RV Storage Solutions

As you may be aware, when living in an RV, you are limited on how much storage space you have.  Probably, the best solution to this is to bring only what you need to live into the RV.  That is way easier said than done though.

Also there is a lot of wasted space in most RVs that is not utilized for storage or overlooked space.  Now, we are not experts and do not pretend to be, but we have made, what we like to think are improvements, to our storage situation.

Probably one of the easiest ways to make extra storage in your RV is to order 3M Command Strips organization products.  They make more than just picture frame hangers and hooks.

We like their Command Clear Medium Caddy to use around the stove for spices and such.  We do worry that they are maybe too close to the heat which may make them go stale quicker, but we hate to see all of the space go to waste.

Of course, we pack all of the spices into a box while traveling and then put them back out once we get parked.  We are afraid that the constant jolts will make them fall off the wall with the extra weight of the spices.

Command Clear Medium Caddy used as spice racks around our stove area.

They are also good to hold remote controls and anything else that will fit.  Now my bedside counter can be cluttered with items other than the remotes.

Command Clear Medium Caddy used as remote control holders in the master bedroom.

 Command Clear Medium Caddy used as remote controls holder for living room TV.

 Below is one we have on the refrigerator along with a small caddy we use to hold pens and pencils.

 Command Clear Medium Caddy used to hold pens and paper pads on our refrigerator.

Not only do they make the caddy in different sizes, but you can also get a phone charger caddy that works well.  We have ours at each end of the bed's headboard like a His' and Her's.  Now at night I can grab my phone quickly since I know exactly where it is.

Command Clear Phone Charger Caddy on Master bedroom headboard.

Of course the Command hooks are also great for hanging up coats or other items.  We have them all throughout the RV being used to hang up coats, towels, a hair dryer in the bathroom, oven mitts and pot holders in the kitchen, and anything else that will hang.

Command hooks used for towels in the bathroom.

Command hooks used in the bunk house for the kid's coats.

More hooks in the bunk house for coats and scarfs.

Command hooks for coats in the front of the RV.

Command hooks on the folding door between the bunk house and master bed room.

 Another thing our RV was missing was a lock on the sliding door between the bunk house and bathroom.  It seemed like anytime Misty or I wanted some privacy in the bathroom, one of the kids would wander in.

To solve this dilemma, I bought a patio door lock bar at Lowe's Home Improvement.  It was easy to mount and the door frame going into the master bedroom from the bathroom was just wide enough for it.

Patio door bar lock fit perfectly on our sliding door into the bathroom.

The below plastic clip was to be used to hold the bar in place once it is deployed in the down position, but I found that it also works well to hold the bar in its upward position, when not being used.

 

Using the bar clip to hold the lock bar in place when in the upward position.

The metal clip was to be inserted into the plastic clip, but will hold the bar in place perfectly without it.   Now we can keep everyone out when wanting some privacy in the bathroom.

Door lock bar in the downward position.

 

Door lock bar doing its job very well.

I could tell you a story about when a visiting family member was in the bathroom one day and the door was slid open by one of the kids, before we had a lock, but will not go into detail about it.  Needless to say, they have not used the bathroom in the RV since.

We also found some dresser draws that are very light and easy to put up when we move, that help give us more storage for the kids' clothes.  They not only work well for clothes but toys and any other miscellaneous items we do not want rolling around on the floors.

Three draw folding dressers we use for the kids' clothes.

They also provide some storage on their tops, which we take full advantage of.  We usually put Tupperware type containers full of socks and underwear on top so we can use the drawers more for regular clothes.

Dresser drawer being used for one of the boys' clothes with the removable top on.

Dresser drawer being used for one of the boys' clothes with the removable top off.

Just adding the caddies, drawers, and hooks have made a big improvement on our storage needs and keep items in a spot where we can easily find them.  So far we have had only a couple of them fall and with using a heavier rated 3M Command strip, that problem was solved.

We love our compact, mobile lifestyle and do not miss our 3100 square foot house at all.

Not everyone can downsize their life and live the way we do, but it is the life for us and we find it much simpler and easier.  Plus when we figure out how to squeeze more space out of the RV, it just makes it that much better.

May God watch over you and keep you blessed!

Thanks!
Don, Misty, and Kids...   

Everything Repeats

We have finally left Virginia and are now back in West Virginia staying at the Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery in Elkview WV.  We were to be in Indiana for warranty work on the RV, but had to reschedule it due to a family emergency.  So for the time being we will just stay put.

It has almost been a year since we first stayed here as we started our full-time RV adventure.  Looking back we only have one true regret.  We regret that we have not seen more of America, especially the west coast.  

Here lately, due to some events out of our control, we have been staying put more and more and not exploring what is around us, like we intended.  We just have to tell ourselves that there is still plenty of time to see it all, and that we just need to be patient.   

