One Item for BM a Day (2010-2012)

clerkkent · Post by **clerkkent** » Sun May 09, 2010 3:14 pm

My accomplishment this week: I picked up some camp items from local garage sales: white board, compact hiking stove, collapsible hammock amongst other items.

I'm really bending over backwards to *not* buy new items in order to live the 'recycle and reuse' philosophy, and save myself some bucks, and put bucks in the pockets of fellow citizens, instead of sending it to China. I try to do this as much as possible every year, but each year it seems to be more pertinent.

This weeks efforts will be to trawl for more local *potential* campmates, hopefully with cargo carrying capability. Also, to gather up all the oddball fabrics I've gathered over the last year, and do an inventory check/ clothing brainstorming session.

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Mon May 10, 2010 5:50 pm

Bling wrote:This wasn't anything for OUR burn, but I'm in SF right now with my mom, and one of the Piers has a bicycle parked outside that is decorated with giant fiberglass fish. I am sure this was burner inspired. :D

:-) very cool Bling. I hope you got a photo.

Update on my solar charger situation:

2nd test using a Coleman 15 watt solar charger to charge a deep cycle battery.

I stuck the charger in a sunny window (because it will be inside my car at Burning Man.

It charged for 12 hours and only juiced up the battery to 25% (checked it on my electric trickle charger). So, as I expected this thing is really low return but could be used to help start a dead car battery, can power LED light strings, or maybe charge a low-juice phone or camera. In other words, it's fine for us as backup for our three marine batteries but I wouldn't rely on it entirely for power.

Today's item for us was borrowing 9 enormous 4' long rebar stakes from an experienced friend who's not going to Burning Man this year. Lucky for us he's an amazing tool designer. He also lent us a rebar-puller he built and rebar caps for slamming the posts into the ground with the sledge. I have many more parts to buy for our shade structure and it is the item that I'm having the most anxiety about. But...our expert friend has been so generous with his help. I know we'll be okay.

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Mon May 10, 2010 11:13 pm

Very cool, Clark. Emily, I'm not surprised that you didn't get much charge out of that battery, but it still sounds like it could be useful. Still thinking about battery back-up power...

I found the coolest "scarf" today at a Himalayan import shop! It's a bunch of felt flowers & leaves and will go perfectly with my flower pot hat...

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Mon May 10, 2010 11:19 pm

clerkkent wrote:My accomplishment this week: I picked up some camp items from local garage sales: white board, compact hiking stove, collapsible hammock amongst other items....

Just wondering clerkkent, what's the white board for?

Post by **AntiM** » Tue May 11, 2010 2:10 am

EmilyD wrote:
clerkkent wrote:My accomplishment this week: I picked up some camp items from local garage sales: white board, compact hiking stove, collapsible hammock amongst other items....
Just wondering clerkkent, what's the white board for?

Camp communications? We finally got one because we don't see some camp members for days on end.

clerkkent · Post by **clerkkent** » Tue May 11, 2010 12:43 pm

Yes, camp communications.

One for internal camp communications, mainly for "we stopped by looking for you, and you weren't around, we're camped at X oclock and G" type communications, but also"we're having a camp meeting at 5 oclock- please attend" type stuff. It beats the paper under windshield or masking tape stuck to a tent method that never works and becomes MOOP.

Another one for public theme camp communications, such as "We need donations of XXXXXXX" or "Our public activity at 3 oclock has been cancelled" communications.

Of course, you can use them just to doodle on when you're bored too. They're cheap enough, flat enough, and dog gone it, people like them!

Bounce530 · Post by **Bounce530** » Tue May 11, 2010 2:26 pm

I agree with the white board. It really is a great tool for the camp. We used ours to list who's playing where/when, event suggestions/reminders, and what supplies were getting low, ie- "water bottles are getting low, please refill empty bottles from water jugs."

illy dilly · Post by **illy dilly** » Tue May 11, 2010 2:53 pm

EmilyD wrote:2nd test using a Coleman 15 watt solar charger to charge a deep cycle battery.

I stuck the charger in a sunny window (because it will be inside my car at Burning Man.

Thats terrible news that the 15watt didn't work. I was thinking about getting this one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt-12 ... 96418.html

Could it possibly be that it was through a window? Could you put the charger on top of your van during the day, and just close the door around the cord?
What kinda window is your house window?
If its one of the fancy 'windows by Anderson' with the double pane, UV blocking it might cause a problem.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue May 11, 2010 3:13 pm

I bring my solar yard lights indoors for the winter and they won't charge up through the window. I don't even have fancy windows, just double panes. Try it through the car window and see what happens. If you have tinting or UV blocker, it won't work well.

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Tue May 11, 2010 4:33 pm

illy dilly wrote:
EmilyD wrote:2nd test using a Coleman 15 watt solar charger to charge a deep cycle battery.

I stuck the charger in a sunny window (because it will be inside my car at Burning Man.
Thats terrible news that the 15watt didn't work. I was thinking about getting this one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt-12 ... 96418.html

Could it possibly be that it was through a window? Could you put the charger on top of your van during the day, and just close the door around the cord?
What kinda window is your house window?
If its one of the fancy 'windows by Anderson' with the double pane, UV blocking it might cause a problem.

