Seascape Photography

Down by the Sea

I have always been fascinated by the sea, so seascape photography has been a wonderful hobby to pursue.

I am continually mesmerized by the beauty of the ocean. I love the way it never looks the same. The beauty of the waves, the reflections of the sky and clouds, and the way the wind interacts all make the sea a fascinating subject to photograph.

There is something quite wonderful about being by the seashore. I have lived all of my life in the midwest, miles away from the sea but I have always been pulled by the allure of the sea.

On this page I will share with you some of my favorite photos from trips to the seashore. 

Sunrises

I  love a beautiful sunrise, but it seems that when that sunrise is coming up over the ocean it is even more stunning.  Here are a few photos I took this year of the sun rising over the ocean in Jupiter, Florida.  They were all taken on different days, from the same location, and yet each one is different.  I will never tire of getting up early and enjoying the sunrise over the ocean.

Before the Sunrise

If you get up really early, you will find that on some mornings the colors about 30 minutes before the sunrise can be quite spectacular.  It only lasts for a few minutes so be sure to have your camera ready.

Moonlight Photography

Another fun way to look at the ocean is in the moonlight.  To take these photos it is important to use a tripod with your camera and set your speed for a longer exposure.  Here are a few moonlight shots I took in Jupiter.

Waves and Rocks

I like having something in the foreground on my seashore shots and these rocks worked great.

I hope you have enjoyed to my seascape photography.  The following are links to some of the Zazzle products I have created from my photographs.

Sunrise in Paradise Card by mbgphoto
View Tropical Cards online at zazzle

Sunrise and Waves Ceramic Tile by mbgphoto
Find other Sunrise over ocean Tiles at zazzle.com

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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It's National Banana Day!

National Banana Day happens on April 20th and for all of you that don't have a calendar handy, that just happens to be today.

Now I don't know about you, but for me, bananas are not just monkey food, they are the best people food too.  After you are finished eating them, don't throw away the peel either.  I'm not going to suggest eating it, but did you know that you can bury it in the ground around your rose bushes and they will love all the nutrients that are coming to their root systems.

No mess and no waste, all of that banana goes, first, to feeding you, and then the peels, into feeding your garden.

Picture courtesy of Pixaby : I love My Minions and my Bananas
Bananas are one of Nature's most perfect fruits.  They are very high in vitamin B6  and low in sugar. They also contain essential minerals, Vitamin C,  and dietary fiber.  While bananas also contain potassium, they are not as high in potassium as other fruits and vegetables.  Having said that, you will still get a good amount of potassium,  8% of your daily requirements from a banana that weighs about 100 grams.  You get more potassium from beans, apricots, carrots and bell peppers, but they aren't nearly as ready to eat as that beautiful yellow skinned banana. (USDA)

What is really neat about bananas is that they help to regulate your blood sugar and cholesterol.  They are good for people who are having issues with their heart.  Bananas have also been studied in relation to High Blood Pressure and found to be very effective in regulating blood pressure in many people.  That is good news if this is something that worries you.  

Different Ways to Use Bananas 

I'm always interested in ways that people use bananas other than just peeling and eating them.  I love to peel them, cut them up and then layer them with ice cream either chocolate or vanilla.  If I've had a bad day and you make me a bowl of ice cream and banana, I will be a happy camper.  There is also the perennial standby of a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  I don't know anyone, regardless of age that doesn't like that for a treat (unless of course you have a peanut allergy).

Banana bread is always a welcome treat too.  There are so many recipes with different variations, but the same soft moist and nutritious outcome.

In my kitchen there is always a banana available.  Those banana hooks are pretty good at keeping them from getting all bruised.  They are right there in the open for anyone looking for a healthy snack. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals and not a whole lot of sugar.  So perfect for anyone who is watching their waistline too.  Quick and easy to eat, nutritious and delicious and really good for you.

