Lady Tear Droppers, drop in and say "Hello"!

[Gaelen]

Joanne...

You are going to IRG next year aren't you? New York to the California coast and back? Sure, no problem!!

Well, actually...if non teardrops are allowed at IRG2.0, NY to California and back IS one of my dream trips. I have a brother in the Upper Pennisula (Michigan) and an uncle in Phoenix, and the only time I've ever been to California, I flew into San Francisco and stayed there the whole time. I've always wanted to see the Black Hills, the Grand Canyon, the Canadian Rockies, Santa Fe...the list goes on. One big trip would be tremendous!

I get 29 business days of vacation (20 years is worth something). This year I've spent 10 of them on dog shows and medical followups in NYC, but my current project's so intense that I'm going to have a tough time using all of the remaining 19. I'll wind up deferring at least five days of vacation to next year, which will give me 34 business days off in 2008.

That means I really *could* come cross-country in 2008--time to start the travel fund!

Meanwhile, I'm going over to my sister's to spend some good weather time cleaning up the camper, checking out the wiring, setting up the canopies to see if they're salvageable, putting in new locksets and putting up my interior battery operated LEDs so that I can have lighting until I get the 12v system back online. I really need to get the locksets in so that I can go camping, and then bring it home and store it here--much easier to work on it in my driveway than in her back field.

[mfkaplan]

Gaelen,
Go for the trip! My trip took about 30 days and a little over 6000 miles. There are a lot of wonderful things to see in this country that you can't even imagine from guide books. I'm so glad I made the trip. This was a get to places for events kind of trip. I would have liked to do more sightseeing. At the IRG there were tiny trailers also. Check out the pictures of the event. Some people didn't have theirs built yet. Get a GPS unit. Mine is low end one. It got me through cities, over back roads, and even found gas and campgrounds without stress. Next summer I would like to go to the Southwest and just sightsee at my own pace. Hope to see you at the IRGII.

Mary
Mom's Nest

[Eunice]

happy 4th to all the Lady Teardroppers. Hope you had a wonderful day. I hope you took some time to think about all the special things we have by being in the USA.
Eunice

[Eunice]

hello sisters! Where are you????????????? I sure hate to see this thread get burried. Would love to keep it going. It was such fun to see each lady and the progress on the TD's.
Eunice

[SamR]

progress on the TD's

What's that??? I'm still lurking, but as I haven't accomplished a thing in 2 weeks, I haven't posted. Maybe tonight...

[Pam Wright]

Hi all~

Just a note to keep the thread going... I'm pouting bout not being able to go to Medicino so.... I leave in the morning for Wyoming.... Meeting a couple more tears for the weekend... Boss lady was cool and comp'd me an extra day so ...Woo! Hoo! I'm on the road again... Hope all is well with you all, get out and enjoy your teardrops!

pam

[Joanne]

Hi all,

I've been helping my next door neighbor with her trailer. We got her new axle mounted and I welded the new coupler in place. I'm going weld up some mounts to hold her fresh and gray water tanks. I don't want to get sucked into her build since I have enough on my plate as it is.

I've also been helping my housemate repair and clean up her tent trailer so she can sell it. She's hoping to get enough from the trailer to pay for materials for her new trailer frame. (Hooked another one!!)

I still have finish work to do in my trailer too. Somewhere along the line my project got pushed to the bottom of the list.

In August I'm heading down to a Dutch Oven Gathering in Los Angeles. I'll get to meet up with some of my friends that I haven't seen in a while. I'm really looking forward to that. (They haven't seen the Dawg yet!)

In September I'm planning on heading over to the San Louis Obispo tear gathering. That should be a great event since it's right on the ocean. I LOVE the ocean.

That's my .02 worth.

Joanne

[Miriam C.]

Sure glad you pulled this one back up. I got the door done and decided it needed an extra 1/8" layer to make the trim ring fit right. Lets see, 1 day to cut and glue. 2 days to do varnish...

[Joanne]

Hey Gaelen,

Dean let us in last year and we were in a...gasp...tent trailer! It would be great to meet you in person! It sounds like you could have yourself an amazing cross-country trip.

The IRG was an amazing event for me and I just can't wait to head up again next year.

Joanne

Joanne...

You are going to IRG next year aren't you? New York to the California coast and back? Sure, no problem!!

Well, actually...if non teardrops are allowed at IRG2.0, NY to California and back IS one of my dream trips. I have a brother in the Upper Pennisula (Michigan) and an uncle in Phoenix, and the only time I've ever been to California, I flew into San Francisco and stayed there the whole time. I've always wanted to see the Black Hills, the Grand Canyon, the Canadian Rockies, Santa Fe...the list goes on. One big trip would be tremendous!

I get 29 business days of vacation (20 years is worth something). This year I've spent 10 of them on dog shows and medical followups in NYC, but my current project's so intense that I'm going to have a tough time using all of the remaining 19. I'll wind up deferring at least five days of vacation to next year, which will give me 34 business days off in 2008.

