The coolness that is..... Backstage!

We've had a few bumps in the road around here leading to some busy working days lately.  But we finally got out to take pics of Backstage!  Her layout is fantastic!  She has so much potential, and now we all really think she's cool!

come on in, shall we?

some neat little storage compartments, there's
even one behind that pillow

 as you turn to the left you enter the living  room

the couch/bed and upper shelf/bunk

at first we were baffled by this and
thought it was art

It's like an end table or tv tray built in!
How cool is that

 And heading back toward the door is

The kitchen

Many of the original appliances and fixtures are still in her

ahhh such function!

such form!

The original Fridge--  Propane!

the Holiday Stove

And then we come to

The Dining Room/Breakfast nook

complete with picture window and built ins...

Here you can see the upper storage

 Meet Ma and Pa Deckles ( the Canadian pronunciation for Decals, I think it's cute)

  and the boys lil jedediah deckle, and hendry and his pet chicken

these deckles are good luck!  And were there before the
previous owners so they're staying!

She may not seem like much from these pictures, but she is set up so well.  She's actually a couple of feet smaller than the Pearl but her layout works really well.  And I think she could comfortably sleep 5, or 6 little people.  So you see the dilemma?  We are back to working on The Pearl but cannot bear to harm Backstage.   More on the Pearl's progress tomorrow.

Give Peace A Chance

I really wanted to post about Backstage today.  Or the projects I am doing for The Pearl, or my beautiful, bountiful garden.   I have some photos to upload, and share, however I awoke this morning with this issue on my mind and I need to get it out there.

Photo found on Wikipedia

I am not a fan of ranting.  While I think it can be good for oneself, I think in general it can be harmful to everyone else.  Ranting generally involves bad energy, blaming, negativity.  I think it often comes from a one sided perspective.  Mine!  I have been really trying to promote good energy both in my life, and everywhere I go.  I believe good energy can do wonders for a situation.  Check out Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer sometime, and see how much can be affected just by one's energy.  I have learned a tremendous amount by watching his show The Dog Whisperer.

most of these pics are from my wild front yard

Life is but a dream.  Each of us is creating our own dream as we go.  Not everyone has the same dream.  And I think that's a good thing.  While I am aware that my life, my choices, my environment are not everyone's ideal they are my life, my choices, my environment.  This is my dream, and I just want the freedom to create a lovely dream that I think is lovely, within reason.  I am not out there legislating to make my ideals the norm. Nor am I complaining to the City about your property, or calling Animal control because your dog barks.  Really now, don't they all??  I say live and let live.  And try to live at peace with everyone and everything.

Rose, if you're still reading, this pic is for you.
See, it's just like yours! (only mine's in need
of a trim!)

Photo cred Joyradost ,
via Wikimedia Commons

I met a wonderful woman recently who told me she was, and still is, a hippie.  I get that.  My husband and I have often been described as 'hippies' for lack of a better descriptor.  I think it's tough to put one's finger on what exactly we are, because we resist being labeled but we do hold some of the same views as hippies.  Anyway, she reminded me what the hippie movement was all about.  Peace, an end to war.  A resistance of the system that they perceived as promoting war.  Wikipedia states that " Hippies perceived the dominant culture as a corrupt, monolithic entity that exercised undue power over their lives, calling this culture "The Establishment", "Big Brother", or "The Man".^[23][24][25] "  

That does sound like us. 

 This past week marked the 20 year anniversary of the Rodney King incident and he has been all over tv talking about his now infamous line "can't we just all get along".  That phrase runs through my head very often.  Can't we?   He said he had a prepared statement he was supposed to read, but instead just spoke from his heart, and that's what came out.  I found it very moving.