When you buy too many bananas and they start to go brown, you don't have to make banana bread right away if you don't want to.  Just peel the bananas and place them into a Ziploc Bag, freeze them and when you are ready to make a banana dessert, they will be ready too.

Basic Banana Bread Recipe:

2-3 very ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar (you can make this 1 cup if you want it sweeter or 1/2 cup if you like less sweetness)
1 egg beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 and butter a 4x8 loaf pan.
In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Stir in the melted butter.
Add to the mixing bowl,  soda and salt.  Stir in the sugar, beaten egg and vanilla extract. Add flour,
mixing until incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.  Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour.  Test with a skewer, when it comes out clean, the loaf is done.

Remove from oven and cool completely.  Remove from the pan.  Use a serated knife to cut into slices.

That is the basic recipe from Simply Recipes (http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread), but you can add chocolate, nuts, cherries, dates, and a host of other additions to make this banana bread your very own.  I have used this recipe so often, and each time I try a new addition.  I have not been disappointed yet.

It is moist, delicious and nutritious. Banana bread is always a good seller at Bake Sales too!  You can also freeze it, just in case unexpected guests arrive.

Some things that may help you keep Bananas at the ready in your house.....

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Reviewing A Parking Garage Set For Kids

Toy Parking Garage Can Be Oodles of Fun

Parking Garage Image from Amazon.com

This Grandma finally has a little boy to buy for and I think that  the Melissa and Doug Parking Garage is something that I will get for him in the future. I love that it is made from durable wood to provide hours of fun for any little boy and not metal or plastic like so many toys of today.

The toy parking garage is suggested for children three years old or older so, I need to wait for a little while before I purchase it. There are two wooden cars that come with the set that can be lifted by an elevator to any of the four levels of parking.  Those four levels of parking provide plenty of room for all your little son's or grandson's small toy cars. The set also includes a parking booth with an attendant, a gas pump, and a car wash.

You will have to get Grandpa, Daddy, Mommy or Grandma to assemble this toy set but it comes with really easy and detailed instructions to follow. Once it is assembled the toy parking garage by Melissa and Doug measures about 17 1/4 inches tall by 15 3/4 inches wide and 15 1/4 inches deep.

I Have Seen This Toy In Action

I recently watched with delight as a little boy played with this parking garage set while I got the oil in my car changed. I was impressed with the high quality of the product and when I saw that it was a Melissa and Doug toy, I knew it was a great choice for this company to provide for little children to play with because it was built to last many years.  I noticed that someone had left little matchbox cars to be parked on the parking levels and they fit really nicely with the set.

Obviously as a Grandma, I would want to buy this for my grandson but it would also be a perfect gift for a pre-school, church nursery, or even a children's hospital play area.  Little boys and even little girls will have hours of fun playing with the Melissa and Doug Parking Garage. I can hardly wait until my little guy gets big enough to play with it.

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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Trackimo - An Excellent Personal GPS Tracker

Do you have problems finding lost belongings? Are you anxious about pets or family members who may wander? The Trackimo may be the perfect solution to end your worries.  The Trackimo is an international GPS tracking gadget that is affordable, very easy to use, and works great.  If you need to find something or someone, need someone to be able to alert you if they are in trouble, or have a potentially problem driver driving your car, this may be the answer.

I have thought about purchasing a GPS tracker for a few years.  I've wanted one for my dogs, when we are in the woods. But reliable tracking dog collars  have been expensive - and can only be used on your dog. I've also wanted one for the vehicle I own but don't drive.  But most of those GPS trackers somehow need to be installed in the fuse panel, or need to be wired into the system.  And also have monthly subscription fees.

Then I learned about the Trackimo by watching a video of a gentleman who finds his drones when they go down.  He gave such a thorough and excellent review that I had to get one for myself.

Trackimo

My Truck

I own and am financially responsible for truck that I don't drive. At times, it received tickets for speeding or parking in questionable areas. I ended up paying for the tickets.  After time, I realized that I need to know the location of the truck until which time I'm not longer financially responsible for it.

