Fiesta Camp!

Hey Down Home Friends,

Although the weather has been a little bit unpredictable we were still able to get out for a weekend and camp at Lake Ray Roberts State Park and enjoy the sunshine for a day or two. This trip was defiantly fiesta inspired as we brought along some homemade gorditas to start our trip off right. 

Right before we left I found these adorable plates at Pier 1 and had to have them for the trip. They are perfect because they are melamine and break resistant. Although they are in the Aloha section, I can't help but look at them and think of a fiesta. When we camp we like to cook but sometimes time does not allow for it so the gorditas did double duty for breakfast topped with eggs and cheese and later for a mid afternoon lunch. 

When going to Ray Roberts State Park, you will find tons of paved trails perfect for long walks or bike rides. I think this is my favorite part about the park because I know I will be able to hit the trails for a long ride. This time there were plenty of wildflowers to look at and take pictures of along the trails. 

One thing is for sure, I never have to worry if I will have company on the trails because my dogs love to walk and ride the trails as much as I do. At the park, you can camp, hike, bike, ride your horse, rollerblade, geocache or go backpacking. On the water, you can swim at one of the beach areas (no lifeguards on duty), paddle, or wet a hook in the kids’ fishing pond or the lake. Or enjoy quieter pursuits:  photography, nature watching, or simply relaxing! Take a virtual tour with the interactive trails map.

Photo Credit Lake Ray Roberts State Park

With so much to do it is worth the trip to the park. In fact, it is our go to place because there always is a spot available and you just can't beat the trails. Although we did not have time for kayaking this park is one of my favorites for that too and there always is a next time!

Bear Creek Campgrounds!

Hey Down Home Friends,

We decided to take a little trip to celebrate a birthday and celebrate the last weekend of summer. Although we didn't travel far from home, it still was a nice getaway after a long and stressful week. Bear Creek campgrounds on Benbrook Lake in Texas is a perfect little spot to escape to. Even though this campground is "no frills" it still is a favorite of mine due to the location and the privacy.

We always reserve the same spot. Our spot has plenty of room, a great view and it is peaceful and quiet. And there is great reception here for watching a game or snapping pictures and posting them online. Most of the time when we camp here the campgrounds are not full. It is nice to be able to carry your kayak to the edge of the water from your campsite.

Even though this is a "no frills" campground there are plenty of places to walk and bike ride. I was amazed to see a butterfly nest in a few different trees and was surprised at the amount of butterflies there were. It wasn't hard to snap a quick picture before they flew away. Each time we passed the nest we took another look.

On one of our many bike rides we were able to spot an armadillo. I was lucky enough to snap a few pictures. He actually let us get pretty close and take as many pictures as we wanted. There is plenty of space to bike ride and just look at nature along the way.

The weekend went by way too fast. I wanted to stay. Such a peaceful place to relax and rejuvenate for a hectic week ahead. Until next time...

Ouachita National Forest

Hey Down Home Friends,

Normally I am out and about traveling the roads of Texas whenever we get a chance but this summer we decided to go to Arkansas. We were excited to see another part of the world and especially excited to be in a national forest.

Knowing that we could not make reservations to camp within the national forest because it is a first come and first served campground, we decided to make reservations nearby. Lucky for us, just by chance, on our first day there we were able to find a campsite within the national forest. We made our home at the Charlton Recreation Area. This area is located just 20 miles from Hot Springs.

Our campsite was large, lush and well maintained just like the entire park. I swear we never wanted to leave because it was just so picturesque.

There were plenty of things to do to keep us busy during our stay. Lots of great places to kayak nearby, bike riding and walking through the forest are just a few. I think my favorite might have been walking in the forest and just listening to the sounds of nature.

But quite honestly, the campfires were my favorite. Seeing the stars through the trees in the forest by campfire light was just what I needed.

There are plenty of things to do around the area. I think the highlight of the trip was horse riding through the forest. Mountain Harbor Riding Stables is the one to check out if you are in the area. The people who own the business were so friendly and accommodating. It was definitely a scenic ride through the Ouachita Mountains.

The horses were beautiful and so gentle. it honestly was a ride I will never forget. And something I look forward to again. I had such a great experience I am already looking forward to a return trip to do it just one more time.

But the next time we are going to also try the carriage ride. I just can't wait.

There are several rock shops to find a local treasure...or a few.

There were so many places and vistas along the highway to take great pictures. This one reminded me of home...

The observation tower in Hot Springs National Park is something to check out. A great place for pictures. The gift shop has lots of interesting things to help remember your trip.

