Monday, July 1, 2013

Vintage Trailer Tour – Part One

Do you have your walking shoes on?  It’s time to walk through the RV park so I can show you some of the vintage trailers that were part of the recent Sisters On The Fly Northwest Gathering.  Some of the trailers are open and we'll peek inside to see how they've been decorated.  Our tour begins with a cutie trailer that belongs to a sweet gal.  I love the way she carries the color themes through everything she’s done with it.NWG - MindyOh, her door is open – at a Sister’s gathering an open door always means you are welcome to come inside. There's a lot to see.NWG - Mindy - KitchenIsn’t the ‘living area’ of her trailer cute?  (You can see more of this trailer here.  My sweetheart and I met her sweet owner at a nearby flea market where her trailer was on display last year.  She was so kind and gracious to show us her trailer and answer all of our millions of questions.)NWG - Mindy - Bed AreaDo you see the red and white pennant banner across the back windows?  You will see banners of all kinds and colors when you tour some of the trailers.  Banners come in all shapes and sizes - made of all kinds of things.  Some banners are inside – others are on the outside.BannerThis trailer has a banner hanging in front of the window – and it has a banner painted on the front. . .Angela - FrontOn the side. . .Angela - SideAnd on the back.Angela - BackNext, there’s ‘Daisy’ with her painted flowers and details.      Daisy 1Daisy 2
Here's another open door - she was one of my near neighbors.Red and White - OutsideRed and White - Inside 1Red and White - Inside 2She has a fireplace!  This would be a good place to sit and chat on a cold, winter day.Red and White - Inside 3Aren't these cute shutters on this trailer?Painted ShuttersSometimes you can’t tell what you will find when you step inside.  This trailer surprised me a bit. Bright yellow on the outside. . .Blue Moon RideBut so different inside.Blue Moon Ride - Inside
Blue Moon Ride - Inside 2There’s no doubt that this gal is a member of Sisters On The Fly, is there?SOTF TrailerHere’s another Sister trailer.  This one is a fairly new trailer, with a fancy paint job.SOTF Trailer 2Isn't this little trailer a cutie?  She was handmade.  The inside was tiny but so pretty.  Homemade BeautyI could hardly believe it when I heard that this one was hand-painted by her owner!Handpainted Beauty Let’s take a break – sit down and rest our feet for awhile.  Here’s a spot where we can relax and have a good chat.  I’m sure it won’t be long before someone else comes by to join us!Chairs After we’ve rested for awhile we’ll go see more trailers.  There’s more to see and we don’t want to miss a thing!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Choose To See

The Path  “Even during those times when the path is darkest,
He leaves little bits of evidence all the way
– bread crumbs of grace –
that can give me what I need to take the next step.
But I can only find them if I choose to SEE.”



written by Mary Beth Chapman
from ‘Choosing To SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope’

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Northwest Gathering 2013

NWG 2013Northwest Gathering 2013 was held at Andersen’s RV Park in Long Beach, Washington.  I think most of us are still basking in the memories – treasuring the moments we spent together.  The photo above was taken by a man on Andersen’s staff.  He has a photography business on the side.  One afternoon he climbed up on the roof of the office to capture the moment for us.  You can see that we were tightly packed into the RV park.  We had the entire park for all four days of our gathering.  The photo shows our proximity to the beach and the Pacific Ocean just a ways beyond.  A short trail took us to the beach anytime our hearts desired.  Early the first evening I decided to take my camera and slip away to the beach by myself.  At first I wondered about the wisdom of going alone but the sea was calling and I didn't want to miss what was happening.  The sun was about set.NWG 1st Sunset As I got to the point where the path ended and the beach began, I looked ahead and I realized I was not alone.  There, straight ahead of me – on the beach – was a row of Sisters lined up in their chairs to watch the sunset!Sisters On The BeachI had to laugh at the thought that I would be the only one to follow the sun!  More Sisters arrived and soon we were just a group of gals who had one thing in common.  We had come to watch the sunset on the beach.  It didn't take long.  We saw what we had come to see.  The sky changed before our eyes and we weren’t disappointed.NWG 1st Sunset 2After awhile it was time for me to head back to camp.  I turned to go and as I walked through the sand, I looked up and saw the moon.  1st Night MoonThere’s nothing quite like walking a sandy path from the beach under the full moon.  The sound of the waves, the colors of the sky and the sand beneath my feet made me smile.  I felt such peace.  It was a good start to a few days away.  My trailer was not far from the end of the path.  When I got back it was time to turn on lights and get ready for nightfall.  Before I headed over to sit by my neighbor’s campfire I turned on the little lights my sweetheart had helped me hang on the rock guard awning over my front window.  Once they were lit I stood back and smiled.  Trailer LightsI was finally settled in.  This was the what I had waited for.  I had no idea everything the days ahead would bring but I knew it was going to be good.  This was only the beginning.

