RV Macerator prep and HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY Chelsea

Yes, Steveio is a very happy man.... He had another motorhome project to work on~!

The macerator arrived this weekend, so he is busy busy busy adapting the cap, figuring out which length drain hoses he wants to make, where he is going to wire in the 12 volt outlet for it, etc.   The only problem is with the near zero weather, he can not be out there rewiring that compartment in the motorhome yet to have the outlet powered to operate the thing.   I am thinking he can wait till we head somewhere south where it's warmer, rather than working in the cold and kneeling in the snow.

For those non-RVers... the macerator is kinda like a garbage disposal that chops stuff up before it gets rinsed away.  The only difference is that this goes on the outlet to our waste tanks and chops up the *poop* into tiny pieces so it can be pumped uphill,, downhill, wherever via a 1 inch hose.  That is opposed to the normal big 3" Stinky Slinky hose being gravity dumped into a hole in the ground.

(this is a stinky slinky below.. that just lays on the ground and gravity feeds the dump stuff into a hole.  It works ok, but you can see if unlevel terrain or too far away, the stinky slinky is not a good option)

So why did we buy it???   With a macerator, we can pump the holding tanks out at strange dumpstation locations,  or into a higher located septic drain, or and up into an outhouse hole at a national forest campground where they don't have dumpstations.  Even in our yard, we can pump it a longer distance around the corner of the house and down into our septic system with a long hose.  Our motorhome could never drive down there across our lawn to dump the tanks.  This will save us on dump station fees, usually $5-10 each time you go to a public dumpstation.

Sometimes, even when parked at a campsite with hookups and sewer, the dump hole is on the wrong side of the campsite for us.  This happens a lot because many campsites have the nice view out the back of the site and the utilities and dump hole are often located to the right of the site for back-in type campers and trailers.  But with a motorhome, our big windows are in the front... we have no windows in the back over the bed.  So to take advantage of these great views, we have to pull in forwards.  That puts the hookups on the *wrong* side for us.  (RVs generally have their dump and hookup items on the driver's side of a rig)
Having a macerator will help allow us to stretch a narrow 1 inch hose across under the rig and still dump easily both our grey and black water.

This device will hook onto our drain port via bayonet tabs, plug into a 12 volt outlet (that Steve is going to wire up himself soon)  and then get removed each time when the *job is done*.   He bought a higher grade of marine macerator with metal blades as opposed to the cheaper RV version with plastic blades.

These babies run upwards of $200!  Wow.. who knew that dumping your poop could cost so much?  But never fear, my bargain hunting husband found one on Ebay from a salvaged boat that was being parted out.  It looks like new and operates, so that is what he wanted, for the bargain price of $68.00 plus $12 shipping. He is going to Fleet Farm to buy good quality 1 inch farm hose for drainage.  Our kids gave us a Fleet Farm gift card that we need to use up, so yes, the kids bought us a Pooper Hose for Xmas!

Now for the gushy Granmuddah part of my blog post today...  

Yes.. our smallest grandbaby is turning ONE YEAR OLD TODAY!!!!  

 Little Chelsea will be here soon for the day for me to take care of her.  We will sing Happy Birthday and let her have some treats.  Her big party will be this weekend at Erin and Mark's ... so she will get presents then.

I took her Friday to her little story hour at the local library.  She sits with all the Big Kids in the pit area, and is walking quite well now, and scrambled off to join the Big Kids in line after each story.

The Big Kids were gentle with her and helped her. 

All these girls were petting her head like she was a new pet!  haha  

She is the youngest one there.  

They line up in front of the librarian story teller and get a sticker to put on their nametag.  It shows they sat quietly and listened to each story.  At the end of each story they line up, get a sticker, and then sit back down.  Three stories, three stickers!  Here she is picking out one from the sheet for her self.

(I know...gushy granmuddah posts...  but hey, it's important to me!) 

Gosh, hard to believe she has been here in our world for a YEAR!    

She isn't a baby anymore... she's a TODDLER.   Oh my!  

Good thing our daughterinlaw Heather is pregnant with another grandbaby, 

so we will still have tiny babies to cuddle again.   

Hey kids... keep those grandbabies coming! 

It's a Blueberry Jam kind of day

 

 

Last summer, while camping at the Paint River Forks, Steveio and I picked some Wild Michigan Blueberries.  It was a hot humid day and we went out with my sister, Linda and her hubby Fuzz for a nice getaway weekend.   Here is the blog post from that day:

Camping at Paint River Forks

 

 

 

Just check out these berry pickin’ fools!

