The Little Little Trailer Talks Cowboys

It's come to The Little Little Trailer's attention that COWBOYS have a mighty big allure to many a gal. Probably no wonder, as many cowboys do come across as...racy, let's say.

This calls for some advice from TLLT, who not only was hitched to a cowboy at one point but also grew up surrounded by them.

These credentials  make her a bonafide Cowboy Girl. As such, she recommends the following:

Never assume that someone who dresses like a cowboy is one. At very least, your candidate for White Knight in a Stetson should have his own horse and his own gun.

Mustache is optional, per your tastes.

The main thing is, you want a real-deal type who genuinely is a cowboy.

And not just some guy who plays one in the movies.

Or elsewhere. (Those are called transwestites.)

Your real cowboy will be the one who always keeps his priorities straight.

As long as you get that when riding off with one, you can overlook the white-horse requirement.

Getting the Reins to the Iron Pony

Why is this painted cowgirl smiling?

Because she got adopted into the Girl Camping Girl family of vintage trailers, and will live there happily ever after!

GCG set out the morning before Easter to go pick her up. Fellow Girl Camper Miss Grace, who lives about 2 hours away, offered her place as rendezvous point. Miss Nancy, the seller and another camping pal, had a similar drive to make.

(New-buyer tip: Splitting the distance is a common point of negotiation.)

The business part of the transaction.

(New-buyer tip: In addition to sign-off on the trailer's title, make sure you get a bill of sale from the seller, and if paying in cash, a signed receipt as well.)

Here's the somewhat ceremonial hand-over of the keys to Iron Pony (named for Nancy's Harley hobby). Nancy had many good times in the trailer after finding it, fixing it up, and painting its three murals. She's now working on her next trailer project.

GCG put the keys on a new ring, with iron cross and a pony.

The trailer got transferred from Nancy's truck to Girl Camping Girl's truck.

(New-buyer tip: Always ask your seller what size ball the trailer's hitch takes, so you'll have the right size  on your tow vehicle. Also find out what kind of receiver the trailer's wiring plug needs. If your vehicle has the wrong kind of receiver, you'll need an adapter.)

Then, since GCG was spending the night, she moved in.

Naturally, The Little Little Trailer was along, and picked out a great parking spot right away.

'What's for lunch, Grace?' Table setting in the Iron Pony.

Miss Grace did make lunch for all, and she also performed the finish work on the embroidery pieces Girl Camping Girl worked on over the winter. This one, with GCG's Sisters on the Fly number and her little black dog looking out the rear window, will hang in a real trailer's window to be visible from the outside.

This one, with a tropical theme and destined for the Hawaiian trailer of Miss Patty, went onto a banner that Grace freestyled and had finished in short order. She put Patty's Sisters on the fly number on it, using an machine embroidery program.

Meanwhile, Miss Cori came over with a set of enamelware bowls as a trailer-warming gift. Grace had a gift, too, which was a vintage rodeo program she'd found at shopgoodwill.com. The Little Little Trailer loved both gifts so much that she backed in and gave them a hug.

The next morning was Easter, and TLLT was so happy--the Easter Bunny found her after her first night in the Iron Pony!

After a fantastic Easter brunch with Grace's family, Girl Camping Girl had to head 'em up and move 'em out on the trail back to home.

Here's what you'll see if you ever pass her on the highway. Be sure to wave!

The Little, Little Trailer Goes to Girl Camp!

The Little, Little Trailer was born to roll.

There's only so much 'parked under cover' time she can take before she just has to pull on her baby moons, plug in the road-trip tunes,  and hit the highway. Even if it's that long and winding highway she has to take in order to get anywhere.

She can handle dangerous curves, cuz she has some of her own. (Has to be why Sum Boyz Whistle when she goes by.)

One day, The Little, Little Trailer is out taking a wander, when--

'OMG! Look what's up ahead--a whole tribe of other Little Trailers, and they seem to be having a powwow! Let's pull in--maybe the natives are friendly!'

So The Little, Little Trailer turns in by a sign that says GIRL CAMP. Where she receives the greatest welcome ever!

The other Little Trailers all rush out to greet her like she's their long-lost BFF.

'Stay here, with us!' they declare. 'There's room! We'll help you park and set up!'

No way can she pass this up! TLLT accepts the invitation to stay at Girl Camp and gets down to the business of getting herself parked, blocked and leveled.

Whatever these other Little Trailers are up to, it's got to be out of the ordinary.

And it is! Not only does TLLT get a fabulous next-door neighbor, who's nicer than the Welcome Wagon lady, but the other Little Trailers also come right on over for a campfire and some cocktails.

Ahhh, this is the life. GIRL CAMP--TLLT's new favorite cool place!

Expecting: Vintage Trailer on the Way

There's nothing quite like the anticipation phase that occurs between your purchase of a travel trailer (vintage or otherwise), and the day you get to take possession of it. It's one of life's exceedingly fun rides. With just pictures (digital and mental) to go on, your imagination gets to run wild.

I purchased this particular trailer, a 1972 Red Dale, about three weeks ago. Her name is Iron Pony. I'm picking finally picking it up from the seller this weekend.

She did all the customized paintings on the trailer--that's her, above, after finishing the artwork. I've camped with Nancy and her trailer on several occasions, like 'em both a lot. So when Nancy decided to sell her trailer and get a larger one, I snapped it up.

Nancy is multi-talented. She's a cowgirl, a Harley girl, a great Dutch oven cook, and an artist, too.

I'm about as far away from a real-life biker chick as anyone could be. I've never even petted a motorcycle, let alone ridden one.

But that doesn't mean I can't play one while camping...and the Motorcycle Mustang, from my Painted Ponies collection, is going to feel like he's finally back with the right herd. (He's an iron pony!)

I like Nancy's paint color choices a lot and don't plan to change them.

These enamelware dishes will finally get a place to call home.

Every trailer needs accoutrements beyond dishes. Having a new trailer on the way is excellent motivation for cleaning your cupboards, closets, and drawers! (Otherwise known as 'shopping the house.')

Some truly amazing things can surface! Like the mannequin I refer to as the Crazy Cowgirl.

There can be complications with Trailer Anticipation, of course, one of which is Thriftstoreitis.

Even Retailstoreitis, if you're not careful. (Doesn't every new trailer deserve its own cute purse?)

Nancy will be keeping her bedding and decor pillows (above). So who knows how the bed will look after somebody else dresses her?

What would you do with this space, if starting from scratch?