Two Weeks From Today

Howdy Campers!  Two weeks from today there will be a tiny convoy out on the road making its way to Townsend, TN.  Splish, me, and Jake (Aunt Becky's CRV) will be headed to the 10th Anniversary of our Blue Ridge Rally.  Man oh man is this going to be an incredible BRR!!

We will be gathering at Big Meadow Family Campground, home of the 2013 and 2015 Blue Ridge Rally.  For our 10th annual gathering, we needed a place that could handle a boatload of T@Bs, T@DAs, T@Gs, and SOBs (some other brands), a campground in the mountains near lots of great places to explore, and a place that treats us special like family . . . Big Meadow fits the bill.

112 Blue Ridgers, in 68 trailers, coming from 24 different states will converge on Big Meadow starting two weeks from today and throughout the week of May 14-21.  It will be a banner year on so many levels.  There will be a small special group of friends who haven't missed one single rally . . . they are 10 for 10.  There are Newbies who will be joining us for the very first time and there are friends that come back year after year to my little do-dah.

My Camper Mom has been working on the the rally for 10 months and she has all kinds of fun stuff planned . . . a trail ride in Cades Cove, Bingo Night with Becky, a movie that tells the history of camping in the USA, a quilt show, a Dutch oven cooking workshop, coffee in the mornings and happy hour in the afternoons, evening campfires, 2 potluck meals, a Woodstock party, a catered BBQ supper, and a special project for the kids of Townsend Elementary School.  This is one party that T@Bbers don't want to miss!

There are still things to be done and checked off our lists in the next two weeks, but me and Mom will be ready to welcome all our Blue Ridge Peeps for "so much fun it ought to be illegal."

We will have Postcards and Stories for you every single day and we hope that you will join in our fun as a Remote Camper.  Thanks for stopping by today to see what all the excitement is about and until I'm back again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & The Blue Ridge Rally"

Something Big In The Driveway

Hey everyone!  I'm back with a little Story about something big parked in our driveway.

Now before you jump to all kinds of conclusions, I will tell you straight up that I have not been replaced!  Mom and Miss Wendy have friends from NY camping in our driveway for three days.  Miss Jane (Wendy's college roommate),  Miss MJ, and their pups Kaya and Sunny have spent the last three days visiting in their Four Winds trailer.  That big white box got plugged into the Coffee Cup's 30 amp outlet and the 6th Street Campground was open for business!

Suppers on the deck,  a touristy trip to Boone and Blowing Rock, walks around the neighborhood, and lots of visiting time filled Monday through Wednesday.  Mom did some Dutch oven cooking, Baby Gracie hopped up on the patio table and got in the wine, Miss Wendy showed off her coloring pages, and when hugs were exchanged this morning, everyone agreed that they shouldn't wait so long for the next reunion.

Momma Sharon and Aunt Wendy made sure that they got headed off in the right direction when they left this morning.  

Now you might be asking yourself if my Camper Mom got any notions of trading me in for something bigger.  The answer to that would be a resounding "NO!".

I am three weeks away from heading off to my 10th Blue Ridge Rally. Momma Sharon is in her full-on countdown mode, so things are going to start getting really crazy around here.  I probably will have several Stories to share as we get closer and closer to Saturday, May 13th. Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Driveway Camping" 

Unexpected Happies From The Heart

Happy Easter everyone!  I haven't had a Story to share with you until today.  Momma Sharon and I cancelled our South Carolina State Parks trip last weekend because we just didn't think Miss Murphy was up for it.  The ladies in the office of both Andrew Jackson State Park and Dreher Island State Park were so gracious and helpful and allowed us to transfer both reservations to a week in September.

Murphy's anti-seizure meds are working well and she is doing good. Since our next outing isn't until May 14th when we leave for the Blue Ridge Rally, it will give her another month to get stabilized so she can go camping with me and Mom.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a couple of unexpected happies with you.  Mom got a little package in the mail several weeks ago and inside was a necklace with two charms.  There were from Sister #2614, Denise Mahoney, who is the Heartland Wrangler.  We don't know her personally, but she put a much needed smile on my Camper Mom's face.

Yesterday, Mom got a box all the way from New York from our T@Bbin' friend Fran Rorie.  Fran was scheduled to come to our Blue Ridge Rally, but when her family from CA scheduled a visit during that week, she had to cancel her reservation.  We have a special project for this year's anniversary BRR called Blessings in a Backpack.  Every single Blue Ridger is stuffing a backpack that will be donated to the students of Townsend Elementary School when they leave for summer vacation.

