Well It has been a year and I am finally finished with Jimmy.

He looks awesome, like a secret cross-dresser but AWESOME  I would have blogged but I met some new friends on Face book. A wonderful group of ladies called The Midwest Glampers. I just shared all my joys and frustrations with them so nothing was ever posted here. SO BLAME THEM !

Jimmy was a labor of love .... just like childbirth. I have forgotten some, just some with the help of bourbon and pinot grigio. I'm almost as close to those two deviants as I am to my children.

I have filled my little camper with much loved items. I wanted a little piece of my children with me along each and every adventure so I did something a little weird, creepy some may say down right morbid.

I have saved these for over 20 years.

What else would I do with my childrens precious baby teeth?

 

... but sew them into a cushion cover .

 

 

 

 

Enjoy Your Dirty Day !!!

 

PAINT * PAINT * PAINT

Wow it has been awhile since my last post ... I am a wood working paint covered crazed glamper.

I had to scrub my little Princess stove ♛ inside and out.

 A can of oven cleaner and some steel wool did the trick.

 I decided to glamp it up a bit to match the inside of Jimmy.

After searching the web (75% of my day) I ordered a high heat engine paint to complete the job.

************
Haven't hooked it up to the propane tank yet to see if I can burn  a can of pork & beans

(pork = little white chunk of squishy fat product, yuck) 

 BUT the little Princess Stove ♛ sure does look PURDY!

 

OH WAIT ... there was that issue I had with the High Heat Engine Paint...

 

I had to do a few touch ups so I sprayed a little of the beautiful turquoise paint into a

"red solo cup" 

 I took the pieces outside to dry came back and found THIS ... DUH  DUH  DUUUUHHH ...

 

 The bottom of the red cup totally melted and left a beautiful red ring on my kitchen table.

Jim Beam would NEVER do this !

 

 

Maybe after I'm finished with my custom Camper table I can fix the kitchen one !

 

Enjoy your Dirty Day !

 

 

 

Couldn't resist posting this cute little photo of my grandma. You just know they hauled the table and fish bowl outside for props way back in 1922.

ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT

"No Boats or RVs allowed in Subdivision at Any Time"

So the dreaded “HOA” has found me out. I had to move Jimmy out of the subdivision or face a $500 fine. Took him to a storage lot and I have to say I felt a deep sadness leaving my  little Jimmy all alone next to the big bad 5th wheels . It reminded me of my little  boys first day of school walking next to the big kids in the hall. He looks so tiny.

So now I have to be more motivated to get things done. I’ll have to work on him in 24 hour periods. Haul him home .. Work Work Work .. Wait for Mrs Kravits across the street to tattle on me, then quick haul him back to the big boy lot.. Just have to have a game plan instead of sitting in side daydreaming with a bottle of wine. 

I shined up the Hardware for the cabinets and I think they look pretty damn good. A little CLR and a little steel wool.  The CLR dissolved the old varnish and rust in less than 12 hours.

 

Still shopping and today I found my best find ever .. SO FREAKING EXCITED !

I have been pondering table and counter top ideas.  So hard to find the vintage Formica anymore. Very pricey online. Right around the price of a kidney.

I guess I could sell a Kidney . Liver ?  No!  Kidney?  sure why not.

TODAY

 whoo hooo

I found this cute little pink table.

 

 

 

VINTAGE BOOMERANG PATTERN

 

Measurements are pretty close . All have to do is remove the top and figure how to cut off a corner  WITHOUT chipping the Formica . The  corner next to the stove needs to come off so I can squeeze my fat butt into the bench

It’s so stinkin' cute. 

( the table not my fat butt)

 

 

I made sure I had ALL my measurement before I took Jimmy to  RV prison.  Time to get out the sewing machine and start on the curtains and cushions …. I NEED to hurry trout season begins in less than a month in Missouri . YEE-HAW !!!

Dad & Uncle Bob

Enjoy your Dirty day !

 

 

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 !