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Wednesday, June 7, 2023

These Inexpensive Face Washing Wristbands Keep Your Arms Dry

Spa wristbands, AKA face washing wristbands or towel wristbands, solve the annoying problem of water running down your arms while washing or rinsing your face (and dripping onto your bathroom sink or counter). I only recently learned that these handy spa wristbands existed while watching a popular online skincare store owner using them during a “get ready with me” video of her current AM and PM skincare routines. Even though she didn’t talk about them (and doesn’t sell them), the minute I saw them, it was like a lightbulb moment for me!

Here's my product review of the soft, absorbent microfiber face washing wristbands I bought and love.

Ultra Absorbent Face Washing Spa Wristbands Keep Arms & Sleeves Dry!

I chose the white, pastel blue, pastel lavender and pastel pink ("Blue, Purple, Pink") color assortment, but there are 13 assortments to choose from including leopard prints, tie dye prints and adorable embroidered animal appliqués.

While it's true that having water running down your forearms while washing your face or rinsing off a facial masque or other skincare treatment certainly isn't the end of the world, it can be quite annoying. That's especially true if you wear a long-sleeved bathrobe or nightgown while cleansing your face.

I used to try standing farther away from my sink and bending over it at a steeper angle to try to avoid the drips, but the water simply ran down my forearms more slowly and dripped off my elbows onto the bathroom floor instead of into the sink. Not exactly an improvement!

Since discovering these towel wristbands, both my arms and my sleeves stay comfortably dry while I'm washing my face.

Woman splashing water on her face while wearing face washing wristbands

I can splash water on my face without getting the sleeves of my peignoir wet!

What I Love About These Microfiber Face Washing Spa Wristbands

These deliciously plush microfiber towel wristbands come in sets of 4 pairs and are:

Extremely Absorbent

Microfiber is deservedly popular as a towel material because of its high absorbency. The more plush the material, the more surface area there is to absorb water.

At 3.5"/9 cm wide by 2.4"/6 cm tall, there's enough of the plush microfiber toweling to absorb dripping water before it can get past your wrists.

Delightfully Soft and Silky Microfiber Fleece

Snuggly soft microfiber fleece material feels great against your skin.

Very Stretchy

These wristbands have excellent elasticity and stretch easily to fit most wrists. They go on and off easily and stay put while wearing, providing a snug yet extremely comfortable dam to prevent water from dripping down your forearms.

Nice Selection of Solid Colors and Appliqué Designs

You'll find a choice of several pretty color assortments, including not only solids but also adorable appliquéd and embroidered bunny faces that teens (and the young at heart) will enjoy.

Easy Care

Although the product page suggests hand washing and I usually do (and then wring them out and allow them to air dry), some Amazon reviewers have said they throw theirs in the washing machine. I haven't found mine to need washing very often.

Surprisingly Affordable

Although the list price for four pairs of spa wristbands is $12.99, they were priced between $9.98 and $11.99 on Amazon, depending on the color and pattern selection, at the time of this review's publication.

Most were $9.98 per set or just $2.50 per pair, with free Prime shipping and free returns for Amazon Prime members!

Woman washing face while wearing microfiber towel spa wristbands

I have extras of these plush microfiber spa wristbands and my stretch terrycloth spa headbands so I never run out while they are being laundered. I also keep a set in my suitcase for travel.

They Can Do Double Duty as Sweat Wristbands for Sports (or Hot Weather)

The plush, absorbent microfiber material can wick away sweat as well as water effectively, and they feel much nicer against the skin than typical terrycloth sweatbands.

These Spa Wristbands Make Great, Affordable Gifts for Her

They would make a great gift for any woman, teen or young girl on your list. Girls and teens (and playful adults) would especially love the cute, fun, kawaii animal appliqué set with bunnies.

