girl at large

That Would Be A Surprise

I planned a little diversion for Paulie and myself today. I was so pleased with myself for sneaking in some time to look across a table into each others eyes instead of our iPads, when I would hold his hand instead of a baby bottle. And it's Christmas; how nice! He had the day off, I only had to work til noon. The kids were at daycare til 5. I picked him up at 12:30, and started to drive to the east side.

He was fidgety, nervous and kept asking what I was doing, where we were going. He got more nervous as we headed down Downer Avenue in the direction of Columbia St Mary's hospital. But a block before, I pulled up to my surprise destination---a cheerful corner coffee shop and bookstore. Paulie was visibly relieved, but why?

He explained:

"I couldn't figure out what you were up to. You were so specific about meeting at exactly 12:30 I thought, it must be an appointment. What has she asked me to do that I haven't done? Why keep me in the dark? And then I thought...

...Oh no, she's taking me to get a vasectomy."

 

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Dreams Suck

The trailer sold today. The new owners tow it away this weekend. It's going to a good home, just across the peninsula of Door County to folks who have a place to work on it and finish what we started. It's so close to being done, and yet so far---it still lacked hot water, a working shower and stove. Wait, am I talking about my trailer or my house? Oh, yes, that's why I decided to sell it.

A few months back, Paulie and I decided to reduce our renovation projects to just one. I voted to sell the house, but got vetoed. (Ha ha)

It's a happy coincidence that the bathroom work is really under way the same week. Well, not really a coincidence since the trailer proceeds are funding it. As I looked at the beautiful beadboard walls finished today, I noticed that the bathroom is long and narrow and nearly the same length as the trailer. THIS little space of my own better have hot water soon!

 

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Trailer Time

BEFORE--DURING--AFTER

It's taken two years, but the dinette in the trailer is usable at last! It was the very first thing I ripped out the first summer-- the rickety, water-damaged dinette benches and table. After a season with nothing but an empty space (and exposed battery charger and water pump), it will be wonderful for have the seating area usable again. It did make a fine spot for the pack-n-play for Viv last year, but she's ready for a real bed now.

I have to have a table top made yet, but for now, it's enough just to have a comfy place to sit. Thank you Dad, thank you Molly!

 

 

 

 

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Spring At Last, Already?

We will be getting the Tin Can Cottage ready for use soon. The benches and cushions are ready, the station wagon is full of supplies.The winter was long and cruel, but somehow I'm still not ready for spring yet...my trailer "to do" lists are too long.

I'm looking forward to it, but I have reservations this season...it still needs so much work, and we never seem to do anything but work. I want to keep the projects to a reasonable level this summer so we can get some rest and enjoy this time with Viv, not to mention each other.

I'm also nervous about the logistics of Toddlerhood at the trailer. I fear frustration will set in if we try to accomplish even the simplest of projects with Viv in tow. She won't sit nicely in a bucket while we paint or scrub aluminum or repair plumbing...this year, she will be right in the mess.

If it weren't for Dad and Molly, the biggest improvement in the trailer this year would never have happened --new dining benches (and subsequent bed). Thank goodness for all the help, we need it!

 

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Dreaming of Spring

The new dinette benches for the trailer are almost done! I can't believe what an amazing job Dad did recreating them from the crumbled, rotting mess that we had to work from as a template.

Now I need to order the table top to go with them, just have to work out the support mechanism (it will convert from table and benches to bed). Can't wait to have morning coffee in the trailer. Viv will have a cozy place to sleep, and all the mechanicals previously (and dangerously) exposed will be nicely concealed.

Now, if only Spring will come...

 

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Final Fall Weekend

It's our last weekend of the year in the Tin Can, the camp site closes for the season this week. We won't be able to finish the second coat of interior paint, but I did manage to strip and wax the floor today. The floor still needs to be replaced, but a good scrubbing and re-waxing really helped---it greatly improved Viv's scooting speed too!

This afternoon's thunderstorms shortened our trip to The Farm, but lengthened our naps.

I hope next year to take a full week off and really enjoy a proper vacation up here; it just went too fast this year.

Tomorrow we winterize (antifreeze! I'm still wary) and pack the wagon for the return of all the vulnerable supplies.

I'm going to miss the cozy camper, reading by the campfire and watching the big rigs come and go. Most of all, I'm going to miss the omelets at the Town Hall Bakery.

