Camper Fever

Yesterday I had cabin fever. Or for me that would be camper fever! I just needed to get out and about. I remembered seeing a little, ceramic birdhouse at one of my antique shop stops. I traveled to the next town south of us to search.

I parked right across the street from this sign.

I remember my mom telling me there was a Raggedy Ann museum in this town. I should look it up. I asked the owner of the shop I stopped in. She told me it had closed up and moved to Japan. What?   Yes, most collectors of these beloved stuffed dolls reside in Japan. How crazy is that?

I didn't find my birdhouse. (Gosh, where did I see that at?)

But of course I did find some other treasures.

       Vintage cards!    5 for $1.00

A few Christmas ornaments, along with a lime pyrex.

These darling cornhusk dolls

I took pity on this cracked coffee jar. It was stuck on a back shelf with a 4 dollar price tag. It isn't cracked all the way thru. nobody will notice when it is tucked in with my others at home.

When the "pipeliner" arrived back at the camper last night, he showed me the shirt I would be getting for Christmas. Something he found off of Ebay. (he's an Ebay junky)

Funny guy, that one is!

Last thing on my happy list today, my beloved beagle turns 7 today

 

Happy Birthday Molly!

Where my mind wonders

 

My mind has been wondering the last few days. Back to the barn on our farm.

 

We just had it painted red, right before we left on this adventure.

 

The husband added a garage door to drive his tractors inside to work on. The funny thing is he doesn't have any tractors. I bet by spring he will.

 

My thoughts have drifted to the stairs we had built.

 

 

The only way to access the barn loft was by old, rickety, hand made steps nailed to the outside. 

 

Our builder sure exceeded my imagination. And these pictures don't do them justice.

 

 

I just can't wait to get back home to add the details that have been going thru my mind.

 

I can look thru the little window to watch the pipeliner work on his tractors.

 

Um yeah, when ever he gets one!

 

 

 

 

 

Things I have found around me!

The pipeliners job has landed us in a pretty neat place.  Right on the edge of an Amish community. What a great place to explore!The funny thing is my cousin taught school here years ago. I had been to visit with my parents, but don't remember the area at all.

Decorating the camper for Christmas

It looks like the extent of my Christmas decorating will be limited to the camper this year. For a small space I need to keep it simple.

Just a slim tree to adorn the tabletop.

 

The lights twinkle!

 

 

A few gingerbread friends sit atop the kitchen shelves

 

Homade gifts for the pipeline girls sit under the tree waiting to be delivered.

 

I found a few treasures at a local antique store. They will find another spot to give the camper some Christmas cheer.

 

This isn't how I planned to decorate for Christmas this year. I had lists of ideas to make the farmhouse a festive place.Those will just have to stay tucked away until next year.

I guess it doens't matter where I spend my Christmas,my heart will always hold the holiday spirit!

 

 

 

Santas 5k Dash

I have found the best way to handle the time you spend away from home, while traveling with the pipeliner, is to take advantage of the area around you. There are always different places to see. And different things to do.
I had read in the local paper right after we arrived, the town was holding a 5k run in December. It was called the Santa 5k dash. I thought what the heck, I think I will sign up. If I don't do it, at least I will get a t-shirt out of it.
Saturday December 1 rolled around in no time. My friend Maria, that I have met while being here, decided she was going to enter as well.

It was a chilly, foggy morning. Perfect for a 5k.

 

I was going to run the race when I registered, but Maria had signed up to walk. So I decided to walk with her.

 

We had a lot of people ahead of us when the runners gun went off.

 

Most of the crowd was running the course. We quickly fell to the end of the pack.

 

Maria's nose ran, my eyes watered, but we held up a steady pace. As we rounded the last street we could see some of the runners already getting in there cars to leave.

The traffic was starting to flow again. No road blocks for these stragglers!

 

Even Santa came back to check on us.

 

We made it to the end. Out of 80 entries we finished 72, and 73! A few people were still behind us.

 

Santa was waiting with the "younger" crowd.

 

 

Official time  45:30:3

 

I sure didn't feel guilty when I went to the Amish Bakery later in the day. I brought home this yummy treat for a job well done!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving at Pipeline Camp

Thanksgiving was quite different for us this year. I am sure it was quite different for most of the guys on the pipeline crew. The men all had to work the day after Thanksgiving so traveling home for the holiday was out of the question.
The ladies decided early on, we would put on a Thanksgiving dinner for all of the crew as well as the gas inspectors. We put a list together of the different dishes that would be prepared. Then on Thursday morning we would gather in the garage of the man who owns the trailer park where we are staying.

Let the decorating begin!

 

 

We never could have imagined when we started carrying the food in, just how much food was prepared for that day.

 

 

 

Crockpots, roasters, pans and bowls filled 3 tables. That didnt even include the dessert table.

 

 

 

Everyone had lots of different things to taste.

 

 

The men were truly impressed with the effort from us ladies.

 

 

Everyone enjoyed the day of fellowship, eating ,visiting and sharing a day of Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

Home away from home!

Here we are, the end of October, and the pipeliner got called out of town for another big job. We have never been out of town this late in the pipelining season.

The ride getting here was quite scarey! Wind advisory had been issued before the journey began. But the pipeliner got us here safe and sound.

The view isn't that exciting. Our campsite boarders an" already been combined" beanfield.

I have a feeling it could get awful windy as the colder days arrive.

 

The weather started out quite rainy.

The dogs spent most of their days looking out the window, watching the rain come down.

 

That reminds me I need some Windex to wipe off those puppy nose prints!

 

Then the weather turned almost summer like. Glad I packed some shorts and t-shirts for this trip.

 

But the wind picked up again. This time it blew in a huge cold front from the north. But the puppies enjoyed the last nice day, even with their ears blowing in the wind!

 

This is home sweet home for the next month or so.