laundry off the grid

We boondock quite a bit with the Hardwall gang or camp at Provincial Parks with no services. We do have power, sewer and water at the Lot, but no building with a washer and dryer. Those coin operated facilities in "town" can get pricey - it is $3 a load to wash here. So, I was thinking about this over the winter, reading RV magazines and came across this little item. What the heck, try it out. Ordered it when the snow was on the ground so I would be ready and it works great! You can put quite a bit in that little drum, add 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry soap, hot water and screw the lid down. It pressurizes inside. You crank slowly for about one tune on the Sirius radio. Unscrew the top, attach the little drain hose and then add a couple of rinses with the garden hose. Hang them up to dry in the hot Shuswap weather and you have clean clothes not covered in rock dust. For those interested in other methods, you can have a look at another unit I took a picture of.

Dogs love trucks!

We are still busy trying to get rid of the rock pile and Don made some rock stairs this morning coming down the side of the new raised garden. Do all dogs love to travel? Our Gatorgirl certainly does, and so has every other dog we have had. However, when it is hot out, and you need to run into "town" to do some shopping or complete the "list" - it is too hot to leave her in the truck. On those occasions, she has to stay in the RV and she sure doesn't like it. We turn the fan or AC on for heat relief or white noise, whatever works. She is a really good traveller though - the only thing she objects to and sends her trying to hide under the car seats is when we touch the rumble strips at the side of the highway!

Rock building 101 ( at least for us )

Must be something about being away from the office and you start to feel energized to do something different. We have been hauling rocks ( yes, by hand ) and slowly making some flower beds. Donald is very methodical in his builder/carpenter way of doing things - you know, stay level, watch the rise/run, this rock doesn't fit ( why would it? ), If I had a good chisel I could make them fit. Myself on the other hand, I keep blurting out that the theme is funky grotto and not to worry about the fit, and if you see a good rock throw it there and that's where it should stay. So even though we have our different way of construction, we had good fun starting these rock projects. Now, the trick is to figure out how to use ALL of the four yards of rock. Now lets's see - Al and Kelly ( The Bayfield Bunch ) could use some around their garden paths - Ok Al - you'll have to pick them up though! Or - Claude and Val are closer - may be they would like a wee blasted bauble or 2. HA!... I think this weekend will be beach days - also next week some of the Hardwall group may show up with their rv's.

we're rocking!

well, true to his word, our "quarry guy" delivered the 4 yards at 10:00 am this morning. So, we'll have to get busy - we both have ideas of where to put rock all over the lot. The load actually has some really small pieces and some larger pieces, just as Mr. Quarry suggested. Of course, Donald was helping the truck to back up, then the truck started to tip its' load - and watch out! Back up Donald! He only had his flip flops on! That rock comes out of the truck faster than you think. Donald says I have to mention that it is "blasted rock" - it was dynamited last summer at the pit. I think pretty soon it is going to be " that d... blasted rock..." after we haul a few pieces around. HA!

fred flintstone where are you?

Monday - one of the chores has been accomplished! We called the "guy" and went up to the rock quarry to have a gander at what rocks up there. There were some lovely stones - blue tones, with white and the odd rock had ( I suspect ) fools gold. Very sparkly though! Now the normal person would go to their local landscaping company or nursery to order rock or pick out rocks. Not us. Need an adventure. You gotta go right to the source, right to The Pit. We thought we would take about 2 -3 yards but even though the pit owner suggested a whole dump truck load ( egads ! ) we settled on 4 yards. Good thing Donald is better at dimensions and volume, because I couldn't tell you what one yard looked like. The rocks get delivered tomorrow, and from then on it will be putter work in the mornings and evenings. It's too hot during the day. Rock on!