How I Wrote the Lyrics for “You Stood Me Up”

I wrote these lyrics on March 8th, 2026, as part of a compilation of couples' love songs I'm putting together. 

Writing couples' lyrics has always been a challenge for me — not because I don't believe in love or feel it, but because it's so easy for the love words to slip into greeting-card territory and sound cheesy.

Last Week's Song Lyric Debut

As I mentioned last week in my article about Marry Me Fool, I try to tell a story in every lyric I write. That's how it feels real to me. 

I've been writing since I was eight years old, and for me, everything has always come from a real and human perspective.

Sure, I can write more roundabout lyrics — the kind that are less on the nose, more metaphorical or flowery, and make you think. I do that sometimes, too. But when I'm telling a story, it has to hit my spirit first. That's the only way I can put it down on paper and eventually shape it into music.

I still question myself sometimes about whether I should write differently. Every writer has their own approach, and many styles work beautifully. But I'm old enough now to know who I am and how I write best.

Even if I haven't lived the exact experience I'm writing about, I need to find the realness inside it. Once I feel that connection, the words start to come to life.

How You Stood Me Up Came to Life

So, back to You Stood Me Up. 

This is a story lyric. The only way I could write it was to imagine the story and place myself inside it.

That's when the words begin to take shape for me.

They don't always come easily. Some people have lyrics pour out of them, but for me, it's work, the best, most fulfilling work! 

I'm always trying to tie everything together from beginning to end — making sure the verses lead somewhere and that the chorus carries the heart of the story.

With these lyrics, I worked on it carefully from verse one through to the outro, ensuring everything connected.

The story itself came to me as a simple moment between two people.

They had planned a date. She was sitting in a restaurant by the window, quietly sipping her tea and waiting for him.

When he arrived and saw her, he suddenly felt like he wasn't good enough. His nerves got the best of him, and instead of going inside, he convinced himself he should just leave. In his mind, it would be easier to stand her up than risk disappointing her.

So he turned and walked away.

But as he was leaving, he tripped over the curb just as she was coming out of the restaurant.

She reached down, grabbed his hand, and helped him up.

That tiny moment — awkward and unexpected — became the beginning of a lifelong relationship. And that simple story is what became the heart of these lyrics.

Writing lyrics like this is always a balance between storytelling and honesty. But when a story feels alive, when it flows the way you hoped it would, it's one of the best feelings there is.

Listen to How I Put This Song Together:

Resonance and the Joy of Writing

My husband genuinely relates to the personal stories in my lyrics, especially those about my parents. He looks forward to every new lyric I write.

He was especially proud of my poetry and lyrics book — a compilation of over 50 years of my writing, dating back to 1968, that's available on Amazon. Of course, he's biased, but his opinion carries weight because he knows our life story and many of the experiences that shape what I write.

For me, though, I try to best myself.

I'm not interested in competing with other writers. I just can't. I'm simply not built that way.

I have always competed with myself.

Almost every time I finish a lyric, he'll say, "How did you write one better than the last one?" When he says that, I sometimes think, well… maybe I achieved my goal again.

But I don't write for compliments. However, validation from him means a lot because he knows our life and my heart, and that matters.

I'll Write Until My Last Breath No Matter Who Reads It or Doesn't Read It - I Have To.

I write lyrics because I love writing about the human emotional experience. I'll keep writing until my last breath because it's a part of my soul.

I have to write lyrics — stories about life. Or poems — stories about life.

If I were stranded on a desert island and someone somehow left me with a pad of paper and a pen, I’d write until the ink ran out. And when the ink was gone, I’d write the words in the sand.

That's just how essential writing the human experience is to me.

This particular lyric video, Echoes of a Quiet Room, meant something special because this is the lyric I wrote about my parents' passing. I cried from beginning to end just writing it.

It comes from a real place, so deep and painful that when my hubby and my brother heard it, they cried.

There's something beautiful about sharing this depth of love with someone else. A love and loss they feel along with you. You look into their eyes, and you both know the pain and the gratefulness.

So in my mind, that was the one to beat — and the only person I compete with is myself.

When I finished You Stood Me Up, I called hubby in and said, "Oh my God, you have to listen to this."

He listened, and his mouth literally dropped open.

He said, "Wow! That's the best one."

Of course, he says that every time I write something, but hearing it this time felt different. The story flowed exactly the way I had imagined it — the meeting of two people and the quiet suggestion of a lifetime together.

The Music and Creative Side

The music creation isn't easy either. 

Even with digitally produced music, composition takes structure, input, and attention to every nuance. However, if you want to hit a button and go with "whatever," anyone can do that. I can't do that since I'm bringing my own words to life.

