Nap Time

Even though it was only a four day work week, I am pooped! Wish I could just sneak out to my little trailer and have a short nap. Yup, a power snooze would fix me right up!

3-in-1 Cooking Center

Have you seen this 3-in-1 cooking center before? This is exactly what you need if it's raining and you don't want to cook outside. I first read about it over at Little Vintage Trailer when I had just bought my trailer.
http://littlevintagetrailer.com/2011/08/cooking-in-little-vintage-trailer/. It fits across my propane stove (which I have never used), and also across my flip-up shelf. When it's not in use, it stores perfectly inside Betty's closet. I am sure the designer never meant it to be used in a trailer, but it's great if you just need to make breakfast for two!

A Charmed Life

My Charm Bracelet

*I may or may not have borrowed that title from an article in an old Mary Engelbreit magazine. Today I am going to reveal my charm bracelet. Now anyone who knows me well knows that I never wear jewelry. I'm serious here. I wear my wedding band and twice a year I pop my diamond studs in :)  But I digress... I think I got this charm bracelet when I was 17. Three of the charms relate to water skiing, my passion as a teenager. Another three are souvenirs from places I visited such as England, the Bahamas, and Calgary. The key was a gift when I graduated from university. Eventually I tucked my bracelet away and had sort of forgotten about it. But then I bought my vintage trailer in 2011, and I discovered that they had little trailer charms. So for Christmas that year Santa brought me one. I think that tiny RV is so cute on there nestled in between my dolphin and the Calgary Tower! Of course my bracelet is once again safely tucked away in my jewelry box:) 

Code Red!

The Perfect Accessory

"Code red, code red!" That's what I say when a fly gets in the cottage or my trailer. I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy, but I cannot stand house flies. And don't even get me started on mosquitoes, LOL. My motto is, "If it flies, it dies." It's not so much that I am afraid of getting bitten, it's more that I don't like the thought of them in my kitchen (around my food). Which is a real problem in the trailer 'cause the kitchen is the bedroom is the dining room is the living room...So that's why this cute fly swatter hangs right by the door where I can easily grab it and swat anything that gets in!

Dreaming of Retirement

After being in Florida last week, this is how I'm feeling. I want to retire now, not in two years time. That could be me, sitting outside my trailer, knitting an afghan. Well, first my friend, Susan, would have to teach me how to knit, but you get the idea...And see that dog, I even played "that card".  Yup, I am trying everything  to move my retirement date up. Just one. year. earlier. would make me happy...

Confession # 1, I Love Doin' Dishes

Big confession coming...I love to "do dishes". Yes, I love to wash dishes or dry them if someone else is washing. So imagine my joy when I found this mini sized dish drainer at a local discount store. It fits right between Betty's sink and stove. Now mind you it can only hold about two plates and two mugs, but it's not like I'm cooking Christmas dinner in my tin can, LOL. My sink doesn't have a gray water tank so I keep a dishpan in the sink. I also have another small enamel basin in case I need a little water for something. It's all pretty compact, but it seems to work! How about you, do you like to wash or dry dishes the "old school" way?

Waiting Patiently For Summer

Oh my! I should have given you a heads up. This is not a pretty scene. Well, the top picture is kinda pretty, but the bottom picture even scares me. Believe me, I tried to persuade my husband to put "Betty" into winter storage, but that idea was not warmly received. So Betty is tarped and bungie corded six ways for Christmas. The snow adds to the bleakness...I did not photo-shop that in. We will be going to the cottage for Easter. I can hardly wait to get that tarp off and take a peek inside! Oh, did I mention that is tarp #2? The first one blew off just after Christmas;)

All Lit Up

Have you ever wanted a lampshade but couldn't find anything that went with your decor? Well here's an easy fix. Pick up a self-adhesive shade from your favourite craft store and cover it with fabric that coordinates with your furnishings. When you peel off the wrapper, that becomes your template. I was able to make this shade from a gingham dinner napkin! First I layed the wrapper on the napkin and cut out the fabric leaving about a half inch hem all around. Next, I put the fabric on the self-adhesive shade and folded under the hem along the back seam and glued it down with fabric glue. I also folded the excess fabric over the top edge and glued that down. To make sure it held I secured it with clothespins until the glue dried. Then I repeated this along the bottom edge. When that was dry, I glued on some ball fringe and held that in place with clothespins. These shades come in different sizes and styles (round and square). Easy breezy!

