The battle of the hardwood floors continues! Upon the positive recommendation of a friend with a senior dog I tried the Anti Slip pads to evaluate if this was a tool for the older dog arsenal.
The stick on paw pads are shaped like the bottom of a dogs paw and are peel n stick. There are little rubber treads all over the stick on pads to help with traction on smooth floors.
Installation
The pads were easy to install and my dog tolerated them well. Did he love the pads? No But he didn't try to remove the pads either. I do think the tolerance would be dog specific as dogs can be very picky about their feet. However, compared to other senior dog products for traction the pads were one of the least intrusive.
Do They Work?
Yes, they do help with traction.
Price Point
There are a few manufacturers on the market, search dog paw protectors online to examine the selection. The prices do vary.
Recommendation
This is a product I ultimately returned. The product did work for my situation as I found the removal of the product was too cumbersome and difficult.
My friend loves the pads and reports the pads fall off regularly after a few days and she simply replaces the pads with no muss, no fuss. If the pads I used had fallen off that would be highly preferable than attempting to unstick the pads.
I definitely believe the pads are worth trying to evaluate if they are a good fit for your dog.
Which Product Helped The Most?
After weeks of evaluation and a few trial and error attempts, I found the best solution actually using 2 products simultaneously : Dr. Buzby Toe Grips for the rear paws and the Tiger Toes socks for the front paws.
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He sometimes watches her go about her day and wonders if she has
any idea how much of herself she gives to the world around her.
She is naturally giving, not because she has forgotten herself or
believes everyone else should come first, but because kindness is
simply part of who she is. She knows who she is. She takes care of
herself, yet when she moves through life, she sees beyond her own
needs. In the smallest decisions and ordinary moments, she thinks of
others. She notices what people need. She does what she can. Often
without fanfare. Often without anyone realizing how much thought she
has put into the simplest things.
And he loves her for all of it.
When they first met, she saw something in him, too.
She could see beyond the person standing in front of her. She
sensed the road he had traveled and the pain he had carried. She
didn't try to rescue him. She didn't sacrifice herself for him or
make his wounds her responsibility. She simply understood that
someone who had traveled such a difficult road might need a little
more tenderness, a little more patience, and a little extra loving
care.
So she gave it freely, simply because that was who she was.
And slowly, without either of them fully realizing it, she became
the place he had been searching for his entire life.
Home.
Not just a house. Not just a person he loved. But a feeling he had
never truly known before. When he looks at her, he sees quiet after
the noise. He sees safety after uncertainty. He sees somewhere he
belongs. He sees a life where he can finally exhale.
His life before her had not been easy. He had known pain, carried
scars, and traveled through experiences that changed him. But it is
never lost on him that, without her, he might never have understood
love the way he understands it now.
That is why he wishes he could lend her his eyes.
Just for an hour.
He wishes she could see the woman he sees, the kindness she
doesn't always notice in herself, the beauty that goes far deeper
than what can be seen, and all the quiet things she does that make
his life better. He wishes she could understand that when he looks at
her, he doesn't just see the woman he loves.
He sees his fairytale hero.
He sees the person who helped heal wounds she didn't create. The
person who erased pain simply by loving him with patience and
sincerity. The person who saw his truth and accepted him without
asking him to become someone else.
Most of all, he sees home.
And so, through this song, he gives her the only gift he knows she
truly needs to understand his heart:
His eyes.
Because if she could see herself the way he sees her, she would
finally understand the depth of his love.
"Borrow My Eyes" is
his thank you to the woman who gave him more than love; she gave him
a place in this world where he finally feels he belongs.
*********
"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**
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.”
This is a memoir of a childhood time during the 1950s in the suburbs of New York City. It was a magical time of neighborhood rivalries when the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees all called New York home.
Ebbets Field Postcard (Source: Wikipedia Commons)
Doris Kearns Goodwin was a very young girl as the 1950s began, and shared a deep love for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team with her father, who taught her early on how to keep score. This was a time before night games began, so daytime baseball games were the norm. Doris would listen to the afternoon Dodgers game on the radio, faithfully filling out the scorecards in the little red score book her father had given her, then describe the narrative of the game to her dad each evening when he returned from work. From this humble beginning came the start of her coming-of-age story related in the memoir “Wait Till Next Year”.
Doris’ stories as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, peopled by Jackie Robinson (her favorite player), Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Duke Snider and Pee Wee Reese, also included her recollections of her family, neighborhood and childhood friends. She describes what it was like to grow up in Rockville Centre, Long Island in a time when neighbors were extended family; a time defined by post-war suburban growth, early television broadcasts and Cold War anxiety.