For me, the message is everything. The words have to be paired with the right sound and emotional tone.

Sometimes I get lucky, and it comes together in five attempts. Other times it takes 18 or even 24 hours of adjusting and rebuilding until it finally feels right.

It can be frustrating. In fact, it's more frustrating than writing! Because it must reflect my personal intention on the meaning of the words I've written.

But when it finally clicks — like it did with You Stood Me Up — it feels like a gift.

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Follow Me - Drageda - Lyrics About Life:

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iTunes:   Drageda Lyrics on iTunes

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A Review Of How to Repot Roses

 

We are anticipating moving house in the future and i have decided that i want to take some of my outdoor plants with me. I especially want to take our roses. 

Some of the roses are already in pots as they were ones I inherited from my parents, others are in the ground and are either special to us or ones I "rescued" so have some emotional meaning for me.

 So the roses in pots really do need repotting now and I want to remove the roses in the ground soon as I have so much to do to prepare for the move, it is a task I can get done now. 

As it is a seasonal, time sensitive task I will not have much more opportunity to do it reliably and I do not want to leave it too near to the date we put the house on the market as I will be overrun with other jobs by then. 

I adore roses, i find there is nothing quite like their beautiful, often delicately scented blooms and I love the way they develop from tiny tight buds to full blooms.

 I understand many people find them a bit daunting to prune but it isn't that difficult. However I suspect our buyers will be people who want a simple easy garden so wherever I can I will take them with me. I am leaving some as they are way to big to move, but the smaller ones are coming with us.   

There are two types of moving I need to do, one is to move from a pot to a larger pot, this move is less stressful for the rose. The other is from the ground to a container, which is a little more stressful and requires more care. Roses are very beautiful and very tough plants, but they can still suffer stress when their environment is changed. However with the correct timing, care and technique it can be done safely and steadily. 

Just a note I am discussing this in terms of being in the UK with its climate and temperatures. If you are not in the UK please find out when roses are in their dormant phase, never when they are actively growing or blooming and only move during this time of year. 

When to Repot Roses

So because timing is so vital part of this moving process for roses in the UK we can only move roses in the late Autumn to the very early Spring, so around November to March. It is very important not to move roses when the ground is frozen. Also never attempt to do it in late Spring or summer during new active growth or blooming.

If we really missed the best part of the year to repot, it can still be done, but the rose will need a lot more care and attention and this is far from ideal if we are already busy with other moving house jobs. 

Wherever you live it is best to do this work when the rose is dormant, so not actively growing or blooming.  

Tools And Equipment Required

• A sharp spade or fork- if digging out of the ground 
• Secateurs. I use Wolf Garten Secateurs
• A large deep pot. Roses like a deep container with good drainage. 
• Good quality compost
• Perlite for aeration and drainage
• Mulch
• A garden trowel to mix the compost and perlite together
• Mesh or a broken crock to place over the drainage holes. 
• Good quality thick or thorn resistant gloves. These are essential and the thicker and more thorn resistant the better! I even sometimes wear 2 pairs of gloves one thinner inner pair a plus a thick pair on top. 
• Eye protection. I use wrap around sunglasses or protective eyewear as the last thing you want is thorns or whippy stems in your eyes. This is essential. 
• Clothing that covers your arms and body. As it will be cold here that is no problem layering up and wearing a thick jacket to protect ourselves for thorns and whippy stems.

How Much Time Does It Take To Repot Roses

As this can be heavy work and is not the easiest garden job, I would recommend doing the whole of one rose first, so water a few the day before but aim to do one rose at a time.

 You may find that one rose at a time is enough. Do not attempt to over do it as you cannot leave a rose partially out of its pot or not settled in properly. I usually allow an hour per rose if moving from pot to pot, longer if you are digging out of the ground. 

 Personally I suggest a mug of tea, coffee or hot chocolate after each rose is completed, then reassess if you want to do another one that day! 

How to Move a Rose To A Bigger Pot

I generally try to repot plants in pots every few years and especially if I see roots coming out the base of the container which generally means it is pot bound, or it becomes difficult to water them. If the growth of the rose is poor, it looks sickly, or if roots appear on the surface it is becoming more urgent. 

We pot up in to a container one size up usually. If it is significantly bigger the plant may find a bit of trouble establishing and so just one size up is best. 

Roses like a rich but well drained soil. I am using a peat free general compost and adding in about 20% perlite for air and drainage and to keep the container a bit lighter. I used to place a layer of gravel at the base for drainage, but recent thinking is that is not necessary and can be counter productive. 

