Busnuts Annual Convention

This last week in December 2008 we attended Bussin’ 2009 in Arcadia, Florida and enjoyed seeing some of the conversions that had been accomplished on a variety of older coaches.   We had heard about from two sources …..the first from my friend Art whose son Chris and his wife have become “Busnuts” as indicated by their personalized license below….and secondly from a camper across the way from us who had an old bus called “Bubba’s old Hound” (a former greyhound bus that had been converted.

Actually, they are in business providing a source for buses and bus parts for older GMC coaches to all those that spend time restoring them.  You can check their website if interested at  www.gmbusguy.com

Below are a few pictures of the gathering and one particular bus that was over 50 years old that is now like new.  It was a 1955 scenic cruiser that has been totally rebuilt….nice!

 

There were even some more modern bus conversions….some that were converted to haul entertainers around that were unique a series of bunks instead of the usual kitchen and living area arrangements.

Last but not least on display was an old Cushman scooter from the early 50’s that brought back memories.

Happy New Year!!!

Attitude is everything. As the new year looms...no longer on the calendar...but now on the more immediate face of the clock...I start to think about all that has come to pass over the last 365. And I can either go "whew!...I'm glad that's over!" or I can say "wow!...I grew so much last year!" (and I'm not speaking of dress sizes...though that growth is plenty ample as well!!) But no matter how you slice it...2008 was tough. For a whole lot of us I'm sure, but personally, I can say it was either pretty much a year-long anxiety attack or more optimistically speaking: an extremely hectic accumulation of necessary realities, trials, and tribulations run amok.
For me and Aaron, I guess the year's fulcrum was our move to a new apartment. It was a very big deal. We lived in our previous apartment for about a dozen years and kinda thought we'd never get outta there. But the stars aligned and we dropped that place like a bad habit...or more like a truckload of bad habits. We were getting stale...mentally, socially, creatively...and we needed a brand new start...new streets to stroll, some new windows to open up, a new studio to work in, new walls to paint, etc...we just needed everything to change and moving to a new town/new home is a guaranteed life changer. And change is good...but it's also very HARD! Since our move the whirlwind has not stopped spinning. Or I guess a better analogy would be an earthquake. July, when we moved, is the epicenter of the quake and since then the aftershocks have been sending tremors through every facet of our lives. Me and Aar work seven days a week and when you toss in a big big move things are gonna go a bit crazy with your business and your pile of invoices and orders. I mean...it's 5 months later and we're still in catch-up mode!! Those five months have been a true test to the vitality of my nervous system.
But like I said above...Attitude is everything. It's too easy to focus on all the bad stuff. I feel like there are some people out there who thrive on negative energy...they make mental lists of all that's wrong in their lives, put on a poor-me-pout, and mope through life. Well that doesn't work and nobody likes a whiner. So here I am at the end of 2008...with 2009 looming large and bloated with promise and possibility. 2008 was good. For me it was a huge year for making new friends and refining existing friendships. I found a new home and this blog found a new home as well. I left AOL and came over to Blogger and the move has been fabulous. The blog has a brand new life and about a thousand new doors have opened wide. My old apartment and AOL have a lot in common. It was convenient for me in the beginning, served it's purpose when I was just starting out, but soon I totally outgrew the place.
Jeez, here I am writing this blog and I've got so much to do for tonight's New Years festivities. We're taking the long trip over to my sister Missy's apartment...sarcastically speaking of course...she lives 15 feet away! I'm baking Magnolia cupcakes and tiny little cookies called Melt-aways. Aaron's grandmother is famous for her Melt-aways and I found a similar recipe online. I have to get crackin'. The party is gonna be a blast. My parents and a couple of my little bro's are coming down and we've got the Wii all set up for a long night of Wii bowling and Rockband!! We've been playing Rockband since Missy got it on Christmas and it's just about the funniest thing I've experienced in a loooooong time. My sis Missy is the designated singer most of the time and she's powerful and passionate on the microphone!! It is a RIOT!!!
Anyway, I feel like I'm ending this post so abruptly but I really gotta get going. I'm gonna post real soon with pics of the party...Christmas pics...my tree and gifts. Wow, there's way too much to get into. I just wanted to post on this last day of 2008 to let you guys know that you're always on my mind. Your comments on the past couple of posts have been so fabulously heartfelt and I'd love to address a few subjects in my next entry. Thanks so much to all of you for sticking around through thick and thin. I just know that 2009 will be awesome. I know the art that me and Aaron create will be leaps and bounds past anything we've ever done before. I plan on furthering friendships and seeking out bigger and better creative outlets. Me and Aaron wish all of you the very best.

