Jungle Warfare by Christopher Cunningham

Christopher Cunningham received his grandfather's Basic Field Manual on Jungle Warfare. Inspired by that book, he wrote Jungle Warfare, which weaves together sections from the Field Manual with 22 inspirational devotions for Christian salespeople. After the devotions is a FAQ section that includes Biblically-based answers along with quotations from famous people and the Bible.


I was not the author's ideal audience. My husband, however, had served in the Marine Corps and now does financial products sales. He looked at the book but didn't read it, saying that the comparisons between jungle fighting and selling seemed forced. I thought that the book was a bit high-level, with basic Christian principles suitable for newer Christians in the sales force. I didn't realize that the book was a devotional. Aside from the devotionals, much of the book was Scriptures or blank spaces for answers to questions. I would have preferred a practical book on how to fight the good fight in sales every day. Despite those small things, Cunningham's passion for Christian salespeople shines through this book and I did think some of his devotions were very good, particularly the one to be still. [I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through their Booksneeze program. Recommended for certain audiences - PG for warnings about promiscuity]

The Downing Fire

Last Friday night I was having dinner with some friends at a house on that burning hillside. A thunderstorm rolled through, lightning hitting right around us, thunder interrupting our cheery conversation.

Then, as we were ending our evening with a prayer, we smelled smoke.

Early that morning, the family was evacuated from their home. They weren't able to return until Saturday evening, and now, the rains have turned the roaring fire into a smoldering bog. I hope it's enough to seriously cripple its spread.

The areas where people live surrounded by fire threats is called the Wildland-Urban Interface or WUI. It's a scary place to be in a fire. It's also a hot political topic in our area, but we won't get into that right now.

I couldn't imagine leaving everything behind quickly, choosing which mementos to bring, trying to haul the computer out of the house, ensuring you have your essential toiletries, scrapbooks, treasured notes, Bibles, cameras, framed pictures. And at 3:00 a.m.

Unfortunately, fires like this one are fairly common here. Although I missed the huge fires of 2000, a certain young man went on an arson spree a few years ago and filled our valley floor with smoke almost all summer. The smoke gets caught between the mountains, growing into a thick, smoggy mess. Without air conditioning, we rely on open windows to keep us cool; but, we'd rather roast than cause our house to smell like a campfire.

It also causes problems for people with respiratory illnesses. The constant smoke doesn't help people with asthma. If I had those problems, I'd think twice about living here in the summer.

We've been very fortunate to have so few fires this summer, and that the one on this hillside is being drenched with rain. For the people on the hill, I'm sure it's been a nerve-wracking weekend. I hope you enjoy being back in your own beds. Sweet dreams tonight! Know that you're in my prayers.

Other Posts

Hello Readers,
Don't miss my new article on Blissfully Domestic about planting bulbs! For those of you visiting here from there, here's a picture of my new favorite bulbs, Ivory Queen Allium (Allium karataviense). They're normally white, but this picture was taken near the end of the season, before they went to seed.
Also, I will be featured on (in)courage sometime this fall as a guest poster. More details when I know them!

Thanks!

Bitterroot Mama

Red Velvet Cake Recipe

A friend requested the recipe for my marvelous red velvet cake. Here's a little secret: I didn't come up with it! It's from Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn. It's not my favorite cake (chocolate still wins), but it's becoming near and dear to my heart the more I make it. And it appears to be a favorite with my circle of very discerning friends. Without further ado, the recipe:



