A Camping We Will Go . . .

Wanderlust:  A strong longing for or impulse toward wandering;  an innate desire to rove or travel about.

When I was younger, I had no desire to travel.  When there was extra money to be spent, I wanted "things" - something tangible that I could see or use every day.  Spending money on travel seemed like a waste because you had nothing to show for it.  Now that I'm not so young, I realize that the experience is the "thing" to be gained.  I no longer care so much about collecting more stuff, and I've developed a wanderlust.  

Towards that end, we've invested in a vacation home.  No, it's not a beach house or a mountain cabin - it's a 25-year-old pop-up camper. This is a vacation home for small-scale wanderlust between major trips. 

Last summer we discovered Indian Cave State Park, fabulous spot for hiking and picnicking.  Dave also spent quite a bit of time at Kirkman's Cove Recreation Area - water skiing and golfing.  Camping in either of these locations seemed to be an economical and convenient way to satisfy that need to wander - even if it's in 20-mile increments.

Over the years, we've had friends who took camping vacations - elaborate trips that took a week to plan, prepare food, pack and load the camper, then another week to clean up when they got back - in campers with all the amenities of home.  We were never interested because it seemed like too much work to be a vacation.  Our vision of camping is a primitive one or two night get-away that can happen spur-of-the-moment.  We want to cook on a campfire, sit outside and watch the stars - unplug for a night.  We discussed tent camping, but were concerned about having the dogs inside a tent and wildlife roaming outside the tent.  Mostly, concerned that Big Dog would go right through the side of the tent to play with new friends.  What we really wanted is an enclosed bed on wheels.  We found that and just a bit more.

Our new vacation home will sit in the back of the pick-up.  The top pops up to make the interior standing height.  

There's a full-size bed above the cab, a table and seating area that converts to a second bed (for the canine kids)

and a little, tiny kitchen. 

All it needs is some sprucing up - updated curtains and cushions, maybe a couple throw pillows.  With some standard supplies stored in the cabinets, we will be ready on the spur of the moment to grab a pack of hot dogs, load up the pups and enjoy a peaceful break.  

Before you get to thinking I've become a total pioneer, you should know - this is included in those "standard supplies":

A Puzzling Post Goes to the Oscars

In celebration of the glittering, glamorous Oscar celebration last Sunday, I have created a picture puzzle containing 28 actors and actresses that have been declared "The Best" over the history of the Academy Awards.  How many can you recognize?  If that's too easy, can you name the film for which they won and the year - or at least the decade?  

This is just for fun - there's no prize for being the biggest Cinema Geek.  So Google all you want, consult your neighbors, or read other people's answers in the comments.  Complete answers - actor, film, year - will be posted on Wednesday.  On with the show!

Click on picture for larger image.

A Last Minute Pin and the Wrap-Up

Another Pin It/Do It Challenge is at an end, but I managed to slip one final project under the wire.  I signed up for an Easter swap on the Farm Girl Sisterhood, so I was browsing my Pinterest craft board for ideas to include.  I found this little basket from Ayumi at Pink Penguin:

With the right fabric, it could look Easter-ish, so I dug through my stash and found a cheerful floral and coordinating pink print.  I chose to skip the patchwork portion - mainly because I didn't want to dig for more fabrics.  I'm very happy with the finished project.  The base measures approximately 6"x4" and it's about 6" tall - perfect for holding a few Easter goodies.  Or - on the bathroom counter for makeup, in the sewing room for catching fabric scraps, on the end table to hold bookmarks, pens and sticky notes for reading.  I may be whipping up lots of these. The whole thing, including looking for fabric, took less than an hour.

Here's my finished basket.  If you happen to be my partner for the Easter swap, don't look!

The basket brings my total for the February challenge to 11.  

1. Pillowcase Apron
2. Iced Green Tea Lime Cooler
3. Baked Zuchinni Sticks
4. Gift Tags
5. Georgia Peach
6. Rolled Paper Cross
7. Coffee Mug Pincushion
8. Chair Arm Pincushion
9. 100 Calorie Snack Packs
10. Beach Signs
11. Fabric Basket

The Pin It/Do It Challenges are hosted by Trish @ Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity.  They usually roll around every 3-4 months, so keep your eye on her blog or watch for an announcement here, and join in next time.

Sew Wonderful

As part of the Farmgirl Sisterhood, I have been earning various badges. I will be using the blog as a way of documenting them for my own use, and possibly for your amusement.   So far I have received first level badges for Water Conservation and Quilting, and have applied for my first level Apron badge. The most recent badge I've applied for is the "Sew Wonderful" badge.  

The requirements for the badge are to put together a basic sewing supply kit - various colored threads, scissors, needles, pins, etc. - and to make a pin keeper of some sort.  Since I've been sewing off and on for years, I already had those supplies and more.  My issue is finding them when I need them.  I have a tendency to lay things down wherever is handy while I'm working.  "A place for everything and everything piled haphazardly."  Think I'm exaggerating?  See for yourself.

There's a trash can under the table, but obviously my aim stinks.  The plastic tote and the shopping bag on the floor of the closet hold my fabric stash - but the stash has outgrown the space and when I'm looking for something, everything gets dumped.  Same with my sewing tools.  You can't see it in this shot, but there is a lovely cabinet on the wall which my father built many years ago to hold my mom's sewing supplies.  Still, the supplies I've been using are laying on the table, the ironing board or the floor.  

My project for the badge was to sort, organize and store my supplies so that I can find them when I need them without having to dig through everything else.  It took a chunk of an afternoon, but everything is put away with like objects - all ribbon spools hanging together, bias tape in one cubby, snaps and Velcro in another, buttons gathered into a plastic bin, etc.  

The biggest sorting job was fabric, so I spread it out on the living room floor, divided it according to size, and stored it so that I can find what I need, whether it's a full yard or a six-inch square.   Fabrics for projects in progress are in the shopping bag. 

On the table, scissors and other tools I need frequently are in the cute pink craft tote I found in a box of things Amanda left behind when she went to college.  Supplies for other crafts are in the plastic drawer units.

As for the pin keeper requirement for the badge, I've previously shared one I made from a keepsake coffee mug and one I made for the arm of my chair.  Anyone want to lay odds on how long my sewing room will look this way?

Needlework Tuesday

Welcome back to Needlework Tuesday, hosted by Heather from Books and Quilts.  Don't you love the way I say that like I participate on a regular basis?  At best, my participation is sporadic, but I love checking in with Heather's beautiful projects and the others who link up.  

The last time I checked in, it was to show my progress on my Christmas mini-quilt.  It's finally finished!  And it's not even March.  I'm just considering myself way ahead of schedule for next Christmas. This quilt was based on a pattern I saw on Pinterest and selected to use up some large-scale Christmas fabrics left from other projects.  I'm happy with the finished product.  It's festive and cozy (flannel backing) and the perfect size for covering my legs and toes on a chilly evening. Here's the finished quilt:

If you're just visiting for Needlework Tuesday, or if it's your first time here, here are a few other things I've been stitching.

Clothespin apron

Chair Arm Pincushion

Oscars Best and Worst

Welcome to the second annual Just One More Thing Fashion Oscars!  I love to watch the Oscars to see what everone's wearing - I've seen very few of the nominated films.  I loved this year's tribute to musicals, so watching the actual Oscar ceremony was more interesting than usual.  Though I can't comment on which movies should have won, here's my thoughts on and selections for Best and Worst Dressed, as well as some other random topics:

Best Dressed:

Kristin Chenoweth's dress reminded me of Grace Kelly's dress in Rear Window - classic and elegant.

Sandra Bullock is always stunning and understated - right down to the simple hairstyle with a single clip behind her ear.

Zoe Saldana made my list for being unique without being off-the-wall.

It seemed that celebreties were afraid of color this year - lots of white, gold, and beige.  Robin Roberts' dress was the most beautiful shade of blue and made her look gorgeous.

Honorable Mention: 

Charliz Theron's and Jennifer Lawrence's dresses were both beautiful but slightly "standard".

Worst Dressed:

Anne Hathaway's Prada dress featured unfortunate darts and puckered seams that made it look like a homemade prom dress.  How does that happen at Prada?

Brandi Glanville (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), who isn't even a real celebrity, still wins the hands-down worst dressed spot, based solely on the slutty factor of her wardrobe-malfunction-waiting-to-happen.  

My daughter once had a fake-fur rug in her room.  When I tried to launder it, it turned into a blob of matted fiber.  That's what Amy Adam's dress reminded me of.  And, again, from a legendary designer, Oscar de la Renta.  Go figure!

Helene Bonham Carter - frumpy, sloppy shreds.  'Nuff said.

Men's Department:  Men get off so easy - a black tux is a black tux is a black tux.  But there were a couple who stood out, for good or bad, but pictures of men are tougher to find. 

George Clooney - I just don't know what to say.  How can someone usually so handsome and polished look so scruffy and unkempt?  Evidently razors are "out" in Hollywood - as modeled by Clooney, Joaquin Phoenix, Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Affleck and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.  Not a trend I'm fond of.

John Travolta - In all black (tux,shirt and tie), he made up for Clooney.

Samual L. Jackson win's most original in burgundy (velvet?)

And finally, Jane Fonda gets her own category:

I'm not a fan of the neon yellow, but the cut and style were beautiful and if Google didn't tell me so, I would never believe she's 75.  Winner!

Who were your favorites?

Getting the Cart Before the Horse . . .

I love crafting and sewing, but sometimes I get so excited for the finished product that I don't adequately plan and I end up wishing I had taken the time to decide what I really wanted before I started.  Case in point - I recently joined the Farmgirl Sisterhood and needed a place to preserve/display the badges I've been earning.  So I purchased a kit through Mary Jane's Farm for this tote bag:

Adorable, isn't it?  My plan was to sew the completed badges on the reverse side.  But when the kit arrived, I changed plans (so what else is new?).   I didn't want a tote that looked like everyone else's tote, I needed to personalize it.  "Wait a minute!" I told myself, "If you didn't want it to look like the picture, why did you buy the kit?  You spent good money on this kit, you really ought to follow the instructions."  And the obedient, rule-following, don't-get-out-of-line girl in me agreed.  So, I swapped out the brown fabrics for my own aqua kitchen print that I love, and replaced the "fetchin" embroidered square with my membership badge.  It looked like this:

Also kinda cute.  But while the tote sat in my sewing room waiting for me to attach the badges, the rebellious, free-thinking, I-don't-need-no-stinking-rules girl in me kept nagging that it really wasn't what I wanted.  Although it's cute, the fringe and chenille really aren't "me".  Now compliant girl and rebel girl were having an arguement:  "You bought the kit and this is what you're supposed to do with it.  If you aren't going to follow the instructions, you have wasted the money."  "You have to be unique. No one can tell you how you have to decorate your tote bag!"  Yada yada yada - back and forth.

Rebellious girl won.  Rule girl finally admitted that, yes, I could have saved money by buying a plain tote and starting from scratch, but also acknowledged that I probably wouldn't have without the inspiration of the kit.  Either way, the money is spent and having a bag I'm not happy with and don't use is wasteful also.  So, I took everything off the bag and started over. (Rule girl was sure to save the pieces to be used in a future project.)  It's got a vintage feel, it incorporates quilting, the off-set pocket and badge are a bit quirky, and it's pretty.  I'd say I captured "me" pretty well.  I plan to get the badges attached to the back this weekend and keep the bag in my car to use as a shopping bag for those quick stops I frequently make to pick up only a few items.

The moral of my silly story is best summed up by country music legend Dolly Parton:

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."