I have a case of True Patriot Love for this darling ’81 Dolphin for sale in British Columbia. Listed for $8500, she could be yours (since she can’t be mine). Her owners have taken really good care of her and done great renovations. Just look–if you don’t believe me.

I found the complete listing on my new favorite website, Little Vintage Trailer. They have lots of camper-related goodies. Check them out!

Kudos to this campy baker

“Wrapping up” the posts about Christmas gifts I wish I still had today are #s 3, 4, and 5 (since they’re all similar versions of each other): Barbie’s Country Camper, Barbie’s Beach Bus, and Barbie’s Friend Ship. Damn that Barbie. She made travel look so effortless, so fun, so luxurious. It just set me up for disappointment later in life.

#3 Barbie’s Country Camper: I love camping, but I never look (or feel) half as pretty and refreshed as Barbie and PJ in their Country Camper. I blame it on tent sleeping, not to mention lack of bathing facilities in the woods.

PJ and Barbie, makin’ it look so easy.

#4 Barbie’s Beach Bus: Complete with surf gear, beach chairs, and clambake cookware, it was an endless summer with Barbie’s Beach Bus. I think I lost both Barbie RVs when the two were involved in a backyard pileup in the late 70s.

Real Dodge van styling!

#5 Barbie’s Friend Ship: I swear I would still take this out to play with (like this person did in a pretty long youtube video) if I still owned it today. It had so many cool accoutrements, and even the drawn-on galley and cockpit details added to the fun.

If I had this kind of arrangement on the Newark to New Delhi flights, maybe I’d like traveling to India more.

I guess airlines discontinued daiquiri service some time in the 70s.

The Friend Ship even came with a beverage cart. (I hope I didn’t make my Barbie flight attendants ram it into sleeping passenger’s shoulders.)

#2 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John.

It was 1973. I was 6; I was all about The Wizard of Oz; and Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” was my favorite song. Six-year old Paige didn’t get the metaphor or the deeper meaning behind Bernie Taupin’s lyrics. I just associated it with the movie, my favorite coloring book, ruby slippers I’d received on my 6th birthday, and the Disney magnificent full-color illustrated book and long-playing 33 record.

I played this so much it skipped every few minutes

Aside: modern-day Paige still loves Oz and has even rented Dorothy’s cottage in the vintage, long-ago closed Land of Oz theme park in Beech Mountain (the park was my favorite vacation spot where I first went with my mom and dad in 1974). You, too, can rent Dorothy’s cottage on the slopes of Beech Mountain, and when you’re not skiing, you can explore some of what’s left in the merry old land of Oz. The park is also open every fall for Autumn in Oz. Here are some photos of that fabulous place.

Apparently so happy to be skipping down the Yellow Brick Road, summer 1974.

The bricks are still sunny yellow after all these years. Most are still there, though poachers are known to steal them from time-to time. March, 2004

“Are you hinting my apples aren’t what they ought to be?” (Dan with one of the remaining angry apple trees, 2004)

YBR on a foggy day in 2002

Hanging out on Dorothy’s porch (Uncle Henry’s barn is in the background), 2002

My list was short, but sweet. Here are the top five—in order of the way my brain storms. Interestingly enough, my favorites still define me today: Four of them involve traveling, while two involve a camper of some sorts (which means I need a Vintage Shasta, right?). And the one that immediately pops into my head brings to mind innovative cooking in a small space: #1 Easy-Bake Oven: I don’t hesitate when someone asks me about my favorite childhood toy. I had lots of things I loved, but my EBO was the one magical machine that empowered me to bake tiny light-bulb-powered teacakes to host my own parties at age six, inviting the hoi polloi of whatever apartment complex we were living in at the time. Today, I can’t think of anything I like more than throwing a shindig, though I’ve stepped it up a notch (I think, and I hope).

Mine was robin’s egg blue/aqua like this one. Why do the newfangled ones have to be pink?

#2: To be continued…

A bountiful harvest

I’ll be eating my turkey and dressing at Pepe’s in Key West this year. But camping on Thanksgiving sounds fun. These folks at Doran Beach Campground in Bodega Bay, CA have built a nice tradition celebrating Thanksgiving on the beach. Read more about it here.

Carousel Kitchen

Cam (who is the Wizard-ess of finding awesome campers for sale) sent me a Craig’s List posting for this beautifully restored 1960 Spartan Carousel for sale in the San Francisco area. Oh, how I’d like to see more of her!

For sale! $75,000.

Eureka! Looks like the original pink toilet base.

I’ve connected with the owners of two Carousels (including MaryAnn Reynolds who has some posts about her remodel), so I hope to hear where the new owner of this great trailer takes her.

It looks like she was lovingly renovated, and her pink fixtures are in pretty good shape. I hope the new owner buys her a proper pink fridge though. Maybe like this new-to-made-look-old Northstar. Or this aging rose that hasn’t lost her bloom.

Or this restored 1950s GE. Another new model, the Big Chill would look nice.

Add vintage (or vintage-looking) appliances to my wish list. Any ol’ color will do.

I love the Brits. They celebrate everything in style, from Diamond Jubilees to funerals. Check out what the folks at Volkswagen Funerals in Warwickshire, UK, have put together for those dearly departed who prefer a more upbeat farewell.

Three cheers for Chris Sweetman’s Schuco model VW

It’s the Fourth of July! (or as we say in the South, Joo-ly). Besides being the day we celebrate the Declaration of Independence and our separation from Great Britain, it’s also a day for cookouts, concerts, and fireworks (and it’s the one day you can wear stars and stripes or lots of red, white, and blue without looking too ridiculous).

There’s really only one day a year you could get away with wearing this…

Another way Americans celebrate this holiday is with lots of cold beer. It’s a PBR-tay!

But of course, camping is King come July 4th. Even in NC where we’re having record highs, campgrounds from Murphy to Manteo have been sold out for months.  Sure it’s hot, but that’s what sprinklers, tubing, and bomb pops are for.

Let’s celebrate with a look at some patriotic painted wagons, like this cute Americana-themed camper with patio and screened in porch. Great use of space!

Or blogger Paula C.’s sweet vintage camper, Mary Lou.

Sure they’re German, but one of the great things about VW buses is that they come in every color. So wherever you live, you can turn your fleet into a patriotic tribute to your country. 

Beach camping is a great way to beat the mainland heat. This Bambi found a beautiful spot near the dunes and sea oats. Oh, do I have camper envy? This Bambi looks new and ready to roll–and she’s the perfect size.

Beach Bambi

These folks are celebrating the 4th in style–with a vintage VW photo booth. What clever, crafty girls!

Say American Cheese!

Americans didn’t invent camping, but let’s face it: We’ve made it an art form. I love the washed out red, white, and blues inside this lovely.

Campin’ it up on Martha’s Vineyard

This shabby chic recamper has decked out her tin can home in red, white, and blue bunting.

It’s an Airstream Convoy!

And finally, for me, it’s not the 4th of July without a little John Philip Sousa. I’ve spent many Independence Day evenings listening to the North Carolina Symphony or small town bands play patriotic tunes during fabulous fireworks. One of my favorites was a canoe trip down the Charles River, where we tied up to other boaters during the Boston Pops Spectacular. The cool New England breeze and river view of the stage contributed to a perfect July 4th. Sousa always brings back that happy memory.