My Favorite Gardening Tools, Review

I have been gardening, off and on, for forty plus years. Over the years, I have come to know some gardening tools as my favorite.

The first one is one I happen to find just last year, in 2023. I had been searching the local warehouse stores to replace my trusty forked prong garden tool. No one had any! What happened to them I wondered.

Then low and behold, the last store I checked, I found a different version of my old trusty tool. The blade part wasn't as long or as sturdy as the old version, but it had some new features. Instead of the long round barrel with a forked prong at the end, it had a flattened out and curved blade part, a more pointy prong at the end, and a saw tooth edge along the lower left edge. Hmmm, I thought. I'll give this a try.

I was hoping for a longer barreled tool, but overall it seemed to reach a pretty decent depth. And that little more point forked prong seem to grab hold of the weeds, and more easily pull them up. Whoa! I was impressed.

The saw toothed edge also came in handy in sawing off some thicker roots and thick stems. I was beginning to love its versatility.

Then I moved some of my cement garden edgers and needed to channel out a somewhat narrow channel for there new location. This little trusty pronged tool was the answer. It was just wide enough and it allowed me to saw off hardened dirt along the sides which gave me a straighter channel to fit the cement edger in to. I was doubly impressed.

This is the link for it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3U8Hbg1 I did see other brands on Amazon that had the sawtooth edge on the opposite side, if you prefer those.

I have since found the other prong tool that I had been looking for on Amazon. Some companies call it a dandelion weed puller. Another tool that has become a favorite, is a spade shovel. Since I now have a prong tool that does narrow type digging and prying, I prefer to have a wider type spade shovel. Whether I'm digging up a minor patch of weeds, or having to dig around the roots of larger plants, I really like having a wider spade shovel.

The Fiskars model is pretty heavy duty and has been holding up well. It has an ergonomic type handle, which is much easier to hold than wooden handled spades that I have owned.

The model that I purchased and use is found on Amazon through this link. https://amzn.to/4dQ6JFM

Sometimes my gardening ventures require some more heavy duty digging. Although I like the general rounded type shovel, I use those to dig up large plants, I have really come to appreciate the flat edge shovel.

When I want a larger shovel to help define an edge, or when I want to remove top layers of soil that turn out more even, I reach for the flat edge shovel. It helps to create the desired finish that I want.

The closest one that I could find on Amazon is made by Hantop. The one that I have does not have a brand name on it; other than it says USA tempered 2 on it. Mine has a totally flat straight edge on the shovel part, and this one has a sawtooth edge. The saw tooth edge appears to be on the top part of the blade, as customers have commented about it giving a straight edge. This would be my recommendation; it has a 4.9 star rating with 27 reviews. Here is the link on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3A8E4h9

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Reviewing Gifts To Keep Loved Ones Warm In Winter.

With cold weather fast approaching and along with it rising energy costs many people are concerned how to pay for their energy bills to heat their homes and keep warm. Many people may well be thinking of not putting the heating on so high or so much this winter. 

This may especially apply to older people who can feel the cold more, or maybe less able to keep moving around to keep warm. The very old and the very young and those who have conditions or are on medications that  make them feel the cold more will be the most affected in the colder weather. 

So I was thinking how to help people in this situation who perhaps will not accept money to help with bills, but who would consider it normal to receive a winter birthday gift or Christmas gift.

While it is important that the heating is on for some part of the day to keep the home free from damp, it might be thoughtful to give a gift of something that will help to keep them warm and cosy this winter. This thoughtfulness may also extend to yourself.

Depending on your budget, some of these suggestions are affordable, others more considered purchases and perhaps the more expensive ones could be purchased by a family or  friends clubbing together for a present. Or you may like to purchase these as a treat for yourself, as we did. 

So gifts that are lovely, cosy, warm and beautiful like these can be a lovely thoughtful present for any person to help them keep warmer and more relaxed in the colder months of the year. 

