Outdoor Fun

OH MY...WHAT TO GET FOR CHRISTMAS

2009-11-23T11:37:00.006-06:00

Are you stuck on what to get your family and friends for Christmas? I seem to get where I'm buying the same things every year.

LET'S TRY SOMETHING NEW!

For the kids, we could get a tent kit that they can set up in the house. They'll want to set it up right away and get to playing. Kids love tents. It's like their own little space.

THEN FOR HIM OR HER..........

How about a fishing tackle box? For Him, it's great for his fishing tackle. And what man doesn't need a new tackle box? For Her, did you think about how perfect a tackle box is to organize your beads for beading, or small paints, or scrap booking?
It's amazing what a perfect organizer tackle boxes can be.

There are so many GREAT ideas for Christmas gifts at http://allyearcampinggear.com
Check it out today!

Your Friends will Love you...or will they.

2009-08-10T20:44:00.002-05:00

Ah...summer will be gone before we know it! Did you get to do anything fun? Do you need new ideas, something different to do?

Try this:
Invite 8 to 10 friends to your home for dinner and games.

Get the grill going to cook a meat of your choice.
Prepare some potato chunks, corn on the cob, squash and sliced onion….put these in heavy duty foil, add a little butter, salt and pepper and put it on the grill.
Have cool cream pie for dessert, or ice cream is nice on a hot day.

Outside is a great place to serve dinner. Put a pretty cloth on the picnic table (or any table you have outside) and add a vase of pretty flowers. Use colorful dishes for a festive look. If anyone is helping you set the table and tells you that you forgot the silverware, tell them that you will take care of that yourself. Just make sure you have plenty napkins.

Put the cooked food in colorful serving dishes (NO serving utensils). Have everyone get seated. I’m sure someone is going to comment on the lack of silverware. You are going to get the clear plastic gloves you bought and pass out a pair to everyone.

THAT’S RIGHT! It’s a get it and eat it with your hands night! Including the pie (or ice cream).

If your guests would like to have a fresh pair of gloves for their dessert, have plenty on hand.

After dinner, have folded slips of paper (that you prepared beforehand) that have things written on them like:
* Ride a horse
* Play with hula-hoop
* Drive a Semi-truck
* Eat Watermelon
* Play horse shoes
* Wash the dishes
* Square Dance
* Change a diaper
* Swat flies
* Catch Butterflies with a net
Add some ideas or make up your own. Remember whoever is acting-out cannot speak a word and everyone else will guess what they are doing.

Have lots of fun and laughs with this!

If you need items for this like tables and chairs, click on
www. allyearcampinggear.com

OFF THE BEATEN PATH....

2009-08-07T18:25:00.003-05:00

How about a little "indoor" fun?

I just have to tell you about the great time I had directing Vacation Bible School at my church this year. WHAT FUN WE HAD!

The theme this year was "Operation Space". Of course, I love

Sci-Fi.

The above picture shows what this type of thing does to you....ha. I dressed like this on Wednesday night and Thursday night a very sweet lady came up to me and said, "You were so brave last night." I said, "What do you mean?" She said "Well, the way you dressed, with your hair sticking straight up. I know that had to be a hard thing to do. Things like that really damage a woman's ego."

Well..........I guess I'll have to go find myself an ego because that didn't bother me.

Guys at the church built a backdrop and we all decorated it like the bridge of a space ship. Then we hung dark blue material on the back wall and put stars, a space shuttle, space men and planets on the material. It was great!

My friend and I were Captain Ginger and Admiral Wess. We were on stage to teach the children songs in our opening and closing assemblies.

The night I dressed up like a bozo, a little 3 year old ask her teacher why was my hair sticking up and what did I have on my face........ha, ha. She needs to lighten up.

During the songs we taught the kids hand motions to go with the songs. For one song I kept trying to get them to wave both their arms. Never thought that would be so hard! One 5 year old had her arms straight and close to her sides. She said "I don't have any arms". I told her that was OK, we have some in the back room and I would get her a pair.

Kids.........they are adorable! They say whatever they want.

I got tons of hugs that week.

If you've never worked in Vacation Bible School, you should try it some time. It's such a blessing.

See ya later......

Ginger

Closed - Gone Fishing

2009-08-06T18:42:00.003-05:00

Wouldn't you rather be fishing? From just sitting on the bank of the river with your line in the water to pro-fishing, there's just something about the idea of being outside on the river bank or in your fishing boat........