As soon as those berries were picked and cleaned, I froze them in the motorhome freezer.  Two big gallon ziplock bags full!  I had planned to get around to making some jam from them right away... but…. well….  the middle of a snowy day in January works just as well, right?

 

Little Chelsea was my assistant and taste tester!  She LOVES blueberries and was squawking at me like a birdie to keep dropping them into her open mouth as they were defrosting in the bowl.  She kept me in line by wiggling the measuring spoons to get my attention and keep me focused.  She sat in her little high chair and helped me count the scoops of berries and scoops of sugar, keeping careful count as we made our jam.

Note the bib:  “GRANDMA NEVER SAYS NO!”

We mushed and mashed and sugar and simmered …. 

 

 

We were filling the jars and listening to the delightful PING PING PING as the jars sealed up on the counter

We did up 23 jars of wonderful Michigan Wild Blueberry Jam

 

Thanks to all the wonderful help by my little Kitchen Helper Girl…  even though she fell asleep during the second batch, she did her fair share of the work for me!

 

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Then as an added P.S. to yesterday’s blog post about my new containers.  I went out to the motorhome and decided to fill them up and stack them in the cupboards.  

Here is how it USED to look, with the round canisters:

And here is how it looks now with the neat square shaped canisters, all sealed up

  

 

I might go back to the store and get one more for the other cabinet for our coffee.  At home we grind beans each day for our coffee with an electric grinder.  But I think with the vacuum sealed containers, we could grind up a bunch in advance for our vacation and just bring that full container along.  Better get back there before they go off sale, huh?

 

The day is ending with snow falling outside and quite a bit warmer than the 1 below zero I woke up to this morning.  We are in the middle of the grips of winter weather here in Wisconsin.  But a day of blueberry jam making is helps to make the winter blahs go away!

 

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RVing- Macerators, Containers and Wardrobe

Okay, enough blogs about family, friends, grandbabies, holidays and such nonsense.... back to RVing!  
We are gearing up for vacation mode- about 7 weeks worth.


NOTE--- TO ANY ROBBERS READING THIS:  OUR NEIGHBOR ON ONE SIDE IS A COP, AND THE OTHER SIDE THEY ARE VERY NOSEY.   AND OUR DAUGHTER IS TAKING CARE OF OUR HOUSE.  WE ARE TAKING ALL OUR VALUABLES WITH US.  NOTHING WORTH ANYTHING LEFT IN HOUSE TO STEAL.  EVEN OUR TVS ARE 10-15 YEARS OLD CRT's .  LOL!



Okay.. back to the motorhome prep.  Steve has been in and out and in and out of the motorhome that is parked out in the driveway.  He is gearing up and prepping.  The oil is changed, everything is lubed, the hub oil is checked, the fluids are all checked. The fuel filters are changed.   I even helped him lift up the bed to do the hard to reach grease zerc on the fan shaft.  Being a king sized bed with a heavy household mattress, it takes two of us to lift it up and set the prop pole.  Some mechanics never bother to find that zerc, or don't even know it exists. Causes huge problems when the fan seizes up and overheats the engine.  I am soooo glad Steve does all of our own maintenance.


Silly guy, he even filled up a 5 gal can of diesel fuel last night at the station and put it in the trunk of the car.
WHY?   I asked.
He said that he will top off our tank of the motorhome with it to bring it right to the top.  
WHY?  again I asked.
He said since we used it last few times for exercise, he figures that we used some.
WHY?  again I asked.
So then, he surmised, that when we take off on vacation with a full tank, those extra five gallons will get us 40+ miles further down the road without having to stop as soon!  

hahahahahhahahaha

(I then reminded him we do have to stop every 200 miles or so to start the Tracker towed behind, 

and run it through it's gears to slosh around the tranny fluid at the proper intervals) 

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Next on the list is a macerator.  For those non-RVers reading this, it's a machine similar to a garbage disposal in a house.   But in RV use, it is attached outside on the drain pipe and it grinds up the poop from the black tank so its able to run through a 1 inch hose and pump uphill or into an otherwise unreachable septic or drain location.  Makes dumping the tanks a much easier endeavor.

We have wanted one for a while and read about them.  Seems many of the RV types are made with plastic blades or less horsepower compared to the Marine grade for boats.  Sooooo  on the advice of our good RV friend Airplane Roger, we shopped for a marine grade one.  Steve bought a Jabsco marine macerator and it should be here in a few days.  He is putting together a series of 1 inch hoses now to have a variety along in a tote for any length needed.