 

Heated Throw

The first gift idea and one that we have found very useful is a heated throw. These are blankets or throws that you put on over yourself to keep warm and have a timer facility so you can choose the temperature the throw warms up to and the length of time you have it on. 

The best ones have a cut off function once the time is reached so I consider this a vital function, especially for elderly people or anyone just busy, so it cannot over heat or be left on all night. 

We have a couple of these throws for use in the living room when watching TV and for one to go over the bed which we put on an hour before bed to warm up the bed and the room. We find that these do heat us up very well and also put some heat into the room which is useful in winter.

One is a Faux Fur heated blanket and one is a Sherpa Fleece Blue heated blanket. They are deliciously cosy! We have used the heating far less since we got these blankets and so saved on our heating bills, while still keeping nice and warm.                    

Read more about my personal experience of using these in my article Reviewing Benefits And Considerations Of Heated Throws 

 SEALY Electric Throw Blanket, Flannel & Sherpa Heated Throw with 6 Heating LevelsCheck Price

 

Warm Wearable Hooded Fleece Blankets.

We have two each of these warm wearable hooded fleece blankets and we really appreciate them in the autumn and winter. Wearing them can certainly delay us needing to put the heating on. 

They are great during the day when at home as you can move around freely wearing them, yet you are warm and certainly cosy! However you still feel Ok answering the door to people which I would not be Ok with if I was in a dressing gown! In the evening they are just wonderful and snuggly and so warm.

 Wearable Blanket Hoodie for AdultCheck Price

 

We especially like to wear them first thing in the morning when getting breakfast and once we settle down for the evening. I also like to wear mine when doing computer work and we both wear them watching TV or playing games in the evenings.

Read More about how we enjoy wearing these in my article Reviewing Warm Wearable Oversized Hooded Blankets 

Warm Bedding 

In the autumn we start switching out our bedding to warmer fleece and blankets to go with our duvets. It makes more of a difference than you might think and is an easy switch.

 As long as you know the persons bed size, a warm bedding set would be a lovely thoughtful gift. I love this Microsoft Sheet Set with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases for its warm, cosy and beautiful look on the bed. This set is available in a wide choice of beautiful colours to suit any person and any bedroom decor. It has deep pocket fitting on the fitted sheet and is machine washable on cold, tumble dry low so easy care

Even if you are not sure of the bed size, then a comforter to go over the bed would be a great gift and less dependant on size especially if you size up so you can be sure it covers the bed. 

My friend and contributor Barbara wrote this useful article about her personal experience of owning this Warm Sherpas Comforter Set. 

 Microsoft Sheet SetCheck Price

 

Warm Cosy Bed Socks

I don't know about you but if my feet are cold I am cold. So it is vital to keep feet warm and cosy. There are many choices of lovely bed socks for everyone in different colours . So if you know the persons shoe size a special cosy pair of socks can be a thoughtful gift.  

I especially like these Non Skid Gripper Fleece Socks as in addition to being warm and cosy, they have grippers on the soles so are more non slip that most socks and so safer if you forget to put on slippers when you first get out of bed or go to get a drink in the night.

My friend and contributor Olivia writes in her review about how bed socks and the subsequent warm feet can equal a happy marriage ! How Bedsocks Can Equal A Happy Marriage

 Non Skid Gripper Fleece SocksCheck Price

 

Shoulder Wrap Heating Pad

This is a great gift idea especially if you know the person has any shoulder issues or feels the cold around their shoulders. 

I know if my shoulders are cold I find it hard to warm up. I carry any tension in my shoulders and a warm wrap does help to relax the muscles. A definite benefit is that you do not need to hold this wrap against your neck, it stays put there by itself! 

 My friend and contributor Sylvestermouse reviews her personal experience in her article about the Sunbeam Shoulder Wrap Heating Pad.

So a few well chosen gift ideas that we here have found lovely and beneficial can really be a beautiful and warm, lovely present for a loved one who may feel the cold this winter.

