Hatley Children's Rainwear Review

Time to invest in some practical, fun and environmentally friendly children's rainwear? Hatley has what you are looking for.  If you have seen Hatley's products before, you know just how great they are. If you haven't, you are in for a pleasant surprise! 

Wait until you see the raincoats, rain boots and umbrellas that are produced in child-friendly themes that are constantly evolving but that include or have included apples, flowers and butterflies, horses, dogs, unicorns and rainbows, pirates, dinosaurs, aliens, polka dots, stars, and hearts. I also love the quintessentially Canadian themes featuring iconic symbols like bears, moose and camping. Your son, daughter or grandchild will love them all.

Sizing availability of individual pieces varies but in general you will find rain wear suitable for infants, toddlers and little girls and boys. Umbrellas are not sized but rather simply rated safe for children. Common sense says that they are not appropriate for toddlers. In some cases, there are even adult-sized pieces available.

You are probably careful about what you feed your family and what toys you give your children to play with but have you considered what is in their clothing? For years Hatley has been making quality, comfortable 100 percent cotton clothing. 

Hatley adopted a strong sense of social responsibility early on and this practice extends to their rain gear. Their practices ensure that clothing and gift items are produced in an environmentally conscious manner and with materials that are proven to be safe.  

As a socially responsible company, they:

💦 Use non-toxic, azo-free dyes for apparel.

💦 Use only non-chlorinated bleach.

💦 Use closed loop dyers which means that waste water from dyeing garments does not pollute the water table.

💦 Use organic cotton, natural fibers and alternative sustainable fibers wherever they are able to.

💦 Are PVC free.

💦 Use compostable, biodegradable non-toxic Mater-Bi bags for shipping to the store.

This care means that Hatley children's items are safe choices for your family. To boot, pardon the pun, the raingear is a ton of fun!

Visit the Hatley store on Amazon by clicking right here. You'll find a wonderful assortment of rainboots, raincoats and umbrellas for children as well as a lot of other quality, themed children's wear.

See you
under your umbrella!
Brenda

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Reviewing YouCut Video Editor for Android

I have been using YouCut Video Editor on my Android smartphone since late 2020. I hadn't thought about how much I enjoy YouCut until I had received a few comments lately about how much time I must spend editing. I really don't spend any time editing. Living in a remote area it make take hours for a brief video to upload but it often takes less than 5 minutes to create that video because YouCut is so easy to use. And best of all, YouCut is FREE.  

About YouCut

YouCut is a video editing program for Android phones. It can be found in your Play Store app. Once you've download it, the icon can be found on your phone screen. I do not believe that there is a version available for laptop operating systems. The last time I checked in a web search, you can pull up sites with titles such as "YouCut for your PC" but they are offering "alternative" video editing programs - not YouCut.

Why YouCut Has Been an Excellent Option for Me

There are many reasons YouCut has been a fantastic tool for me. I learned about YouCut from Ann's Tiny Life and Homestead youtube channel when she shared this tutorial. I didn't give it any more thought until I wanted to post photos in a slide show on YouTube. But Youtube had eliminated that option at that time. So I went back to Ann's tutorial, learned about YouCut, and successfully posted my first video; which included photos in a slide show.

These are a few of the many reasons I enjoy using YouCut:

Price - It's FREE!

Accessible via my Phone - which means the app, my photos, and my raw video clips are all in the same place. Which also means all of that is portable and with me at all times (except the days I forget my phone and head to work!). Prior to 2020, I took all my blogging photos with my beloved Sony camera. But using a camera meant moving the memory card from the camera to the laptop in order to edit and use those photos. With YouCut and my phone, I eliminate that step when sharing editing and sharing videos. (Unfortunately, my Sony currently needs repaired, so I don't have that option even if I wanted it.)

No Laptop or Desktop required - Taking the photos and videos, editing them, saving them, and uploading them is all done via my phone.  I do manage my Youtube channel from my laptop because it is easier to view than on my phone screen. But I don't have to have anything other than my phone for the videos.

