I've ever stayed.  I have to admit that I was kinda scared while we were backing up and Momma Sharon had to put a huge rock under my jockey wheel to keep me from rolling down hill!!

I stayed put all weekend and didn't move an inch.  I got to meet a whole bunch of old gals I had never met before.  Right beside me was The Ant Bed Lodge that had little black ants crawling all over her.  But on the other side of her was a neat old Classic Coach that belonged to Momma Laura from Alabama.  I think she was my favorite because of her faded green color and all those windows!

Momma Sharon had fun spending time with her friend Tink from Knoxville and visiting with all the Sisters.  She even went junkin' one morning . . . surprise, surprise.

It was a little chilly every night, but I kept my Camper Mom toasty and warm inside.  She put out all my favorite decorations, but not my window awnings.  To tell you the truth, I never really know what kind of decorations she's bringing for me from trip to trip.  Have you ever seen what my little kitchen looks like?  Well here you go . . .

I went to sleep every night to the smell of a campfire and I woke up every morning to the laughter of Momma's Sisters around the coffee pot.  Pretty sweet, huh?

Next week, Momma Sharon is going to give me a bath, vacuum my carpet and couches, and spray me with some safe stuff that she says will kill the little tiny spiders that like to hide inside of me.  And the reason she's going to get me looking spiffy is that I'm hitting the road on October 8 for a trip down the Natchez Trace with Aunt Becky and 6 other T@Bs.  I can't wait!!

Thanks for dropping in on this last Sunday in September to hear the Story of my camping trip to Townsend, TN!  Have a good week everyone.

"Peace, Love & Camping"

Me...Up Close & Personal

Evenin' everyone!  Thanks for stopping by for a SplashT@B Short Story.  

Today I got another photo of my quilt square.  This time it was big enough to see the detail of the artwork up close and personal.  I couldn't believe how great it looks when you can see it enlarged!  

Plus I wanted to tell you who created this quilt.  Her name is Dottie Adams and boy is she talented!

Enjoy, and remember...

"Peace, Love & Camping!"

I'm On The Quilt!!

Evenin' everyone!  I have the most awesome news to share with you!!

Momma Sharon is a member of a group of camping women called Sisters on the Fly.  Over the weekend of October 26th, she will be joining a whole mess of Sisters down in Atlanta, GA.  What's the occasion?  It's the huge Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain.  The Sisters will have three trailers on display during the show too.

At the show, the Sisters will be raffling off a quilt to raise money for Casting For Recovery.  The quilt is really cool because it features trailers.  And guess what?  I am one of the trailers that was picked for a square!!  Look down on the bottom row in the middle...it's ME!!

You probably don't know any of the other gals on the quilt, but I'll tell you about them just in case you are curious.

Sharon Lambert' s Gypsy Road Queen

Heidi Byerly's Ridin Shotgun

Debra Facer's Delaia Jo

Rebecca Amerson's Bookmobile (from last year)

Maurrie's Pretty Shield

Becky's Twisted Sister

Beverly Riddenour's Lizzie Blanche (was going to be on display but is not ready to show)

Pat Hardin's Precious

Sharon Sigmon's SplashT@B

Terri Garten's Second Hand Can

Also a square depicting Stone Mountain, our charity, Corrall, and Country Living Fair!

Momma Sharon is kinda down in the dumps because she didn't get to go to Michigan on Monday to pick up The Coffee Cup.  There was another delay and I gotta tell you that she wasn't a happy camper when she found out.  I think that she's doing better today and when she heard that I'm a quilt square, she really perked up!  I'm so glad I could make her happy again.

I hope y'all are having a good week wherever you are and remember...

"Peace, Love & Camping"

Momma Sharon's Addiction

My Camper Mom has an addiction.  An addiction that she freely admits to.  She is addicted to buying awnings for me!!  Good for me...bad for her...LOL!

Yesterday, a package from California was delivered via UPS.  A package that read "Paha Que" on the shipping label.  OMG, my new Visor had arrived!

We were supposed to go camping together this weekend, but Momma Sharon changed her mind Tuesday evening after weighing in the cost of gas, the camping fee, and mostly the fact that we went to this same Sisters on the Fly gathering last year.  

Before you feel sorry for me, you have to know that she's heading to Michigan on Monday with Aunt Becky to pick up a new member of our family.  Yep, The Coffee Cup is finally ready to come home to North Carolina and my Mom is spending the weekend getting ready for the trip and for The Cup's arrival!

But back to my new awning.  It's called a "Visor" and it's brand new from Paha Que.  It weighs less than 4 pounds, is a waterproof blue and gray vinyl, comes in a nice little bag, and looks just like the bill of a baseball cap or visor.  The first thing you do is slide it into the keder rail.

The retractable pole slides into a sleeve and before you know it,  the whole awning just kinda pops up into place!  Next you attach the guy lines into the lower keder rails, pull them snuggly and BINGO . . . the new Visor is up!

I wish I could tell you that Momma Sharon and Aunt Becky put it up in only 5 minutes like the instructions said, but it took them a bit longer.  They wrestled with it a little while before it went up.  But I didn't hear one single bad word out of either of them! 

I think I look pretty darn cute with my Visor on!!  What do you think?

I get to go on a two week trip in October and I'm pretty sure that my Camper Mom will put my Visor on me every time we stop to camp. 

Thanks for stopping by today so I could tell you the Story of my new Visor.  Have fun out there and remember...

"Peace, Love & Camping!"