Garden ~ Cleaning and other Tidbits

I'm back back to gardening, weeding, and indoor clean up.  We haven't had rain, so my week started with watering everything before indoor cleaning started.

The weather has been a beautiful fall like weather.  Cool mornings and gorgeous evenings.  We went on a bike ride last night with two other bikers and I slept like a baby last night.  

However, we may be heading into very hot weather again.

More blooms to share.

I finally had some ripe blackberries to pick.

The egg basket filled up over last weekend, so I may be putting some aside to boil again.

My husband fixed the problem with the camper hot water heater.  Big hooh-rah to that!  I tried to get us a campsite for another park this month.  They are booked solid (as most are this year).

Our hometown fair is in full swing.  First time in two years.  I am so happy to see it happening.  Not sure if we will actually get to go, but happy it's going on this year.

I'm still unable to view my blogger reading list. I sent a message for help on this.  We'll see if they can fix the issue soon.

I can't make this stuff up! Camping Trip, Adventure Mishaps and other things that went wrong

 

First, our first camping trip this year in the pop-up camper was our last.  It was getting too much for us two (all that cranking up and down), and too much bed space for the two of us.

Our nephew and his wife were selling their hard sided camper, and said they just don't go camping anymore.  They had not used it for a year.  We went and looked at it, but next time we buy a camper we'll make sure we double check some things.  We simply trusted their word ("everything works" but again they had not used it for a year).  Thankfully, we were able to simply transfer our camper plates.  Oh, and it only sleeps 2 (he he!)

We sold the pop-up the same day it was for sale, and made back half of what we paid for the hard sided camper.  Oh boy.  What a difference in camping.  Just back it in, put up the jacks, pull out the awning and relax.  I do like the fact that it did not keep us inside, and we still did campfire meals.  We do have a propane stove in case of bad weather while camping. 

Anyway, here is the saga of our story.  My husband put the hitch in, backed up, hooked up the camper and we started to pull out of the driveway.

KA-BAM!

We stop, get out and guess what he did?  Again, I can't make this up.  He put the pin in behind the hitch, so the camper pulled the hitch out, then bounced of the bumper of the truck (now he has another thing to fix, ha ha!).  Our first maiden voyage didn't start out that great.

We get to the campground, set up and start hooking up water and electric.  This was our first time to use water with a camper and we were excited to have hot showers etc.  Well, he hooks up water and water starts spraying out of the handle of the kitchen sink and down to the floor.

We scramble to use our towels to mop up up the floor.  We didn't have the right tools to remove the faucet, and we needed the hot water tank drained to remove the faucet (or water would come out of the faucet. 

The next morning, we got our campfire breakfast made, but were exhausted with the issue with no water in the camper.

We had met our neighbors, and in conversion, we were told who to ask for help.  We walk over a few more campsites and low and behold we got help.  Water tank emptied, faucet taken out, we headed to the hardware store.

Thankfully, we found help and found a new faucet for the camper.  Back at the camper, we install it, check for leaks again, and we were back in action.

We however could not get the pilot light on the hot water tank to light.  Frustrated we decided to go for a drive and get some delicious local chicken.  

Ha!!!!

Nope.  We went to larger restaurants and found lines out the door with anywhere from 30-50 people standing in line.  After trying two, we headed back to another town and tried a brewery.  Nope.  30 minute wait and we were starving.  We went next door to another one and after a short wait got in.  We were exhausted just trying to get a meal.  I told him next time we camp in Amish country, we cook all meals at the campground.

So we finally get back to the camper and get the pilot light going and the hot water tank kicks on.  Shortly after?  It kicks off.  This went on all evening and the next day.  

No hot showers for the either of us, because we used our towels to clean up the earlier mess (shower house was there, but we didn't want to drive out for more towels).  We just dealt with no showers, packed 'er up and headed home.

By the way, the campground was packed full, and on the way home, we stop at a gas station that had a dump station - jam packed with campers.  Everyone and their brother was camping (best weather ever for it).

Now for the rest of the story.  If you are still reading this ..ha ha!  Long story.

We return Sunday, unload the food from the camper, and unhook it.  Our new mattress and box springs were in.  Our daughter got us a very good deal and ours were almost 20 years old (springs sticking out of my husband's side of the box springs).

First, Hubby insisted our bed was a California King.  I told him no, it's a King.  I ordered it his way, we haul it home, haul it all into the house.  Nope.  Too big.  We call our daughter who luckily was at work, and they had a king in stock.  We load that heavy pain in the rump all back up (a LOT of work there), drive it back, unload it, do the exchange, load the new one in, drive home and unload.  Mind you, this is all way late evening and we had not had dinner, nor had either of us had a shower since Friday morning.

It fit perfect.  Thankfully, daughter K got off work and rescued our hungry stomachs with some dinner.  Thankfully, we have the proper electrical outlet to hook up the camper's electric and water to work on the hot water heater.  Another job for him to work on ha ha!  What a weekend!!  I never did get my shower until Monday morning, but boy oh' boy did it feel good.

At least we can laugh about it, and my husband is already telling people the story too (and laughing while telling it).

