RV, House, Pizza

On the subject of the RV: I have started to make some boards on Pinterest  to use in planning future trips.  I haven't done much, but it seems like an interesting way to organize things.  Much like visual bookmark folders.
I have been pinning possible RV parks, and ones where I have made reservations for our June-July trip.


On the subject of the House: it seems we continue to take one step backward for every two steps forward.  The refurbishing of the first of three bathrooms is coming along nicely, but now the on-demand, propane hot water heater that will provide hot water for the shower is being temperamental. (The main hot water heater for the rest of the house is a large electric one.)  I sure hope we don't have to replace the tankless one, it was quite expensive. But there is no value to having a pretty new cultured marble shower enclosure with no hot water! Fortunately we have had an excellent response from a telephone service tech from the manufacturer, but he keeps referring to it as an "old" model.  

On the subject of Food: I made a whole wheat pizza crust in the bread machine yesterday and it worked very well! 
I used the same basic recipe as I have for regular white flour pizza crusts, but I substituted whole wheat flour, used Agave Nectar instead of sugar, and added a heaping table spoon of the dough enhancer (you could also  use gluten) to help the whole wheat be stretchy.


The topping is one we have enjoyed many times in the past.  Caramelized onions with Balsamic vinegar, three ounces of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, and a scant quarter cup of finely chopped walnuts.  


Although I'm avoiding dairy, this is one exception. 


 Our more traditional, cheese, sausage, mushroom pizzas would have had at least eight to twelve ounces of full fat Italian cheese.  It's so easy to dump on with those nice pre-shredded cheese!


With the Gorgonzola we each ate about one and a half ounces of a full flavor cheese.  I would rather do without than eat the "vegan" cheese substitutes.


The whole wheat crust was different, but good.  We like thin crust pizza, and although not as thin as some I've made, it did roll out easily.  The trick for any pizza dough is to mix it in the morning and put it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator to proof for several hours. 


I have also changed my mind about Agave.  My impression that it was chemically treated seems to apply to the cheaper brands.  The "Raw" Agave Nectar from  Madhava, is pressed, filtered, and concentrated by heating it to no more than 180*.  It is no more "processed" than cane sugar or maple syrup. The chemical that was referred to in an article I read was Chlorine, use to clean the filters.  Hey, isn't that what is in our drinking water to kill the bugs?


And, we both like the taste!  That is a critical point.

Count down to Christmas

Busy, busy!


In years past I would not still be working on my art work at this point in December, but with the economy the way it is, I can't say "no" to an order.


I just finished and shipped a buffalo to Canada, and still have a unicorn to get done in the next few days. It is not a Christmas order.  It is for a December 28th birthday, so it should get to Texas on time if I can ship it on Monday.


I did have to say "no" to one order this week. A former customer wanted to get her husband a polar bear for Christmas, but I told her it was too late.  We settled on a February delivery because he has a birthday then. I gave her a nice discount.


It's a good thing I've had a little business this season.  We have been going kinda crazy with buying things.  In addition to all the Christmas gifts, we have been buying necessities, and not-so-necessities for the Alfa.  Things like the 50 foot air hose to fill the tires from the onboard compressor, and the new air filter Craig will be installing this weekend.  Little things like the telescoping brush to wash the roof someday, and the fiberglass renewing kit to use after.  Also the surge protector and the driving lessons, both necessary in my eye. 


We did splurge on one not-so-necessary item: a new flat-screen TV for the bedroom.  We don't have a satellite service yet, but we should be able to pick up some stations with the antenna in the LA area. This was something Craig wanted to do from the day we bought the Alfa.  I thought the old one was OK.


Craig was given a nice gift at the Christmas party today.  Special recognition was given to a number of people for the work they did on projects this year, and Craig was one of them.  He was given an iPad.  He says I can have it because he doesn't feel his fingers are nimble enough, but I think we will both use it a bit.  I played with it some this evening, and at first touch, I have to say I like my laptop a lot better.  It took me a while to get used to the track pad, but now it is very comfortable.


