False Spring?

It has been an unusually warm winter across much of this end of the country. Several days of 70s and this week looks especially nice. We are dog sitting for our granddog, Mouse. Makes me want to get the campers out! And camp! Or at least garden... but it's February!

The Livin Lite Quicksilver popup campers are not the easiest campers to modify since there is NO wood to paint,  there is NO roof, the bunk ends are also aluminum. .. even the bench seating is a molded composite (plastic). The intention is, of course, durability and light weight. On my QS8, I did put down a floating floor which probably added 60-80 pounds, but it looks lovely and is warmer. I could have saved weight by doing what I did in the QS5, which was to put down foam square padding (used to be under our exercise equipment) and then throw rugs.

I'm seriously thinking about going to pick up my QS8 (it is being stored at a friends) and playing with it to make into a craft caravan! Hmmm... stay tuned!

Polly's sister needs a name!

I have Polly's sister popped up. She needs a name. Is Poppy too redundant? In Victoria I visited a beautiful garden that grew BLUE poppies. They were really blue and amazing. I think Poppy would be a name, but a good name?

Anyway,  I bought a sweet purple rug and made some curtains and pillows today. I actually think she is done.  Less is more when kids are camping! I think I will go through the old toys.  We might need a few in the camper, maybe.

So, the kids side is bright and open. MY side has a curtain.  ☺

March Madness?

The big news is (drum roll, please) that I purchased another Livin Lite Quicksilver. The 8.0 has 2 bunkends and a drop down table to bed. The Quicksilver brand is all aluminum. They are trying to make them look a little warmer in the 2016 model with a vinyl wood look floor and champagne color walls but basically, the models are cold and stripped down. I have a sink and air conditioning though no propane. 

So, why buy a used stripped down aluminum camper for the same cost as a nice new pop up? One reason - weight. Base weight is 860, gvwr is 1400. Well within my Forester's 2400 lb rating. I am going to load it and take it to the county recycling center where there is a scale to get a good weight. I don't expect to need trailer brakes though. Secondary reason for a LL QS, and a good one, is that being all aluminum means no rot!

My new camper needs a name. The decor is going to be "cheerful" and she is designated to be fun for our grands.  

So, here she is! Polly Pop-up's big sister! (OH! I am keeping Polly! At least for now!)

Pollyanna Doodle

Seriously? Is this what her name is to be? I don't know yet. But today I adapted the dining canopy I had made several years ago to attach  to her awning.

The campers awning zipper had to be reversed first. I did that earlier in the week. I knew from reading posts that the zippers were often backwards. It wasn't a big deal to rip it out and sew it back in correctly.

Today I put velcro  on 2 sides of the awning and on one side of my canopy.   The canopy can be attached to either side that way.

After messing around with it, the sun was setting and I found a bonus to the velcro! I could add a sunshade to the awning! So... I looked through my fabric - nothing. I needed a lace tablecloth...  or... curtains! I found the valances from when we bought the house.  I pinned  them up as a trial. Yep, I'm going to put velcro on them! 

Rain test and SHE HAS A NAME!

It is steadily raining and has been for a couple of hours (or more? I was sleeping) I checked on Polly... OMG! She has a name... I didn't name her exactly... I asked for suggestions and that was Michael's idea but I didn't dwell on any. I guess Polly Pocket it is. What I hear is "Polly wolly doodle all the day"!!! Even though a Zentangle is NOT a doodle!

Whoa, where was I? Oh yes, the rain. Inside the camper is very damp, but not wet. Sealing seams was a good idea, and since I didn't finish, I really know it was good. I ran a paper towel  along seams and those without ARE going to leak as they are damp now. If it rains hard they will give out.

The dampness is coming from the bed area. The canvas back there is only canvas. And since there is no hard top to divert the water, it just drips  down the canvas. I don't think it's a real problem, I mean, that's how a canvas tent responded to rain. But in this day of breathable nylon and rainflies, when I tent camp in the rain, I am DRY, and the only dampness comes in with me.

So, the question is "Can I/Should I try to waterproof the bunk end canvas?