Flexibility - I can use photos or videos in order to make a video. I upload to YouTube but after you save your video, you are given options to upload to a variety of platforms: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, e-mail, WhatsApp, Signal, Twitter, and "other" (which takes me to the options and apps in my phone).  

Easy to Use - I am not going to make a tutorial to show how the program works. I'm not the best person for that job. However, I recommend that you watch Ann's tutorial or one of the many others that can be found. All of the editing tools that I use already seemed familiar. 

Free Effects - YouCut offers many effects and editing tools; many that I don't even use. But I do use adding text, adding transitions between photos or clips, and I have added their free music on occasion. All of those things have been extremely easy to figure out and to use. And the best part is that the "undo" button is available. If I make a mistake, I can immediately put things back the way they were. 

the app is very easy to navigate - beginning with the start screen

adding, moving, and editing text is easy

Why Take Time to Create Videos?

There are many, many reasons to create videos.  I began making videos in order to share my personal journey (preparing to move from an urban apartment to my land, documenting my house build progress, and to keep my friends and family up-to-date on the progress).  I have continued making videos for those reasons (now that I've moved) but also to encourage others to chase their dreams. One woman saw me on social media and said that I motivated her to make the leap. She now is living her dream in a beautiful house, on a gorgeous chunk of rural land. I have made a choice to try to share more about what I'm doing because it might encourage others to act on their dreams and plans. I am a firm believer of "if I can, you can."

Some reasons others may make videos are:

• Keep in touch with family and friends
• A way to journal or document your life
• Teach others what you know - share your skills
• Show your handmade or store items - things you are offering for sale
• Make money - many people are monetized and make money with videos
• Review items - if a photo is worth 1,000 words imagine what videos are worth
• Inspire others 
• Share experiences
• People love to watch videos

I have found only one minor issue with using YouCut and my phone as my video-making and -editing device. Videos save to my phone before they upload to the platform (for me that is YouTube). This is great as you don't lose your videos. However, it quickly fills up storage space on your phone. Most people probably already know how to move their files from their phone to some other storage area but it took me a bit to learn how to do that. It is such a minor issue for people who are technologically savvy... but when my phone stopped working correctly because I couldn't figure out how to do it, I was frustrated. I have since learned how to prevent that problem by transferring the videos to other storage more frequently.

One final thought, posting yourself on social media does come with some risk. So be careful with personal information and be aware that there are some strange folks out there. Otherwise, there can be many benefits from making and sharing videos. And YouCut has been a very quick and easy way for me to do that. 

Related Link:

My YouTube channel is about my puttering around my land (now that I've moved from the apartment to my home). My dream was to get moved to my land, prepare for retirement, and putter around learning how to raise my own food. Do not feel obliged to look - my goal is not to be a "YouTuber". But if you are interested in an older lady who is figuring out how to raise things, build things, and who is looking forward to retirement someday... feel free to visit me at Dawn Rae B. If I am making progress toward my dreams, you can too. 

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LED Integrated Outdoor Wall Lights Have Numerous Benefits - Check it Out

Review of an Integrated LED Outdoor Wall Light

We needed a new outdoor wall light for our backyard. 

Like most people, I did my research.

I researched standard outdoor wall lights that use lightbulbs and tripped on integrated LED wall lights.

What is an LED Integrated Wall Light? A Point Form Summary 

• It doesn't use light bulbs.
• The wall light has built-in LEDs.
• The one we purchased says the LEDs will last 15,000 hours, or generally 7 years, based upon having the light on about 3 hours a day. 
• After 7 years is up, I'm honestly not sure what has to be done to replace the LEDs, but we rarely have the light on, so I'm sure it will last much longer.
• It costs next to nothing in terms of electricity usage.
• There are many designs to choose from.
• You can get LED outdoor wall lights from multiple stores, including Amazon.
• We purchased ours from Home Depot - I wanted to see it in person before purchasing.
• And yes, it's bright!

