Casita Travel Trailer | DIXIE PIXIE

The Essentials for the Maiden Voyage

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Cheryl Norman

Last year, when we traveled to Texas to take delivery of our trailer, we had to pack judiciously for both the hotel stops and our camping. We were limited to the cab and bed of a regular cab pickup truck. We had 1000+ miles to travel … with a new puppy. Preparation was key to a relaxed, fun journey.

Dixie Pixie’s first campsite

Rockin’ “A” RV Park, Vernon, TX

Before the trip, Butch installed a cover for the pickup bed to protect items from the weather. This cover increased our storage so we could transport chairs and plastic storage containers for our camping necessities. We tried to think of everything we’d need on our first few days of Casita ownership.

Alas, we made numerous trips to the Vernon, Texas, Walmart for the items we didn’t pack and for groceries we couldn’t bring. Fortunately, the Walmart is located next door–within walking distance–of Rockin’ “A” RV Park and the Walmart trips enabled us to earn steps on our fitness trackers.

Here’s a list of what we brought and wished we brought. We have more on board now. These were bare essentials for starting out. I hope the list helps newbie campers. (If you don’t travel with pets, you can ignore our dog items)

Clothes for 5 days
Pet food, water, toys, treats, and crate
Essential medications and toiletries
Tools (Butch keeps basic tools in his truck’s toolbox)
RV toilet paper
Paper towels, plates, cups, and napkins (at least enough for a week)
Flatware (stainless. I don’t like plastic utensils)
Kitchen tools (i.e. spatula, can opener, knife, vegetable peeler)
Cookware *
Teakettle for boiling water (we’re tea drinkers, both hot and iced)
Two large bath towels, two hand towels, and a dishcloth
2 pillows
2 sleeping bags (our preference. Take bed linens if you want)
Whisk broom, disinfectant wipes, baby wipes
Small bottles of hand soap, dish soap
A zippered storage bag of laundry pods and dryer sheets.
Holding tank treatment
Our electronics and rechargers
Two folding lawn chairs

*I have a small set of stainless steel cookware perfect for RVs that nests for storage. It also has a griddle that doubles as a toaster. Although I added a 3 quart mini Instant Pot and an air fryer since that trip, this basic set enabled me to cook well-rounded meals.

Rice, Texas, at the Casita factory

I didn’t include grocery items. We picked up salt, pepper, butter, and food for meals during our first Walmart visit.

If you have suggestions to add to the list, please leave a comment.

We are Floridians

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Cheryl Norman

When RV travelers meet at national parks, campgrounds, truck stops, or rallies, they inevitably ask you where you are from. Or as we say, “where y’all from?” Technically we’re Floridians. Barely. We live so close to the state line that Valdosta, Georgia, is our nearest Sam’s Club, Best Buy, or Outback Steakhouse. But we used to live in Jacksonville and consider Florida home.

When we began decorating Dixie Pixie, we wanted to show our Florida pride. Here’s what we did.

We didn’t want to overdo it on Dixie Pixie’s exterior. Now we plan to tackle the interior. Stay tuned …

Cooking Aboard Dixie Pixie

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Cheryl Norman

Those who know me as author Cheryl Norman, know that I write cookbooks as well as fiction. I wrote a cookbook called Hasty Tasty RV Meals, but that was published during my motor homing days. Unfortunately, some of my advice from that book doesn’t apply to the tiny kitchen in my Casita. I don’t have a microwave oven, I don’t have room for a Vitamix, and my tiny freezer barely holds a bag of ice. Lately I’ve been thinking of writing a new cookbook specifically for those of us who travel in eggs. Perhaps I’ll title it Hasty Tasty Dixie Pixie Meals. LOL

Preparing meals in tiny spaces is challenging but rewarding. We save money and calories to compensate for our occasional visits to local restaurants. Part of the fun of travel is sampling the local cuisine.

I’m still adapting to Dixie Pixie’s kitchen, so I’m not ready to share tips. However, I welcome your advice. Any tips on cooking aboard my Dixie Pixie? Please share a comment.