xoxo Jenny

Riverbend Railroad

One of my favorite topics has always been anything to do with railroads and now it seems if you stay at Riverbend RV park you can continue your model railroading while spending the winter months where its warm.   My friend Art is staying at this particular resort and he invited me over to see the “railroad operation”

There are about 6 or 10 club members that own lots there in the Riverbend RV Resort and each year they have added to, built and landscaped the layout in an area near their clubhouse that is quite sizeable.  They have laid their track on a base of block and brick and then laid the ballast of seashells loose along the track.   Electricity is supplied by battery power and the whole thing is radio controlled so that more than one unit can run at the same time.   I believe the scale is referred to as “G” scale and is available through most hobby shops that handle model railroad stuff. 

They apparently work on this regularly and spend time building new projects like a return loop on the layout.   Also being worked on is a wood trestle that will actually cross a pond area in the middle of the layout.  Buildings and other additions are being built although it will probably never be “done”

Lollishops!!

I hope in the future I won't always have to start my blog entries and emails with apologies for not writing sooner. Imagine that?!...that will be a wonderful world to live in! This time of year always has me busy, and it's hard to find time to post, but even by my own lax blogger standards...it's been a while! So once again: All Apologies for the delay!!
Fortunately, there is an upside to my current madness and all-over-the-place-ness. If all goes as planned this will finally be only a "temporary" predicament. As I said on previous posts, I'm changing the way I do business. Once and for all we're gonna try to get out of the always-behind-schedule-hole we've been living in. Me and Aaron are phasing out all of the totally handmade, made-to-order stuff and replacing it with ready to ship matted prints, batches of already made artwork, one-of-a-kinds, shop updates, etc... We just know it will work and that the future will provide those work-free moments we've been craving for so long.
And what I'll do with those work-free moments is....work! But voluntarily. On new stuff, on blog stuff, on swap stuff. Stuff that doesn't keep me up all night sweating bullets. You guys all know the drill I'm sure. You've got the work you MUST do...and you've got the work you WANT to do. So right now I'm just in the sloughing off phase. I'm trimming the fat and laying out the groundwork for the brighter future. That means I'm knee deep in older orders while trying to get the new stuff off the ground. But soon the older orders will be gone and they won't come back...we'll only have new orders, new work, and new art!
I'm imagining the illustrations you'll always see in the newspaper around New Years. 2008 is represented by a cane wielding, hunched over, long bearded, very old man...while 2009 is personified by a fresh faced, rosy cheeked, infant with a tiny curlicue of wispy hair atop his cherubic head. It's such a perfect way to illustrate a new start. Right now me and Aar are still totally in the hunched over old man phase...with the weight of our past bearing down heavy on our bones. But soon...POOF...that rosy cheeked little chubby baby will take over and the future will be ours to discover and to own.

