Cooking up a new modification on our motorhome

As most of you blog readers know, Steve and I really enjoy cooking in our motorhome. We rarely go to a restaurant. So we try to keep a fully stocked kitchen and utensils for when we head out to the woods.

The only drawback on our Safari motorhome is that it does not have a propane oven. It does have a convection oven microwave combo, which finally works after a few years of it being frustratingly inoperable.

Since we usually are boondocking without electrical hookups, that can present a problem. We would have to either forgo baking something, or we have to run the generator to bake things. Especially in the early morning for muffins or cinnamon rolls or biscuits, we do not wish to disturb people around us with our generator. The generator on board is really quiet, but we still don't like to use that unless we really have to.

Here is our present set up in our kitchen with the microwave convection combo over a two burner cooktop set into the counter underneath it.

We have discussed a while back about adding a propane oven stove unit to our rig. See the drawers underneath the cooktop? I would be willing to sacrifice three of them to put in an oven. I would also love to get more burners rather than just two on the cooktop.

To the right of the sink I have four more additional drawers, so I could easily sacrifice those three. Leaving the bottom drawer intact is where we store our dog food and extra wine bottles. Those are both necessity!

We looked around at propane stove oven units for RVs, they run in the $400 plus range for a new one.

In the past, our solution was to use this Coleman propane oven that stands alone. It works very well for us, but it is rather small. It can only handle a smaller rectangular tray or pan, not even a full size cookie sheet or cake pan. I have done small turkey breasts in here, but it is a challenge.

Stevieo was perusing the local buy sell trade pages on Facebook Thursday. Lo and behold, he ran across a used RV 4 burner stove with propane oven. The guy was only asking TEN DOLLARS!!

Not only that, it's the 21 inch size oven which is what I really wanted! It gives you three shelf positions and you can put in two racks which can allow you to bake two trays of cookies or two pans of muffins or two pizzas at the same time.

We had an oven like this in our Sierra travel trailer, with the extra deep space. When we bought that trailer, I made dealer throw in an extra rack. We had four teens and needed the pizza space, I told him! 

Our Coachman motorhome had the 17-inch which was much smaller with only two rack positions. I really didn't care for the 17 inch. The bottom rack position is usually pretty useless because everything burns... arrgghh!

Here is the one he found on Facebook: 

It didn't look too bad in the pictures, so we contacted the seller.

We made arrangements to go look at it early because the seller works all night and gets done at 6 a.m. He asked if we could get there as early as possible so he could go to bed on Friday morning. He lives 45 miles away so it meant getting up extra early for us to head over to check it out.

The oven portion looked virtually unused but the top portion had a few areas of chipped paint around the edges. There was a buildup of grease spills and gunk underneath the cooktop portion that needed a good scrubbing. But other than that, for $10 we were willing to clean it up.

So our project begins... We tore it apart and started cleaning the individual pieces. Steve sanded down the chipped areas and I got high temp Rust-Oleum paint to give it a fresh coat. I scrubbed the individual burners and wiped out the oven. 

The enameled cooking area black portion was in perfect shape. But underneath it took a while to scrub up the the spillovers and grease. 

Soon Steve was ready to give it it's final coat of paint. He also decided to repaint the front oven door and handle, as both were faded and could use some sprucing up

We went out to double-check and measure in the motorhome. We removed the three drawers. I condensed the items from those drawers over into the other four drawers to the right of the sink. The bottom drawer is the one that can remain for our dog food and extra wine bottle stash.

With careful measuring, Steve drew the preliminary lines on the Corian type countertops. They are actually called Fountainhead but are similar to Corian.

He has to get a finer tooth new blade for his saw before he starts to cut.

He carried out the oven to the rig to set it down on the floor. It was easier to take measurements from it right there then going back and forth to the garage.

It really looks pretty spiffy and shiny doesn't it? Good job, Steve!

I found an extra rack on Ebay, that will fit this oven. I ordered it and we will get it next week.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog. That won't happen until later, because today we are heading up to my brother's cottage to help with the plumbing.

It will also give Steve time to heal from his little boo boo. The first casualty on the job as he ripped open his thumb on a screw.