Integrated LED Flush Mount Wall Light

Things to Consider Before Purchasing an LED Integrated Wall Light:

• Check the size of the opening of your existing outdoor wall light. I purchased one from Amazon but had to return it because the base that mounts to the house didn't entirely cover the current opening.
• Our base needed a minimum of 5 inches wide.
• Do you want one that comes out further, or do you need one that's relatively flush to the wall? 
• Ours needed to be fairly flush because it was beside a patio door, and we didn't want the taller people in our family worried about banging into it when turning right outside the patio door.
• Check the distance out from the wall base to the light to ensure it meets your requirements.
• Do you want the light to point upwards or downwards?
• Where does the light shine from? The top? The bottom? The front? Or all of these locations. The one we selected radiates light in all these directions.
• Most LED lights indicate the type of light it emits, from "warm tones" to "cool tones." We selected one that was more on the warm side of brightness.

The Integrated LED Flush Mount Wall Light Lightens the Entire Patio!

As mentioned above, you can get these lights at multiple stores, but I did notice that after purchasing our light from Home Depot, there were less expensive choices on Amazon. Be sure to shop it before buying.

Here's a closer look at the one we selected - We love it; it's bright
The light shines out of the bottom, the top, and the entire front face

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Reviewing Wordy Gifts for your Favorite Bookworms

Bookends are the perfect Wordy gift for all the bookworms in your life.

*Intro photo is of Luxe Crystal Acrylic Bookends A-Z by Vandue on Etsy.

Bookend Gifts

What would be a more appropriate gift for the libraries of readers and writers than word-related bookends? 

READ is the perfect word for bookworms ~ lovers of books of any age.

Paul of Oregon creates beautiful bookend sets that he hand cuts with a scroll saw from 1/2” thick, furniture grade Birch plywood.  His bookends are then sanded and finished with satin interior non-toxic paint.

This heavy duty two-piece set of bookends has a bottom surface protector which will extend under a few books for enhanced book support. This set, and many more designs in words and in intricate shapes of animals and sports activities are available in Paul's Etsy Shop he calls ScrollMaster Designs. 

An appropriate gift for your writer friends would be this set of WRITER bookends. Handmade and designed by Knob Creek Metal Arts of Louisville, KY, the bookends are solid steel and heavy enough to hold up your reading collection. Sold in a set of two pieces, they are finished in a black powder coat.  Dimensions are approx. 6 1/2" t x 6 1/2" w x 4" d. 

A darling set of bookends for a child's book collection is one that is personalized with your child's name. For a little girl's room, this Butterfly Bookends set is so adorable. Or choose from many sets, all with cute designs, from the Etsy Shop of Nelsons Gifts.  Jon and Roseann Nelson specialize in personalized nursery and home décor.

Cooks are bookworms too, with cookbooks being their favorite genre. So a set of bookends with the word COOK is an ideal gift idea for your favorite cook. 

This set from Amazon is made with quality steel and is very durable and able to hold many large and heavy books such as you often find in favorite cookbooks.  These bookends have a powder-coated surface, so it is smooth and anti-rust, with a non-slip base. 

Summary

So, choose a Wordy bookend set as a gift for your bookworm friends and family. 

Related Links:

• For more book accessory gifts, check out Fun & Fab Book Accessories and Gift Ideas by Treasures by Brenda
• For Books for your Bookends, check out ReviewThisBooks.com for excellent reviews in every genre.

*Wordy Gifts for Your Favorite Bookworm was written and compiled by Wednesday Elf

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It Was Always You Movie Review

The only thing better than a clean, romantic movie is a romantic movie that makes us laugh. 

Erin Krakow shares her geeky side in the movie, "It Was Always You". When she hits the dance floor, she is downright funny as she demonstrates how this attractive, successful woman clearly doesn't know how to dance.  At least, that is true in the movie.  She is awkward, yet adorable because she can laugh at herself. Perhaps, all she really needs is the right partner.

Krakow is probably best known for her long lasting role as the main character in the current Hallmark series, "When Calls the Heart". However, she has proven many times that she is not just a "one hit wonder" in movies. Several movies starring Erin Krakow have already been reviewed and recommended here on Review This Reviews!  

Each time I see her in a new movie, I think "this one is my favorite". As of today, "It Was Always You" is my favorite Erin Krakow movie. I look forward to seeing how Hallmark tops this one. Frankly, I think that is a difficult challenge.

