We'd Welcome them to Brownwood. The invitations are in the mail !

Wed, Apr. 26, 2006

EYE SPY goes to the trailer park
By GAILE ROBINSON
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The Sisters on the Fly were on the move, although they weren't moving very fast. It had taken them two hours to travel from Granbury to Fort Worth. When 30 women caravan, one or two to a vehicle, restroom stops and refueling can be a logistical nightmare. This is fairly typical travel for the Sisters, a group of almost 500 women who roam about the country, dragging diminutive travel trailers painted with cowgirl themes. They rally in various scenic locations for sisterly pursuits. Fishing, supposedly. Although, when they set up camp at Grapevine's Vineyard Campground last week -- after appearing at the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth and in a parade in Grapevine -- they talked far more about hunting and gathering in the antique stores of Fredericksburg than of fly fishing. The spectacle of what looked like dozens of Dale Evans' dressing rooms tooling down the Interstate, driven by women dressed to the nines in cowgirl cocktail attire, caught the attention of Eye Spy. So we tracked them down and were taken to their leader.

Joyce Aiken, 65, Sister No. 466, and Marty Edmiston, 55, Sister No. 268 Mertzon
1961 Gulfstream, "Sugar Plum"
Darling Design Detail: The antique tooled-leather purses she uses to hold nonvintage hairstyling appliances.
How did your trailer get its name?
I bought it from Mr. Plum, and it was a sweet deal. He bought it new in 1962, took it hunting for 40 years, had a stroke and couldn't hunt anymore. When I drove off, both of us were in tears.
Wow, you have a bathroom, none of the others does. This is quite deluxe.
Yes, that's why I had to have the towels embroidered. I do have a copy of the "Cowgirl 10 Commandments" on the wall.
What are those?
Things like, "Honor your ma and pa and just one God." "Don't hanker for your neighbor's stuff."
Glenda Stone, "old enough to know, young enough to do," Sister No. 62 Sherwood, Ark.
1965 or 1973 Bell, (no one is quite sure which) "Circle G Bunkhouse"
Darling Design Detail: "Lucy" her doll from childhood, who travels everywhere with Glenda, kitted out in a custom-made denim ensemble.
How did you find out about this group?
My husband and I were on a trail ride and found some of the sisters camping. I said when we left, "I'm getting one of those trailers."
I never did anything by myself. If he wasn't with me, I didn't go. He said, "I can't see you doing that." And I said, "I'm going to get me one even if it sits in the driveway."
Thirty days later, we drove 500 miles, looking at trailers. On the way home, about 20 miles from our house, I saw one. A lady came out of the house. I said, "I saw that little trailer, and I was wondering if it was for sale?" She grabbed me with both hands and said [to her daughter], "Bethany, go get your father."
Well, later that night I called him and gave him an offer and it insulted him and he hung up on me. So I let him stew a little bit. I really wanted the trailer. I called back with an apology and another offer. He accepted it.
My first trip ever pulling my trailer, I drove 3,000 miles round trip and was gone for 16 days.
It was a life-changing experience.
Maurrie Sussman, 61, Sister No. 1 Phoenix
Darling Design Detail: A chandelier and faux fireplace in lieu of a Formica-topped dinette
So, Maurrie, how did this all begin?
My sister and I wanted girlfriends to come on adventures with us. It's like having a million more sisters. Well, about 500.
How does one become a sister?
You have to be a woman. Yes, a woman, that's about it.
Since you are No. 1, do you lead the caravan?
Yes, we line up in order. (She begins flirting shamelessly with the photographer.) You are darling. Can I take you with us?
Uh, Maurrie, tell me about your boots.
They go with the pink cowgirl pantaloons.
Is that a picture of James Garner on the wall?
Yes, it was such a cute frame. Normally we don't bring cowboys along, but I'd take him (pointing at the photographer).
Diane Smith, 67, Sister No. 16 Fort Collins, Colo.
12-foot 1957 Aloha
