November, A Great Time to Pursue a New Hobby!

 For most of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are definitely getting shorter and the nights a lot longer.  Well that's what everyone says, but it's not really true.  The days are all still 24 hours long, it's just that when it gets dark at 5 p.m. the day seems that much shorter.

So what are you going to do now that you have more time indoors rather than out of doors?

Might I suggest it's a great time to take up a new hobby, or revive a hobby that you haven't done in a long time?

I'm personally taking up my knitting needles.  Why?  Well, let me tell you!  My mother who you have heard about in other reviews, was a knitter extraordinaire!  She could whip up a sweater in less than a week!  I'm talking about sweaters that had intricate patterns or several yarn/color changes and with long sleeves.  

The only problem was that her knitting was so fast, that neither my sister or I could keep up with her and she would get frustrated by our lack of dexterity!  Whenever we started a project, she would end up finishing it for us.  While we loved that (because we got a sweater faster), it did nothing to help us with our learning skills.  So it was a mixed blessing.

Actually, I feel kind of bad because I could have seen that she was slipping into dementia had I paid more attention to what was happening between her needles!  But that is another whole story!

Now I know that I will never have another sweater made by my mother, so I have to take up the hobby if I ever want another beautiful cardigan or pullover in my wardrobe. Oh I know the basics and remember them well, but I also want something that has a little pizzazz added! So now I am trolling You Tube channels to find the help and knitting circles at Senior's Centers for some added comaraderie.

For absolute beginners there are several channels to help you begin.  This is one that I watched and liked and you might like it as well from Frock and Fern!

If you can't stand listening to someone giving instructions, you can also buy books to show you with bright well done pictures so that you can move faster or slower depending on how you are enjoying this new experience.  Here are some great books and leaflets to help you along.

Knitting for Beginners Amazon Page!

You will find everything you need to know to start this new hobby and if you are a Prime Subscriber, you get next day delivery too!  

For myself, I know I will take up the knitting and keep at it, but if you are not sure that this is a hobby for you, you can go to your local Salvation Army/Good Will store and I'm sure you will find yarn and needles there for next to nothing.  If you don't enjoy this hobby you can donate it back to the same place you purchased it.  Nothing lost, just a little of your time.

I know I get lots of inspiration here on RTR (www.reviewthisreviews.com) especially from some of our contributors who make the most fantastic hand knitted and crocheted items. You can find all kinds of beautiful hand made goodies just check out ReviewThisCrafts.com

While I will take up the knitting, there is lots on these pages to help you decide what you are going to do with your extra indoor time now that it is here!  Happy Indoor Crafting Time for everyone!

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Sins of the Family, Felicity Davis ~ A Book Review

Thanksgiving for Canadians has come and gone and for many of my friends in the US it will be coming up very shortly.

For many families, this is a time of getting together, sharing our time, our joys and our losses through the year behind us and looking forward to the year ahead.

But, that is for most "normal" families!  What happens when you don't belong to that "kind" of family. 

 

Sins of the Family is a true story about a dysfunctional family with secrets that are over 100 years old and that have managed to tear this family apart.

What if your family was rife with mental illness or an inability to cope with their truth and history? What if your own granddad and your mother did nothing to stop your Gran from behaving the way she does?

Felicity lives in this situation!  She takes abuse from her Gran on a daily basis. She is beaten and verbally abused everyday.   She doesn't know why Gran is so mean and abusive.  As a small child she really didn't know that this wasn't "normal".   Standing for an hour or more switching on a light and switching it back off again, until she got it right, was a common torture forced on her by her Gran! 

Only once in a blue moon would her Grandad come to her rescue, raising his voice to her.  Her mother was never one to raise any objection to the way Gran treated Felicity, because if she complained, she would be the next target!

One woman's power over this family has done so much damage.

Can Felicity ever figure out what a normal life looks like and how to get out from the crazy place she calls home?

This book is an eye opener and Felicity does start to find some answers after digging into her family's history.  

Let's just say, it's not a pretty picture at all!

I don't want to give away too much about Felicity's life, but suggest that this is a really interesting book. Never having had any of the experiences that she had, gave me some new insights  into other people's lives that I have never even considered before.

This book will leave you shaking your head and wondering how this could happen in our day and age!

Yet I'm sure that it does happen and probably happens more often than we ("normal") people think

It is clear to me that we can never, ever judge other people because we just don't know what makes them tick and what they have been through.  All our experiences shape our lives and Felicity is no different in that.

This book has made me glad that I have a "normal" family with problems that we discuss or work out! Thanksgiving is for giving thanks and after this book I will give thanks much more often.  Understanding and forgiveness are two of the biggest steps you need to take to move forward!  

I hope you take the time to read this book!

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Energy Efficiency and Comfort at an Affordable Price ~ A Product Review

It may come as a surprise to you, but air movement in the home can make the surroundings so much more comfortable whether it's summer or winter. 

We have had ceiling fans in our home for years and are always amazed at how much they help keeping the cool air moving around in the summer time and the warm air moving in the winter. 

Cold air by it's nature is heavy and sits lower down in the room.  A ceiling fan helps to move that cooler air to the upper areas of the room making it feel cooler and the breeze brought on by the air movement is really nice.  For myself I love the air movement in the night, because you know, women and their hot flashes just seem to happen more often at night.  Just that little bit of air movement seems to help with that problem.