That means I really *could* come cross-country in 2008--time to start the travel fund!

Meanwhile, I'm going over to my sister's to spend some good weather time cleaning up the camper, checking out the wiring, setting up the canopies to see if they're salvageable, putting in new locksets and putting up my interior battery operated LEDs so that I can have lighting until I get the 12v system back online. I really need to get the locksets in so that I can go camping, and then bring it home and store it here--much easier to work on it in my driveway than in her back field.

[Lynn Coleman]

In August I'm heading down to a Dutch Oven Gathering in Los Angeles.

Hey Joanne,

I thought of you yesterday when I was at a local Cummins traveling tool store. They had two dutch ovens there. I was tempted, mentioned it to hubby and he said, we don't need the weight.

They had a large one, I'd say it had a 16" diameter and another with about a 9". I'm not sure but I was tempted. With all the tools we purchased I knew I had plenty of time to work on hubby about possibly purchasing a dutch oven. But I'll have to wait until his wallet stops shaking. I think we spent over $300. on the tools.

Anyway, if anyone's looking for a dutch oven that might be a place to get one.

Lynn

[Nitetimes]

I think we spent over $300. on the tools.

Lynn

On which tool was that? Or you mean you got more than one for $300?
Wow, I didn't know that was possible.

[Lynn Coleman]

I think we spent over $300. on the tools.

Lynn

On which tool was that? Or you mean you got more than one for $300?
Wow, I didn't know that was possible.

We purchased a circular saw,($56) five blades to go with it. ($10)
A jig saw ($10)
A router ($50) with 50 carbine tips ($80)
An air drill ($20)
50 cobalt steel drill bits ($50)
a bench type stand that is collapsable, really neat to have. ($22)
5 boxes of sand paper ($15)

I think that's everything.

Lynn

[Nitetimes]

My most recent tool....RIDGID 13" thickness planer...$350. The one before that...Craftsman 6" jointer $175. Last week...DeWalt 8" miter saw for trim work $250.
I think you shop better than me!!!
I like tools!!

[Gaelen]

Well, I've been measuring and shopping
I bought some Bondo to see if I can patch all the screw holes in the aluminum in the back doors. If not, it's a new piece of aluminum.

Today, I'm going to untarp the Sunspot and let it air/sun out because we're *supposed* to have two days of no rain...she says, fingers crossed. I need to take measurements to start shopping around for the galley boxes and shelves and decide whether I'll build something to fit or buy premade containers. With all the deals around for storage solutions for college dorms (one of the original tiny spaces ), I think I can actually buy some storage solutions for less than I could make them! I also priced out exterior locksets and discovered that the local locksmith can rekey both doors' locks for less than it would cost me to replace the locksets, so that's on the agenda for this week. And I need a trailer toolbox...I think my list is getting longer, not shorter!

I still need to get good measurements for new window curtains, and for the shelf I want to put in along the non-door side to be an interior seat/dog loft (with some storage underneath.) I alread have some under-seat storage containers that I think will work there, so I'm getting those measurements today.

I have been buying things...some stick-up battery operated LED lights until I get the interior 12v lights rewired, an indoor/outdoor door mat with sunflowers on it, and a celtic sunflower mandala tapestry on ebay.



I don't know yet if a sunflower mandala is the new theme for the Sunspot, or if the colors were just right and the design appealed to me, but I just liked it. I'll either use it to upholster the cushion for the long bench I build in the trailer, or quilt around the design after backing it with a solid sheet, or use it as a throw on my living room couch. The linoleum is a blue-white tile pattern with yellow accents, and my interior wood is a light birch, so the colors (yellow, blue, orange-red and black on a warm tan background) just felt right. Sunflowers, celtic knotwork and mandalas are all things I already love, and they keep popping up and feeling right when I'm looking at things, so I guess the Sunspot's new theme is just building itself as I go along.

I went through all my camping stuff, decided what I needed to trash or replace and what is still good to go. Retrieved my EZup from my friends and I'm going to try that and my camping pad in the trailer today to see how they fit together, and decide whether I need to look for another canopy solution.

Oh--and I did by that 6qt. Dutch oven at Dick's Sporting Goods last weekend. I'm going to make some 40-clove turkey thighs as its maiden dinner later today, and try out my DO skills...it's been a loong time

[Joanne]

Gaelen,

It sounds like you have a good plan going. As you sort out all the little details camping will become more enjoyable (and less hassle).

I'm a bit of a heretic (and not much of a woodworker), but your idea about pre-made storage solutions makes a lot of sense to me. The plastic storage containers are lightweight, inexpensive, and can be changed out as your needs change.

Oh, I love my "easy-up" clone. Having shade out here in the desert is pretty well a requirement for me since I sunburn so easily. When my shade needs to be replaced, I will probably buy a real Easy-Up.

Have a great time!

Joanne