Dr Buzby's ToeGrips for Dogs Review

Tile floors and hardwood floors can be quite problematic for your dog as age advances and mobility decreases. Or perhaps your dog is recovering from surgery and needs a temporary mobility aid to navigate the home. Dr. Buzby's toegrips is a product I've always had bookmarked as a possible aid to try.

Toegrips are designed by a vet to ideally assist older dogs with traction and mobility. The toegrips are little rubber sleeves which slide on each nail. 

Installation

My first thought looking at the size of the grips was whoa! The installation could be very challenging if you dog is not cooperative as many dogs have issues with alot of handling of paws and feet. I knew my dog would be cooperative, but even with a very cooperative senior dog, the installation was a little cumbersome at a minimum.

The opening of  toegrips are very small and it took me three times to find the size for my dog. The sizing chart was incorrect for my dog; however, that is usual as well. It was easy to return and exchange. 

The toegrips are soaked in alcohol per instructions and then "slid" on the nail. The instructions provided are very specific and easy to follow but it was tedious so bring patience. There are 20 toegrips per package and reviewers report the grips are long lasting before replacements are required.

Did The Toegrips Work?

This would be subjective I believe for each unique situation. I believe the toegrips help from my experience. Traction definitely improved and to date all toegrips remain from the original installation.

Price

These are not inexpensive. Price is subjection, I do think if this is the product that works great for your dog and its' mobility, then the price will be paid without a blink,  I don't know if I've seen the prices vary too much if all all. I'd like to see a lower price point or more in the package for value, but again, very subjective.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Finding Your Footing When the Storms of Life Roll In

 

The Weight of the Currents We Navigate

Life has a way of testing our endurance when we least expect it. Writing Breathing Underwater came from a place of recognizing that heavy, overwhelming feeling when the challenges of daily life start pulling you under. We all face our own storms, and the chorus speaks directly to that shared human experience. Life is rarely perfect, and in one way or another, we are all in the same boat trying to stay afloat.

Instead of focusing purely on distress, this track explores what happens when you stop the frantic struggle against the current. It is about discovering a quiet, unexpected capacity to endure simply by pausing the fight and finding your footing again.

Designing a Safe Harbor Through Sound

Finding the exact musical tone to bring these words to life proved to be the most challenging part of the entire process. Crafting a soundscape from scratch takes time and a lot of patience.

For this piece, the vision was very specific. The goal was to avoid adding extra heaviness to a world that already carries plenty of it. To achieve that balance, I intentionally created a softer, easy-listening musical vibe that acts as the opposite of the words. That juxtaposition was completely deliberate, designed to honor genuine exhaustion with deep empathy while offering a soothing atmosphere that points toward a clear, empowering sky above.

Finding Calm Amidst the Storms

At its core, this song serves as a reminder for anyone going through hard days that even when you feel deep in the middle of a struggle, you possess the inner resolve to rise again and realize there is nothing to fear.

Thank you for taking the time to read and listen. I hope this piece brings you a measure of calm amidst whatever storms you might be facing right now.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube:  Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify:    Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe: Join the Journey: Get New Songs and Stories in Your Inbox

*********

**I write and produce story-driven lyrics. ** ** Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording. ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved. Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held). I wrote, created, and produced this piece on June 21st, 2026 - Member of SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)**

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

 Review of a novel by Stephen King

Cast of Characters:

Trisha McFarland. Age nine. Main Character

Tom Gordon.  Closer. Pitcher, number 36, for the Boston Red Sox baseball team. 

Time Sequence: June, 1998

Synopsis of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon : A NovelCheck Price

The story begins at ten o’clock on a June Saturday morning in Maine. Trisha is in the family car on her way, with her divorced mother and older brother, for a short hike along the Maine/New Hampshire branch of the Appalachian Trail. At ten thirty, she was lost in the woods!

Trisha had not meant to get lost. During the hike, she was trailing behind her mother & brother who were arguing again over the brother wanting to go back to Boston and live with his dad. Trisha got tired of listening to them, so when they reached a fork in the trail, she stepped off to the lessor trail to go to the bathroom. When done, she thought she could just cut across through the woods to rejoin the main trail. Instead, she got confused and ended up walking in the wrong direction.

The story occurs over the space of a week, with Trisha’s wanderings and poor choices of direction getting her more & more lost, including way beyond the search areas where search & rescue teams were looking for her. 

To keep from being too frightened, especially the first night alone in the dark, she uses her Walkman to listen to a game on the radio of her favorite baseball team (The Boston Red Sox), with her favorite player, Tom Gordon. 

Trisha also began to conserve her small store of food meant originally for lunch on the day hike. This included one tuna sandwich, some chips, celery sticks and Ding-Dongs, plus water and one other drink! 

