Playing with Food or is it “Too Much Time on My Hands”

I was accused of having too much time on my hands (I really don't) however, this was a challenge from my youngest sis. She sent the following email:

http://www.foodiewithfamily.com/2011/12/13/black-olive-penguins/
I know you go to many gatherings that you take food, so I thought I would pass this link along. Thought the penguins were neat. Maybe too much work.
B

It’s the “Maybe too much work” that’s the challenge. I just had to try. So here is the experiment:

16 Large Black Olives
16 Small Black Olives
16 Slices from the large end of a carrot
16 Toothpicks
Soft Cream Cheese
Green Onion

Cut a triangle from each carrot slice and stuff the triangle into the small black olive. Stuff each large black olive with cream cheese. Assemble using the toothpick. Tie a strip of green onion top around the neck for a scarf, if desired.

Some of these were taken before anyone was allowed in the food line!

2008 R-Vision TrailSport TS23FDS

Most of these modifications are so simple that surely someone else has written about them. But then again, maybe because they are simple and easy, no one has and perhaps you can use one or two or pass an idea along.

March 2009 Brand New on the dealer’s lot

After pickup in April

The outside hasn’t changed much, just has a few miles. I have added: scissor jacks, vent covers, LP tank covers, a new lock on the outside storage door, padlock and hitch lock on the hitch, cable lock on the spare tire, a ladder/chair hanger, tire covers, screens on the refrigerator and furnace vents.

Floor plan with the dinette in the front and three windows this is the best place to work on a computer or sewing machine! The slide-out with the sofa is a really good place to relax in the evening with a good book. The bathroom is just big enough. My biggest wish is to keep close to this floor plan with a walk around bed. (Monaco’s R-Vision is not making this model as of 2012 model year.)

This photo is of the original dinette

and it hasn’t changed too much. The above cabinets hold groceries and dishes. I haven’t counted the number of 3M hooks I’m using, but to the right is one with my caps. Behind the left seat is my ink jet printer, camera and every present “tissue box”. Behind the dinette seat under the printer are office supplies. Underneath that seat is the outside storage which is holding the utility supplies (water, electric and sewer). The 30 gallon fresh water tank is located under the other dinette seat.

The panel behind the table makes an excellent bulletin board. There is a narrow ledge behind the table, since the electrical outlet is below the right side cushion of the dinette seat. It is diffecult to access. This is how I've solved the problem with a small amount of velcro:

This photo is of the original kitchen

I've added to the kitchen: a paper towel holder, knife rack, Brita water filter, new water faucet (the original leaked), key and mail holders. soap dispenser, indoor/outdoor thermometer, hooks with hot pads and a few photos. The outdoor portion of the thermometer is attached with velcro under the front window rock guard.

The mailbox is hanging on 3M hooks.      

Ironing setup (yes! I iron!!)

Photo of original slide with sofa

I added the laptop table. The shelf behind the sofa is a good place for books, a lamp and a couple of baskets for storing small items. There is additional storage behind and underneath the sofa.

Photo of original bedroom. There is storage beneath the bed along with the furnace and water heater.

I added the quilt, pillows and storage units including shoe storage shown under the corner of the bed. There are three stackable units in the bunk. So along with the shirt wardrobe on the back wall I have plenty of storage (all of it is full).

And I made a bedside "table" that hangs on the wall beside my pillow within very easy reach. It is also hanging on small 3M hooks.

There are a few other things I’ve accomplished, which I will share a later time. Some of the additions are in the bathroom, pantry, cupboards and ways I secure things during travel.

The End of Fall in Missouri

It could freeze tonight. The high temp today was in the 50’s. It is time to head SOUTH!.
I’ll be heading that way Tuesday, October 25th.

The Annual Missouri Community Betterment Conference is over for this year. I spent part of a week in September, on the road with a great gal, judging population category II. She and I have been judging partners for the past three years. This year we spent time in Lowry City, Grant City, Green City, Novinger and Paris, MO. Very long days but the people are so great! Here’s MCB’s website: http://www.mocommunitybetterment.com/. I think it is a great organization that helps communities in the state of Missouri to be some of the best places to live. (Except in the winter. They haven’t figured out how to keep the temps above freezing.)

I’ve taken a couple of road trips, one of those was through Roaring River State Park, just south of Cassville, Missouri. One of Missouri’s best trout fishing areas.

      

It was a beautiful fall day......

      

      

Then on to 4,300 acre Pea Ridge National Military Park near Garfield, Arkansas. The park is acknowledged as one of the best preserved Civil War battlefields.(Although for some reason, I favor the Lexington Missouri “Battle of Lexington State Historic Site”.)

       

         

The Battle of Lexington is mention in this dateline, however the cannonball shot during the battle, that struck the Lafayette County Courthouse is not.

         

Missouri Fall

August in Missouri is normally hot and humid. Seems this August is not much different. The first week I was at Smith’s Fork Campground just below the dam of Smithville Lake, north of Kansas City, MO. The campground belongs to the  Corp of Engineers and is leased by the city of Smithville. It’s very rustic. The pull through sites are u-shaped and can be a little difficult to maneuver in or out of. The site I was in had a lot of shade so I didn’t run the air conditioner very often.
I spent an afternoon wondering around the lake and the Jerry Litton Visitor Center. Litton was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Missouri.  I remember when he was killed in an airplane crash along with his wife and two children. It was in 1976 and he had just won the Missouri Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

   

I’m at Tall Pines Campground just south of Highway 76 and east of 265. It is less than two miles to Branson’s Silver Dollar City. The terrain is as all of this area, very hilly. This campground is terraced with a lot of oak trees and some pines. With the utilities and trees it took some maneuvering to get situated. Because of the drop off in the front and the steep up-hill climb, going out it is going to be a trick. (And the acorns are falling.) I'm in Branson assisting with the preparation for the Missouri Community Betterment annual conference.

       

 

 



Minnesota Summer (part 4)

In July, I spent an interesting day in Wadena, Minnesota with a friend.Their Farmer’s Market was small but I bought beets, onions and green beans. It’s always wonderful to have fresh produce for meals.

The BN Park has several sculptures:
      
    
And the old restored depot that is a museum:

In the same park the Wadena Lion’s Club was busy setting up their annual Turkey Barbeque Dinner. The best eating out is usually from local organizations. True for
this meal.
    
   
Wadena is known for “Murals of Minnesota”. They all have tabs or cutouts that look like jigsaw puzzle pieces. It is supposed to be the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle. This one is very three dimensional.
  
                 
These were all in an alley. There are many more throughout the town.
           
On my drive to Wadena I drove through a couple of small towns.

Berta, MN

     

Eagle Bend, MN

I left Minnesota on August 1st during a thunderstorm with strong winds, treats of hail and tornados. It was the sixth time the weather center warned of possible over 60 mile an hour winds, quarter size hail and tornados. Fortunately, only one of the six had any hail but all six had very high winds and a lot of rain.
I’m in Smithville, MO in a Corp of Engineer (COE) park that’s leased to the city. The day I pulled in here it was 107 degrees with super humidity. I haven’t had a blanket on the bed or run the heater since I got here and thankfully the RV has an air-conditioner.  Good ole Missouri. Next stop: Branson for a couple of months. Work calls!