8 Pcs Spa Wrist Washband Microfiber Wrist Wash Towel Band Wristbands for Washing Face Absorbent Wristbands Wrist Sweatband for Women Girls

For an even nicer gift idea, consider pairing these face washing wristbands with my favorite terrycloth padded spa headbands.

If you want to splurge, add my favorite VOLO Hero premium microfiber hair towel or some luxury skincare for a gift she's sure to love that will make her feel pretty and pampered!

These Inexpensive Face Washing Wristbands Keep Your Arms Dry by Margaret Schindel

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Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Reviewing the Viral Green Gut Glow Drink

Green Gut Glow Set

Every day I enjoy taking my Green Gut Glow drink and I absolutely love how it makes me feel, have you tried it yet? You can buy the ingredients in a set from Arbonne and it has really gone viral on Tik Tok in recent times, especially after a review by a beauty editor in the UK.

The Green Gut Glow is actually made up of 3 different supplements that combine together in a drink that offers smart nutrition support, reduced bloating and glowing skin. The three supplements are the BeWell Superfood Greens (the Green) which I have previously reviewed here; the Gut Health Digestion & Microbiome Support (the Gut) which is a synbiotic aka it contains both pre and pro-biotics; the Skin Elixir Collagen Builder (the Glow) which is formulated with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and biotin to support collagen production for radiant skin, hair and nails - reviewed here.

Why Do I Recommend the Green Gut Glow Drink

There are a number of reasons why I take this supplement and recommend it, but I should mention that I used to take something called the Green Ogre Drink and some people may find that this is better for them. I compare the two of them in this post.

Let's Talk Greens

The first reason for taking the Green Gut Glow drink is the Greens. I personally feel it's important for most people to have some form of greens drink as it really helps to increase your fruit and veg intake during the day. As I mentioned in my post, Do You Eat Enough Fruit & Veg Every Day? I usually take my green gut glow drink first thing in the morning which counts as my first serve of fruit and veg for the day.

Whatever your diet is like I have never heard of anyone having a problem from consuming too much fruit and veg! The Superfood Greens contains a blend of 36 fruits and vegetables in every serving including the superfoods Spirulina, Chlorella, Wheatgrass and Barley Grass. The other freeze-dried fruit and vegetables included ensuring that you get all the benefits of eating the full colour spectrum of fruits and vegetables. As it's a whole food blend it means that you're also getting all of the fibre, antioxidants and phytonutrients that ensure this is an amazing nutritional boost for you.

I mentioned in my review that when I stopped having a greens drink (with this powder) for a few days I really noticed how tired I was which re-affirmed to me that this is a non-negotiable everyday supplement for me.

Let's Talk Gut Health

A key difference between the Green Ogre Drink and the Green Gut Glow Drink is that the Gut Health Digestion & Microbiome Support supplement wasn't a part of the Green Ogre Drink, however, I used to take it on its own in a little water. I'm not going to lie, the gut health in water is not a pleasant taste, but in the Green Gut Glow drink I don't taste it.

I believe that it's important to look after our gut health and I think this supplement is a very important step towards it, but to get the full effect of improved gut health you need to also make changes to your diet and lifestyle. This is definitely a great first step.

The benefits I have personally noticed are less bloating and also less indigestion, both of which have been welcomed. I do credit my improved gut health in general for helping with the symptoms of both my Rheumatoid Arthritis and Menopause, but I'm not a medical professional so I suggest you do your own research.

Let's Talk The Glow

When the Skin Elixir Collagen Builder supplement was first released I decided to try a box, but I wasn't sure I would take it every day as I had thought it was just for helping to keep your skin looking younger and I figured that wrinkles were basically the battle scars of my life - why try to hide them?

I added it to my Green Ogre Drink for a couple of weeks and then read a post in one of my Facebook groups about collagen that sent me down an absolute rabbit hole of information. I have continued to take it every day since!

The post was about collagen and joint health, as I ventured down the rabbit hole (and again I am not a medical expert) I read about how it was also good for heart health and decided that as someone with both RA and serious heart issues on both my maternal and paternal sides then I should take this.

