"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
Tips to Make Life a Bit Easier in the Great Outdoors
by Dian Thomas
Some
of my fondest memories when I was growing up were the times I spent
with my family outdoors. The skills that I learned to be
self-reliant have been some of the most valuable skills I have used
in life.
Here
are just a few of the creative ideas that I have loved to use over
the years.
Egg
Carton Fire Starter: If you want a
sure way to start a fire, make some egg carton fire starters and keep
them in your camp kit. When you go to start a fire you will not need
any paper or kindling.
Egg carton fire starter
To
make a fire starter, remove the lid from an empty cardboard egg
carton. Set the bottom of the egg carton into the lid. Then place
lint from your dryer in the egg carton cups until each cup is full.
(You may collect the lint from several dryings in a container before
your make the fire starter. Cotton balls will also work.)
Next,
put old candles or cubes of wax in a large can and place the can in a
pan of water. Heat the water and melt the candles or wax. By putting
the can in the water you have created a double boiler, which allows
the wax to melt at a lower temperature. (Wax has a low combustion
point and can break into flames if it is heated to a too high
temperature.)
When
the wax is melted, pour it over the lint in the cups and let it cool
and harden.
To
make a fire, just break off an egg carton cup, put it under the wood,
and light.
Keeping
pans clean when cooking over campfire:
If you are cooking in a pan over a campfire, the bottom of the pan
will get black from the flames.
In
order to prevent that, rub liquid soap on the outside bottom of the
pan before cooking. The soap will put a coat between and pan and the
black scorching from the flame, and the black washes right off the
pan.
Boiling
water in a paper cup: It is possible
to boil water in a non-waxed paper cup without the cup igniting into
flames.
Pour
water or milk into the cup. Cut a small round of aluminum foil and
place it around the bottom lip of the cup. Set foil and cup on the
hot coals. The foil protects the small lip on the bottom from
burning. If flames rise against the top of the cup where liquid does
not reach, the cup can burn.
The
liquid in the cup keeps the paper below it combustion point and it
will heat without the cup burning.
You
can hard-cook eggs in a paper cup. It is also possible to heat a
carton of milk if the carton is non-waxed. Open the milk carton top
before heating.
Paper
plate holder: Paper plates are often flimsy. The best way to give
them support is to purchase a Frisbee that is the same size as the
paper plate. Put several layers of plates in the Frisbee and peel
them off when you are finished with the meal. You'll then be set for
the next meal.
Dian’s
Outdoor Special:
If you
would like to add these fun and easy ideas to your list of exciting
things to try this summer or during an emergency, check out the
special for Roughing
it Easy,
Recipes
for Roughing it Easy
with a DVD on how to cook in a Dutch oven for just 29.99 (regularly
$49.97). It
is filled with practical and down-to-earth suggestions for wonderful
outdoor adventures. Go to www.dianthomas.com.
Want
to travel with Dian?
Join one of her trips to China this fall, where you will enjoy a
cultural feast and fun adventure. Email Dian at
Contact@DianThomas.com
or call 801-277-4332 for more information.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com