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend, although we got our 2nd camping trip squeezed in.  I'll have the full report on that tomorrow ha ha.  Oh boy it's too much to fit into today's post.  It's not just about camping, but the entire weekend, returning home and stuff I just can't make up.

However I have photos down below for you all.

By the way, blogger is still not working correctly for me.  My reading list is zero.  It keeps telling me no posts to read at all, and it's frustrating.  I have found a way to search for your blogs one at a time, but it's easier for me if you comment. Then I can click on your blog (if you have one) and read updates.  Hopefully they will fix it soon.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I'll link up when she posts.

The weather . . . 

Absolutely gorgeous!!  What I call perfect camping weather.  In the 70's and so nice out.  

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Well, rested yet exhausted and feeling grimy.  Read tomorrow's post to find out why ha ha!

On the breakfast plate . . .

Coffee so far, ha ha!  Most likely a few eggs and toast. 

Looking around the house. . . 

What a mess!  Daughter K worked long shifts so nothing was done, and she put all her dirty dishes in the sink vs. the dishwasher.  It'll be a long day cleaning up everything.

On my reading pile . . .

A campground magazine that contains all of the campground in our state.

On my TV . . .

Nothing in particular.  However, today after I clean, I plan to have some down time watching cooking shows and doing some handiwork.

On the menu . . .

-fried cabbage, buttermilk cornbread
-grilled philly's

-possibly chickpea stuffed shells

-hummus (a meal on it's own and perfect for very hot days)

-leftovers

From the camera . . .

Herb garden at the campground for anyone to use for cooking.  I thought this was pretty neat, considering I love foil pack campfire beets with fresh rosemary.  

Just a few photos of our camping trip.   We had to go to Wal-mart and buy a grill cover for the campfire ring.  All campfire rings did not have a grill grate on them to do any campfire cooking.

I am thankful for . . .

Music.  I love to have the radio playing while cleaning the house.

I am hoping to . . .

Get some more camping trips planned.

Prayer list . . .

Niece A, who is pregnant and nearly passed out for some reason yesterday and niece L who was in a single car accident near our house (while we were gone), totaled her car, but is okay.

Organizing and more purging

Sprinkles arrived early yesterday morning, followed by thunder and lightning.  I decided to pull out all of my totes of items I sell at craft shows, take an inventory, write down what needs re-stocked, and price everything that wasn't.  I need to package the remaining items, and print labels for them, but now I need to replace my printer first.  

In the process I was looking for salt and pepper shakers a Tupperware dealer gifted me (mini one's) at show we did.  I did not find them.  They were for the camper and as of yet I have not found them.  Hm.

Either way, I filled yet another large box for donation.  I now need a storage container for all the camper bedding I am keeping to use for rag rugs.

In the process of looking for the salt and pepper shakers, I have found more areas to purge and re-organize.  

I also found this unfinished set of pot holders.  I didn't find the crocheted rug I was looking for.  Something in my foggy brain thinks I finished it and gave it to Daughter E for her hope chest last year.  I found an unfinished lapghan too.

Blogger ~ Blooms ~ Garden ~ Road Construction

I don't know if it's my internet or blogger, but I'm unable to read anyone's blog.  Hopefully blogger will fix it soon.

More blooms from our glady's.  Oh, by the way, we were sitting on the front porch late evening and two hummingbirds were enjoying my tall purple phlox for the longest time ever.  It was fun to watch them.

Rain is in the forecast today, but as of waking up we have zero.  I sure hope it does rain.  My garden actually needs it.  the mosquitoes are horrible this year, but we do need the rain.

Road construction has started out in front of our homestead.  They literally just did this in 2012, and it really doesn't need done (there are worse routes that need re-surfaced).  I'm not looking forward to it, and the dogs will bark and bark.  Sigh.

We had plans to go to another "big city" and then those plans changed and then we ended up not doing either.  The heat was horrible, and after Hubby worked in it all day, he just wanted to get home and into the AC.  Thank goodness for egg salad.

Heat Returns ~ Day 2 of Battle with the Rabbits

The heat returned and watering everything resumed.  The rabbits are horrible this year and have eaten the tops off most of my beets (so mad about this).  I've dumped cayenne pepper on it to deter them, but it may be too late.  Next year I'll have to fence it in.  We've never had this problem in 12-13 years.

My mother's neighbor told her a trick - sprinkle cayenne in the garden.  I did this with the grow bags, sweet potatoes and other problem areas and so far it's working!!  So happy to see growth vs. chewed down tops.

The green peppers are on thankfully.  So are the green beans.  I'm still waiting on more zucchini and yellow squash, but the tomatoes look great.

One zucchini, last year's jalapenos, and last year's green peppers went into making a breakfast scramble for breakfast.  We are on the very last bag of frozen green peppers - just in time for this year's harvest.

Cleaning ~ Garden Day

Monday was a catch up all day.  Kitchen needed cleaned up, garden needed weeded etc.

My hot peppers are loaded and I'm already putting some in the freezer.  The rest of the garden is slow going for some reason.

One family member may be raising meat birds for extended family.  We will definitely be in on that, however they want to process them all themselves (we are talking 100-150).  Not sure if it'll happen, but we'll see.