In winter time the warm air moves to the top of the room and your feet can become really cold.  Keep that air moving and the warm air will also move down to where your toes are at!

Now if you are not an electrician, installing a ceiling fan could cost you some serious cash, but what if I told you there was an alternative?

Hubby just found a lovely little ceiling fan for under $50.00 that does not require and electrician to install it.  You don't believe me?  Well here is the little beauty! It's made by Bell & Howell and you can see for yourself that it does what it says it will do!

This little wonder will turn any socket into a lovely ceiling fan that not only offers movement of the air around you, but also gives you three different light settings and three different speeds for the fan.  It's all controlled by a nice little remote. 

It is quiet, easy to install and will help you keep that air circulating whether it is warm air moving around or cooled air for the summer months.

All in all, this is one handy little fan that I'm sure you will find a use for in your home or apartment.  It is a Number 1 Best Seller on Amazon and I can see why!  

If you need a little "movement" in your life, this just might be the thing to get you going in the right direction!  We are enjoying ours and now you can have an easy to install new Light/Ceiling Fan combination in your home too!

Oh and for those in apartment buildings, you don't even need the super's help or permission to install this handly little item.  Just undo the light bulb and insert the ceiling fan into the base.  Done!  It can't get any easier than this!  

I hope you enjoy this neat little find and let me know how you like it in the comments. I love to hear from you!

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

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Something in the Walls ~ Daisy Pearce ~ A Book Review

Just in time for Halloween, this writer decided to jump on board the "horror" genre of books.  I'll be the first to admit that it is not my favorite genre, but "Something in the Walls"  by Daisy Pearce, grabbed me and didn't let go until the very end.

Netgalley has this book listed as a Mystery & Thriller or General Fiction.  I think I would add Horror to the tags on this book.

Nothing, but nothing will have you checking under the beds before you go to sleep than a good book that raises all the hackles.  

Mina is a newly certified child phycologist and she's waiting for her chance to show the world that she's ready to help any youngster make sense of their world.  She is also trying her hardest to be taken seriously even though she hasn't yet had a real "case".  Mina has issues from her own childhood.  She always attends a bereavement group after losing her brother.  At one of these meetings she is introduced to Sam Hunter (a reporter) and he has a proposition for her.

Alice Webber is just thirteen years old and the small community of Banathel where she lives, is convinced that she is being haunted by a witch.  The town has a long history of witchcraft and superstitions run deep.  Everyone believes there is evil in the world.  But in Banathel, there are prescribed ways of dealing with that evil.  

The Webber family and many of the townsfolk are very poor, so is this just a way for them to become the latest "front-page" news?  If they can milk this story maybe they can get out of their poverty and live a little better.  The whole family will benefit or is there something sinister happening?

Mina is convinced that she can help Alice and Sam wouldn't mind getting a good story out of the experience for his newspaper.  

Instead of things getting better with their arrival in town, Alice seems to be getting worse!  She hears voices, sees things coming out of the falling down brickwork, knows something of Mina's and Sam's past.  How do these things happen and does Alice have some answers for Mina and Sam?  

People are dying for reasons unknown and Alice seems to be in the middle of it all.  The townsfolk are ready to deal with the girl who is haunted or maybe is the witch herself.

If you like horror and being kept on the edge of your seat, then this book is for you.  It is available through Amazon , just click on the book cover above!  If you have an Audiobook subscription you can get it for free! 

A little scaring is just what everyone needs to get into the Spooky Side of Halloween!  Enjoy!

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All the Broken Angels ~ A Book Review

Sometimes a title grabs you and doesn't let you go.  That's what happened to me with this Book Title and I'm so happy that it did in fact grab me!

As part of the Netgalley.com community, there are books offered to members for their honest and true reviews. 

Pat Black-Gould and Steve Hardiman have hit all the right notes with All the Broken Angels!  It is a Finalist in the upcoming 2024 Royal Palm Literary Awards!.  

If you grew up in the 1950's, 60's and 70's you will be able to place yourself into this book without any trouble at all. 

 

These decades were the decades of many changes!  I'm talking about big changes!  There were changes in the church, changes in the schools, changes in our collective feelings about war, peace, space, family and our own roles in society!

These were the decades of Peace Walks and Talks, Vietnam, distrust in organized religions, protest marches, army drafts, women working to break the barriers in the job markets, and mother's who wanted more out of life than just raising a family.

It was a time of great upheaval in the family and society as a whole.  

All The Broken Angels hits on many of the "hot" topics of the day and brings many painful memories and some of our broken innocence or naive notions to light.

Cousins Cate and Albie are in the center of all this turmoil.  They are best friends, go to school together, play together and are being raised by mom's who still care for their immigrant parents.  They are "old school" and "new school" at the same time.  Falling back into what worked for their grandparents when they first arrived in the country they chose to call their new home, many old fashioned notions needed to change.  That change did not come easily for the elders as many stuck to their customs brought to this new land from their old countries. 