This year I am seriously considering repotting not into pots but in fabric heavy duty fabric planters with handles. As these shrubs will be moving with us these will be lighter and easier to move and they last around 2-3 years which should cover the moving period. They are considerably less expensive than pots as well. 

The Rose Moving Plan 

1. Water the rose. The day before water the rose, just enough for it to be moist, not waterlogged. This helps to make it easier to get the rose out the pot and reduces the shock on the plant.

2. Prune the rose. I like to do this next before moving the plant so that it is smaller and easier to handle and a few less thorns.

 This involves, with most shrub and standard roses taking about a third of the growth off, removing dead stems, crossing stems and then reducing the plant by about a third.

 If its a climbing rose just trim back the canes a little to be comfortable for you to handle. Once is more than enough to be smacked by a stray whippy rose cane believe me ! 

It is also useful at this stage to gently tie up the canes or stems gently with rope as roses are thorny and it is kinder to our skin to keep them out of the way as much as possible.

 Some people can tolerate thorn bites but I cannot and to be honest it is always safety first when dealing with roses.

 In addition do wear eye protection, it is simply not worth a whippy stem or a thorn getting into the eyes, do not take that chance. 

I usually find some brown parts of the stems so trim these off with secateurs. Some crossing stems are also common so best to take one off so that they do not rub each other and cause friction and a wound or infection to get in. Make sure to make clean cuts. 

3. Prepare the new planter. especially if it is a large pot , I am repotting into 30, 50 and 75 litre planters so it is best to place it in the final position before adding compost and the rose. It will be heavy afterwards. Once in position place a crock or mesh over any drainage holes, just to prevent them getting blocked by the compost mix. Then mix the compost and perlite and place about a third into the pot. 

4. Remove the rose from its pot

The easiest way is to tip the pot on its side onto a old towel or blanket if the pot is more delicate and gently ease the plant out. This is also kinder to your back. If it is pot  bound I usually end up gently tapping the sides of the pot with my heavily gloved hands to loosen it up. Be very careful if it is delicate material and be careful with your hands too, just tap gently. 

I would  not recommend trying to lift a rose vertically out of a pot. They are usually surprisingly heavy and it is hard to get a good grip on a thorny plant without doing some damage to yourself. I speak from painful experience! 

In one case I found to my surprise that one of the roses had actually rooted through the pot and into the ground! In this case I had to carefully and cleanly cut the root before I could move the rose out the pot. Then I had to dig the root out!  

5. Check the condition of the roots, these are the most important parts of the plant. If any look dead or are rotten or mushy, cut them out with sharp secateurs. 

6.Gently lift the rose, with help if you need it, roses can be heavier than you might think. In fact I would always advise getting help with this task. Position the rose in the new container so the grafting point which is usually easily seen by a join or bumpy part of the stem sits just above soil level. Then fill around the rose carefully with the compost mix, gently firming it around the rose. I usually leave about 2 inches free at the top of the container for easy watering. If you fill to the brim there is no room for watering. 

7. Then water the rose thoroughly until water runs through the drainage holes. After watering I usually find the soil settles somewhat and I need to add more compost plus perlite mix to the top of the pot. 

How To Lift A Rose From The Ground and Move It Into A Container

You need to be more careful doing this, but if you really want to take the rose with you it is possible. The type of soil you have may make a difference as to how easy this is. We have heavy clay soil and digging it is a workout at the best of times, a lighter soil will be easier.

  Also if the rose is older and well established it may have a very deep root run. More than a few years old it gets harder to move. If the rose is very big or very old you may want to weigh up if taking cuttings might be kinder to you and the rose. 

We are in this position with two roses, one is very old, over 30 years old and I do feel the shock might be too much, so instead I am taking cuttings from this old rose. The other is an iceberg climber, it is a very vigorous climber and huge now. It would be a difficult task. 

I will prune it but I really feel it is a big job for us to move it into a pot and kinder to the rose to leave it in the ground where it is happy, so I will take cuttings that can come with us. 

The Rose Moving From The Ground Plan 

1.Pruning. So again we will prune the rose by around a third

2. Dig a wide circle all around the rose with a sharp spade . The idea is to lift as much of the root ball as possible and to not disturb the roots. Do bear in mind that a root ball on an established rose can be very heavy. In general a digging range about twelve inches around is usually ok. You will invariably break some roots, it is inevitable but not a disaster, in most cases the rose will cope. 

3. Lift the rose carefully and ideally with two people. You will need to slide a spade or two under the rose and lift at the same time. This can be very heavy and difficult work with a big established rose. It is a good idea in my experience to have an old sack or compost bag nearby to lay the rose on if you need  a short break between lifting and potting. 