 Whether it is a Fall/Autumn Birthday present or a Christmas gift or just because you love them, any of these items will help towards keeping you and your loved ones warm and comfortable this winter.  

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Signs of Autumn Coloring Book for Adults Review

I had been looking through coloring books that had relaxation somewhere on the cover. So many of them had intricate designs, many with no real rhyme or reason to them, that filled the page. If I were to describe what I saw, I would say that they were too busy for my taste.

When I think of relaxation, as far as coloring goes, I like at least somewhat recognizable designs, that have larger shapes for the most part. Being an artist and designer, I decided to design a coloring book that I would like.

I chose autumn as the theme; therefore, I could choose a variety of designs that could cover a variety of things that represented autumn. I could have autumn leaves, Halloween, apple pie, and more; all in the same book.

Yes, I do like the themed designs. I chose to make the coloring pages single sided, so each coloring page could come out cleaner. There would be little to no bleed through should the coloring artists choose markers.

Provided in the back of the book are pages to test out various coloring mediums. Below is an image of the different mediums that I checked out. I used mediums that I had on hand, to give you an idea of how well they and the paper performs.

Results of testing of mediums:

Bleed through:
There wasn't any bleed through from any of the colored pencils that I used.

There was bleed through from both types of markers that I used. The bleed through showed on the back of the page I colored on, but did not show up on the next consecutive page. Heavier pressure and or different brands could render different results.

There was some bleed through of the Prismacolor water-soluble colored pencils, once I added water to the color that I had already applied on the page.

There wasn't any bleed through from the watercolors that I premixed with water and paint on the brush, with very little water.

Pressure lines:

Pressure lines showed up through the back side of the page when I used the PaperMate Ink Joy Gel Pen. It was a size 0.7. The pressure lines also went through to the next page.

Pressure lines also showed up on the back side of the page when I used the Office Depot Gel Pen, but they weren't as noticeable as the pressure lines from the PaperMate gel pen.

On with the review:

Each design page has a dark gray border around the perimeter of the drawing, should anyone want to frame and or hang individual pages. The frame type border also provides a nice finished edge.

The paper has a good weight to it. It has a smoothness to it that is not overly smooth; it is not type writer paper. It has a bit of texture to it, as to grab and hold the color from colored pencils, etc.

My recommendations:

If you or you know someone who likes coloring larger images and or autumn themed coloring books, then I recommend this book.

If you prefer using gel pens in your coloring book, and you like this book, then I recommend placing a sheet of thin smooth cardboard under the page that you are coloring and or outlining with gel pens.

My preferred coloring medium for this project is the Koh-I-Noor Polycolor Coloured Pencils. I used the twelve pack, but would very much like to have the 24 pack, as they have a variety of landscape colors which would be great for coloring leaves and such.

This coloring book is ready for purchase on Amazon.

Signs of Autumn Coloring Book for Adults on Amazon

You can find more coloring books by Cheryl Paton on this blog: Coloring Books by Cheryl Paton.

Cheryl Paton

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Alternative Toys for Cats Review

For many of us cat lovers, we strive to please our fur babies. Many times we buy the next toy at the pet store hoping this will be the one to strike their fancy. Today, I will share some of the lesser known toys for cats that you won't find at the pet store.

First up is hair bands. I purchased a package of thick ones, made for pony tails. I wanted thicker ones, figuring that they would hold up longer and probably go farther than the thinner ones. I shot the thick hair band across the floor, and it caught Tori's attention. She was after it in no time.

Tori is most intrigued with the hair band when I shoot it but has also been observed playing swat and bat it around, and carry it, without my input. That's a winner for me. The ones that I bought are around 5/8 of an inch wide, and are rated as no damage as far as hair goes. You can check out the options for these types of hair bands on Amazon.

While I was checking out things that might intrigue my cat, I considered other alternative options that fly. Hince, the paper airplane.

