horses, camping and trails

Help us get our country back to normal

2011-07-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

I would like to get this country back to a normal way of living. It can be done if we turn this thing around and get back to the way we used to do business. TRUST in our country and each other. There is a book “The 5000 Year Leap” everyone should read it, and there is a workbook and a movie that can go along with it.

I recommend this for everyone. Any one that wants to get back on track and get our national debt paid down so that our grand children can live peaceably, you need to read this book and act on it.

Go to www.nccs.net and look at it. Most importantly read it when you can.

Get involved with the “tea party”. This is an organization that wants to get the people in government that will work for the values and virtues that are basic and natural laws.

I want to do my part in getting the word out and to get voters to do what is right not what is expected. If you have not been to a tea party meeting I would urge you to get to one in your area.

Freedom- We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts chapter 5:29 This was given to us by God, through his helper Luke.

The first book printed in the American Colonies was “The Bay Psalm Book”. It was the first book written in the colonies.

In recent years many have tried to dismiss the fact that America was founded on the biblical principles of Judeo-Christianity. All the revisionism in the world cannot change the facts. All one has to do is examine the original documents written by our founding fathers. All the works including public statements and personal correspondence, and biographies have an abundance of quotations showing the profound extent to which their lives were influenced by a Christian worldview.

This does not mean that they were all Christians, but that they had one mind set that was influenced by Christian principles.

Camping equipment

2011-07-09T12:21:00.000-05:00

It is important to have some good equipment with you when you are camping and just trail riding sometimes. Knives are one of those that come in handy many times. A very handy knife on the trail is the folding pocketknife. Another knife to have on hand would be the tactical knife. There are many so choose from you will find one that meets your needs.
When you are going hunting and camping it is a good idea to carry or have on hand a fixed blade knife, very handy to skin your catch or to cut vines out of your way.

Knife depot is a good place to shop for a real good knife.

Camping gear

2011-06-10T12:03:00.001-05:00

Getting ready to go camping is a big chore to some people. We make it easy and there are things that you can do to make it easier on you as well.

Using a tent to sleep in does not have to be a big job. Some are very easy to set up and they are even nicer to sleep in. We have a two-room tent with lots of windows that can be closed or open with screens on them. No bugs flying in at night. Camping tents from this one single person to multiple rooms are very pleasurable to take with you.

Camping stoves are another thing that is essential for camping. You can use a simple stove or a more complex cooker, depending on your preference. Make your choice from the Camping gear outlet place.

Everything you need to go camping can be found at their place.

Camping trip gone down the tubes.

2011-06-03T11:29:00.000-05:00

5-in-1 Survival KitLet me tell you about our Memorial Day weekend. We were going to go to Muskogee OK to the National Cemetery there for my dad’s grave decoration. We were going to make a three-day weekend out of it and camp in Muskogee. This is how things go for us every now and then.

We got our fifth wheel camper all packed and the truck ready to go. We got the camper hooked up and headed out. We stopped at Wal-Mart for a few extra things that I needed. Bruce went around the back of the camper and then came to me and said “We don’t have a plate on here.” I asked him where it was and he did not know. He thought it was expired and I told him no because I remember getting it renewed.

Well, we turned around and went back home. I unpacked the whole camper and went into the house to “stew a bit”. I sat in my chair and Bruce came in and sat in his and then he got up and went to the TV stand, on top we have some books and things. He picked up the plate and said, “look here”. I could have hit him square in the nose. It was good, it does not expire until next year.

By now it was too late to get all packed up again.

But the whole weekend is not wasted. We got up Sunday and just drove the truck and went around the Grand Lake O the Cherokees for a nice trip. We stopped and took pictures in a couple of places and ate pizza at Disney, OK. We had fun.

This is an example of what happens to us. We just go and not get angry and fight about it. We enjoy each other and make the best of life.

Life is too short to be angry. Find the best that you can out every situation. Enjoy your life. God Bless.