4.Then place into the new container as we did for the pot to pot transfer and of course water well and top up with the compost mix and mulch as required. You will need to watch it carefully over the coming weeks and months for signs of stress and be very vigilant about watering and feeding . 

After Care For Any Potted Or Repotted Rose

•  Feed from April to August, which is in UK the main growing period  with a rose fertiliser. The compost does have some feed in it but roses are especially hungry plants so always need the additional and regular feeding. Now in a container you are fully responsible for all its food and water as it can no longer gain anything from the ground.  
•  Check the drainage holes are not blocked every so often as roses hate wet roots and you do risk rotting roots if they stay wet for long periods of time. 
• Mulch the rose after repotting and periodically to conserve water and reduce weeds. 
• Once roses are in containers we are completely responsible for their source of water and food. Roses need both regularly and are usually heavy feeders so it is now up to us to provide this for them. 

There are things to consider when moving house with plants  which I discuss in my article  Advantages and Disadvantages Of Moving House With Your  Garden Plants. 

With care and good handling roses can be potted on successfully and do well. Is this my favourite gardening task? No, not really, we have to do it in the cold and it is thorny and heavy, slow, hard work. However the blooms are so gorgeous and so it is well worth it. In a few months when I have forgotten the thorn bites and see the beauty of the roses, it will bring me great happiness.

For us we are doing this as a temporary measure until we can get them in the ground and we want to keep the inherited roses and take them with us when we move house. If you would like roses in containers as a permanent feature it is easier to buy roses that are smaller, minature or check those that will be happy long term in containers. Either way roses have a special place in my heart. 

Read More Gardening Reviews on ReviewThisGardening.com

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Remembering The Unscarred Me - A Song Review

Sometimes, I think about that little girl I used to be—the one who played with dolls and held imaginary tea parties, who believed the world was full of endless possibilities. 

There was a gentle magic in those early years, a quiet wonder that filled my room and the pages of bedtime stories. I remember being unscarred.

A Walking Doll Gift From Dad When I Was Seven

When I was seven, my father had been away for a while, and when he returned, he brought me a gift I still vividly remember: a giant doll, almost half my height, with a name—Shirley. 

I was completely taken aback by this amazing toy. Shirley wasn't just a doll; she was a walking doll. You could hold her hand or arm, and as you walked, her legs would move forward as if she were walking alongside you. 

I remember the awe of watching her move, the sense that she was alive in a way no toy had ever been. That feeling—the magic, the companionship, the sheer possibility—stayed with me for years, and it's exactly what inspired the term "walking doll" when I wrote this song.

As life went on, Shirley stopped walking. I grew taller, my imagination quieted, and somewhere along the way, I stopped letting her talk. Pretend tea parties became memories. She became a decoration, a silent reminder of a part of me I had tucked away.

I Grew Bigger And Stopped Her From Talking

In my twenties, thirties, and forties, I thought I had to leave that little girl behind. I told myself I was practical, independent, and strong.

Dolls were for children, not for grown-ups. But life has a way of nudging you back to what you need most. Every heartbreak, every challenge, every moment that shook me whispered: remember the unscarred me. Remember the one who imagined freely, who believed in possibility, who saw the world as full of magic.

Now, at this stage of my life, I realize I don't have to hide her anymore. I've stopped worrying about what others might think when they see me tap into my creativity, my imagination, my artsy, playful side. What matters is being true to myself. Being free again, as I was when I was little, is my gift to myself.

This Song is About Acknowledging Our Young Imagination

This song, The Living Story (I Remember Being Unscarred), is my ode to that girl in the light pink dress. 

I chose the color pink in these lyrics and in the lyric video for two reasons: one, because when I was a little girl, pink was one of my three favorite colors; and two, most importantly, because my granddaughter's favorite color is pink. 

In the lyric video, I dressed both the grown woman and the young girl in pink to reflect that connection. She's still there on the shelf, waiting patiently for me to remember her, for me to reach for her when the world feels heavy, when life leaves its marks. And now, I do. I drink pretend tea again. I let myself imagine. I let myself create. That girl, that spark, is alive in me, and she always will be.

At 65 Years Old, I'm Acknowledging The Unscarred Me Once Again, as Talked About in the Lyrics I Wrote in this Song

Those who know me know I've been writing for a long time. I started writing poems and song lyrics in 1968, when I was eight years old, and I've written on and off ever since. In 2019, I published a book on Amazon featuring fifty years of my writings. Life often pulled me away from writing. 