Red Velvet Cake
Ingredients
1 pkg (18.25 oz.) white cake mix, with pudding
1 c. buttermilk
8 Tbsp. butter, melted
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs
2 oz. red food coloring (Each bottle is 1 oz. I only use 1 oz. and it's still very red.)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare 2 9" cake pans with parchment paper, shortening, and flour. (See here for more info on preparing pans.) Set aside.
2. Put all of the ingredients in a big bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat for 2 more minutes on medium. Scrape down sides of bowl again. Batter should be well-combined. Pour evenly into cake pans and put into the oven.
3. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out dry. Take them out of the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the cake pan. Invert the cake on a wire rack so it's right-side up and let it completely cool.
4. Cut tops off cake with a knife so they're even. Cover with aluminum foil and place in the freezer before frosting.
5. Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: Mix 8 oz. cream cheese (at room temperature) and 8 Tbsp. unsalted butter (at room temperature) with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add approximately 3 3/4 c. confectioners' sugar (sifted) until incorporated. Add more or less sugar as needed. (I like less sugar than suggested.) Add 2 tsp. vanilla extract and then continue mixing on medium until frosting is fluffy, about 1 minute.
6. Follow directions here to finish frosting the cake. Store in the fridge.

Another option is to frost the outside with cream cheese frosting and use a cream filling for the interior of the cake. Sweetened Cream: Mix 1 c. heavy whipping cream in a chilled bowl for about 1 1/2 minutes. Add 1/4 c. confectioners' sugar, sifted, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract and continue mixing until stiff peaks form.

If you don't use the sweetened cream filling, make a double batch of the cream cheese frosting so you'll have enough for the job. You can also use the recipe to make splendid cupcakes.

Why I Love Summer

There's nothing mediocre about this home-grown corn.
Good thing there's more where this came from.

Amigurumi - or My Latest Distraction

I had a hard time not blogging yesterday, considering I already had a great book review typed and ready to go. I'm supposed to be focusing on my family and keeping cool. Of course, I found yet another distraction - amigurumi. What is it? The Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small little creatures or other things. They typically have a large head and small extremeties. According to Wikipedia, they were bestsellers on Etsy back in 2006.

Looks like I'm behind the curve again.

Anyway, I owe this new addiction to my friend Jen, who presented one to my daughter back when she was visiting.

Jen's gift - A cute little chick!

I accidently borrowed a book from the library called Amigurumi Knits - drat! I'm bad at knitting. But I really wanted to make the Loch Ness Monster for my sister-in-law. The result was a very crude, crocheted version.

Nessie, Our Underwater Ally

I finally got a crochet book from the library. Since last night, I've made this apple and butterfly for my niece. (It's a surprise, but they don't read the blog.)

It's two pieces. The inside opens up to be a container.

I'll be taking orders for Christmas. :) Hopefully they're just what my family wants.

200th Post and Some Changes

Dear Readers,
As this is my 200th post, I wanted to share some great news or host a neat giveaway.

Unfortunately, this past weekend was a medical mess for our family. We ended up in the ER for my husband, the baby had her own issues, and I was on the tail end of weaning her.

But, we also had a nice discussion about our family's priorities. We decided that out of all the activities that I do, blogging is a low priority.

Don't get too disappointed! The blog isn't going away -- just undergoing a few changes:

• I won't be blogging every weekday. I will blog when I have something to say, or some project to share. If there's a day you can't live without, please let me know in the comment section.
• I will be altering the content somewhat. I don't just want to be adding to the "noise" of the internet without sharing something substantial. There are enough distractions out there!
• The ads are going away. I've made a total of $1.35 from the ads since incorporating them in the spring. They're not worth it! Almost all of the giveaways were funded from my own pocket, since corporate sponsors failed to materialize.

I hope that these changes will allow me to make time for other important priorities, including tending to my sweet baby and writing for other venues. Thank you for reading my blog and being a part of this fun experiment, one that has been a source of joy and a conversation piece for this introverted Mama. You readers are why I keep truckin' on! Thanks for the encouragement - and look for the changes this week!

Lots of Love,
Bitterroot Mama

Truffles

I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. So, it's no surprise that today's post highlights two truffle recipes made with 70% bittersweet chocolate.