Fabric Alert!

Did you know that there is some fabulous fabric about to hit the shops? Mary Jane's "Glamping" collection is just sweet! Lots of colours, coordinates, and designs to choose from in this line being offered by Moda Fabrics. Even though I have my little "tin can" all decorated, there's always room for another pillow ;) or maybe a lap quilt for those chilly days. Take a peek...

To see all the colours and designs offered, check out this link:

http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_glamping.pdf

                                                Happy sewing!

The Pleasure Chest

So here's my Pleasure Chest camping cooler. My father bought this before we went on a camping vacation to Cape Breton in the summer of 1960. It used to have a little metal tray (for ice), but that has been lost over the years. When I was in university some friends and I took this with us when we went camping. The name "Pleasure Chest" always made us laugh, especially my friend Joy. My dad decided that when he passed away, Joy should get this vintage cooler. So being the dutiful daughter, I fulfilled his wish. But guess what? Last summer Joy decided that the Pleasure Chest belonged with me, and she gave it back. (Thank you, Joy.) I think it's the perfect accessory for Betty, my vintage trailer. Dad would be absolutely delighted to think that old Pleasure Chest is still going strong some 53 years later!

Gift from the Sea

                          

This is what happened one day last summer when I had way too much free time. I emptied my trailer of all its red decor and restyled it. I basically just "shopped" the cottage and dragged out some of my coastal/cottage/nautical things. When you are only decorating 96 square feet it doesn't take too long to change things up! I've had that "She Sells Seashells" doll for at least 10 years. It started out burgundy, but now it's blue. That "Welcome Aboard" life ring came from the guest room.

Someone once said if you have more than three of something it counts as a "collection". I guess you could say I have a collection of nautical books including three from the Bobbsey Twins series, The Outermost House, and Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Every few years I reread this little gem while sitting in my beach chair with my toes buried in the sand!

Stompin' Tom Connors

                                            

This tribute was in our provincial newspaper today. A Canadian folk-legend, fiercely patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 77. He got his nickname because when he sang he stomped his left foot (usually on a piece of plywood). His most well-known hits included "Bud the Spud", "The Hockey Song", and "Sudbury Saturday Night".  I guess you might say he was Canada's Johnny Cash!
Here he is singing my fave, his first hit from 1970, "Bud the Spud".

                                     

 "Bud the Spud" and "The Hockey Song" are available as children's books. Both selections are popular in my classroom.

Flashback!

                  

This vintage photo reminds me of my family. That would be me digging in the cooler, while my older brother figures out how something works, and my Aunt Gwen pours our drinks. Did you have a little dress like this too?  My mom used to make most of my clothes and I can remember her making a little blue and white one in this style. 

Just something to ponder: When were Happy Meals introduced?

If you would like to see more original vintage humor,

 just hop on over to http://annetaintor.com

I am sure you will find something that puts a smile on your face!

Mr. Magee Cracks Me Up!

                                      

Last spring I was on a quest to find this children's book. I checked my local bookstore, but no luck. I called Scholastic, because I had seen a copy with their label on it. The clerk looked it up and said it had been 5 years since it had been on their order list. Rats! I had over $300 in my Scholastic bonus coupon bank and they didn't have the ONE book I wanted. I told my sad tale to the school librarian. About a month later she was purging some books and guess what ended up in the discard pile? Later that week the librarian presented me with a copy of A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen. Oh happy day! If you have never read this book before, you must! With rhyming text and hilarious illustrations, it's the perfect story for young children. And how adorable is that cover sporting a very stylish, vintage trailer?

Heart Rocks

                              

Heart rocks, another collection of mine. I'm telling you, I never return empty handed from the beach, haha. In the summer I display my heart rocks on the ash plate of our wood stove, but when it's wood stove season I keep them in a Mason jar. Only one has any real significance. See that one on the far right of the bottom row? Found that on the beach the day after our oldest daughter became engaged. I think that might be a good omen ;)