Now, at 65, I've made a personal decision: I will honor my spirit and write as much as I can for as long as I live. This is my choice—not to be special, but to be true to who I am, what my soul calls me to do. For me, it's writing. For others, it may be art, music, or building something meaningful. 

The truth is, knowing ourselves is the hardest thing we do. I've come back to my true self, and I plan to live out the last third of my life fully aligned with who I am at heart.

Whether anyone reads or listens to my writings is secondary; it's ok if people don't. It's just something I have to do; I have to get it out. I hope you can release the true you, or maybe you already have!

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Reviewing Arbonne's Daily Core Complete Sets

 I fell in love with Arbonne because of their nutrition range and over 8 years later I still love their products. This month Arbonne has released their Daily Core Complete Bundles and I think they are a great way to customize your daily nutrition.

Image created by Lou16 on Canva

There are two different Daily Core Complete Sets available - check them out here - they are called Daily Core Complete with FeelFit Pea Protein Shake Simply1 and Daily Core Complete with EssentialMeal Replacement Protein Shake and there's only one difference between them - the protein component.

Which Set Should I Get?

Both of these sets are designed to help you feel great, look radiant and support your body to be the best version of itself that it can be (kind of like Captain America!).

If you struggle to grab breakfast or lunch during the day and want something quick and easy to help with that, then choose the EssentialMeal bundle. This supplement is designed as a meal replacement (I use this on the days when I'm travelling from one job to another with very little time to spare). You simply add it to water and you are good to go.

My favourite protein, however, is the Feelfit Pea Protein Shake Simply 1 - this is a protein powder that ticks the box if you're doing Keto. I like it because I use it to make my proats, overnight oats, pancakes and more. It is designed as a protein supplement, not a complete meal replacement. If you follow a Keto plan, you need an after-workout protein shake or you just like using protein powder to ensure you have a protein-rich breakfast then choose this option.

What Are The Other Core Products?

The core products you get (aside from a bag of protein as above) are:

• 2 x EnergyFizz Ginseng Fizz Sticks
• 2 x CleanTox Herbal Detox Tea
• 1 x GreenSynergy Elixir

I have reviewed the EnergyFizz Sticks on here before and I use one every day (sometimes I'll have two). Fizz Sticks give you energy from Ginseng, Guarana, B Vitamins and Chromium - I used to tell people it's what keeps the smile on my face.

I have also reviewed the CleanTox Herbal Detox Tea on this site before and I love it. I usually drink this tea first thing in the morning, but it is caffeine-free and I know some people take it at night because of this. The herbs in this tea help to support your liver and kidneys. 

GreenSynergy Elixir is a greens drink that I have every single days. I used to take a couple of different green drinks which I have reviewed on this site. GreenSynergy Elixir is a 3-in-1 supplement that brings together the ingredients from the Green Gut Glow drink that I used to enjoy. Now it's one stick in water and mix which makes it a lot more convenient for a busy lifestyle.

This bundle delivers you daily support for energy, digestion, gentle detox and radiant-looking skin. Take these core products and customize your add-ons based on your wellness needs.

Selectable Wellness Enhancements 

As part of this set you get to choose 2 products from this list (this list is based on the US, some markets have different products available)

• BeWell Daily Multivitamin & Mineral
• Daily Omega
• HerCore Essentials Meno Support
• HerCore Essentials Flora Complete
• HerCore Essentials Cycle Support
• BioticSticks Fast Melt Probiotic
• BeWell Superfood Greens
• MindHealth Focus Super Powder
• InnerCalm Adaptogenic De-Stress Powder
• CleanTox Gentle Cleanse
• GutHealth Prebiotic Fiber
• MushroomPowder Daily Defense

Which of these products you choose really depends on what your focus is whether it's digestive support or women's wellness or something completely different. Let's look at a few ideas:

Whole body wellness, please! If you don't have any specific issues that you want to improve, you just want a general wellness then I would consider adding the Multivitamin & Mineral along with the Omegas.

More Focus & Calm, please! I'm sure a lot of people could use some help with their focus especially at stressful times which is when I would suggest MindHealth along with the InnerCalm for releasing stress.

I want to support my digestive system, please! I would look at adding the Superfood Greens (although you're getting 12 different sources of fruit and veg in the GreenSynergy Elixir the Greens supplies 36 different sources. The diversity of this really helps with the digestive system) and the BioticSticks.

No, you misunderstood I meant I needed help with the elimination and detoxification side of things, please! I would suggest the CleanTox Gentle Cleanse coupled with the Gut Health Fibre. I will add a word of caution with our fibre product. Do not start with a full scoop, start with a 1/4 dose and gradually increase it to a full serving as your body adjusts. Personally, I never taken more than 3/4 scoop at a time as more than that upset my stomach - we are all different.

