I have been wanting a bike rack on Prairie Flower for a long.....time.  I look for them and just don't find one that will work for me. Last week I found just the one for my needs. It is a Swagman, and is on sale at Camping World.

The problem was that my trailer has this old time bumper, and every bike rack available will not fit it.  The RV Store in Springfield Oregon is my go to place for my vintage trailer. The man who owns the store has been in business for a long time and will work on my trailer.

The trailer had a custom welded bracket attached to the bumper, and welded stabilizers attached to strengthen the bumper.  The nice advantage is that I can remove the rack when I don't want it on my trailer.

I am happy to show it to you.

My 1963 Schwinn is in place, just the right bike for Prairie Flower.

Prairie Flower

Well, I sorta forgot that I didn't all the photos on the blog. Here is the last 2017 photo.  The bed area is difficult to photograph because it is a little dark inside. The area is both table and benches, and the bed. I decided to forgo the table and make a fabulous sleeping area. The bed is about a 3/4 full size...meaning it is really small for two people. That is OK, there is enough room for me and all these pillows. I made a duvet cover with the same fabric that the curtains are made from...(came with the trailer) and use a down alternative comforter. The foam bench cushions are not very comfortable, so I have two pillow toppers that are twin size stacked. I made the bed with vintage pink floral sheets that I found, they were still in the original packaging. The pillows are an eclectic mix that have down inserts. The upper bunk is used for storage, I have most anything that I might need inside the trailer. Note the two LED lanterns hanging above the bed...I don't bother with a battery, I use LED battery lights...or solar lights. The entire girly decor works for me...and it keeps the man from wanting to use it. The funny thing is that all his friends are curious and ask me if they can see the inside. It makes me smile when I show off my 1963 Aloha trailer.

The trailer is inside our shop building, and I have no worry about it getting wet and leaking. I put my chairs, coolers, umbrellas, and water jugs inside. They stay clean inside and I do keep track of my stuff that way. There is no water, and I don't need to worry about anything freezing. It is snug and secure, but if a place to sleep is wanted...there are many things to move inside the trailer. 

Prairie Flower Pics 2017 - #2

Well, OK, it is blurry, I am sorry about the poor quality of this photo. This is the kitchen area at the back of my 1963 Aloha. I love the birch paneling, not painting it ever! The door is on the left side and is open to let extra light inside. The right side is the closet door that you saw in the last post. The stove has an oven that does not work. I store stuff in there. I do have a turquoise stove in the shop to restore and it will look pretty in here.

There is a vintage red polka dot enamel tea kettle, several mugs, and floral bowl in this photo.

Prairie Flower Pics 2017 - #1

I know that many of you would like to get a tour of Prairie Flower. She is pretty plain on the outside. The interior is completely different...I have made the trailer into my personal retreat. I like a Retro, Boho, Gypsy, and Camping look. How does that combine? Please take a look...and remember I change things around frequently. I am a junker, and I find things to put to use in my trailer....

This is the back corner, and opposite the outside door. Kitchen area, and this is the door to the closet, storage, and porta potty area. I believe that the stove and mirror are the original 1963 fixtures.

More to come..............

Vintage Enamelware Again

I would think with all my junking, flea markets, antique store and fairs....that I would have found 2 plates like this one. I did get a mug about two years ago. The plates are a hard find, I am wanting 2 10" floral plates...meanwhile I have 2 plastic plates to use. I don't want to use any glass in Prairie Flower, rough rides do break things. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Mini Electric Fireplace

from Juli Thorson

One of the Girl Camping women, Juli Thorson, shared her mini fireplace electric heater on facebook. It is a tiny fireplace that puts out enough heater for a small vintage travel trailer. It sits on the kitchen stove, decorated as you wish. They cost about $50 on-line. I would like to get one to use in Prairie Flower, when I have electricity in the fall, or cold spring. I imagine that sleeping with this glowing would be terrific. Cute!!

A Vintage Travel Pennant - Moose Jaw, Canada

Today, I attended the once a year Coburg Antique Fair. It is a free event, located along the lovely streets of Coburg Oregon. A small town, and a large event. My fun purchase today is a vintage pennant. The Mountie called to me, and I needed this to put in Prairie Flower, my 1963 Aloha travel trailer. This is a wonderful addition, I don't think anyone else will have one. I currently have a newer Paris pennant, and I will put this one up in the same space. I got this for only $3...can I say wow. It went like this....I saw a pile of these, and most I didn't like, this one was on the bottom....the end.