Nice weekend comming up

2011-04-19T17:27:00.000-05:00

Now is a good time to get out and enjoy the spring weather.
Check your horses shoes and make sure they are ready to go.
check all your gear and get it ready.
How about your camper or your tent. Is there anything you need to repair before you can use it this year?
Do you need new camping eauipment?
Shop in Amazon store and see what they have.

Traveling with gas going higher

2011-04-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

I have heard so many people say that they will not be taking a vacation because gas prices are going so high. STOP! There is all the more reason to just take a camper or a tent and enjoy smaller vacations. You may be surprised how much more relaxed you may be. You don’t have to worry about getting somewhere on time, you don’t need to take your best clothing, you can take a picnic lunch and enjoy a day in the woods or at a theme park or a state park and swimming.

There is so much you can do. Just plan a little more into what you need to take and how much you can really afford to spend.

If your vehicle gets 20 MPG (for example) and you can put 20 gals in your tank at one time, then you can drive 400 miles one way and it would cost you approx. $ 76.00 to fill up when you leave. Now to go and get back home that would be $152.00 round trip.

So now you know how much it will cost to drive- figure out what you will do for meals.

Use the idea that you may eat three times a day- and it costs $10.00 each meal per person. For a weekend trip (three days) you would need $90.00 per person.
BUT you can make this less by taking a lunch for part of the day and eat snacks instead. You can buy a loaf of bread and lunchmeat a lot cheaper than a meal and it would last longer. Cookies and chips add to make a pretty good meal. So, now you have cut your meal expense down to maybe one meal a day out. Assume you will eat breakfast in the camper – cereal and coffee and donuts. A family of four:

One loaf of bread………… $2.25             coffee-      $ 5.00 brew your own

Lunch meat ……………… $ 3.50           donuts-     $ 8.00 / dozen

2nd lunch meat ……………. $ 3.50          cookies …$ 2.50

chips ………………………$ 2.50           milk …… $ 3.50

cereal ……………………. $ 3.50           take some condiments from home with you.

TOTAL $ 34.25 you should get two days out of this with four people eating.

Now you have approximately $35 dollars into meals at the campsite and then you can splurge on a restaurant meal for the last meal of the day. For three days $ 180.00 plus tips.

OK now lets see where we are:

Gas $152.00
Groceries $ 35.00
Meals $180.00

TOTAL $367.00 That’s not bad for a weekend. You can make a trip 400 miles away from home and still only use one weeks pay.

But remember you can stay longer if you eat less expensively. Cook all your meals on the pit or on your camp stove and save a lot. Your restaurant cost of $180.00 plus the original of $34.00 will buy nearly a week of groceries for all four of you.

If this is more than you really can afford then stay closer to home or cut out the restaurant every day. You can go and enjoy your time away from home and not break the bank doing it.

Remember to have fun relax and get rid of the stress. You will be so more pleased at the end of teh day.

If you are reading this will you please leave me a comment. I would like to know if any one sees these.

Twenty-five year old horse

2011-03-14T09:50:00.000-05:00

We have a twenty-five year old horse that just went through a bad spell. We thought we might lose him but he is fine now. About six weeks ago he started to have very loose bowel and would not eat much.

We gave him meds that the vet gave us and he had a couple of shots but it did not help him at all. We took him to another vet and this one examined him more and did some tests that revealed more about the problem.

His teeth were giving him pain for one thing. His teeth are almost all gone and he needed some of them “floated”. He also gave him more medicine and a diet to help him.

He is getting beet pulp and his senior grain along with alfalfa cubes.

Our horse now is doing well again and we hope he will last many more years. His name is Pony and he is such a good horse. He works the cows still and we trail ride on him. He likes to go to the sorting and penning games.

We would be very sad if we lose him. Of course one day we will but I hope not for a while longer.