Support for Menopause, please! If you're going through peri-menopause or menopause then I would suggest the Flora Complete and the Meno Support.

General women's health, please, but I'm way too young for menopause! I would suggest Cycle Support and Flora Complete.

Let's Recap These Bundles

All of Arbonne's products are neutraceuticals, this means they are created with the best of plant-powered ingredients combined with emergent science to create products that support our overall wellness. The Daily Core Complete Sets are a great example of this as they offer a flexible daily system that works with your body and adapts as your goals evolve - supporting your whole body wellness in a way that's simple and sustainable over time.

This set is designed to last for 30 days, although the fizz and tea may last longer if you only have one a day. I use the core products every day and absolutely love them. I have tried all of the add-ons that are available in Australia so if you have any questions do not hesitate to leave a message.

If you would like to know more and you don't want to leave your question in a comment below feel free to leave your instagram handle (or email address) and I will reach out to you.

The link for the Daily Core Complete Sets is below, if you would like to buy them (delete the set you don't want). You'll also be asked to select a free gift with your order which is always nice.

Daily Core Complete Sets - Buy Here

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Reviewing Liquid Level Indicators For People With Sight Loss.

 

A Liquid level indicator is not something I  had heard of until my husband was diagnosed with severe sight loss-blind.

 It is surprising all the little things you take for granted when you are sighted and how much you need to relearn or adapt with sight loss. 

Simply making a hot drink, a tea, a coffee had become some thing just a little more difficult for my husband. We did not know what he was supposed to do to know how high the hot water was. Did he just put his finger at the top of the mug and risk being burned, or did he give up making hot drinks altogether?

 Even cold drinks were an issue as unless made over the sink we could have many spills to clear up.

Making a hot drink became a real challenge. We worried that he would burn himself or spill hot or cold liquids over the worktops and floor, it then itself becoming a safety hazard, or put his hand in hot liquids. Suddenly something that most adults take for granted became an issue and a lack of independence.  

We went to an information session soon after he was diagnosed. It was all a little overwhelming but we noticed that the drinks were being made by a blind person and we kept hearing these little bleeps and I noticed a small device hung over the mugs. It wasn't long before the session began and drinks were handed out. So I asked what is that device you used and he started to explain. 

In this article we will be using the terms severe sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.

What Is a Liquid Level Indicator And How Does It Work?

It is a small device that clips  or hangs onto the edge of a cup, mug, soup mug or glass. 

1. Place it so that the metal prongs are on the inside of the container. Often there are two levels of prongs one for a general alert - this is when you should stop pouring. However, If you carry on pouring there is often an emergency alert when you must stop pouring. 

2.Then you simply pour the liquid as usual from the kettle, tap or jug. 

3. As the level of the liquid rises the liquid touches the metal prongs and device uses sound or vibration to let you know when the mug, glass, jug or whatever is nearly full. 

4. These alerts give you enough time to stop pouring before the liquid reaches the top. 

5. Then you stop and take the device off the mug or glass. Simple as that ! 

There are different models to choose from but that is the essentials of every Liquid level indicator. It then all depends what you are wanting and what is most helpful to a person individually.

• Most have an alert when the liquid nearly reaches the top.
• Many have two alert levels, one when the mug or glass is nearly full and one emergency alert when it is nearly to the top. 
• Some have bleeping and vibration when liquid is reaching the top.
• Some advanced models differentiate between hot and cold liquids, offering stronger alerts for hot drinks to enhance safety. We don't have that one, but may consider it for the future. 
• I have also heard of "smart" models which link to a smartphone but these are not common and  I have not experienced one.

My husband is happy with our quite straightforward model which bleeps and vibrates when the liquid is close to the top. It is clear, simple and effective. 

It takes only a very little time to get used to using it and to remember to use it, but it is not a steep learning curve. There are no courses to go on or skills you need to know. It is just practice and habit.

My husband said it is very easy for him to use. It is a good idea to start with a cold drink and then progress to hot drinks once you feel  confident. 

Why Does Being Able To Make A Simple Drink Matter?

For many people with severe sight loss, pouring drinks is a significant and frequent challenging task throughout the day. Think about how many times you make a drink in a typical day ! 

Especially when making hot drinks, it becomes a safety issue and can carry a real risk of burns. Not being able to make a drink safely robs a person of autonomy and independence.