The truffles in the middle were just ganache rolled in cocoa powder. Mix equal parts quality bittersweet chocolate with heavy cream. I used 4 oz. of each. Heat the cream in the microwave or on the stove. Pour over chopped chocolate. Let rest for 5 minutes. Then stir until smooth. Chill in fridge for a few hours. Scoop out small pieces and roll them into balls. Dust with cocoa powder. Keep chilled.

I also made these awesome cookie dough truffles (pictured on the left). I found a recipe for chocolate chip cookie dough over at My Computer is My Canvas that doesn't use eggs and it was fabulous. Follow the directions for the cookie dough, roll them in balls, chill, then dip them in chocolate. Place them on wax paper and then in the fridge. Store appropriately when set, and keep them in the fridge until time to eat them!

The truffles on the right were an experiment with Nestle white baking chocolate. I tried to make them the same as the chocolate ganache truffles, but they didn't set correctly. I don't think anyone was brave enough to try them.

Do you like truffles? Which are your favorite?

Stress

The "S" word. I don't handle it well! If there are too many things going on, my stress level builds up until I explode like a Science Fair volcano. Which doesn't make anyone happy, especially my poor hubby, who often gets the brunt of the explosion.

Psychologists say to use "I" statements. For example, "I'm feeling really frustrated that the baby has torn apart the lower level of the house as I attemped to cook dinner. I am upset that at a critical cooking moment she peed on the carpet. I really wish dinner hadn't burned."

Instead, it usually comes out as, "Ahhhhhhh! I'm done. Your daughter has ruined dinner! You need to clean up this mess and find something else to eat. What an awful day!" [Hasty retreat to a solitary place.]

In the heat of the moment, it's hard to be rational about problems, even these relatively small ones. Some of my possible solutions:

• Get regular massages. (Pricey, but worth it.)
• Don't talk if I'm upset. (May need some duct tape.)
• Use those "I" statements. (Practice using them before I get upset.)
• Have a battle plan for those difficult days. (One woman suggested calling the husband and having him leave the car running when he gets home so the mom can get away for a little break before going back to it all.)

Life is never going to be stress-free. I'm learning to be thankful for my little problems and learning how to deal with them well. I'm going to need a lot of help from God on this one.

What do you do when you're stressed? (Hint: Leave comments!)

Cake Decorating Shortcuts and Longways

When you go to the expense of making a layered cake, you don't want to make it twice because it got stuck in the pan and looks like a Girl Scout project gone wrong. After many failed attempts at cake making (including a green one that looked like a UFO), I have come to the following conclusions about cakes and the preparation thereof.

Acceptable Shortcuts
Use a cake mix. The Cake Mix Doctor books contain many wonderful recipes to get the exact cake flavor you want. Many of the cakes I've made from scratch weren't as soft (or tasty) as ones from a mix. Of course, if you want to make one from scratch, knock yourself out!

Use a huge cake tip to spread frosting. I learned this in my Wilton cake class. Put the frosting in a large pastry bag with a large tip. Pipe out the frosting around the cake evenly, then smooth with a spatula. It saves time, especially if you use a disposable bag.

Things To Do the Long Way
Always prepare your pans! Take parchment paper and trace around the bottom of your pans with a pencil. Cut out the parchment paper to fit and put aside. I take a little shortening on a paper towel and rub the entire inside of my cake pans. Then, I add a little bit of all-purpose flour to one pan and shake it around until the pan is coated. Tap it out into the other pan and repeat. Then discard the flour. Add the parchment paper to the bottom of the pans. Then, add your well-mixed cake batter.

Cut the tops of the cakes off. Not only does this allow you to taste the cake (OK, devour large sections of it), but you're able to get the shape of the finished cake looking more professional. Once the cake is cool, use a large, serrated knife for the task and make sure the cake tops are level before you're done.

Somewhat level, frozen, red velvet cake.
 Someone bring on the cream cheese frosting!

