Kitchen Saga

We have a bit of a saga with the camper trailer kitchen, well actually our camper trailer does not have a kitchen.

We have always just taken a table, a few plastic tubs and set them up outside in the awning. This has worked fine for us except if it was really wet or windy. On long stays I would take and set up my pantry. Known as the "fancy dancy campy pantry".

We can't take fancy dancy campy pantry on the big trip, it is too big and takes too long to set up for just a couple of nights.

So at a camping show we saw this...

Perfect! I thought, the genuine Trak Shak kitchen caddy. (Our camper is a Trak Shak) It has a lovely long slide out stainless steel bench for preparing food, a cradle for the stove and of course the kitchen sink!

The best part is, it attaches to the rear tailgate of the trailer so can be used in the tent or unhooked and used outside. Very versatile!

In the past we have not been able to use anything like this because our zips around the tailgate were dodgy and all manner of pests and slithery unmentionables could have joined us in the tent.

But, as we speak  blog, the zips are being replaced as well as the floor and all will be in good working order (I hope).

Any way, this rather unsophisticated milk crate type set up seemed to me to be ideal and would make things a  little easier.

Any how, the saga. We ordered a caddy some time ago and recently the company have contacted us to say they are having trouble getting stock and don't expect any to arrive before we go. There is a slight chance they may get some in a couple of weeks. So our dilemma is do we wait and risk missing out or go to plan B?

Plan B is a bit scary because it involves Mr M and a welder. Mr M is brilliant with timber, can make anything. A welder, I am not so sure about. The other thing is that I am not in love with Milk crates, they don't have lid or slide in and out. So I have been researching and researching trying to come up with some nice plastic drawers so I can be organised.

Something a little like this

Wish me luck, I go to bed dreaming of sliding drawers, stainless steel and milk crates.

The Moerks

Getting Distracted - camp kitchen.

Hi There, I was supposed to be looking on the net for ideas for a camp kitchen and got a bit distracted by this eclectic assortment.

Image - Howard's Storage World

Image - Howard's Storage World

Just near the plastic tub area in Howard's Storage World are the "on the go" products. I think these would be ideal for carting the swimming gear to the pool and back again.

Jurianne Matter via Selvedge

These I could see on my feet right now. I could slip and slide around with very snug feet.

Tam OShanter Letterpress postcard via Selvedge

I thought this little letterpress postcard is sweet.

Jurianne Matter via Selvedge

And these paper boats are just perfect for a boys room I think.

We have had a full on weekend with the usual footy and netball, plus a local travel expo, a gem and mineral exhibition. (We went to get tips on how to find opals at Coober Pedy). Sadly not too many tips there.

Then today Auskick and an open day at one of the secondary schools. 

Hope your weekend has been a good one.

I promise I will post about the camper trailer kitchen saga in the next day or two.

The Moerks

White Wednesday- with a touch of caravans

I thought today I would combine white with camping and caravans.  There will not be any white on our trip because of the insidious red dust in central Australia. I am told that it really just doesn't wash out. So I am stocking up on white images to last me for a while.

Check this out!

Hardwaresphere.com

Very space age. I think the 3 little Moerks would give this a lived in look pretty quickly.

Tiny house by Julie Martin

Maybe this is more our style.

Home quotient

So far with the amount of things we need to take, this one might be the one!

Lovelane caravans

But I love this one too!

trak shak

This is the harsh reality. Our trak shak is similar to this.(Just a bit smaller, older and more lived in)  No white just a bit of beige and lots of green!

At the moment it  is off at the canvas place getting a new floor and some new zips. I need zips to keep slithering creepy crawlies out.

Have a great day.

The Moerks

Some little projects.

I actually had a day off last week. A day I would have normally been at work, a day of Time in Lieu. I decided that because I normally would not have been at home and not doing any housework that this was an entirely free day, guilt free.

What does a girl do on her day off?

She goes by herself to Spotlight. She wanders up and down every aisle, looking, touching everything she likes. She does not have to hurry in her lunch hour or keep an eye on little people, she just wanders and looks and dreams of all the wonderful possibilities.
So she wanders to the scrapbooking section. Does she scrapbook? No but the little pretty, shiny sticker things, call out "buy me, love me aren't we pretty?" So she does. Then the beady aisle, does she bead? no she just buys a few little whatsits.
Then the wonderful wool and yarn aisle. Does she knit? no just a little junior crochet. She just buys a few balls of wool.