Darling Design Detail: What looks like hand-painted cowboy boots on the cabinet fronts are cut from wallpaper border.
How did you find out about this group?
I read about them in Country Living magazine, I called Maurrie and talked to her for about two hours. My first trip was to Wyoming and Idaho.
Did you have the trailer then?
No, I have a bigger Airstream, but I couldn't paint that.
Where did you find this tiny trailer?
On eBay, about nine months ago.
How frantic was the bidding?
It was pretty heated for a while. We laugh [that] you find a bargain for $500 and spend $20,000 fixing it up.
Do you have a name for it?
This is Udder. You know, I had one [trailer] and this is the Udder one.
Susan Whittington, 39, Sister No. 411 Johnson City
1962 Holly
Darling Design Detail: Nothing original is left in this trailer, which makes the wire shelving and two comfy-sized beds look anachronistic, but smart.
Where did you get your trailer?
We found it parked in town. We paid $200 on the spot and gutted it. My husband put in the hardwood floors, rewired it and put the paneling in. My daughter and I painted the ceiling.
Is this your daughter, painted on the outside?
Yes, this is my daughter Rilee. She's 8. She was with me last Sunday. They made her feel very welcome. Usually she's very shy, but she opened up. The next day she had to go back to school and she was so sad. She said, 'Momma, you'd be crying, too, if you had to leave,' and she'd be right.
Nina Elliott, Sister No. 231 Thrall
1973 Scamp, "Texas Lou's Roadhouse"
Darling Design Detail: A vintage cowgirl lamp, brown bandana curtains, leather throw pillows and .22-caliber rifle are the accessories of choice for this cowgirl's road house.
Where did you find your trailer?
Online. Once I got on the Thrifty Nickel it took about a week. I was going to name her Beulah. But my middle name is Louise, so that's how I came up with "Texas Lou." And "Roadhouse?" Well, there's usually a Shiner in the refrigerator.
You've got some great details, (a white picket fence hides the kitchen wastewater receptacle, a foot pad on the trailer hitch has been given a pedicure and ankle bracelets.)
I found the wagon bench in Fredericksburg.
Sounds like when you guys travel you're all looking for the same thing.
We go into shops and split up so we don't fight over stuff.
Kati Weingartner and Molly Westgate, collectively Sister No. 190 Chandler, Ariz.
1952 Boles Aero, "Pearl"
Darling Design Detail: Slick as an Italian sofa, the stark, clean-lined interior has not been beaten with a cute stick. It is just high-gloss varnish on lovely golden wood, with the trailer's original chrome hardware.
Is this an Airstream?
Don Boles built it. He was in the aerospace industry, he's still alive, and he's 93. Last month I met him and got him to sign one of the doors. Take a gander. It's not done yet.
That's what they all say. Oh, it's gorgeous. Look at all this lovely wood. How long have you had it?
Fifteen months and I've done nothing but try to restore it. I took it down to the bare metal. I made all the curtains, I redid the windows, Kati did all the electrical. Here, sit here.
What would you have to charge to get your money out of it?
I've been told I could get $50,000. It cost me $500 to get it out of the forest service. It hadn't moved for eight years; it was in bad shape. Only four-legged creatures lived in it.
Elaine Block, 54, Sister No. 151 Queen Creek, Ariz.
1957 Shasta, "Sassy Sister"
Darling Design Detail: Block has the best outside tableaux. She's made a wind chime out of tin camping cups and plates and uses an old washtub as a beverage cooler.
How do you get away for these weekends?
I tell the people at work I'm leaving. I'm a nurse in Scottsdale.
(At this point we are interrupted by the newest sister, Suellyn Kenimer, Sister No. 478, from Grapevine, who was inspired by the caravan of trailers and spontaneously joined. She is already planning her trailer.)
Suellyn: It'll have baby half moons, just like those. (She points at the vintage hubcaps.)
How will you get time to do this?
Suellyn: I'm retired from Exxon Mobil.
Elaine: I'm past ready to retire.

Gaile Robinson, (817) 390-7113 grobinson@star-telegram.com
source: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/living/14431560.htm