Author Archives: Noile

Camping 3: Aliner Scout Tips

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Noile

This post is a composite, with photos, of all the tips we´ve gathered as we figured out how to best maximize our Aliner experience. Photo of a white, triangular, camper with a high, Alpine-style, roof. The camper is parked with … Continue reading →

Posted in 2025, Adventure/Travel, Camping | Leave a comment

Camping 2: Why We Bought an Aliner/Weight Considerations

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Noile

We recently bought an Aliner Scout, a hard-sided popup camper. We´ve been looking for ways to find tranquil moments, and this turned out to be our solution. Simplicity and convenience are really important to us, and our tow vehicle is … Continue reading →

Posted in 2025, Adventure/Travel, Camping | Leave a comment

Camping 1: We Buy an Aliner Scout

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Noile

This is something a little different for Noile, which is being presented here along the lines of ´better living through crafting of one sort or another´. It has nothing to do with fabric, sewing, or weaving, though, but just generally … Continue reading →

Posted in 2025, Adventure/Travel, Camping | Leave a comment

Cross Straps for a Vintage Cloak

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Noile

When I was growing up in San Francisco, two brothers dominated the department store scene — I. Magnin was the store for fashionable affluent women, and Joseph Magnin catered to a similarly affluent, but generally younger and livelier clientele. My … Continue reading →

Posted in 2025, Coats/Capes/Wraps | Leave a comment

Pocket for a Vintage Jacket

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Noile

I found this jacket at a resale shop sometime in the 1990s, and was quite taken with it — probably because of all the zippers! Underarm, side, neck — zips everywhere you look! Also, the low-key color-blocking, largely in my … Continue reading →

Posted in 2025, Jackets | Leave a comment

A Pocket for a Manufactured Bag

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Noile

Recently, I needed a much larger waistpack for a different kind of trip. I found this one at REI, which met the brief, except for one small problem. Photo of an REI Trail 5 Waistpack, courtesy REI. The pack is … Continue reading →

Posted in 2025, Bags | Leave a comment

Hood Mod

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Noile

Modification month continues chez Noile. This post, we consider the issue of the irresistible Ostrich Pillow Hood. Ostrich Pillow, the company, markets this as ´the perfect companion for those who need to focus´. Well, maybe. Their claim that it´s a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2024, Accessories, Hats | Leave a comment

A Few More Changes to the Euro Flight Bag

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Noile

It should come as no surprise that I wasn´t able to leave my Rick Steves Euro Flight Bag alone after its original modification. Image of a Rick Steves Euro Flight bag. The black, squashable, bag is lying flat. The bag … Continue reading →

Posted in 2024, Accessories, Bags | Leave a comment

Add-on Vest Pockets

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Noile

Recently, I bought a lightweight synthetic Columbia vest at a discount outlet. Although it has some of the hallmarks of a more expensive Columbia garment, my guess is that this one was made for the secondary outlet market: It has … Continue reading →

Posted in 2024, Adventure/Travel, Organization, Vests | 2 Comments

A Simple Bag Mod

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Noile

Bags hold endless fascination for me. Are there ever enough? Is any given one the ´right´ bag? Perhaps tragically, the answers for me are 1) No and 2) There´s always a new choice for a new ´right´purpose. Image of a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2024, Bags | Leave a comment