I'm not an expert, by any means. But, I do like to go sit on the river bank and cast my line out.

My dad loved to fish. We had a special place we would go trout fishing, down below the dam of one of our local lakes. If I could cast out to this one particular hole, I would hook a trout right away. On one of our trips, I was lucky enough to cast out to that hole every time. I was pulling them in one after another. Dad didn't have time to fish because he was too busy taking my fish off my hook. No, no, no.....I "do not" take the fish off the hook? See what I mean? I'm not an expert. And......I could never fish out of a boat. I get so excited when I catch a fish, I start running backwards. You can't do that in a boat! I can just see me toppling out of the boat to "join" the fish.

If "you" would like to learn more about fishing there are a couple books you can get. One is "Fly Fishing For Trout". To get this, go to:

http://paydotcom.com/r/4019/caseyginger/25444875/

The other is "All Things Bass Fishing. For this one go to:

http://paydotcom.com/r/52292/caseyginger/25444880/

And if you need fishing gear or apparel, go to:
http://allyearcampinggear.com/

It's great to have information about something you really enjoy doing.

See you at the fishing hole,
Ginger

"Cool" summer fun for kids

2009-07-17T17:35:00.012-05:00

Keeping the kids cool -

I have found that kids LOVE to splash around in water to stay cool during the summer heat.

(click picture)

When setting up the pool for kids, try putting a pool saver under the pool to keep any hidden rocks or sticks from puncturing the bottom of the pool.

My sister came over one hot afternoon with her two grandsons, ages 3 and 6. We set the kiddy pool up on the deck with a pool floor saver under it in case there were any splinters, filled it up with water and pool toys then sat in our comfy chairs (in the shade, with a fan blowing on us..ha) and watched them have a splashing good time. We fixed us tea and the kids kool-aide. It was a wonderful afternoon!

If it's too sunny for the kids, put your umbrella up to shade them. If the water is too cold, put some hot water from the house in the pool to make it just the right temperature (we don't want any purple kids).

(click picture)

Never leave a child alone around water and always make sure they have a life jacket on if the water is too deep.

All Year Camping Gear

http://www.allyearcampinggear.com/

It's more than just camping.........we have items that make your life enjoyable wherever you are, such as -

Camping Gear

Fishing Gear

Hiking Gear

Outdoor Cooking

Books

Grill and Stoves

Inflatible Boats

Patio Furniture and lawn and garden items

Games

Children's tents, toys, pools

And much more!!!

More on Barbecue

2009-07-01T08:09:00.005-05:00

You can choose from a variety of grills at www.allyearcampinggear.com

You probably know an outdoor chef who barbecues wonderful meals atop the grill. The food smells awesome and tastes even better. And everything always remains under controll.......never a flare-up, never a burnt pork chop. this expertise doesn't happen by accident. Chances are, the backyard barbecue expert you know has taken the time to master the techniques involved in barbecuting.

Some tips -

* Preparing the firebox - Before you go out and fire up the grill, no matter what type of equipment it is, always read the manufacturer's instructions. The firebox may need a foundation for the charcoal fire. Protect the brazier grill's firebox with a lining of heavy-duty foil, then top with 1 inch of pea gravel, coarse grit, or expanded mica insulation pellets. This bedding foundation allows some air in under the briquets so the coals will burn better. It also protects the firebox from the intense heat of the coals, distributes the heat more evenly, and reduces flare-ups by absorbing dripping fats and the meat juices.

After you have used the grill a dozen times, the liner will be full of greasy drippings. Gravel or grit bedding can be washed, dried thoroughly, and used again. If you have used insulation pellets, discard and replace with new.

* Keep the briquets to a minimum - Beginning chefs often overdo it and build too big a bed of coals. Estimate how many briquets you'll need for the size of the grill and the type and amount of food to be grilled. It's unnecessary to cover the entire grill area for a few frankfurters. Large thick cuts of meat require more charcoal than do thin steaks and burgers.

If you plan to barbecue for more than one hour, extra briquets need to be added to the bed of coals to maintain its proper cooking temperature. Place a dozen cold briquets around the outer edge of the hot bed of coals. Then, as needed, rake them into the other coals. Or, have a metal bucket or small portable brazier of glowing coals ready at the side of your barbecue unit.