And speaking of future...I'm sure a lot of you are already hip to what the future looks like...and I'm sure you know the name of it as well...but it case you haven't I'll spill the beans here: LOLLISHOPS! It's not just a brand new place to shop...it's THE new place to shop! The tagline is: "a frou frou friendly marketplace" and it's all that and more. It's like Etsy but with a whole lot of editing... and a super personal extended community....there's a Blog and tons of interactive stuff going on. If you go over there click on the link named NiNG...you'll happen upon an endless supply of featured projects with detailed instructions, supply sources, artist profiles...It's really a big time, multi layered, artistic outlet and community and even though it's a newborn, still in it's swaddling clothes it has the feel of a well oiled, fully formed entity. And like I said...it's edited...It's purposely niche. And it's my kind of niche. The gal behind it is Sadie Lou and she is dedicated and passionate. I've known her for a while now and from minute one I got a very clear sense of how seriously she takes the plight of the artist and the marketing of their art. There really is no better person to helm the art ship. She's a tireless advocate/promoter/watchdog and all around supporter of art and artists. So when she let me know about this idea she'd been cooking up...this little place called Lollishops...I told her I was onboard for sure. Fastforward a few months and Lollishops is launched. Sadie Lou's idea is not only realized...it's big and it has the potential to be HUGE! I'm so thrilled to be one of the artists onboard. You have to make some time, click over there, and shop til you drop. Or, if you're so inclined, join the artistic ranks and set up a Lollishop of your own. I'm super duper psyched to be the featured artist on the Lollishops homepage today. See what I mean about Sadie...we didn't ask to be featured...she decided to promote us all on her own. And she's a mind reader....or to be totally blunt and dare I say, a bit tacky...she's a wallet reader. She knows mine is empty and that I've still got Christmas shopping to do...so big thanks to Sadie for putting some wind in our holiday sails/sales!!!

And speaking of Lollishops...we've got a SALE going on over there ...and also on Etsy . These 5 x 7 mini plaques are a big part of our future artistic output. We've been making batches of them and they've been moving as fast as we've been making them. I just love this size. They're almost like postcards made of thick wood. We were able to shrink down a lot of our artwork to fit perfectly. Many of our paintings seem like they were born to be this size and some images that we've grown used to, now seem to have a brand new vitality. So the sale we're having is 72.00 for any three plaques...free shipping in the USA...(regularly 28.00 each) We think they just look fab when grouped together so we figured we'd have a sale to encourage multiple purchases. A whole wall of these would be awesome. And we plan on doing a 5 x 7 version of all of our future paintings...that way a collection can grow indefinitely. I can't wait to paint new paintings!...but like I said, we're still in our old old man phase and we've not yet earned the time to put brush to canvas.



And now I just want to express my uttermost appreciation for all of your heartfelt comments that you leave me on this here blog! Every time I sit down to post a new blog entry I pull up the last entry so I can just refresh myself with what I last said and what you guys said last. Wow, I'm all teary and warmed all over again from reading your comments. I wish I could respond individually and I wish I could answer every query but I'm simply unable...maybe the Baby New Year me will be up to the task. Often, I'll get questions asking if a piece of artwork is still available...sometimes I don't answer but right away I'll make sure to re-list the item if I can. So just check our shops often to see if stuff is there that wasn't there before. But like I was saying....your comments. I'm really warmed all over knowing that so many of us are on the same page. We're weathering this crummy storm together and keeping positive. And I've taken the advice that many of you had passed on and I've turned off the news. Since the election is over we've all turned off the news. So now those talking heads can spout off about the bad economy all they want....they're just so many solitary trees falling in the forest. Maybe they don't even make a sound. We've replaced the news with music and random TV...sometimes Lifetime movies, sometimes forensic cop shows, cold case files, old Law & Orders (though we've seen 'em all)...but like I said before...we don't actually WATCH any of it...we've got our eyes on our work...the TV sound in the background is just to move the day along quicker. It's amazing how much our culture is in love with crime and all it's accoutrements. Me and Aar are totally guilty as charged and can't get enough of the stuff. Aar takes it a step further and reads crime fiction. Well he reads ALL fiction but lately he's hard on the crime kick...the vintage stuff. The Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett type stuff...private detectives...trench coats...dames... golden age Hollywood. Anyway, I talk to a lot people...artists, crafters , and all around lovers of pretty stuff. And I think it's so funny that we all pass the time of day with crime. I guess it's just the ultimate in escapist entertainment. Since we're all so far removed from it we can watch it and listen to it in total safety. Although the subject matter is decidedly negative it just rolls off our backs as we render things pink and glittery and whimsical. I'm not philosophizing here and I've got no moral to extol about our society's desensitization toward violence etc...I just think it's funny.