Then again, an asteroid could hit tomorrow and all of us be gone, but seriously, do you really think that will happen anytime soon?  Whatever happens, will happen, we just need to trust in God's will.

 Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery.

Lazy K is a small campground with around six 30 amp and four 50 amp sites.  The owner is adding more 50 amp sites up the road from the main camping area, but I do not know for sure how many.

 30 Amp RV lots next to creek at Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery.

When we first stayed here last April 2012 the sites had electric and sewer, but no water.  Water had to be trucked to you, in order to fill up your holding tanks.  Later on you could have a water hose strung to your RV to give you a continuous water supply.  That was OK until the temperature dropped below freezing.

As of the past month, water lines have been ran and now all the main campsites have full hookups which is nice.

 Walking trail next to creek in Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery.

We like to stay here because it is so close to where we used to live and our family.  It is only a couple miles from our house we sold when first starting our full-time RV adventure.

 Our RV and Yukon at Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery.

We have stayed in many RV parks that were much larger and maybe offered more amenities, but we are happy here and the owner, Ken, is always doing something to improve it.

Currently there is no shower house, but a spot is being cleared and it should go up sometime in the near future.  The trusses have also been ordered and are on site.

 Trusses waiting on the shower house to be built.

Luckily, we do not need a shower house since we always use our RV's shower and toilet, although the children have used facility toilets while outside playing so it is nice to have that option.  One day we may try an electric only site, in which case we would have to rely upon the park's bathing and toiletry facilities, but not any time soon I hope.

Speaking on having our own facilities in the RV, Miss Courtney gladly volunteered her Mom's laundry services to a neighbor who has no washer and dryer.  While I'm walking up to Courtney and the neighbor talking, I hear Courtney say, "My Mom loves doing laundry and does it everyday!  I'm sure she would do yours too!"

I'm sure the neighbor will understand when we do not volunteer to do her laundry, I hope.  I'm also going to have a talk with all the kids on what is off limits to talk about with the neighbors.

 Shower house site being prepared.

 Avery standing in front of where the shower house is to be built.

The road was a little muddy when it rained, but new gravel has been laid which has helped to eliminate that issue too.  Your vehicle still gets dirty while driving on the gravel when it rains, but not caked with mud like before.

The kids love it here, especially the playground.  Last weekend while the kids were at the playground, some local children came to the campground to play.  Our kids knew some of the other kids from church, but also made some new friends.  Now, when the local kids come over to play, if our kids are not out, they come knocking on the RV door looking for them.

 Playground and pavilion at Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery.

The owner Ken, is very hospitable and will ensure anything, within reason that you need, is provided.  Anytime we have called or talked to him about anything at the campground, he has handled it for us.

Lazy K's serves as a home-base to us, for all sorts of reasons, and Ken treats us like long lost family anytime we are around.

 View behind our RV lot at Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery.

View in front of our RV lot at Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery.

We are not exactly sure how long we are going to stay here at Lazy K's, but will stay until the family emergency is resolved or we are no longer needed to assist the family.

We are offering our services by providing travel and lodging for a family member requiring medical treatment outside of West Virginia, so at that time we will move to that location.

We are blessed that God has given us the ability to help our family due to our lifestyle.  You often wonder why things do not always work out the way we want, but they always work out for what God wants and, in time, the reasons are slowly revealed to us.

God bless!

Thanks!
Don, Misty, and Kids...

If you are not a follower of our blog, please register with Google+ and become one.  We are curious of the number of followers we have, that have not registered.  We would also love for you to like our Livelyrv Facebook page and check in with us from time to time.  Comments are also very welcome as we would love to hear from you.

 

Great Falls Park

Today we went to visit Great Falls Park in McLean, VA after it was recommend to me by a friend who I work with.  It is part of the National Park Service which has twenty two parks located in the state of Virginia.

The falls are a result of the Potomac River flowing over the jagged rocks and through the narrow Mather Gorge.  One of its earliest uses was probably as a meeting place for the Native Americans who inhabited the area around 8000 BC.

Falls from the Potomac River at Great Falls Park.

In 1785 the Patowmack Canal Company build the Patowmack Canal to help navigate the Potomac River around the falls to the Ohio River.  Navigation of the Potomac River was very dear to George Washington who realized this was the way to the western waterways, which was the door to the western frontier.

Part of the Patowmack Canal at Great Falls Park.

The family and I enjoyed walking along the canal towards the Visitor's Center and the Great Falls overlooks.  All of the kids enjoyed skirting the canal walls and climbing on any rock outcrops they could find.

Chloe, Don, Misty, Ethan, Ian, Avery, Courtney, and Tia at the Patowmack Canal.

While at the Visitor's Center the kids had a chance to do some hands on discovery in the Children's Room at the please-touch table.

 Avery trying on a pair of deer antlers or his devil horns are showing, I'm not really sure.

Enjoying the Please-touch table in the Visitor's Center at Great Falls Park.