I know you want to see the trailers.  There is a lot to see and I will share them with you.  We’ll take a walk through the RV park and enjoy it all.  Get ready – put on your walking shoes.  We’ll start soon.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sisters By The Sea

P6207662Today I said goodbye to a group of Sisters – all part of Sisters On The Fly Eighth Annual Northwest Gathering.  We were Sisters from Oregon, Idaho, Washington, from British Columbia, Canada and a few who came from California.  Saying goodbye was hard since we had laughed and played and talked and chatted and eaten and shopped together for the last four days.  I’m still reflecting on our time together on the Washington Coast.  There is so much I’d love to tell you.  And I will.  Soon.Andersen's RVIn the meantime I must shift gears and get back to ‘real’ life.  My dearest and best-est friend from college days is coming tomorrow.  She and her hubby will spend some sweet hours with us before they head home on Tuesday.  While I ponder things from the past few days and while I try hard to get back into things at home I leave you with a tiny peek of my time away.  It’s a time I will never forget.  Time spent with gals I will never forget.  Friendships made.  Bonds established.  Plans for the future determined so we will meet again.P6217666
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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Sister Camp Scenes

I'm on the road again!  My sweetheart is taking me and our 'big' trailer to the Washington Coast for a long-awaited event.  Sisters On The Fly gals from around Oregon, Washington and Idaho will gather today for the Eighth Annual Northwest Gathering.  There will be a lot of vintage - and other - trailers in the RV park that will be our home over the next few days.  Things have been planned and prepared for our days together - days (and nights, since we're all girls!) will be filled with laughter and chatter and food and fun.   And, hopefully, walks on the beach. The weather forecast isn't as promising as we had hoped, but - hey - it could be wrong!  I may check in and share a bit of the doings from time to time - we will have internet access and I know there will be way too much to keep to myself.

I thought I would share bits and pieces of our recent campout near my home - things you haven't seen before.  Some of these gals will be at our gathering this week and I'm sure they will have a few of these things with them.  Some have wind chimes in bushes and on trailer awnings (I have wind chimes this time, too!). . .
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An old milk can filled with Hydrangeas. . .
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Vintage ironing boards (love the way she used jeans to cover this one). . .P6017347Sisters On The Fly books. . .
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Collections. . .P6017356
A Sisters On The Fly flag hung in a car window. . .
P6017358 Chalkboard signs. . .
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Shelves filled with memorabilia. . .P6017367A row of petticoats hung high. . . P6017382And a welcome sign at our Sisters Camp hosts site.P6017379As dusk begins to settle down around us, lights in all colors, shapes and sizes come on around us. A vintage thermos that was made into a lamp and a tiny chandelier light the way around this tiny trailer.
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Green and red pepper-shaped lights  top this cute trailer.P6017386Lights shaped like little vintage trailers make me smile.  I have lights like these that will hang from the front of our big trailer through the next few days.P6017388Lights that cascade over a big umbrella catch the attention of everyone who passes by.
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There's something new to see every time you walk around camp.  It's fun to hear the stories behind things and see the personalities of my Sisters through the things that touch their hearts.  It’s amazing what you can see when you slow down and walk and look and listen.

You can be sure there will be more photos and ideas and stories to share when I return.  This has been in the planning for a long time.  Registration was limited and I'm thrilled to go.  I've been waiting - it's finally time!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sweet Retreat

Our camping and fishing trip up on the mountain was a sweet retreat.  We’ve never been to the lake this early in the season and I was surprised that it was colder than I expected.  There were times when the sun broke through and we let it soak into our hearts and bodies. At other times wind blew across the lake and clouds dropped light rains all around us.  We had a private spot beside the lake, just steps from the water.  Lakeside RetreatThe view from our campsite was wonderful.  Through the windows on the side. . .P6127439And at the front.P6127434 My sweetheart was right at home on the lake.  Fishing was good!  He caught his limit each day – fresh fish on the grill makes a tasty meal.  We brought fish home in the freezer to enjoy in the near future. P6127425We didn’t go up the mountain to Timberline Lodge this time.  We stayed pretty close to ‘home’.  It was time to get away and relax.  And we did.  There was no cell phone, computer or TV.  The nights were quiet and sleep came easily.  I only ventured out in the boat once. On the BoatJoey didn’t get to go on the boat this time.  He did something that seemed to bruise his ribs or shoulder on one side – we think he hit it on the steps in his excitement to go outside one day.  When I put his little life jacket on him so he could go on the boat with me it seemed to press on that area.  It was obvious that it hurt him so he had to stay behind.  (He’s better now!)  He watched it all and waited patiently for me to return home again.P6137537
He was happy to stay inside with me much of the time.  The two of us like to be warm!  We went on walks every day and he practiced being off leash at times with good results.  He was a very good boy – now if he could do the same at home!

The days went by quickly and it was soon time to pack up and head home.  Blue skies bid us farewell as we headed home with plans to return again soon.Blue Skies