tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:55:00 +0000My husband, Fred, and I have been campers most of our lives. We think the best camping locations are in our National Forests. We have spent more than 10-years researching campgrounds in National Forests and aren't done yet. Join us while we plan and prepare for our continuing research, have various camping adventures, and post info on-the-fly. For our campground reviews go to www.forestcamping.com.http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)Blogger330125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-5714098463583700707Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:55:00 +00002009-11-11T03:55:00.791-08:00recipeA few years ago, we planted a pomegranate bush/tree and this year it went crazy. We literally had two grocery bags full of pomegranates. Now, I like eating them fresh but the quantity was overwhelming. A while ago, a girlfriend gave us a jar of homemade pomegranate jelly and it was yummy. So, I decided to use our pomegranates and make a batch of jelly. Except for mint jelly, I have always http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/pwcVOzfyvYs/pomegranate-jelly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/pwcVOzfyvYs" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/11/pomegranate-jelly.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-3419712670927757246Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:10:00 +00002009-11-09T04:10:57.061-08:00kootenia national forestForest ServicephotographsDancing Coyotes from AZ Hwy's 2008 Photo Contest I’m not sure if this is true in all states but I have found it’s really easy to take a “good” photograph in Arizona.  My challenge is get beyond “Good.”  I look at the photos in an Arizona Highways magazine and just ache with the desire to take photographs that far beyond “good.” Apparently I’m not the only one.  Acknowledge this, Arizona http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/eMG87s4-lrM/taking-wildlife-photos.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/eMG87s4-lrM" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/11/taking-wildlife-photos.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-7978611297720931168Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:24:00 +00002009-11-06T16:24:00.221-08:00Forest ServicecampingThere may be dangers in the forests, we recognize this, but often they seem more like urban legend than reality. However, there is a visible scar on a mountain-side in the Gallatin National Forest in Montana, along along US Route 287 and just northwest of Yellowstone National Park, to remind us, even in a place of such beauty a terrible tragedy can occur.August 17, 1959, just before midnight, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/1ewuexqwX8Y/august-17-1959-earthquake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/1ewuexqwX8Y" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/11/august-17-1959-earthquake.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-7024990279081216206Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:35:00 +00002009-11-04T04:35:00.769-08:00campingrecipeIs there anything better than a bowl of hot homemade soup on a cold day?  I knew it was Arizona and I was back home, 90 miles southeast of Tucson and 12 miles north of Mexico, and it was October so what is happening?  A week ago, we had a 47 degree swing in the temperature in twenty-four hours and snow flurries!  Crazy weather. No matter were you are, cold weather calls for hot homemade soup http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/2VqHbiHFWkY/hot-soup-for-cold-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/2VqHbiHFWkY" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/11/hot-soup-for-cold-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-4737876374959772123Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:07:00 +00002009-11-02T05:07:59.141-08:00rv lifestyletravelWhile in Dickinson, ND, Fred bought a Blackberry phone. It has been a great addition to his communication tool bag. But it didn’t change the fact that we camp in the woods where cell phone signals are very weak or not at all. Enter another essential item–Wilson Electronics, Inc’s SignalBoost.This device isn’t cheap, and can be a hassle setting up, but it does work amazingly well. We’ll pull http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/sFsSB81bSLs/boosting-our-signal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/sFsSB81bSLs" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/11/boosting-our-signal.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-2358524289280095560Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:55:00 +00002009-10-30T04:55:00.376-07:00travelcampingAfter college, our daughter became an avid backpacker. There was a time when, at the drop of a hat, she would head for the mountains near her Montana home and spend several days in a “wilderness” camp. She would love to go camping even now but there are the businesses she and her husband own and operate, and three babies.They did move from a two-man tent after the first baby to a tiny travel http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/rE-OHcNY8IU/primer-for-pop-up-tent-trailer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/rE-OHcNY8IU" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/primer-for-pop-up-tent-trailer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-1287859332431464496Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +00002009-10-28T05:00:21.234-07:00rv lifestylefamily vacationscampingContinuing the “From one Rver to another” theme, I picked up a copy of Real Simple (March 2004 issue, if memory serves) while at a small town Laundromat and found “The Shelf-Life Periodic Table.” What a great thing to have on hand for home or RV. Here are some items you’ll find in my pantry.NOTE: The expiration dates provides are offered as a rough guideline. The shelf lives of any product http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/PHDYIcwBjYs/good-for-how-long.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/PHDYIcwBjYs" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/good-for-how-long.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-1640103316993244905Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:33:00 +00002009-10-26T05:51:08.554-07:00campingI think it is official - the 2009 camping season has ended. Retailers are clearing out stock and the sales are tempting. You might even be seeing, as I have, local sporting goods store advertising $20 tents. Here are some tips so you will know what you might be getting for a low price.I’ll use an advertisement in a recent newspaper for a tent that looked to be a good buy. This tent had a 9×9 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/1RlMLrmHj5k/shopping-for-tent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/1RlMLrmHj5k" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/shopping-for-tent.