Any other camper moms there?

[carolb]

Welcome Becky & family! There are always ways to make do with less! It's the joy of camping & takes us back to a time of "creativity" when we didn't have all the modern conveniences You'll manage just fine!

[CrowdedCamperMom]

I am so happy! I feel like I have people! I wanted to reply to each of you but it's taking me forever!
I love the suggestions, ideas and variety of experiences you've all had.

I promise I will send private messages over the next few days. I feel like I have questions for everyone. Haha.

Happy Halloween!
Becky

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome to the forum.... Send private PM if you want but a general howdy and thanks works well also. And with questions just post them....there may be someone else that has the question and it is often interesting to get the range of answers, experiences and opinions back.

Love your writing and your blog!

[CrowdedCamperMom]

Thank you everyone! Y'all are a very supportive and knowledged group! I love how diverse the backgrounds and experiences are. We are so brand new to camper life... Ok so instead of sending private messages I will post my questions in the different threads. I started with the pets thread, and where do yours sleep. I hope that's a more appropriate way to post!

Blessings!

[sharon]

Your blog gave me a much needed belly laugh this morning!! OMW...just to funny! Whatever you do, don't stop blogging! I didn't get a chance to read it all, but I will. You'll figure it all out, what an adventure for you and your family! Some pictures of the dogs and you and the military man would be great so we can put a face with the adventures!

I didn't get a chance to read the one about the TP, but just a tip...Walmart....or any store..Scotts single ply. You don't need to buy that expensive rv stuff.

Sounds like your neighbors need a lesson in neighborliness....my goodness! I pulled into a cg in Tx this summer and I had barely gotten the engine turned off when the little 6 yr old from next door was over wanting to know about the cat in the window. I chatted with her while I hooked up, her folks asked me to dinner (4th of july bbq) and I had the best time!!! She took several walks with me to walk the dog. I'll never forget them.

My son is in Arkansas..wish I had known you were there, I would have come to visit you! Next time..keep us informed of where you're at, one of us is usually in the neighborhood.

[CrowdedCamperMom]

Thank you Sharon. I appreciate the insight. We still don't have a neighbor. It makes me wonder what people look for in a spot. Maybe I will post that on a different thread if it hasn't been asked yet. We took the only one available.

I haven't posted photos to the blog yet because I'm always concerned about making it to easy for creepy people to find my family! I will see what I can work out in a happy medium.

[avalen]

welcome

[IrishIroamed]

I haven't posted photos to the blog yet because I'm always concerned about making it to easy for creepy people to find my family! I will see what I can work out in a happy medium.

Becky - Even without kids, I understand your concern. There is a way to turn off your location, which gets embedded into your pictures with smart phones, tablets, etc. You'd have to check owners manuals or online instructions. My phone & camera are so old, it doesn't have that feature.

Maybe Beth or one of the ladies smarter at IT stuff than me can help.

[Bethers]

When on the road, I usually don't post about where I am until I get to the next location - but that's really only if I'm boondocking. If I'm in a real cg ... I simply don't worry about it too much. But it's sharing pictures from your phone to anyone that is the biggest danger - FB, Twitter, etc -as yes those can be gps tracked in many cases. I know you can turn it off - but can't tell you offhand how.

Just remember, it's not just pictures. Don't talk about where you are if you don't want to be found. I've always been in public jobs where anyone could find me easily (managing motels, for example, where my name would be on the motel/hotel website, etc.) I simply had told a casual acquaintance that I lived near a certain big city and was in hotel management ... and next thing I knew the person was at the hotel I worked at looking for me. I was furious - let him know that was akin to stalking. He thought I'd think it was just him showing how smart he was. Nope. Turned out he was interested in me. I told him to get off the premises and not return. Funny, in all my years, with my name out there so publicly - that was my only bad experience, so I'm not as careful as many. But that doesn't mean I don't understand and don't take any precautions - hence my not posting where I'm boondocking by myself until I'm onto another place/area.

[JoanE]

Have not worried about this at all. Guess y'all are just more enticing than I am.

[linann]

Welcome! There are lots of ways to decorate . . . small trees, Christmas cards and Christmas lights. My travel trailer is so small I hang a wreath on one of those over the door hooks. It is fun to change the wreath with the seasons. I also have a couple of the small yard flags that are fun to change with the season.

Buy a smaller turkey and ask the butcher to cut it in half, along the backbone. The half turkey should fit in your oven or perhaps on a grill. The other half goes in the freezer for the next week!

[CrowdedCamperMom]

Welcome! There are lots of ways to decorate . . . small trees, Christmas cards and Christmas lights. My travel trailer is so small I hang a wreath on one of those over the door hooks. It is fun to change the wreath with the seasons. I also have a couple of the small yard flags that are fun to change with the season.

Buy a smaller turkey and ask the butcher to cut it in half, along the backbone. The half turkey should fit in your oven or perhaps on a grill. The other half goes in the freezer for the next week!

Ohhhh! Those are brilliant ideas!! Especially the turkey! I'm really wondering how to prepare all the thanksgiving side dishes so they come out at one time. I guess spread them amongst the grill, the oven, and convection oven! Or just downsize the sides. Hahaha. Any recommendations?
Becky

[linann]

I do most of my cooking in the microwave. Lame, but true. When camping, I have a portable convection oven that sits on a table outside under the awning, next to the trailer. I also use a large electric skillet and a crockpot, both good for cooking outside.

Turkey, dressing & gravy in the oven; green bean casserole & sweet potatoes in the microwave; cranberry sauce out of the can; rolls & butter. Pie and cool whip for dessert. You could always buy the turkey already cooked. Down here in FL, Publix grocery sells already baked turkey's that are reasonably priced. If you are up for something non traditional, serve something totally different like duck or ham. Years ago, I cooked little pheasants. Why not?

Another idea, invite someone over and suggest they bring sides!

[rvgrammy1953]

Great ideas, all....but don't forget the dining facility offers a wonderful family dinner for the holidays.....have "military man" get that info for ya'....then buy a turkey breast for the grill for the "next day turkey sandwiches"....

[CrowdedCamperMom]

Great ideas, all....but don't forget the dining facility offers a wonderful family dinner for the holidays.....have "military man" get that info for ya'....then buy a turkey breast for the grill for the "next day turkey sandwiches"....

If I could go to Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving I would! But it's the one holiday he begs for my cooking. We eat at the dining facility pretty much daily here. Less dishes for me.