What have I actually noticed while taking this supplement? My hairdresser was the first person to comment on my hair as she mentioned it had gotten thicker - I'm in my fifties so normally I would be expecting it to start thinning! I have definitely noticed that my skin looks a lot better, but I have been using the Arbonne skin products so it's probably a combination of the two.

Before I started using the Skin Elixir Collagen Builder I was going to the nail salon once a month as a treat and getting my nails painted. I'm not sure how long it took but I found that my nails were growing faster and I needed to go more than once a month. I decided I didn't need to do that so I've left my nails au naturel or I paint them myself or on occasion I've used some nail wraps.

How I Take My Green Gut Glow

Personally, I will usually add a fizz stick to my Green Gut Glow to add some caffeine as I no longer drink caffeinated tea and coffee on a daily basis. I also take the supplements in 600-700ml of water which is a bit more than some people, but I love how it's also helping my hydration levels that way.

When I first started taking this drink I would just shake the ingredients together and enjoy it, but it would sometimes be a little bitty. Since January 2023 I have been using a frother when I make my drink and it has made a huge difference and I do prefer to drink it this way.

Questions?

If you have any questions about my health drink or my health journey in general don't hesitate to reach out. You can find me in my Healthy Tips Facebook Group or on Instagram.

Wellness Tip - Try the green gut glow drink

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Monday, June 5, 2023

Easy Homemade Calzone Recipe

Easy homemade calzone recipe reviewed. Calzones are fun and easy to make. They are a great lunch, dinner, or anytime snack.

Our grandson Tyler, came over to spend Saturday with us and wanted to make calzones. A calzone is a pizza folded over and filled with anything you can put on top of a pizza.

I went to our local grocery store and picked up some pizza dough, pizza sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage crumbles, and mozzarella cheese. If you prefer to make the pizza dough yourself you use my Easy All Purpose Dough Recipe.

What makes these calzones so easy to enjoy is that you can easily find all of the ingredients at your local grocery store. Pick up the dough and your favorite fillings and you're on the way to a delicious lunch, dinner, or snack.

The first thing we did was roll the dough out in a greased pizza pan.

Next, we added the sauce, pepperoni, sausage, romano, or parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.

Then, we carefully folded our calzones over in half. Rolled and tucked the edges together and brushed the top with olive oil. Then, sprinkled some romano or parmesan cheese over top, and poke several places with a fork. The olive oil turns the top a nice brown and adds a little crunch. This one is all ready for the oven.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, and bake these on the middle rack for 20 to 25 minutes until they are golden brown. Let them sit for about 10 minutes and cut in half and enjoy.

Calzones are versatile, you can use just about anything you like as a filling. Following are some different ideas for calzones:

Typical Calzone Fillings:

Cheeses: Ricotta, mozzarella, cheddar, feta, and goat cheese.
Meats: Pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, salami, Canadian bacon, bacon, steak strips, meatballs, chicken.
Veggies: Bell peppers, mushrooms, artichokes, spinach, onions, hot peppers.
Sauce: Pizza sauce, ranch dressing, or other dressings.

Mix and match any of these ingredients or some of your own to make a calzone to your liking and then enjoy.

One of my favorite kitchen tools is the Norpro Pastry and Dough Roller the same one Tyler is using in the second photo.

Norpro 3077 Wooden Pastry and Pizza Roller Set of 2Check the Price Glad Nonstick Large Pizza Pan for Oven | Round Baking Tray | Textured Cooking Sheet Crisper | Premium Bakeware Series for Home KitchenCheck the Price

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Sunday, June 4, 2023

Twin Flush Extension Cords for Furniture Up Against a Wall

Twin Flush Extension Cords for Behind Furniture

I recently purchased a 12FT Flush Twin Extension Cord to go behind a bed against a wall. This means that we can have the bed right up against or very close to the wall instead of having the bed stick out because of the cord, and worse, a gap where things can fall behind!

