Hummers and an Oasis Update

Things are moving forward on the Oasis - got the patio cleaned up and removed all the old unused lumber. New table came today for the bar stools that do NOT fit the bar...have two new ones due to arrive any day which should be the correct height, if not they will get modified...

Change of plans before paint and stain, call for a nice trellis over the patio with a sun-shield fabric and a ceiling fan for those wonderful spring and summer nights...

Step backwards on the golf cart will know more tomorrow - had a battery short out and need to replace, new batteries are going to have to fit in the budget for the next couple months...

Here is a 3 shot pano of the patio area..

The new table fits the chairs perfectly!

The top matches the chairs...

The Hot Dog cooker arrived ready for the Grand Opening - Chili Dogs with all the fixins..stay tuned!

Bar top got another coating of epoxy - 1 more to go!

Sat out on the patio and watched the hummers hit the feeder!

Took a few Hummer pics..

More to follow over the next few days - bar stools to put together and the change of plans for the trellis!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest

Oasis Update - Bottlecap Bar!

A few weeks ago I saw a news article about a person who layered new pennies on kitchen countertops then coated with clear epoxy and I really liked the look and decided to try something similar at the Oasis.

So my good friends at Fans Sports Bar were good enough to save up two small plastic grocery bags of beer bottle caps. Yesterday I Gorilla Taped the edges to keep the epoxy from pouring off the sides and to hold the bottle caps and set out to layer the bar area with all variations of beer bottle caps.

Only one hick-up - I guess I failed in a major work math problem - should have measured the square inches of the bar and the height of a bottle cap and calculated the amount of epoxy resin needed to fully coat the bar with about 1/16" inch above the bottle caps - needless to say I ran out of epoxy before covering the entire bar...so four more quarts are on order! Once it is completely poured the bar top will be a smooth clear top looking through to all the various bottle caps!

Hatch is open!

Who can see the word??

Kegorator is on and working - beer distributor set to deliver a keg after Christmas and clean the lines and set up!

My outdoor kitchen continues to expand - got a nice toaster oven - for corn bread, muffins and cookies!

Found a switch on the side of my bar sign that sets the liquid in motion to fill the glass!

Once the bar top is complete - will be working on setting up the outside patio furniture and plan the grand opening in mid-late January!

Stay tuned still having fun in the desert!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest!

Oasis Update - Lots of changes!

The past couple weeks have been busy here at the Park as I transition from my Summer duties to my winter duties and still keep moving forward on the Oasis.

Bought two bar stools that were listed as bar height, but still a little short for comfort at the bar, have two more on the way which are taller and will use these two at a outdoor Bistro Table for the patio.

I managed to acquire my own personal Golf Cart or at least what was left of one...the batteries were shot and had to push it home the first evening out, but as luck would have it, my next door neighbor bought 6 new ones for his cart and the ones he took out were way better than mine, so we swapped so he could return mine for the core charges...they should last me a while as long as I keep them charged when sitting in the driveway! Personal Note - next time when changing batteries which are very heavy wear old clothes - ruined a almost new T-shirt with battery acid holes and my new jeans are now a little more fashionable!

A good friend sent me a nice sign for the Oasis!

I took my Christmas Ham Bone and put it in the crock pot for some home made Navy Bean and Ham Soup...nice to have a counter to cook on!

A good friend brought a Kegerator he has had, and never used - bought it for $40.00 - Ice cold as soon as I plugged it in...

Now to order a keg and get the distributor out to set it up and clean the lines etc...

I am loving my new regular Dish hookup with a Hopper and a Joey for in the trailer - can record and watch a ton of shows and the new "Smart TV" gives me access to a ton of movies and sports...WiFi is also working really well.

Still Boycotting the NFL - But sure enjoying the college Ball...

All is well here in the Desert and great to have my winter friends arriving daily - should have the patio and furniture before the end of the month and a Grand Opening for the Oasis in early January! It should be a great place for me and my friends to relax in the evenings.

Stay Tuned for more winter fun!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest!

Oasis Update!

Gonna be a busy week at the Oasis and my new site...

Hope to get the trailer moved this week, maybe Tuesday. Have Mohave WiFi scheduled for Wednesday morning to install Internet Access and Dish TV Scheduled for Thursday for Sat TV...I have had Dish with a portable dish but wanted better service with more features so have the larger dish being installed on the shed - a Hopper for DVR Capabilities and then a Joey for the TV's in the RV. Plus the TV in the shed is a Smart TV so will have it hooked to wireless internet for ROKU, HULU etc...should be fun.