As the days go by, Trisha keeps walking, first following a stream because she heard that streams usually end somewhere near civilization. When the first stream peters out, she follows another. She mentally replays conversations with her dad on weekend visits, especially those about the Red Sox and Tom Gordon, also her dad’s favorite team. In one conversation, Trisha remembers dad saying: 

“I believe Tom Gordon can save 40 games this year (1998). I believe right now he’s the best Closer in the major leagues — that if he stays healthy and the Sox hitting holds up, he could be pitching in the World Series come October!”  

Eventually, as days pass, the batteries in the Walkman die. So, Trisha begins to keep her mind occupied with imaginary conversations with her hero, Tom Gordon. 

Summary

The entire story (with a few side lines from minor characters) is narrated by and involves mainly Trisha McFarland (and, of course, her baseball hero, Tom Gordon). How she copes when she runs out of food and water and later becomes ill, is a testimony to the endurance of youth and the belief that things will work out. 

Stephen King does a marvelous job keeping you riveted to each section of Trisha’s journey alone in deep woods. Only, Trisha doesn’t believe she’s alone; she’s convinced Tom Gordon is with her, encouraging her to keep going.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a bit of a departure for Stephen King. Rather than a true horror story, (which is a genre I definitely stay away from; thereby seldom reading books by King), it is more a psychological thriller. And, since it involved baseball, and the fact that it is a fiction story involving a real-life baseball player from the 1990s, (whom I had just recently read about), I found myself drawn to it. I am glad I did, as I really enjoyed it.

Summary

Tom Gordon is best remembered in Boston for his dominant 1998 season out of the bullpen, where he set a then-major league record of 43 consecutive saves and a franchise record of 46 saves. Thereby, bringing Trisha’s dad’s earlier statement of 40+ games into focus.

Tom ‘Flash’ Gordon played for the Red Sox from 1996 through 1999. Find his stats and career information and how he acquired the nickname ‘Flash’ here.  He is currently the radio color commentator for the Boston Red Sox.

*Family Note: Former Major League Baseball pitcher Tom "Flash" Gordon has three sons, two of whom followed in his footsteps to play in the major leagues. 

*Book Review of "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" was written by Wednesday Elf

For more Book Reviews,

Click on ReviewThisBooks.com

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Review of The Forgotten Duke by Sofi Laporte

Alone.  No identity.  No memory.  In an unfamiliar place.  Her attending physician is a widower with children.  He offers her his name, a home and a ready-made family.  A place to belong.  It is an arrangement that works for both of them until she is recognized 8 years later.

_______

I was not familiar with the author, Sofi Laporte, until I started reading the Viennese Waltz book series.  I was transfixed by the first book in the series, The Forgotten Duke.  The plot is unimaginable and perhaps a bit frightening to consider the possibilities.  No one would want to literally lose a beloved family member traveling to another state or county with no preset destination.  Consider that this story takes place in the early 1800's when there were no cellphones, or even phones, and no way to track a person who has disappeared.

When a body is found washed up on a riverbank, she is identified only by her clothing.  Her husband buries her and spends the next 8 years grieving his young wife and a life that should have been.

 

The Forgotten Duke (Viennese Waltz Book 1)
 

 The Forgotten Duke
(Viennese Waltz Book 1)Check PriceWhile attending the Congress of Vienna with her brother, Lady Evie is shocked by what, or rather who, she sees one afternoon.  When she calls out to her best friend and stops her in the street, the woman is taken aback, insisting that her name is Helena Arenheim, not Catherine.  But Evangeline (Evie) is certain she is Catherine.  She notes that she even has the distinguishing birthmark on her cheek.  

Evie tells her brother, Julius Stafford-Hill, Duke of Aldingbourne, that she has seen Catherine and that she is clearly not dead.  Julius is incredulous, even somewhat angry at Evie for making such a ridiculous and painful claim.  Then a few nights later at a ball, he sees Helena playing the piano and is astonished.  Still unconvinced even by his own eyes, the Duke, his sister, and the Duke's secretary show up at Helena's home.  They meet her children, the oldest is not much younger than she is.  But the one that really captures their attention is the youngest of the children.  He is a replica of the Duke as a child.  Could it be possible that the Duke's wife is not dead and that he even has a child?  

 

Historical Information

The Congress of Vienna was in fact a real event in history.  It was a diplomatic assembly of representatives who reorganized Europe after the Napoleonic war hoping to establish a balance of power.  It lasted from September 1814 to June 1815.  

It certainly makes the perfect setting with an adequate length of time for this story to take place. 