Cate and Albie are close and yet so far apart in their thinking.  Cate is a bit of a rebel and Albie is very much focused on being just like his dad ( a World War II vet).  Cate tries to challenge many things she sees as "unbelievable" and "wrong", while Albie knows when to keep his mouth shut and ride whatever wave they are travelling on.  Parochial schools with their hard edge on religion and beliefs did not sit well with Cate and try as she might, she really was trying to understand.  Albie was much more easy going and let all these things ride without too much personal comments.  Needless to say Cate and Albie's school life was not what we look back on with good humor.  School could be very distressing to some young minds.

This novel had me laughing and crying, admitting that many of these things were happening around me at that time and by the end of the novel I was totally a part of the world as seen through their eyes. Oh the memories that this book brought to light.  Things I hadn't thought of in a long, long time.  

All of life has a way of working out and Cate does find her way in this new world with all of it's possibilities. She is able to make peace with many things that caused her numerous sleepless nights.  Heartwarming and true to life is this story of All the Broken Angels.

Indies Today writes about All The Broken Angels: "Younger audiences will appreciate the richness of Americana, and older audiences will be kissed by nostalgia!

In my humble opinion this novel rates 5 Stars!  I don't give those out easily, but this book really deserves it and I do hope that you will find it and read it.  I'd love to hear if you reacted the same way!

Congratulations to the Authors Pat Black-Gould and Steve Hardiman!

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Aging and Safety in the Home ~ A Product Review

Aging gracefully is much easier if you have the tools to make aging easier.  There is no doubt that we age quietly and sometimes don't notice the changes until an accident happens.  Then we shake our heads and wonder what the heck happened and how it happened so quickly.

Now if you've been looking after an aging relative for a while you might notice those changes in them quicker than you realize those changes are also happening to you too!  Your focus is different when there is an elderly person in your own home.

Somehow we focus all our efforts on making them comfortable and safe.  We forget about making ourselves comfortable and safe too!

When my mother was living with us, we invested in night lights so that she would be able to get to the washroom and back to her bedroom without any troubles.  They worked great and we were very happy that it solved a problem that we had not thought of before.  She loved that they stayed on all the time as well.  So long as she was happy we were happy too!

Now, my mother is no longer living with us(she is in long term care), we are the ones that seem to be aging quicker.  Or it could be that we are noticing the changes when we don't have anyone else to concentrate our efforts on.  

The point is that we are in need of extra help in the night time now as well.  Our needs are a little different than my mother's were.  Our aging journey seems to be more focused on extra mobility needs.  So while we still have the night lights in place, we needed some light that would actually illuminate the surrounding area so that we could get our bearings easier.  

My husband has a problem with balance and waking in the middle of the night for a potty break was very difficult for him.  Putting his feet on the floor was not enough.  Balance can be helped with visual aids.  Hence we were on the look out for something that would illuminate without waking the partner still sleeping.  It had to illuminate enough so that walls and other obstacles would be clear and yet not such a glaring light to interrupt his sleep pattern either.  

We found a night light that is rechargeable, motion detecting, and cordless!  Recharging is done with a USB cable and each time it's charged it last a few weeks (3-4) depending on how often it is needed through the night. 

We bought a two pack of these motion detecting lights, but I see now that they are available in a 3 pack as well.  For less than $20.00 you are able to give yourself and your other half some well needed peace of mind and a clear path to that washroom.  I love that the light only stays on for a few minutes and then goes off.  Unlike nightlights that are plugged into the wall that stay on all the time.  

Peace of mind when you are aging is priceless and there are many tools to make the transition easier.  This in my books is one of them!  

The picture shows you what the light looks like off and on.  We have them mounted on the wall above the doorway to the washroom so that both the floor in front and the floor of the bathroom are well illuminated when needed.  The light is not so glaring that it wakes your brain up.  So a quick trip the loo and back into bed, close your eyes and continue sleeping.  It is working very well for us and I'm sure it would work for you too.

Pleasant dreams everyone and may you never trip on your way to the loo at night.

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

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An Aging Dilemma ~ Walking Carefully and Safely~ A Product Review

For years we have been told by doctors and other professionals that exercise is important and becomes more important as we age.

There are many ways to keep ourselves healthy and one of the most important after eating well and drinking lots of water, is to walk! There should not be a day that goes by where you don't walk for at least 10 minutes.  This exercise is completely available to everyone!  

But as we age, even taking a walk can be a source of anxiety.  All you need to do is fall once and the fear is entrenched.

So let's do the walking safely, so that a fall is not what happens ever.

When we are younger, our bodies react better to outside stimulus.  Looking up at birds, trees, planes and things around us is not a problem.  But once you are over 65, our bodies don't react the same way.

We can and should focus on our steps.  Putting one foot in front of the other and having a good pair of shoes on will make walking so much safer for older individuals.  Our eyes and bodies need to be focused on the job at hand.  

Walking should be the ultimate easy way to stay fit, so could I suggest that after making the choice to walk for fitness, you then make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes.  

I like athletic type shoes for my walking as the soles are well padded and the treads on the bottom are deep, giving me great traction in all kinds of weather. Puddles should not stop us from getting those walking minutes in.  If the weather is inclement then let's take our walking inside at a shopping mall. Many malls now have walking clubs that are available to anyone, or you can just go there and do your walk on your own.