Freeze cakes before frosting. This extra step helps out considerably. Crumbs don't get stuck in the frosting and the cool temperature of the cakes helps the frosting not to melt too quickly. When I'm done frosting a cake, I usually put it back in the fridge for storage, especially if it has dairy in the frosting, which brings me to my last point.

Use homemade frosting. It tastes incredibly better than the canned frosting, which usually has trans fats. I'm currently in love with cream cheese frosting because I've had better results with it than buttercream. I never liked the Wilton frosting recipe made with shortening. I'm a butter kind of girl. 

Another Little Tip
Put a dollop of frosting on the bottom of the plate. Do this before you add the bottom layer of the cake. It helps the cake adhere to the pan when you're frosting it.

I hope these tips help you avoid many of my early cake mistakes. Making a good cake takes time, but it's worth the extra effort! Do you have any cake making or decorating tips to share?

For more great tips, visit Works for Me Wednesday.

Home and Happy - An oxymoron?

Transitioning from a full-time working woman (I won't say career woman because my job wasn't a career job.) to a full-time stay-at-home mom was challenging. I interact less with people every day and the job description has changed from arguing with people about zoning to cleaning up mashed bananas on the floor. This new job uses different parts of my brain and requires much more physical stamina than sitting in an office talking on the phone.

Although I've been home for 13 months now, I found Stay Home, Stay Happy: 10 Secrets to Loving At-Home Motherhood by Rachel Campos-Duffy to be encouraging in my new line of work. From practical tips on how to make your home feel hospitable to the 20 must-haves for moms (Home spa products here I come!), the book encourages and affirms the work that stay-at-home moms do every day. In fact, the first chapter begins by validating moms! Rachel has a Master's Degree and was a powerful working woman, but chooses to stay at home with her six kids - and actually enjoys it! This book has a wonderful, casual feel to it, as if you're talking over coffee with her. I found that no matter your religious background or political view, she seems like she would be a great friend and her book a great encouragement during your time at home. (Recommended, PG)

New Eyes

My friend Jen is visiting from Indiana this week and while acting as her personal tour guide, I've been seeing Montana with new eyes. We've been to some tourist-y places I hadn't yet seen, floated down a creek, and shopped at Super 1, of course. While introducing her to my friends and places around town, I feel a bit of hometown pride.

I'm awed by the number of people I recognize. (Apparently Bitterroot Mama is a bit of a celebrity around town. Who knew?)

I've loved taking her to my friendly church and having her meet Grammy Stromboli (who did end up marching in the VBS parade Sunday morning).

I'm enjoying showing off the little shops that make up Main Street.

I'm proud of the nice weather we've been able to enjoy and the lack of fires this season.

Way to go Bitterroot Valley! Now I know why tourists love to come visit this beautiful place. I love Montana during the summer. It just took some new eyes to realize it!

Sloppy Joes

Sorry for the half-eaten picture! I must have forgotten to take the picture until I had consumed part of my dinner. Just think of it as a testimony to its yumminess.

Today's recipe comes from The Big Cook, which is an awesome cookbook by some Canadian ladies who like to make food in big batches for their families and then freeze them. It sounds like a fun get-together, with everyone doing her part to get the meals ready. This is their sloppy joe recipe.

Sloppy Joes
Makes 1 Meal (Serves 4)
1 lb. lean ground beef, cooked and drained
1/2 c. onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. seasoning salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. chili sauce (I just use chili powder with 1/2 c. tomato sauce)
14 oz. tomato sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. lemon juice

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. If freezing, put into a large Ziploc bag. If not, heat up in a large pan. To reheat, put food in the microwave until hot OR put in the slow cooker for 2 to 3 hours on high or 5 to 6 hours on low. They suggest serving them with whole wheat buns and cheese, with pickles or fresh vegetables and dip on the side.

Mediocre Garden Update

It's time for an update from The Mediocre Gardener.

My potato plants were looking shaggy, so I decided to dig up the potatoes from one plant. I found a few nice-sized potatoes and lots of strange patches on the skin.