OUCHIE!!!!

Two Hour Garage Door Swap

In my last blog, you may recall that I mentioned Stevieo had a new project on the horizon. Yes, we were going to swap out our garage doors. From the old wooden one with the windows to a newer all metal insulated steel door. He found a used one the right size on the local Facebook Buy Sell Trade pages,  It came complete with rails, torsion springs and a garage door opener.

Friday afternoon, Steve was done driving his Old Fart Party Bus about 2 p.m. So he figured it was a perfectly good time to start working on swapping out the garage doors. The weather was beautiful at the time, but it was due to storm and rain a few hours later, about supper time. I was a little concerned that maybe we would be partially done taking down the old door and not getting up the new one before the storms hit.

Steve wasn't worried about it at all.

He gathered all of the tools needed to do the job and by 2:30 we were ready to start. Here is the old door in place. I took photos so I could list it later on Craigslist and the local Facebook buy sell trade pages to sell it when we were done dismantling it.

We started out at the top, of course, where Steve undid the tension in the top springs by carefully using two rods. Then we were able to start unhooking all of the hinges and rollers and taking the door down one panel at a time.

I was the Gopher Gal, as well as the Nut Retriever when he dropped them and rolled across the floor. I was the Panel Grabber as each piece came down. I could grab the opposite end so we could stack them carefully in the garage. They were VERY heavy!

Using the electric drill with a socket on the end made quick work of removing all the nuts from the inside on every hinge. I had to keep up with him and also keep an eye on the weather.

The door panels were very heavy as we took each one down. Once he reached the bottom section, he had to unhook the existing cables and adapt them for the newer door brackets. This way we could use the existing track and tension springs from the old door on the newer door and not have to change over all of that.

When we go to sell the old door, we will include all of the tracks and rollers and spring that were included in the sale when we bought the newer door. 

Woohoo! We got the old door down in less than an hour!

The skies were clouding up and the storm warnings were going off on my phone.

Now I had to set down my phone to help figure out how to best put up the newer door. I forgot to pick it up to take pics while we were assembling it section-by-section. The top and bottom panels were easy to figure out, of course, because of the hardware and the bottom sweep. The two middle ones we weren't sure until we notice the stamped numbers on the hinges. Fortunately, the hinges were all marked with numbers 1 2 3 and 4 so we knew which panel went in which section. Easy Peasy!

Once we got it all together and screwed into place, I looked at the clock. It was only 4:30! Wowzers we got the whole new door up in just a little over an hour and all we had to do now was tension the spring on the top and adjust the cables correctly.

Once that part was done it was time to go make supper. Luckily I had some leftover minestrone soup I had tossed in the freezer, so a quick microwave zap and a pack of crackers and we were done with supper.

Now the storms rolled in big time!!!  The huge one with funnel clouds went just north of us and out into Lake Michigan.  Another one went south of us. People just 10 miles away had ping pong sized hail and shredded trees and cars damaged.  All we got here was some rain... no wind. Whew!


Now it was time to move over the garage door opener. The old position was offset so the opener could be attached to the door at a stronger point on the frame rather than over the center window. But now with this door, no windows, we can attach the garage door opener bracket in the middle of the door--- where the bracket is set for the most balanced lifting point.

Also, we examined our original Liftmaster garage door opener which was made in 2006. It is a chain drive type which is noisier, but it has served us well. It has three remotes, which we keep one in the house near the kitchen. It allows us to operate the garage door, if we wish, from inside the house. It also has a nice switch by the passageway door that is already wired into the system, as well as the sensor eyes down at the bottom of the door for safety.

We compared it to the Chamberlain one that came with the newer door which is a screw type design, which might be nicer and quieter. But since our garage is not attached to the house that is really not an issue. Plus, the one that came with the newer door was made back in 2003.

Added to that is the idea that our original garage door opener is already wired in with the door switch and sensor eyes on the tracks. All we had to do was move it over a foot-and-a-half. Versus ripping the whole thing down and starting over installing the other opener, wires and sensors.