If you need a little extra help, Nordic Walking Poles are a great addition and add a little extra stability and balance.  My other half and I have these Fit Life Walking Poles and we use them often.  They are light weight and yet sturdy.  The difference it makes when walking is amazing.  I would never have thought that holding onto these poles would make such a difference in my gait and the ability to walk even further than I thought possible.  But they really do help a lot!

Now that summer is on it's way out, it's time to make a new fitness challenge ours.  Let's all start by taking a nice walk in the autumn air to enjoy the change in weather as well as the beautiful changes in nature.  

Make your walk a daily habit and I bet you will be pleased with the results in both your physical health as well as your mental health.  

 Skechers Sport womens D'LITES FRESH START Memory Foam Lace-up Sneaker,White Silver,8.5 M USCheck Price TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles - 2 Packs with Antishock and Quick Lock System, Telescopic, Collapsible, Ultralight for Hiking, Camping, Mountaining, Backpacking, Walking, Trekking (Blue)Check Price

In closing I just want to say that I am not a doctor, and the health benefits of walking are something that I have personally felt after committing to walking daily.  Check with your own physician to make sure that this is a good fit for you!

 

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

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When You Can't Remember, What Do You Do? ~ A Product Review

When you Can't Remember, What Do You Do?  

No I'm not talking about just a little forgetfulness!  Everyone has those moments and they are perfectly normal! They happen to everyone at some point in their day.  What I'm talking about is a process of the aging population and something that may affect more people now than ever before.

We are living longer and we are staying in better health for the most part.

But and here is the BIG BUT, even if we look after ourselves physically, there are changes that happen in our bodies whether we like them or not.

Many of you know that I have an elderly mom (93) and that up until this past year, she has been fairly healthy and strong.  That changed quite dramatically this past winter when she fell ill with a bacterial infection.  Once she was in hospital, it didn't take long before she also had the flu and pneumonia!  

This started a quick downward spiral that she has not been able to shake off.  Fast Forward to today and we are now in a situation where she is in a Long Term Care Facility and no longer able to look after herself.  Her mind is no longer all "there".  She sometimes lives in the present, but more often lives in the past.  Alzheimer's is the name and it's not pretty!

But, we make and take our moments while we can.  Last week we celebrated her birthday and thankfully my family was able to make it out to enjoy an afternoon with her.

She was having a "good" day, meaning that she was in the present and when she saw all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she remained with us for the whole afternoon.

What a joy it was to have everyone make her feel so special!  She was able to talk with everyone and they all had some fond memories to share with her.  A blessing for me as I was concerned that she might not be having a good day.

Now we are going to build on that memory so that she has something wonderful to fixate on, rather than some memories of days gone by that are not so nice.  She has gone through much in her life and some of it was not pleasant.  With her mind, the way it is now, we have to change what she sees as memories and the best way to do that is to have those new beautiful memories right there in front of her on a daily basis.

No she cannot handle new technology, so we use the tools that we have.  Pictures in picture frames that she can hold.  If need be right up to her nose.  Then she stares at the faces smiling back at her and she does remember.  Oh she might not remember everything that happened during her party, but she does remember that they are family and they came out just for her!  After all she's in the center of the picture.

If you have someone you love that is struggling with their memory, might I suggest that a beautiful picture frame, filled with the loving faces of family, be one gift that will keep on giving pleasure for many months to come.  

This is the frame that I will purchase.  I like it because it is magnetic (pictures can be swapped out easily), It has a base that is wide enough to stand on it's own.  There isn't a lot of "extras" to take her mind off the picture.  And with the width of the frame, it stands up on it's own.  It's also easy for her to handle if she wants a closer look. You can even make it double sided so you get twice the bang for your buck!  What more could you ask for?

When you have to deal with a disease like Alzheimer's, you need to use all the tools possible to make every day a great day!  I hope this helps anyone who is facing this diagnosis with their loved ones.

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Have You Heard? A Fantastic New Kitchen Helper Is Here! A Product Review

There are some things in life that make me happy!  They are little things that don't cost a fortune but put a smile on my face whenever I see them.  

My son, who came for a visit just recently, put me onto one of these things that make me happy!   Have you heard about "Scrub Daddy's"?  

I love my little kitchen, everything has a place and everything I need is within reach.  But, here's the catch! In a small kitchen, you can also have a problem with smelly things!  Yeah, you know what I'm talking about!  It doesn't take much to have a smell "grow" in a small kitchen.  That's okay if you are talking about coffee or some new recipe for cakes or dinner, but when you are talking about dish cloths, well that's another whole story.

So back to my son's visit.  He happens to go into the kitchen and sure enough earlier in the day I had been cleaning out the fridge, stove top and counters.  The dish cloth I was using was in the sink and sure enough it had started to give off an odor that was not pleasant at all.

Mom, you need a Scrub Daddy!  Well , I just looked at him and told him I already had one of those and he doesn't work that well.  After a good laugh, he says, "Seriously, I found these Scrub Daddy's and they are fantastic in the kitchen! Needless to say, a few days passed by and sure enough the aforementioned son returns with a little package in hand!

Here you go Mom, these will help you in the kitchen and maybe make you smile too!  

Well I must tell you that they did indeed make me smile and having used my Scrub Daddy for over a year now, I am in love with this little gizmo.  