         

Read More Book Reviews at
ReviewThisBooks.com

Review of The Forgotten Duke by Sofi Laporte by:

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Restoration Garden

 

I had thoroughly enjoyed the book The Last Secret of Lily Adams by Sara Blaydes, that I went searching for other books she might have written. I came across Restoration Garden and also enjoyed this book.  Sara Blaydes has a writing style that fully emersed me into the storyline of the novel. In this book there is again a secret that has been hidden for years, and the book leads you in a path to the discovery of the secret. The book combines mystery, romance and intrigue both in the present day and in the war-torn Europe of the 1940s.

Book Summary

The book begins when Julia Esdaile, a landscape architect, is hired to restore a historic garden at Havenworth Manor in England.  She is hired to restore the gardens for Margaret Clarke, the feisty 92-year-old lady of the manor.  Andrew does not know the reason for the restoration, he just knows that it is very important to his godmother, Margaret. Over the last 80+ the garden has fallen into disrepair.  It is now a jumble of weeds and snarls of bramble.

The book goes back between the present day with Julia and the restoration and the 1940's when Margaret and her older half-sister Irene lived at the manor. There is a portion of the story that deals with children that are sent from London to the countryside to avoid the bombings and then there is the story of Irene.  Irene is an aspiring artist from America who is brought to England when her father marries Margaret's mother.  She dreams of being in the world outside of Havenworth, but wartime has made that impossible for the 17-year-old.  She also dreams of the handsome RAF office James.  When she turns 18, she escapes Havenworth and follows her dreams, but she is then forced to make some hard choices, and she vanishes from Margarets world forever.  

The book opens up the gardens as Julia restores them and helps to uncover the secrets that have been hidden all of these years.

I really enjoy reading the book and found it fascinating.

Books on Amazon by Sara Blaydes

You can find these books on Amazon in audio, paperback and on Kindle.

Restoration Garden

The Last Secret of Lily Adams

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Would you Ever..... ~ A Pet Review

Would you ever consider getting a bird for a pet?  Well in our household, we have had at least one bird and more over the last 30+ years.  It all started off with my daughter wanting a budgie for her 16th birthday.  We already had cats, dogs, rabbits, turtles, fish and more, so why not a budgie?

Well that love of our little blue feathered friend turned into years of caring for birds of almost every color.  Budgies do come in lots and lots of different colors.  But somehow in all that time we always gravitated to budgies and never looked further afield.

This year that changed.  Oh we still have budgies (2) Snowball and Sweet Pea.  Both are very cute and loveable, but I was always drawn to the larger birds in the pet shop.  What stopped me was the cost of the larger birds.  Cockatiels were over 500.00 for one bird and the Conures (small parrots) were even more expensive.  

That was when I started to look for a breeder who I was sure would not have the overhead that most pet shops have and therefore should be a little more economical.  

Well at the beginning of May, we finally bit the bullet and contacted a breeder who had Pineapple Conures that were ready to go to their new families.  We went  for a visit to her compound and were impressed with the number of birds she and her husband were breeding.  All seemed very healthy and loved.  So we settled on a little male Pineapple Conure and promptly named him Benny!  

Benny and the Jets!  Snowball on the left, Sweet Pea in the middle and Benny on the right. A trio of love for us!!

Now to bring him home and introduce him to his new brother and sister (we are still not sure if the budgies are males, females, or one of each).  But we are home now to our own Benny and the Jets!

All the birds are quite friendly with each other and while the budgies tend to spend time in their "room", Benny is much more social and loves to come out into the house proper and spend time with us.

The biggest difference we are finding between these two species is the interaction we have with Benny.  He wants to be with us and his personality is HUGE!  We are learning to train him, so that he comes when he is called, steps up when asked to, or takes a bath when you are washing your hands.

Birds are a messy lot but that is not too hard to take when you have a cordless vacuum to take up the crumbs that are dropped. Plus light vacuuming daily has become the norm at our home.  

He is a lot of fun and loves to entertain us.  Hanging on a hanger upside down is one of his favorite tricks.  He will also let you love him with scratches to his neck and head.  He gets very quiet when the love is being given out so freely.  

So far, it is a learning curve, but we are enjoying Benny so much that we ask ourselves why it took us so long to look into a different bird species.  

If you are wanting an animal that you can have lots of fun with and still have a manageable time with them  I would definitely suggest a bird from the Conure family.  They are about 10 to 12 inches in length and live about 20-25 years.  Not as long as some parrots, but still a nice life span.  And did I tell you they are a lot of fun?

We are using treats to train him and this works very well.  So if you are looking for a new pet, consider a Conure, and go to a reputable breeder.

These are great bird training treats.  They are perfect for training and bonding with your new Conure friend.

Like any pet, be responsible and do your homework on what they require and make sure you have a vet that will look after birds!  