The first one I made was from a post it note. Post it note airplanes do not travel far at all, but they do kind of float down. Tori was somewhat intrigued, and also showed interest in it even when I didn't make it fly. But not as much interest as she showed in the hair band. I give the Post it note airplane a medium thumbs up.

Then I tried making an airplane from a larger sheet of paper, without any takiness on the edge of it. It too, didn't go that far. Then I added a flip up on the long folded edge. I also did this modification to the Post it note airplane; they both went further! Yay! Tori's interest however was short lived, even with the longer distance. She did though prefer to bat the smaller airplane around in some of her passings though. So if you make paper airplanes for your cat(s), I recommend the smaller size.

If you need a refresher course on how to fold a paper airplane, here is one of the options.

If your cat or cats like the proverbial cardboard box, then a box train can be a fun alternative for your cat(s). Some pet owners have made a train with multiple boxes attached; some held together better than others. It can also be a fun alternative for a single cat. This video shows how the cord can be more entertaining than riding in the box. However, it is still a fun adventure. It is one I'm definitely considering once I get a good box size that is in decent shape.

For my last alternative cat toy option today, I present the idea of Dominos. From what I've seen, the Dominos cat adventure appears to be more of a spectator sport. Unless the cats already know how to press buttons, in a way that the Dominos builder has made in an intriguing way for the cat to nudge a Domino, it is pretty much just the cats being aware of all the Dominos falling in various formations. If you have lots of time on your hands and want to entertain your fur babies in this way, I would pass on this. But there are many people who love building Dominos in this way.

In this video, however, is a fun toy meant for children, where a cat was most intrigued in trying to retrieve a ball that was ready to go down a spinning hole. I would say, forget the Dominio buildng, and play with the spinning ball toy. Here you go:

The marble run toy looks similar to this one. I chose the one with the Lego base, as I figure it would be less likely to get knocked over, and would make for a longer, and therefore more playing time with your cat(s).

Marble Run Toy on Amazon

What are your opinions? Do you have a favorite alternative you would like to try with your cat(s)? Do you have a different cat toy alternative that you would like to share?

Thank you in advance for your comment.

Check out other favorite cat toys for cats on my blog: Fun Cat Toys to Play with Cats.

Cheryl Paton

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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!

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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!

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Black & Decker Cordless Drill - Reviewed

 Having the right tools for your DIY project makes all the difference between frustration and satisfaction. One of these indispensable tools is my Black & Decker cordless drill, the perfect companion for many of my home improvement tasks.

Black & Decker Cordless Drill Features:

Design and Build Quality: Black & Decker is a renowned name in the realm of power tools. My first impression is the drill is lightweight and fits comfortably in my hand, even for extended periods of use. The grip is rubberized, providing both comfort and control.

Performance: The Black & Decker Cordless Drill is equipped with a powerful motor and effortlessly tackles many drilling and driving tasks efficiently. Over the years I have used my cordless drill to drill holes and drive screws into wood, metal, and plastic with ease. The variable speed control allows for seamless adjustment for any of these tasks.

Battery Life and Charging: The Black & Decker is equipped with a 20V lithium-ion battery, it offers extended runtime, minimizing interruptions during long projects. Although, I have never had a project long enough where I ran out of power. I recommend a second battery if you consistently use the drill for long projects. That way you always have one charged.

Versatility and Ease of Use: The variable speed control makes it easy to transition between drilling and driving applications. The keyless chuck feature makes it easy to change drill and driving bits. Additionally, the drill has an LED light to illuminate the work area.

Value: The Black & Decker Cordless stands out as a compelling option with its performance, durability, and affordability. The Black & Decker is a reasonable price for all of the performance. I also purchased the handy accessory kit you see in the photo with many driver bits and drills. With that kit, I have always had whatever I needed for the task.

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This Black & Decker Drill and accessory kit make the perfect Father's Day gift.

