projects and purchases

August 3, 2013

Day: 30 days until departure
Total Mileage: 0

Sometimes I think it would be grand if all I had to do is jump in the truck and drive away.  But it doesn't work that way.  And I suppose I should be thankful for that.  It's the journey, not the destination, as a wise man once said.

Getting ready for Project Day

You know that feeling when you complete one task and add another five to the list?  Yep. That's us.  And with 30 days until we go, I'm pretty sure they won't all get done.  That's just the way it goes.

CJ has some projects he's working on with the Big Girl, but I don't really get involved with that.  I love driving around in my big diesel truck.  We've grown up together.  She's gotten us through so much and I am very thankful for her.  And, yes, she is a she.  I give her TLC but CJ gives her the meat 'n potatoes.

What I can help out with are Poptop projects and purchases (oh yeah!).  The Two "P's".  Basically, I'm in charge of setting up our home for 5 weeks.  Making it categorized, clean, comfortable.  Making it functional.  And for me that is just plain fun.

For instance, today I went online and surfed the web for some netting to help hold everything in place.  And then I found a new camp kitchen set - with lids!  I'm so excited - they are multipurpose - eating off of, drinking out of and then storing in the refrig with leftovers.  When you have a toddler, you have no idea how handy this is.  The little things.

I have big projects too.  Last week, we started the construction of two major Poptop projects:  a new seat back and a bookshelf.  Custom Made by the Malcolms.

Safety glasses? Check.

The seat back: We purchased a rad "tent" (aka pack 'n play) for Colter that fits wonderfully in the Poptop.  The tent snugs back against the window beneath where our bed pulls out. A dark, quiet space for our boy to rest.  However, the current seat back must be removed leaving no comfortable couch for us to lounge on.  So we're building a new one.  'Cause we can.

Dada and the table saw. 

The bookshelf: The Poptop does not have great storage.  Everything seems to slide together and get lost somewhere in the mix after a few seconds on a dirt road.  So we're building and creating more compartments. I'm pretty sure I'll go crazy if I can't keep the square footage of a truck bed clean.



Sanding is so much fun!

And then the electric sander broke....and sanding was not so much fun. 
Early onset carpal tunnel? Definitely.

Projects (and purchases for that matter) are just not as fun without Owen around.  A big, snuggly 75 pound dog always makes Project Day that much more fun.  Even if we have to stop every few minutes and throw him the ball.  Journey, people, not destination.