Ogre's Relish. Yes. Finally.

We finally got our 1971 Aristocrat Lo-Liner trailer whipped into some semblence of shape...enough to take it out for a test run over Memorial Day Weekend.  We're not done - there is still a ton left to do, but if I wait until we're totally done to post pictures, it might not happen. So, without further ado, I give you:

Ogre's Relish

This was where we were with it back in January...I think.  This might have been before that.  Notice the refrigerator (non-working), with a furnace below. Also note the dinette up at the front.  Now, say goodbye.

I hope you said goodbye, because they are all gone. Now, say goodbye to the stove (also non-working).

Farewell to most of the damaged paneling, and hello to new insulation...

...and hello to new paneling.  You might notice the intricate shape - some people might have pieced their paneling, but that's not how my husband rolls.  He's an engineer - and he rolls in a very engineery manner.

Fits like a glove. A well engineered glove. This is part of the reason it took so long to finish.  When your main worker is an engineer there tends to be a humongous amount a bit more attention to detail than is strictly necessary.

More new paneling. There came a time when we just had to stop ripping stuff out.  I think this was the point. The remaining panels weren't perfect, but they were good enough.  I believe that became our motto. "Good Enough".

Hello new paint. Goodbye old floor. You can see one piece of the new stuff over to the right. Much nicer than the ratty old lino.

 New cabinet from Home Depot. It had a big hole in the left side - Steve talked them into discounting it (half price!). We got the countertops and faucet from Home Depot also.

Look how pretty the new floor is!  We managed to get exactly enough width left from the adding the new kitchen cabinet so that we could build in a full size bed! No need to fold it up every day.  I reallyreallyreallyreally wanted a bed that was just a bed, and we got it! Really.

And now for the (semi) finished product:

 The kitchen counter doubles as a nightstand.

 Lots and lots of counter space.

 The curtains are actually dish towels I found at Walmart. I love that they aren't too busy, but yet go really well with the vintage vibe I was trying for.

 Look at all the counter space!

All the pictures were hung using Command Strips.

 Instead of the non working oven, we used a toaster oven and a hot plate.  It's amazing what you can accomplish with those two appliances.

Art by Danny...I'd like to point out that I have never (yet) had blue hair.

I do love me some shelves.

We still have a TON to do:

• new light fixtures
• knobs and drawer pulls
• trim on ceiling and walls
• the (shudder) bathroom
• the (shudder) closet
• paint the outside
• finish the bench cushion (the fabric is currently pinned in place because I'm waiting to find something better/sturdier)

Little (Young) Women

Chapter 2

Wherein Asterisk asks Meme some questions and Meme does some inviting.

 Meme: We've known each other for, what, 10 years?

Asterisk: Yeah...first grade with Miss Aspartame. You wore braids back then too.

Meme: I'm aiming for a retro-chic vibe.
  
Asterisk: Nailed it.

Meme: Have you thought any more about getting a tattoo?

Asterisk: I wasn't really set on getting one - just toying with the idea. What you said really made me think about what I want to do with my life.  You always sound so sure of yourself, I thought you might be able to help me figure out where I'm going.

Meme:  I'll try.  I guess you could say that all the decisions I make are influenced by my faith.  You do know that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, right?

Asterisk: I thought you were a Mormon.

Meme: It's the same church - "Mormon" is sort of a nickname.

Asterisk: It's a lot shorter.

Meme: My church has a strong program for youth - Young Men and Young Women.  I meet with other Young Women on Sunday and Tuesdays.  We have lessons and activities that help us learn more about God and our relationship with Him.

Asterisk:  I've always believed in God, what makes your church any different from the others?

Meme: Wow, that's a big question.  Can we save it for a little later?

Asterisk: Okay...but I still want to know how I can figure out my life and where I'm going.

Meme:  How about if we start small.  Small-ish.  Here's a booklet that I got at church (hands Asterisk a For the Strength of Youth booklet)

Asterisk:  Cool building...what does it have to do with youth having strength?

Meme: It's picture of the Salt Lake Temple.  My parents were married there.

Asterisk:  Was it expensive?  I know weddings cost a fortune!

Meme:  It was free.  The only thing it cost was personal worthiness.

Asterisk:  You lost me there.  Personal worthiness?

Meme:  It's like being clean.  You wouldn't want to walk in God's house with dirt on your shoes would you?  Personal worthiness is like making sure you don't have dirt on your spirit.

Asterisk:  I like the idea of being clean - I'm a bit of a neat freak.  How do I make my spirit clean?

Meme:  That booklet that I gave you can help get you started. Feel free to take it home and read it. You can call me if you don't understand something.

Asterisk: Thanks, I'll read it tonight.  Is that all there is to it?

Meme: I think you know the answer to that.  When you take a class at school do you just do the reading? 

Asterisk: No, there are usually homework assignments. What's my homework, besides reading?

Meme: Do you think you could pray about it?

Asterisk: Pray?  Well, I guess so.  I noticed you have this other booklet "Personal Progress" can I read that one too?

Meme: One at a time. I'll have to ask my Young Women's leader if she has a spare copy. One more thing.  You're probably going to need to refer to the scriptures while you're reading For the Strength of Youth. You can totally download a scripture app for your phone.  I'll send you a link.

Asterisk: You've sure given me a lot of stuff to think about.