Then as fast as she can, before school pick up, she makes

Some pretty rings and brooches.

 A little brooch made from the beading rings and a large pin.

And then contemplates how this (with a few added extras) may turn into...

Image - Attic24

This, on a very long drive around a very big part of Australia.

The Moerks

Oh, how rude of me, I forgot to thank Nellie from McCarthy designs for passing along the versatile blogger award. Thanks Nellie, hope you are having a great time touring New Zealand.

I have recently done the 10 things I love so I won't do it again for now.

I would like to pass the award on to 

The Textured Leaf

Engracia at Lynwood Musings

If you get a chance, pop over and say hi to these ladies.

Ta da.... new desk chair.

Remember, the putting the new desk together debarcle?

Remember, I may have mentioned needing  wanting a new desk chair?

Before

Well, Mr M cobbled one together using some old chair parts and making some parts himself. I cobbled together a seat using the same material as the pinboard and ta da....... a new chair, very comfy that blends with the chair and the pinboard. (note to self, do not eat chocolate on pale seat).

After

 

I am loving the new chair and decided it needed it's own little photo shoot.

So did my neighbours cat Blossom.

She thought she would just take over the whole show!

Move over Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there's a new puss in blogtown!

Dear Buffy belongs to The Tranquil Townhouse, you can see more of her here.

The Moerks

White Wednesday

White Wednesday......

Image www.homemillwork.com

Yeah baby! I could find a spot for this. I think it looks incredible with those beams.

The Moerks

The Trip - Gory details

OK time for me to come out of trip denial and face a few facts.

1. 12 weeks in a camper trailer, 1 husband and 3 kids (unless we lose a couple along the way)

2. 1 big plastic tub each for all clothes needed for 12 weeks.

3. 1 portable fridge, one esky , one food box.

4. It will be very very bloody freezing cold at night for the start of the trip.

5. There are big scary crocodiles in the Northern Territory.

6. There are biting insects like mosquitos and midges up North.

7. I am allergic to insect repellent ( yeah, really can' t use anything with DEET.)

8. I am allergic to sunshine (yep it has a proper name and everything) but I am prepared, I have cream for rashes and am not afraid to use it.

9. I won't be ironing for 12 weeks. Yippee.

10. Have to use other people's toilets for 12 weeks.

Okay that 's enough reality for now.

Mind you if we were travelling in this...............

Images- Constance the caravan via Attic 24

It would be kind of cool. 

And, crocodiles could probably not get up those steps. If they did I would offer them a cuppa. they would be so impressed they would forget to eat me!

The Moerks

Magic morning at the mount.

I just had to share this view of the mountains that I quickly snapped this morning on the way to footy/netball. Mr M. was driving along minding his own business when I screeched, "STOP, blog photo".

There was misty fog rolling around the mountain.

And blue sky over the paddocks.

People ask why we chose this club a little out of town. We always tell them about the family atmosphere, our good friends who encouraged us to come out to the club and my lovely squash buddies who have kids also making the trek out there each week.

I don't necessarily tell them about this.

Because they would all want to come!

What a great way to start the weekend. 

By the way, big boy played an excellent game, I watched with one eye open and my heart in my mouth the whole time. He tells me he lost count of how many goals he kicked after the first five! Nothing wrong with his self esteem!

Miss B. suffered a sore ankle, hit in the head with the netball and ball off the tip of her fingers, not really her day today. She is going to have an afternoon rest on the couch with a DVD.

I am off to a seminar on the Latest  Research in Brain Development for young children. It better be good, it is after all Saturday afternoon and the sun is shining.

Mr M. is fiddling with the camper and Master B is off for a play date.

I am looking forward to tomorrow when I can do some blog visiting and see what everyone else has been up to over the last couple of days.

The Moerks

What would we do without a coffee and a friend.

You know what? today was a bad day, not catastrophic, nothing really major happened everyone is fine. It was just a crappy day.

I should have known when I got up to have a shower and the radio wouldn't work. I just like to hear the local news and weather once. I should have taken as a sign and ducked back to bed, put the doona over my head a stayed there!

By 10.30 am this morning we had floods of tears from Miss B. which necessitated a trip to see her teacher, ( a sweet, kind and very lovely teacher ). A broken photo holder in Miss B's room courtesy of a flying pillow and Big Boy, more tears. A broken vase in the family room courtesy of Master B. and a flying pillow. We suspect Big Boy was also involved but I haven't got forensics onto it yet!