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Driver, 3/8 Inch, With LED Work Light, Battery and Charger Included (LDX120C)BLACK+DECKER Drill Bit Set/Screwdriver Bit Set Combo, 109-Piece (BDA91109)

 

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Reviewing Renovating Old Pine Furniture Project

 

This review covers an easy DIY project to renovate old unremarkable furniture into something to grace our homes and fit with existing decor. 

In our case we wanted a new dining table and chairs but the only ones we could find to fit our space and circular were very expensive. We did however find a lovely circular table and four chairs that were perfect for our needs and very comfortable at a very good price, but the issue was that they were a quite horrible orange pine colour.

I am not usually an advocate of painting wood. If it is beautiful oak, mahogony, rosewood or reclaimed wood I will not paint it. 

However orange pine with a shiny finish is just not to us all that beautiful and did not fit in with the rest of our decor ideas for the dining room. 

I am not deterred by a minor issue like this and we really liked the style and comfort of this dining set. So we bought the dining set and went about cleaning, sanding and painting. 

Here I will tell you what we did with the chairs. 

Step One Sanding Down Pine Chair

First it was important to sand down the wood. It had a shiny surface to it and I did not think even the best paint would go on well over such a shiny surface. 

With some furniture paints they declare that you do not need to sand down first so it is always best to  check the instructions and perhaps do a patch test to make sure if you need to sand or not. 

So we sanded it with a fine sandpaper until all the shiny orange paint was no more! 

It is important to do this step carefully and take your time as skimping on this preparation will affect the whole project.

I don't have a workshop or anywhere to do this kind of work so for me it was a case of clearing a room and laying down dust sheets and working on the floor. Of course a work table or ideally a workshop would be wonderful but this project is perfectly possible with none of this.  

Step Two Cleaning The Chair

Next I cleaned the whole chair including the seat cushion and back.

The wood was cleaned with sugar soap and the chair with an upholstery cleaner. There is no real skill to this, all this took was time and following the cleaning instructions.

Then we left it all to dry.

Step Three Masking Tape 

With a project like this it is important to use masking tape to mask off all the areas that you do not want to paint. I do find this step rather boring but it is necessary. 

It is worth spending a little time over this as it is a lot more difficult to remove paint from where you do not want it than to simply mask it off beforehand and does make the painting process easier. 

Step Four Painting The Wood. 

After laying down sheets I set about painting the whole chair. 

It needed to be done in two steps so that I could reach the whole wooden parts of the chair. So involved the chair standing up and laying down to reach it all. 

As I had two chairs on the go at the same time this was possible to do without wasting time. 

We chose a light grey colour. It did take two coats to cover the wood. I would always recommend two coats. A darker colour may have covered the wood more thoroughly with one coat but I always think two coats gives better coverage and longevity.

Furniture Paint. 

We used Rust Oleum Satin Finish Furniture Paint. It says on the tin it is a superior satin silky finish in slate grey.

I found that this paint went on very well and smoothly. I found it a really good paint to use.  It did not have an overpowering smell and did not give me a headache as many paints do. It went on well although was a little drippy, so it was essential to have sheets down. It is necessary to stir it well before starting to paint. 

The clean up is so easy as it is water based so it is just a case of wiping off most of the excess paint then washing in water. 

If I had a workspace I might have used a Rustoleum furniture spray paint which may have speeded things up. However I was doing this project in winter in our dining room so a spray paint would not have been a good idea in these circumstances. 

Any good furniture paint can be used, just choose the finish, application method and colour you like. I tend to go for water based and low odour for ease of use in the home and clean up afterwards. 

Due to the space and how intricate some of the work was I used a small paintbrush and I think this was a good idea so that there was more precision.

After the first coat the finish did not look all that good but I always expect this. 

I left it to dry thoroughly then applied a second coat and this is where the magic happens as the pine disappeared and the beautiful slate grey colour saturated the wood. I an no expert but I think the finish, even in the more difficult intricate parts is pretty good. 