A link to the cord, available on Amazon, has been provided below.

What is a Twin Flush Extension Cord?

It's exactly what it says; a cord that fits flush to the wall so furniture can be up against it and comes with two extension cords attached going two directions - left and right.

The design of this extension cord is excellent. With the slim flush profile and two 6ft extension cords branching out from the middle splitter, it easily tucks away behind any furniture and gives you a six-foot cord both ways. In our case, we're using it behind our son's bed. But hey, it would be an excellent extension for a couch up against a wall with a plug behind it and an end table on each side.

Works Great For Any Furniture Up Against a Wall That Has a Plug Behind

However, whether it's a dresser, table, TV, bed, couch, nightstand, or any other furniture, this cord flushes against the wall and extends to two sides.

It has three polarized two-prong outlets on each adapter, so now I have six outlets at my disposal. So in simple terms, on each side of the bed, three plugs are available, all from one convenient cord.

Safety Features of This Cord

Safety is a top priority for me, especially regarding electrical appliances. I'm pleased to say that this extension cord has safety covers for each outlet. These covers effectively prevent dust and foreign objects from entering. Knowing potential electrical hazards are eliminated, I can confidently close the tamper guard when outlets are not in use.

It works seamlessly with most common household small appliances and consumer electronics, making it incredibly versatile. Our son has a lamp, a cell phone charger, and a table fan plugged into his without an issue.

This extension cord is safety-certified and ETL-listed, giving me peace of mind regarding its reliability. According to the details from the manufacturer, it has a maximum amp rating of 13. Additionally, the included ten-year warranty and product support add an extra layer of confidence.

Five Stars From Me - I Would Repurchase It, And Probably Will.

Its sleek design, impressive capacity, safety features, and universal compatibility make it a standout product.

I personally recommend it to anyone seeking a flush twin extension cord.

Five stars from me.

You Can Find the Cord Here, Via Amazon

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Saturday, June 3, 2023

The Haunting of Josie – a Book Review

Murder, ghosts, and the most dangerous seduction of all....

A 1994 novel by Kay Hooper

Kay Hooper wrote in a note to her readers in the front of this book that she always did love mystery, romance, and just a touch of the supernatural.

In The Haunting of Josie she gives us Josie Douglas, who rents an isolated house called Westbrook. Josie has taken a year off from teaching to solve a mystery that has cast a shadow over much of her life. As the story evolves, we learn about the mystery, but also find a bit of romance with the property's owner, Marc Westbrook, and that touch of the supernatural in the form of a special cat named Pendragon and a restless spirit who has an important message to pass on.

Synopsis

As Josie is unloading her car to move into her rental house, she meets first a large & friendly black cat with a name tag reading 'Pendragon'. A short time later she meets the owner of the house who is living in the cottage at the back of the property.

Josie is instantly startled by her immediate positive impression of Marc Westbrook. It must have something to do with the fact that he is “drop-dead gorgeous”.

Marc explains that the house is named 'Westbrook' because an ancestor built the house back in the thirties and it's been in the family ever since. As Marc & Josie get acquainted, she learns that the house had not been lived in for a long time, since the death of his uncle, Luke Westbrook, 50 years ago, a well-known mystery writer who supposedly committed suicide. The house has recently been renovated and updated.

On Josie's second night in the house, as she is walking from her bedroom to the bath, she is shocked by finding a man standing in the hallway. Her first thought was for how he could have possibly entered the locked house. Her next thought was that he wasn't really there; that he didn't look substantial at all. Pendragon also appeared to see this 'spirit' who reached out a hand to her, then vanished!

With Marc's help with background on his 'uncle', a mysterious brass key that keeps appearing in different places, and enigmatic hints from the cat, Pendragon, they eventually figure out through strange coincidences that the ghostly visitor has a message that will explain this 'Haunting of Josie'.