Already have the wireless Router installed for Media, and Oasis Guests - Free WiFi!!

The hatch for the Bar opening is now finished and works well and locks for night time security.

The "Bar" is level and the PBR Sign installed and my friends at Fans Sports Bar saved two huge bags of beer caps which will cover the bar and then covered with clear Epoxy...should be a fun project!

A gift from a friend is installed and functional - Can you guess what it is?

Today is clean-up the patio day and tomorrow spread some more gravel and level the site for the RV....then move and hookup the hard sewer line to the Trailer and of course get the WiFi operational and Dish on Wednesday and Thursday!

Anxious to get moved and then add some patio furniture and plants and get settled in my new spot!

Stay Tuned - Winter friends are arriving daily and all the winter activities crank up next week!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Oasis Update - down to the finishing touches!

Inside Paint is finished except for some touch up, after all is operational - will paint the outside and set up the patio!

Today will get a lock to secure the fold up bar hatch and some chains to hold it open.

Huge mess and waste to clean up outside!

5 foot counter for cooking and my own outdoor kitchen is ready for paint and cover.

Smart TV is mounted and ready for Dish to hook-up and WiFi!

Pendant Lights are wired and over the bar..

Wonderful sunset last evening...

The Friday evening campfires have been a hit!

Great shish Kabobs on the grill last Friday!

Stay tuned the season is just beginning!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Oasis Update - Moving forward

Made a fair amount of headway on the Oasis this week. Reframed the wall under the bar window and finished almost all the electric, only thing left is pendant lights over the bar after painting - wiring is in - just need to hang lights and wire them. Found a refridgerator on the local for sale site and need to pick that up in a few days before the people move. Also found a friend with a Kegerator for sale cheap, need to get that picked up as well. TV Mount is on the way and a new 32 inch Smart TV with WiFi...Dish is going to change out my account from the RV account to a regular dish with Hopper and a Joey for the RV. WiFi should be installed next week after painting is done. Have all the paint and supplies and lumber for the cook counter and bar hatch and bar top...will build after paint.

It will be nice having some counter space to cook from time to time - put the crock pot out there and I have a two burner hot plate, hot dog roller on the way...

Finally got the sink drain plumbing to line up and drain properly!

The man cave is almost complete and nice to see the end in sight - then to paint the outside and get the patio cleaned up and some patio furniture and bar stools - Grill moved over and some nice big potted plants. This spring may put up a Pergola over part of the patio!

Stay tuned paint this week!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and National Parks!

The Oasis Under Construction

Have spent several days cleaning up my new site and de-constructing the shed as it gets coverted to "Cap's Oasis"....got water and electric into the shed and tore out all the old shelves and mess that was in there.

Today, I removed some inside paneling so I can run electric and make the large bar window in the patio side. Hopefully tomorrow will pick up some 2 X 4's and get the door installed and the bar window framed out and a few small electrical items squared away.

Took it easy most of the week, wrenched my back really bad tearing out some last weekend. Seems a little better today and the work and exercise did me good, we will see in the morning.

The Plan

The site cleaned up and gravel spread...sewer for the RV is fixed and ready to install with hard pipe rather than flex..

The sink is here and ready to install - waiting on one drain part.

Drain pipe is connected and ready to cut off and set up under sink the sink is going in the back corner.

Fresh water is stubbed in

The current window was for a swamp cooler and is too small for the "Bar"...the wall is stripped down and ready to reframe for the new size which will be 4 feet wide and 42" from the outside patio for 3 bar stools and a fold up hatch.

The Mess

Have the carpet for the floor and paint for the ceiling and walls - bar lights are here and luckily a buddy from Fans Sports Bar has a kegerator he wants to sell cheap - brand new - never used - HUGE SCORE!. Need a full sized fridge for the back wall, beside the sink will be a 4 foot counter for the hot dog roller, toaster oven, hot plate - for coney dogs and room for my crock pot and deep fryer for other cooking projects for pot lucks or special "Oasis Nights"!

Hopefully make some good headway tomorrow and get the trailer moved on Monday or Tuesday!

The solar lights are in and look great..Hummingbirds have found my new feeder!

Stay tuned for more progress over the next few weeks!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!