Nothing better than a vintage Christmas memory.

Coming home from midnight mass every year. Driving through drifted snow piles on the gravel roads. Trying to get home and get into bed before Santa got to our little country house. We ALWAYS saw Rudolph's nose shinning brightly in the sky. Just recently found out it was a nearby TV tower.

 

I have been buying up old childhood memories to put in my Jimmy.

Malibu Barbie was my latest find. She and I will be catching rays on a lawn chair in July. Sharing a Jim Beam & Coke .. well .. Barbie won't drink much she's pretty tight lipped.
Still have to find the Barbie camper I had.

 A metal Chinese checkers set like grandma used to have. We would play it when it on a rainy day while dipping our frozen sugar cookies in a cup of warm coffee. Yes coffee at age 10 ... grandma standing a whole 4 foot 11 inches tall always said it would stunt our growth.  Well I made it to 5 foot 4 and my face didn't stay that way either.
I purchased a 1972 set of old maid cards just like grandmas which I am sure I will be making a drinking game out of . She would NOT approve ... gggrrrrr

 

The weather has gotten slightly cold but I'm still working on the inside of my little canned ham Jimmy.  I purchased a new lock for the door so I could remove the jankie big old padlock . Will have to repair the holes when I get to the outside beautification.. I think the Christmas lights make it pretty beautiful in the moon light this eve of eve.

 

As for now I will enjoy the holidays with family and friends and feel blessed. I think back to childhood Christmas memories and hope my children and grandchildren will have some vintage memories one day too.

Merry Christmas Friends.

 

 

Psssst......  bought myself a little early Christmas gift !

~Holiday Spirits~

Enjoy Your Dirty Day !

Country music just Sounds Better in a Camper ♥

 

Started listening to the radio in little Jimmy as I work. I didn't realize the SAME 10 songs are repeated every hour uugh . At least I'm learning 

what little girls are made of  " Gun Powder & Lead" 

 hhhmmm this one is made of twinkies and bourbon.

Who Knew ?

Sorry neighbors ... so thankful the home society hasn't made me move Jimmy to a lot yet. I am paying $30 a month for storage that isn't being used ...cuts in to the Jim Beam fund.

Enjoy your Dirty day !

So I haven't written in a month. I have been busy busy busy shopping shopping shopping.

EBay is my new best friend right along with paypal. You know how you have an idea in your head of something you really want and you JUST CAN'T FIND IT !! I have been to every antique store at least a dozen times searching for "STUFF" for my little Jimmy. My biggest search is for lighting fixtures. Finally found the perfect sweetest little vintage glass box light on EBay.  Waited for 6 days to bid at the very last minute. It was 10:32 on a Wednesday night. I sat precariously alone in the dark. Staring at my computer screen like a wolf watchin' a herd of sheep. Licking the Cabernet slowly off my bottom lip as I watched other wolves attack too soon. 1 minute, wait for it ... 45 seconds ... wait for it .. 30 seconds BAM . PLACE MY BID ! " you have been outbid  WHAAAAT . I typed faster than you can say FUUUUDGE . With 3 seconds left  I WON I WON .

Exactly 5 days later the little parcel sat on my porch awaiting my arrival. Of course I have purchased so much stupid crap on line I had no idea what surprise was in the box . I shook it.. :) It rattled :(

opened slowly with camera in hand... (not my first rodeo)  pealed back the bubble wrap and the sweetest little vintage glass box light was in a million pieces.  I almost cried but hate watered down drinks. Took a photo and received a full refund. Still sad, dreaming and searching for THE ONE.. Kind of like Sleepless In Seattle but without Tom Hanks whining in the background.

I have purchased several and returned several  light fixtures from Lowes, Home Depot &Wal-Mart and just have not found the one I want. I guess the fun is in the find.

 

 

On a brighter note fresh coat of paint done. Started to paint cabinet but ended up ripping off front veneer and replacing it all by myself  NOTE: I ruined 3 sheets of veneer and wasted money on a new reciprocating saw that not even a brain surgeon could control with a steady hand. I am gonna have a shit load of useless tools when I am finished with Jimmy.

Yea my Tin Can Tourist membership and sticker came in the mail today .

I'M SOMEBODY NOW

What great Facebook pages I have found. So many great people with great ideas.

There is NO STUPID question. (if there is they just delete it LOL) Helping me find parts and repair tips. I don't know what I would do without all their fantastic advice. I would probably have to ask my husband and receive a 15 minute play by play on different types of glues and why I shouldn't sniff them.

More to come when there is actual progress. Enjoy your Dirty day !

 

 

 

 

Wine & Prime Wine & Prime

I have begun the dauntless task of priming the birch wood. I have read so many blogs of how it is a SIN to paint over the precious birch inside these little canned hams . Well I have said a couple of Hail Marys and a few Our Fathers for penance and I have drank A LOT of sacred wine to ease my consciences . A LOT !

I splurged on the most expensive primer because ..... I'm lazy.

Did the scratch test the next morning and it's as strong as Fort Knox.