Photo from Wikipedia

Now I admit that I am not the most patient person, or the most peaceful at all times.  When I'm in my suburban I am generally zooming past everyone else, usually in a hurry to get where I'm going.  Not because I'm late, just to get it over with.  And honestly sometimes I think a part of my brain takes over that thinks I'm Parnelli Jones and I am driving in the Indianapolis 500.  I really have to stay focused and aware to not go there.  I admittedly was born with a 'lead foot'.  However I make it a rule to not go too far over the speed limit anymore.   So Should I say 'accidentally' go over the speed limit and let's say get pulled over, well then when the officer walks up I try to remember to smile and kindly say "thank you officer, I admit that I was _____________.  Thank you for doing your job."  I realize this sounds very strange, even hokey, but I have two new drivers in my family and once while driving with a permit I had one of my sons pull over with a bunch of other cars by a high school to pick up the other son.  It was raining, and I didn't want to keep circling.  Besides there he was, a minute away from getting in the car.   This particular day a motorcycle cop pulled up to the front of all those cars and gave us all tickets.  As we were driving away the kids, and at least one high school friend were discussing how lame the cops are, etc.   Fortunately I had a moment of clear thinking and I pointed out that there was in fact a no stopping sign where we had pulled over, even if just for a moment.  I took a gamble and I lost.  I know the laws, I can read the signs.  If I didn't want to gamble I shouldn't have had him pull over there.  While they were busy copying derogatory statements they had heard about the police I pointed out that he was just doing his job.  We pay him to do that.  They asked me why I had thanked him, and I said because I was wrong, I took responsibility for it, and truly wanted him to know that I appreciate the job they do.  I wouldn't want to do it.  It's not all pulling over "innocent' people and giving tickets.  I hope they saw the logic.  I think I wouldn't want to stay in a job where I got yelled at regularly for doing my job.  Especially one where I was putting myself in harms way every time I went to work to begin with.

The blueberries are huge! I must be doing something right

Michaels owie!

Unless you are an anarchist I think you would agree with me that we do need laws, police, maybe even some politicians.  We are crazy.  We all make poor choices.  We don't have our morning coffee and want to run irritating pedestrians over.  Or bark at the first person who crosses our paths.  I know, I've seen it.  How many times have I seen an innocent person simply crossing the street, in a crosswalk, with the walk sign and almost get run over?  My very own child was bumped in this way at a particularly rushed intersection where there are two right turn lanes and a lot of pedestrians at various times.  My Father in law was injured yesterday by a careless driver who was too busy to stop and make sure he was ok.  Now I know I live in LaLa land and it can be worse here, but I think this is happening all over.  For example the guy who loudly honks the 'you're an idiot' honk because someone is in his way.  Which one of us has driven perfectly at all times?  Which of us has not made an error in judgement, or a last minute decision and partly blocked say another lane?    We have very limited vision.  My way is right, and everyone else is wrong.  Or my way is the best, and all others are inferior.  What is it in us humans that makes us so arrogant?

The first yellow rose of spring

more lovelies from my garden

I guess what I'm saying here is give peace a chance.  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Live and let live.  And so many other trite sayings that I agree with.  Really, can't we just all get along?  And treat each other kindly?

Meet Backstage

Our weekend was spent driving.   We drove north to middle California to finally meet Jeff who had an offer we could not refuse, even if it took us half a year to get it together.   We just returned from our latest adventure, with our big announcement......  

and here it is.......

Meet..........................................................................................................................................................

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'Backstage'

Rose and Tippy showing us Backstage

 The latest addition to our family.  So this really nice guy Jeff contacted us last year about his Oasis, with a most generous offer.  He offered to bring us any parts we needed for the Pink Pearl.  It was a really generous offer, but when we realized that his Oasis was very similar to ours, and talked measurements and everything, we thought it would make more sense to go up to him and retrieve any parts as it was, shall we say, more than a few.


  Over the course of months my husband kept in touch with him, and finally, we were able to coordinate a trip up to his Mom's place to pick up 'Backstage'.   The plan now being to pick her up, take any parts we need for our Oasis, and then her long and useful life would pretty much be over.

