Finding HHHappiness

The plates from Vermont have finally arrived!  Once we received them in Key West we boogied back to Homestead to slap ‘em on the bus and get moving!  We took the bus over to our favorite Hip Camp in the area and went to work on changing the tires and straightening the alignment.   To loosen the lug nuts in the tires Carmen purchased a  Torque Multiplier  from Amazon that made the job much easier without the need a large pneumatic impact wrench (which cost several hundred dollars) Once the tire was removed from the bus he needed to put our new tires on the rims.  For this job he purchased   GoPlus Tire Changing Tools  so he could do it himself.   We have a video in the works showing the whole process, so stay tuned for the final video on our YouTube page.  Once he got the old tire off he used the second tool in the pair to put the new tire on the rim.  Both the removal and installation were done very easily!  One tire down ...

 While hanging out at a semi famous bar in Key West called the Garden of Eden, we met an awesome couple and had a great conversation with them.   A couple days later we met up again and were invited out on their 53’ sailboat Osiris.   What a great 2 days we spent with this delightful couple!   Carmen and the Captain had plenty of great conversations about off grid living and they both spent the afternoon scrubbing the bottom of the boat to remove the algae and barnacles.  The overnight was arguably the best part, bedding down in the bow rocking with the waves and hearing them run along the sides of the hull was like a cradle and lullaby sending us fast into deep wonderful sleep. Name plate in the wheel house A view down the starboard side A view from the bow/anchor platform Carmen scrubbing the bottom of the boat with an air line, goggles, flippers and a grill scrubber.  The water was so clear and the most beautiful shade of green! ...

One of the very first things that needs to be done before we can move the bus to our build location is removing the decals and any wording that indicates it’s a school bus (or was a school bus).  We’ve read up on various ways to do this but found one recommendation on 4” rubber eraser disc that works off an electric drill.  We decided to give it a try, and let me say, we are so glad we did!  We had a little bit of a learning curve for the first few letters, but once we got going it was really easy and completed in under half an hour per side!  Check out the video and follow the affiliate links to purchase the items.   4” Rubber Eraser Disc Thanks for tuning in!

Our tire tools arrived as planned and we were able to hit the road South for Homestead FL. In order for legal registration as other than a school bus, there are a few things that need to be done to it before it can be driven on the roads. Once these conditions have been met and we have our registration from VT stating it is a motorhome. There is no longer a need for a CDL to operate the bus.  Upon our arrival in Homestead we promptly get to work on the bus and work until the sun is setting. We got all of the decals and stop signs removed. Carmen moved the yellow light covers to the front of the bus and the red light covers to the back. We are officially meeting the requirements of operation as other than a school bus.  Decals removed, light covers swapped A new look Once the plates arrive we will be moving the bus across town to change the front steering tires and do an allignment before the trip back north of Tampa, FL. Video of Carmen removing the dec...

As we cross over the ides of March the weather stays warm and we hammer down on creating more inventory and finishing up a few more custom orders. Carmen has been receiving packages almost daily for the bus build. We have many parts and tools lined up for the 5 hour trip south to go fetch the bus. That being said we officially have confirmation from the Vermont DMV that our paperwork was all approved and our plates are in the mail. This is a massive step in the beginning of the bus conversion. The registration is a massive step because it solidifies our bus being recognized by government as a motorhome. Now that our bus is recognized as a motorhome there are no restrictions on licensing or weight requirements. Meaning that if you have a regular driver's license it is legal for you to operate our bus without a commercial drivers license (CDL).  #VTAF Red shouldered hawk eyeing the chickens We have a few things we have to do before the journey from homestead fl back h...

As we get deeper into the month of March, our time has been spent around camp creating inventory daily, working around the grounds with the community for the community here at All World Acres, and Carmen's never ending planning and thinking about the bus. A look at our little corner at A.W.A. (not our trailer in picture, we have just moved in around it) We have been as busy as bees designing, creating, assembling and organizing all things to do with the store. Michelle has designed and been working to publish another crochet pattern. This one is a colorful plant holder. Designed to hold your 5-7 inch (six inch is ideal) potted plants. Carmen has been busy making several belts, custom cast iron handle insulators, and a couple wallets that are works in progress. A look at Carmen's work space There was a community paint day held over the weekend and we painted a couple trailers used for storage on property.  Carmen starte...

To conclude the month of February we celebrate Michelle's birthday on the beach at the Dunedin causeway. We planned to go to honeymoon island state park for the day. Along the drive we decided to park and set up the hammocks on the causeway just shy of the island state park. Relaxing in the sunshine with sunshine We toured the area and had seafood to celebrate. We forgot to get pictures of the food when it came out. Hog island fish camp Menu Menu cont. After the seafood and sunshine came to an end we retired to camp to begin the month of  March with another 85 degree day. I forgot to mention it was 90 degrees on February 28th! That makes for the warmest temperature carmen has ever experienced in February.  Sunshine on her 4th birthday! (March 2)   After a couple of exciting birthday celebrations. It is time for us to hammer down on bus plans, leather orders, and amazing crochet creations. The next few days will b...

As we got furthur and furthur south the weather became warmer and warmer. We were back into shorts and t-shirts in Virginia.  We stopped in Tennessee before a quick overnight in Asheville, NC. Tennessee is home to Smokey Mountain Knife works, the world's largest knife store. Carmen picked up a Gransfors Bruks small splitting axe. Across the street is a Lodge cast iron factory outlet store, warranting another quick stop.  Lodge store If you are unfamiliar with cast iron cooking, I highly recommend looking into the age old use of cast iron. On the road we have a cast iron skillet, a cast iron dutch oven and one soup/water pot (stainless). With those we can create any home cooked meal on most any source of heat (even directly on the coals of an open fire)we can even bake bread, or a pizza as you may remember from our past blog entries.  Cast iron handle insulator made by Carmen Bush's baked beans factory creating more of that beautiful bea...