I was so impressed by this gadget.  The Trackimo is not weather-proof.  However, it does come with a rubberized skin to help protect it.  When I had ordered the Trackimo, I had also ordered a really big, magnetized key holder - the type placed under cars for the spare key - because I did not expect the Trackimo to have a strong enough magnet for my purposes. But I was wrong. The Trackimo is plenty strong!

I followed the charging and setup directions.  I also started my account on the Trackimo website. And found the site really easy to use. I drove around for days, with it attached to the painted metal inside my Jeep.  Yes, it does send an alert when speeding.  I tested that out almost immediately by accident.  I intentionally placed it on my door (on the inside) and slammed the door shut when exiting.  I expected it to pop off. But it remained where I had placed it.  

I was ready for the real test.  I placed it under the bumper of the truck. The Trackimo tracked it very well.  Day after day I got reliable information about the location of my truck.  I only have a few cautions - depending on how you need to use it - and am listing those thoughts below.  Concerned about it during all of our rainy weather, I then began to place it under the bed rail.  It worked just as well there. 

My Trackimo in the rubberized cover

My Dog

As soon as I decide how I want to attach it to my dog, he will be wearing it when he's in the woods. My only hesitance comes from not wanting him to get snagged on trees.  I currently take off his collar or harness completely when he's in the woods.  However, if he were wearing the Trackimo, and was snagged, I could find him to release him.  

I am considering making an elasticized collar for him, with a Trackimo pocket.

Other Uses for Trackimo

Tracking

I mentioned the gentelman who uses the Trackimo to locate and retrieve his downed drones.  I think this would be a perfect way to track your teenager who is borrowing your car. Because the Trackimo is not permanately attached, you can move it easily to whichever car the teen is driving that day.  I also think it's a great tracker for your elderly family members who may become lost or your younger children who are walking down to the local playground - and you want to know where they are.

I think this would be a great item to place in checked baggage.  If a bag is ever again "lost" for a long period of time, I could tell Amtrak (insert: airlines) where to begin their search!  

Signaling for Help

This device comes with a SOS signal. If the button is pressed for four seconds, you receive a signal. And can see the location of the device. If your child pushes the button for help, you will receive that call for help. If your teenager has had an accident, and they want your help but can't describe their location, you will know where they are. If your elderly family member can remember things except their location, they can feel more confident knowing you are a button-push away.

The Drawbacks

It is not water-proof. While mine weathered the rain nicely, I'm not sure how it would have done on the dog in a rainstorm. 

Depending on how often you set the tracking (as often as every minute), the device will need to be charged up to every day or two.  Not practical for your business vehicle that an employee may have for a few days at a time. (I charged my Trackimo every evening and placed it again every morning).

In some areas, the "triangulation" problems may present a brief problem with accuracy. I live near Chesapeake Bay. When the truck was closest to the water, the map would sometimes have a warning that the device was traingulating for a more accurate location. During these moments, the "you are here" icon would blink up to about a mile from where the truck was located.  However, these moments were brief and only showed on the map during real-time tracking.  This inaccurate moments did not show up on the tracking history map.

Even though my Trackimo stuck to the painted surface of my Jeep without problems, I would always look for a more "bare" metal surface area - to ensure a strong bond.

Reasons to use the Trackimo 

Find belongings
Find your vehicle
Know where your elderly, young, and teen family members are
Track your dog
Know how responsibly your teen driver is driving
Cheap and Easy (I paid $139 for mine, with no subscription or hidden costs for a year)
Free Android (and iphone) apps 

I am not technologically savvy.  I usually can't get those "plug and play" computer things to work without help. But this thing was ridiculously easy. Because I'm not very good at gadgets, I'm including the following videos that are very helpful. 

** Warning -- Stalking and similar things are against the law. I would not advise using this to track you neighbor, boyfriend, girlfriend, enemy, frenemy, or secret crush.  Just don't do it. **


Related Videos:

Trackimo Advertising

How to setup Trackimo

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Country Songs about Fishing! Yep, It's that Time of the Year

Don't fret; several relaxing country songs are geared explicitly toward the fishing addict! Fishing is who you are....much to the dismay of those who never see you 'cause you're often seen 'out there on the lake'!