But I will give the iPad a fair trial period.  People seem to really like them. 


I was very excited to see the traffic on the maps.  I was looking at the L.A. area at about the time of night we will be going thru there next week.  


We have also been talking about getting a smart phone.  Verizon is promoting all their 4G phones that if you buy one by the end of the month you would get double the bandwidth for the life of the phone.  It really seems like a great deal.  A decision to make in the next few days.


It would be a forward looking purchase.  We don't need it here at the house, but it would be necessary once we were on the road.  Craig is talking about getting rid of the two land lines we have.  But then I would have to get a "wedge" that would attach to the phone so I could continue to process credit card orders for my art sales.  Right now I have a transaction processor that is attached to the house phone line.  Not very portable!


So the decision is not whether to get a smart phone or not.  It is whether to get it now or wait until we are actually free of the house.


The double bandwidth is very tempting!


Oh, and before I forget, Welcome Russ.  My 100th  follower.  It just occurred to me, I'm being followed by a Duck!

No noodles

Although I  located some noodles at another Dollar store, I decided not to buy them. Having read the comments from those of you who are more experienced and wise, it seemed I could come up with something else.


What prompted the idea of getting them in the first place, was the fact that if we ever do get to go anywhere, the first half mile of our travel will be  up a  steep grade.  From my experience driving up this bit of road with a fully loaded van on my way to art shows, I know EVERYTHING will shift no mater how it is packed.


I also know that we will not be filling up the cabinets of the Alfa.  At least not until we are fulltimers.  

I'm thinking in particular about the three large cabinets in the "living room" area.  They are very big and very deep. I don't have any bins for these yet.

I have  bought a COSTCO package of paper towels that I thought I might use along the back.  I can always use the paper towels and they don't weigh much.


For now I haven't decided what I want to put in there, so packing it is theoretical at the best.

What got me to thinking about using the swim noodles as filler was the "attic" mentioned in the reviews of the Alfa line. 


The top edge of the valance on the large slide is open,  creating a long, deep, narrow space.  It is said to be a great place to store  fishing rods or other long thin items.


I thought it would be a place to store some noodles.  


Yesterday I set out for the Dollar Store in  San Jose, but as I was driving I decided on  another solution.  I know some RVers use  bubble wrap to keep things in place.  I use it all of the time for shipping my sculptures, and usually get it for free from friends or by raiding dumpsters behind retail stores.  I never buy boxes.


I did the other errands on my list and went back home.  I took a good size roll of bubble wrap up to the Alfa and cut it up into sections.   I rolled them to about the diameter of a noodle and stowed them in the valance.  


Someday when I'm packing I will have the bubble wrap available to use.  If not, I can always retrieve it and use it to pack a sculpture.


Right now, I just wish I could be packing for a short trip.  I have only taken a few things up to the Alfa. Most things that we will need are things I use every day at the house, and I don't want to start doubling "stuff."  I have also bought a few things for her.


Craig has been in contact with the county.  As of today he is playing tag with his contact and the word is they are still looking at the problem. ....  ERG!

New Pots

I strongly resist the temptation to buy things because I think they will be useful in an RV someday!


I have bought a few good Rubbermaid containers, but other than that I have been "good."


When we went on our "rented RV" trip a few years ago I felt like the pots and pans I took along took way too much room because they didn't stack very well.

I wanted a set of nesting pots, and no mater what RV we buy they will fit into a cupboard better than what I have at the house.

They all fit one inside the other and have removable handles.  The best thing is the nested set then fits inside my favorite large dutch oven soup pot.  


This picture is not the exact set I bought, but I'm to lazy to find or take one.

I figure that there will be so many basic things we will need for the RV I might not want to be buying things like pots and pans. Knowing myself, I would "pinch a penny and make do." 

So I bought some now. It's like buying a tiny bit of the dream.

The box was on the steps when we came home from looking at RVs on Saturday.   


Now Craig has been teasing that they are the reason he is ready to buy an RV. 


 "Gotta have a place to put the wife's new pots!"


We have been laughing together more these last few days.   


Thats a good thing!