Completed projects:

roof, kitchen, master bedroom, main bathroom (sans shower tile), fireplace, hardwood flooring, windows, office, front entry, stairway

Ongoing projects:

shower surround, dapping/painting woodwork, ensuite vanity/lights/mirror, painting outdoor trim, finishing front entry tile work, interior door painting and hardware, decorating

Monday, August 25, 2008

The campsite

Guilty as charged! I have not reno-ed (is that a word?) for some time now. We have been camping! (around my work of course)

We hit a very hot spell a week ago or so, and I was most grateful to have an air conditioner to run through. Yes, sometimes you have to have a few cushy things in life to get you by and this was one very much needed cushy thing at that time! Having got hit by abit of heat stroke one day, (Cody was fine), this was a good place to recoup.

Here's a shot of our old campsite.


Our view overlooked a large manicured play lawn and the front entrance to the campsite. We've been here for the last few years. Remember my post about redecorating the site? All the wooden tables/benches belong to the campsite. I had found the worst ones I could in their boneyard and white washed them in a matching rv tan/grey colour and in real life, they look like quality accessories for any lucky little campsite to enjoy...

As nice as this site has been for us, I snooped around and found a newly vacated very sought after river site that offered more privacy and sun. So we moved!

See that nice patio? I helped build that thing. I came home to rest after that weekend... but I now know how to lay 80 lb cement slabs onto gravel in the pouring rain for that yard ground level kinda fun of your dreams. (yeah, would be nice to have one at home too!) Jenna's pretty happy with the quieter surroundings and is often found napping beside me while I read. Between the trailer and the river is a nice bit of lawn for your favorite lounger. It's a very tranquil setting. There's always something to watch in the water, whether it be ducks or herons, spotted a beaver too. Haven't had a family of racoons or skunks as yet... but they're there. Just leave out your garbage by mistake and your site turns into a Disney movie, set in the deep woods where all the 'cute' night creatures find you.

I have a creature story to prove my point. A couple years ago I was reading outside by my propane campfire long after Cody had fallen asleep. I felt something brush up against my leg and without moving, glanced down to a long bushy black tail with a white stripe running down the middle... Stiffling a scream, I silently thought if I stayed calm, it wouldn't spray me and just wander away. Right?!?!?!? No idea. I'm new to skunks. So I stayed put barely breathing. The skunk wandered under my chair brushing up against my leg much like a cat would (shudder!!!!) and then turned around and wandered over to the trailer. I indeed left a bag of garbage outside my door I had forgotten about. So I got to watch how a skunk rifles through spaghetti leftovers and whatnot. It finally was on it's way and lemme tell you, once I knew the coast was clear, I ran into that trailer so fast I knocked my chair over, locked the door (like THAT would help keep skunk stink away) and shook for who knows how long. And no, it didn't spray. So there you go folks. How to foil a skunk, you read it here first!

This next picture is one of my alltime favorites. What an oxymoron this shot provides! These kind dudes (campsite neighbour Randy, and the owner of the campsite, John) were trying to figure out how to hook up online. Who says this isn't 'real' camping?!?



And the trailer is new to us this year. Last year I sold the 24 footer and purchased this 17 foot from my friends the Sawatzkys. The trailer came complete with towing lessons too! And the trailer, althought tighter in space, was an upgrade on many levels. It cleans up beautifully and is most certainly getting enjoyed on a regular basis. Thanks Dan and Janis , for our new summer home! Cody has finally admitted to LOVING it, (he gets somewhat attached to all things familiar and claimed to not want to camp this year because the other trailer was history) so that means all is most definately well now!

Anyway, so this is where we hide out when we aren't renoing. It's not a bad life...

Wow, school's back in next week! So as soon as it's suppose to stop raining this week, Cody and I are heading back for the last long weekend before school's in.

Now this isn't to say I haven't done SOME things on the homestead project. I'm still working like mad trying to nail down appliances I like AND can afford. Trying a new place tomorrow... AND, today I spotted the most exquisite unique hand made fireplace mantle Dan was working on that will soon be put to excellent use on my tired old fashioned fireplace. Dan is going to help me cover up the brick with cultured stone and carry it up to the ceiling! It will have a very old world feeling to it loaded with character!

Enjoy what's left of the summer folks! It's nearly time to get dusty again!