A delightful memoir of a girl, an era and a game! A growing-up time which came to a close for Doris with the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn in 1957 (along with the Giants) and the death of her mother.
Author Doris Helen Kearns Goodwin
Goodwin is an American historian, biographer and political commentator who specializes in US presidents. She worked as a fellow under Lyndon B. Johnson, which inspired her writing as a presidential historian. Her Wikipedia story is here.
Summary
I was given this book by a friend who knew what a huge baseball fan I am. The gift came from a recent evening at the Kansas City Royals ballpark where, between innings, we had a discussion about the many baseball-related books we’ve each read.
In addition to enjoying the book from a baseball-fan standpoint, I really enjoyed it from the fact that Doris Kearns Goodwin is just three years younger than I am and her descriptions of her life in the 1950s and the baseball teams and players she talks about were SO familiar to me, growing up in New York State in the 1950s. It was like she was describing MY childhood days!
Plus, I was mostly a NY Yankees fan (still am), but also followed the Brooklyn Dodgers during their time as a New York team. I never forgave them (just like a lot of other Dodger fans) for leaving Brooklyn and never cheered for them again. Doris Kearns ended up moving to Massachusetts as an adult and gave up on the Dodgers; becoming a Boston Red Sox fan!
Wait Till Next Year is very well written, well worth reading by anyone. It will especially appeal to fans of Baseball, and people who were young in the 1950s. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have passed it along to my brother, another huge baseball fan!
*Book review of “Wait Till Next Year” was written by Wednesday Elf
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Sometimes, we just want a delightful movie to watch that doesn't cause
stress or tug too hard on any emotional strings. That is exactly what
I was looking for last Sunday when I found the movie, "Meet Me in the
Margins".
I was also thrilled to find a new-to-me actress that I really like.
Merritt Patterson has a really kind and intelligent persona. Someone I
would love to have as a friend and the type we all need in our families to
provide a calm presence in any situation. I also like both of the
prominent male actors in the movie. Liam McIntyre and Austin Valli
both seemed thoughtful and attentive. They listened and heard when
others were speaking. Being heard is something we all value!
"Meet Me in the Margins" is based on a best selling romance novel by
Melissa Ferguson. I enjoyed the movie so much, I now want to read the
book, which I have already downloaded to my
Kindle, that inspired the movie. Most often, I prefer the book for
greater detail. Once the book is made into a movie, I don't always
agree with the actor choices. However, in this case, I will already
have a faces attached to the characters. Since I liked those faces,
that is perfectly fine with me.
Meet Me in the Margins Synopsis
Meet Me in the MarginsCheck PriceSavannah Cade (Merritt Patterson) has been working on writing her first romance novel for 3
years. She already works as an editor for Pendleton Publishing, but
they do not publish romance novels. Therefore, she has all the normal
concerns about publishing a book, plus the appearance of communicating with
the competition.
She has confided in a few co-workers about her book, but it is not
universal knowledge. When the owner's son is introduced during a
meeting as a new employee, Savannah is not really paying attention.
She accidentally drops her manuscript during the meeting. William Pendleton
(Liam McIntyre) helps her pick up the pages and discovers her secret, but keeps the
confidence.
Later, she leaves her book draft in a rarely used room in the Pendleton
Publishing building. When she returns to retrieve it, she finds that
someone has been leaving critique notes in the margins. Thus, the
title, "Meet Me in the Margins". The notes recommend ways to improve
the content, which Savannah decides to use. As the exchange continues
and more notes are left, she wonders about the identify of her mystery
developmental editor. Some of the notes seem to be directly related to
her own personality, not just the book. She starts looking at
co-workers with a questioning eye. One in particular, Sam Swift (Austin Valli), seems the most likely individual since he is always encouraging her
and it is believed he has a crush on her.
Of course, the identity is revealed before the movie ends, but by then they
are already "friends" through the writing process.
___________
I highly recommend this movie for light entertainment on a laid-back
day. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you, I watched it on Pure Flix which is linked through Amazon in the video images.
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.”
If you have a child at home who loves Sesame Street and is learning his or her letters, you both will love Play-Doh’s Sesame Street Cookie Monster-themed set, Lunch Letters. It allows you to create either just individual ABCs or complete words and, eventually I suppose, short sentences. Imagination enters the play, too, when you make alphabet soup for Cookie Monster’s lunch.