And while you are in the area, a riverboat cruise is a nice way to end the day.

With so many things to see and do I think I left a piece of my heart in Arkansas but Texas will always be home...

Internet On The Go!

Hey Down Home Friends,

So thankful for this time of year to get out and explore a little more of Texas that I have yet to discover. And you can bet I am not going anywhere without some sort of connection. I use my phone a lot but I also take my Surface Pro to get a little work done when we are traveling. Years ago I wasn't sure really how this was possible but it is really very simple. And I get asked this question a lot believe it or not. My service provider is AT&T. A very nice customer service representative told me about tethering. Although I had recently heard of it, I wasn't quite sure just how it worked. She actually sent me directions by email. I was shocked at how easy it really was. I was happy that I also had everything I needed to get it going right away.

TETHERING

Connect your device to the USB port. I used my phone charging cable.

On your phone look for your utilities tab.

Go to settings.

Turn ON your personal hotspot.

Now connect your computer or device to the internet.

And that is it.

When you are finished with your work just remember to turn OFF your hotspot.

I have used this little system for several years now and have had no problem. And it is safe and secure. I have never been charged any additional fees by AT&T. If you are a customer you can call and ask them about tethering before you start. This will eliminate searching for networks to connect to. I am always on the hunt for ideas and hacks to make camping trips fun. I have run across numerous articles and posts about other more complicated or expensive methods. For my family this is the most secure, reliable and inexpensive way to connect on the go. You do have to have an internet signal for it to work. Very few places we have been have poor signal but it does at times happen.

Now all you have to worry about is that perfect camping breakfast.

Happy Trails!

Birthday Brunch!

Hey Down Home Friends,

I came across this great recipe when I was searching around for some inspiration for a make ahead birthday brunch recipe that I could make and take with me for a little celebration on the road. I am a huge fan of brunch and I always love a recipe that is easy to transport and can be made ahead because I am a night owl which probably has a lot to do with loving brunch so much.

Sausage and Veggie Casserole by Jimmy Dean sounded like a winner to me. I knew using the basic recipe I could modify it a little for my family and it could be easily prepared in advance and transported one of two ways. You can assemble it ahead of time and bake the next morning or you could make and bake it and heat it up as needed when you are on the run. And it would go perfectly with some fresh fruit that I can pick up anywhere.

The small pyrex dishes are perfect for dividing up the recipe and making one immediately and freezing one for later. Or in my case a small dish fits perfectly in a small oven in my little trailer. You can easily transport any of these dishes in the cooler bag or in an actual cooler. And I love the fact that they fit in my teeny, tiny trailer refrigerator.

With the food part of my birthday brunch taken care of I was ready to think about the decorations. Instead of paper party goods I always opt for things I can mix and match and use more than once. And as soon as I saw these Pioneer Woman linens at Walmart I just couldn't get them out of my mind. When I finally fell in love with teal...it was over for me.

And the best part about this combination is that I can combine it with my favorite color. I ordered these and a few other things from the Pioneer Woman Collection from Walmart because it is hard to find the exact pieces in the store because they sell out fast. The tablecloth was a great price at $14 and the napkins were $10 for 8 which anyone can tell you that is a fantastic price for 8 cloth napkins. I even picked up the teal napkin set...go figure. 

And it all matches with my camping dishes! So once it is time to go I will be looking forward to a day without an alarm and a brunch on my own time while feeling the spring breeze and listening to the sweet sounds of spring.

Caprock Canyon State Park!

Hey Down Home Friends,

We recently had the chance to get away to Caprock Canyon State Park in Texas. I had never been and I did not know really what to expect except for a few internet searches and pictures. I was excited to see a part of Texas that I have never seen before.

As we approached the campgrounds, I could see that this was a going to be a great experience. For miles all you could see was beautiful scenery. I didn't know if I should look to the left or to the right. All I knew was that beautiful scenery was beginning to surround us completely. It sure seemed like a great place to spend a long relaxing weekend after a stressful week.

I do not spend too much time looking at the reviews of the places that we travel to because usually we are looking for something different so the ratings do not work for us. I have my own way of rating a campground. It all boils down to this.

Is there good cell service?

Can I get a satellite signal?

Is the scenery interesting?

Is there something to do?

Is there a body of water?

Is the campsite semi private?

You can laugh but those are the important things to me. And Caprock Canyon has all that and more.