What is this Scrub Daddy?  Well it's a kitchen sponge, but not really a sponge!  It is make of polymer foam, that is BPA Free, as well as being stain and odor resistant.  When it is not in use it is has a firm composition, but put Scrub Daddy into warm water and he is very soft and pliable, yet still firm enough to do any job you set him to!  This Scrub Daddy can be used on any number of surfaces and will not scratch or mar even the most delicate surface!

I have used my Scrub Daddy for everything from scrubbing refrigerator shelves, to washing my crystal vases that have become gungy from the last bouquet.  Scrub Daddy does it all and leaves thing shiny and spot free!  What more could you want?  The best part is that after a particular messy work out with my Scrub Daddy, he goes into the dishwasher for a deep clean and comes out smiling.  

If you haven't yet had a chance to try these fantastic little guys, I would suggest that you do and do it soon.  With a 5 Star rating and thousands of people purchasing these little guys, there must be something good here.

Oh and just for a little extra fun, you can also purchase Scrub Mommy's as well.  They are similar to Scrub Daddy but they have a sponge side to them that is also very strong and yet resists odors.  

All these can be put into the dishwasher if needs dictate.  Well, I would suggest that if you haven't heard about these Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mommy's, give them a try and I'm sure you will find another reason to smile while doing those everyday chores in the kitchen!

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

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Shari Lapena's What Have You Done? ~ A Book Review

Are you a Murder/Mystery Fan?  If so, this is a book that you should put on your radar!  Shari Lapena's  novel, What Have You Done? is a page turner and will keep you guessing right until the very end.  

Right now it is in pre-publishing and is scheduled for release on July 30th of this year.  

Shari does a masterful job in keeping the suspense growing in this novel.  The story begins in a small town where everyone knows everyone and nothing ever happens either!  The folks in Fairhill, Vermont are about to find out what happens when something happens......

A farmer's field and a tired farmer coming back to the homestead after a hard day in the fields, notices turkey vultures flying in the distance.  This can only mean something is out there and it could be some forest critter or something bigger.

Roy Ressler (the farmer) must go out and investigate, but he's not really looking forward to finding out  what those vultures are gorging on. He's not too fazed by what he's facing, after all he's a volunteer firefighter in the town and has seen some pretty nasty things, but nothing has prepared him for this find.

The small town is home to one high school, one grocery store and a hardware store.  There is not too much going on in Fairhill.  Until now!

This book had me reading into the late hours of the night.  I just had to find out how everyone was connected and who could possibly have caused so much tragedy in such a short time.

The author does an amazing job of making you feel like you would know these people and so you become invested in the story before the second chapter is complete.  I guess it's a good thing I'm not a great sleeper.  

Everything you ever thought about living in a small town is true in Fairhill.  No one worries about locking their doors, drawing the drapes or having a security system in place.  Everyone knows everyone and very little is ever out of place.

The kids hang out at the local graveyard telling ghost stories and spooking each other out.  But it is more comedy than anything else.

All of that is about to change.....Evan, Taylor, Riley and Diana (friends since grade school days) are about to have their world torn apart!

I don't want to give away too much of the story, so I will just let you know that there is some "colorful" language and a little bit of teenage dating angst in this story.  But nothing that is too "in your face".  

I'm sure that you will become totally involved in this story as I was. 

 As a member of NetGalley.com, I was privileged to read this book as "An Advanced Readers Copy".   I would give this novel 5 STARS *****!

 If you would like to join me and read lots of different types of books just click on the link above, but if you want to read a great book than click the link to Amazon to order your own copy!

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Summertime and the Feet are Happy! ~ A Product Review

When summertime comes around I know that my feet are going to be happy.  Why?  Well let me explain!  Both my father and I suffer from hot feet!  Not just in summer time but all year long.  So the first thing that happens is the shoes or boots (especially in the winter) come off the minute we are in the front door.

But summertime is another story.  With the warm weather, my sandals must be open and toes must stick out!  

Now that is no problem in the summertime, but shoes are still an essential part of dressing for the day.  My days can be full of all kinds of activities.

Gardening, walking, swimming and more fill my days.  Now with sandals in the garden, quite often I find that my feet get quite dirty.  I love playing in the garden and I don't stop if a little dirt gets on my feet.  When I'm finished then I just get out the garden hose and give the feet a good rinse off.  

That would not be possible with a "nice" pair of leather sandals.  They would be ruined in no time at all!  But I have my CROCS!  Yes, I love my CROCS!  

Not only are they comfortable but because they are made of a really strong plastic, they are water proof and can take a really good rinse under the hose without losing their shape, color, and fit!  That would never happen with a pair of "good leather" sandals!

I love my CROCS so much I just had to get two pair!  This way I can use the light or the dark pair with whatever I happen to be wearing! But the great thing is you can get CROCS in almost any color!  With lots of different styles to choose from as well.  

These work for me in so many ways.  Even in my building, when I go for a swim, I wear a pair down to the pool, get into the pool, take them off while swimming and put them back before exiting the pool afterwards.  It doesn't matter if  I GET THEM WET or drip all over them.  I even take them into the shower.  Being a public (in the building) pool, you don't want to walk around in bare feet!  Who knows if there is a case of athlete's foot waiting on the tiles to grab your own foot.  The only thing that makes them a little obvious is sometimes when they are wet they can squeak!  

That doesn't bother me, but if it did a quick dry up with a towel and drying my feet solves that problem.  So there you go!

I must tell you that CROCS are a little more expensive than the knock-offs that are out there, but I have purchased the knock-offs before and they just don't last the way my CROCS do.  The soles are so much thicker and the treads are a lot better too!  The knock-offs are really dangerous once the tread is worn away!  In puddles, they can become very slick and be a fall hazard.  At my age, really at any age, you don't want to be doing that!

If you have never tried a pair of these sandals/shoes, I really would suggest that you do!  You just might like them as much as I do!  Plus they come in all kinds of styles and sizes for the whole family.  Baby CROCS are just so cute!

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

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Chartres Cathedral Seen in the Best Light!.....~ A Book Review

While travelling I love to learn all about what I have seen and what really impressed me!  To that end, I found out that there was a  difference between a Maze and a Labyrinth.  It was something that I had never thought of before.  That is until I saw the Labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France. Google defines a maze as " a network of paths and hedges designed as a puzzle. The goal is to find your way out or to a central "prize".

So the difference for all of those like me who have never ever thought about it is, a Maze is a place where tall walls of greenery send you down a path with many different directions in which you can go.  They are made so that  you can get lost in them and take a lot of time to find your way out.  In North America Mazes are a fun aspect to the Halloween holidays.  Corn mazes spring up in the country side just waiting for people to try and find their way out!  It's a lot of fun for people of all ages.

A Labyrinth on the other hand, is also a path that twists and turns but has no sides to make you feel isolated and you can easily see where you should go next.  A labyrinth in the 1200's was a geometric pattern on the floor that was used mainly for meditation.   The idea is to walk the path slowly, meditating on whatever is pressing on your mind, walking the path until you reach the center. At that point you just may have found the solution to whatever it was that was on your mind.  

Today,  Mazes and Labyrinths mean pretty much the same thing.  

This past spring My other half and I made a trip to Portugal, Spain and France.  We are particularly interested in old churches, the art, architecture, artistry and history of the churches.  

Chartres Cathedral was amazing but when you are on a tour, your time in that place is limited.  So what do you do?  You take lots of pictures, hoping to capture the beauty, the space, the art and statues, stained glass windows, doors and floors and so much more.  

After you come home you realize that your pictures just don't do justice to the beauty that filled you with awe!  So you go looking for something that will help you to remember the beauty.

The Hubby found a most beautiful book with pictures that really do make you re-live the time you were there.  When you consider that this church was built in 1260, it certainly has aged well and the history within it's walls is truly amazing.  

I love books that will tell me all about how it was built, Who commissioned it and how long it took to complete and all the history that happened since the time it was built.  

This book is the finishing touch to a trip that had us both spellbound and wondering how on earth the workers could build something so beautiful, mathematically precise and long lasting without all the tools that modern day builders have today.  It truly is mind boggling.

When you travel and enjoy the sights, sometime a great book is the best gift you give yourself to remember the beauty that you had a chance to see up close and personal. Usually the pictures in these books are also clearer.  The day you visit might be rainy or windy making your pictures less than perfect.  With a well done book, everything that is pictured was taken at the right time and conditions.    Now you can revisit whenever you want and share the beauty with your friends too.  Chartres Cathedral is a place that you should put on your bucket list.  We continue to enjoy it even after the suitcases are put away.

The pictures shown in this review are taken from the book which we continue to enjoy.

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

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Keeping Things Belted Up is Easy ~ A Product Review

There is one thing I really dislike and that is a belt that looks like it has seen better days,.  Belts are a necessity for many men, but they seem to get ratty looking before too long and that drives me to distraction.  

Well with Father's Day coming up just around the corner, I thought I would share a great new belt that my husband loves and it looks so good all the time.

This belt has a buckle, but the extra part of the belt that  goes through the loops, doesn't have anyholes in it.  It is a nice flat piece of leather. What holds it together is the ratchet like buckle.

Let me show you a picture to make you understand this better.

Normally a belt is a long piece of leather that may be tooled or smooth depending on the look you are trying to achieve.  There is a buckle with a tongue that goes into a hole on the other side and the belt is tightened to fit comfortably around the waist.

This new  "Ratchet" belt that we found has a buckle, but no tongue.  The extra portion of belt goes through the buckle and sits like a regular belt around the waist.  There are no holes in the belt.  There is no tongue on the buckle.  So the wear and tear on the belt is minimal.

It also allows you to tighten the belt in smaller increments than the 1 or 1.5 inches between the holes in a regular belt.

It looks neat and tidy all the time.  If you go out for dinner and eat just a little too much a quick flick of the wrist will loosen the ratchet belt enough so that you are comfortable at all times.  I am impressed with this fashion find for my main squeeze and he really likes it too.  Not only is it a great look, but it also comes in so many colors that one may just not be enough.  At this price point having more than one is easy.

Talk about a win -win situation.  It's affordable, neat, tidy and really looks good.  Holding up the pants with ease and style is a great thing. 

If you need another suggestion for a Father's Day gift, this just might be it!  I would say that every man should have at least one Ratchet Belt in his wardrobe.  

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

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A Song of Silence, Steve N. Lee ~ A Book Review

 Everyone who has read some of my book reviews knows that I love historical novels.  I am fascinated with the World War II era, as it has impacted my family as well.

