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Nuthatch waiting turn for Suet Nuggets |
In this photo a female Downy is getting the last bits of the nuggets out of the feeder. Below is a male Downy enjoying the nuggets in the wintertime.
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Nuthatch waiting turn for Suet Nuggets |
With the winter holidays fast approaching, many of us are starting to think about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas gifts for teachers, friends, family and other loved ones. Gloves are traditional and practical gifts, but not always exciting. A gift-worthy pair needs something special, such as a pretty color or luxury materials, to make the recipient's eyes light up when they unwrap their present.
The long lambskin leather touchscreen gloves I bought myself a couple of years ago are beautifully made, have a soft, plush lining, look and feel much more expensive than they are and keep my hands and arms toasty warm during the cold winter months.
I'm sharing my in-depth product review of these yummy, extra-long, warm winter gloves that would make a luxurious and surprisingly affordable gift idea for the women on your holiday shopping list.
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Beautiful VIKIDEER long leather lambskin gloves with a soft, warm, plush lining that are also touchscreen compatible to work with your mobile phone, tablet or Kindle |
Here in New England, winters are long, snowy and bitter cold. Even when I lived in New York City, I always purchased warm winter gloves that extended several inches above my wrist. However, once I moved to the Boston area I found that they weren't long enough to protect my forearms from the bite of the arctic winter wind, which forced its way inside my coat sleeves every time I bent my arms to take something out of my purse, such as a tissue or bus fare, or use my phone.
I have always had a weakness for high-quality, cashmere-lined lambskin leather gloves. I had several pairs, purchased when I still lived in Manhattan and long before I got my first mobile phone, that were still in great shape. However, in addition to not being long enough, they also weren't touchscreen compatible. So, when I used public transportation to get from our house in the suburbs into Boston and back, every time I wanted to check the status of the bus I was waiting for, listen to my audiobook, check my email, text or phone messages, call a taxi, etc., I had to remove my right glove and expose my hand to the freezing cold.
I tried a pair of long, knitted cashmere gloves similar to, but a bit shorter than, these long cashmere blend touchscreen gloves. Although they were long enough to protect my forearms when I bent my elbows and allowed me to keep my hands covered while using my phone, they weren't warm enough for my needs.
Eventually, however, I found my current pair of well made, very warm, long leather gloves with touchscreen compatible fingertips. Jackpot!
Here are some of the reasons I recommend these excellent quality, surprisingly affordable VIKIDEER lined, long, warm leather gloves for yourself or as a gift.
These feel deliciously smooth, soft and luxurious from the moment you take them out of the box.
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The silky soft, plush polyester fleece lining of these winter gloves keeps hands toasty warm |
The genuine leather shell, silky soft polyester plush lining and windproof, close stitching keep even my temperature-sensitive hands toasty warm during our cold, snowy, windy New England winters.
I bought these luxurious leather gloves in the three-quarter length (15.5" long), which covers most of my forearms, so when I bend my arms there's no gap where skin is exposed to the cold or wind. These warm winter gloves are also available in a longer elbow length (19.6" long).
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Even when I bend or raise my arms, my forearms stay warm covered by these long winter gloves |
Both the 15.5-inch and 19.6-inch lengths are available in Black, Brown, Champagne (which I would call tan or saddle brown) and Red. I bought the 15.5-inch long gloves in the rich, dark chocolate brown to go with my faux fur-lined microsuede hooded coat. I'm also planning to buy a black pair to go with my nearly ankle-length, black, hooded down coat, which I wear on the coldest days.
The materials and workmanship make them durable and wear resistant. The lambskin leather also becomes even softer and more supple with wear and gradually conforms to the shape of your hands over time.
After wearing mine frequently throughout two frigid Massachusetts winters, the leather as well as the fleece lining and stitching have all held up beautifully.