We are certainly enjoying our new role as Conure parents and highly recommend this type of bird for anyone who loves to have a special friend for themselves.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Abstract Necklaces and Matching Earrings

Zazzle has a variety of necklace styles to choose from, and here you can find some unique abstract designs that are also on drop style earrings.

This first design features a print from one of my paint pour designs. The colors include aqua, red, pink, and white. The aqua could also be called turquoise. The colors blend into each other and looks like a flowing movement type design.

Red White Aqua and Pink Abstract Necklaces
by CherylsArt

I had purchased a necklace, for my daughter, from Zazzle, over ten years ago. We were both impressed. The design is printed in a medium that reminds me of a resin. It is very smooth, fits perfectly into the necklace frame, and the colors turned out great. The round and square shaped necklaces come in a choice of small, medium, and large. They have an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5.

The earrings are a drop style. I made matching/coordinating earrings to go with each necklace., which are purchased separately.

Here is the fun purple and white abstract background with colorful beads adding pops of color on top of the background. The beads are part of the design and are not separate from the background. I positioned the design at various angles when I designed the items in this set. They have a fun and festive look!

Abstract Purple Drawing Colorful Beads Earrings
by CherylsArt

This next design is a great choice for any patriotic event, and for anyone who just likes the colors of red, white, and blue. This is from another of my paint pour designs. All the items in this set have a vertical positioned design.

Abstract Red White Blue Paint Pour Necklaces
by CherylsArt

If you look in between the blends of purples and lavender, you can see a honeycomb type weave going on. This design offers a more subtle look, and will look great with a variety of purple and or lavender attire.

Abstract Lavender and Purple Earrings
by CherylsArt

The earrings have an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5, as of the date of this writing.

The jewelry pieces come in a special black felt bag, perfect for gift giving.

The printed areas are sealed with a UV-resistant coating, which is water resistant. However they are not recommended to be worn while showering to retain silver plating. Zazzle also recommends not be expose the earrings to cosmetics such as perfumes and other sprays.

I hope that you have found this helpful in your search for some abstract necklaces that can be matched with earrings.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

The Life I Built From Broken Things - A Song Review

 

When You're Done Trying to Put Your Name in the Sand

Have you ever had one of those days, or years, where it felt like you were trying to write your name in the sand while the tide was coming in at full speed? 

You keep smoothing it out, trying to make it stay, but the water just wipes it away again and again.

Although I'm a positive person, I do feel this way at times. I spent a long time thinking that if I could keep everything neat and predictable, I was winning. Not anymore. Life has a way of showing us that some things are out of our control. 

I poured these thoughts into a new song called "The Life I Built From Broken Things". It has become my own little anthem, and I wanted to share it with you because we all need the reminder that we are tougher than we give ourselves credit for.

Building Something Real When You Are in a Crunch

When things fall apart, our first instinct is often to worry. We look at the mess and think, "Well, that is it. I am done." I have been there. You look at your life and see the broken floorboards and the leaks, and you feel like the whole thing is coming down.

But we don't have to fix the whole house in a single day. Recovery is often quiet and slow. It is just one band-aid at a time, as I wrote in the song. It's deciding that even though the floor has holes in it, we will still sweep up the sand. There's something beautiful about building a life out of our broken things. 

It means the foundation is not just some perfect, sterile thing. It is made of experience. It is made of the times we fell down and got back up anyway.

Why a Little Stubbornness Is Actually a Good Thing

If anyone tells you that you are being too stubborn, take it as a compliment. There is a specific kind of stubbornness that I think is a superpower. It is that quiet, deep-down refusal to let the storm win.

In my song, I wrote, "I'm just too stubborn to know how to fail." People might look at your life and see the rain or the struggle. But they don't see the work you are doing when you hide your wings. They can't see the way you are reinforcing the walls in the dark, preparing for the moment you're ready to fly again.

I've learned that the one thing nobody can take away from me is me.

You're the only person who can decide when you're done. If you haven't decided you're done, then you're not failing. You're still in the middle of the project.

We Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be Strong

It is perfectly okay to have weak days. We're human. It's going to happen. We don't have to be a superhero every single day. It's okay to be tired or frustrated. It's only part of your story, not the whole story.

I believe that every tiny, incremental inch we move forward counts. Even if it is just one nail you hammer in, it's progress. The life you are building might look different than the one you started with, but it is yours. 

Thanks for letting me share this with you. I hope that if you are going through a storm right now, these words give you a little bit of shelter. You've got this.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube:  Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify:    Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics

*********

**I write and produce story-driven lyrics. ** ** ** ** Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording. ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved. Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held). I wrote, created, and produced this piece on June 21st, 2026 - Member of SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)**

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON: