First Camping Trip 2013 ~ Enjoying Our Pop-Up Camper

We took our first camping trip last weekend.  This was a  good ol' fashioned, cook over the fire, no electronics, hike, bike, swim, and fish, camping trip. 

Before we left, as we were packing up, the dogs got into the truck.  They wanted to go for a ride.  We felt so bad, but they would not have had a good time.  The entire 200-some campsites were booked, and there were so many people.

Living Life through a Book ~ Letters of Woman Homesteader, By Elinore Pruitt Stewart

I must be crazy.  I bought this book several years ago, and never read it.  What is wrong with me?  Oh, my goodness, I fell in love the minute I started reading this book. 


I became so absorbed, I felt like I was Elinore, out on her camping trip to no where, enjoying the beauty and peace.  Can you imagine just up and leaving with no destination, a gun to supply food, and living completely from the land as you went?  I can.

Puttin' Up Herbs

I typically do better at putting up herbs in the early part of summer.  In the fall, most have flowered or gone to seed,and it makes it more difficult, such as thyme and oregano.  However, it's a perfect time for me to cut and dry more rosemary and sage.  I make tea with my sage, as well as use it for cooking/baking.

The weather continues to be cool, and I love it!  I want to go camping, but we are still attempting to get a temporary tag for it (the dealer has not mailed the title, and only has 3 days left to do so).  Hubby attempted yesterday, but will attempt again today.  

And the Winner is . . .

The winner of the mystery book and locally made chocolate bar is:

Winnie Nielsen!  Just e-mail with with your information, and I can send you off your prize!

Thanks everyone for entering.  I may be doing this again.

Dehydrating Cucumbers

(partially dehydrated)

Considering I have enough pickles stocked up, I decided to dehydrate the last of the cucumbers.  My cucumber plants are already turning brown.  I have not dehydrated cucumbers before.

I tossed the cucumber slices in chili powder, salt and paprika, to dry for chips.  I will also grind some into powder, for soups, stews, sauces, and dips.

My super chili peppers are being dehydrated today.  They are the only pepper that produced this season, out of all of our 50-some pepper plants.  I have a few habanero peppers on a few plants, but I'm not sure they will amount to much.  The chili peppers were sliced for drying, and then later I will be ground into chili pepper. 

Puttin' Up Jams and Jellies

I recently made a jam with cantaloupe fruit and vanilla bean.  This jam has such an interesting combination of flavors, I had to try it.  If I were to make this again, I would can it in 4 oz. jars, and give as gifts, or sell for $4.00 for the small jar.  In the end, I did not get 3 - 1/2 pints, but 2 1/2.  I followed the recipe exactly, but if you are interested, there is one on-line  -

From the Family Journal . . .

 . . . taught my 11 year-old daughter how to do your own laundry.

. . . found out my younger brother is engaged. Yay!