Review-World Bee Day

 

World Bee Day in an annual day that calls attention to the critical importance of bees in our world.  Did you know that bees are very important to the production of food in the world?  They are among the most effective pollinators which enable fertilization and the production of seeds and fruits.  Approximately 1/3 of all the world's food crops depend on bee pollination.  Without bees many plants would struggle to live and this would lead to diminished food availablily.

World Bee Day

May 20th is an annual observance to raise the awareness of the essential role of bees.  In 2017 the United Nations approved May 20th to be the first annual World Bee Day.  This date was picked to honor Anton Jansa of Slovenia who was a pioneer of beekeeping that was born on May 20, 1734.

The 2026 theme for World Bee Day is "Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production."

I found the following YouTube video on World Bee Day.  It was written for children, but it can also be very educational for adults.  It tells about bees and their place in food production.

Fun Facts About Bees

• There is one Queen bee in each hive.  She is the only  one that produces new bees. She may live up to 5 years.  She can lay up to 2600 eggs a day.
• When a queen bee dies the worker bees create a new queen by selecting a young larva and feeding it a special food called "royal jelly" this enables the larva to develop into a fertile queen.
• The rest of the female bees are worker bees.  They all have assigned jobs.  They can live for just 5-6 weeks.
• The male bees are drones.  Their primary function is to mate with the queen bee and pass on their genetics to future generations.

The worker bees have duties assigned them from birth.  Here are a few of the duties I found interesting.

• Scouts- they go out to find where the pollen is most plentiful.  They also search fo a place for a new hive.
• Funeral directors- when a bee dies the funeral team takes the dead body out of the hive and disposes of it.
• In order to keep warm in the winter, there are a group of bees that gather and block the entrance to the hive with their bodies.  They beat their wings to send in a warm breeze.  Even when it is below freezing they can maintain the heat in the hive to 90 degrees. 

What you can do to help?

Some of the ways you can help to save the bees include:

1. Planting  native, bee friendly flowers
2. Reducing or eliminating herbicide and insecticide use
3. Leaving patches of bare soil and untidy areas for nesting
4. Providing water sources with stones
5. Supporting local organic farmers

My husband has been learning a lot about bees and last year he encouraged me to plant more bee friendly flowers in my flower bed.

I planted sunflowers, cone flowers, black eyed susans and other bee friendly plants.  Here are some photos of the bees on our plants last year.

More Information on Bees

If you would like to learn more about bees, Amazon has several books available.  Here is a link to one that looks like it would have a lot of information.https://amzn.to/4eVPt60

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James Patterson Lovers Mark Your Calendars ~ A Book Review

Well I know that there are many James Patterson lovers out there and I'm one of them.  So when I got the opportunity to read his latest book, I jumped at the chance.

NetGalley kindly offered this book to me for review and to say the least, it was another of his books that I could not put down.

The Country Road Murders is coming out July 13th 2026 and can be preordered on Amazon.  For Kindle members it's free!  

So far The Country Road Murders written by  James Patterson and Mike Lupica has been like many of his other books, outstanding!  

Don't be turned off by the number of chapters (115), because they are short chapters and make it easy to put the book down and pick it up again.  That for me is a bonus!  I hate having to re-read half a chapter to remind myself of all that is happening in the story.  Each chapter is easy to remember with just a few sentences to bring you right back into the story.

Silas Tucker jr.  is the local hero of small town Cross Rivers NC.  His father was also a well respected and admired member of the community.  Murdered when Silas jr. was just 12, he left a legacy that is continued by his son.

Cross Rivers is in a bit of chaos caused by the local thugs who are tearing the town apart by trafficking drugs in the community.  Murder and missing persons seem to be daily happenings in town. Everyone is scared of the local "thugs" who belong to the Southern Mafia!  No one wants to stand up to them and they yield their power over the community with impunity.

Then Silas jr. makes a return to his home town after a devastating accident.  Like his father, he wants to right the wrongs that are happening right under his nose.

Will Cross Rivers ever get out from under the prevailing powers that are tearing their town apart?  They will if Silas has anything to do with it.

This book is a wonderful and thrilling story that will keep you turning those pages until the very end and then you might just want to read it again or pass it on to your favorite book-reading friends.  You will enjoy this and your friends will thank you for sharing it with them too!