Summary

I have been a reading fan of author Kay Hooper for many years and own most of her books. Therefore, I know that 'Pendragon' appears several more times in a series of books by Hooper known as The Bishop Files. He is a very unique and special cat indeed.

It was charming and a great deal of fun to discover Pendragon in this early novel by Kay Hooper, author of more than 60 books in both the Romance genre and the Mystery and Paranormal genres. And The Haunting of Josie was a fascinating way to discover Hooper's writing talents in both the romantic and the mystery, with a touch of the paranormal. Most definitely well worth reading!

*Book Review of The Haunting of Josie, written by Wednesday Elf

+Images from Amazon and Pixabay

The Haunting of Josie: A NovelCheck Price The Haunting of Josie - AudiobookCheck Price

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Friday, June 2, 2023

Father's Day Gift Bags Reviewed

Most often the gifts I give to my father, or that my children gave to their dad, are very hard to wrap in wrapping paper. Gift bags make that wrapping job easy, plus they save time and eliminate the need for tape, which I may not have on-hand.

Both my father and my husband love flashlights, tools, books, clothing items, and many other non-square shaped items that are hard to wrap. Unless they happen to come in a box, they require a search for a box in order to wrap them. When there is no box available, I have been known to just wrap paper around them, but that makes for a rather ugly gift. Many years ago, I started using gift bags for those types of gifts.

Not only do the gift bags make a pretty gift presentation, they have ribbon or fabric handles that make them easy to carry. Plus, they often have a thoughtful message printed on the bag, which eliminates the need for a separate card. Of course, you can still give a card, it simply is not necessary.

Gift bags have become as essential as the gift in our home. We save them and reuse them. That is something you can't easily do with wrapping paper.

Father's Day Gift Bags

There are so many Father's Day gift bags to choose from that it can be a daunting task to choose just one. Your dad will appreciate the gift and you will appreciate the easy gift wrapping option.

Some of the gift bags come with tissue paper, while others are just the bags. Be sure to read the descriptions of the listing and order tissue paper separately if needed.

SUNCOLOR 13" Large Father's Day Gift Bag With Tissue PaperCheck Price Bomiloho 16pcs Father's Day Gift BagsCheck Price MAYPLUSS 13" Large Gift Bag with Card & Tissue PaperCheck Price

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Do You Eat Enough Fruit & Veg Every Day?

Do you eat enough fruit and veg everyday?

Let's review whether or not you eat enough fruit and veg every day. The latest research seems to have discarded the 5 + 2 that we were told we needed to eat - five vegetables and two fruit every day. It suggests that we should be eating 9 fruits and vegetables every single day. Now a lot of people would struggle to get that amount of fruit and vegetables in their day so what can we do?

The number one thing I would suggest is to make sure that you are adding fruit and vegetables to your breakfast. I know that years ago I would have a breakfast that didn't contain any fruit or veg and then I basically had to fit my fruit and vegetable intake into the rest of the day, back then I rarely had an afternoon snack and my morning snack would be something like a sausage roll or a chocolate muffin. Lunch would sometimes contain fruit and/or vegetables, but not always. A favorite was a cheese, tomato and cucumber sandwich, but I would also sometimes have a ham and cheese or a tuna and mayo sandwich - aka no fruit or veg. This meant that I had to try and get my (at the time) 7 serves of fruit and veg with my dinner which really didn't happen. Now we have to make that 9 servings - "Houston we have a problem".

If you add some fruit and vegetables to your breakfast you start your day off making it a lot easier to hit your fruit and vegetables target.

I usually have three servings of fruit and vegetables before I even go to work these days so how do I do this?

I drink a Green Gut Glow drink first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and this counts as one serve of fruit and vegetables as it contains a scoop of Be Well Superfood Greens.

Next, I add fruit and vegetables to my breakfast whether I'm having an egg-based breakfast, oats-based breakfast, pancake or waffle-based breakfast, smoothie-based breakfast or salad-based breakfast.