These may look like traditional, high quality, warm leather gloves, but there is a hidden feature (probably conductive thread stitching or fabric between the lambskin leather shell and the soft, cozy plush lining) that also makes these touchscreen gloves. I love being able to use my mobile phone, tablet or Kindle while I'm on the go without having to remove my gloves (especially since it is harder to put a long glove back on while wearing a long-sleeved winter coat).
These are sold in small, medium, large, extra-large and extra-extra large sizes rather than numerical glove sizes. I ordered the medium, which equaltes to my usual glove size 7, and found that the fit is true to size. At the time of this post's publication, 88% of Amazon buyers who rated the fit of these gloves also said they fit true to size.
Here is a size guide to help you choose the best fit for yourself or your gift recipient:
Small (6.5)
Medium (7)
Large (7.5)
X-Large (8)
XX-Large (8.5)
These beautiful, warm winter gloves arrive in an elegant tissue-lined gift box with gold embossing, ready for holiday gift giving. Just add wrapping paper and a bow!
These plush lined, genuine lambskin leather gloves look, feel and last like pairs that cost much more. The gift box is a lovely, unexpected bonus.
You won't find more elegant, luxurious, well made and affordable gifts for women for less than $37 for these 15.5-inch, three-quarter-length lambskin leather gloves. Even the longer, 19.6-inch elbow-length gloves cost less than $40.
They would make excellent Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Christmas gifts as well as birthday or Valentine's Day gifts that the lucky recipients will enjoy and appreciate for many years to come.
These high-quality warm winter gloves are as practical as they are pretty. If yours don't have touchscreen compatible fingertips or you're tired of having cold hands in the winter, consider treating yourself to a pair of these beautiful, long-lasting, affordable, long leather gloves. You deserve to have warm hands this winter, too!
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Christmas Wreath Storage Containers Reviewed |
Halloween is over and that means the Holidays are now in full swing. It's time to think about getting all of those Thanksgiving and then, Christmas decorations out of storage.
Soon Fran and I will have our basement floor lined with the dozen or so totes where we store all of our decorations.
Call us old-fashioned, but we really don't decorate for Christmas until Thanksgiving is over.
It seems that the retail stores begin earlier every year. Our Wal-Mart store had Christmas decorations out before Halloween.
We decorate all of our windows and doors with wreaths. We have several different sizes of wreaths, from 24-inches to 36-inches. Our Christmas wreaths are one item that doesn't seem to store very well in totes.
Every year when the Holidays are over and it's time to pack it all up, I found myself battling to store the wreaths in plastic bags.
A couple of years ago I finally broke down and bought these handy Christmas wreath storage containers. Now it is so easy to get them out and store them every year. No more fighting pulling them out, and putting them back in plastic bags.
These wreath storage containers are made with tear-resistant plastic, and feature heavy-duty sturdy handles, with dual zippers and a card slot.
They are large enough to also fit garland and string lights on top of the wreaths for easy storage. These containers come in different sizes to easily store and protect all of your seasonal wreaths.
Zober 2-Pack Christmas Wreath Storage Bag 36Buy Now
News of the World is a western drama movie in which a Civil War veteran finds himself responsible for an orphaned child. Both girl and man have suffered great losses and face many continued dangers traveling the across the southwest with a goal of taking her home to reunite with family. Since he's taking her to Texas, he may finally return to his own home. At one point, he says, "We all have demons to face going down this road". This movie is beautifully acted and set in a rugged, wild setting.
Years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd has not yet returned home to San Antonio. Instead, he travels by horseback from town to town reading the news to those who would pay ten cents. He is welcomed and paid for his readings. In small towns, often with either people who cannot read or towns so remote that news from the outside world is rare, his reading is information and entertainment. The country is still torn with settlers taking Indian lands, Indians killing the settlers, the military killing the Indians, and settlers clashing against each other. But the Captain travels alone and minds his own business. At least until the day he finds a hanged man who had been transporting a young Kiowa girl. Her blonde hair and her agency orders inform the Captain that this Kiowa girl was abducted six years ago and is now being returned home to her biological family. As he is at the scene of this ruined wagon and murdered man, the military rides up. They question the Captain and allow him to go. They advise him to fetch her to Red River to the command post. And he does. The glitch is that Captain Kidd is informed there that the next Indian agent in line to take responsibility of the child is not due to return to the area for months. Captain is expected to care for her until that time.
