Corn On The Cob Magic

Hey everyone!  There's lots of stuff going on around the homestead, some camping related, some kinda sorta camping related.  

Yesterday my buddy Splish had to go to Everett Chevrolet for a recall. Seems that GMC put the wrong hitch on some trucks and they were underrated for the towing job.  Everett wanted to make sure that ours has the right one.  It didn't take very long for the technician to determine that Splish's was the correct one. WHEW!!

This morning, Cousin Rob rolled into Newton to take care of The Coffee Cup's front window leak.  He and Momma Sharon took off the rock guard, pulled out the screws, and proceeded to re-caulk everything.  Rob also took a file and filed off some burrs that weren't allowing the screws to be seated properly.  He and Momma Sharon are confident that the problem has been solved and now she can get that sweet little camper back on the road again!!

Two successful camping-related tidbits and now for my main Story. Aunt Becky has been bugging my Camper Mom to try a new way of fixing corn on the cob.  You don't boil it.  You don't wrap it in foil and grill or bake it.  You zap it in the microwave!  Yep, you read that right.

Cut the end of the corn off, leaving the husks & silks on

Cook for 3 minutes & use a potholder to pull it out of the microwave

Squeeze from the pointed in to push the corn out

VOILA…no silk, no peeling off the husks…it comes out CLEAN!

Spritz it with spray butter & sprinkle on Old Bay 

Pair it with some Cajun-style sausage and it's dinnertime!

I'm sure some of our camping buddies would let us borrow their microwaves, especially if we fixed a few extra ears to share!

Mom is eagerly awaiting the arrival of a couple yards of Sara's cool T@B fabric so she can make another set of window awnings for me. She also has wood ready to make a mod for sleeping during our upcoming trip to The Holler.  Until I have those Stories written and ready to read to you, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Corn Magic"

Happy Happy 100th

Happy birthday to you…happy birthday National Park Service, happy birthday to you!!  The NPS is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2016 and that makes me smile.  Momma Sharon and I LOVE our National Parks.  Without a doubt, our favorite unit is the Blue Ridge Parkway and we have ridden on it together many times and for many miles.

She, Aunt Becky, and the pups finally got to slip away to The Wee Cabin on Wednesday.   Their R&R was broken up only by a trip up to the Folk Art Center and the main BRP Visitor Center.  The sole purpose of this little jaunt was to check out the parking situation for trailers.  Next May, we will leave the Blue Ridge Rally for a Caravan along the Parkway, making stops at various places.  Like the good Campmeister that she is, she wanted to check out some logistics.  I won't go into detail here, but all is well for a couple of stops along the way in 2017.

While at the Folk Art Center, she and Aunt Becky were in need of the set of 2016 Passport Stickers. I'm here to tell you that they brought home those and much, much more.  Centennial fever struck both of them and the Park Service is a bit richer because of it.  Take a look at Momma Sharon's haul . . . 

2016 National Park goodies

A brand new Passport book features each region of the System

A new travel coffee mug

A complimentary centennial bag to carry all the goodies 

Stickers, coffee mug, t-shirt . . . oh my!

Mom's cool new t-shirt . . . Aunt Becky got a pink one

Sticker sets for the new Passport book

Sticker for the CDO bucket & patch for the CDO apron

Updated brochures

The weather at The Wee Cabin was perfect, the pups were well-behaved, Earth Fare and Ingles and Luella's supplied some yummy eats, and it was a great little get-away for some peace and quiet.  I'll share a photo of the yummies and Baby Gracie before signing off today.

Egg salad, broccoli salad, pasta salad & veggie sticks for lunch

Sweet Baby Gracie taking an afternoon nap

Thanks for stopping by on this Saturday for my Story and until I see you again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Happy Birthday NPS"

A Swell Trio Of Awnings

It's a good thing that Momma Sharon and I are both retired and can change our plans at the spur of the moment.  Our intent was to slip away to the Wee Cabin last Thursday for some R & R, peace and quiet. After looking at our calendar to make sure the coast was clear, there was an appointment for the pups' haircut on Friday morning. 

No worries, we would head for the hills after lunch.  That's when the stove started acting funny and smelling like it was an inch away from an electrical fire.  Greg, my electrician, couldn't check it out for us until Monday morning. In the meantime, the light in the fridge developed a short and Don, our appliance guy, couldn't come until this afternoon. So we are still in Newton!!

Plan C is now in effect and we will drive up the mountain tomorrow morning (fingers crossed).  Over the weekend, my Camper Mom pulled out some birthday fabric that Aunt Wendy gave her two years ago. "It's about time for some new window awnings," she told me.  And that's how she spent her weekend.  She tried a new idea of putting a coordinating strip of scallops at the bottom.  She also drew out a new scallop pattern for this pair . . . there was an upside and downside to this and a couple of valuable lessons were learned!  Here's the whole Story . . . 

The new scallop pattern has smaller scallops and more scallops.  Even when they were trimmed and the inside points were clipped, it was hard to turn them inside out.  They were kinda puckery and even ironing them didn't make them lay perfectly flat.