* Getting the charcoal started - Pile the number of briquets needed into a pyramid or mound in the center of the firebox. Drizzle liquid lighter over the whole surface of the charcoal. Wait 1 munute, then ignite with a match. (NEVER use gasoline or kerosene to start charcoal. Gasoline is much too dangerous, and kerosene adds an unpleasant taste to your food.)

Don't start barbecuing too soon, the coals need to burn about 20 to 30 minutes. The charcoal is ready for grilling when it dies down to a glow and no areas of black show. Live coals look ash-gray by day and glow red after dark. A thin layer of gray ash smothers the coals. You'll need to tap the coals frequently to loosen ashes so the coals can breathe and burn properly.

* Arranging the hot coals - When the coals are ready, use a fire rake or long-handled tongs to spread the coals in a single layer. The arrangement of the hot coals depends on the kind of grill used and the type of food being barbecued.

For spit-roasting spareribs, roasts, leg of lamb or poultry, use a ring of coals to grill. Position the foil drip pan directly under the meat, and then spread the coals in a circle all around the firebox.

In a covered grill for barbecuing large pieces of meat, make a foil drip pan a little larger than the meat. Place drip pan in center of firebox and pile coals on both sides of pan. Replace the grate and set meat directly over the drip pan. Lower the hood.

* Adjusting the heat for the right temperature - When the coals are too hot, either raise the grill's grate, lower the firebos, close the air vents, or simply remove some of the hot briquests. Increase the temperature of the coals in the grill's firebox by tapping the ashes off the burning coals with tongs, moving the coals closer together, lowering the grate, raising the firebox, or opening the vents to allow more air to circulate through the grill.

* Controlling the flare-ups - Reduce flare-ups when meat fat drips on the coals by spacing farther apart or removing a few to cut down on the heat. Keep a pump-spray bottle filled with water handy. sprinkle a little water on the flare-ups--don't soak the coals.

* Cleaning the barbecue grill - It's easiest to clean the grates right after barbecuing. Read all the cleaning, care, and storage directions supplied with your equipment before using any cleaning products or abrasives. Fill sink with hot, sudsy water and put the grill's grate in to soak. Later, a few swipes with a wet cloth will clean the grate.

If the grate is too large to fit in a sink, cover with wet paper towels or wet newspapers while you eat. Place the hot grate on one stack of well-soaked papers, then cover with second. Burned-on food usually washes right off with a wet cloth. Use scouring or abrasive type pads and/or a stiff grill brush for the stubborn spots.

HAPPY GRILLING!!

Tips for Barbecue Basics

2009-06-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

Today, more people than ever are finding that barbecuing is great fun. And with this increase in popularity comes a wide variety of new equipment to make outdoor cooking easier. But unless you understand the basics, cookouts are not fun or easy. Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced outdoor chef, you're sure to pick up some helpful pointers........

After purchasing your grill (which you can find a variety of at www.allyearcampinggear.com) limit your selection of other tools to small essentials that simplify barbecuing. Following is a list that every serious barbecuer should purchase, and also some optional gear.

Long skewers

Salt and Pepper Shakers

Carving Knife

Heavy-duty Foil

Pot Holders and Mitts

Meat Thermometer is especially useful in outdoor cooking where meat may look done on the

outside and be undercooked on the inside

Pump-spray Bottle filled with water to put out flare-ups

Long-handled Tongs (no chef does without two pairs, one for food and one for the coals)

A Basting Brush to swish on sauces

Fork to help keep a grip on the food

Multi-purpose turner

(All these items should have long handles to keep you a safe distance from the coals.)

If you are a beginner, start your barbecuing career with a small brazier or a lightweight folding unit. either style is easy to use, convenient to store and inexpensive. Experiment with using foil drip pans, placement of coals, and different types of food cooked over a variety of coal temperatures. After a season or two of barbecuing, you'll know whether you are an avid barbecue fan or only an "occasional backyard chef."

After you learn the basic techniques of barbecuing on a small brazier grill, you may want to consider buying a more elaborate model. Which type of grill you purchase depends on the amount of money you want to invest and how much barbecuing you want to do. If you barbecue infrequently or only with small groups, there's no need to invest in an expensive model. you may decide the grill you started with does everything desired. But even if you need a more elaborate unit, don't cast aside the old one. The first grill makes a handy unit for grilling appetizers, breads, or hot desserts. Even use the unit to store hot coals for supplementing long cooking on the main grill.

More on grilling later..................