We soon learn that no one wants this child. She no longer speaks English or German. Only one other person they come across speaks Kiowa. Most people consider her to be wild and treat her as such. No one wants her except for the one group of men who want her for nefarious reasons.
Can Caption Kidd keep her safe and help her find home? Can young Cicada/Johanna find a place in the world and a family of her own? Will the Captain return to his home? These questions will be answered as they battle would-be kidnappers during an out-gunned shootout, roadside desperados, a dust storm, and long days of travel across the dry and rugged Texas terrain.
I enjoyed this movie very much. It deals with issues of grief and loss. And finding family after family is gone. It deals with how people respond to children who are different and how different cultures view each other. Young actress Helena Zengel was mesmerizing. She seemed to be genuinely experiencing the loss, fear, uncertainty, and return of memories during their travels. Tom Hanks' performance was wonderful but there was one occasion that I was taken back to his role in Saving Private Ryan. Regardless, the pairing of Hanks and Zengel was amazing and both were perfect for those roles.
There are bonus sections at the end of the DVD version of the movie that I also enjoyed. The bonus sections included outtakes, interviews, behind the scenes, and commentary by the writer-director. My favorite was the section showing the Kiowa tribe members who came to tutor actress Zengel and to be a part of the movie.
A DIY Craft Review
Crafters Rejoice! It's holiday crafting time again. Let's review some crafty ideas.
Now that the Fall season has officially begun, thoughts of the upcoming holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to sift into our minds. For crafters, this means that NOW is the time to begin planning for and starting on those Christmas crafts. Whether you want to create clever Christmas décor, or plan on crafting holiday gifts for loved ones, it is never too early to begin.
Follow along for some kits and pattern ideas for your holiday crafting.
More stocking kits with Santa or a Snowman can be found here:
Christmas Bird Feeder
This kit includes:
This kit is gift-ready for Christmas. *Adult supervision recommended.
Macramé Christmas Tree DIY Kit
This DIY craft kit will be a lovely gift idea for the Macramé Beginner.
*These kits include complete materials for you to make a macramé wall hanging by yourself: Friendly Cotton Cords, Wooden Ring and Beads, Basic Knot Sheet, Link to Tutorial video. Finished size is about 12.5” H x 8” W.
Holiday Snow Globes
*Christmas Crafting Review written by Wednesday Elf
Each contributor has selected one gift to recommend here. There are gift selections for women, men, children, and there is even a gift suggestion for pet owners included!
We have a larger selection of choices featured on our Christmas Gifts Pinterest board, if needed.
We invite you to sit back and enjoy shopping from the comfort of your own home!
Kindle Unlimited Gift SubscriptionCheck PriceYears ago, my daughter gave me a Kindle Paperwhite.
Even though I was hesitant to set aside physical books, once I started reading books on my Kindle, I found I really liked how lightweight and thin it was compared to an actual book. It is so easy to slip into my backpack, tote or purse and take my entire collection of books with me anywhere I go. This is especially awesome when we travel.
My mother-in-law lives in a small apartment on a very fixed income. She doesn't have room or money for an extensive book collection. The Kindle made the perfect Christmas gift for her. We included a subscription to Kindle Unlimited with her Kindle and we can renew it every year, if desired. Since she loves the Kindle & the subscription, I expect this is something we will do for years to come. Kindle Unlimited allows her access to thousands of books for free. It is like owning your own multi-level library full of your preferred genres of books!