The four chairs took me two days to do at a fairly relaxed pace with lots of coffee breaks! It is a straightforward project that anyone could do really. All it takes is time and patience and a few basic painting skills. 

The Supplies You Need For This Furniture Project

Furniture Paint or Rustoleum paint 

Sandpaper 

A small paintbrush

Masking Tape

Old sheets, dust sheets or anything you have to protect the floor

We think it was a worthwhile project and we now have a lovely dining set at a fraction of the price. 

If we ever get fed up of the colour  or go for a different scheme, it will be very easy to change with a light sanding and a coat of new paint.

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Caring For Elders Requires Attention and Willingness ~ A Product Review

Life brings us all opportunities to learn something new everyday!  I'm learning about caring for a Senior that I happen to love dearly, but, is having difficulty with day to day activities.

Caring for Elders requires that you be willing to do things that you thought were impossible and yet you know you have to do those things anyways.  There is a willingness to go beyond what we thought we would be doing and learning to do those things that might be distasteful and generally keep us moving away from the responsibility.  

But there are things that make all the distasteful things a little easier to complete and one of these are pre-moistened and good sized  Adult Wipes.  We happen to have found the one we like called Inspire Premium Washcloths!

Back in late January, my elderly mother had taken ill.  She was in hospital for almost a whole month recuperating from pneumonia and the flu.  These illnesses can be quite debilitating for the elderly.  While in hospital, the signs of early dementia, turned into true brain fog, with doctors hoping that once she was home, that fog would clear up.

Such has not been the case.  She is now bed-ridden and the leg muscles so weak that she can no longer hold herself up.  So, we are learning to cope with our new reality.

Incontinence has become the major "problem".  While we have all had our share of diapering babies, we never think of the possibility that we will be diapering our parents.  With a little humour we can get through this stage of our lives.  

What's that old joke about diapers and the elderly?  Why don't they call diapers for adults Huggies and Pampers?  Because it Depends on who is in the will!  Just kidding of course.

Caring for adult skin in the nether regions is important especially when they are elderly, bed-ridden and have other health complications.  Bed sores are nothing to be scoffed at and can become infected causing even more problems.

With caring for the skin in those intimate areas, dependable quality wipes are a must.  Tiny wipes used for babies just don't quite cut it when it comes to adults.  You need something that will hold up and yet be soft, strong, gentle and do the job!  

We found that the Inspire brand Wet Wipes for Adults, was just what we needed.  They are large enough (8 inches x 12 inches).  they are moist without dripping all over the place. Latex and alcohol free,  they are Ph balanced and have Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for skin health included in each sheet.  The only down side is that they are NOT Flushable!  But when you are dealing with disposable diapers, that is not a game changer at all, they just go into the garbage with the diapers.  Quick and easy, clean and neat all in one package.

For anyone who has a need for a quick, easy and strong washcloth, these disposable ones are the greatest.  I love that they are not overly scented, yet they have a nice soft feel to them and one or two do the work and hold up through whatever mess you are facing.  These can be used to clean a face, hands or a butt......so many different places that you will find them useful. 

I'm signing off for now, but I'm sure I'll have more to share with caring for the Elderly in another Product Review right here on Reviewthisreviews.com.

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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Review of Candle Warmer Lamps

 I love the wonderful scents that candles provide in my home, but I was always leery of having a burning flame.  I tend to forget about them and then they burn down too far.  Well for Christmas I received a wonderful candle warming lamp.  I had never seen one before and wasn't sure how they worked, but I can tell you now they are wonderful.  They are a great way to get light and the wonderful smell from a scented candle without having to worry about a flame and any fire hazard.

Features of my Candle Warmer Light

• Dimmable
• No Smoke
• No Flame
• Timer

My lamp is also very attractive and makes a wonderful addition to our decor.  It has a square wood base and a metal light stand.  The base will hold candles of many sizes.  I currently have one of the larger round candles in it as you can see pictured above, but I have also put other smaller candles in glass jars.  The base is a non-skid and non-scratch bottom that works well on any furniture.