He is a Happy Poop Disposal Man.

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Now for *my thing* ... we were shopping last night at the Clearance Sales in the local Shopko store.  They had these neato containers that are rectangular in shape instead of circular.  Think... on a shelf... flat sides of containers stack next to each other better than cylindrical. So we get more storage and less wasted space.    I bought a set of 8 of these great containers from Gourmet Living.

They have vacuum seal lids by flipping down the little ring type levers on the lids, which create a suction.  We will use the larger ones for flour, sugar, brown & powdered sugar etc.  The smaller ones for coffee, rice, pancake mix etc.  Less cardboard boxes and bags in the cabinets is good to avoid bugs in the south when we go next month.  

These are normally $15-20 a container ---

WHEW!  

But they had an 8 pc set of the sizes I wanted for the mere price of $79.99  

... so that is down to $10 a container.... 

still a WHEW! ---

You know me, a cheapie shopper.  

Well, the set was on sale for only $29.99.  

That comes out to less than $4 a container.  

More in my budget range, teeeheeee

So this afternoon I will go out and play in the motorhome and try out putting these into place.  We can't put in anything that will freeze or attract mice, until the night before we are ready to leave for vacation.  But for now, I can play, can't I ?

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At Shopko, there were such great clearance sales on the men's clothes too.   Steveio has been severely lacking some new clothes.. ya know.. ones without the stains on the front from eating in his chair?  

He didn't get any clothes for Christmas, instead he got an electric chain saw for the motorhome (better than hauling along a gas can, oil and stinky gas chain saw in our clean carpeted storage bins)    He also got a special vice and bracket that slides into the hitch receiver.  Why?  So if he wants to fix something that needs a vice to hold it or bend it or whatever, he won't have a vice on a tool bench like in his garage.  So while in a campground, he can use a vice this way.  Don't ask me, it's what HE put on his list for Santa if he was a Good Boy.   Guess he was, huh?

When we saw the sale signs at 70% off on a lot of clothing, I started pawing through the men's things and found some nice stuff for Steveio.  He was being obstinate about some 100% cotton Tshirts about how the size L fit fine.  But what about after they shrink, I ask?  He would not understand that they would be M once they were washed.  So I swapped them all out to XL when he wasn't looking.  We found him some nice long sleeved solid colored cotton button down shirts too, as he is trying to get away from plaids and stripes now.  We filled the cart.  So he was happy.

Fellow RV blogger Al at The Bayfield Bunch  was just lamenting about how he got hauled into a J.C. Penny by Kelly and before he knew it, he was totally outfitted in new duds too.   So perhaps if we get to meet up with them somewhere out west, he and Steveio can compare wardrobes????

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I read other RVing blogs from folks down in Florida in shorts and Tshirts, I see photos of desert terrain on other blogs about Arizona and on more blogs about the sunny skies in Texas.  Then I look out of my windows at the gloomy grey woods and snow and ice.  

Yes, we need a vacation.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR! And future RV travel plans taking shape

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

MAY 2011 BE FILL WITH EVERYTHING YOU WISH FOR! 

We rang in the New Year at home, while babysitting for little Allegra so her daddy and mommy could go out.  She played and played and had a great time, and got to spend the night.  We will bring her home about noon today and finish up back at home by picking up all the toys she has scattered from one end to the other of our house!  She slept through the big Ball Drop in New York, but met us with smiles in the New Year morning.

Her little cousin Chelsea came over for a little visit too in the morning.
They wrassled around a bit and did their Cousin-ly Thing.

Now on to the New Year....

We are gearing up in our heads for a trip out west ... late Feb, all March and into April a couple weeks....

So making lists and checking them twice.  Planning and thinking and starting to stash a pile by the door of things to take.  This will be the longest we have been gone in our RV.  The last Florida Trip was only three and half weeks.  This is gonna be FUN!   Some of the things we want to see is our friends at The Slabs and Lake Havasu in CA, probably see the Pacific Ocean, and probably swing along the south rim of the Grand Canyon on the way back in April.  So if any of you RVers are reading this and live along the way... give me a shout and I will add you to our list!  Or if you have any great ideas of things to see or places to boondock, (you should know our camping style by now-- no fancy resorts -- no expensive campgrounds)

Well, time to bring this little bee-bopper back home to her parents!

Out with the Tree - Seafood Lovers Pizza and Motorhome Exercise Day!