"It Was Always You" Hallmark Movie Synopsis

 It Was Always YouCheck Price & Viewing OptionsDr. Elizabeth Hall has achieved everything she set out to accomplish. She has a successful dental practice that she shares with her long time friend and fiance, George Belling.  But something is still missing. 

As a child, Elizabeth looked upon her neighbors as the perfect family and that is what she wants most. The Belling family welcomed Elizabeth into their home and she shared many happy occasions with them. Her best memories are of times spent in the Belling home and with the Belling children. Just like any close family, she shared their hurts, pains, loses, and love. It seemed only fitting that she should marry George Belling and secure her future with their family.

When Elizabeth and George joined the whole family for a weekend of celebrations, Elizabeth found herself searching for something she had not realized she was missing.  Her own real happiness.

 

More Great Movies Reviewed

Check Out More Movie Reviews at
ReviewThisMovies.com

It Was Always You - Hallmark Movie Review by:

 

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Father's Day, A Gift That Will Become a Favorite!

 Everyone I know seems to scramble for something interesting for Father's Day.  They are searching for a gift that will keep on giving in some way that "The Dad" in the family will enjoy for a long time to come.  Well I think I have hit on a gift that fits that bill for the Father in our household and everyone can chip in to make it an affordable and lasting gift.

Are you curious?  What could it be?

Well, let me tell you a little more and then maybe you could guess.  We live in an area where we are close to the airport and our balcony faces in a way that we seem to have an arrival highway to the airport.  We enjoy sitting out on our balcony in the evenings and watching the planes.  Sometimes it's easy to see them and then there are other times when they are just too far away.  

We also enjoy watching the hawks that are always circling around our buildings.  These birds are amazing animals and up close and personal is the best way to appreciate their beauty.

Now the other thing we love doing is getting out to baseball games.  For our retired way of life, we usually get some nose-bleed seats and watch the overall game.  But, there are times when your favorite batter is up and you just need to get a closer look.  

What you may ask, could possibly cover all of these different activities?  Well if you guess Binoculars, you would be right on the money. 

                                                            Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay

What we love about the  binoculars featured here, is that they are waterproof, lightweight and yet still give you a really great close up of whatever you happen to focus on.  When your Dad is out and about they hang around his neck without being bulky and cumbersome. For the serious, but practical bird/plane/baseball player watcher (also known as Dad) these are a perfect pair of binoculars.  The best part is that they are so affordable and everyone in the family can still share in the cost and then take Dad out for dinner too!   You can get your Dad a great pair of Binoculars right here:  Bushnell Binoculars:

Of course you are not limited to what I have shown you here.  If your Dad requires a more sophisticated pair of binoculars, you can go all out and break the bank if you want to, but it really isn't necessary.  He will be able to do a lot of watching up close and personal with the ones I have chosen to feature here for you.  

Wishing all of the Dads, Granddads and Dad figures a wonderful and Happy Father's Day on Sunday June 19th!

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Advantages and Disadvantages Of Moving House With Plants Reviewed

I know that within the next few years we will likely move house. We have put a lot into our garden which will be the hardest aspect of our home to leave. For our house move we are hoping to find a smaller house and a bigger garden! 

When you move house of course you take all your belongings with you. However, we do not usually take items considered integral to your house such as doors, fitted kitchen and integrated appliances. So when it comes to the garden I have been considering are all the plants also integral to the sale, do we leave everything or are there plants we want to take with us? Is it acceptable to remove plants from the garden and how do we do that? 

 

We have some very treasured plants with special memories.  

Many of our plants were given to us as gifts or donated by our family in the early days of living here. Others are gifts we have given each other or have particular memories. So we are reluctant to leave these plants. 

However, I do not know what type of garden we will be moving to the aspect, or even exactly the soil type. This does not bother me too much though as I know most will be adaptable or live happily in large pots or containers. So I know that the plants I want to take that thrive here will be perfectly fine in a new home. 

However, if you are moving to an area with a very different soil type and do not want to look after container plants you may need to think carefully about which plants you take with you.

