More Than Teardrop...

Before I start a string of posts about finished projects, and there are many, I have to share a bit more about our little camping trips...

Some special friends of ours have a family cabin down the road from where we camped. They rode their bikes down one day, and kayaked down the next. (How great is that?!)

We camped alongside another family that let us hang out in their new camper when it was wet. And they fed us a bunch.

The kids made things, found things and dug stuff up. They stayed up past midnight and kept sneaking marshmallows. They learned how to build and tend a fire.

They shot at targets. (Oh guns. Lots to say about guns. That's for another day.)

It was a wonderful, easy going time out there. It sure is a nice feeling being with people that have as much fun with our kids as we do.

Til next time...

Teardrop - On The Inside.

We have had two great outings in our little trailer so far.

One, 

pretty rainy and chilly and windy.

The other, 

absolutely gorgeous and sunny and lovely.

Both sleeping experiences were cozy though.

Impossible not to be with fuzzy blankets and soft mattresses.

Minna slept like a log on her little bunk/shelf.

Jeff seems to have enough room for his loooong legs.

Comfy all around.

The kitchen is up and running.

That cooler pulls out on a sliding shelf.

Soon we will have a teeny sink and water tank too.

We love our camp stove and it fits perfectly.

Jeff made a scramble for our first teardrop breakfast.

The kitchen doubled as an ER due to a bloodied lip.

(It was yucky and swelled up pretty big. Ouch!)

Teardrops are very useful.

On the second morning, I opened the door and watched the bay while still in bed.

The sound of the river and the cold air, mixed with the smell of the wood inside...

perfect way to wake up.

I really could have laid there for hours.

I totally get it now.

The Weekend and A Bit Of Today.

This Moment.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

More Teardroppin' happening this weekend too.

And crochet.

And having yummy camp food.

And S'mores.

Basically, just read my last post. 

Same thing.

Happy Weekend!

Memorial Day. Marriage. Maiden Voyage.

For this weekend of remembering and honoring, we did as many do, we camped.

We camped on a ledge, off the side of the road, overlooking a stormy bay. We saw seals playing and fishing. We saw whales almost breaking the surface of the water. I spent many, many hopeful minutes with my face glued to binoculars, just knowing I would see one breach. No luck. The spray from their blowholes, still enough for me. Amazing.

We were lucky to be camping with a good friend with a big comfy camper. Lots of room for Monopoly and escaping the pretty much constant rain and wind.

Except for one brief opening in the weather with enough time for a quick fire and two Reese's-Peanut-Butter-Cup-S'mores each. Those are GOOD! Just swap out a slab of chocolate bar for a peanut butter cup. Be sure to melt your cup on a rock next to the fire first. Just adds a little somethin'. These were introduced to us by old family friends that we used to camp with every year. (Thanks guys.)

We also celebrated 13 years together, this guy and me. (13!) That's a lot. We ended up celebrating in a special way...

...we woke up on the morning of our thirteenth year, in our very own teardrop.

This little beauty, over two years in the making, took its first trip. She kept us cozy and dry. Handled the curvy roads like a champ and just looks so darn cute. There are some finishing touches to be done, a pretty green for the outside and little shelves for the inside. That's it. She will be complete. The man I married 13 years ago, built it with his own hands from the ground up. I was yet again, impressed and amazed at what Jeff can do.

So, my husband is a pretty cool guy, and I am just so happy I don't have to sleep on the ground anymore.

So happy.

Our First Year In About Four Minutes.

Last year on this day exactly, we landed in Kodiak.

Whoa.

Here is a little movie with a year's worth of fun and adventure. Mostly my photos. A couple of Jeff's and a bit of video taken by Jeff too. If you only knew how obsessed I got about finding a good song to help tell our story, you would probably worry about my mental health. (It's "When U Love Somebody" by the Fruit Bats.) Even now that all is rendered and compressed, I still have reservations about the song because it says the word "blood" in it so many times. It also says "love" a lot so I figured it all worked out in the end. I am sure you wouldn't have really noticed if I didn't say anything about the blood part. All part of being kind of obsessed.