Below are some of the high water marks for flooding in the park by the Potomac River.  If you are interested in pictures of some of the flooding, please go to the Park's Photo Gallery page.

 Ian at the High Water Marks pole in Great Falls Park.

Avery, Ethan, Ian, Tia, and Courtney at the High Water Marks pole.

There are three overlook sites for the falls with Outlook 3 giving you the best view of the falls.

 The Potomac River at Great Falls Park.

Some of the jagged rocks at Great Falls Park on the Potomac River.

Great Falls at Great Falls Park.

So if you ever get a chance to visit the park, I would highly recommend it.  I'm glad I was made aware of its existence by a friend.  All of us had a good time walking down to the fall's overlooks and the kids climbing on anything they could.

Tia's ready to take flight while the others enjoy climbing.

Tia, Ethan, Chloe, Don, Avery, Courtney, and Ian at Overlook 3 on the falls.

Tia, Ethan, Chloe, Misty, Avery, Courtney, and Ian at Overlook 3 on the falls.

This was actually the first National Park that we have visited since we started our road trip last April 2012.  I guess it is really the second one since we did make it to the National Mall in January 2013, but will not be the last.

We hope your Saturday was as much fun as ours.  Tomorrow I think we are going to try another bike ride, but you just never know what we will get into.

If you are not a follower of our blog, please register with Google+ and become one.  We are curious of the number of followers we have, that have not registered.  We would love for you to like our Livelyrv facebook page and check in with us from time to time.  Comments are also very welcome as we would love to hear from you.

May God bless you all and your families and keep you safe.

Thanks!

Don, Misty, and Kids...

Now I Have The Justified Blues

We have now been in the DC area for over ten weeks, which is nine weeks too long, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.... finally!

While our first month was in a less than desirable place to stay, our move to Pohick Bay Regional Park, put us back in our comfort zone.  It is a very nice park with a playground for the kids and plenty of room to walk and ride bikes.  The sites are not too close together and it has a nice wooded type atmosphere.

Avery on top of the World at the playground.

 Gathered around the campfire at Pohick Bay Regional Park.

Getting ready to roast hotdogs and marshmallows.

While here, we also took advantage of a really nice bike trail that runs from our park down to Mason Neck State Park and is close to or just a little over five miles one way.  It was one of the best paved trails we have ridden on with plenty of scenery along its winding path.  This was also the longest bike ride to date, that happen to fall on Misty's birthday, which made it even more special.

It was mostly down hill from our camp site, which made the ride back a little more challenging, but everyone finished it fine with Ethan leading the way.  The picture below shows where we started and finished, but we still had to ride back to the starting point, so we really finished where we started.

Bird's eye view of our bike ride from Pohick Bay to Mason Neck State Park and back.

Paved bike trail in Mason Neck State Park.

Our little flock enjoying their bike ride.

Don pulling the kid buggy on the trip back.

One of the many bridges on the bike trail.

Don still pulling the kid buggy!

Don, Avery, and Chloe taking a break.  All that riding really wore the kids out.

Ian cooling off.

Tia, Little Miss Attitude, taking a break.

Ethan and Courtney styling for us.

So, I should be very happy at the moment, but I'm not.  I have a serious case of depression.  Not the type that disables you from being able to work or function, but the type that makes you down in the dumps.

What is the cause for feeling so down?  Well, I'm glad you asked. As you well know, Misty and I have the addiction of watching series on TV either by buying them on DVD or off Amazon Instant Video.  During one of our binges, we discovered the FX series of Justified.  

Now I'm not in 100% agreement with Misty, but she swears I have a man crush on Raylan, who is a pretty cool character, and if I were going to have one, he would be a good man to have a crush on.

But that is not the problem.  The problem is, now that we have caught up with the current season and have to wait for new episodes to come out, I am having "Justified" withdrawal.   I'm sure one of these days I will find another series that will be as exciting as Justified, but until then, I will not be happy.

When we had three plus seasons of Justified to watch, I could not wait to go to bed at night and watch a couple, three, four, five, or more episodes.  Now I have to wait a whole week, seven days, until I can watch the next episode.  What a bummer!   

I know, I know, such a petty thing to complain about.  I'm just trying to self help and point out my addictions, which is the first step in recovery.  Maybe if I write about my habit, it will help me to get the monkey off my back.

Justified background from the FX series.

Oh well, that is this weeks dilemma, which is really not one, but I had to blog about something, so I thought I would tell you how I feel.

I really hope that we get out of here and start sight seeing more and more now that the weather is getting better, so that I have stuff to write about, that is a little more interesting.

So, the good news is, we are finally going to get away from here and head west.  We all have been itching to see all of the wonders out west and in between.  We are also going to try and link up with some friends for a while too.

God bless and we hope your problems are few and far between!

Thanks!

Don, Misty, and Kids...