 

Removing Plants From Your Garden When Selling

 First, though I had to consider the ethical question of is it right to remove loved plants from a garden you are selling?

 Buyers will view our house and garden as it is and understandably expect it to come with all the plants they see upon viewing. 

Someone once told me that to know what you can take and what you can leave you should imagine your garden turned upside down. anything that drops off you can take, otherwise it should stay! So really anything rooted in the ground stays but containers and cuttings and seeds can be removed. 

 My opinion is that it is acceptable to remove plants and take cuttings as long as you are upfront with the buyers about which plants you are totally removing. I think it is unacceptable to buy a house and then find upon arrival that half of the plants you thought you were also buying have been dug out changing the look and feel of the garden.

I have learned that it is important to check as inground plantings are often considered part of the property or a fixture. So if you are planning to remove a significant proportion of plantings or obvious plant from your garden it is best to indicate those exclusions in the listing process. If it is decided later than this to remove planting, an amendment should be made with the buyers agreement. It is always best to fully disclose exactly what you are planning to take from the garden. Do always check the law/rules in your country/state exactly the situation when selling. 

Five Options To Move House With Your Garden Plants. 

An increasing number of sellers are taking special plants with them when they move house.

So if you want to take your treasured plants and sell the house and garden honestly, what can we do? Here are five possible solutions. 

 1. Dig Up Plants And Move Into Containers Before Selling. 

 At least a year or so before you plan to move if possible, make a plan to dig up and move any treasured plants you must take with you into pots. Before the sale begins put these pots to one side or outside the garden. Make it clear in the selling instructions or listing that anything in a container is an exclusion, not part of the house sale.

This may work for plants that are not too big. For me, this includes several treasured roses, a small Camellia and a few small evergreens. Small herbs are coming with me, two of our strawberry plants and a couple of our many Heucheras. 

Our garden is so packed full of shrubs, perennials, bulbs and other plants that these will not be noticed from the overall plan. However, you need to plan ahead for this as certain plants can only be moved with the least disruption to the plant at specific times of the year. 

 2. Take Cuttings Of Your Plants And Gather Seeds Before Selling Your Home

 However, some plants are simply too big to move in this way and would leave massive gaps in the garden if I took them with me which would not be fair. For example, our beautiful Camellia and our gorgeous climbing rose.  It would take an enormous effort to dig them up, may, in fact, kill the plant and would leave a gap in planting that would look very wrong in the garden. In addition, they are used every year for birds to nest. I do not want to take this valuable resource away from the wildlife.

 I do not know if the new buyers will want them and I really hope they will keep them. I would be devastated if they felled them, but they are not practical to move. So what I have done is to take cuttings of the camellia and the rose. This way I can take a little of the plant and grow it on to become just as gorgeous as its parent.

No one will notice cuttings taken and it will not change the look of the garden or any current benefit to wildlife. I am also  taking cuttings of our laurels, some of the roses, fuchsias, forsythia, rosemary our large wegelia and bridal bouquet.

 It is important to start this process as soon as you think about moving. For many plants, there is an optimum time to take cuttings. If they do not take one year you will want to have another year to take them so ideally start as early as you know you are moving. 

Taking cuttings will save us a huge amount of money and leave the garden still beautiful for the buyers and available for the wildlife.

3. Negotiate With Buyers About The Plants.

This is an option if you would like to take certain plants with you and have not had time to pot them up before viewings.

When you have a firm offer check with the buyers if they would mind if you took the plant. Some won't mind at all, others may refuse, so this is riskier but still worth asking. 

 Seek advice from your Realtor or Estate agent before taking this course of action. This may need to be negociated and added as an exclusion in the sale agreement.

 4. Ask Buyers If You Can take Unwanted Plants.

 Ask the buyers if they plan to or later decide to get rid of any plants to let you know and you will collect them. It is probably better if the new buyers who are now the homeowners actually dig up the plants and you just collect them otherwise there could be misunderstandings. 

This only works if you remain local and if the buyers actually remember to contact you. I feel this is the least likely strategy to work and could incur issues that may not be worth it.