So! Without further crazy-lady talk...

here is year one.

Now onto living year two.

Have a great Monday!

Last Teardroppin' For A While-All Buttoned Up

I say all "buttoned up" because Jeff has done all he can do before the move to finish our little trailer. She has to be lovingly wrapped and packed safe for the journey. We are all a bit bummed that the maiden voyage won't take place here, but we look forward to our first Alaskan adventure in our very special teardrop.

She is covered with cedar inside now. Smells nice but looks a little pink to me. I want a nice soft solid color in there and Jeff likes the natural cedar look. We will see which way it goes later on.

The sweetest addition to the trailer is a little bunk for Minna! It will also be a shelf when Minna starts sleeping in a tent or under the stars with the bigger kids. I love it so much! Jeff crafted such a pretty shelf. The curve of that ledge is so beautiful and professional looking. The man amazes me. (I know, I say that a lot:)

The coolness of that shelf doesn't stop there! Look, it lifts up too! How easy to make the bigger bed and get a little more space in there if needed. Perfect.

I still didn't get the pictures that I wanted to document everything that has been done lately. That hatch resting on top there has been attached with a long hinge. It lifts up to reveal an almost done kitchen and shelving and a someday cupboard. All the electrical is finished and hidden in a little box. There are four working lights. Plus a completely custom, metal, removable storage rack for the back. The outside has been meticulously sanded and sealed and re-sealed with a weather proof base coat that will someday be covered with the most perfect paint, if we can find and agree on that perfect color.

Wow. He has done so much and we all love it. I have enjoyed sharing and when we are settled in our new home and Jeff has the time to work on it again, I will be sure let you know.

Well then. The last "teardroppin' update". Tomorrow will be the last "this moment" post and I am sure I will be blabbering more so than usual for a Friday. I have to though because my "Out Here" posts from this little desk, out here in Two Rock will soon come to an end. Can you believe it? All these lasts may sound sad, but they are not. I am more excited than sad now.

And that is a good place to be.

Teardroppin'-Painted And Wired.

There is J standing in the kitchen!

Look! There are walls and wires and insulation and soon there will be pretty little cedar strips lining the interior. The bedroom area is so cozy and comfy and once the doors are on you could live in the thing. So neat!

There is a little light inside. AND IT WORKS!

Sully filled all the gaps around the insulation and Jeff has since sanded and skinned the roof. So smooth and pretty. More pictures to come of course.


We are in color now too! Isn't that green so fun and cheery?

I think it will look nice behind the forest green of our truck. We did have a little problem with the powdered stain we used. (When I say "we" I really mean Jeff. He does all the hard work as I am sure you know.) The color was what we wanted but the sun faded one wall before it could be sealed so we have a mismatch thing going on between the doors and the walls.

Bummer.

We have found a great cheery green paint that will cover it and give Jeff the chance to finish the whole thing a different way than originally planned. He seems excited about the new possibility. I will love it no matter what.

Jeff is working quickly and efficiently and I am hoping he will have her coated, seamed up and snug before we need to move her to a much chillier climate.

Oh, he can do it. I know he can.

Have a great day!

Teardroppin'-Stickin' To The Ribs.

I feel like we have a whale skeleton out here instead of a teardrop frame. It's all rounded and the wood is a light color. Just reminds me of the whale bones we saw out at the beach by Jeff's work, delicate yet strong. I am sure I am the only one that thinks so.

Jeff hasn't been laughing at my whale jokes because he has been very busy doing some tedious, cutting, gluing and piecing. It looks so good. Every angle and curve fits like a tight fitting puzzle. We are getting ready to fit in the insulation.

PLUS... look at the roof frame! Doesn't it look like whale ribs?

(I knew it.)

Below, you are looking at what will be the kitchen counter and cupboards. This will all be enclosed with a hatch that lifts up for cooking time. We opted not to put in a fridge and just use that space for our cooler. I think it will have a little sink if timing allows. We also decided that we love our portable camp stove enough that we don't want a built in cook top. It will be nice to be able to use the counter for the stove or for prep space. Nice to save on those expenses that can add up too.