A trip to the car tire man revealed more bad news. New  tires needed on our fairly new 4WD. They think the car came out of the factory with a dodgy wheel alignment. Grrrrh.  Two trips to two supermarkets and what felt like 50 thousand phone calls to my parents relaying messages to and from their answering machine to the hospital where Mum is recovering from back surgery.

Then the disappointing news the kitchen caddy (complete with stainless steel benchtops) we had ordered for the camper for "the trip" was currently out of stock and not likely to be in Australia for some months. More grrrh.

Anyway at 10.30am the words any girl loves to hear.  "Hey, do you want to go for a coffee?"  So coffee with a lovely friend sorted me out for a while and we visited a new decor shop in town that I will just have to go back to and ask if I can take photos for the blog.

Then, the teacher rang, Miss B. still upset can I come and get her. Of course, be there right away. More tears then a miraculous recovery as the car hit the driveway.

So then the haircut. Desperate for a haircut, lovely shape, all going well until when, at the optometrists trying on glasses frames I noticed a long stray lock of hair. Went back to get it trimmed, my hairdresser was gone. Another one swooped on me and before I knew it she had cut the offending bit as well as the two front bits of my bob  that I had just grown the way we (me and my hairdresser) had wanted. More grrhh.

So all is well now, Mr M has kindly offered to do the netball, football training run and Dad has rung to say Mum will be coming home tomorrow. Oh and I get to go to see my bridesmaids (still girls to me although the wedding was nearly 18 years ago) and one of my bridesmaids is bringing her 5 month old baby. Stand clear everyone, he is all mine (til he cries). And I get to visit my kitchen stool friend as well.

If you have read all this well done. I feel better now, sometimes a girls just got to have a rant! ( And a coffee with a friend)

Hope your day was good.

The just a little bit grumpy Moerks

White Wednesday with a touch of shoes and a home made bean bag.

Still on the subject of chairs, isn't  this so very cute!.................

Very simple, but very cute!

Master B. is a fan of lining up his shoes.

Every night before he hops into bed, he hangs up his dressing gown

and lines his slippers up

Every morning he makes his bed and tidies his room

He actually really does a good job, he is only 6.

He didn't neatly place the bean bag there. I did to take a photo. He pestered me for ages to make it and the cushion for him.

I finally did and he was just so happy.

So was Lulu!

(She thinks if she doesn't make eye contact, we can't see her and I won't ask her to get off)

In your dreams fluffy puppy!

The Moerks

A little chair obsessed.

Since starting the new desk chair project, I have become a little chair obsessed. 

Here are some lovelies I came across on Sarah Kaye.com.

I think I like them all!

The Moerks

Happy 101 Award.

Well, great excitement here at the Moerks. Kym from Kyandra Rose has passed on the Happy 101 award to us.  Thank you Kym, I couldn't believe my eyes when I read your comment asking me to pop over to your blog for a little surprise.

Here it is........

It was lovely to be on a list with such esteemed bloggy ladies. Special mentions must go to Karyn at Hope Island Living and Dreaming, Rachael at a Room for Everyone and Kerri at Driftwood Interiors and Ness from McCarthy Designs.

 These ladies have been wonderful supporters right from my bloggy beginning.

Now ten things that make me happy - 

1. My 3 lovely, bouncy kids.

2. My lovely, very handy husband.

3. My Mum and Dad.

4. The rest of my family.

5. My scruffy puppy dog.

6. My gorgeous friends, talking, coffee etc.

7. My work.

8. My  playgroup and bookclub girls.(Don't think of a serious bookclub, more a chance to gossip and drink bubbly)

9. Picking fresh flowers from the garden.

10.Relaxing on the couch with a cuppa and dark choccy when the kids are in bed!

I really probably should have put, travelling and camping as this is why the blog started but I am officially in denial of "the trip" for the moment. All the preparing and packing is just way too daunting, so I will just continue immersing myself in happy blog land for now.

Now, I would love to pass the award on to

Kerry from A Tranquil Townhouse.( But now I see she has already been given it, and so she should. She makes me laugh and cry)

Olivia from Our Windy Spot

Janette from My Sweet Prints

Tracey from My House of Giggles

Sharon from My French Country Home

Deb from Cappucino Cottage

Jaqueline from Zippy Zippy

If you get a chance please visit these lovely blogs.

Have a great day

The Moerks

PS. I hope I have followed "the rules" I wasn't really sure what they were so I kind of bluffed my way through!