This is Jeff, an all around great guy!  We learned all
about him from his Mom as well :)

We drove about 8 hours in anticipation of picking up the 'new Oasis' (we didn't know her name yet).  When we arrived at Jeff's Mom's home she invited us in and regaled us with wonderful stories of 'Backstage'. We learned that they called her this because she and her husband, David,  traveled all around the US and Canada in her doing their comedy act and later performing in other productions.  Rose, who holds the official title of "Mermaid Maker", sat at her table, and told us story after story of their adventures, and really their life in Backstage.

picture from sunbeamwindow.com

 Fascinating stories of a place called Camp Comfort where they spent some time.  Tales of travel, friendships, love and really a whole life lived in Backstage.   They told us how much of their early years together had been spent Backstage; and some really funny, interesting stories about their travels. The funniest one being the 'earthquake' they were jolted out of bed by while camping in the boondocks in Utah; only to wake up and find they were amidst a pack of wild horses and one of them was scratching his rear end on the jalousie windows, which were open.  I wish I had been there to see that!  Erik told her she should write a book, she had so many wonderful memories from so many interesting adventures.

It took us a bit to then get Backstage all hooked up and towable so I had the pleasure of standing outside enjoying the breeze, and getting to talk with David and Rose for a while longer.   David told me how Backstage was their love shack-  I think his exact words were "this is the most romantic place on earth, you'll see."  I still smile when I think about how sweet this couple is.  In the end we met Jeff's parents, his lovely wife, and his beautiful children.   Coincidentally they are also proud parents of a set of very cute twins!

It took us a full day to drive home with her.  All the way home we talked about what we'd do with her, about the wonderful friendly people we had just met, and really, really liked, and we laughed about the stories we had heard.  Erik and I are suckers for Romance. So on the way home we talked about how we are unsure now that we can just use Backstage like that, and not allow her to live on.  Remember my last post about age and wisdom, and beauty.  She had been such a huge part of this family's life and they had shared so many fond memories of her.  In fact just before we drove off we were saying our good-byes and David was standing at Backstage's front window peering in for one last time.  Ok, now I want to cry...

So as ridiculous as this may sound, we are now the proud owners of two Oasis trailers.  Both in our driveway.  Both needing some TLC.   And so the story begins....

An addition to (the wheeled) family

We have very exciting news!  I don't want to spoil it until I can take pictures though, so you'll have to hang in there.

We have been sort of stalled out on Pearl restoration waiting for this big news.  And it's big!

I guess we are 'purists' when it comes to many things.  I would say we are with The Pearl; and now with Baby I think we'll end up going that way as well.  As much as I love shiny and new, I don't need everything in my life to be that way.  I appreciate age, wisdom, charm.

I noticed a commonality with Vintage Trailer pictures I am drawn to.  They are just about always white.  That is to say that the interior is painted white, or redone in a light color.  Something about the light, the bright, the airy feel it gives things. Not to mention one could replace things, and have them  be new in this sort of restoration.  In a perfect world I could have it all.  But The Pearl's interior is Birch and in our opinion not damaged enough to completely re-do, or even paint.  I just can't imagine covering up all her original beauty.



The same with Baby.  Today while out and about we came across an old Corvair in the parking lot of Trader Joes.  My daughter and I stopped to admire her.  She was beautiful, shiny, new interior, completely re-done, if not restored.  Wouldn't that be wonderful?  I thought.  But the more I think about it I think maybe not.  I don't know, I mean, things age, people age, and I don't believe they become less beautiful.  I would never submit myself to such modern day tortures as face lifts, tummy tucks, or even botox.  It just goes against everything I am.

 I feel the same way about Baby and The Pink Pearl.  Sure they show their age, but what's wrong with that?  It's a messed up society I live in, where everyone attempts to stall out appearance wise at 30.  It reminds me of a movie I saw last year-  In Time.  I thought it was an interesting, very thought provoking movie about a society where everyone stops aging at 25 and are engineered to only live one more year....  unless they can buy more time.  Of course this mean life ends for the masses, who work all they can to buy more time, while the wealthy basically have immortality.  Everyone is young, everyone is beautiful.  I do recommend it if you have the time.

The truth is that where I live it does matter, to a lot of people.  It's all about facade.  Beautiful and youthful on the outside, but the insides, who knows?  I guess I prefer honesty to appearances.   I find the saying 'with age comes wisdom' to be absolutely true.  I can't imagine wanting to trade that for youth, or the appearance of youth.  So it goes with Baby and The Pearl.  I can't help but think of Susie...  remember her??