War  is horrendous and of that there is no doubt, but I think we all need reminding that war can turn "normal" humans into savage beasts.  

A Song of Silence is a book that is hard to read and harder to put down.  Steve Lee's characters are all based on true life people that were able to corroborate the "horrors" that were inflicted on so many people all over Europe, during the uprisings in 1938-1939 and beyond!

A Song of Silence is a love story and a story of unbridled heroism and self-giving. 

Mirek Kozlowski is running an orphanage for children who have been displaced by marauding Nazi henchmen.  Mirek takes in all the children that are brought to him.  People in his village know that he will take care of them and give them some much needed "normalcy" in a world gone crazy.  His orphanage houses over 80 youngsters,  Mirek feeds and houses them all and treats each one of them like they were his own son or daughter. There is the classrooms where Mirek insists the children learn to read.  It is what a child between the ages of 6 to 13 should understand, schooling!.  Mirek's hope is to give these children a loving and caring home where they should have no fears.  So many of them have already seen much more than a child should.  

His little town in Poland so far has not been noticed by the Nazi's and he hopes that it will stay that way until the war is over.  But, that will not be the case.  

Mirek knew it was a long shot that they could remain unscathed from the realities that was happening all over Poland.  But he was an optimist at heart. reality tells him to have the children ready for anything!  The worst case scenario would be to taunt the Nazi's with "Polish" sentiments and identity.  He needs to train the children on what to do if that worst case scenario actually happens.  Everyone has been trained on what to do in case of an "unexpected visit" by the Nazi's.

Everything Polish has been put away and all things German now fill the classroom.  It was a sickening sight for Mirek and the children, but needed to be done.  Safety of the children was most important and after all and this was just window dressing.

Ania (Anne Maria) Kisiell comes to work with Baba Hanka (the housekeeper) and meets Mirek for the first time.  Ania and Hanka work to keep the children fed and the house in a reasonable state of order.  Hard to do with so many youngsters.

This is the background of Mirek and Ania's story, the start of a love story that you will not soon forget. But I must confess that I won't tell you anymore now!  This book has to go on your reading list and I know that you will be touched by the self-sacrifice and love that both Mirek and Ania shower down on the children in their care.

I could not put A Song of Silence down and I have read many World War II novels over the years.  This one will be etched on my mind for a long time.  A Song of Silence is one book that you should not miss!

This book gets a ***** (Five) Star rating from me and I don't give those up too easily.  

It is out on May 12 and available to you through Amazon.com, Kindle edition and many national book retailers. Steve N. Lee is a masterful story teller, you will not be disappointed!

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How to Organize and Digitize Old Slides EASILY ~ A Product Review

My other half and I had a big problem! We both grew up in the 1960's and 70's when cameras were filled with films that had to be taken to the store  and then processed.  We would have to wait a week or so until we knew whether the pictures were any good or not.  Most of the time we used our Kodak Brownie Cameras, as the better ones were way out of our price affordability.  Even our parents took pictures with those cameras. Now what happened to all those pictures and were they memories that we wanted to keep or were they just garbage photos?

Well it's spring time and that means cleaning up, clearing out and donating lots of things to various charities.

But one box had us in a quandry!  It was full of slides and negatives from who know when, where or how long they were in there. 

Could these be long lost family pictures or just a bunch of scenic areas that we would not recognize without some obvious sign posts?

This is the mess that we were faced with. We were pretty sure there would be some pictures in there that we would like to keep.  But, how do you do that without taking this mess to a dedicated service that will scan these?  And at what cost to us?

Looking into a professional service, we found out that it would cost us .25 cents to 1.00 per slide to be digitized.  

That was a cost that we just could not swallow.  You would pay for each slide whether they were worth keeping or just junk shots.  So this was not an option for us.

Thank goodness for the internet and Amazon!  A quick search and you can find out just about anything.

For just under 15.00 you can get a PICSCANNER !  What, you may ask is a Picscanner?  Well it's a small platform for your mobile phone.  The platform is about 3 inches away from the bed of the scanner.  This allows your phone to actually take a picture of your slide or negative. This is what the box looks like and you can see exactly how it works:

 Upload it to your computer and voila, you have a digital copy of what was a slide or negative. Just like this one:

This is a digital copy of a negative film strip. With a few programs on the computer it is easy to turn this negative into a proper picture.  Like this:

It works great!  What I really like about this easy to use slide digitizer is, that it is inexpensive and it lets you see what is on that slide or negative without having to print it first.  Once you see what's there, you just might decide that is is worth having it printed professionally!  But, I bet that most of them will just go into a Picture file on your computer. You have not spent hundreds of dollars on getting worthless (to anyone but yourself) pictures digitized.  

Today with our cell phone cameras and digital professional cameras, we can skip this step completely.  But again if you were born in the 50's , 60's and 70's, I'm sure that this Picscanner will be a valuable tool for anyone who has boxes and boxes of negatives or slides kicking around. Just imagine being able to take all those slides and negatives, organize them and keep the great ones and discard all the rest.  It's a job to do it, but, when it's done you will enjoy the fruits of your labors!

As an added bonus, this would make a great Father's Day Gift too!  Most of the Dad's I know are the techy types that love to fiddle with a new toy!  