A liquid level indicator helps

• Preventing burns from overfilled hot drinks, or feeling the need to stick a finger in the cup to test how far the liquid has reached, which is a significant safety risk. 
• Reducing spills and cleaning them up.
• Reducing the risk of slipping on wet floors
• Supporting independence and confidence in normal, everyday tasks
• Supports a person with sight loss still being able to make drinks for themselves and friends and family.
• For people who live alone it is essential to be able to make a drink safely. 
• Even if living with other people or at work, the ability to make a drink for yourself and others is a small but significant sign of independence. My husband now loves to make me a hot drink of coffee in the morning and it is a lovely start the day !
• Although primarily used by people who are diagnosed severe sight impaired or partially sighted, this device can also be useful to people who have tremors or motor impairments and people who may have declining vision, macular degeneration, cataracts or other sight issues. 

Features To Consider In A Liquid Level Indicator

• Audible alerts, look for clear, loud beeps
• Vibration mode is useful if the person also has hearing loss or just prefers a vibration rather than a noise. The vibration should be strong enough to feel through the hand holding the container.
• Some have both audible and vibration alerts which can be useful in busy, noisy places.
• Magnetic can be useful. We love ours as it sticks the fridge freezer so takes up no room on worktops and is vey easy for my husband to find.
• Lightweight and easy to carry so it can be taken when travelling and visiting friends and family, to hotels etc.
• Heat resistant as clearly it needs to be safe to use with very hot drinks.
• A good battery and/or rechargeable battery
• A good price, many are not expensive, it all depends how sophisticated you would like it to be, but a basic model works well. Some organisations and sight loss charities provide them at a reduced cost.

So a liquid level indicator is another example of a low tech, reasonably priced and simple device that can make a huge difference to independence, confidence, dignity and safety for a person with sight loss. It is now just a part of our kitchen devices and appliances and we would not be without it. 

More Useful Reviews To Read 

Read More Reviews By Raintree Annie

Read More Product Reviews on ReviewThisProducts.com

Reviewing Sensory Garden For A Person With Sight Loss Part One

Reviewing Sensory Garden For A Person With Sight Loss Part Two

Reviewing Benefits And Features Of Talking Clocks

Reviewing Liquid Level Indicators For People With Sight Loss by Raintree Annie.

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Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed

I enjoy cooking for my family.  Like most of us, I prefer recipes that are fast and easy.  Fortunately, I am surrounded by people who appreciate my effort, my recipes and seem to sincerely like the meals placed before them. 

I readily admit that I play in the kitchen.  I play with recipes by changing the ingredients to suit my families tastes.  I play with cupcakes, cookies, desserts, etc, because I enjoy decorating the food.  I mess around with it until I get the desired effect.  

I also enjoy the company of other family members in the kitchen. So much so, that I consider us playing in the kitchen. Since I began writing articles online, I have been periodically sharing highlights of our kitchen adventures so you and your family can be encouraged to "play" in the kitchen. In this article, I will provide links to the different easy recipes and fun articles that I have published. 

I consider that my Recipe for Making Memories in the Kitchen. So, without further ado, let the games begin!   

 

My Own Personal Roast Recipe

This recipe is the result of trial and error.  I just kept playing with different ideas until I found a tasty, tender way to cook a roast in the oven. 

It has become a family favorite and I have allowed it to be published in several charity cookbooks over the last 40 years, but it is still my own original recipe.  Although I was very young when I developed this recipe, I still cook my roast the same way today.

Published on Cooking for the Holidays

 

Having Fun in the Kitchen

I started cooking when I was a child and still living at home with my parents. My sister and I both helped in the kitchen and it was not unusual for us to have real, honest to goodness food fights with the leftovers. We frequently made mashed potato balls and hurled them through the air at each other or any unsuspecting individual who entered the kitchen. We flung spaghetti noodles against the wall and said we were testing it to see if it was done. By dinnertime, there would be 10 or 12 noodles hanging from the wall on spaghetti night.

While I still enjoy throwing pasta noodles against the wall, I have found that test does not work with pasta shells. No matter how many pasta shells I have thrown against the wall, none have ever stuck. Perhaps someday one will stick. I'll just have to keep testing them.

This easy pasta recipe is also shared on Cooking for the Holidays and, if you click it, the link will take you to that website. 