Don't worry, be happy...just fish! And who cares what other people think about your love of fishing anyway! Fishing fans understand you perfectly well...they get who you are! Country music artists get you too, 'cause they've written songs about fishing just so you can say to those who don't get you ...' see, there's even a song about fishing!'

Here you go! Here are three country songs about fishing that speak to entirely different aspects of this sport. The first song by Billy Carrington is about fishing no matter what happens, good or bad - The second is the hilarious fishing song by Brad Paisley, and the Third is an emotional fishing song about a father and his little girl.

Bad Day of Fishing by Billy Currington - Didn't Catch a Damn Thing! (lyrics)

Whether it's pouring rain, the fish aren't biting, or you lost your pole to a big one...doesn't matter...because a bad day of fishing beats a good day of anything else (as the song says). A good Fisherman simply adjusts no matter what! 

As the song says, 'Looks like tonight's fish fry dinner is going to be chicken.' The avid fisherman knows how to adjust, and they're probably the first to tell you they'd never stop fishing no matter what! If this sounds like you, then without a doubt, this is your song.

I'm Gonna Miss Her, The Fishin' Song by Brad Paisley "Now there's a chance that if I hurry I could beg her to stay, but the water's right and the weather's perfect"(lyrics)

She should never given him that ultimatum...Fishing or me...'cause he's gonna miss her'. If you've never watched the video for this fishin' song, be sure to check it out; it's hilarious! 

The entire video is done like a news and media event. It's hilarious and one of Brad Paisley's funniest, in fact.

Just Fishing by Trace Adkins - "I say, “Daddy loves you, baby” one more time, She says, “I know. I think I got a bite....But I guarantee this memory's a big'in, And she thinks we're just fishin' (Lyrics)

This is an absolutely beautiful and emotional country song about a dad creating a beautiful memory with his daughter...and she thinks we're just fishing. Every dad knows how precious these moments are with their kids, and they don't just happen...although sometimes they do...However, in this song, Dad is building a moment in his life that will stay with him forever. He loves that little girl, and this ain't just about fishing.

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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“The Good Dinosaur” Book and Movie Review

The story is set on a fictional Earth where dinosaurs never became extinct.

 

We are familiar with many movies made from books, but this book was created FROM the movie.  

I read the Junior Novelization version of "The Good Dinosaur", written for 9-12 year olds, which retells the whole exciting story and features eight pages of full-color scenes from the movie.  The book can also be found in other forms such as the Big Golden Book for 3-7 year olds and in Little Golden Book form and board book form for preschoolers 2-5 years old.

My sister-in-law saw this book at my house and became fascinated with it.  She had to borrow it to read, and loved it.  Her thoughts on the book were:  “It was a great story for kids and adults showing the importance of family, loyalty and bravery. The characters were sweet and funny.”

Arlo the Apatosaurus Dinosaur

The movie, and the book from the movie, are about a good-natured little Apatosaurus dinosaur named 'Arlo' who tries to overcome being afraid of almost everything while he works to find his place in the world his parents and bigger brother and sister have no problem with. Arlo's father tells him that “sometimes you gotta get through your fear to see the beauty on the other side.”

After the rest of the family have 'made their mark' (a dinosaur mudprint on rocks used to protect the opening to the family corn silo on their farm), Arlo attempts to earn his right to his own mark.  His Poppa tries to teach him the importance of bravery, as well as proper goal setting and follow-through: “You gotta earn your mark by doing something big.” 

Spot the Human Caveboy

When tragedy strikes, Arlo ventures out into the wilderness where he makes an unusual friendship with a human caveboy who answers to the name 'Spot'.  After being swept away by a raging river during a storm, Arlo and Spot have a variety of adventures while trying to find Arlo's home again.  Their journey is complete with pterodactyl chases, T. rex run-ins and terrible storms.  Spot saves Arlo from the river by teaching him how to swim and Arlo later saves Spot from the mean pterodactyls. A special friendship develops through these shared adventures.

