Christmas Eve Splash Cookies

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Last night the smell of gingerbread was wafting through the house because Momma Sharon used her brand new Splash Cookie Cutter to make Christmas cookies.

When Daisy's Mom posted a photo of this cutter on Facebook, all the T@Bbing moms went kinda crazy.  I bet the folks at the cookie cutter place were wondering what in the world was going on with all the new orders they were getting.  Well my Camper Mom joined in the fun and ordered one too.

Miss Wendy made the cookie dough and the icing and Momma Sharon did the rolling, cutting, and decorating.  Martha Stewart she is not, but I think she had fun.  If the amount of flour on the counter and floor was any indication, then she did for sure.

The cookies fresh out of the oven were beautiful and they looked just like me!  The icing part was a little trickier and it took a while for Momma Sharon to get the hang of it.  By the end of the second batch, they were looking pretty.  I'm sure you can spot the difference between the first ones and the last ones if you look closely . . . LOL.

That's my Christmas Eve Cookie Story.  Until I chat with you again, I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, Splash Cookies & Camping"

Happy Almost Birthday To Momma Sharon

This is the time of year that you will hear a lot of "Merry" and "Happy" being wished!  That's especially true with Momma Sharon since her birthday is a mere five days after Christmas.   Some folks really don't like having a birthday so close to Christmas, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Aunt Becky is always on the hunt for something campy and unique to give to Mom and this year she found the perfect birthday present!  Do you remember the Pinterest photo I shared with you a while back?  The one with the plaid lunchbox turned hot chocolate station?  

While Aunty Bec was at the Gibson Mill Antique Mall one day last week, she spied this perfect little lunchbox!  The latch worked, the lid fit well, the colors were vivid, and it still had the original Thermos in it!! Woohoo!!

On her birthday, Momma Sharon is going to recreate that Pinterest vignette with her own goodies and settle down for a cup of hot chocolate.  Who knows, if the day is warm enough, she might share it with me!!  Until her big day, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Birthday Camping Presents"

Merry Christmas To Me

Mornin' everyone!  I just gotta tell you about the neatest, coolio Christmas present I got this morning. Well, technically Momma Sharon got it, but she's going to share.

At the Blue Ridge Rally last year, I made friends with an outstanding little Silver Shadow teardrop by the name of Gunny.  Gunny is all decked out in Marine attire and his folks are Susie and Jamie Sigmon that don't live too far away from me.  Susie is a former student of Momma Sharon's and they have remained friends for years and years.

This morning they met for a holiday breakfast and Susie gave my Camper Mom this . . . 

This is a photo of me when I was camping up at Big Meadow Family Campground during the Native American Flute festival in Townsend. Miss Susie snitched my photo and made this tile!  Don't ya just love it?!  If you would like one too, I know where you can have one made . . . tee hee.

Stay warm out there my friends and always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping Christmas Presents"

Ho, Ho, Ho

Ho, ho, ho!  Merry Almost Christmas!

I received a Christmas present this weekend from Momma Sharon's buddies on the T@B Camping Trailers page on Facebook.  There was a little holiday contest and folks were asked to submit their favorite Christmas T@B photo.  The winning photo would be placed at the top of the page for the cover photo.  My Camper Mom submitted this one . . . 

Aunt Becky took this photo of me several years ago before my T@Bport was installed.  It's one of my all-time favorites and Momma Sharon pulls it out every winter for me to look at.

For a couple of days, T@Bbers on Facebook could "vote" for their favorite by hitting the "Like" button.  There were lots of great photos submitted and some of them are my good friends.  In the end, I got 30 votes and I won!!

Here I am sitting all official and Christmasy on our Facebook page.  Blush, blush . . . 

I hope everyone is gearing up for a big Christmas and that your folks have a great T@B present already picked out for you.  I think Momma Sharon is going to make me a set of curtains!  She was talking to Aunt Becky about it and I think she already has the fabric in mind.

Well I sure am glad you dropped by today for a Christmas Story!   Ho, ho, ho, Merry Almost Christmas and until we meet again always remember . . . 

"Peace and Love, Camping and Christmas!"

Kings Mountain Kick-Off

Color me surprised that I am back here again with a Short Story.  I know that I told you I would chat with you again next year.  It wasn't that I lied, it's just that Momma Sharon went and planned an un-rally for March.  I think it's in her DNA to daydream and plan and organize these get-togethers.  She honestly cannot help it!

So here's the deal.  South Carolina State Parks ran a Black Friday special . . . 50% off the camping fees at select parks.  That meant the sites would cost as little as $8.50 a night!  Good gracious, that's almost FREE!!  When she saw that nearby Kings Mountain State Park was on the list, those camping wheels started turning.  Here's the result . . . 

That special has expired, but the regular fee of $17 per night is still a bargain.  It's not too early to pull out your 2015 calendar and pencil this in.  I would love to have you join me!!

Until I'm back again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping Trips!"

Happy Thanksgiving To My Peeps!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Camping Peeps!  I want to share something that Momma Sharon's NY boyfriend John sent her . . .

ONLY 153 MORE DAYS TILL THE 2015 BRR

I think that says it all, don't you? Have a wonderful day with family and friends sharing food and fellowship.  Until we meet again, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Thankfulness For Camping!"

Sharon's Lunchbox Surprise

Back in October, Momma Sharon was browsing her friends' Pinterest pages.  If you aren't familiar with that popular form of social media, think of an online scrapbook where you can cut and paste everything from recipes to photos of cute puppies, vintage trailer decor to DIY projects.

On that particular October day, a photo of a vintage lunchbox that had been repurposed as a hot chocolate bar caught her eye.  It was surrounded by lots of cool vintage holiday props.

Hmmmm . . . an idea was hatched!  Mom has a good friend, Suzy Spence, up in Hampton, VA that has a home-based company called GeorgiaPeachez.  She takes vintage Christmas items like Shiny Bright balls, fuzzy reindeer, elfs, bottle brush trees, and crafts them into the most amazing wreaths.

Momma Sharon zipped Suzy an email with the Pinterest photo and one question.  Would she consider creating a camping-themed lunchbox with a holiday vibe?  Suzy wrote back saying that might be something fun to do.  With the Coastal Caravan consuming our every waking moment, we kinda forgot about the lunchbox day dream.

This past Thursday, we got an email from Suzy that said:

Sharon,

I really enjoyed your recent caravan and all the pictures you posted.

In fact, your little Splash inspired me along with this picture of the cocoa station.

I've been working on this for a while and it is finally ready for the reveal.

In that email was a link to a YouTube video titled "Sharon's Lunchbox Surprise".   Well I tell you, we couldn't open that link fast enough!! Suzy's email went on to say that she would send a photo to show the detail.

When Momma Sharon and Aunt Becky travel up to Williamsburg in a couple of weeks, they will see Suzy in person at the Trinkle Hall Arts & Crafts Show.  Of course that means that the lunchbox will be revealed too! One more thing.  Suzy has a blog too and on Friday, she shared her Story about this awesome little lunchbox.  You can read it HERE.

Well friends, this wraps up my 2014 Stories.  I'll be back in February to tell you all about my upcoming trip down to LaBelle, FL for the Swamp Cabbage Festival.  Until then, have a great holiday season and always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love & Camping"