When I get messed up I really get messed up

2011-03-05T14:11:00.000-06:00

I was working on my blog and hit the wrong key and lost all the information that I had on my blog. People tell me you can’t mess up. Well I beg to differ but I did mess up. I lost all the information and I have to start over now. I had a lot of traffic and a lot of comments left on the page too. I am angry with myself for messing up. I am too impatient to get things done now.

Is there any one out there that can help me to retrieve my information? I would really appreciate it.

What to do when you get to the campground

2011-02-26T21:38:00.000-06:00

The first thing you do is get the spot set up for comfort. Get the horses out of the trailer and let them get their feet under them. Set up your tie lines or panels for pens.

Get the trailer leveled after you take the horses out. Put out the chairs and lounge if you brought them. Then get your fire ring ready or the BBQ pit. Get the awning out. If you need one, put up your tent. Now relax a minute and decide what you are going to do for activities.

Do you have children with you? Is there a swimming pool at the campground? Do you or any one like to hike? What about in the evening, have you got games to play. Maybe you have a guitar and banjo for music. Other people in the campground might like to join you with their musical instruments. This is a favorite of mine. I love to play bluegrass with other campers.

Check out the trails with the owners- they usually have trail guides that tell you where they lead and the difficulty of each trail.

Have your children get out their gear and set it up them selves. They need to know how to get things done. If they have horses- they should brush and clean them. They will always go and meet other kids in the campground, make sure they keep in touch with you.

You can now go for your first trail ride for the day. It probably will be a short ride on the first day.

Spring riding is just around the corner

2011-02-23T11:05:00.000-06:00

Winter is almost over and spring is just around the corner. It is time to get out all the tack and get it in shape. Clean it up and dust it off. I don’t know about you but through the winter I stay indoors most of the time. There was a time when I loved to be out in the cold and snow but the years have taken a toll on me.
I have a problem breathing in the cold now.

Bruce will go out and ride in the cold and he has a close friend that will ride with him. It keeps the horses in shape to ride every now and then even in the cold.

We have a riding arena just down the road from us and they like to go there and ride indoors and play games on the horses. I enjoy cow cutting, but I don’t do it a lot. I also enjoy team penning but it has gotten to be a hard sport in our area. The people are out to win not to have fun. I don’t have a problem wanting to win but not when you get mean and nasty with others in the game.

Real Estate in California is having a struggle, as so many across the country are.

2011-02-22T21:37:00.000-06:00

The real estate market in Santa Cruz has had vast devaluation in homes and condos. Even with the bad news they are finding a slight increase at the end of 2009. The single-family homes inventory began to thin out with only 631 homes on the market in December of 2009.

The city of Santa Cruz saw the most sales of any town in Santa Cruz County for the year. With most of the sales in the Seacliff neighborhood. Most of the inventory left on the market now is in the San Lorenzo Valley area, and Santa Cruz proper areas.

When looking around the other areas, I found 50 homes in the Belmont area. All are from 5000 sq. ft to 7000 sq. ft and priced well with in the range of others. All area are having the same problem of valuation and selling.

In the Los Gatos Mountain area one real estate company has 38 properties in the area for sale. Another has 22 properties for sale in the area. The prices are all competitive.

Banking is also a factor in getting the homes sold.

This is a paid review

Do you know Winterset Iowa and Marion Robert Morrison ?

2011-02-16T11:25:00.001-06:00

http://www.johnwaynebirthplace.org/This is a place very worth the trip. Winterset is the birthplace of Marion Robert Morrison. You don’t know him? I bet you know John Wayne. They are the same. John changed his name for the movies. He was born in Winterset in 1907 in a small home.

The home now is used for a museum and it is very nice to see. There are many, many movie pictures and artifacts about John in his movie career.

Winterset is also located in Madison County Iowa. Madison County was made quite famous for the “Covered Bridges of Madison County” movie, starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

They have a tour that goes to all the bridges or you can drive to them yourself with a map.