As their journey nears an end and they approach Arlo's home, the two come across a caveman family. Reluctantly and sadly, Arlo pushes Spot to join his own kind, and the two of them share a tearful goodbye. Arlo finally arrives back home to his mother and siblings, and makes his own mark he has bravely earned on the silo between those of his mother and father. 

The Good Dinosaur is a Disney Pixar Movie

Official Movie Trailer

The Good Dinosaur Animated Movie

 
Quick Links:

• The Good Dinosaur as a junior novelization 
• The Good Dinosaur as a Big Golden Book
• The Good Dinosaur as a Little Golden Book

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Reviewing the Smittybilt Tent for Jeeps

Photo by Sylvestermouse

Many of you already know that I enjoy traveling, visiting scenic places where I can take lots of photos and seeking out new adventures.  Several of you know we own a jeep.  Needless to say, we enjoy traveling around in our jeep.  With the rag-top down and the windows out, there is truly an unequaled sense of freedom.  If you have ever driven or ridden in a topless jeep (no, I did not say topless in a jeep), you will understand it when I say you don't have to be going over 40 mph to feel like your worries are simply being blown away, along with whatever hair you may have left.

Once we are out on the road, I hate to turn around and go home.  Now I love my home, but sometimes I just want to stay out a little longer.   That is where the Smittybilt Jeep Tent comes into play!

The Smittybilt Tent for Jeeps

With the proper jeep roof rack, we can carry our tent on the top of the jeep.  But the very best part, we can sleep in that tent on the top of the jeep!  

Yes, now we're talking!  Keep that tent off the ground, high and dry even in bad weather and sleep like two snuggle bunnies.

 Smittybilt Overlander TentCheck Price

& 

Features of the Smittybilt Jeep Tent

• Sunroof with Mosquito Net    (for Stargazing)
• Waterproof
• Telescoping Ladder   (No Jumping Required) 
• Mesh Windows for Ventilation
•  2" Foam Mattress   (Sleeps 2 Adults, so Mr. Mouse doesn't have to sleep outside on the ground)
• Interior LED Strip Light powered by the Attached Solar Panel 
• 12V Power Adapter

Additional Attachments 

 

There are additional attachments or equipment you could add to the Smittybilt tent.  They also offer an awning, a tent annex (a add-on part that extends to the ground),  a generator and a fridge.

Yes, I am laughing at the fridge part.  Mr. Mouse just might end up sleeping on the ground outside if we added a fridge.

Road Trip Plans

We have a few friends in Arkansas, a few in Missouri, another in Georgia, one in Indiana, one in Colorado, one in California, several in Canada, and I plan on spending at least a week at the shack in West Virginia.   I'll have to figure out a way to get our jeep and tent on over to Ireland afterwards.

Ya'll get ready now, ya hear!  When you see a tent on top of a jeep headed your way, you'll know it's me and Mr. Mouse stopping over for that promised visit.   

Planned Mouse Travels

 

Reviewing the Smittybilt Tent for Jeeps by:

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Choose a Way Auckland Travel Book Review

Auckland, New Zealand, is a popular tourist destination these days so if you're headed that way, here's a book that I'd recommend you take with you. This somewhat unconventional travel guide is called Choose A Way Auckland. It's an ebook whose interactive style gives new meaning to the term "choose your own adventure."

This travel guide won't tell you where to stay or which airline to choose to get there. Instead, an insider, author and travel blogger/photographer Rhonda Albom who lives in Auckland and loves the city, comes on the trip with you, traveling on your Kindle (or tablet, phone, or reading app), offering you choices that direct you to all the best places in Auckland to visit while you're there. Plan ahead or choose your itinerary on the go. Here's how it works.