5. Take Photographs Of Your Garden And Plants

If there are treasured plants that you cannot take with you for whatever reason then take a photograph. We can then carry the memory of the plant with us. 

We can even get the photographs made into posters, greeting cards, or canvas prints such as the one below. 

Stunning Snowdrops Canvas
by RaintreeDesigns

Tools For Taking Plant Cuttings And Moving Plants

All you need in order to take cuttings is a strong pair of secateurs such as these Wolf ByPass Secateurs.

You will also need some good quality compost for full grown plants and cuttings and however many pots of different sizes you think you will require. 

Labels are also a good idea so you can tell what all the cuttings are.

I like to have a variety of sized pots. I reuse every pot that comes into our garden so none ever go into landfill. 

For the purpose of moving larger treasured plants I have bought a few larger planters in different sizes for the plants I am taking with us. I would recommend ones with handles so that they are easier to move. Once they are served their purpose they will be reused for vegetable growing forever. 

20%

VIVOSUN 5-Pack 5 Gallon Grow Bags Heavy Duty 300G Thickened Nonwoven Plant Fabric Pots with Handles

 Advantages To Taking Your Existing Plants

 1. You take treasured plants, especially those with special significance and memories with you. These are valued things you may not be able to bear to leave behind. 

2. You save significant amounts of money on replacing favorite plants. Plants are so expensive now so if you can take cuttings and seeds, especially it will save you a lot of money. 

 3. You have continuity to settle in a new place. Familiar plants may help you to settle more easily.

 4. You can easily stock an empty garden for very little financial outlay. Gardens take time to develop so if you have some plants ready you are ahead. 

 Disadvantages To Taking Your Plants

 1. Your new garden may be very different from your existing one and your plants may not suit or fit the place and the soil type and aspect may be different. For example from heavy clay to chalk. Or South to North facing. 

 2. You may want a totally new start with fresh, maybe very different plants or garden theme. For example a change from cottage garden to modern minimalist. 

 3. You may be moving to a garden that is already well-stocked with plants you love.

 4. You may be moving to a place with a balcony or courtyard your existing plants will not fit into or be happy living there. 

So as an avid gardener who loves her plants I am seeking a happy medium. We are taking some treasured plants and taking cuttings and seeds of others we want. I aim to pot up all those we are taking before the house goes on the market and be upfront with buyers that anything in a container will not be staying.

We have put such a lot into this garden from an empty patch to a vibrant, full and wildlife-friendly paradise. It will be a wrench to leave, but that won't be for quite a while yet and when the time comes I know I will look forward to taking some of the treasured memories with me and creating a new garden.  

More Gardening Articles

Growing Magnificent Magnolias In The Garden Reviewed

Reviewing Restoring A Metal Garden Swing Seat

How To Grow Camellias In Your Garden Or Container Reviewed

Reviewing Growing Annual Sweet Pea Plants And Flowers

Reviewing The Growing And Care Of Bottlebrush Plant

Metal Wind Spinners For The Garden Reviewed

Growing Vegetables In Outdoor Containers Reviewed.

Gardening Reviews By Contributors On Review This Reviews

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Windaze Pressure Power Washer Review

 Spring and summer in the Northern United Stated is go time for all outdoor projects! And there seems to be no end to the "To Do" list. Last year I garden sat for a neighbor and loved the hose attachment which allowed you to water a garden 100 feet away from the house without having to leave the patio.

The neighbor highly recommended the wand attachment to the garden hose which doubles as a watering tool, power washer and window washing accessory. Need to wash the wheels of your car? Wash the windows and doors of the house? Water your plants? This is a very versatile hose attachment.

Power

The Windaze is very powerful and the spray can be adapted easily to match your watering needs. Gentle spray for delicate plants or newly planted areas to stronger spray for well established areas.

If using for the home or on the home the spray can be adjusted to match the job. I have used the Windaze to clean off  decks, garage floors, power wash pavers as well as for the lawn and garden.

Reach

Very powerful and the reach of the water is incredible. I can water the far back of the yard and now be standing at the house with the water spigot. Those with older homes (some call vintage, some may call well, old) might notice the actual water spigot are few and far between and the locations are in relation to the infrastructure. This means the spigots on many homes are not located near the actual garden!