Of course in between the measurements and nailing, Jeff had time to help build some other little custom masterpieces with his junior carpenters.

This bi-plane is the sweetest thing.

Even sweeter than our whale.

Teardroppin'-Bones.

So the boys spent the night with their cousins the other night (and had a mega blast of a time) leaving J and us two gals on our own. I took the time to hang out and do building stuff with J.

Well, I stood around taking pictures and went along for the ride to the hardware store and lumber yard. I did not realize how complicated wood choice can be. No matter, we came home with wood that would soon become the walls and inside frame for the trailer. I wish I could say I helped carry stuff but again, too busy taking pictures.

The next day I went to the grocery store and came back to...

THIS! The distinct skeleton of a teardrop! Do you see it? I have to say I was pretty excited. I think Jeff felt good about the progress he had made after his grown-up job had to go and get in the way of building time. It happens.

Sully is constantly geared up and ready to help wherever he can. He did a lot of drilling today on the frame for the wall that will go between the cooking and sleeping area. Neat! He is too cute with his gogs on.

Of course we have all tried it on for size. It's bigger than it looks and oh-so-cozy. Jeff's Mom is worried that it will feel like a coffin. Not at all! Just plain cozy I tell you. We have decided to forgo cabinets on the interior and instead add little bunks for the littles so we will have more options for sleeping. They can choose tent, under the stars, truck bed or a bunk to rest their achin' bones after a long day at the lake.

Teardrop camping luxury.

*********

TRVFD Annual Pancake Breakfast is this Sunday from 7am-noon.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for the kiddos.

Two Rock Social Hall

7618 Valley Ford Rd.

Come on out!

Teardroppin'-Dialed In.

Short and sweet here guys.

(Don't want teardroppin' burn out right?)

Paint is dry.

Bolts are on tight.

Things are wired up.

Now she's sittin' pretty.

We just need some more wood. It is coming.

So is our Independence Day!

Have a safe one.

Teardroppin'-Stickin' Things Up.

With wheels attached and things nice and sturdy it's time for some wood! The floor has been cut and framed out for the floor's insulation.

Sully took the lead with the roller and got to painting on the contact adhesive while Jeff cut the insulation pieces.

The squares were then laid in place. Perfect fit by the way, and the kids helped by putting pressure to help with the bonding. We are so lucky to have Minna's strong arms around aren't we?

Then the top slab was laid in place too. It was clamped around the edges and left to dry.

The next day Jeff did some more painting. This time it was an undercoat that feels kind of rubbery and should be strong enough to protect the bottom of the whole thing in it's completed state. Can't wait.

Everyday we are one step closer. You think we will be able to take a trip by summer's end? That would be fun...

I am going to dip into "wordless weekends" tomorrow to post one last update to show you where we are in real time. We are not far from building - skyward...

Happy, Happy Friday.

Teardroppin'-Tear On Wheels.

For most people that are into vehicle building and customizing what I say next may send shivers down your spine. Prepare yourself...

Jeff cut off both sides of an axle. I know. Well really I don't know because axles don't mean much to me and I knew Jeff had it under control.

Anyhow, he cut off the sides and welded on new parts and finished it beautifully so that the wheels ended up fitting at the height he wanted them to. They look perfect, they roll straight and we have a functioning trailer!

All of us had to go when we took it on it's first run of course. I am sure Jeff just wanted to take a quick jaunt around the block but he had to wait until we all got shoes on and strapped ourselves into car seats. It was a relief to see it in the rear view mirror, in tact and with no bolts or screws skittering across the road. Like I have said and will keep saying, Jeff does nice work.

While he is busy the kids do some rolling of their own. When they aren't helping out they are finding lots fun things to do. I do too. Somebody has to take important pictures of the process right? Especially wires and other neat little things.

See? It's a heart! Told you I have an important job too...

Two more updates and I think I will be caught up to the building. We have been busy...

Have you been busy too?