Winterset also claims to be the birthplace of the Delicious Apple Pie. Trust me this is a nice place to visit.

Getting the Kids Ready to go Back to School

2011-02-12T15:05:00.003-06:00

Posted by Gaylord Campbell

This year we had a particularly difficult time getting the kids ready to go back to school. They are finally at the age where they managed to stay up until midnight (and beyond) on New Years Eve, and this made getting them back on the correct sleep-cycle completely impossible. I think it's more of an age thing than anything else.

On New Years Eve, we as the parents knew that we would be going to bed before the kids and their cousins, so we told them they could stay up, but they needed to remember to set the home security alarm (ADT HOME SECURITY ) before they went to bed. We couldn't do it because they were playing flashlight tag outside. When we woke up in the morning, of course they had forgotten, but we easily forgave them. Family went back home on New Years Day, so I thought the next two days would be enough to prepare them to go back to school.

The next two nights we tried to put them to bed early, but it didn't work out so well. They were in bed, but not asleep until midnight. So we let them sleep in, and we ended up taking them to school an hour late today.

Camping in a Tent or a camper

2011-02-08T12:00:00.000-06:00

Here is a biggie. I much prefer the camper but when we take our horses we use the horse trailer and it has a cowboy camper. It has some storage, a refrigerator, and a sink with hot and cold water to wash with, and a bed inside. We have a port-a-potty that we carry and use in the back. We have a Chuckwagon kitchen on the outside that is protected by the awning on the side of the trailer. It is a fold down unit that has a two burner, Coleman propane stove and storage for my cooking dishes. It really is very comfortable when we use it. We also have a generator for electric.

the luxury camper full ammenities.

It is a lot better than a tent but not as nice as a full size camper. So there are many things to look at and decide on what you want to do. It also depends on your finances. Campers can be very expensive. Some tents are very nice. We have a two-room tent that we also carry in our horse trailer. If it gets rainy we will set it up for a dry place to spend time.

Full size campers are the ultimate camping experience. It is just like taking your home with you. You have everything that your heart desires- that is all that you put in it. You can have TV and Microwave and all the bells and whistles. You have a full bath and kitchen. Complete luxury while camping and traveling.

Horse trailer with camper in front.

Cooking and camping

2011-02-02T09:33:00.001-06:00

Now you are about ready to go camping and you need to decide on what you are going to cook, and where you are going to cook.

You can use a fire ring and a grate for grilling. You can use a tripod for a hanging kettle and coffeepot. You can either make or buy a solar cooker. Or you can use a propane cook stove.

I have a two burner Coleman cook stove that I carry with us. I also have a solar oven that I made and use quite a bit. We always have a fire in the fire ring when it is cool out, so I can put some things on it to cook.

I use an electric crockpot a lot. It does the cooking while we are out riding or site seeing around the country. When we are in a place that has electric hook-ups, I will use the crockpot. If we are in the fields or forest with the horses I will use the solar oven as the cooker.

It will do the same as the crockpot, simmer all day and make a yummy stew.

Coleman makes a kitchen cook stove that is really neat. I have not used it yet. It has a two burner stove that has a battery electric lighter. It has a sink, a cutting tray and a griddle. Check out all the Coleman equipment.

This Coleman kitchen has all you need.
Check out my other blogs http://www.macdonaldsroundup.com/ and http://www.macdonaldtravelopus.com/

Today in History January 28

2011-01-28T10:47:00.000-06:00

Did you know that Paris surrendered to Germany in 1871?

That in 1878 the very first commercial telephones switchboard was installed.

One tragic accident- the spacecraft “Challenger” exploded shortly after takeoff in 1986.

I remember this, I had the TV on watching the launch, as I was cleaning around my house. I was listening to my radio station at the same time and as the “Challenger” took off the radio played the song “Seven Spanish Angels” what an eerie feeling that gave me and it still does when I think about it.