So, I guess I'll sum up and make sure to post again soon. The holidays have come way too quick and we're working hard to get through them in one piece. This year is extra special over here on the family front. Aaron's brother and his wife are at this moment over in China adopting their new baby girl. They emailed us pics but I don't want to post them until I get permission from them. I've posted pics on this blog of their son Adam (our favorite nephew)...well he's gonna be the big brother. For the past couple of months he's been pointing to a globe and telling us "Dian Dian is from here!" and he points directly at China..."Dian Dian is my sister!" he says as he holds the printed out photos of her. We can't wait to smoosh the both of 'em together. Mom and Dad arrive back home with Dian Dian on the day after Christmas so the festivities will be delayed and stretched out a bit for us. Aar's parents can't wait to see their new granddaughter. So yes, things are all up in the air over here but for once...in a good way! I really can't wait to post pics! I hope all you guys are well and that you're all spreading joy and love to those that matter most in your lives. We've got stormy weather here in Jersey...it was supposed to be snow but we got nothing but rain and a bit of slush. I was sorta wishing for a snow day. Alright, hope you all are keeping warm!

I LOVE you all to bits! xoxo, Jenny

Hillsborough River State Park, Tampa, FL Site 107 12/1/2008

Hillsborough River is another of our favorite parks. Some of the sites are tight for our rig so be sure to read the description of the site before making your reservation. It is a very popular park and fills up on weekends. The bath house is spotless. We had a large, pull through site. This is a beautiful park with lots of trees and nice trails along the river. We come here about twice a year. Great camp hosts!

Click here for Florida State Parks website.

Would we stay here again? DEFINITELY!

3/8/2009 Site 106
We returned to Hillsborough River in March, 2009 and stayed in site 106. This site is another large, wooded pull through site. The bath houses again were spotless! We enjoyed this stay as much as the previous one.

Stephen C. Foster State Park, Fargo, GA Site 64 11/30/2008

Stephen C. Foster is one of our favorite places to camp. We have stayed here several times in December when it is almost empty. We stayed once in March when it was almost full and we enjoy it both ways. We like to stay in one of the large premium pull throughs. The bath house is spotless. Be sure to bring your own groceries when you come as it is a long way to anywhere. There is a nice gift shop and store with limited groceries and ice.

Click here for Georgia State Parks website.

This is one of our favorite campgrounds. Click favorite to read more about it.

Would we come here again? DEFINITELY!

Up River RV Resort

We left the Franklin Locks Campground early last week and have settled in here at Upriver RV Resort on the Coloosahatchie River just downstream from the locks and closer to Fort Meyers. We plan on being here for awhile and hope to spend some time exploring the area

We originally had planned on staying on a canal in one area of the campground that has a dock on the backside of the lot right on the canal that we could use for the boat. After looking the lot over we decided that it might be more prudent to take a larger lot and keep the boat on the trailer right at our campsite rather than try to jam everything into what we thought was an undersized lot with neighbors really close!
The canal would have been convenient but we both were more comfortable on a large lot with room and more in the RV section. Most of the lots on the canal were filled with permanent residents, but we also thought it would be more fun closer to the clubhouse.

Our lot (above) in the middle of everything and room to work on the boat, truck, or coach.One unique and interesting coach in the park is an old GM 4104 from the 1950's. The guy that owns it is here primarily so that he can attend a special meeting at the end of the month for converters of older coaches. Always was a dream for me to do what he did.....I even had all the manuals from General Motors. We hope to go up to Arcadia to see some of these coaches just after Christmas.

Last year we had planned on staying through the Holidays, but my good father in law left us at the age of 92 and we went home. This year we are decorating the coach somewhat and plan on having a fun time here. Check out our huge Christmas tree and decorations.

We hope to pick our boat back up tomorrow after discovering a electrical short in the bilge pump that could have been a major problem. We tend to pay attention to these types of things after having had a fire in the Endeavor motorhome two years ago. Will keep you posted.