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-4670307115509109222Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:39:00 +00002009-10-23T04:39:00.762-07:00travelcampingI'm always learning and picking up helpful information from other campers. Here are some tidbits from this year's travels.Tennis ball jar opener: Carefully slice a tennis ball in half with a box opener or X-acto knife. Use its rubber lining to grip a stubborn lid as you twist to open.Lost sock: It seemed like I was forever losing socks. Two solutions - buy only one style and brand of sock (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/rhQTeejHcQ4/tips-from-one-rver-to-another.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/rhQTeejHcQ4" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/tips-from-one-rver-to-another.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-3909776615815503094Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:17:00 +00002009-10-22T15:23:34.588-07:00national forest campgroundsForest ServicecampingOnce upon a time we were asked, "What is a "vault? Isn't it where the Forest Service puts important papers?"A reasonable question for someone unfamiliar with the vocabulary used by the Forest Service. For Fred and I it was the question that demonstrated a need for a glossary of terms to go with our website, forestcamping.com and Guides.Although neither Fred or I have been Forest Service http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/ZRb51YbnAXM/whats-vault.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/ZRb51YbnAXM" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/whats-vault.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-3205880196170991515Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:50:00 +00002009-10-21T07:14:42.565-07:00travelnational forest campgroundsForest Servicenational grasslandsFred loves the East. He enjoys the gentle rolling mountains with their blanket of green in the summer. And in the Autumn crazy quilt of colors from maple, oak, hickory, alder, elm, birch and all those other hardwoods warms his heart like little else can. He could spend hours watching cocoa colored rivers and stream flow by at their lazy, easy going pace. And Fred delights in driving narrow http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/w4t7UACNzMw/photos-from-2009-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/w4t7UACNzMw" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/photos-from-2009-season.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-6742601314183002639Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:52:00 +00002009-10-19T05:32:46.052-07:00rv lifestylefamily vacationstravelnational forest campgroundsWell, we are back home, two weeks early but. . .The last national forest we re-surveyed was the Lincoln, in New Mexico. It wasn’t much warmer there (during the day) then we had been experiencing but was delightfully dry. The trip across Texas (Sunset, TX to Plains, TX) on US82 was under heavy clouds and in intermittent rain storms or fog. Not the best traveling weather. However, we made one http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/_UajrGszFp8/crosbyton-tx-to-cloudcroft-nm-than-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/_UajrGszFp8" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/crosbyton-tx-to-cloudcroft-nm-than-home.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-5895339284902573986Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:59:00 +00002009-10-16T04:59:00.130-07:00travelcampingThere are many great things about Texas but driving an Interstate highway through west Texas is not one of them. I have to work at finding something to hold my interest as we motor through this area. This year I called upon just about every campfire song I could recall. Since my family says I have a singing voice that is such if I sing in the shower, the water would back up, Fred realize my http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/cvIfPlZrGoI/campfire-songs-to-help-drive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/cvIfPlZrGoI" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/campfire-songs-to-help-drive.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-8775712442149449263Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:49:00 +00002009-10-14T04:49:00.238-07:00conservationAt a slow but steady pace I read Darwin’s Fox and My Coyote by Holly Menino. It isn’t a book you breeze through. This book looks at the relationship between humans and wild canines, specifically the two in the title. The author’s investigation focused on two fox, Santa Cruz Island and Darwin’s, and the ever present coyote. Her writing style is comfortable and the vocabulary is manageable. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/c6Gj2HawSPQ/darwins-fox-and-my-coyote-some-thoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/c6Gj2HawSPQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/darwins-fox-and-my-coyote-some-thoughts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-3965055734448255362Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:23:00 +00002009-10-12T05:23:00.181-07:00trailForest Servicenational grasslandsOkay, enough of the wet stuff!!! As I hear another rainy day being forecast, a childhood ditty keeps running through my head:Rain, rain, go away Come again some other day.It was a wet summer for us but this fall has been down right soggy!!! We broke camp at Barge Lake in the Delta National Forest in a downpour and again at West Crockett Lake campground in Caddo (pronounced Cad-OH) National http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/stmCtaxGHZc/caddo-and-lbj-national-grasslands.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/stmCtaxGHZc" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/caddo-and-lbj-national-grasslands.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-788706503536442166Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:47:00 +00002009-10-09T04:47:00.869-07:00rv lifestylefamily vacationstravelcampingAs we leave the Southern Region behind, I have to say overall our time in the south has been good. The folks have been friendly and hospitable, even if the weather hasn’t been. Yep, for the most part we enjoyed our time in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas.One thing Fred and I did not enjoy and will not miss about the south are the fire ants common in Alabama, Mississippi, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/Zm-OzKcy_v4/fire-ants-beware.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/Zm-OzKcy_v4" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/fire-ants-beware.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-6487074293691083439Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:42:00 +00002009-10-07T04:42:00.625-07:00family vacationsfishingOne of the most enduring and vivid memories I have of our time in national forests centers on fishing. Not fishing we have done (we don’t own a fishing pole or hook) but of children fishing. One visual that has stayed with me for decades is of a Grandpa showing his grand-daughter how to put a worm on her hook. Their heads almost touching, his gnarled fingers guiding her plump pink digits, bothhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/-wx5Df2F6pc/delta-fishing-derby.