Ahhhh good point. Yes, they are double pane and I think also the angle was wrong for several hours before I woke up. I'll test it again on the roof. Good idear!

Bounce530 · Post by **Bounce530** » Wed May 12, 2010 5:11 pm

The white board-

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Wed May 12, 2010 5:48 pm

Woohoo!!! I found a UTILITY BELT at Goodwill for $11, and it fits perfectly!

It's maroon leather, which I hate, but I'll have fun redecorating it. Wheee!

Plumeria · Post by **Plumeria** » Wed May 12, 2010 9:47 pm

Today was a good day! I scored an awesome deal on a tent on Craigslist! I don't know how to post pictures here though :( But, its an Ozark one, only used a few times. I got to see it all put together and help take it down, so I know everything is there! YIPPEE!

My daughter and I also went to the fabric store in search of deals and we came out with some great fabric for theme camp items and clothes!

Everything can be seen on my blog: purpleishealing.blogspot.com since I am not smart enough to post pictures here!

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Fri May 14, 2010 10:42 am

I just thought this was kind of funny.
I was watching the local news this morning when they were showing the "Weekend Happenings".
Roy Gomm Elementary School is having a community garage sale tomorrow, they mentioned they had a "Burning Man Section"

I might have to check this one out. I'm just dying to find out what the "Burning Man" section consists of!

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:41 am

LostinReno wrote:I just thought this was kind of funny.
I was watching the local news this morning when they were showing the "Weekend Happenings".
Roy Gomm Elementary School is having a community garage sale tomorrow, they mentioned they had a "Burning Man Section"

I might have to check this one out. I'm just dying to find out what the "Burning Man" section consists of! :wink:

LOL photos please!

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:43 am

Family demands have kept me from getting my advance sewing work done for the Playa. I've made two of the 6 dresses I want to sew. I'm determined to get something done towards that goal today! I am writing it here to help me remember my promise to myself and I'm also turning off this time-sucking computer until later!

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Fri May 14, 2010 12:32 pm

LostinReno wrote:I just thought this was kind of funny.
I was watching the local news this morning when they were showing the "Weekend Happenings".
Roy Gomm Elementary School is having a community garage sale tomorrow, they mentioned they had a "Burning Man Section"

I might have to check this one out. I'm just dying to find out what the "Burning Man" section consists of!

Dang - I'm is class all day

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:02 pm

helped an old woman cross the street

illy dilly · Post by **illy dilly** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:21 pm

Its good a thing too, cause I had that old lady in my cross hairs!

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:49 pm

/Eeep

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Fri May 14, 2010 9:42 pm

Bounce530 wrote:The white board-

Nothing explains a concept better than a good image. Thanks Bounce530.

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Sat May 15, 2010 10:20 pm

Just ordered a second, bigger cooler on Amazon--$69 for 100 quart, 5-day, with free shipping! (Amazon Prime, so it's not really free, but still...)

Plumeria · Post by **Plumeria** » Sat May 15, 2010 11:23 pm

Awesome sleeping bag ish type find. I am going to try to post it here...

Hey! I think it worked! :) Anyway, As you can see, this sleeping bag is also like a jacket, with arms, a hood, button up and it even has a zipper for your feet so you can either walk around or sleep with your feet out!

I got some other stuff too, but, this is the thing I was most excited about.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Sat May 15, 2010 11:43 pm

wow where did you find that thing? Its like a onesie for adults and a sleeping bag at the same time. Maybe its a Russian snuggie

Plumeria · Post by **Plumeria** » Sun May 16, 2010 12:07 am

Snow wrote:wow where did you find that thing? Its like a onesie for adults and a sleeping bag at the same time. Maybe its a Russian snuggie

Yard Sale

thesandman · Post by **thesandman** » Sun May 16, 2010 12:54 am

got a Windmill Lighter from REI today so i can light my trangia stove i just ordered, got my tent and boots all ready need to get more stuff

thesandman · Post by **thesandman** » Sun May 16, 2010 1:38 am

just ordered my tickets tonight yeepy

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Sun May 16, 2010 8:58 am

Wow, Plumeria, I've never seen anything like that before!

Yesterday I also found some awesome ethnic fabric to redo my utility belt.

Plumeria · Post by **Plumeria** » Sun May 16, 2010 2:21 pm

Bling wrote:Wow, Plumeria, I've never seen anything like that before!

I know. Neither have I. That is why I had to have it!

Considering I am cold blooded, it will come in handy once the sun goes down!

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Sun May 16, 2010 4:32 pm

Plumeria wrote:
Bling wrote:Wow, Plumeria, I've never seen anything like that before!
I know. Neither have I. That is why I had to have it! :) Considering I am cold blooded, it will come in handy once the sun goes down!

That truly is a cool onezie!!!

Hubby and I both found warm, cheap, coats for night time use. Now I'm going to add layers of sparkly (moop-less) fabric with lights underneath for our evening glam.

Now we're off to the fabric store for more inspiration!

One Item for BM a Day (2010-2012)

This weeks accomplishments.....

Coleman Solar Charger/Deep Cycle Battery

Re: This weeks accomplishments.....

Re: This weeks accomplishments.....

whiteboards are good for...

Re: Coleman Solar Charger/Deep Cycle Battery

Re: Coleman Solar Charger/Deep Cycle Battery

Way Behind