The Happy Camper Loves Her Special Gifts From Friends !! Merry Ho Ho !

Bottle of white from Jim H.  - Happy Camper Winery

Happy Camper Hallmark ornament from Sister Cathy in Arlington TX

My Sister Christmas exchange gift from Cathy P. in Arlington Texas. 

Ready to make Lemon Martinis from Carolyn C.

Sisters Have Christmas Fun!

Sisters of Kansas & Missouri met on Dec 3 in Warsaw MO for a day of fun, shopping and eating.  Sister Deb Gaskill made  arrangements in her hometown for us to experience a small-town Christmas celebration. 

We had lunch at the Hummingbird Tea Garden.

As we wandered around the downtown shopping district, we wore our Ugly Christmas Sweaters.  Quite a sight!

Later in the afternoon we stopped at the Truman Lake Visitor Centers, and guess who was there?  Santa Baby!

Old fashioned Christmas at the park

Luminary walk with lanterns hanging in the trees, and a bonfire to warm the visitors.

Dinner with Sisters at the Chuckwagon BBQ in Warsaw.  Best darn burnt ends....see previous posts!

Glammed up the joint with sparkle and petticoats

Look out - Deb's  showing off!

After some of the sisters went home after a fun-filled day, the rest left behind got silly at a slumber party.  You're really never too old to share funny stories, snack and sip til the late hours.  Night Night!

All Wrapped Up

Toto is all tucked in for the winter.  Bounce dryer sheets are strategically placed inside.  A mountain of mothballs are scattered on the ground underneath (to keep the critters away). I wonder which smell will win out over the winter?  We will drive down to Gardner every once in a while and check on Toto to make sure she's covered and safe.  See you in the Spring!

Last Trip of 2011

To begin this story..... I have a complaint.  If the AAA Guide Book and the State of Missouri campground website say that a campground is open all year, that no reservations are needed after October 31, and that camping is "first-come-first-served," one would think you could camp in a state park.  We arrived at Bucksaw State Park in Clinton, MO, and proceeded to search for the perfect spot to strike camp.  Level here, close to the restrooms, not too far from a water faucet.  Humph!  Well, all the bathrooms were locked (except one pit toilet for the entire campground)and most of the faucets were turned off.  Yes, there were people (hunters?) camping, but I shudder to think what they were doing for their sanitary needs.  Vernon said something about trenches????  Uh, no.  Let's go home. 



So after I finished having my temper tantrum, we decided to go to Warsaw and eat dinner at a highly recommended BBQ joint (Thanks Sister Deb!).  OMG....best burnt ends I've ever eaten.  If you are ever in the area, stop by.  I'm going back in December with the Sisters and will save room for the blackberry cobbler!   (www.chuckwagonbarbeque.net) 

Little Toto was very pleased with the meal!

We met the Pit Boss Brothers responsible for some mighty fine BBQ!

So after enjoying a meal, Vernon & I were feeling pretty full, but facing a 2 hour drive home.  We asked the server if we could park in the lot overnight (ala Walmart), but she suggested the RV park right next door.  Who knew!  Vernon called and a very kind lady by the name of Joanna, assured us the bathrooms were working and we could have cold running water and electricity at our campsite.  Perfect!  We drove right over, made camp and settled in for the night.



This wasn't exactly as I had planned, but we spent the night in our trailer one last time before it was time to call it a day for the winter.  A nice drive from home, fresh air and sunshine.  Good enough!

Toto's Temporary Accomodations

The City caught up with us - guess they were not too happy that Toto over stayed her welcome in our driveway.  She is parked at Olathe Ford RV in Gardner until the next camping trip in a couple of weeks.  We will have a nice cover for her during the winter, but also hope to have appropriate parking in our backyard before too long.  I miss looking out my window and seeing this happy camper :(

Boo! Halloween Party in the Woods





Spooky witches Sue, Lori & Wanda

The girls put out quite a spread of spooky cocktails and appetizers.

We barely finished our chili cook-off when the thunder and lightning began.  A race to put everything inside and off we went to our respective trailers.  We thought we'd be back outside again in an hour, but the storm continued all night long.  I tucked into a comfy bed and watched a movie on my DVD player.  That's about as roughing it as I want to get!

Friday October 21, 2011
This is my cold and cold running water.  I could easily brush my teeth, wash my dishes, rinse off the mud on my shoes.  The trick was keeping my foot on the hose while I pumped the handle to get it started.  The first time I did that the hose flew away from me like a Mr. Wiggle water toy!

Nancy, Cyndi, Lori & Sharon ---- Flea market shopping in Wagoner OK

Out to dinner Friday night with a few of my new Sisters.

First Camping Trip - Spooktacular in Wagoner OK w/SOTF



Thursday, October 20, 2011
Is this all really going to fit?  Of course ---- I am the Master Packer Of All Time!




See!  All packed and ready to roll.  Back in 3 days!  Oh wait....I need to tell you that I made it all the way to Pittsburg KS (2 hrs south) to meet Sister Karen.  Sisters Deb, Mary and I were waiting in the Home Depot parking lot.  I turned my key to start the car and guess what?  The battery was dead.  AAA to the rescue!  Got the car started and we drove to the Battery Barn for a new battery.  That was NOT in my plan for the weekend!



Toto arrives in Wagoner Oklahoma, Rocky Point State Park!



Meet Crazy Wayne.  Yes, I know the girls are suppose to do it all (hitch, tow, back up, set up, clean up, blah, blah, blah).  But really...when you have a very talented and experienced truck driver who just happens to kindly volunteer to back up your pretty little trailer (without hitting a tree), who would turn down such an offer?  Thank you, Wayne!

  

                                  

                                                Leveled, jacks set, electrical hooked up, table set.  Where's the party?




Time to have a fun, fun, weekend. 

 Karen's Shasta

Sharon's Scotty w/ Cyndi and Nancy

Karen's UHaul

Joi's Airstream







Skeeter's Shasta



Karla's Shasta, The Ramblin Rose

Barbara's Shasta

Deb's Cardinal

Big Sister Joan Has Been Busy



I have such a clever big sister!  Joan made this quilted wall hanging and used Scrabble tiles and lots of bling.  The charms include a tiny vintage trailer, Wizard of Oz characters, a princess crown (that's me), sunflowers and so many fun and sparkly things.  Thank you, Joanie!



Joan knows how much I love dragonflies --- a special place to hang the keys to the playhouse!