Yes, I put salad-based breakfast in there, not something that is traditional my husband and I had a breakfast salad on holiday a few years ago and we absolutely loved it.

Let's go into more detail on these breakfast ideas:

By the way, it's also important to get plenty of protein in your breakfast as well. So what do you eat for breakfast?

By the way, if you want more tips for healthy living be sure to check out my Facebook Group - Healthy Tips to Feel & Look Your Best.

how to get enough fruit and veg everyday

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Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent ~ A Book Review

Strange Sally Diamond is set to be the talk of the book world when it is published on July 18, 2023!

I love to read and I'm generally drawn to Historical Fiction and Cozy Mysteries. But once in a while I like to stretch my boundaries and search for something completely new!

Strange Sally Diamond caught my eye as a book that might interest me mainly because of the title. We just found out that one of our grandchildren is on the Autism Spectrum, she can be a little strange sometimes and I thought I might learn something when reading this book. Well, I did learn something for sure, but nothing that I had expected! This book was a real eye-opener for me.

Well, it has nothing at all to do with Autism per se, but rather what happens when someone is so damaged early in life (by circumstances imposed on them) and how the human spirit helps (or hinders) the very fragile psyche of the individual in the outer world.

Strange Sally Diamond is that girl. She has a horrific childhood that she cannot remember. At the tender age of 7 she is adopted by the very people who "found" her. So damaged was her mind, that no one was considered capable of caring for this youngster. So the psychologist and the medical doctor (The Diamonds) who were working with her, were granted guardianship of this young girl and adopted her.

Sally is a reclusive person, by nature of where she has come from and what she has been through, and encouraged to be so by her "new family". Much media attention followed her for many years after she was first rescued. In order to help her the Diamonds decide to live in the country away from media attention while Sally grows up.

She has a loving relationship (in her mind) with her new mom and dad as they don't make too many demands on her personally. She is home schooled and doesn't have too many friends. Sally's problems begin when she tries to incinerate her father after his death in their home. He left instructions for her and she followed them to the letter! Media frenzy ensues as Sally is arrested for this "crime" and she's no longer protected by the confines of the family home. She only has a couple of really good family friends who have been with her from the time of her arrival on the family 's farm.

Stepping out into the world for the first time Sally must learn to navigate a world she does not know or understand and really has not been a part of for most of her life. Her new mom and dad had sheltered her completely. After mom's death, dad kept her even more isolated from the "outside world". But then he died too.......

The twists and turns in this book are enough to keep you turning the pages. What is "normal" and how do you help someone who is NOT part of that very narrow definition?

Sally has some help, but she also has a lot to learn both about the present, the past and the future.

You can pre-oder this book through Amazon and it will be published July 18 of this year. It is a page turner and if you enjoy mind bending books, this one will keep you totally captivated.

I'm going back to re-read it once again, it is that good. Mark your calendar or pre-order the choice is yours, but you will not regret reading this book!

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Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Reviewing Our Visit To James Herriot Country Thirsk North Yorkshire UK

We recently visited the North Yorkshire town of Thirsk. It lies about 22 miles north of York and 192 Miles north of London in UK. Thirsk is a beautiful market town located in the district of Hambleton in North Yorkshire, England. Thirsk has a rich history that traces back to the 12th century and archeological information indicates there was s settlement there 500 years BC. Its name originates from the old Norse word presk meaning lake or fen and is a very interesting place.

Thirsk is really lovely with a large market square, many independent shops, and great cafes surrounded by the most beautiful countryside. It is located between the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, making it an excellent base for exploring the stunning natural beauty of the area. This review is about our experience of the town of Thirsk itself.

View from the river walk, Cod Beck, to St Marys Church

Alf Wight The Vet and James Herriot The Author

It is also the place where James Herriot the writer and Alf Wight the veterinary surgeon lived and worked. He was born Oct 1916 in Sunderland and died 23rd Feb1995. He started working in Thirsk as a vet in 1940 after he graduated from Veterinary College in Glasgow and worked with Donald Sinclair for the next 50 years.