A journey to some extension websites confirmed that my potatoes have scab. I made sure to take the skin off of them and made mashed potatoes, which were yummy!

Although the frequent thunderstorms have been watering my garden for me (no dragging around the hose!), the hail has not been so nice to the flowers in my yard.

I hope to have fresh corn here soon and my zucchini and pumpkins are really taking off. I love my little garden - scabs and all.

Grace Kelly Scarf Tutorial

You probably don't care why I was looking up how to tie a silk scarf, but I'll tell you anyway. I am helping out with my church's VBS program this week by performing in their skits as Grammy Stromboli, an aging trapeze artist. The costume, which I'm positive violates the flag code, includes a head scarf that I wanted to secure around my head. I stumbled across a website that includes sketches showing how to tie silk scarves. Here's how to get the Grace Kelly look!

Start with a scarf. Mine was very long and rectangular.
Drape it around the front of your face.

Cross the two ends around the bottom of your neck. Isn't this hard?

Bring the two ends to the back of the head and tie together.
You can either do a single tie or knot it so it doesn't fall off.

OK girls! Now, if I could only find where I parked my convertible.

This post is being linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Wild Things

Sorry y'all. No picture today, but I do have a recommendation for every woman raising a male. Read Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James and David S. Thomas. (This is not the Steven James who wrote Quest for Celestia, although that is how I found this book - misspelling his name while searching for his other work at the library.)

Anyway, this book breaks up the journeys of young men into different age categories (Explorer, Lover, Individual, Wanderer, and Warrior) and typical characteristics they will show at each age. It opened my eyes to the huge differences between raising girls and boys. As I don't have a boy at the moment, I can't judge whether the great disciplining ideas and parenting tips will work, but this book is written by two men who happen to be child psychologists and Christians. It was in this book that I was introduced to the Love and Logic approach to parenting.

One interesting part of the book discussed the need for men to complete a rite of passage to becoming a man and ways to set those up. It also had sections about men's minds and gave a rough map of how men think and why they act the way they do. I found the stories in the book touching and, at times, hilarious.

I'm interested if any of you have read this book too or if you're interested in the book at all!

Sunflowers Post at Blissfully Domestic

Another one of my Blissfully Domestic articles is live! This post features amazing facts about sunflowers. Please head on over and read it if you have a few minutes. Thanks!

Stevensville Creamery Picnic and Parade

Based on my parade posts, you'd think we had a parade here every other week! This year marked the 98th annual Creamery Picnic in Stevensville. My husband was roped into directing the parade traffic, so the baby and I watched most of the parade from the sidelines. There were crazy tae kwon do demonstrations. 

 As it was an election year, the usual suspects, I mean,

political candidates, running for office, were out in force.

 

I LOVE the funny campaign our current County Attorney has going on.

His signs say "Pick Corn," which is his last name.

The Bitterroot Star had this float, with its main reporter sitting back and reading the paper.

I never did find that cake after the parade.

And of course, you go to the Creamery Picnic for cream, specifically ice cream. This event also included a barbeque showdown, which some of the vendors sold to the crowd. I love pulled pork sandwiches and bought one for lunch. I had fun, although it was hot. It'll be more fun when the baby is older.

Do you normally go to the Creamery Picnic? Did you see the parade this year?

Guest Room Makeover

I posted a teaser picture yesterday of our junky study. We called it "The Happy Room" because it was bright yellow. Unfortunately, all of the clutter made us unable to actually be happy in the room. Here it is again:

Before. So much junk!

Alternate names could have been "The Den,"
"The Military Shrine," or
"Bitterroot Mama's Wannabe Craft Room"

What was I thinking with the primary colors??

After some serious decluttering, including the removal of two desks, I started thinking about the new colors I wanted the room. I wanted it to feel light and airy. We repainted the walls a cream color and changed out the bedspread, sheets, and I made some new curtains. (After making the last set of curtains, I was an inspired woman. I'm quite pleased with how they turned out, too!)

