On My Nightstand

So right now I'm reading five books and I have one waiting to be read. Then I have two other books that I've finished, but haven't put back on the shelf. Plus my journal. It's getting a little crowded.

Above you see my current reads, plus my journal (which I write in every night). They are upside down because that's just the way they get placed right before a fall asleep. I'll list them for you in the order I started reading them.

Mountains of Memory: A Fire Lookout's Life in the River of No Return Wilderness by Don Scheese

John Steinbeck's short novels includes: Tortilla Flat, The Red Pony, Of Mice and Men, The Moon is Down, Cannery Row and The Pearl.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Montana History

Fire Lookouts of the Northwest by Ray Kresek

I've finished reading two of the above books and one of them is hopefully going to be read soon.

The finished ones are:

The Message by Lance Richardson

An Affair to Remember: The Remarkable Love Story of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy by Christopher Andersen

And next in line is:

Armour: Divine Protection in a Darkening World by Kim B. Clark
_______________________________

The Message was good, my grandma let me borrow it. It's about a guy who crosses over into the next life while in a coma. Very powerful.

I really enjoyed An Affair to Remember. We all know I love Katharine Hepburn. I also love Spencer Tracy. I think it's amazing to see how they influenced each other. Also they were both incredible actors.

via amyhollingsworth.com

Another great book I recently finished is The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor by Amy Hollingsworth. I LOVE Fred Rogers. I'm certain that he was one of the most Christ-like men to even grace this earth. He was so wise and I love reading about how lovely he was to people.

What have you been reading? Are you learning lots?

October 2013 Reads

Obviously I've been super bad at updating my blog, not for lack of material though. I read some great stuff this October! Here are the details:

via Amazon

Among the Shoshones by Elijah Nicholas Wilson

This book was very interesting. It's about a white boy who went to live with the Shoshone tribe when he was twelve. The only issue have with the book is that I didn't get a feeling that it was entirely truthful. A lot of it seemed like it could be exaggerated. Read it, you'll see what I mean. He talks himself up. A lot.

via Kaboodle

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

Likely you've seen the previews for the movie of the same title, I confess I read the book because of the movie. I won't be watching the movie, but I highly recommend the book.

It's the story of a successful, free, family man kidnapped and sold into slavery. This book is his autobiography. It is wonderfully written. I could really feel the truthfulness of his words. I think it's a great read for anyone who would like to read a first hand account of what slavery was like.

via Auxiliary Memory

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

My mom recommended this book to me, before she had even read it. She saw it on PBS. So I checked it out and I loved it!  This book is primarily about the Comanches and Quanah Parker. It's a very graphic book because this was a very violent time in history.

I think it's important to read things like this (and the two books above) because there are so many things in American history that we aren't taught in the classroom. It's our duty to read and learn so that we don't repeat history. I also believe these people deserve to be read about. They are a great piece of our history and heritage.

via buecher.de

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca is the story of a new bride trying to fit in at her new home where her husband's dead wife seems to have a hold on everyone. 

I snagged this book for a couple of bucks at the thrift store that I work at. I'd never read it before. I'd only seen Hitchcock's adaptation and I loved it. I thought reading the book would be fun and perfect for Halloween.

I was right. The novel is beautifully written, suspenseful and intriguing. I had forgotten the ending of the movie, so that made it even more fun. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good suspense!




Well that's what I've been reading. I just started An Affair to Remember: The Remarkable Love Story of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

Peanut Butter Brownie Popcorn Recipe

 I had planned to take a picture of the popcorn right after is was made... but I forgot and by the time I got to it this was all that was left:

I'm surprised I had that much left after five adults and two children got to it!

This was made because I really wanted chocolate popcorn with my peanut butter popcorn, but I couldn't find a recipe that I had the ingredients for. They all wanted me to have chocolate chips or corn syrup.

Then I remembered that I had a Ghirardelli's Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix. So I decided to dump that on top of the peanut butter popcorn. And it totally worked! The chocolate chips in the brownie mix melted on the warm popcorn and YUM!

Here is the recipe for you:

Peanut Butter Brownie Popcorn

Ingredients:
8 cups popped popcorn (about 8 TBSP kernels)
1 cube butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 brownie mix of your choice


Melt butter, peanut butter and sugar, stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over popcorn. If you can, use a bowl with a lid so you can close the lid and shake the peanut butter mix all over the popcorn (preferably while listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass).