I love the timer feature.  I can turn on the lamp and set the timer for 2,4,or 8 hours and then not worry about it again.

The light is dimmable, and the brightness will determine how soon the scent begins to flow through your home.

The lamp came with two 50-watt GU10 halogen bulbs, so there is no need to buy extra bulbs.

Another great feature is that the melting of the candle occurs from the light source and thus does not leave a hole like flames, this will double the life of the candles.

Great for Gifts

These candle warmer lamps come in a variety of styles and would make great gifts.  I can see them as a wonderful idea for Valentines Day, Birthdays and Mothers Day.

My lamp came from Amazon and I found that they have many different options.  Here are links to a couple of different Candle Warmer Lamps.

Candle Warmer Lamp

Jar Candle Warmer Lamp

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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There's a New Game That Has People Talking! ~ A Product Review

Have you heard of the new Game in Town?  TALKING POINT, It has everyone talking and actually interacting with each other!  

With all of the "Tech" toys that people have these days, it seems that we are talking to each other less and less.  If you don't TEXT someone, they are likely to ignore you completely because they are hard wired to the cell devices or their Tablets.

What ever happened to actually talking?

Well there is a new game in town to help you rekindle that ability to look at each other and find out what you are actually thinking, It's called TALKING POINT!  

My other half actually picked up a set of these cards in the hopes that it would foster some conversations with my mother.  She tends to be very quiet and lost in her own world, so he thought it would be a great way to get her to open up a little and see what is happening in her gray matter!

21%

200 Conversation Cards - Put Down The Phones & Connect with Your Family - Get to Know Each Other Better with Meaningful Talk - Let Kids Express Themselves, Great for Dinner Table & Road Trips

200 Teens Conversation Cards - Connecting Parents with their Teenagers - Reduce Screentime with Fun & Deep Conversation - Avoid Conflict, Improve Communication & Learn More About Your Teen Boy or Girl

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200 Conversation Cards to Get Kids Talking and Listening During Car Rides and Family Dinners

Now in our case, it hasn't worked the way it was intended to, but it sure has us (the other half and I) talking a lot more. Each card (and there are about 200 in each set) has a question on it and everyone gets a chance to answer.

Not everyone will agree with everyone else's responses, but it will definitely get you talking!

The first question I picked was: What household chores do like to do and which do you try and avoid? Now that really made me stop and think, because being the mom (now retired from that position), you always have chores to do and delegating some to the offspring is generally a great idea. Wouldn't it be so much easier if you knew ahead of time that your daughter doesn't mind doing the laundry, but hates hanging up the shirts?

The other question that I love in this family set of Talking Point cards is: How did your parents meet and fall in love?

I wonder how many children actually know those stories and how it might make them smile to know those little tidbits of family history.

Family time would be a great time to make some pizza, grab some drinks and sit down together and ask some of these questions.

Can you just imagine the looks on the kids faces and maybe even the parents'. I'm sure the discussions around the table would be interesting and maybe even open an eye or two.

How about a question for the kids, Like: Are friends more important than family? You might just be surprised by some of the answers.

All I know is that in this day and age when people are busy looking down at their phones, something has to happen to engage our families with each other. Camping nights and cottage visits would be a great time to take along a small box of conversation starters that will have everyone laughing and enjoying each other without any right or wrong answers.

Just answers that might shed some light on other parts of their lives, or be a way to open a door to more pressing concerns or just great conversation with those we love.  

These cards get a big High Five from me and seeing how many have been sold already, I'm guessing that they are a hit with a lot of people from all over the world.

This is a great way to enjoy FAMILY DAY in February!  And you have lots of time still to get a set!

I hope that it will help you to get to know each other better and have a little (or a lot) of fun along the way!

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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