Happy Photo Editing to all!

**These pictures are my own, the Cups in the Photos are "One of a Kind" handpainted and fired by my uncle!

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Great Suggestions for Mother's Day in Long Term Care

Mom's love to be pampered at least one day a year and we call that day Mother's Day!  But if your mom is in long term care and has restrictions because of age and infirmity, you need to get creative!   Creativity needs to be tempered with Wisdom and Insights.   Not everyone ages the same way and things in their lives are subject to change.  If you are not sure, ask the floor nurse or the PSW (Personal Support Worker) if your ideas are in line with her care. 

The first and most important gift you can give is some of your time.  A visit doesn't have to last long, but it has to happen.  If it can't be on Mother's Day, them find a day soon after or even before and spend some time with her!

Bring pictures of family and friends and have a great chat about these people and how they are doing.  What is happening in their families and any other interesting events.  If they have dementia it might just bring back some nice memories for them. You may even find yourself having a good laugh at something that happened in the past!

Here is a small list of things that everyone can use and it would make Mom's day just a little more special.

• Scented Body Wash while many places like to be scent free, these are so subtle that they won't be offensive to other residents.
• New Slippers, even if Mom is in a wheelchair she might like a new pair of slippers that would give her some choice in what's on her feet!
• A Blanket Hoodie, When Mom is wheelchair bound, sometimes a chill is in the air, then this lovely Blanket Hoodie will keep her feeling warm and toasty!
• Paper Pop Up Cards, mom probably got flowers in her earlier years, but now that might be too much trouble for her or the staff, so problem fixed with these lovely Pop Up Cards!  No water required!
• Digital Calendar Alarm Clock, even when mom doesn't know where she is, she will know what day it is and what time it is too!  These make great gifts for those with memory loss.
• Blanket Throw for Bed, I love sending my mother greetings so she knows I'm thinking about her and this Blanket Throw fits that bill perfectly!
• Window Suncatcher, most Long Term Care homes make sure that every room has a view, a lovely suncatcher in the window would be a lovely reminder of you!
• Solar Garden Cat Figurine, not just for the garden, but also for the window sill.  I know my mom still misses her cat, but this would be a nice reminder and it doesn't need to be fed either!
• Decorative Angel, something to remind her of you.  Available in many different colors you can match the decor in her room or choose her favorite color.
• Ceramic Jewelry Dish, this one can be used for anything (I don't recommend jewelry for Nursing Homes, (too difficult to keep track of that stuff).  But put some chocolates in there for mom to share with the PSW's or the nurse/doctor on the floor!

This is just a small list of the things that could make Mother's Day in the Nursing home just a little bit brighter and I'm sure any one of them will bring a smile to a face that you love.  Making memories is an ongoing task for all of us and this is one you won't forget either.

Oh, just a reminder for you, Mother's Day is on May 12 this year!

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Early Spring Seeds to Plant NOW! A Garden Review

 At this time of year every gardener I know has itchy palms and fingers that are just craving some dirt!  Yes, you heard me right,  DIRT!

It doesn't matter where you garden, whether above the ground or right into the ground, there are things that need to be done and then the fun can begin.

I'm going to take you to my balcony garden, because that is where I have been doing all of my "dirty" work!  I have containers and planters that I use for my flower beds and vegetable beds too.

What's great about this time of year is that you can start those flowers and vegetables that really prefer the cooler days.  And if you don't think there are quite a few of them, you would be wrong.

So let's start by taking a look at what loves to be planted outdoors NOW!

Flowers:

1. Sweet Peas are my #1 cool weather seeds to sow!
2. Marigolds (for protection from some bugs)
3. Nasturiums (they can be eaten you know)
4. Sunflowers (not for balconies)
5. Pansy
6. Rudbeckia or Black Eyed Susan
7. Snapdragons

Vegetables:

1. Broccoli
2. Cabbage
3. Peas
4. Cauliflower
5. Beets
6. Brussel Sprouts
7. Carrots

This is just a little sample of what can be sown right into the planters right now!  If you are lucky enough to have garden space in the great outdoors, the list is even bigger and right now is the perfect time to start those seeds in the ground.  Check out West Coast Seeds for their great selections.

My balcony is not too big and yet it is also not too small, so I manage to plant quite a few on my favorites.  I don't plant more than two or three of any variety of vegetables, but the flowers I can go crazy if I choose to.

On the balcony the most important part of getting your garden going is probable going to be the watering!  Spring can sometimes be very wet or very dry.  The best way to check that is to push a finger into the soil and see how far down it can go before it feels wet.  Too much water and the seeds will drown and too little water will have them sprouting and then dying off.  So a good balance needs to be maintained.  

Keep your containers happy and the seeds will sprout and you will have a prolific garden all your own.  I love getting quality seeds from a reputable company.  I love West Coast Seeds because not only are they quick, reliable and cost effective, but they also have lots of videos and blog posts for any problems you might have.  There is always something to learn!

So if you have been holding back, it's time to let go and get those hands and fingers back into the Dirt!  Come and join me for some fun in the garden where ever that may be for you!

Just for your information this is a Canadian Company and most of it's Non-GMO products are available for shipping to the US.  There are some exceptions and West Coast takes this into account when you order.

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

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