Once the popcorn is sufficiently coated with the PB mix, dump in your dry brownie mix. Close the lid, turn another Tijuana Brass song on and shake away!

Once it's all coated, dig in!

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Playlist

We all know I love these guys:

via last.fm

With that in mind I made my sister a playlist because she doesn't know many of my favorite Dirt Band songs. Plus I didn't want to be held responsible when her kids grow up and realize I've been hording all the good music.

You've probably asked yourself several times, "Why doesn't Pam share with us a playlist of her favorite Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs?" Well, your dreams are about to come true! Here is that very playlist for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

 

via last.fm

Did I miss any of your favorites?

Dom Deluise in Fatso (1980)

First let's just add Dom Deluise to my list of people I have a crush on that are dead.

via peerie

Dom Deluise is just awesome. He is hilarious, one of the greatest comedians. He is also just an incredible actor. I adore him!

Tonight I watched 1980's Fatso, written and directed by Anne Bancroft. 

via Tales of the Easily Distracted

This movie is the perfect heartwarming blend of comedy, romance, drama and reality. I'd be nearly in tears one moment and laughing the next! And it really showcases Dom's excellent acting skills, his character was so easy to identify with.

I highly recommend this movie. It's absolutely beautiful.

You can watch the whole thing on YouTube, just click here!

Has anyone else seen Fatso? What do you think?

Discovering My Love of Glen Campbell's Voice

Here is the youtube chain of events:

Dom Deluise in Fatso 
which led me to
Dom, Dean Martin and John Forsythe
which led me to
Dom, Dean and Jimmy Stewart
which led me to
Dom, Dean and Bing Crosby
which led me to
Dom, Dean and Glen Campbell
which finally led me to

 By the Time I Get to Phoenix

Anyway, apparently I like Glen Campbell. Who knew? I didn't until watching True Grit (pure awesome) and then listening to him sing By the Time I Get to Phoenix (and you all already know I love that song). I suppose when I see Glen Campbell albums at the thrift store I'll have to start buying them. My life is so hard! 

True Grit

 What do you think? And have you seen True Grit?

And did you watch any of the other videos? Hilarious!

Montana Camping Summer 2013 Reads

I just got back from a 5 day camping trip in Montana. As usual it was magic; no cell service, no electricity, lots of swimming, hiking, games, and great food!

I also got a fair amount of reading done, allow me to tell you all about what I read!

via goodreads

Legends and Lies by Dale L. Walker

This book was so interesting. It covers everything from the death of Meriwether Lewis to Crazy Horse to The Massacre at Mountain Meadows.

Walker doesn't tell you which story or conspiracy theory is the truth, but he gives you all the information so you can decide for yourself.

Very interesting stuff.

via goodreads

The Journey of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III

This book was my favorite of all of the books I read this last week. I will have this book in my collection some day!

It is the Lakota oral history of Crazy Horse. As I read it I felt exactly as though I was sitting with Marshall as he related these stories to me.

Aside from being really interesting, this book also gave me a lot of perspective. I always knew that what went on regarding the the native peoples of the America was wrong, but hearing the stories they tell their children and grandchildren made it really hit home. I even found some of it very relevant to things regarding America today.

Read the book!

via Creative Loafing Charlotte

Black Cowboys of the Old West by Tricia Martineau Wagner

This book is full of great old photos and fabulous stories of great cowboys.

These stories are of people who shaped the west. And they really are sensational stories.

If you like cowboy stories this is the book for you!

via amazon

More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Montana Women by Gayle C. Shirley

This book was so fun! These women are just awesome. They are from all kinds of backgrounds and did various things to influence and shape Montana and the nation.

I just love learning about inspiring people.

Apparently they have these books for for other states. I'm going to try and find the Idaho one.




















I also started reading William Clark and the Shaping of the West by Landon Y. Jones. I am only 28 pages in and I already love it. I'm kind of a sucker for Lewis and Clark anything. I can't wait to learn more about William Clark.

Anybody have any other suggestions for books about the west? There is so much history out there, I'll never get to all of it!