This Hasbro playset includes the Cookie Monster figure that you can feed as well as a bowl, lid, knife, spoon, fork, roller, presser tool, playmat, four small cans of Play-Doh modeling compound and 45 molds. It is recommended for individuals aged 3 and up and is marked set number 25255 with the UPC code 5010994543181.
Here's the original television commercial for the set from Youtube so that you can see the toy in action:
It is a set from 2010, which means that it is retired, a bit hard-to-find and therefore often expensive. What is it worth today? The three years prior to writing this post, I can see that a set has sold for as much as $299 but also as low as $30, depending on condition and other factors.
This set would make a great addition to your child’s learning tools or to your Play-doh or Sesame Street collection.
Image at the top of the page was made with some assistance from Chat GPT.
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This simple design of a pattern of white stars on turquoise stripes is added to a variety of kitchen products; is a great choice for anyone wanting a turquoise themed design for their kitchen(s).
I currently have a mix match of red themed items in my kitchen, I might just have to design a set for me. No one single store had the various items that I wanted, so the shade of red stripes vary from place to place.
With a set made on Zazzle, you'll get greater matching abilities, especially when the items are purchased from the same store.
On this first item, I added the design to a frosted mug. The design shows as more transparent on the frosted mugs. Anyone can easily select from any of the other mugs on Zazzle, and the design will show up as being a solid look.
I have not purchased any of the frosted mugs on Zazzle, but was intrigued by this frosted look. The mugs that I purchased from Zazzle look great and feel great. They are smooth to the touch, and the colors are distinct and show up just as I designed them.
Kitchen towels are another common thing that I look for when making a kitchen set. I made the design with a larger print; I thought they would look better with a less busy pattern. However, if you would like me to design it as a smaller design for you, and or as just a border design on the top and bottom ends, let me know in a comment below. I will be glad to oblige.
The kitchen towels have a lightweight waffle weave. They are made of a durable woven polyester and polyamide blend microfiber, and are machine washable. They measure 16 x 24 inches. The overall customer rating is 4.8 out of 5, at the time that I am writing this blog.
Other items that I designed to go with this set are cloth napkins, table runners, serving trays, laminated placemats, and oven mitts and potholders.
The cloth napkins come in a choice of cocktail (12" x 12") and dinner sizes (20" x 20"). They can be ordered individually and or in sets of four.
The serving trays come in a choice of two sizes; small (14.5" W x 10" L x 2.125" H) and large (19" W x 14" L x 2.625" H). The handles come in a choice of natural or black. They panel insert is made of a high quality hardboard which has a glossy finish. This item is not made for direct food contact, so dishes etc. will be required to use with these trays.
The table runners come in a choice of three sizes: 14" x 72", 16" x 90", and 16" x 108". They are made of 100% cotton. They are machine wash cold, dry flat, and can touch up with a warm iron.
The laminated placemats measure 12" x 18", have rounded corners, and are made of Polyester-based synthetic paper. I designed them with the design printed on both sides.
The oven mitts and potholders can be ordered as a set, or individually. They have a No-slip silicon part for more safe handling, and each comes with a loop for hanging. These come with a choice of a black or silver option for the silicon side. I did see where a customer was not impressed with the smell of the black silicon. The other complaints were that the loop made the design appear upside down when hanging. With this particular design, that shouldn't be a problem. (However, if you ever order an oven mitt or potholder from Zazzle, and the design is printed in the opposite orientation other than what is depicted when placing your order, then do contact Zazzle within 30 days of your receiving it, for a corrected replacement.) The design side is made of a high quality canvas. Recommended washing is by hand in cold water, and line dry, and do not iron.
Here is a link which shows all of the current white stars on turquoise stripes kitchen products by CherylsArt on Zazzle:
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Tracker: A Fox Walker Novel is an award-winning, suspense novel set in the beautiful but rugged terrain of Colorado near the San Juan mountains. Fox Walker is asked to go into the wilderness to confirm or put to rest the rumors that someone or something is out there. In this story, cold weather may not be the only danger coming.
The Tracker. Fox Walker is a Native American who lives in remote Colorado near the San Juan mountains. His grandfather taught him the old ways of living and survival. Fox's tracking skills are supreme and he is often asked by the local Sheriff to assist with search and rescues in the wilderness of the San Juan Mountains. This story begins with Fox being asked to assist again.