 

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Labor of Love

A second coat of interior paint, a layer of Kilz, mounting hooks and shelves, mapping electrical and plumbing, stripping the wax off the floor...the work never seems to end, but summer does.

Tin Can Progress

 

It seems that everywhere I go, renovation takes place. This past Sunday in Door County was rainy; a welcome excuse not to work on the Tin Can. We drove up and down the peninsula instead, stopping for coffee and road side stands and second hand stores. A set of blue green melamine dishes and a wood stump table were our finds of the day, both perfect fits for our little camp site.

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Before & After Paint

Before and After shots of the interior painting in the Tin Can Cottage. What a difference! It's so much cleaner and brighter. We may have to Kilz and recoat in the dinette area--the smoking decades took their toll--but we are almost done.

Now if only redoing the plumbing were as easy.

New Finishes, Old Friends

We decided to use carpet tiles in the trailer instead of the cork-patterned vinyl due to both technical difficulties and comfort. Baby Viv will be crawling soon, and it's much cozier. I found both the carpet tile and the glass mosaic back splash tile on the cheap at HOBO. Gotta love HOBO.

Next task: choosing the laminate for the counter tops (kitchen, bathroom and the bedroom area cabinet). The colors are familiar---BM's Palladian Blue and Blue Spa paint, two favorites I've used for ages. And of course, the never-lets-me-down grey. My beloved LuLu DK curtains will move from our bedroom (where they didn't really work in the new house anyway) to the trailer, replacing the old plastic accordion bathroom door. Picking colors, coordinating finishes---fun stuff!

Poor Paulie has been dealing with the not-so-fun stuff. Why are pipe fittings always 1/8" too small? Why are no two caps threaded alike?

And who on earth taught this boy to build a fire? We are the smoky laughing stock of the campsite, I guarantee you.

 

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Look Familiar?

Paul made the trek up to Door County yesterday to start the process of getting the trailer ready for the season. We had thought that the Tin Can Cottage would be our big renovation project for the year! Turns out, it may be our refuge from renovation chaos instead. Once we get some work done on it.

The cork-patterned vinyl tile is going to look fantastic. Just getting rid of the old, grey, filthy floor will make the entire trailer feel clean and fresh. As will finishing the coat of paint we had to stop when I got too pregnant, too hot, and too bitchy to continue last summer. I must have been really bitchy when we left it in August because Paul said it looked like we had just stepped away--things were left out, like swimming suits hanging to dry. Being up north in an empty campsite with snow on the ground in April isn't creepy enough.

This time for the floor, we are going to watch youtube videos before installing. There is such a thing as too much glue!

 

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Countdown

I'm 37 weeks now, Baby is head down and I'm having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions. Now, if only I could get this project done at work! I have a feeling that as soon as I get work wrapped up, real labor will kick in. Until then, though the nursery is ready, the kitchen is stocked and the childbirth books are read---I'm not yet mentally ready. I'm as ready as I'll ever be to be a mom, but it's leaving work behind I'm finding difficult to do!

Simple Things

The pressure is on to be ready for baby! Only 6 more weeks. The house is coming along, thanks to some outsourcing.

We are in the trailer this weekend----more work! I'm going to deliver this baby with a screwdriver in my hand. Or in the case of the trailer, a screw driver with a specially ordered "clutch" bit for the clutch style screws used briefly in the 1950's and 60's in the automotive industry, and apparently for every single attachment in an old trailer.

Enjoying a wonderful hot cup of coffee on a cool morning after a camp shower, hearing crows in the distance, Miss Ruby at my feet. I really do love camping. And wi-fi.

The Adventure Begins

We are picking up the Trailer this weekend. We travel from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac to pick up Dad's truck on Friday night. Then, first thing Saturday we head out to LaCrosse to pick it up. Learn as much as we can from the sellers, hitch it up, cross our fingers and hit the road! All the way then to Bailey's Harbor in Door County. The total miles is in the 800 range. The number one item on Paul's list of things to bring is a Fire Extinguisher. I'm 7 1/2 months pregnant. It's averaging 98 degrees outside. The trailer is 48 years old.

We have three simple goals:
-Return Dad's truck in one piece
-Get the trailer to the camp site
-Stay married