So many books to enjoy and if you happening to be looking for your next good book, check out all the wonderful reviews right here on Review This Reviews!

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Overview of PositiveAffirmation on Zazzle

This is the fifth of a seven part series of my various stores on Zazzle.

This store is called PositiveAffirmation. I already had an Affirmation category in my CherylsArt store on Zazzle; however, it kept growing. To keep things cleaner, I created another store, also featuring affirmation products. My intent was to have all new designs in this new store, but I inadvertently had some overlap. For the most part though, the designs in these two stores are mostly unique to each of these stores.

The categories, so far, in my PositiveAffirmation store on Zazzle are:

Apparel and Accessories:

Here you will find Aprons, Belt Buckles, Pin on buttons, Hats, Necklaces, Ties, Tote Bags, and Tshirts.

Some of the designs in this store are simple one word affirmations. The words are usually made from a cutout letter font, featuring a photo of some of my flowers for the inside of each outlined letter. I think they give an extra added appeal to the affirmation.

Confident spelled with pink flowers pin on buttons
by PositiveAffirmation

Home, Pets, Car:

The Home, Pets, Car category includes, Car (products), Clocks, Keychains, Kitchen, Luggage Tags, Ornaments, Pillows, Posters, Signs, Tiles, and Wall Art.

I usually write in an affirmation, but on this particular design, I made a template that is to be filled in with the person's own favorite affirmation. I know that using a mirror when reciting my affirmations have proven to be very helpful, and wanted to encourage others to try the same method. I designed the artwork for the mirror.

Your affirmation on a mirror design Magnets
by PositiveAffirmation

New Products:

The New Products category is automatically an option by Zazzle, assigning any newly created product here, if the designer doesn't already give the new product a category, when designing it. This category is usually empty.

Office and School:

This category includes Binders, Business Cards, Dry Erase Boards, Mousepads, Notebooks, and Stickers.

An affirmation can serve as subtle reminders each time we see it, i.e. when we see it on our notebook.

Life is full of abundance, Day Lily Notebooks
by PositiveAffirmation

Sports, Toys, and Games:

As of this writing, there are only two items in this Category, so there are no subcategories as of yet. At some time, there will be more. Your suggestions and requests are welcome. As well as any requests for other categories too.

Stationery:

The Stationery category includes Address Labels, Cards, Notepads, Postcards, and Stationery.

Address labels may be thought of as pretty small for an affirmation, however a simple reminder to Give Thanks can be a timely reminder for Thanksgiving, as well as throughout the year.

Give thanks, yellow lily word art, address labels
by PositiveAffirmation

Thank you for your visit, comments, and or sharing too.

Cheryl Paton

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Upcycle Bird Feeder Review

Quick, fun and easy DIY to use extra ice cream cones and turn into Bird Feeders. You know ... the ice cream sundae bar at the birthday party and that bowl of cones that sat out all day and are now nice and stale? Or the package you dropped and turned the cones into crumbles!

Materials

Scrap twine, thin rope or pipe cleaners

Bird Seed

Ice Cream Cones

Peanut Butter

Sharp ish tool to make holes in the cone

How To Make The Ice Cream Cone Bird Feeder

1. Turn cone upside down.
2. Poke a hole on each side across from each other.
3. Feed string or twine through hole and make a loop. 
4. Tie the loop. This will be your hanger.
5. Cover all or parts of the cone with peanut butter.
6. Sprinkle a paper plate with bird seed.
7. Roll cone around the bird seed to cover the peanut butter.
8. Gently press birdseed into peanut butter.
9. Find your favorite tree branch and hang.

Enjoy!

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Happy Mother's Day - A Day of Celebration and Remembrance

I created and produced this piece on May 8th, 2026, inspired by the way I was raised and the life we shared with my parents. 

While the memories are deeply personal to me, I know many people will recognize parts of their own families in these lyrics and moments.

So much of it centers around the little things mothers become known for over the years, the sayings, expressions, habits, and reactions that somehow stay with us forever. 

One thing that always made us laugh was how my mother's filter slowly disappeared as she got older. She became more blunt, more honest, and often unintentionally hilarious. Now that I'm older myself, I catch pieces of her in the things I say, and every time it happens, it makes me smile.

