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So we sold our camper last week. Are we sad about it? Nope!

Here’s the deal. 5 years ago we decided we wanted to go camping. We bought a huge tent, an air mattress that was on a frame, a solar charged power system, and everything else we thought we should have.

So we set off one weekend to go camping with most of the kids and grandkids. Well we got to our spot and first realized there was no shade. It was like 95 that weekend. So we set everything up. We are all just hot and exhausted and it’s like noon. So we make lunch and relax thinking ok this will be cool.

About 4 pm the park ranger is walking around letting everyone know there are going to be some terrible storms in the evening and they will have the shelter open for everyone to go. So when I say terrible they were talking tornados and 60 mph winds. At that point I looked at my husband and we just started packing everything up. There was no way we were riding a storm out like that in a tent. So we went home.

3 hrs of set up in the sun. 4 hrs of relax but only took an hour to pack up and get the heck out of dodge.

Fast forward to the next spring. We decided the reason we didn’t want to camp is because we didn’t have a camper. Well we both remember having pop ups when we were young and they were so much fun. So we go check out the new pop ups. Boy they have changed. All you do is push a button to pop them up. They have solar panels, air conditioner, a pull out and they are beautiful inside. That’s it we are getting one so we can take the grandkids camping.

We did and we got everything we needed. Our first weekend camping was great. Didn’t sleep well but it was exciting. We had some bumps, we couldn’t figure out the awning (we never used it again) but otherwise it was good. The second trip was a disaster (but honestly that is a whole other blog). The other trips were ok but my back hurt, I didn’t sleep well and I was exhausted from making sure everyone else was enjoying their time.

By the last camping weekend I believe I decided I was done. My husband (Kevin) was out of town so I decided that I could pull the camper and do it with the help of the kids.

We got to the campground. Just my daughter and I. It took me three times but I backed it in (and did a good job). We set it up and all was good. The first night went good. Again didn’t sleep great but it was ok. But I kept smelling something weird. So the next day my son and I kept trying to find out where the smell was coming from. So we are at the front of the camper where the battery and propane tanks are. I had the tanks shut off so it wasn’t that but that is where the smell is. We take the battery cover off and it is bubbling. OMG we took the cables off and it stops. I still to this day have no idea why that happened. Ugh.

It was a great day. Full of sunshine and beautiful. Everyone leaves except one of my grandsons, my dog and me. So we are chilling in the camper and get a notification that storms are coming. Good lord here we go again. So I told my grandson we are locking up the camper and going home for the night. We will come back tomorrow. Luckily we were only 20 minutes from home. So we locked up grabbed the dog and headed home.

When we got home my grandson realized we forgot the dog’s leash hooked to the bumper of the truck. We drove all the way home with that dragging on the back. I cannot imagine what people thought seeing that. OMG can you imagine.Like I hope the dog wasn’t on there at some point.

Anyway we slept in comfy beds that night as it stormed. When we went back everything was good. We packed up and came back home.

That was the last adventure in camping for us. Fast forward a year later. Camper up for sale and sold a month later. Done.

Now we made great memories with the kids and grandkids. But also had some trying times.

In the end we decided we can take the kids to the state parks, go fishing, have fires at our house but at the end of the day we get to sleep in our own comfy bed.

Do you guys have any stories of camping adventures good or bad? Please share in the comments.

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 48. My grandson figured it out before the doctor did. He said, “Gramma, why do you have 12 projects on the table?”

Because I have 47 hobbies and my brain says we need to do them ALL TODAY, buddy.

I tried to be a “pick one thing and master it” person. I really did. It lasted about 3 days.

Here’s the current rotation on my kitchen table, no joke:

• Crochet — started a blanket for my husband in 2019, it’s about 12 inches wide and 4 feet long. Lol we now just use it on our stool as decor.

• Cricut — I have vinyl in every drawer. My husband asks why we need 6 shades of glitter? My answer ( mind your business) 🤣🤣

• Baking / Sourdough — my starter is named lil frankie, and although I have been using sour dough to make bread for 2 years. Lately I have just been over it. So I am pretty sure he is no longer alive. (Luckily I have some frozen)

• Thrifting / Upcycling — I WILL turn that $2 tee into something cute, I swear. As it is still hanging in my craft room a year later.

And don’t get me started on my craft room! Ugh. I’m pretty sure it’s not normal to have to clean up your craft room before working on a project. I think I have that turned around somehow!

But every single one makes me happy for like 2 weeks, then I see something shiny and we pivot.

For a long time I felt bad about it. Like I was flaky or couldn’t finish anything.

But here’s what I’ve learned at 52: I DO finish things. I finish joy. I finish learning a little. I finish making my grandkids laugh when I show them my 4th new “favorite hobby” this month.

I’m not here to become an expert. I’m here to have fun and try stuff and maybe save you from buying the dumb version of the thing before I found the good one.

So this blog is going to be exactly like my craft room — a little chaotic, lots of half-finished projects, but always something interesting.

Your turn: What hobby are you hyper-fixated on THIS week? Tell me in the comments so I don’t feel alone in my chaos.

Love,
Gramma M

Well, I did it. I started a blog. 
My name is Trish, but around here I'm Gramma M. 
I'm a 52-year-old, grandma/mom, wife, and MN gal, who decided life is too short not to write down the crazy, funny, real stuff that happens every day.
Why "Chaos Called Life"? Because honestly? 
my house is never clean, my grandkids run the show, I have ADHD with 47 hobbies, and I say what everyone else is thinking. 
If your life feels like a beautiful mess too, you’re in the right place.
What you’ll find here: family stories, recipes that actually work, no-BS life advice, and I will probably throw in a crochet pattern or 500!!! 
What I will blog about: aging, ADHD, parenting/ grandparenting, hot flashes and anything else that happens to pop up. 
My promise: I’ll keep it real, I won’t sell you dumb stuff, there will be typos!!
I don’t know what I’m doing yet, but I’m doing it anyway. That’s kinda the theme of my life. 
So, grab a coffee [or wine, no judgment], stick around, and let’s figure out this chaos together.
Love, Gramma M

P.S. Go check out my Etsy store. I have patterns, digital downloads, and physical items I make. No, it is not dumb stuff!!
Here is the link
https://grammamurchshop.etsy.com