Hello everyone. We've sure had a busy summer. The past two months were spent getting ready for our County Fair. At the start of every fair, there is a huge parade. Trevor decided that this would be the perfect kick-off for his campaign. So this meant that the Jeep would need a new paint job. The kids and I worked hard sanding and getting the Jeep ready in the wind and rain the weeks before. We finished just in time. I won't show you a photo of the float right now, but this is us sanding. Also, at the last minute I entered a photo. I mean, it couldn't have been more last minute. I grabbed a photo off the computer and sent it into Walmart in the late morning, ran and picked it up, and by dinner I was entered. It worked out though, because I won BEST IN SHOW!!!! LOL!!! Hilarious. My girls also entered at the last minute. I mean, seriously, last minute. They went to our good friends' house and each quilted a quilt in the morning, and by dinner time were entered in the fair. They each got FIRST PLACE in their age groups!!! It really did end up being a crazy, but fun week. But also, very very stressful.   

Interesting how quickly we can heal and start fresh. I thought I'd never feel the need for another project ever again in this life.

Maybe becoming a recluse for a time was all that I needed to feel revitalized and re-energized.

However it happened, I've been feeling a return of creativity and renewed readiness to tackle a few projects around here. That's a nice feeling.

I think I may tackle the front door tomorrow. After that, maybe my closet.

I've also been watching videos on how to build your own couch. I'm excited at the prospect of learning new skills and stretching my creative muscles.

Also, I watched a video on how to build your own canoe. Interesting.

I think I'm loving life right now because I can build on the house if I want, and I can play and be creative with building if I want too. I'm not locked in. Life doesn't hinge on what I accomplished or not today. There is no finish line to sprint to.

It's especially important to remember to breath and take vitamins and relax. Every. Day. Maybe that sounds weird. I wish I could go back 10 years and tell myself to take vitamins and breath. Haha!

Also, don't let people push you around and put their agendas on you. If someone calls and I don't answer, that's a boundary I've set that I won't be answering the phone. If they get mad that I didn't answer the phone, that's their problem. I guess I'm saying it's okay to take mental health days or even large periods of time. Take care of yourselves people!

Anyway, doesn't that canoe sound very interesting?

Twinkie

Although restoring the Countess does not seem to be a popular choice, I'm having a hard time understanding why anyone would care what Trevor and I choose to do with our time. I can't tell you how many people have stopped to talk to me about it; some excited and happy, and most very judgemental and rude. The judgy people seem to feel very strongly about it.

And that's what I don't get. WHY DO YOU CARE? Leave me alone! My choice to restore the camper does not affect you. Don't patronize me, don't tell me it's pointless, don't make fun of me. Just walk away and live your own life.

Trust me, I'm used to people judging me, but it's never been this blatant before. Friends and family, if you are reading this and you have an opinion about this trailer, please keep it to yourself. Not to be rude, but it is none of your business!

Time for a new blog post...

Phoebe had a Lego robotics competition this last week! It was fun to see her feel good about something that only she was involved in. She really was proud. I think her team did a great job too!

The kids and I redid the front flower bed this week as well. We really only shaped it, weeded it, and then planted a few things.

Also, if you are in the market for some asparagus,  it's that time of year! We picked a bunch this week and gave it out to friends and family. Let me know...

The weather has been so wonderful lately. The wind has been blowing, but ya gotta just look past it and feel the sun on your face.

Today Logan was one of the youth speakers. He gave a talk on Obedience. Kinda fitting if you know that Logan has been struggling with that for a while now. He really worked hard on getting a talk written. I worry about Logan's speach. It was very noticeable when he was talking. Maybe I'm used to it in normal life, but today, his lisp was very prominent. I did ask a school counselor for an assessment a while ago, and when they came to observe him in class, he was able to hide it by talking very fast. He says his S's really quickly and a very short touch on them. Most people don't notice it. He is good at hiding his problems. Kind of like when we got his hearing assessed, and after failing the test in both ears, and then passing in both ears, the doctor asked him if he ever has problems with his ears, and he said no. That's totally not true. He has constant, really fast onset ear aches ALL THE TIME!! He has lots of head aches too. Also, his hearing comes and goes. Too bad the ENT doctor cleared his health and declared him a normal boy. Ugh. That was frustrating.

So let's move to another topic. The trailer is almost all stripped of its mossy green paint. I'm about ready to polish her up. She'll be so pretty as a shiny girl. This week, Samantha asked me why our trailer is a VAMPIRE. What? Where did that come from? It's because it's a Streamline Countess. Well, The Count on Sesame Street is a vampire apparently,  (according to her) and also, Logan said. I had to explain to her that a Count and Countess were titles given to royalty, and not vampires. Except, I just looked it up, and it's actually EARL and Countess that go together. Where does Count come from? But this brings up a really good question: Is The Count on Sesame Street really a vampire? I guess I never really thought about it.

About that thing called Countess

Our new trailer is a 1971 Streamline Countess, 27 feet long. It looks like an old Airstream, but is a different brand. The story goes that two designer guys for Airstream had a falling out with Airstream over the design of the trailers. They split off and formed their own company. Shortly after that, the two men then had a falling out with each other and split one more time, forming a second split-off company from airstream. Therefore, there are a bunch of old trailers that look like Airstreams floating around out there.

Currently, I'm trying to title it, but no one seems to know where the title went off to. I'll get it sooner or later. After we get the title, we've got some work to do.  That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Meanwhile, did you know that oven cleaner makes a good paint stripper? Yep.

So there ya go.