Don't ya just love the colors and fabrics?  They are going to look great on my three windows!

For the first time ever, Momma Sharon added a strip at the bottom of the fabric.  We both agreed that was a grand idea and easy to do too!

She tried cutting the scallops a little bit differently on the 2nd pair, thinking that they would open up better and lay nice and flat.  NOT! For the third pair, we went back to the original pattern.

And here's one side of the finished awning.  I really, really like it and think it's going to look swell.

This reverse side is definitely our favorite and I predict it will be the side everyone sees in the campground come July in The Holler!

Well I appreciate you dropping by on this Tuesday and catching me in between mountain plans.  This was a fun Story for me to tell you and until I have another, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & A Swell Trio Of Awnings"

Longing For Quiet

I am longing for some peace and quiet.  You know, the kind of peace and quiet that you find in a campsite.  A campsite by the lake or near the Parkway or off in the woods.  Heavy sigh . . . 

Momma Sharon is feeling the same way.  She's kinda tired of hearing the bulldozer up the street grading the area around the church's new picnic shelter. She's kinda tired of hearing the low rumble that constantly comes from the Southern Biscuit Flour mill a mile away. She's kinda tired of hearing the noise generated from cars because she lives on the corner of a busy intersection. Throw in the dogs barking at every person that walks up and down the sidewalk beside their fence and lawnmowers and weed-eaters and big trucks going in and out of the Public Works across the way.  She's longing for some peace and quiet too.

Since we don't have another camping trip planned until July, I told her to pack up the pooches and head to The Wee Cabin tomorrow. Sleeping with the windows open, cool mountain temps, walks around the lake, maybe a coffee at The Dripolater . . . I think it's just what she needs.  I wonder if Aunt Becky can join her.  I'll be more than happy to hold down the fort here.

Well I do appreciate you dropping by for another little Story.  Until I grab the computer again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Quiet"

Time To Re-purpose

There comes a time, when you haven't used something in years and years, that you need to get on with the program.  Sometimes that's hard, especially for you know who (her initials are SBS).  Momma Sharon bought a beautiful brown, woven, cotton coverlet when we were in Gettysburg, PA on the Gettysburg Caravan.  Her intentions were to use it when camping because it was such a great match to my Aztec Gold cushions.

She slept under it one time and said it was so heavy that she felt smothered and that's from someone who likes to burrow under the covers and pull them up over her ears.  Since then it has been sealed up in a plastic bag just sitting and sitting and sitting.  That is until Sunday, when she had an epiphany.  

She and Aunt Becky have been rolling up their sleeping mattresses, cinching them with a nylon strap, and letting them rest under my back cabinets during the day.  Then they fold up the bottom memory foam and kinda wedge it around the mattresses.  Here's what that looks like.

To cover up those mattresses, they spread Mom's fleece blanket or a flannel sheet over it, then toss their sleeping pillows and decorative pillows in front of it.  It works, but she and I have never thought it was very attractive looking.

That's where the Gettysburg coverlet comes into play!  Out came all the tools: rotary cutter, cutting mat, acrylic guide, and sewing machine.  In no time flat and with no tears shed, she made a mattress cover for me!

Stitching up the one raw side was a piece of cake and this morning I saw it for the first time.  Momma Sharon brought it down to the T@Bport and VOILA!!

The edges are tucked over, around, and under and I think it looks swell.  Once she gets all my pillows arranged, I'm going to be sitting pretty during the day.

All her sewing paraphernalia is still out because she has another project in mind using that coverlet . . . cabinet caddies!  Measurements have been taken, all the pieces have been cut out, but you will have to wait another day for that Sewing Story!  Until then, always remember . . .

"Peace, Love, & Re-purposing"

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things . . .

Hey Camping Peeps!  Every once in a while, someone over on one of my Facebook T@b pages asks about favorite camping gear.  Sometimes Momma Sharon will respond with one or two items.  I've never jumped in the conversation, so this morning I am channeling Julie Andrews and thinking about a few of MY favorite things . . .

- a garden flag that says "Just Go" . . . that sums it all up doesn't it?!

- my Cottonwood XL awning . . . it withstood Hurricane Patricia on Tybee Island . . . nuff said

- the fabulous BAL to keep me on an even keel side to side

- a spiffy plastic outdoor mat that keeps our feet dry and compliments my gorgeous colors

I picked the rest of the items for my Camper Mom because I know what makes her happy when we are out there together . . . 

- a comfy Coleman chair with a high back so she can relax in style

- a 2" memory foam mattress that makes for some good sleeping under the stars 

- a portable ice maker so we can keep our Yeti full of ice and super cold

- a camp Dutch oven (or 2) because she sure does like to cook with camping

- the famous Mr. Werner that will hold her CDOs and get them off the ground

- a Keurig because I live with a coffee hound and I love the smell of coffee myself

I sure had fun throwing this collage and Story together.  I hope you enjoyed it and got you thinking about YOUR favorite things.  Until it's Story Time again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Camping With 

My Favorite Things"

Squeaky Clean Campers

Man oh man, does it ever smell good out in Momma Sharon's Studio!  I haven't mentioned it, but she's been on a soap making rampage (that explains why I've gotten so much computer time lately).  All week long there have been containers of oil, mixing bowls, utensils, and bottles of essential and fragrance oils taking up space on the kitchen counter.  