Baby

Irises are my favorite flowers.  They're just so beautiful in their own way.  Here are a couple of pics of my Irises which are blooming at the moment in the front yard.

'If you had come to visit me today you would have seen these beauties from the street, and from the porch and I would have made sure you noticed them.  I love flowers.

Then  you would have come inside, and invariably would have asked me about life and all things in it currently.  Which would have led us to 'Baby' short for 'Baby Jane' a dear aunt of mine who shares my affection for inanimate objects and always names her cars, always has.









Baby Jane is a 1965 Dodge Dart
    Like a drive back in time...

Here she is waiting to take us wherever we'd like to go

As you attempted to open the door to step in you would have found it locked.  Everything is manual in this car, so I would have to reach over and unlock it for you.  Then upon opening the door a very loud metal creeeeeaaak   

would catch you off guard.  It makes me smile.  Then you would find that the door has to be slammed shut pretty hard.  She and her kind were made like tanks.

It's funny to watch people, especially young people get into Baby for the first time.  What is THAT?  They ask....   The door handle, or the manual window handle, or the ashtray.  They are embedded in the back doors and one in the dash.

The dashtray

Here's Baby's Model number on the glove box

And if you opened up the glove box you'd find the original service record.  Dating back to 1965.  

And no, there is no middle belt

You'd wonder about the seatbelts then, especially the under 30 crowd.  When we first looked at Baby and took her for a test drive I had the pleasure of riding in the back seat.  It reminded me of being a child in the back seat of 'The Batmobile'.  Our grandparents big black Chevy Impala (I believe) much like this one.                                 

But I digress....  Every Friday our Gramsy who did not drive, and only worked a half day at our Aunts house watching all of us would pile us all in the backseat and Grandpa or our Uncle would drive us to Gramsys house.  There'd be at least five of us crammed in there, smashing each other as we rounded every curve.  Good times...                                        

Ok, now we're ready to roll.                                 Don't worry she's not driving.  

 You might wonder about the window operation then.  No AC, remember.  So we'd roll down the front windows and open the little triangle ones at the front.  And that is the only side mirror.  They used to only come with one, remember?











Depending on your personality, you may or may not get a kick out of watching me start the car.  The steering wheel is so large, it reminds me of driving a boat.  Baby needs a lot of juice and sweet talk before she'll start.  And she can be very loud.  Then she's gotta warm up.  So don't think you can just hop in and go like with these modern cars.  She needs a little gentle coaxing.  But treat her like a lady, and she'll treat you right...

 At this point you would undoubtedly be checking out this sweet dash...  And maybe you'd like to hear some tunes...




Old school heat and fan controls, and the original AM radio.  Which still works.






















Remember the old push button AM radios?  Oh and it's mono baby!

This is it.  The only speaker.

Oh and that is a steel dash.  No airbags.  So don't crash.

I'd check my mirror for oncoming traffic.  Yeah, it's the original too.




As I let the brake off and give her some gas we'd move forward and you'd notice

 The speedometer needle bouncing up and down and all around.  Again, these things make me smile.  Hopefully it wouldn't make you too nervous.  She also 'dances'.  Her timing is off so she idles real heavy and is pretty loud.

Never a dull moment when  you're with Baby.

 Driving down the street I feel like I've gone back in time.  My girls and I think we need to get driving hats and scarves to go with our large sunglasses so we'll look the part.  I never thought my daily chauffering rounds could be so much fun.  Listening to a crackly AM radio, laughing as everyone passes me in their modern day hurry.  Not me...  I am thoroughly enjoying the little things.  And loving it!

She drives at a steady pace, unless going uphill.   And I'm just relaxing, taking my time.

Original wipers, remember when they only had one speed?

Her trunk

 It's a large 'two body' trunk.   Unless you are my kids.  I think we could fit most of them in there.

 So here she is.  Those who have ridden in her literally squeal with delight! I think it's a treat.

Enjoy the little things my friends.  Enjoy the little things!