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/-wx5Df2F6pc" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/delta-fishing-derby.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-4251000724281060764Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:47:00 +00002009-10-05T07:49:19.515-07:00rv lifestyletravelcampingGenerally, our departure of from one place to another is pretty routine, lacking drama or excitement. However, getting out of Hattiesburg, MS was anything but.The day before, Fred was sitting in the rig, at the dining table, when BAM!!! the window next to him shattered. The private campground’s manager was cutting grass with a riding mower and “kicked-up-a-rock” which shot into the window abouthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/k5doBfLnyys/shattered-window-in-hattiesburg-ms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/k5doBfLnyys" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/shattered-window-in-hattiesburg-ms.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-4175617012314733140Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:54:00 +00002009-10-02T04:54:00.197-07:00rv lifestyletravelcampingDoesn’t everyone have a “Junk Draw” in their homes. When you go camping, it isn’t a “Junk” but an “Essentials” draw. It is where you find what you need when you need it. We have designated a shallow draw under the refrigerator as our “Essentials” draw but, I think, an old shirt box under the passenger’s seat would work, too.While you will want to tailor your “Essentials” draw to your needs, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/4rKG55j4hKw/my-essentials-junk-draw.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/4rKG55j4hKw" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-essentials-junk-draw.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-7752654847641023614Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:23:00 +00002009-09-30T04:23:00.853-07:00rv lifestylefamily vacationsnational forest campgroundscampingOur four days camping at Payne Lake campground in the western part of Talladega National Forest are over and we start our research of Bienville National Forest in Mississippi. We really enjoyed our time at Payne Lake and wasn’t just because there were three days of sunshine. (A rare event for us during this season of research.)We had a lovely pull-through campsite a short distance from Payne http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/_a0slnYv7xM/payne-lake-campground-peace-quiet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/_a0slnYv7xM" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/09/payne-lake-campground-peace-quiet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-4738924410848314144Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:18:00 +00002009-09-28T04:18:00.339-07:00rv lifestyletravelcampingIt still surprises and thrills me when someone recognized Fred or myself as authors of the U.S. National Forest Campground Guides and www.forestcamping.com.Just the other day, as we were leaving the Bankhead National Forest’s Corinth campground, a nice looking gentleman walked right up to me and wanted to know if we were the authors of the forestcamping.com website. I said we were and the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/ios63UI8nGE/chief-hickory.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/ios63UI8nGE" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/09/chief-hickory.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-25135329490977245Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:38:00 +00002009-09-25T04:38:00.338-07:00travelhikingIf a key characteristic of hiking is “watching where you put your foot,” I am definitely a Walker and no way a Hiker. I’m much to busy looking all around to be worrying about where my feet land. Besides, IMHO, hiking is for sweet young things with buff bodies and trim legs, not for an old chubby broad like me with jiggling thighs.Besides, walking is my preferred form of exercise, especially http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/T_kSR-fjAhw/tips-for-hiking-comfortably.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/T_kSR-fjAhw" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/09/tips-for-hiking-comfortably.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-6527227506189254253Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:29:00 +00002009-09-23T03:38:03.091-07:00travelForest Servicenational forestsThere are only two national forests with no developed campgrounds: Tuskegee in Alabama and Delta in Mississippi. This week Fred and I visited, researched, and explored the Tuskegee National Forest. The weather, during our time there, didn’t show this little national forest at its best but, explored many of its nooks and crannies.A little background info on the Tuskegee NF. The land, purchased http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/08ju-WMjSU4/tuskegee-national-forest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/08ju-WMjSU4" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/09/tuskegee-national-forest.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-547749215237475903Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:14:00 +00002009-09-21T03:23:56.719-07:00rv lifestylecampingrecipeThe truth is not all cookbook are created equal. This is especially true for cookbooks written for camping. I keep looking but find each one incomplete and disappointing.A few weeks ago I picked up a copy of The Ultimate RV Cookbook and it didn’t take long to realize these recipes were not written by anyone who travels in an recreational vehicle (RV). That’s not to say there weren’t some good http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/8JLA0B5Iqvk/simple-quick-and-easy-recipes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/8JLA0B5Iqvk" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/09/simple-quick-and-easy-recipes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19829643.post-4657033769833372629Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:15:00 +00002009-09-18T04:15:00.178-07:00rv lifestyletravelcampingSpent a week in Louisville, KY (actually camped in the KOA in Clarksville) visiting with Douglas, my son, and a couple of Fred’s classmates. It was a good week. We did a lot visiting, eating good food, working on national forests and grasslands (see Little Missouri, Grand Cedar, and Grand River national grasslands) and managed a ton of catching up with family and friends (Fred kept remarking http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~3/kJsYAK9fZ9k/problem-solvers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Suzi Dow)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CampingWithSuzi/~4/kJsYAK9fZ9k" height="1" width="1"/>http://forestcamping.blogspot.com/2009/09/problem-solvers.html