Vintage Red Coleman Lantern from 1965

I went junking today. Today's treasure is a lantern from 1965. I love the rounded glass, and the fire engine red color, the red matches other vintage Coleman camping items I have. The era is perfect, and I am hoping that with a little work by me it will be operating. Truthfully, it seems in good condition...but there is a little rust to clean-up. I have not looked inside, or anything, ...but there is a good mantel in it. I must have been at the right place at the right time. This was only set out today, but it was on top of a display...not in the camping gear area. I checked it out with my phone, and I know that the $11 paid for it was a bargain. There are many Coleman lantern collectors, and an online community to find information. I already found the manual online. Coleman marked the lanterns clearly, so it is easy to know the month and year manufactured, and the model number.

Vintage Camping Stuff...the Snack-Toaster

I went to the Brownsville, Oregon antique/junk faire today. This pretty little town has held this event for 25 years, and I have been many times, it is always the first Saturday in August. The event is held in Pioneer Park where there are many lovely large Maples and grass. There was lots of good stuff and the prices are good. One vendor had some old camping stuff, and vintage things that caught my attention. I saw her booth as I entered the park, looked at some things but decided to look at all the booths before making a purchase. You see, I only had $40 with me as a budget measure. I was tempted by other things that I saw....but didn't buy anything. My last stop was back to the old camping stuff. She still had the things that I liked. A price negotiation and the deal done.

This photo is not mine, and my item is a double unit, to make 2 sandwiches at the same time. These are from about 1958-1962, made in the USA. The maker was Federal Mfg, of Brooklyn NY. Mine has been used maybe one time.

Many families had these for camping. I don't really remember using this with my family, I didn't have one until about 1976 (I still have it and it is in my trailer). I did some research on these devises and found that it is a unusual collecting item...although the history and value is hard to find. Hum? 

Craft Room Remake Update #1

I have spent many hours working on this project. This is some progress, but far from completed. I purchased many of the storage bins and the shelves at Ross. I love the discounts and prices at Ross. I looked at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, TJ Maxx Homegoods, and Marshall's. I went to every Ross in the area to get all the same items for this project...   I also used all kinds of thrift store things that I have painted and changed to fit my style. The project is taking a long time. The problem is that I have supplies storage in several places and it is not organized. I keep finding things that need to fit into the shelves for that item. I am moving all my stuff out of the guest room tomorrow, and clearing that space of all the stuff. I am making good progress, considering all the things I am doing.

Friday is a big day, I will being taking my trailer on the first glamping weekend of 2016!!! Yay!!! Tomorrow, I will getting ready, so much to do.

Vintage Aloha Trailer Repair

This photo is from the day I purchased the 1963 Aloha Travel Trailer.

Today, the window is removed in this photo.

Yesterday I was watching a Utube video showing how to repair the back window in my trailer, Prairie Flower. I watched 3 videos in all, to see the complete process. My trailer was restored....but the back window had a problem with bad window screen, the person who restored the trailer took a shortcut with the screen. They cut out the bad screen and put a window screen patch on it. I am getting bugs into the trailer when I open the window. The entire window/screen unit must be removed to replace the screen.

Today, I decided to start on removing the window. I will not be going camping for some time. I followed the directions from the video, and the window came right out. I cleaned up the dirt and goo around the frame. All is good, no sign of wood rot...nice and dry. I am happy that these vintage trailers were made with the ability of DIY repairs.

Next step in this process, locate the proper screen and supplies to put it back together. There is a small trailer and RV repair shop, and I know that they will have what I need. This is important to me. I want to feel empowered to take on more projects with the trailer.

1963 Schwinn Starlet Bicycle

I went out junking this week, after doing my errands and shopping. Goodwill had this bike in the rack of used bikes for sale. I really liked this Flamboyant Blue Schwinn (that is what they named this color). This bike was made in the Chicago Schwinn factory on 6/26/1963, and when it was new, the cost was $46.95. 

It is not all original, and the front rack and head light are gone. That is OK, the basics are there and in decent condition. I cleaned it today, and added air to the tires. I took it to the local bike shop and they assisted me with a few things...and I purchased the front basket from them. They are great at the Willamette Mountain Mercantile. They specialized in Mountain Trail Bikes, but will help with other bikes. In fact, the woman working there really loved this vintage bike...and she wants to find one for her own mom.

This bicycle is the same era as my 1963 Vintage Aloha Trailer. Hum...serendipity......I will have fun taking it with me on Glamping trips.

Vintage Train Case

Oh my....look at the thrift store find today, only $3.50! An old piece of luggage, a vintage train case from another era. The interior is pretty plain, and the mirror is gone....but...it doesn't smell bad. I know that many ladies have fun painting and mod podging fabric to these...I like this item as it is. I took a mister clean eraser sponge to the edges, and cleaned up the grubbiness. Hum, what to do with this small treasure? I think that I will use it to store electronic gear, tablet, Nook e-reader, camera, MP3 player, speaker, batteries, cords, power back-up, etc. These things are not something that I keep in my trailer, and it is handy to store them together....I will spend much less time looking for things, if I organize them.