Meme: Tell you what, why don't you come to Young Women's with me tomorrow.  We're going to have an activity based on the For the Strength of Youth booklet.  It'll be fun, and I'm pretty sure there will be treats. I'll pick you up at 6:45.

Asterisk: Sounds good. I need to head home now...I've got some homework to do!

Hmm...For the Strength of Youth.  I like the sound of that.  I've always wanted to be a strong person.  I think I'll read this before I tackle my math homework.

Little (Young) Women

Chapter 1

Wherein we meet Asterisk, a young woman at a crossroad in her life, and Meme (she requests that you pronounce it "may-may"), a Young Woman who has a few of the answers Asterisk is looking for.

Asterisk (on phone): Hey Meme, what's up? 

Meme: Oh, I'm just hanging around listening to 1D (One Direction).

A: Do you have a minute? I'm at a crossroad...er...I need a little advice.

M: I've already paused the music - what's your prob?

A: Well...I'm thinking about getting a tattoo - but I can't decide where to have it, or what it should say.  I want it to be something classy - like a cool bible verse, and since I know you read the bible, I thought you could help me pick one.

M: ...um...well, I do know some awesome bible verses, but have you really considered what you're doing? 

A: What do you mean? 

M: You do realize that tattoos are permanent?

A: Yeah, but I'm sure I'll always love it!  Besides, it's really pretty mainstream to get a tattoo nowadays - everyone does it.

M: I do know a bible verse that talks about doing stuff to your body.

A: I knew I could count on you!

 M: Let me look it up...here it is “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17).

A: Oh! I never thought of my body as a temple of God.  Do you really think God will destroy me for getting a tattoo?

M: I don't know, but I DO know that if God doesn't want me to do something, then I won't do it.  

A: I wouldn't want to do anything "bad"...I guess I'll think it over a little bit more.  Thanks for your help.  Bye.

M: Call me if you need an ear. Bye.

My body is a temple of God?  That sounds amazing...and scary.  I always just figured it was my body...that's what everyone says - "my body/my choice".  I can see that I need to do a little research.  I wonder if Meme can help me out?

Chips and Dip

It's really tough to find snack food for Nathan.  Really tough.  Usually there's way too much sodium and/or potassium.  

Rebekah and I were at Costco earlier this week and ran across Ocean Spray Cranberry Fiesta Salsa.  It isn't something that I would normally be drawn to, but hey, at this point, anything is worth a try.  

We'll be buying him more.

It tastes fairly similar to the mango salsa that Costco also carries...without nearly as much sodium or potassium, so that's a win in my book.  We just needed something for him to eat with it - because, hey, chips are salty.  

Unless you wander over to the health food isle in Fred Meyer...wherein we found some chips(Xochitl brand) with ZERO salt.  They're not bad...nothing a little salt wouldn't fix.

"Who" Has Time for Crafts?

Evidently I do.

I needed to figure out a way to make charms for a bracelet that we gave to our former YW secretary.  She left to go on a mission this week, and before she left we presented her with a nearly empty charm bracelet.  It had one lone charm on it.  We plan to send her a charm every month that she's gone...so they needed to be cheap and flat-ish.  Thank you Pinterest for solving my dilemma. Quite a while ago I had pinned a charm bracelet with Shrinky Dink charms.

I don't think I've ever actually bought Shrinky Dinks before.  My poor children led a deprived childhood.  I found these at Michael's and used some coupons...before coupon a 6 pack of white ink-jet compatible sheets was about $14.  Lucky me, I had a 50% off coupon burning a hole in my pocket.

I screen captured a bunch of quotes, then lightened the pictures.

Most of them turned out fine - there are a couple that are hard to read - but considering this was my first attempt, I feel pretty good about it.

My second set...time for a little Doctor Who.

This time I added a design on the back.  I typed out the name of the recipient in Simple Gallifreyan.

Done!

Happy Days

This has been a pretty great week here at Casa de West. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Mostly.

Best day...Alex coming home!

Birthday bonfire.

Steve eating...

Alex eating...

Rebekah eating...

How stinkin' cute is this cake!?!

Me approved.

Happy days.

Curtains for My Sitting Room

One of the nice things about Ogre's Relish is the amount of window acreage.  There are 7 windows in it. Seven.  They let in lots of light. Yay! You can enjoy the scenery of the great outdoors from pretty much anywhere in it. Yay!

But...

They also are all pretty much at eye level for anyone walking past, so privacy could be a bit of an issue.  Especially at night.

Remember when I said that there are 7 windows.  Yeah.  That's seven windows in need of window coverings.

Yesterday I went to all three fabric stores in town, in search of curtain fabric.  I came home without any.  I had a couple of samples, but I wasn't in love with either of them - especially when it looked like it was going to run me at least $50.  That's more money than I really want to spend on curtains. So today I headed out again.

My plan was simple, check out Walmart...our little town (as of today) has 3 Walmarts.  Three.  Okay, technically at least one of them isn't in "town", but it's less than 5 miles from my house.

Score!

I ended up buying 2 60x102 tablecloths.  That makes nearly 6 yards of wide fabric - for a grand total of...drumroll...$28.  I'll even have some left over to make a tablecloth.

The only curtain rod that was still up was the long one in front - so I put two sets of curtains there for show.  I plan on making a different set for the front wherein the plaid matches in the middle.  These two sets will go on a couple of the side windows.