I love the Kindle Paperwhite for reading books, but if you want colored images on your e-reader, I recommend the Kindle Fire. Great for Cookbooks, Magazines, video games & more.Gift choice from Sylvestermouse - To Read Her Full Review, Click Here
Wild Bird 24 oz. Wire Tube Nugget Feeder Check Price
My husband and I enjoy spending time sitting at our kitchen table and watching the birds in our backyard.
I have several feeders in our backyard, but my favorite is this wonderful feeder that holds suet nuggets. This feeder attracts a variety of birds, particularly different woodpeckers and nuthatches.
I keep it up and full year-round and set up my camera to photograph the wide variety of birds that visit this feeder.
Gift choice from Mbgphoto
Grypmat Pro, Original Flexible Tool Tray Organizer, Industrial Strength, and Heat Resistant Silicone-Polymer Mat, Non-Magnetic, Grips To Any Surface With Easy Clean Up, Seen on Shark Tank (Trio Pack)Check PriceGrypmat is a trademarked, silicone tool organizer that sticks to surfaces and keeps your tools near you while you are working. It holds tools, bolts, screws, and other items and prevents them from rolling away or getting lost while protecting your work surface.
In December 2020, I gave my best friend a Grypmat. I was so glad to give a gift that has been so useful and enjoyed by him. My friend fixes anything and everything; automotive, HVAC, and major home repairs just to name a few of his specialities. I had witnessed times where he dropped tools into areas that are difficult to reach so I bought a Grypmat for him. He said he loved it then. I recently asked if he still uses it and he gave an emphatic yes. He said, "I like that it's chemical resistant and hasn't bloated, weakened, or stained." My friend was so excited to talk about it that he offered to send me photos of his current project using the Grypmat. I declined. I am taking his word for it that he recommends and uses the Grypmat.
The mats come in a couple of different colors and three different sizes. You can purchase just one mat or a set of three. It is a plus that Grypmat is a Veteran-founded company founded by former Air Force F-16 Mechanic, Tom Burden. Be careful to purchase the Grypmat instead of a knock-off. The imitations are not the same quality.
Gift choice from Dawn Rae - To Read Her Full Review, Click Here
For more variety, check out their pecan pralines or fantastic fudge.
Gift choice from Wednesday Elf - To Read Her Full Review,
Click Here
It was the perfect gift for our two-person household and is one that he uses every day to make his cup or two of coffee. He uses two refillable pods, which make the Keurig a more economical and environmentally friendly choice.
I love that it brews one cup of coffee for Chris or a whole pot when our family is home for the holidays.
For small households like ours or homes with few coffee drinkers most of the time, this is the perfect coffee maker.
These eco friendly fire starters by Gerossi are fast, convenient and oh so easy to use!
The gift all love to receive, but rarely purchase for themselves.
These little fire starters are a game changer to start smokeless fires whether at home, the park, the campsite or in your yard!
Perfect for backyard fire pits, barbeques, tabletop fire pits and old fashioned campfires.
Gift choice from The Savvy Age
Wolf-Garten By Pass Secateurs are a treasured practical gift that I use frequently in the garden for a variety of small and large pruning tasks.
Gift choice from Raintree Annie - To Read Her Full Review,
Click Here
HOVONO Double-Compartment Pet Carrier Backpack for Small Cats and DogsCheck Price
I really love my Hovono Double Compartment Pet Carrier because it has
so many uses!
Not only can I take more than one of my cats to the vet at a time, I can also take my two kitties hiking with me!
It can also be used as a backpack for camping, the large double compartments will hold all the equipment you need.
The best part is knowing that if I need to leave my home in an emergency, I can pack both my girls and leave with them safe and comfortable. I highly recommend this!
Kids Toy Tin Tea Set & Carrying Case
Recommended by Sylvestermouse Collectible Funko Wizard of Oz Plushies
Recommended by Treasures by Brenda Sleepy Time Gifts for Kids
Recommended by Wednesday Elf Family Game Night - Here to Slay
Recommended by Dawn Rae Battleship Classic Board Game
Recommended by Sam
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