The Things We Carry Forward

One line I especially wanted to include was "two blinks and a stare." It perfectly captured something so many people understand instantly: that silent look from Mom that said everything without a word. 

My brothers and I knew exactly when we were pushing our luck. We were raised to help out, contribute, and pull our weight around the house, and those values stayed with all of us long after childhood.

Some of my favorite memories involve my dad arriving home with several extra people unexpectedly showing up for dinner. In the 1970s, that kind of thing happened often, and my mother somehow always seemed prepared. 

Her freezer was constantly stocked, and within no time she could put together a full meal for whoever walked through the door. Looking back, I still wonder how she managed it so effortlessly. It created a home that felt warm, welcoming, and open to everyone.

The video also includes both male and female vocals for a reason. The older male voice symbolizes my brothers, while the younger male voice represents my youngest son. 

There is a moment in the lyrics about my youngest son trying to hide a laugh under his breath, the same way we used to around my mother, and that memory is completely real. Watching him tilt his head to conceal a grin because he knows he should not laugh is something that instantly brought me back.

At its heart, this song is about recognizing that our mothers never truly leave us. Their words, habits, expressions, lessons, and stories continue living through us every single day. I realized I am not simply turning into my mother over time. Parts of her have always existed within me. Sharing these memories and speaking her words aloud is one way of keeping her spirit alive across generations.

And if you happen to be reading this around Mother's Day or another meaningful family occasion, I hope you spend it celebrating the woman who helped shape your life. If you're holding onto your memories from a Mom who has passed, here's a big hug.

Happy Mother's Day <3

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Going Home in the Dark - Book Review

This is a review of last year’s book by Dean Koontz, published in January 2025. The book is titled “Going Home in the Dark”.

Long-time fans of Dean Koontz will recognize his ‘quirky’ sense of humor in this book. In fact, that humor is more apparent than ever, as the author seems to have taken a personal interest in ‘asserting’ himself (through dialogue) throughout the narration of the story by its 4 main characters. It certainly gives the book an interesting slant, beginning with the first page of text in a note from Dean Koontz himself. The title of said ‘note’ is:

Read This First or Live to Regret it Forever

Synopsis

Going Home in the DarkCheck Price

The Characters

There are four main characters in Going Home in the Dark who call themselves the Amigos! Outcasts, definitely in the Nerd category, Rebecca, Bobby, Spencer, & Ernie become solid friends in their teens as a way of surviving both high school and the fact that none of them had any sort of solid parental support or guidance. That shared trauma turned them into a fiercely independent unit—a bond so enduring that nearly twenty years later, when this story begins, they are as close as ever.

The so-described 4 Amigos grew up in an idyllic small Midwestern town called Maple Grove and, whether because their teen situations were so dreadful they searched for a better way, or whether they were just very smart and creative, they each became extremely successful, and very rich, pursuing their chosen fields.

• Rebecca Crane: California - Actress
• Bobby Shamrock - East Coast - Novelist
• Spencer Truedove - Chicago - Artist
• Ernie Hernishen - Maple Grove - Song Writer

Ernie is the only one of the four Amigos who stayed in Maple Grove, while the other three followed their professions in other parts of the country. Even though they live independent lives as adults, they continue to stay in touch with each other on a regular basis. Their friendship is such a lasting kind that when Ernie falls into a coma, the three others immediately return to Maple Grove.

Once back in their hometown, Rebecca, Bobby and Spencer suddenly discover repressed memories from the age of 14 when they first met and became ‘The Amigos’.  Now, the current circumstances force them to confront the buried secrets and shared trauma from their past. They must discover what it all means in order to help Ernie and perhaps save themselves.

Summary

This novel combines childhood fears, buried secrets, friendship, and a strange darkness lurking beneath the idyllic small town of Maple Grove.


This is a horror/thriller novel by Koontz, but with the author’s narrative comments sprinkled throughout,  frequently breaking the tension, it allows the stories’ ‘happenings’ to appear in a lighter vein even though the situation often seems to be dire.

How everything is resolved, whether or not Ernie wakes up, and the constant suspense of not knowing if all four Amigos survive will keep you on your toes throughout the reading of ‘Going Home in the Dark’.

A psychological thriller, with supernatural elements.

For more Book Reviews, check out ReviewThisBooks.com

For more reviews of books by Dean Koontz, click here!