The Windaze gives you the reach without much effort to water the far reaches of the lawn or garden without having to drag hoses out or hook up connector hoses due to distance from the spigot.

Lightweight

I like the added power but without adding weight to a hose. Traditional green hoses can be very heavy especially when you need to use long hoses and have to move the hoses around the lawn. The windaze is very light and so light in fact I forgot I had attached it to the hose.

Hanging plants are no problem to water with the Windaze. So easy for summer drought watering!

Recommendation

The Windaze promises as delivers. The price point works to add this handy watering accessory to your toolbox for power washing, home cleaning and gardening.

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A Tree Stump Vase - Great for Outdoor Decor

Unfortunately, we recently had to have our gorgeous English Oak tree cut down. We've had the tree since 1994, so needless to say, it was a difficult decision.

After an Arborist confirmed it was dead, we had to call a Tree Service company to safely perform the sad removal.

We were given a choice to have the tree stump ground down or left standing.

We decided to keep the tree stump and decorate it with flowers.

Why Did We Choose A Tree Stump Vase?

We wanted to feature flowers on top, and since we weren't digging a cavern directly in the stump, we needed to safely secure a weather-resistant outdoor vase to the top.

We talked about a metal vase and a plain plastic vase; however, neither seemed safely practical.

The tree stump is located between two driveways; thus, we needed something lightweight yet durable should it ever break loose after we secured it to the stump and gawd-forbid damage our cars!

Here's a peek at the tree stump vase secured to the stump:

This tree stump vase is painted with weather-resistant UV paint to prevent fading and weathering. It's also designed to insulate plants from extreme heat or cold.

The one we purchased measures 10.5 inches in diameter and 9 inches high. They do come in other sizes. We verified the diameter of the tree stump beforehand. Also, we didn't want anything that stood too tall.

Here's another look at the tree stump with the flowers lifted.

We choose a tree stump vase primarily because it's lightweight, blends with the existing stump, and looks good without flowers. 

In the fall, we'll change the flowers, and come winter, we'll come up with something creative to fill the tree stump vase.

The finished look with the Tree Stump Vase filled with flowers

We selected flowers that trail over the stump. They still need to do some growing.

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Finding Chika by Mitch Albom – Book Review

 A little girl, an earthquake, and the making of a family.

Mitch Albom is the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, the best-selling memoir of all time.  Anyone who has read 'Morrie' or any of Albom's other books, will already know the wonderful way with words he has.

Synopsis

Finding Chika, a little girl, an earthquake and the making of a family is a true story about a young Haitian orphan and how her short life impacts the author and his wife. Mitch and Janine Albom are a childless couple in their 50s with a busy life. In addition to Mitch's writings and his work as a sports writer and radio program host, he & Janine also operate the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage in Port-au-Prince.

At age 3 when little Chika joins the 50 other children in the orphanage her self-assurance and happy outlook quickly charms all the other kids and teachers. Even despite having lived in extreme poverty and then having her mother die and her 2 older sisters and baby brother farmed out to other families, Chika is blessed with boundless optimism and a delightful humor. 

Mitch & Janine travel to Haiti and the orphanage every month and get to know Chika, along with the other children. Then, at age 5, Chika is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and there is no one in Haiti who can help her. 

The Alboms bring Chika to Detroit, hoping that American medical care can soon grant her a healthy return to her homeland.  Sadly, little Chika is found to have a rare brain tumor for which there is no cure. The Alboms are told that Chika probably has 4 months to live.

Instead, Chika becomes a permanent part of the Alboms' lives and they embark on a two-year journey to find a cure.  Along the way Chika teaches them that a relationship built on love, no matter how short, can never be lost.

Summary

Available on Amazon

This is a beautifully written memoir that is simply told and becomes a celebration of children and how they change our lives and make us a family. 

“A Child is both an anchor and a set of wings. Your pace and space are forever altered.” 

~Mitch Albom in Finding Chika.

*Book Review of Finding Chika written by Wednesday Elf

For more book reviews, click on ReviewThisBooks.com. 

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