Getting ready for the camping season.

2011-01-26T11:30:00.001-06:00

I know it is only January – but it’s almost gone already too. It is not too early to start thinking about the spring and summer camping.
It is time to get out and start looking at the sports goods shops and take a look at all the new and modern ways to camp. It is almost like being at home with all the new inventions. Some are the basic with needed improvements.
Lets start with sleeping bags. It depends on how you are going to use it and where. Do you want one with a lot of insulation for warmth or a light one? Do you sleep in a tent or under the stars? Does it need to be waterproof? LL Bean. Another is Cabela,s.
When you make up your mind about what you want then you can decide on other amenities, or creature comforts that you may want.
There are several places on line to purchase all camping equipment one of my favorites is
Start now and have all your gear in the truck ready to go in a couple of months. Happy camping.

Mailboxes plain and fancy and most needed

2011-01-21T16:02:00.000-06:00

A mailbox is almost a necessity for anybody. A person that has a home has a mailbox of some kind.

This place has one made for your purpose. Go to http://www.mailboxixchange.com/ and check out the great display that they offer. The one above is a copper steamer trunk. You just have to go and see all that they have to offer.

Mailboxes for the house and for the curbside. They offer both commercial and residential. The boxes are all made of sturdy high quality material and some are stainless steel. All colors are pretty much available.

Do you need a locking mailbox? They have one. You can get one for multi family units as well as single home. Beautiful and decorative, wall mount or post mount and column mount.

Snow and wet outside today

2011-01-20T11:16:00.000-06:00

I am thankful that we don't have ice like we didback in 2007. Here is a picture of my back yard then.

We did not have very many trees that were not broken. But today the trees have all mended and we have a nice yard again. Except that it is completely white today. No horse back riding for a few days.
I have been looking around for more places to write and make money. Does anyone have a good place that pays good money? I have one other blog for horses and camping and travel. http://www.macdonaldsroundup/ check it out.

From gas tanks to fenders

2011-01-19T18:26:00.001-06:00

I think just about all of us at one time or another has run out of gas. Well here is a way to help you keep from doing that. This 1 gal gas can is just right and is designed to reduce the risk of fire while using it.

They also have a 1 gallon gas tank that mounts on traditional forks. It comes with cap and mounting kit.

Just click on http://toys-and-hobbies.become.com/1-gallon-fuel-can it will take you to the place to shop.

You may be looking for 04 lancer ralliart fenders- well you can go to http://automotive.become.com/shop and find them. Also, 05 galant projector headlamps can be found at http://automotive.become.com/mitsubishi-halo-projector-headlamp.

Just about anything you are looking for you will find it at this shop.

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This post brought to you by the friends at http://become.com/

Camping in the wilds, the forest and fields

2011-01-19T10:43:00.000-06:00

Camping in the forest and open fields with no electric and water is quite a challenge some times. There are many ways to get what you need and then there are some things that you just have to go without.

We have a horse trailer/camper that we take most of the time with our horses. We have a water tank that we fill and use it very sparingly while we are out there in the forest. The horses will get water from a stream or nearby water pond if we can get it. Electric is our 12-volt battery system for lights, we have a generator and it will provide electric for TV and refrigerator, it also recharges the battery system. We have a two-burner propane cook stove for cooking and I have a solar oven for all day simmering, and I can actually bake it in.

When we are not out on the trail riding the horses we usually play card games or board games to have fun. Now, the other amenities that you need (toilet) you have to be selective about. We have a port-a-potty and it has to be emptied about every other day. It is a nasty job but necessary. We dig a hole away from campsite and away from any water source and dump it, cover it and let nature do the rest. To get water if needed while out camping I use a rain barrel, if it rains we catch the water and use it to wash dishes and to water the horses.

I like camping and this is great family time. No telephone, no electronic games are allowed. Just us!