Easy Pasta Recipe - A Family Favorite for Dinner or Side Dish

 

More Easy Dinner Recipes featured on CookingForTheHolidays.com

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Easy Salmon Loaf Patties Recipe How to Bake Potatoes Chicken Enchiladas Recipe How to Bake a Turkey Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Instant Pot Recipe Homemade Barbeque Recipe for the Best BBQ Sandwiches

 

Click Here for More Dinner Recipes

 

Playing with Ingredients

Working in the kitchen with my sister was fun. We occasionally experimented with the food. Sometimes we would put a little extra pepper in one of our brothers' bowls of stew or add a little something extra to spice up their lives and the dinner table. Oddly enough, the boys consumed whatever we fed them and much to our distress, rarely noticed a difference. I only remember one brother gagging on hot barbecue sauce and believe it or not, we were not responsible.

Of course, there are the recipes from my mother and grandmother that I have never played with, never changed and never shared except on websites I own. My motto for this group of recipes is "you can't improve on perfection, so why try!" 

Directions for making the pizza pictured on right, can be found at Halloween Haven

 

Playing with Your Food Recipes 

These are some of my favorite recipes. They are really step by step instructions on decorating, so I call it playing with my food. Sometimes making these special treats can be messy, but they are always fun as you create your own original work of food art. 

Don't just make these treats alone to serve to your family. Grab your child, your husband, your sister, your mother or even your father and make these treats with your family!  

To see some of my favorite fun food articles, simply click the source link below each photo. That will take you directly to the recipe and tutorials for creating your own fun food.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 How to Decorate Panda Cupcakes How to Decorate a Snake Cake How to Make Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes 4th of July Party Flag Cake Recipe How to Decorate Snowman Cupcakes How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Castle Cake How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Train Cake How to Make a Cupcake Pumpkin Cake

 

Teaching an Old Dog, New Tricks

I am happy to say that I married a man who enjoys messing around in the kitchen too! The Breakfast Buddy featured below is his delicious creation and when I wanted to learn how to grill, I asked him to teach me. He has always made the most incredible steaks! In the article below, I share his secrets as I take you step by step through my own "grilling" education.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Breakfast "Buddy" Sandwich How to Grill the Perfect Steaks Cooking Hamburgers on an Indoor Grill

 

Special Treat and Finger Food Recipes

My family loves fruit and chocolate so it only seems natural for me to dip fruit in chocolate. Once I started dipping fruit, it was impossible to stop! I think I dipped every type of fruit we had in the house, then ran to the grocery store for more. Of course, then I wrote an article about each one.

Here is my collection of dipped fruit recipes. Be very careful though. Chocolate dipped fruit can be very addictive!

Photo Linked to Recipe

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 Chocolate Covered Fruit DIY Recipes

Taking Care of the Cook 

Over the years, I have learned many things about cooking, about family and about fun. The most important thing I have learned, is that the three things go together. Have fun cooking with your family. 

I watched my grandmother and my mother work in the kitchen during every holiday for decades. Too often, they missed out on the fun simply because the party was happening in another room. 

I believe in bringing the party to the kitchen, enlisting help and taking care of the cook. Perhaps, I see it more clearly because now I am the cook, but I love to share ideas with others about how to have more fun with your family, instead of working alone in the kitchen. Believe me, you can create your own load of memories in the kitchen by simply letting others help in the kitchen. 

 

A Lot of Good Food and A Load of Memories 

I think it is because of my experiences and our experiments in the kitchen when I was a child, that I approach the kitchen with humor now. I still cook the old standards passed down from my great grandmother, grandmother and mother, but I enjoy creating new treats for my family too and it is even better when I get "help." 

Over the years, a lot of good food and a load of memories have been made in our kitchen! 

 

Easy Dessert Recipes 

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Easy Strawberry Trifle Easy Blackberry Cobbler

 

Candy Recipe 

I am not going to tell you this recipe is extremely easy. It seems easy to me because I have been making it for 40+ years, but making candy takes a bit of practice to perfect. 

While I try to walk viewers through the process with photos, I know this is something that is simply learned by trial and error because the outcome when making candy depends so much on the climate of the day, as well as the altitude of a region. 

Here is my mother's Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe. I could never improve on this recipe.  It really is delicious! 

Photo Linked to Recipe

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 Peanut Butter Fudge

 

Easy Beverage Recipes

Take time to relax!  While the food is in the oven, or after all of the work is done,  sit back with your loved ones and enjoy a cup of tea, hot chocolate or perhaps a cool glass of lemonade.  These are the moments you will want to capture and hold for as long as you can.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

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 Spice Tea Recipe Homemade Lemonade Recipe Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

 Chocolate Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

 

For a Complete List of All of my Published Recipes
 Click Here to Visit the House of Sylvestermouse Recipes

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Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed Written by:

 

 

This recipe article was originally published by me in 2011 on a different site that no longer exists.
Unless otherwise noted with the individual photo, all Photos are mine and should not be used without written permission.
© Sylvestermouse 

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

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