Scotty Lights, Take Two

Last Spring, I made a set of coffee-themed lights for the Scotty using a pattern I snitched off Pinterest.  I chronicled the endeavor HERE back in June.  When I strung them up for the first time at Rob's R-pod and Friends Rally, I wasn't too happy with the result. There were a couple of issues . . . I hadn't noticed that the plugs on the lights weren't end-to-end, they didn't hang particularly well, and they didn't give off much light.  

Even though I loved the brown cord and country look of the bulbs themselves, they just didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.  Last week I opened up the train case I've had them stored in and found that they were all stuck together.  For some reason, the Mod Podge they were sealed with had broken down and caused a mess. When I tried to separate them, the fabric pulled apart and for all intents and purposes, they were ruined.

Last week Becky and I made an impromptu trip to Camping World and I spied a set of patio lights that I immediately liked. They were the right color, the perfect size, and even though the theme was a leaf and not a coffee cup, I bought them!

They actually fit in the train case better than the homemade ones. Because they plug in end-to-end, they will look very neat strung around The Cup's awning.  I'll be sure to snap a photo or two of them one night next week so you can get the full effect.

I hope you have a marvelous weekend. I'll see some of you in person next week on Jekyll Island and I hope the rest of you will pick up your POSTCARD each evening.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Salted Caramel Coffee Creamer

Even though I'm checking items off my Shrimp & Grits to-do list, I seem to adding just as many . . . LOL.  I've been hard at work all morning and just took a break for lunch and a quick peek at Pinterest.  That's where I saw this recipe for Salted Caramel Coffee Creamer.  I love the flavor of salted caramel and I love coffee . . . seems like a no-brainer for me!!

The ingredient list is short and sweet (pun intended).

  Sweetened Condensed Milk
 
  Caramel Ice Cream Topping

  Salt

  2% Milk

Here's what you do:

1)  add 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk to a  Mason jar
2)  add 4 tablespoons caramel sauce
3)  add 1 teaspoon salt
4)  stir or shake to mix well before adding milk
5)  add 1 1/2 cups milk and shake gently

I'm not sure I'll have time to make this before heading off to Jekyll Island, but rest assured, I'll save the recipe to make at a later date!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  It's back to the sewing machine for me.  Have a great day and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Checking Things Off My List

Even though I have camped in The Coffee Cup, this will be our first official Sisters on the Fly outing together.  Because of that, I want to make sure that everything is perfect when I give the first tour and show her off all week.  That means the list-maker in me is hard at work!  Since I'll be gone all week, I gotta make sure that I take everything I need to.

One of the smaller items on my to-do list has been to find an indoor/outdoor thermometer like I have in SplashT@B.  I couldn't remember exactly where I bought that one, but knew it was the kind I wanted inside The Cup.  Several weeks ago while in Black Mountain, I found it at Town Hardware!

I like it because it's small and the portable outdoor unit sends an accurate wireless temperature reading to the one inside.  I took a piece of industrial Velcro and mounted it above the door beside the hook that holds my Life Is Good ball cap.

OK, two down and a bunch more to go!!  Thanks for dropping by this evening as I prepare for the Shrimp & Grits Festival and remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Getting Ready For Her Debut

It's been a long time coming, but The Coffee Cup will be making her Sisters on the Fly debut one week from today down at Jekyll Island, GA.  We'll be down there the whole week, taking advantage of seeing an area of the country we've never visited before and attending the Shrimp & Grits Festival.

I cannot wait to show her off to all my Sister Friends who have said, "When will we get to see The Coffee Cup?"  I'll have my Guest Book ready (thanks Rebecca), along with my Folgers pen with ink that smells like coffee . . . LOL.

We'll be in site H8, so come by and get the official tour.  Just look for the blinking COFFEE light!!

One More Little Thermos

Last Thursday while wrapping up our Midland Trail journey, Becky and I stopped at Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, VA.  Some of you might recognize the place because you watch the TV show "Salvage Dawgs" on the DIY network.  It's one of my favorite shows, so I was tickled that we were able to work it into our schedule before heading back home to North Carolina.

I saw so many items that have been featured on the TV episodes and it was a fun stop.  They also have an area called the Marketplace, where vendors have booths with more cool items for sale.  Way, way back in the far corner of the building I spied a small brown Thermos and knew immediately that it was one I did not have.  So I scooped it up to add to my collection.

Over on Postcards From The Road, I'll be featuring Black Dog Salvage (probably on Thursday) and will be showing you lots of photos from our visit there.  I'd love for you to scoot over there and check it out.

I hope your week is off to a grand start and remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

A Special Find On The Midland Trail

Sister Becky and I spent this past Monday through Wednesday traveling the Midland Trail in West Virginia.  In many of the small towns we visited, we ran across antique malls and neat shops full of collectibles (and some junk too . . . LOL).  We went into as many of them as time allowed, never looking for anything in particular.

One such place was in the small town of South Charleston, just west of the Capitol.  We had climbed to the top of Adena Indian Mound where we had a grand view down D Street, full of places to eat and shop.

After lunch at the Happy Days Cafe, we headed to the South Charleston Antique Mall.  We saw lots and lots of really neat stuff, but when I spied a raffiaware beverage pitcher, I knew it was the perfect match for the ice bucket I recently found!

If you find yourself traveling Highway 60 just west of Charleston, take time for a little detour to D Street and you might find some treasures too!

I hope you are having an excellent weekend.  Thanks for dropping by to check on The Coffee Cup and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Java Joints

I love to visit coffee shops when I travel and I'm sure that comes as no surprise to you.  My niece Jessie and I have this fantasy of owning a coffee shop together, serving a cup of joe and spining groovy tunes and you probably didn't know that.  I also love to make scrapbooks, especially of my times on the road.

Combine those two loves and it made perfect sense to create a book for The Coffee Cup called Java Joints.  I printed out several photos of the coffee shops I've stopped at during my road trips, found an interesting-shaped ledger book at an office supply, and the fun began.  I still need to make some labels to go on each page to identify the names and locations . . . it's a work in progress.

Early Monday morning, Becky will be picking me up and we'll head north to West Virginia for the Midland Trail.  We've talked about doing this road trip for a year or so now and we're finally hitting the road in search of adventure.

In the little town of Ansted, WV there is a place offering gourmet coffee and pastries and guess what it's called?!  The Coffee Cup!! Stay tuned one evening next week for a full report . . . tee hee.

Have a great weekend everyone, enjoy your own special cup 'o joe, and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"