*This review of the Dean Koontz 2025 novel “Going Home in the Dark” was written by Wednesday Elf

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Swiffer Duster Makes Cleaning Easier

No one wants to spend a lot of time cleaning their house, even though we all prefer a clean home.  I always appreciate anything that makes my housework easier.  For many years, I have been dusting with the Swiffer Dusters with the short handle.  They really do make dusting the furniture a lot faster and easier.  I recently started using the long handle Swiffer Duster and found it to be a dream come true.

I am barely over 5 feet tall, therefore reaching the top of any tall piece of furniture like the TV cabinet, or the tops of picture frames, is impossible for me without a step stool.  At least, that was true before I tried the long handle Swiffer duster.  Now, I can stand on the floor and reach the top of any furniture or pictures in my home.  If I stand on my tip-toes and have the long handle fully extended, I can even dust the crown molding around my ceiling.  That is pretty amazing! 

At first, I thought the long handle was flimsy when fully extended. However, I have come to appreciate that slight flexibility as I realize it will not press hard enough to scratch anything I am dusting.  I would rather it feel flimsy than to have it damage anything.  Plus, it is extremely lightweight.

 

Long Handle Swiffer Duster

 Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty 3 ft Extended Handle with Pivot TopCheck Price The kit I originally purchased came with a 3 ft. handle and several duster refills to get started.  I can shorten the adjustable handle to about 15 inches if desired, but I often leave it fully extended and use the original short-handle duster as needed.  However, there are times when I don't wish to carry both around the house with me.  Being able to adjust the long handle, makes it possible to dust a room with only the one Swiffer.   The top of the handle will also pivot which allows me to run it across the entire top of a picture frame without having to climb up on my step stool.

The most recent duster refills that I purchased came with "dust busting strips" to help dust more thoroughly in places where dust tends to build-up, like the top of my refrigerator or the inside of AC vents.  

I highly recommend both the short handle Swiffer duster and the long adjustable handle Swiffer duster to make dusting faster and easier.  There are better things in life to do than spend your day dusting!

     

 Swiffer Dusters Starter Kit, Kit Includes 1 Handle and 5 DustersCheck Price Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty 3 ft Extended Handle Dusting Kit (1 Duster, 3 Refills)Check Price Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Multi-Surface Duster Refills for Cleaning, Unscented, 11 CountCheck Price

 

I previously reviewed the Swiffer Wetjet Floor Mop.  Click here if you are interested in reading that review too.  Another great Swiffer product! 

 

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Swiffer Duster Makes Cleaning Easier written by:

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Air Fryer Baskets for the Oven - Reviewed

 

We had many good years of cooking with our old stove. We knew we needed a new one, so it was time to go shopping.

We found one that we liked and opted to spend the extra money for the built-in air fryer.

We realized that we didn't have air fryer baskets and trays for oven use.

So it was shopping again for an oven air fryer basket. We found this set on Amazon, and it has worked out well.

The set consists of two baskets and trays. The large one is 15.3" x 11", and the smaller one is 13.4" x 9.6".

The baskets are raised, this allow for 360-degree air circulation without the need to flip your food. The set is made of stainless steel, dishwasher safe, and easy to clean.

The set also comes with 60 sheets of parchment paper, 30 for each tray size.

Oven Air Fryer Vs. Countertop Air Fryer:

There are some differences between oven air fryers and countertop air fryers. They both use the same technology by rapidly circulating hot air to crisp the food. 

With the oven air fryer, there is a larger cooking space, so you will need more time to cook. I've noticed the food is not as crispy because the air circulation isn't as concentrated. What I do like is that the oven air fryer's larger capacity lets you cook more food in the oven than on the countertop. I also found that the oven air fryers use more energy than the countertop air fryers.

We currently have a Ninja Foodi Grill Air Fryer and still use it because it cooks faster, and the food comes out crisper. The oven air fryer saves us some counter space; we only take it out for quick cooking.

If you need oven air fryer baskets and trays, I can recommend this set.

Air Fryer Basket for Oven, 2 Set Air Fryer Basket and Tray Set with 60 Sheets Parchment Papers,THORSES Stainless Steel NonStick Air Fryer Pan and Crisper Tray-Black Large15.3“×11” & Medium13.4Buy Now

 

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