One of my favorite things in the campgrounds was the prairie dog town. There were plenty of prairie dogs to see and photograph and listen to. If you stick around for a few minutes you can capture quite a few pictures. I knew I had to get a few to show my class.

We had a chance to have some hearty early morning breakfasts before the sun came up and while we were waiting for the temperature to rise. Even in the middle of March in Texas it can be cold.

There are plenty of trails to hike and plenty of places to stop and get those breathtaking views. Lots of places to take pictures even if you are just driving through.

A small lake is located within the park and it looks like a perfect place to fish or kayak. There were quite a few picnic areas with nice views. And there is plenty of easy access to the water.

If you are lucky you can get that up close shot of one of the bison freely roaming in the park. The state park is the official home to the 80 descendants of the great southern plains bison. It is the perfect place to view a magnificent animal in a natural habitat.

I have been to many Texas state parks and this is on the list of the top five. It was beautiful, interesting and had a lot to offer. You can take a shuttle car and tour the park, visit the nature center, take amazing photography, see animals up close, hike, bike, kayak or enjoy peaceful quiet time at the many spacious campsites. The cell service was great so you can get that perfect shot and post it right away. The satellite signal was good too but we didn't want to watch a late night movie when we had clear skies to view the stars.

Caprock Canyon State Park provided the perfect backdrop for a peaceful weekend to recharge and energize for a busy week ahead!

The Best Coca Cola Cake!

Welcome Down Home Friends,

 I have always loved anything I could make ahead and I especially love anything I can make and take with ease. A sheet cake is always a favorite and serves a lot and better yet, you do not have to have mad skills when frosting it. Transporting anything that is supposed to be pretty is always a challenge and finding the right size or shape of container is yet another. Sheet cakes are simple. Usually you make them in a pan that you can serve them in. Believe it or not, a sheet cake is one perfect dessert to take on a camping trip. Let me explain. It is perfect because you can make it ahead of time and it is easily transported in the pan you bake it in. For this recipe I also serve and store it in the same pan. I like to prep anything I can before we leave so that when I get to the campsite all I have to worry about is having some outdoor fun and spending time with my family. And considering we camp a lot, I have to think outside the box because nobody wants hot dogs and chips every other weekend. When we go camping for a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary or celebrating anything, I try to make it special. And I secretly love setting the table. I set the table at home and in the camper. I have always done it so doing it on the road makes me feel like I am home. Because of the ease of transporting, serving and storing this family favorite that is why it made it's debut on camping trips. This sure is a hit late night while sitting around the campfire!

This Coke cake recipe was contributed by Lee Avery Catts to "Atlanta Cooknotes" and was published by The Junior League of Atlanta. I take no credit for the recipe other than knowing it is good to eat and just perfect for celebrating just about anything around a campfire!

Ingredients

• 2 Cups sugar
• 2 Cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Cup Coca-Cola
• 1 ½ Cups small marshmallows
• ½ Cups butter or margarine
• ½ Cups vegetable oil
• 3 Tablespoons cocoa
• 1 Teaspoon baking soda
• ½ Cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ Cups butter
• 3 Tablespoons cocoa
• 6 Tablespoons Coca-Cola
• 1 box (16-ounces) confectioners' sugar
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Cup chopped pecans

• 2 Cups sugar
• 2 Cups all-purpose flour
• ⅕ liter Coca-Cola
• 1 ½ Cups small marshmallows
• ½ Cups butter or margarine
• ½ Cups vegetable oil
• 3 Tablespoons cocoa
• 4.900 milliliter baking soda
• ½ Cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 4.900 milliliter vanilla extract
• ½ Cups butter
• 3 Tablespoons cocoa
• 6 Tablespoons Coca-Cola
• 1 box (16-ounces) confectioners' sugar
• 4.900 milliliter vanilla extract
• ⅕ liter chopped pecans

Preparation

• Total Time: 1 hr  15 min
• Prep Time: 30 min
• Cook Time: 45 min

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl, sift the sugar and flour.
3. Add marshmallows.
4. In a saucepan, mix the butter, oil, cocoa and Coca-Cola. Bring to a boil and pour over dry ingredients; blend well.
5. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk just before adding to batter along with eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well.
6. Pour into a well-greased 9- by-13-inch pan and bake 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and frost immediately.

Coca-Cola Cake Frosting

To make frosting, combine the 1/2 cup butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa and 6 tablespoons of Coca-Cola in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour over confectioners' sugar, blending well. Add vanilla extract and pecans. Spread over hot cake. When cool, cut into squares and serve.