Transition Strip

I have not updated in a while, and I thought that I should write a few lines as to what's up. I have not been able to get any interest in my upsidedown home, So we will think about our next option.  I decided to put a sprinkler system in the front yard, just to make it easier to care for, in the event that we stay for a while. I think that I can do it for just a few hundred dollars myself.  I will post some pictures as I can.  I replaced the aluminum transition strip in the MoHo (Motor Home), and changed the oil. The transition strip was where the previous owner replaced the front carpet with some very nice bamboo flooring. However; when the did, they put an aluminum strip between the tile kitchen floor and the bamboo flooring. The tile had a notch of about 4"s at the edge of the J couch. This left a very sharp point in the aluminum 90 degree turn. I was afraid that someone would get hurt if the were to catch their bare foot on it.  In came the wood replacement. I'm happy with the results, and we love the bamboo flooring in the front. I didn't put out the slide for the picture, but you get the idea.  I still may sand the point a little. I guess that is all for now, be safe.

New Chairs

Last Thursday I had my last skin treatment. I hope it holds off the skin cancer for a while. I stayed in for the weekend, and went back to work yesterday. On Friday when Alex went to Costco, she called and said that they had some chairs like we have been looking for. They are around $80 at Camping World. We talked and she bought 4. They were $49 and now we have that behind us. I took them to the Motorhome on Sunday and drove to get fuel. It was 1/2 full, and it took 52 gallons to fill up. That should get us about 1/3 of the fuel for our Colorado trip in May.  Here is a Pic of what we bought, and don't forget to be safe, both driving and living.

Paying taxes

We got our income tax return the other day, and after paying a few things that I usually wait for tax returns to pay, its gone. I was able to pay the property tax to North Carolina on the motor home. $535.00, and the tax on my Colorado property. That was another $430. Paid my Texas property tax of $29.00 and the HOA fee of $165. Go figure that one out. I also bought a 5 gallon bucket of oil and a filter for the motor home. And finely I think that we can now save a little up to take the Motor home to Colorado on vacation. We have tentatively set it up for May. I will fill the fuel tank up, now and hope the price doesn't reach $5.00 per gallon by then.  We are able to get 12 mpg on it and the distance is 1600 miles. That makes 3200 round trip. If we can get 12mpg that is 267 gallons of diesel fuel. At the current $4.00 per gallon we will pay $1068.  If we get around 10 mpg, and pay $5.00 we will pay $1600 on fuel.  So that is the best and worst case. We could fly out and save a little. I just checked fares, and it would cost us $1038 Plus tax.  $197 each way per person, and $125 each way for Shiloh. After all she weighs in at a whopping 15 lbs. Oh, when we get there, we will have to rent or borrow one of the kids cars for the running around. I haven't figured the toad thing out yet. A toad is a towed vehicle. I guess that I should post a picture just because. Here is a fountain at a friends house last week when we went over to meet for the field ministry. It was the first time that it got cold enough for a few hours to freeze their fountain. Yesterday, 2-19-12, they were saying that there was a few snow flakes in the rain in the north side of town, and that was the first snow of this season. If you ask me "It don't count". Then I guess no one is asking. 

Take care and be safe. I will fill in more details on the vacation as I know more.

James Island SC

We just returned from James Island SC, where we stayed in the Campground in the RV. Brahm was in Charlotte for some work related training, and he stayed over a couple of days. It is a very nice camping area with a lot of hiking and other activities to enjoy. They have full hookups, and easy access. We took a shuttle into Charleston and spent the day. We have been in Charleston quite a few times, and have never been to Fort Sumter. So that is what we did this time. We left on Monday and stopped off at Drayton Hall. We have been there before, but wanted to take Brahm. Here is a link to their web tour. It was built in 1738 and was never modernized. No indoor electrical or plumbing. I have added som pictures of the campsite, Ft Sumter, Drayton Hall, and Shiloh waiting for us on the dashboard of the RV.


http://www.spinatour.com/draytonhall4/tour.html

100/% Silicone Calking--NOT

Last weekend we took the motor home out to get it cleaned up for the upcoming weekend at James Island. Brahm is coming for a work related two days, and is going to stay the weekend with us. We booked a couple of nights at an RV park in James Island South Carolina.  I thought we should clean it up.  The cost of re-winterizing it will be about $20 for 5 gallons of antifreeze. While cleaning the RV, I ran into a big problem with silicone caulking.  The previous owner used silicone to seal and patch some areas on the sides and around where the top meets the side. I do not recommend using silicone on the outside of any RV. The problem is that it will mold from the bottom out.  Further there are not an easy way to remove it once it has cured. Just as a silicone caulked bath tub or shower will turn black so will the RV seam. Now I will have to start removing it a little at a time, and replacing it with a non silicone caulking. Silicone can not be painted and it is very hard to remove all the residue for an acceptable looking repair. Anyway this repair will not happen quickly. I will work at it a little at a time. Every time I wash it it will be a reminder of the botched job by someone. I also left the plug out of the hot water tank and drove it home and it sucked the mineral deposits out and sprayed the side where I had just cleaned. All is well now, but here are some pics to remember the long warm weekend by. Great weather though. Be Safe everyone.