At the recent Saturday morning Blue Ridge Rally Flea Market, we sold soap…LOTS of soap.  We sold so much soap that it just about wiped out my Camper Mom's supply!  We sent lots and lots of Blue Ridgers on their way with bars from our little 6th Street Soap Company.  Squeaky clean campers for sure!!

With the MD DOG and Coastal Caravan coming up, we've got to make sure that our camping buddies have a good supply to choose from. Mom's soap notebook has a whole lot of new recipes to try, so there will be squeaky clean goodness to be shared.

The drying rack in the Studio is now full with 80 bars of luxury that will be curing and drying for the next 6 weeks.  If you are wondering what "flavors" she made, take a look at these..

Fireside: a blend of cedarwood, sandalwood, leather, amber, & musk

Dreamsicle:  a blend of orange citrus & vanilla

Bergamot & Mandarin: a blend of bergamot & mandarin

Calypso Sun:  a blend of mandarin, white peach, & mango

Sweet Luxury Bar:  a blend of orange, peppermint, & spearmint

Tangerine & Almond:  a blend of tangerine, almond, & orange

Got No Scents:  fragrance free

Bayberry & Sage:  bayberry essential oil in olive oil with a sage infusion

These eight soaps will be ready by the first of August, just in time for our big trip up to Cunningham Falls State Park in MD for a big Dutch oven gathering with our Chef friends.

The creative juices continue to flow around our part of the camping world and I'll have another Story ready soon to tell you all about it.  Thanks for dropping by for my Story Time.  Until we meet again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Squeaky Clean Campers"

Hella-Cool Camping Ideas

It's Saturday here in the Foothills.  I'm just chilling out under my T@Bport while my Camping Mom is planning her day.  It's a semi-quiet day in the neighborhood, with just the occasional car going by and a weed-eater and lawnmower off in the distance.

I've been seeing lots of cool camping hacks online and told Momma Sharon that she needs to snitch those ideas and throw them into a folder or file.  She smiled and told me that's what she has Pinterest for.  So I went digging around and found some hella-cool camping ideas to share with you this morning!

leftover fabric + Velcro = storage pockets to go over my cabinet doors

reusable plastic container + two extension cords = protection from the elements

empty Crystal Lite container + plasticware = compact storage solution

mesh laundry bag + wet kitchen stuff = drip dry success

garden flag holder + paper towel roll = handy clean-up

basket + paper towels = nifty picnic basket

disposable beer container + camping dinnerware = picnic table caddy

plastic shower cap + dirty shoes = way to keep you camper clean

recycled coffee creamer bottle + snacks = storage & serving

large pill container + spices = camping spice rack

Please feel free to snitch any of our hella-cool camping ideas.  It's time to get this day started and that means Momma Sharon is going to make one of these snitched projects for me!  That will be a future Story, so stay tuned.  Until then, travel safely, have fun camping, and always remember . . .

"Peace, Love, & Hella-Cool Ideas"

BRR Triple Play

It's the weekend and I'm sure a whole lot of you are out there in a campground somewhere having fun. Good for you!!  I'm just hanging out here at home under my T@Bport and remembering all the fun I had at the Blue Ridge Rally.

I have a BRR triple play for you this evening . . . three collages showing just a fraction of the faces and places responsible for all that fun!

Have a great weekend everyone and until I have another little Story for you, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & BRR Collages"

I Spy

One of the fun things that Momma Sharon likes to do at our Blue Ridge Rally, is to walk around with that camera slung around her neck, looking for interesting little things to photograph…decorations, flags, campsite signs, and such.  Look at some of the stuff she found playing I Spy . . .

Nancy's Coffee Klatch cookies that Momma Sharon thought were the BOMB

Our special rally sign, hand-carved and hand-painted

Santa Baby displaying her BRR buttons

Sarah & Ali's precious site sign

You are invited to the Happy Dance where campers "Rock On"!

Aunt Becky almost sat on this visitor…it peed on her chair!!

Pride's miniature Smart Car

Wendy's cute little wooden T@Bs for sale at the Flea Market

Nothing like a bunch of yellow flowers to brighten up a campsite!

Carolyn & Tom sharing some peace . . . "far out dude"!

Can I snitch this flag?  It's my all-time favorite!

Socks has her very own site sign

Sue makes the COOLEST garden art EVER!

High flying Pod sign from Kentucky

Our Moms & Dads live by this rule at Afternoon Cheer

This was a fun Story for me today.  Thanks for dropping by today so I could share it with you.  Until I compose another one, always remember . . .

"Peace, Love & Spying Cool Stuff At The BRR"