As you can see I am also slow as molasses because it was light when I started and two bottles of wine, a scraped knuckle and hair streaked like the bride of Frankenstein it is now night time.

I fixed two of the little windows in the back of the camper so none of the hot young fisherman I catch will be able to escape my lair. Just call me Mrs Robinson.  *smirk slyly*

Such mind fantasies  ...

Now I need to come up with a craft for wine corks for my sweet little camper !

IDEAS WELCOME ! * CLINK *

 Enjoy your dirty day !!

 

 

 

 

When people post on the face book Vintage Camper pages about purchasing a new old scrappy  trailer . Members are all excited for you 
Like : Congratulations!!  ENJOY .. Whoo HOO !!  Congrats !! LOL
 Like you just gave birth to a 1200 pound 1960 Shasta Travel Trailer. The excitement is comparable to a 7th grade basketball cheerleader chanting through braces and acne.
"Open the barn door
 Kick out the hay
Yeah for your Shasta
Hip Hip Hooray"
Gotta love the canned ham die hards !


Enjoy your dirty day !

"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."

 

My grandma Ducille fishing in 1920

 

Bought another one !!

Found this little 10 foot gem on Craigslist for $300 couldn't pass it up . We had to haul it about 50 miles. ((~*50 horrible stressful miles*~)) We were told the tires were cracked , so we decided to haul it home on a trailer .  NOTE : most of these campers look WAY better on Craigslist than in person. Just saying got to this farm and saw a pile of shit on the lawn . The ole farmer smirks and says "there's your beauty!" I really just wanted it for parts but I wanted all the parts not falling apart.
Got it up on the trailer NOTE  the rounded front of this little gem.
We only got about 3 miles down the back country road when my husband yelled " We just lost part of the door !!" UUGGH . Pulled into a gas station. Wanted to buy a tall boy colt 45 because I felt like trailer trash but bought a slim Jim and Duct tape instead. OK and a candy bar .. SHUT UP I was stressed ! The Slim Jim was for my hubby's nerves and the Duct tape was for the door. We had to punch a hole in the cabinet with an old copper wire, wrap it around the frame in hopes we wouldn't lose anymore pieces off  of this DAMN little Gem !

 

 Macgyvered

 

 

Our view from the truck was so dang scary . Look how the wind was bending the front of the camper in.  The camper was actually breathing. you could see it going in and out in and out .. Thought for sure this DAMN LITTLE GEM was going to end up all over interstate 55.

Made it to the shop and the first thing my hubby did was grab a beer.

I grabbed a tool and started to dismantle my treasure. Got some great parts for Jimmy and now my hubby has a trailer to haul more shit for me when I find it.

I was sad to see one of these vintage campers end up in a  metal pile but this one was too far gone to save.

I got a great little turquoise stove top and sink. Not sure if I will use it in Jimmy or if I will resell it.

 

 

The moral of this story is "Do what your wife tells you, always carry duct tape and you will be rewarded with beer in the end!"

 

Enjoy your dirty day !

 

That's me "Shortcake" in 1970 standing next to my grandpas little "canned ham". Years & Years ago ! The plaid poncho would be so Hip & Jiggy With It now days ... am I right? 

Some families went to exotic locations like Mexico, Hawaii or Canada my family went to a lake. Any lake. We camped, we fished mostly for bullheads (more ugly than cat shit in a sandbox) not to be confused with the pretty Missouri River catfish. The adults got the campers and the kids got the tents. Flashlights, mosquito bites and peeing near the closest tree. aaahhhh I love camping ! I have done the tent thing for 46 years now. done done done can't wait to take my "Jimmy" to Montauk State Park to hook some pretty rainbow trout.

Did a little more (like I'm ever done) shopping today at an antique store. Something *POPPED* out at me that I couldn't resist ! Don't know what the heck I'm gonna do with it but it was screaming

 BUY ME!!  BUY ME !!

so I pulled out $2 in change for the little gem. The lady gave me a weird look as I thanked her and giggled out the door.

Maybe the brass belt buckle will hold up my waders the next time I lose my balance in the stream.

Enjoy your dirty day !

*L@@K*

The vintage camper isn't ready to decorate stock pile.

 

Several weeks, several antique stores and one worlds largest garage sale in Illinois.
I'm finding so many cute ideas on the world wide web that I'm sitting on my butt and not getting the camper sanded and painted. NEED TO GET DIRTY ! Too many cars in the driveway was my excuse tonight. Why must Mondays come in and ruin everything that me and the weekend had together ?
Enjoy your dirty day !