We decided to keep what we had and just move it over.  We had that done in about half an hour and tested the door up and down a few times.   We fine tuned the travel length and tension.  Wheeee done!

I think it looks much better. 

Now Steveio can finish insulating the garage 

and add his garage heater for winter projects. 

Another Project on the Horizon

Ahhhh --- time for another Our Old House project!

Wellllll not so much on Our Old House, but on the garage.  Although our house was built in 1913, the garage behind our home was built in 1974.  It is wonderful--- extra wide and deep and has an additional workshop space to one side, along with two passage doors and five large windows on the door to let in the light.  The garage also has five additional windows all around the sides and the back too.

Steve enjoys spending a lot of time out there,

actually, as I type this, he is out there 

sorting out nuts and bolts and screws at his workbench. Seriously!

The current garage replaced this old garage, back then in 1974, which was hauled away and put into use at another residence here in Chilton.  Photo furnished by the previous owners, the Baldocks.

They evidently jacked it up, using some big timbers and a farm trailer... and away it went!

Back in 1974, this huge heavy wooden garage door was installed.  Over the last 44 years it has served well, but Steve felt it was in need of replacing.   He wants to insulate the garage for winter projects and wants an insulated door.   He wants to insulate the entire garage and install his heater which he already has on hand. Some day.

Just a few weeks ago I swabbed another coat of paint on it.  But the hardboard type panels are bubbling up and flaking a bit, here and there.  It's still okay as long as I keep sealing it up with new paint, but the humid summer weather takes it's toll.  It is still functional, just that he wants something better.  Sigh.

Because the door opening to the garage is also extra wide, the door is a special size... 18 feet wide by 7 feet high.  You know what that means, "special order", not standard.  We checked with Menards and an uninsulated one is about $800.00 and an insulated one (Steve's preference)  is over $1,000.00!

Now, if any of you know my Steveio, you know he LOVES reading Craigslist, and all of the local Facebook Buy Sell Trade pages.  Lo and behold, what did he find???   You guessed it!  An insulated garage door, the right size and color, in perfect shape!

A nearby couple had torn down their existing garage and were building a larger one with multiple higher doors and were not going to reuse this one.  They were also including a fully operational garage door opener, screw drive type Chamberlain with two remote controls! We have an older chain drive type Liftmaster that works okay, but this other one is better..

All for a mere $250.00 !!!!

Wheeeee we grabbed the cash from the ATM and drove on over to check it out.  It's in perfect shape, and because it is so long, (too long to haul safely on our trailer) the seller offered to let us use HIS trailer to haul it all back to our house!  Only in a small town, I tell ya.  They live about 4 miles away, but still. He didn't know us from Adam, and let us leave with his very expensive aluminum trailer!

We drove back slowly home with it and unloaded it quickly, 

to return the trailer back to the seller. 

Here it is, all spread out on my side of the garage, taking up my car parking spot. I know he is chomping at the bit to get going on it.  Today it was unbearably hot and humid, and he drove the Old Fart Party Bus for a few hours... so it was not a good day to get going on it. We will see how the next few days go, as right now we just had big thunderstorms move through the area, more to come.

We are kinda anxious to tackle this project and get it up. 

Then we can post the old door and old opener 

on the Facebook Buy Sell Trade to get rid of it too! 

LOL

Just two weeks ago, Steve and I helped put up another bigger garage door out at the Calumet County Museum with another helper. Got the old one down and new one up in 3 hours.

We also put up the garage door 

when we built the house and garage in Oconto as well.  

This project should be easy peasy! 

  (we hope!) 

Well, the storms are done, and the rain has stopped. It's only 6:30 pm and there is daylight left. I bet he wants to start working on the garage door. I better put on my shoes and go out and help.

My Mighty Fisherman is HOME!

My darling Steveio took off for 9 days....  (that is why I was working on a bunch of projects by myself!)

Once a year, he joins his brothers and father for an annual Father's Day Fishing Trip.  Sometimes they fly into Canada to a remote cabin, sometimes they go more locally in the motorhomes to northern Wisconsin or to the U.P. of Michigan.