On Sunday, we ran up to dad's cabin and had a nice visit with him.  He was happy to see us and we brought him some holiday treats.  The dogs came along so they could give his cat Issiah a tough time.   The cat loves to tease them and makes sure they know he is the King of the House.

 It was a pleasant drive up to his place

 and we got back in time for the kickoff on the big Packer / Giants game (which they won!)

Our fresh cut Blue Spruce has not fared too well.  I watered it daily, but it just kept losing needles.  Normally I like to keep our tree up till after New Years.  This time we figured we better take it out before it becomes a fire hazard.....  we took it apart during the Packer game (during the commercials)     just LOOK at all the needles that fell just from taking off the ornaments and lights!

It took four times dumping the vac cleaner canister to get up all of these danged needles!

Once that was done, it was time for supper... .a while back I saw this great idea on the noon tv segment Mr. Food for a Seafood Lovers Pizza.   Here is the recipe from their website:

Homemade Seafood Lover's Pizza 

Homemade Seafood Lover's Pizza delivers a creamy cheese spread topped with fresh seafood that bakes up in no time to impress your guests as an appetizer or your family as a light dinner.

Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared pesto sauce
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 (12-inch round) prepared pizza shell
6 ounces flaked crabmeat
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (see Notes)
1/4 pound medium-sized cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450°F.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, pesto sauce, Parmesan cheese, and pepper; beat with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.

Spread mixture evenly over pizza shell. Sprinkle with crabmeat and cheese then top with shrimp.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until crust is crisp and brown, and cheese is melted.

Makes 6 to 8 slices.






This was a good night to make it, so I snapped pics step by step.

I bought these thick crust Mama Mary's unbaked pizza crusts.  They come two to a pack, and if you only use one, they thoughtfully include an extra bag to store the other one till you need it for the next time.

Some bags of shredded parmesan, montery jack and mozzarella, a can of real crab meat, some cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, italian spices and 12 jumbo shrimp.

I didn't have any pesto sauce on hand, so I made my own from garlic and spices and mushed it up with the cream cheese and sour cream.  (next time I will use less and spread more thinly)

I drained the can of flaked crab meat in a strainer and carefully scattered it around on the pizza

Now I added a blend of all three shredded cheeses, the 12 shrimp and sprinkled with Italian Seasoning

Baked it up till golden.. yummmmmmmmmmm  what a mouthwatering treat! 

(next time we will use low fat cheeses and less sauce)

Soooo for Monday, dear Steveio was off work.  It's a *Furlough Day* for all the state workers.  Ya know, those days they make all of the state employees take off, with NO pay, to think that might just balance the State's horrendous budget.  Ya...  right.  He has to take 8 of them again this year.  Sigh.   And finds twice as much work when he gets back.  Did ya know some of the 24 hour jobs like prison guards and power plant guys all rake in double time and overtime pay for working to cover for the guys who had to take off.  Now THAT makes sense?  It really doesn't help the state's budget and really only hurts the worker's budgets!   Okay, off the soapbox.



But since the sun was shining and the roads were dry,  we decided to do our monthly exercise of our motorhome.  Yes, each month it should be started, and run for more than 20 miles to get the transmission up to a good temp.  Steve puts an additive in our diesel fuel to prevent gelling in the cold temps.   It fired right up in the driveway in 18 degree temps.  That Cat engine purred like a kitten!

We fired up the generator too, and plugged in two electric heaters to take out the chill, plus the dash heat and the LP furnace.  Then we added the dogs, and the baby seat.  Yes, we had Chelsea the granddaughter today and she needs to get a ride in our motorhome too.   Steveio is in his glory when he is behind the wheel.

We drove about 15 miles up the side of the Bay to North Bayshore County Park.  They plow out the parking lot all winter to allow the ice fishermen to come and go from the parking area out onto the frozen waters of Green Bay.   We saw two of them fishing right on the channel at the boat landing.

The sun was shining and we were comfy cozy in our rig.  We discussed our upcoming trip and made some lists of things to take or do or work on before we leave in February.   We kept the genny running while I cooked up some lunch in the microwave.  Then we shut that down and just used the battery power and inverter to watch some tv and settle in the baby for a nap.

 What a gorgeous parking spot in the sunshine on a frosty cold winter day!

(see me n Chelsea waving out the windshield as Steve took the pic?)

We all dozed off for a nap in the afternoon sunshine, and it was such a nice way to spend the afternoon.  About 2:30 we headed on home, with no mishaps.  The rig ran great and all was well. 

It sure was hard on us to back it into the yard.... we wanted to keep on going!~!