WOW I thought Jimmy was old and grey but turns out with hours and hours of scrubbing and polishing, his upper half will be like a mirror. Hey maybe I should rub that Mothers on my old grey man.
I can NOT focus.
I went to Lowe's to buy wood trim for the interior and the door frame. Forgot the nails . I was distracted by the shiny lights. Which I didn't buy because my husband says I'm getting WAY ahead of myself. "Fix the inside before you fix the outside" just like the Kardashians trying to fix Rob at therapy. Oh the poor poor pretty people.

anyhoo started to pull off old trim around the door and found a MAJOR problem.  I have to go mix a drink and survey this problem. As you can see in the photo a board I thought was small and easy to replace actually runs 5 feet the length of the underside of Jimmy.  Measured and need to get on that.
Also the counter is bowed in the center. It needs to be raised up higher than my drink . uuggh. Shim shim shim . It appears the previous owner had a leaking water cooler. COLD BEER PEOPLE PRIORITIES DUH ! I would have noticed that immediatly !
So far today I have shopped at an RV store (Ralph was very helpful) shopped at Lowe's, shopped at Auto Zone. Ripped off about 10 minutes of wood veneer .Which is just another way of saying fancy plywood. So not much work done today. Whew I'm tired and ready for a bourbon coke in Jimmy. I think I will sit back and survey the plantation. Fiddle Dee Dee I'll think about it tomorrow.
Enjoy your dirty day !

(we are NOT having human beings for supper son, we are having ham & beans .. gosh get a Q-tip)

Sat in Jimmy and made a list of what we needed and what was important. List got long really fast. Cushion covers, new counter tops, paint, new ventilation system, NEW ventilation System. UUGH New eeuuewww Ventilation SYSTEM ! Eatin Ham & beans for dinner should NEVER I mean EVER be followed with sitting in a small 60 year old metal box with broken window braces. Poor little jimmy :(
Enjoy your dirty day !
(dirty air day is more like it)

Hey somebdy from Germany read my blog .  Guten Tag long lost relative across the ocean wide. Here's to you *clink* doppelbock ! Can't wait for Octoberfest !

Well Jimmy has some damage As you can see from the photos, so I will have to replace the front doors of the bottom cabinet. Looks like an old ice box leaked and caused some water damage. I totally ripped off the baby poop colored carpet on the wheel hubs.

 Just will not match my ... ANYTHING ..

I was really surprised after ripping up some old carpet and scrubbing 30 years of dirt off the floor to see this original splatter pastel flooring., I LOVE IT, My daughter HATES IT. Every time I say somethings cute she says its ugly. Generation gap ? or just 2 sassy girls who want things done their way ?

Like how I said sassy and not bitchy.

Hubby worked for 2 hours trying to cut free the old water tank... I'm used to dirt but that thing was nasty. pitch and buy new.

Shopped today for 2 hours found NOTHING to buy . I tried to stay away from my messy house as long as I could.

Why the heck doesn't anyone else do the dishes. Can't they see I'm shopping on Ebay.

 So rude.

Enjoy your dirty day !

Cleaned out enough mouse poop and acorns to fill the whole shop vac today. This little camper smells of 60 years of eeuuww .  Did find 2 quarters 1 nickle  and 1 dime sooooo I really only spent $899.35 on this little gem.  Pulled out the stove.. yes I will put it back . I need a stove I get the munchies while camping. There is very little damage to the wood . Most around the door frame. I'm sure young hot guys have been prying at the frame trying to get the beautiful ladies who have owned this camper. Curse continues ! I must make sure the door lock is broken.

♫ Let's get it started in here ♪♫♪

Ok to start my blog I will tell you a little about myself. I love old things LOVE LOVE LOVE . I grew up in the country corn fields of little town Iowa. Cruzin' gravels, pitching beer bottles at stop signs and Friday nights at the races. This does not define me however it did make me who I am. We were poor so I always found a way to reinvent items. One of my first memories as a collector of the "DIRT" was going to the junk yard with my dad . About 8 years old and armed with the attitude "they threw it away so it's mine". I have had this attitude for 40+ years now. I'd picked up old books and dishes to decorate my little 8x8 bedroom.  Old pictures to cover the holes in the plastered walls, old rugs to cover the shitty linoleum floors and anything I could find to put a candle in. (secret pyromaniac ) . Burned MANY things as a child including a wheat pasture in mid August .. uugh that is a whole other story I won't get into  ( got my butt whipped).
Married young, have 3 beautiful kids. Two are collectors but I am starting to think the oldest is a hoarder. Moved her a couple of times now,  No one needs 20 used butter dishes, NO ONE. "Oh No Zombie apocalypse thank goodness I have this Parkay warfare to save my skinny butt!"
Like I was saying I tend to collect a lot of old items so I can live in the past.
My latest "Dirty Find" is a 1958 Aloha camper trailer. I am going to show my progress of RESTORATION  ( spoken in a very hootie tootie voice ) on this new little blog.
Found it on EBay and only had to drive 2 hours from St Louis to pick it up (GO BLUES !).
It's a pretty solid little piece of crap. Problems getting a title so I must drink Jim Beam heavily the first day it's in my driveway. Not sure how long it can stay in the driveway due to the old bitty across the court who has the subdivision board on speed dial... rules rules rules, not a breaker but I am a bender.
 posting a few pitchers " that's how I say it grammar snobs" don't even get me started on the word wash (warsh). 
Enjoy your dirty day !