Way to hot here to camp in the summer. We usually camp in the cooler fall weather.

This came in my inbox.

S'mores

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The first written record of S'mores was in the Girl Scout Handbook of 1927. Now S'mores are an absolute "must" for the annual camping trip, or back yard BBQ. 

Apparently S'more is a contraction of the phrase "some more", most likely picked up from some youngster with a full mouth. 

S'mores are so popular that there are now several variations including Belgian S'mores which is made by placing a piece of red licorice on top of the marshmallow. Peanut butter is another yummy addition.


Camping Help

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This is a tip for camping rather than a recipe. Take a bar of plain soap such as Ivory with you. Rub a thick coat of it onto the outer bottom of any pan you use before putting it over the fire. This way, instead of having all that blackness to scrub off, you just wash off the soap and all the blackness goes with it.


Coffee Can Cooking on a Campfire

A simple and easy way of campfire cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals. Layer your food into the can, cover it and use the coffee can to cook your meal. This is a very simple and easy method for camp cooking. 

Can Cooking Instructions:
Use an empty 44-ounce coffee can for your pot.
Layer your food into the can.
Suggested foods: Use hamburger or chicken, onions, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and other vegetables.
Seal the top of the coffee can with heavy-duty foil.
Place the can onto the coals.
Put a few coals on top of the foil.
Cook the can for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.
Carefully remove the can from the fire. Using gloves may be a good idea.
Serve up your mouth-watering meal!
Save your old coffee cans, and try out this idea on your next camping trip. You won’t even need to bring a pan along!

Source: Camp Spot

Oak Hill Homestead

Check it out, lots of good stuff!

This is a shot of the back yard. You can see one of the gardens , part of the orchard, Dad's house ( on the left) and my sisters ( on the right.)

This is a section of the herb garden. Boy, am I behind in weeding!!

My sweet kitty. Eighteen pounds of snuggle.

Have you hugged your cow today?

The Arizona BBQ Association has a great page with several plans for building your own BBQ.

 Check it out!!

Plan Your Garage Sale Route With Google

Another great tip from TIPNUT!!

Thanks to all who submitted post for this 51st Edition of the Homesteading Carnival . Hosting is new to me so please bear with me as I give it a try.

Summer is uopn us. That means changes and excitment on the Homestead.  Around here it means lots of gardening and canning. School will out and that always means more time with the grandkids for me.

Over at HowToMe they are planning  How to Put on a “Princess/Royal Picnic” Party . Now that sounds like fun. All of us have young princes and princesses in our lifes. What better way to spend time with them than on a Royal Picnic.

Mors kids at home means more cookies to bake. The Y-2K Hippie  ( Don't you just love that name!) has a great recipe for Pumpkin Cookies posted. Be sure and  check out the links for free pattern projects she has on her site while you are there.

Those of us who are fortunate enough to have goats or are planning to get goats will love the article Oak Hill Homestead   has  for training a goat to a milk stand. Goats are wonderful on the homestead. 

The following is a posting on Milk Goats from a favorite yahoo group I am on called

 Organic Homesteading & Gardening

( You caught me, that is me ( Grandma Rosie) milking a goat!)

"In the world of dairy goats, Saanens are like Holsteins - they produce the
most milk, but it has the lowest butterfat percentage (below 3.5%). The
Nubian compares to the Jersey - lowest total production, but highest in
butterfat (around 4%). The remainder of the Swiss breeds (Alpine, Toggenburg
Oberhasli) rank between those two; when I kept my Alpine herd and we tested
they averaged around 3.7% butterfat. I'm not sure how the Nigerian goats
fit into this, but I've heard their milk (as well as Boers) have a much
higher percentage. Nigerians were pretty much a novelty still by the time I
gave up keeping goats.

Another thing that affects the butterfat content of milk is where the goat
is at in her lactation period(which averages 10 months). When she is milking
at her peak the fat content is lower, and it rises towards the end of the
period as her production lessens. And what she eats, too, she needs a diet
high in fiber (about 17%) and protein (16-18%) for good milk production.
Goats are browsers - broad-leaved forbs are better for them than grass to
graze on, and your hay should also be a mixture of grass plus forbs (like
clover and alfalfa).

And there are also changes in milk taste to deal with that result from
changes in feed (as well as the temporary effects from things goats eat -
like evergreens (which always made the milk taste like turpentine smells to
me), or wild garlic/onions, and even from the genetic background of the goat
- I've had a goat or two whose milk just plain tasted bad no matter how you
adjusted her feed or managed her care! They passed the trait on to their
daughters, too. That's why I've always recommended you taste the milk before
completing the purchase……."  Rowan

Jacque over at Walking Therin really hit home with me on an artcle on Sleep and how our sleep patterns are affected by light. I have struggled with this all my life. Thanks Jacque for posting this. We more hours of daylight I need all the help I can get to go to sleep when I should.

Erica over at the The Sojourner blog has a delicious recipe posted for us.  Stuffed Grape Leaves a favorite her Grandmother used to make. Sounds perfect for a summer evening family meal.

Our friend Jennifer at Quiverfull Family blog titled The Hummingbirds are Back!  I love this little beauties. I plant several of thier favorites to lure them to my yard. The are one of God's most amazing gifts to us.

Miss Jocelyn at  A Pondering Heart  blog has a recipe for us. Perfect for summer and bursting with health. Check out her post Honey Lemonaide Anyone!

Keri Mae at A Happy Home has some good advice for us. Take a Siesta and Save Your Heart. This is a informative article and a good idea for the hot summer months ahead.

Mrs.P at Handmade at the Farm blog has posted a recipe for a Dough Enhancer Recipe to use in all those fresh hot wheat loaves to serve our families this summer.

Hannah at The Purloined Letter tells us what to do with all those lovely Dandy Lions that some consider weeds and others find very useful indeed. Here at Grandma Rosie's they are a blessing.

So just what is the right hieght to cut your grass this summer. You can find out over at Hobby Lawn Care's article titled "Why Is The Proper Lawn Clipping Height So Important?"

Amanda sent me a great post called My Learning Experience. It touched my heart. It will yours to.

Have a great week and be sure and send in submissions for next weeks Carnival. Grandma Rosie

I think I have a Vintage Linens problem. I can't seem to get enough. Which is sad just I just counted my Gingham Aprons and have around 60. I am not going to tell you how many, hats, hankies, gloves, fans, embroidered pillow cases and tea towels I have! Nor how many vintage baby items. I think I need to be delivered from my hobbies. Does anyone besides me love buttons and ribbons? Old canning jars? Vintage costume jewelery?

I will be hosting The Homestead Blog Carnival for Monday, May 26th. I think I may be in over my head, but if you will help and send me in your submissions I may be alright.

HUGS!!

The Homestead Carnival is up at Quiverfullfamily. Stop over and check it out.

Welcome! 50th Homesteading Carnival - Getting the Garden In