The nightstand is from the thrift store ($5). I painted it an accent color, but have since decided it clashes too much with the filing cabinet. I'll repaint it when I have motivation.

Shelves from Lowe's. Organization stuff from Target.

Guests, you are now free to arrive! What do you think?

Saying Goodbye to Treasured Mementos

As a borderline pack rat, I know how hard it is to say goodbye to treasures. I did not want to get rid of a pile of things from my childhood, including some trophies. ("The Old Rugged Cross" line about laying down trophies kept creeping in my head, as much as I want everyone to know that I was a spelling bee finalist!) Since my smallish house cannot accommodate my ever-growing stash, I relied on a trick my mom taught me.

Take a picture of your item. Then get rid of it.

It really works! Then, if anyone questions my spelling abilities, I can bring out a picture of the trophy and prove my skills. And, digital photos take up very little space in my house. Now, if only I could take pictures of my pictures and get rid of them.

Anyway, using this tip helped me and my husband transform this cluttered Study/Junk Room into a fabulous Guest Retreat! Check back Thursday to see how we did it.

For more great tips, visit Works for Me Wednesday.

In Defense of Food

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan was one of those rare books that makes you rethink all of your assumptions about life. Remember when I reviewed Nourishing Traditions and wondered if the info in it was legit or not? Michael Pollan brings back Dr. Price's work and illuminates the real issues around eating.

He begins the book by stating that his advice will be to eat food, mostly plants, and not much of it. He continues by stating that most of the processed food found in grocery stores is not really "food," as our ancestors would describe it. Real food is his recommendation. Butter, not margarine. The fewer ingredients, the better.

Pollan says that the Western Diet is flawed and leads to degenerative diseases, like diabetes and bad teeth. Dr. Price, a dentist, traveled around the world in the 1930s to study native cultures and their diets. He found numerous types of diets, some carnivorous, some vegetarian, most of them omnivorous, that allowed people to live healthy lives. Most of the problems in their teeth (and overall health) came with the introduction of refined sugars and carbohydrates. Which is the real problem in our diet, Pollan asserts, not fats or saturated fats. According to Pollan, fats are necessary. Trans fats are still bad, but fats, saturated fats, and cholesterol can be good. Pollan goes on about the benefits of Omega-3 fats and the proper ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fats, which is off in normal Western Diets.

When my book club read this book over a year ago, I wasn't ready to hear the message. I felt that I would be subjected to a sermon that I wouldn't listen to because I wasn't ready to change. This time around, I was ready to listen and I have a much more open mind. (Heck, I have a vegetable garden in my back yard!) This week's meals revolve around meat, vegetables, and fruits. Not a lot of sweets or breads. Which is also what the Gluten-Free Doctor suggested. Interesting.

If you're ready to take the plunge into reexamining everything you believed about food, read this book! (Recommended, PG)

Ye Olde Renaissance Faire

The on-again, off-again thunderstorms on Saturday were not strong enough to deter me and two of my book club friends from entering the first ever Renaissance Fair in Hamilton. (The $4 admission was almost enough to deter us, but we sucked it up and paid anyway.)

I know a few people I'd like to throw in here, but they weren't with us, so we passed this by in favor of free drink samples.

The Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA) hosted Live Renaissance Rapier Combat. These young men knew their Middle Ages, but I really think they liked playing with swords. (Even though they were blunt.) They died by saying "Oh, you wounded me. OK. You're in."

At the vendor booths, we ran into some lovely ladies (and fellow book club members). Jessica sewed her own outfit and was offering henna tattoos. Exquisite!

 Mara looked lovely too, selling hand-sewn clothing.

We left just as sprinkles from another thunderstorm began. Next year, they could use even more vendors, more swash-buckling excitement, and less hail.