Click Here to Advertise on My Blog

Big Piney Trail Camp, Roby Missouri

2011-01-17T19:22:00.000-06:00

The Big Piney trail camp is located off Route 17 north of Roby, MO. It is designed for the horse riding and camping people. Big Piney trail is a 19-mile trail with all kinds of scenery and terrain. This is a beautiful area in the spring. There are horse hitching posts, a stock pond, picnic tables and fireplaces, it also has a hay manger and a toilet.

Big piney Trail and the Roby Lake Recreation areas and Paddy Creek are all located on or near the trail. There are several pull-off areas to stop and just ride or private camping, they have fire pits and no other facilities.

There is also the Slabtown Trail ride on the same trail. This is located on the Slabtown road just before the Big piney campground area.

With all of the areas combined there is well over 50 miles of trails to ride and you can choose from the basic camping at Big Piney Trail camp to all the amenities of the electric and water and sewer at the Slabtown trail ride area. This is a fee area private owned.

The Big Piney area is a national forest area and no fees are charges. You must keep your area clean and respect the other people camping after you leave.

I have one of these coffee makers and it is great. You can't use it on the open fire pit, but on the propane gas burner it is wonderful.

Making the decision to get a horse

2011-01-13T20:54:00.001-06:00

Making the decision to get your first horse will take a lot of thought.

The most important, in my mind, is the space needed. One horse will eat down a one-acre pasture if they don’t have any thing else to eat. Ideally it would be best to have a five-acre spot and divide it into two pastures. Then change the horses back and forth as the grass gets thicker and taller. You should feed them grain along with the grass. They will also need hay in the dryer times and all winter.

Second on the list would be time. Horses take a lot of time to groom and keep them healthy. You need to check their feet everyday or so. Brushing and washing will let you know if they have a problem with ticks, flies, and mites or some other bug.
You can get a lot of information from this http://horsechannel.com/ page.

More to think about later.

Traveling in the holiday weather

2011-01-11T11:19:00.000-06:00

More to think about while traveling in the winter is the time spent in the vehicle. It is wise to stop about every hour to get out and walk around for a few minutes. Get the blood flowing in the legs again. Do not stay out in the wind and snow any longer than necessary. Be very careful if you are on a roadway that you don’t get in the traffic. Take care where you are walking too. Ice is a big factor in the winter.

More about snacks to take with you. Crackers, cookies and even cereal is a good choice. Candy bars and hard candy will give your body energy. You will also need something to drink. Carry extra bottles of water, fruit juice and even some soft drinks.

It sounds like a lot to do when getting ready to travel, but if you keep your car stocked up as you travel in the summer it will not take a lot of effort now in the winter.

If you become disabled with out the motor running you need a way to keep warm. I would suggest getting the emergency foil blankets for each person. They are inexpensive and very warm when you need it. It may just save your life. You can get these from WalMart for about $1.50.

Trails for the one day only rider

2010-09-30T19:05:00.000-05:00

There are several places in Missouri that allow trail riding on a daily use only term.

You can go there and ride for all day if you want but you can not stay over night and camp out there.

The state parks have some day use only places and the conservation areas have some. There are a few listed here and you can go to the website to find out more about each of them.

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia MO 5 miles of trails

Castlewood State Park, Ballwin, MO 15 miles of trails

St Francois State Park, Bonne Terre, MO 10 miles of trails

Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Kaiser, MO about 13 miles of trail

Watkins Mill State Park, Lawson, MO 3 miles of trail

Dr. Edmond Babler State Park, Chesterfield, MO between 7 and 8 miles of trail.

This is just a few of the state parks. The conservation areas usually have basic camping with no amenities of any kind. But there are a few that have trails and no place to camp.

You can call ahead to any of the state park offices and get information on each park. The same with the conservation areas, call and ask about the camping and trails in any area.

When I get all of the places done I will put it together to make another book for sale.

Stay in the saddle and God Bless.