Backyard Camping

Backyard camping is not only for children! My friend Sharon was mentioning that it has been awhile since she has been camping and she misses it I am creating this article for her and others who think you need to leave home to enjoy nature. Backyard camping makes tons of sense if you stop and think about it.

If you live in the country, you may have the perfect spot to pitch a tent already. If you have a level area among the trees, you have the perfect place to pitch a tent. If you do not have a level area than level out an area which is suitable.

Make sure you clean the brush so that it is not destroying your tent. If you have an old rug or big piece of carpeting, you can lay it on the ground as extra padding beneath you.

If it is your property, you never have to worry about paying park fees, which are increasing each year.
There are many benefits to this type of camping. There are no gas fees, and with the price of gasoline in recent summers, this is a godsend to many.

Another benefit is that you can sleep outside when you feel the desire. You need not worry about leaving valuables in your tent if it is in your property.

If you have animals, they can enjoy camping on their own property as well. There is no need to uproot dogs or cats that will minimize their stress. They will certainly enjoy you being outside so much with them during your vacation.

If you do not have a tent, you can curl up on an air mattress or rough it with a sleeping bag and the ground. There is nothing like sleeping under the stars to renew your spirit and be at one with nature.



Screened in porches are also excellent places to crash for the night so you can remain dry if it decides to rain during the night. Sleeping on a porch or deck will keep away the critters and slithering snakes. Snakes are the reason I dislike sleeping on the open ground any longer.

Pitching a tent on your property means less packing for the trip, electric and indoor bathrooms. You can shower at your convenience, and not worry about leaving the campsite unattended.

Do not take the phone with you, that is what answering machines are for. Leave technology inside and become one with nature and you will have a restful mini vacation any time you need it.

Of course, if you have an emergency an added benefit for backyard camping is you have the telephone near by if needed. However if you play it safe, the chances of an emergency occurring is drastically limited.

Colored flames in a campfire

Colored flames in a campfire are a neat way to bring some laughter. Make these with common household substances and a piece of duct tape. You can get a single packet of this material from Wal-Mart for about 5 bucks. I am not responsible for your actions if you decide to try any of these at home.

Colored flames are also a great way to make people think you are very smart or perhaps a little magical. Bring out the magic in you at your next bon f ire or the next time you are sitting around the campfire.

This would be funny to do if you live in the country and use a burning barrel. Prepare your packet of colored flames and toss it in the burning barrel to delight your neighbors.

If you want to scare the crap out of someone, make the packet toss it in the garbage bag before they take it out.

First for each of the colored flames, recipes listed below you need plain ordinary duct tape. You need to make sure you get the wider roll as it is easier to work with. There are plenty of colors of duct tape so you can get your favorite. Once your packet is created just toss it into the fire and watch the fun begin.

For light yellow or and light green colored flames you simply need borax. Simply cut a one-inch piece of duct tape and lay it on a flat surface. Next, add 1 teaspoonful of the borax. Fold the duct tape into a little packet, making sure to seal each seam by pressing the duct tape together.

For nice violet purple colored flames, purchase some saltpeter. Saltpeter sometimes called potassium nitrate. Cut your duct tape as directed above. Add a teaspoon of the saltpeter to it. Make your packet as you did before.


Dark purple colored flames can be made with water softener salt at Wal-Mart. Cut your duct tape as directed above. Add a teaspoon of the water softener to it. Make your packet as you did before.

For nice white colored flames, purchase some Epsom Salt. Ask your grandma for some Epsom Salt rather than purchasing a box as all you will need is a teaspoon. Cut your duct tape as directed above. Add a teaspoon of the Epsom Salt to it. Make your packet as you did before.

For bright blue colored flames, you simply need calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is damp rid and it takes moisture out of a damp cellar. Cut your duct tape as directed above. Add a teaspoon of the damp rid to it. Make your packet as you did before.

Once more, I am not responsible for your actions if you decide to try any of these at home.

Camping Games for Rainy days

A few Yahtzee games for rainy days at camp will not only help everyone pass the time easier but it will also get in some hidden match skills for children. Children need to keep up those math skills in the summer, less they forget how to count. It happens, kids do forget simple math things over the summer.



Phase 10 dice game is played with lots of dice, and it is played like Yahtzee sort of. Players make runs and sets of different numbers, which makes it more like the classic game. It is played with more dice, which makes it even more exciting.



Flinch is a great card game that has been around for many years. It was introduced back in 1903 as a card game, which could be played solo, or with up to four people. Players try to get rid of stockpiles that they are dealt by discarding cards in piles where the cards ascend or descend.



This game was fun game in my childhood when I would sit and play it with an aunt and my elderly grandparents. I remember sitting on top of Mount Pisgah playing this game with them during many rainy and sunny days.



Bingo is a great game to play with kids of any age who can read numbers. This is a game, which can be played with different ages, but younger kids will become bored quickly with longer versions.
Grab a few decks of cards and visit this site for tons of card game ideas you can play with your family. This web site has many instructions, and some of the variations have photo guides.

Resources for camping games
http://www.freeworldgroup.com/games/yahtzee/index.html http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2578 phase 10



http://www.pagat.com/ various card games

Quick Camping Lessons

Camping in a way is forming a new civilization of it is done in the true American way. I am speaking of pitching a tent and creating a campfire. The lessons are endless almost with this type of camping.