Historically, the area that is now named Gray's Forest was considered mukua sogope (a place of mystery and spiritual power). Add to existing reputation an unsolved murder last spring, sightings of someone or something recently, and pressure from the local press with their stories that keep the rumors stirred up causes the Sheriff to act. Walker is asked to prove no one is out there, that there is not someone who may be in need of assistance, or confirm that there is or isn't some sort of fugitive hiding out.
Soon after he begins his search, Walker finds evidence of a person using wilderness survival techniques to dig and harvest edible wild plants. With confirming human presence, he wonders if it is true that the murderer is hiding out. When he finally finds footprints, the mystery compounds when he determines that it is a barefoot woman.
The Wilderness Woman. The woman is alone in the wilderness. Walker hears her before he sees her. She is singing a song that was reminiscent of native Ute songs. The woman uses wooden, fire-hardened digging sticks to gather edible plants. The cookfire is near the cliffs and shallow creek. And near the front of a cave entrance.
The petite woman is also barefoot, clothed only in a pair of shorts, and has long blonde hair. Her physical appearance and dress does not reconcile with her living in a cave with things such as hand-woven bark container and fishing in the creek with her wooden spear.
When Fox Walker and the wilderness woman finally make close contact, he notes that she has some sort of markings or scars on her torso. And surprised that she speaks in a basic mix of English and Shoshone. Many words and things are not familiar to her. While she has some survival knowledge, she lacks memories of a time before waking in the wilderness approximately 6 "moons" ago. She seems familiar with nothing except the wilderness.
Fall is here. Winter is coming. The woman is as skittish as a young deer and Fox Walker needs to find a way to win her trust and help her survive.
Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
The Fox Walker series consists of 7 books. I quickly started book 2 as soon as I finished Tracker. The author, Indy Quillen, has a new fan. Quillen's knowledge about and love of the natural world shine through. Fox Walker's connection with nature and survival skills flow out of the pages. This is no regurgitated generic survival story. The honest characters grabbed me and I wanted more.
Tracker: The Fox Walker Novel is currently reviewed by 2,183 readers with 4.4 stars. Please take a look at what those reviewers have to say.
Intro photo courtesy of: Dsdugan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Text added with Fotojet.
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.”
And staying exactly where she was felt impossible.
For the first time in her life, she found herself standing somewhere she couldn't explain, a place between decisions, between certainty and doubt, between the person she had been and the person she might become. It was a liminal space, though she didn't have a name for it at first.
She only knew she was there.
And somehow, the fact that she couldn't figure out why, bothered her more than the place itself.
The Woman Who Thought She Knew Herself
She had spent most of her life believing she had clarity. She made decisions. She moved forward. She faced things. She had always thought of herself as brave.
Or at least, she used to be.
So why was she standing here now, unable to take the next step?
She wished someone would simply tell her what to do. Just one person. One voice. Someone who could see what she couldn't.
Someone who might reach for her hand and say, Here. This is the way. Step through this door.
But no one came.
And perhaps that was the hardest part.
She began questioning everything.
Was she afraid?
Was she protecting herself?
Had she spent years protecting everyone else, convincing herself that was courage?
Maybe she had been confused for a very long time without realizing it. Maybe she had been lost without knowing she was lost.
That thought frightened her.
Because if she had been wrong about being lost, what else had she misunderstood about herself?
She had always known one thing for certain: she was hopeful.
Hope had carried her through difficult days. Hope had given her reasons to keep going when she couldn't see what was waiting ahead.
But now even that certainty began to trouble her.
Could Hope Be Keeping Her There?
She wondered if hope could become another kind of hiding.
Perhaps she had been holding onto hope so tightly that she had forgotten to reach for anything else.
Hope that something would change.
Hope that someone would appear.
Hope that eventually, the right door would simply open.
But what if it never did?
What if she had to choose one?
Forward or backward.
Stay or leave.
Fear or courage.
The questions circled endlessly through her mind, and still she couldn't find an answer.
Then she realized something she hadn't considered before.
Maybe being brave had never meant knowing exactly where to go.
Maybe bravery wasn't certainty.
Maybe it was standing in the middle of uncertainty and taking one step anyway.
She looked ahead.
Nothing had changed. The doors were still there. The path was still unclear.
No one had come to take her hand.
But for the first time, she didn't wait for someone to show her the way.
She took a breath.
And stepped toward the door.
Not because she knew what was on the other side.
But because she finally understood that she didn't have to know.
Perhaps that was the courage she had been searching for all along.
The courage to move without answers.
The courage to become someone new.
The courage to remember the woman she used to be and finally discover the woman she could still become.
*********
"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**
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.”
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