Miss Fran sent us a big, heavy box of goodies to use when we stuff extra backpacks to help reach our goal of 142.  What an unexpected happy!  

Without a doubt, camping buddies are the best in the world and Miss Denise's and Miss Fran's happies are the proof!!

Thanks for stopping by on this beautiful Easter Saturday.  Until I compose another little Story for you, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Unexpected Happies From The Heart"

Another 15 Minutes Of Fame

Greetings my friends!  I'm here to share an article with you that appeared in the most recent issue of Pink Magazine.  When Mom and I were camping down at Camp Lake Jasper with the Sisters, Miss Jennifer (the organizer) arranged for a friend of hers (Elizabeth Millen) to come to the campground on Saturday morning to check out me and my friends and to interview our moms. Pink is a local magazine that features the arts, shopping, and dining in the Low Country.

Miss Jennifer shared a link to that article on Mom's Facebook page and it tickles me to death to share it in turn with you!  While I wasn't mentioned by name, Miss Elizabeth mentioned "T@Bs" in her article and a photo of me was included!  Here's that snapshot of me and Momma Sharon . . . 

And here's a link to the article and you can read Miss Elizabeth's Story called "Turn On The Glamp" HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today and letting me brag a bit.  I'll be back with another Story when we get back from our SC State Park tour. Until then, always remember . . .

"Peace, Love, & A Little Bit Of Fame"

Murphy Cleared For Camping

Mornin' my friends!  It's been a pretty stressful, on-edge week around here since Monday a week ago.  In the middle of the night, Murphy the Camping Dog fell out of bed having a seizure.  Momma Sharon said it seemed to last forever and she was really, really scared.  Then later that same morning, Miss Murphy had another one.  Within minutes, they were on their way to the animal hospital to see Dr. Furtado.

Dr. Furtado immediately gave her a dose of phenobarbital and did a full panel of bloodwork.  Murphy was so confused and disoriented and Momma Sharon wasn't doing much better herself.  All her bloodwork thankfully came back normal with the one exception of a marker indicating a seizure.  Dr. Furtado figured out her medicine dosage and sent them back home.

Other than being kinda wobbly on her feet and her appetite increasing by 1000% percent, Murphy had a stable week with no more seizures and she actually gained a pound (which she really needed).  Mom took her for a check-up yesterday and Dr. Furtado cleared them both to go camping on Thursday.

Mom will keep Murphy's meds with her at all times and will have the address of the nearest vet, just in case.  I think that camping with me and Uncle Rob and his crew will do them both a world of good.  We are all headed to Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster, SC for the weekend.

So keep all three of us in your thoughts and prayers as we head out on Thursday.  Until my next Story, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Camping With Murphy"

Consolation Prize

Happy Sunday everyone!  It's a gorgeous day here in the NC Foothills as Spring is making herself known in a grand way.

I think Momma Sharon is feeling a bit embarrassed about the April Fools joke she played on me yesterday.  So in an attempt to make up for it, today she told me that she actually did have something for me. A "Spring gift" is what she called it.  

I think it should be called a "Spring cleaning gift" and I'm not so sure how to take this consolation prize of hers.  I know she means well, and I do know she loves me, but . . . . 

In all fairness, we did battle the mosquitos and bugs at the Fabulous Frolic down in South Carolina at the end of February.  Out of frustration one evening, she accidentally smushed a mosquito on my fabric ceiling.  It left a small blood spot (that she's yet to clean off) that I'm not too crazy about.

In her mind, this Black & Decker portable vacuum is the perfect bug-sucker-upper at night so we can avoid nasty smushes on my ceiling and bug bites on her.  So, er, thanks Mom.

"Peace, Love, & Consolation Prizes"

A Cruel, Cruel Joke

A conversation with Momma Sharon this morning.

Mom:  Look what I made Splash!

Me:  OMG, a new set of awnings and a placemat for picnicware to match!!

Mom:  Yeppers, isn't that the coolest fabric ever?!

Me:  Absolutely!  It matches me perfectly!!

Mom:  April Fools . . . it's for Dash-T@B and her Momma Mary, not for you.

Me:  That's just plain cruel Mom, just plain cruel.

"Peace, Love, & A Cruel April Fool's Joke