Here is my thrift store shopping hint. My local store only gets new merchandise two times each week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. I go to the store in the early afternoon...when the stuff is being put out. I find great stuff in the carts of things being sorted and put out onto the shelves. Don't be shy...look for the great things. I also always look at the jewelry cases, sometimes there are great jewelry pieces. More on that later.....

My Trailer's Oven - The Tragedy!

Coleman Camp Oven

Well, I took Prairie Flower (my vintage trailer) to a repair shop last week. I had several small things to be done on it, and 2 major things. The oven of the vintage trailer stove would not light for me....so, I asked them to check it out and see if it could work. The bad, sad, news is no. What to do? I could just forget about it, and go on my merry way....and I might do that! Or, look into one of these collapsible Coleman Camp Oven's. Or, just use my dutch ovens in the fire coals...and I have done that before. Or, try to locate an old stove with a working oven to replace the current one. I do like this idea best. Hum...I am just going to think about it for awhile.

The good news about the trailer is that everything else is completed. Yes!

Sisters on the Fly

I am now official Sister #3525. I am very excited!! Their motto is We have more fun than anyone! Things are coming together. Yay!!!

A Lantern for Prairie Flower

I decided to use portable lighting for Prairie Flower. The auto battery for power is dead, so it was buy another or do something else. LED lights are really good, great light and long lasting with regular batteries...122 hours of light with 4 D batteries. No old, vintage lantern for this farmgirl....a new Coleman battery operated LED fits the need very well. I think that the style that resembles a vintage lantern is nice. I will have a couple small LED flashlights with me in the trailer and I am ready.  I think that I will bring along 2 or 3 jar candles to have on hand.

Fresh Water for Prairie Flower

I found the way to have fresh water in Flower. There is no fresh water tank and water pump, so I knew that  problem was just fine with me. In fact, I am happy that I will not need to deal with those features. I found a vintage Coleman Water Cooler just like this photo...today. I think that it holds about 3 gallons. I think that is enough, because I can refill it as needed. There is a little rust and 2 small dents in the green metal. The inside is excellent, and the spout is working. After cleaning it well, and using some bleach in the wash water...I am happy with it. Hey...there is one for sale on Ebay for more than $50. 

Be Your Own Heroine...

This Brave Girl message for today spoke to me very personally. I make an attempt daily to see the good side of things, and of people. I want to believe that people are doing the best that they can...but my heart tells me that it isn't true. I know people very well who get enjoyment from making others lives miserable. I make an attempt to remove people who are like this from my life, however that is not always possible. An example is that just 2 days ago a person spared no criticism about my little trailer, Prairie Flower...saying that it is just a crazy idea...and that I will never go thru with my dream. See the part above about being misunderstood, plotted against, and betrayed! That is where I find myself. I take that as a personal challenge, and I will take Flower out as much as I can. I will be true to me! She did it anyway!

Personalize a Pillow

Here are some ideas to personalize a pillow, instead of trying to find a unique one. I recently purchased a new Pottery Barn striped pillow at a thrift store. I thought that with some creativity, the pillow will be for Prairie Flower (my trailer). I plan to applique some flowers on it, and maybe a word. I will be able to sew it on, and use a little embroidery to accent the flowers.

Inside the 1963 Aloha Trailer - Before Photos

Here is your photo tour of a very small 1963, 50 year old Aloha. The door is in the back. You enter into this kitchen, pretty much all it is. A sink, working trailer stove, and the really nice original Formica counter top.

Directly on your right is a built-in dresser, and then the table and benches. The Formica is the same, and in excellent condition. The upholstery is a light butter yellow vinyl. I like the dresser, my clothing will fit right in there...instead of packing a duffle.

This is looking directly toward the front. The kiddie bunk is going to used for extra storage, a down comforter, blankets, pillows, musical instruments, and hats. I will have the bed made up most of the time. When the bed is made, there is room underneath for storage during travel, maybe for a folding chair and table. (A small bistro set.) I took the table down and am currently storing it on the bunk right now...there is more space to move around. There is storage area under both the benches, and outside doors to them. That is good because the battery to run the lights is under the left side bench. I will be able to remove it and charge it if needed.

Here is the final corner, this door is right beside the stove, a tiny closet. The electric only refrigerator that is a replacement for the original icebox...it does work. Directly under the refrigerator is a tiny round hot water tank, something that might have been used in a house. The water lines run along the floor, from the water heater thru the closet and to the sink. Fortunately, the copper lines are exposed...and I can remove them. When the water heater is gone...there will be additional storage. I am thinking that a small microwave would be nice...something that I will take along when there are electric hook-ups.

The last owner had the curtains made, and she gave me all the extra fabric. I am going to keep them for now, even if the fabric is faded a little.  As you can see...it has potential, and is in good shape. I am thinking of naming her Prairie Flower. Oh, and BTW the trailer has stopped leaking water! Good.