If you pitch a tent in the middle of nowhere, you have to clear the land. In clearing the land, you learn about tools, plants and even some leveling. A smart camper learns quickly to put his or her tent on moss or at least on a layer of carpet. The carpet keeps moisture out. The carpet and moss protect against tears in the tent from rocks or other things under the ground surface that may come uncovered.

A smart camper also quickly learns the difference between harmless plants and plants that can cause rashes and other harm. Never make a campsite near poison oak or poison ivy. Take the time parents, learn these harmful plants, and educate the children as well.

Parents also need to teach their children to take care of food and to keep the campsite clean of any food scraps. This means bread, chips, candy, and snacks need to be in plastic containers so that there is no odor to call the animals.

Coolers, dishes, and tabletops should be washed often to keep pests from entering the camping area. Parents will also need to make certain that small children have their faces and hands washed often as they tend to get food all over them. It would be a shame if a bear wandered into camp to eat the creamed spinach that your infant dribbled down his sun suit.


The campfire is also a great area for lessons to be learned. Gathering wood should not be just one person's job; small children can gather sticks or small stuff to use when an adult starts a fire. Stick a box for the children to fill near a tree and allow the children to fill it. Teach them why they need to gather the small stuff, and explain the dangers of fire when starting a fire.

Explain why the fire needs to be contained in the fire pit; a forest fire is an awful thing to start. Take the time also to explain what type of stick is needed to push the burning logs around to slow down the fire or speed it up.

I hope that your children will never need to make a fire themselves. What happens if you get hurt out in the middle of nowhere and fall ill, you child may have to build a fire to signal help. It is better to teach them this lesson so they can do it, if it is ever needed. Teach them the ways of camping and they can carry these lessons and adapt them as needed in their lives.

Rainy Day activities

Camping games for rainy days are a Godsend if you are stuck in a tent or camper while the rain pours down outside. If you do not plan ahead and take some games for rainy days while camping, then you will need to get creative.

Camping Games for Rainy days are the focus of this article, and all of these games are geared towards older children and adults alike. Games like Phase ten dice, Yahtzee, and Flinch have been around for years and are part of my sister Carmon's arsenal, which she shared with us on a rainy day of camping lately.

Camping is a great activity for families to enjoy together, and it can be a great way to teach different things that will stick with a child forever. There are many lessons to be learned while camping and they all promote teamwork and working together.

Win a Book Contest!

One of my favorite things to do while I am camping is relax like everyone else, but when I get very relaxed I tend to work. When I am in the midst of Mother Nature, my muse floods me with ideas for stories. Of course, when Mother Nature inspired my muse, anything is possible. Most of the stories I have written for my own books or my stories in Circle 8 Writers Group have been ‘born’ at the family campgrounds.  My muse just enjoys the serenity of the wooded acres on my sister’s land.

I can often be seen lunging in the chair under the trees with a pen in hand. I am a writer it is what I do, more importantly it is who I am. I have never been one to leave my work at home since I began writing full time back in 2007.  Sometimes when my muse is kept at bay, I read a good book. I believe there is nothing like getting lost in the words between the cover of a notebook or a good novel.

SO anyways, Angel Sharum who founded the Circle 8 Writers Group is currently running a contest through March 31. The winner gets an autographed copy of one of our six books. Please visit her blog and get your entry in there today, we also have a Facebook Fan page.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day I hope you have your green on.!

Camping with Fresh Berries

There are many uses for fresh raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. These are three berries, which are coming into season, and if you are lucky, you can pick them right off the vine, if not, visit your local fruit stand or grocery department. Grab your own raspberries, blueberries and blackberries today.



The freshest raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries can right off the vine and this is a great family activity. If you live in one of the small towns around America, you can find these berries growing wild. There are also berry farms where you can pick your own for a nominal fee.



I love to eat fresh berries right off the vine, but when I go camping, it is a whole other ball game. My favorite way to eat them is straight from the vine but there are other ways. When the morning dew is still fresh on the fruit is the best time to pick raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. You can sprinkle them on unsweetened cereal to make it more healthy and it does not add as many calories as sugar would.
At lunchtime when you go camping, you can toss any raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries one to plain pudding or vanilla ice cream for a special dessert. If you are eating a fruit salad, you can toss these berries in the mix as well.



For a special dessert, purchase a plain pound or angel food cake. Slice it but before serving this, top with raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries and whipped cream or cool whip.



You can also add raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries to batter for great campfire pancakes. These pancakes will keep the kids and adults alike eating. Syrup is okay but these griddlecakes are also good when spread with peanut butter or topped with butter only.



If your family enjoys making mountain pies the raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries make a wonderful addition. Simply butter a slice of bread put it in the pig iron sandwich maker, top with the berries and a buttered slice of bread. Grill this as usual. These sweet pockets make a sweet delicious and healthy treat for your family. You can add a bit of sugar to the fruit if needed but it is not necessary.



A very special treat if you have a Dutch oven at your campsite is to make a cake with fresh raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Simply prepare a white cake batter as usual and pour over the fresh berries. Bake as usual; on a campfire, which is, build in a fire pit that has grates above the flame to prevent burning. If you have never baked a cake on a grill, here are some easy directions.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place on unheated side of grill grate. Allow this to bake for about 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. You will need to turn the pan during the cooking process to prevent burning. Carefully remove Dutch oven from campfire pit grill and allow cooling.