This year, they added a nephew, Andrew, to the group... and he supplied us with some photos.  Once Pops and Pete get their photos ready, we should have a few more.....  Thanks Andrew for snapping some shots of your adventures with all your crazy uncles and grandfather!

 THIS is what it is all about.... Fishing! 

They were at a wonderful resort in Canada, about 165 miles north of the border past International Falls, MN.  It is called http://www.therriensforestlakelodge.com/   It was a total of 650 miles from our home in Chilton.  Our friends Jim and Norma go there every year (sometimes twice a year!)  and highly recommended it. They furnished Steve with lots of details and lists in advance of what to expect, what to bring, and what you didn't need to bring because the resort furnished it in the cabin rentals. 

I like this pic the best...
great shot, Andrew!

The resort is remote, private and has only about 10 cabins to rent.  You can bring your own food to cook in your own kitchen, or you can opt for the owners to cook meals for you up in the main lodge for an additional fee.

Steve poured over his shopping lists in advance, and planned all the meals.  Some groceries they could bring from the United States, but other things they had to pick up in Canada --- as certain items are banned from coming over the border. (like meats, potatoes, produce etc) 

They supplemented their meals with fish too, of course. It seems this province in Canada has some new rules. You are only allowed TWO fish per person! Even if they are cleaned and in the freezer you cannot catch more until you eat up the two of you have. So between the five of them they could only be in possession of 10 fish total at any given time. They did a lot of catch and release. And eating.

The owner's son, Blair, was hired to take them out and guide them to all the best fishing spots. He actually spent three days at different times taking them around and showing them good places for fishing.  He came and spent some time with them in their cabin too, for a few beers, jaw jacking, and card playing.

Steve said the loons were singing every morning and evening.  Andrew caught a few good shots of them close up from in the boat.

They brought along brother Pete's boat behind the truck so they had one boat up there for fishing, but they also rented another boat a few times so everybody could go out at the same time instead of taking turns.

The weather was pretty good, it wasn't too hot. They had a few rain storms roll in that splattered a little while, but then let up. All in all, Steve said it was very pleasant weather and not uncomfortable. Bugs were at the minimum too. The little cabins had a wood stove that you could light in the morning just to take the chill out. By midday everything was comfortable again for short sleeve weather,

The place has very nice facilities for fishing, docking boats, and even gearing up with bait and heading out everyday to a new area to fish. It is connected to a Forest Chain of Lakes known as Indian Lake Chain, with something like a hundred sixty miles of shoreline?

Right by the docks are two pet Muskies (muskellunge fish) . They float along and look totally lazy like a couple logs in the water. Until you toss in a couple of these little feeder fish, then you see them spring into action to eat. They know where the good food is, and they know that nobody's going to catch them or hurt them as long as they stay in this nice safe little area next to the fishing resort. A couple of spoiled rotten pet fish!!!

The guys got in a lot of napping, card playing, as well as farting burping and snoring. Typical guy time. While hanging out in Paradise!

Steve took care of most of the cooking, while the others helped with cleanup. They all got in lots of fishing, fresh air, eating, book reading and naps!

There was also a bear that was ambling through the camp from time to time. I guess Pete has some pics on his camera of it.

The prettiness and wilderness is just so pleasant. 

Of course.... 

This is what it's all about.. 

Andrew with a good one

Yes... it's all about the fish!!!!

And Pops, in his glory! 

Surrounded by his male family members: sons Mark, Steve and Pete, his grandson Andrew... enjoying his goal of fishing in Canada. After his knee surgery this past winter, he set the goal of being able to go fishing again. All through his physical therapy, the only thing he talked about was going fishing to Canada with his boys!

I even sacrificed celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary while Steve was gone. I said it was more important for him to be with his brothers, dad and nephew, creating memories. We are going to celebrate this week together instead. After 20 years of marriage plus 2 years of dating, what is another week?

I am so glad he is home again, and our lives are back to normal. While he was gone, I babysat Pop's dog, Millie. She took up Steve's whole side of the bed so I wasn't lonely.  But a dog snoring next to me just isn't the same as a husband, ya know?