Remember those mystery books you read back in elementary school? At the end of each chapter you were given choices, to go one way or another, to one page or another, and who knew where you'd end up? In Choose A Way Auckland, the author offers you choices, too, depending on the time of day, whether you're in the mood for an active or relaxing activity, whether or not you're exploring Auckland with children, among other criteria that fit your particular situation. In this case, you'll not only know in advance where you'll end up, you'll be given background on the place, specific directions to get there, hours of operation, price of admission, and friendly advice on how best to enjoy the destination.

I really enjoyed this book!

I'll admit, I'm not much of a world traveler at this point in my life, but I do enjoy armchair travel and this book captivated me (because of its fun layout) as well as entertained and educated me about a part of the world that I really didn't know much about.

One of the things I like best about the book is the very specific driving, riding, or walking directions with not only distances but landmarks to look for along the way. With that information along with the map links, the guide makes it very easy to navigate in and around the biggest city in New Zealand. You'll definitely want to keep your Kindle or iPhone with you during your trip so that if you do get turned around, you'll be able to pull it out and find your way quickly and easily with Rhonda's excellent directions.

Another feature of the book that I really like are the specifics in terms of family versus adult entertainment. While there's plenty to do that includes the kids, there are also lots of adult activities, some of which are more adult-oriented than others, very helpful to know about in advance.

Also, the information in the book will help you budget your trip. Time-wise, you'll know how many hours to plan for each activity ("three hours from ferry to ferry" for the vineyard zip line trip). Money-wise, Rhonda makes it easy to decide where you want to splurge and what activities are still fun, just more frugal. Same goes for food and restaurants; Rhonda's personal favorites sound awesome to me!

To get the most out of the book, follow the instructions and the links to "choose" your way through the 39 stops and adventures included in the guide so you don't miss out on the fun. After your first day you'll be given a shortcut to a list of destinations to help you enjoy the book even more.

Choose A Way Aukland was released April 11, 2016, and is being offered at a discounted price of $1.99 for several days, so you might want to grab a copy now before the cost goes up to its regular price of $6.99. Even at full price, this is a must-have if you're planning a trip to New Zealand (or if you live there). You'll enjoy the book, too, if you're an armchair traveler like me. Choose the link below that suits your needs.


Barnes & Noble
Kobo Books


Visit author, photographer, and award-winning travel blogger Rhonda Albom's blog.

Find more travel-related reviews on Review This!


~Susan
Read more of my reviews.

Posted by Susan Deppner

About the Author

Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

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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Let's Review the Best Travel Accessory for Foreign Travel

An Essential Travel Accessory

Why I chose to review this handy little travel accessory/gadget: There are many little travel gifts and travel accessories for the serious traveler, so it's hard to choose just one as the best, but if I had to choose the best gift for a traveler, it would be a travel adapter/surge protector.

The reason I say this is that even though you might think otherwise, every country has their own electricity configurations, and what works in one country will not work in other countries. I wonder who thought up this idea? My guess would be electricians, but I digress.

The USA uses 110 volts, and along with Panama, they are the only countries who do. All the other countries use 220 volts. And as if that weren't enough to fry your electronic devices, they all have different plug configurations! So if you are traveling in Europe, your plug for your computer, phone charger, camera, etc are not going to fit in every country. You really don't want to get in late and try to plug in your computer or phone and find out you can't. Travelling can be stressful enough without that aggravation!

Now many hotels do provide them, but not all do. And even if they do, they almost never have surge protectors and you don't want to fry your laptop now, do you? So it's best to bring your own adapter/surge protector.

Before I left the United States for my around the world tour, I looked into this because I had just purchased a new laptop, and a new camera, and I have an iPhone, so I wanted to be sure I had surge protection in addition to adapters. What I settled on was this handy gadget:

 Yubi Power 10 in 1 Universal Travel Power Strip with 2 Universal Sockets and 8 USB Ports with Built in Surge Protector and Light Indicators for Type B, C, G, and I Outlets - 150+ Countries

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I have been completely happy with it, as there have been times when my hotel did not have the correct  plug for my devices, and there have been other times when the wifi was very "iffy" and sporadic, so I would have been worried but I wasn't, because I had this wonderful gadget with me! It takes up very little room for the piece of mind you get from it, so I think it's my favorite travel accessory of all. I am sure my computer was saved more than once from power surges on our trip.

Note: This is not a voltage converter. Most computers and electronic devices these days will work on either 110 volts or 220 volts but be sure you check before you try to use them in a different country! My phone, camera and computer all worked fine and had no problems. If you aren't sure, check your manufacturer specifications. (And if you threw them away, just "google" them.)

On Amazon this accessory has lots of positive reviews and I noticed one that said they don't travel outside the country but their family hangs out in the living room together with all of them using their own electronic devices and they all need to charge their devices at once so it works for them as it has 6 USB ports. That made me laugh. Family time now means everyone using their devices in one room. Well I guess that's better than no family time at all. I'm still laughing.

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Reviewing The Secret Healer

Historical Fiction

As many of you know, I love to read and historical fiction is a genre that I enjoy very much. I just recently finished The Secret Healer by Ellin Carsta. I might have missed this delightful book if it hadn't been an editor's choice in the Kindle First subscription that is a part of my Amazon Prime membership. It was one of the choices for reading in April. I was not disappointed!

From 14th Century Germany

The story takes place during the 1300s in the German towns of Heidelberg and Worms. This was a time in our history that women were not valued for much of anything except as maybe the property of their fathers or husbands. I absolutely adored the main protagonist, Madlen who is the daughter of the cabinet maker in Heidelberg. Madlen may come from humble means but she is above average in her intelligence and is taken under the wing of the local midwife Clara at an early age. The young girl learns the benefits of medicinal herbs from the midwife which is something that the physicians of the time did not use. The physicians were strong on the use of bloodletting; a treatment that was not much good for any illness as we know now. During a rather difficult birth, Madlen accidentally discovers a technique of soothing the over anxious woman during the delivery process. She will find this method helps her sooth many of the people she is helping when they become rather hysterical during their illness. 

The Secret Healer

An absolutely despicable resident of her hometown accuses Madlen of killing his wife causing her to flee to the town of Worms where she finds her estranged Aunt Agathe. While learning the skills she will need to become a seamstress her Aunt comes down with what is referred to as the coughing sickness. I believe this was the pneumonic plague that did spread across Europe during this time in history. Madlen is able to use her knowledge of medicinal herbs and nurses her Aunt back to health. As the illness spreads around the town she is called upon to help many of the citizens. She saves many lives but there is a problem. She is not a doctor and the church has taken notice of this healer and decides that she is an assistant to the devil. Madlen, who is hiding under an assumed identity from the people of Heidelberg, realizes that she must now hide from the church, too.

There were many things that I loved about this well written and constructed book. Many of the women in the story were strong and intelligent women who had to hide the fact that they were very capable in their skills. Many were good business women but were never given credit for their abilities. At that time in history only a man was given credit for any sort of acumen to business or skills. So, these women worked their fingers to the bone to support their drunken, lazy and often abusive men in secret. Women were not supposed to know how to read or write, they could not own a business, they could not be educated in schools or universities or be heralded for any of their accomplishments. The story does not come off as a strong feminist bashing of men but the oppression of the women of the time is written in a superb way that really resonated with my soul.

There was a wonderful love story incorporated into the pages along with a good representation of life in the 14th century. The suspense of whether dear Madlen would be found out and what would become of her kept me captivated until the very end. I liked the incorporation of early medicine in the story and the superstitions that were strong during that time in history.

All in all, I highly recommend this wonderful book. I think that fans of historical fiction will most assuredly love this book but I also feel that it is one of those books that will appeal to most women. Currently, it can be pre-ordered and will be released on May 1, 2016. It will be available in both digital and paperback forms. 

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