The World of James Herriot, is a museum that honors the life and work of Alf Wight, the author of the books "All Creatures Great and Small". We especially wanted to see the World of James Herriot Museum located in Alf Wight's former veterinary practice, as it showcases his life, the stories behind his books, and the history of veterinary science.

We took a self-guided tour of the house and saw how he lived and worked and it was truly fascinating and quite emotional to experience the life, sights and sounds that inspired the famous books and series.

This is the house where he lived and worked as a vet. The museum itself is in 2 parts, one is the actual house where he lived frozen in time in the 1940s with all the decor of that time.

World Of James Herriot Museum -house on the right.

The second part is how the series was filmed with the original sets. It is also the only Veterinary museum in the UK showcasing the various remedies and instruments used at that time. There is also a fun section for children or the child in all of us, where you can try out different veterinary activities and fun things.

We were also able to see the wonderful car he used and a short explanatory film about his life and work which was fascinating.

James Herriot The Author

I grew up on the amazing books of James Herriot and the memories of a Vet working in Yorkshire so I was excited to see the place where he practised as a vet and where the stories he later wrote about were born. He started writing relatively late in life. He had the stories in his head for a very long time and meant to write but it wasn't until his wife challenged that he would never do it that he started writing!

I love all of his books and spent many happy hours reading them including he following with their published dates.

If Only They Could Talk 1970

It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet 1972

Merged into one Volume called All Creatures Great and Small when published in the US 1975

Let Sleeping Vets Lie 1973

Vets In Harness 1974

All Things Bright And Beautiful 1977

The Lord God Made Them All 1981

Every Living Thing 1992

The Complete James Herriot Box Set is a wonderful way to start reading these books and a lovely gift idea

Then of course there was the wonderful filmed TV series "All Creatures Great And Small"

We spent about 4 hours there and I would strongly recommend a visit to this wonderful museum if you have any interest in James Herriot. We were able to take photos inside the house but as they are only to be used for personal use I cannot show them on this review.

It should also be noted that James Herriot also wrote wonderful children's books, based on his experiences as a vet all of which had illustrations. These include

Moses The Kitten 1984

Only One Woof 1985

The Christmas Day Kitten 1986

James Herriot Treasury For Children 1982

Bonnie's Big Day 1996

In addition, he wrote some books about his beloved Yorkshire such as James Herriot's Yorkshire

People often wonder why Alf Wight did not use his own name when telling his stories of practicing as a vet in the Yorkshire countryside. The reason was that as a practicing veterinary surgeon, he was not permitted to use his own name as that would have been seen as advertising.

St Marys Church, Thirsk

We also visited the St Marys Church the heart of Thirsk where Alf Wight married his love and it is a truly beautiful church with a lively active congregation. It is over 500 years old and is of Gothic architecture. It was renovated during the Victorian era but retains its original character.

The most notable and imposing feature is its tower which can be seen for 100 miles around and is over 100 feet tall. Inside the Church there are amazing wooden vaulted ceilings and decorated with ornate carvings. The chancel screen is gorgeous with its tracery and stained glass.

St Marys Church, Thirsk

St Marys Church Timber Roof

Thirsk Blue Plaque Trail.

We finished our time in Thirsk by following the Blue Plaque Trail which highlights many and various interesting and important landmarks throughout the town. The walk around took us about two to three hours so there were many places of interest but here are just a few highlights for you.

We visited the grand Thirsk Hall Sculpture Garden. Thirsk Hall is owned by Bell family who are opening their 20 acres of gardens and parklands to exhibit culture from different artists. The artists' work is changed on a regular basis and it was a very interesting walk around the grounds seeking out the various beautiful sculptures and talented artists work. It was a wonderful way to spend two or three hours. Again photos can be taken but are restricted to personal use only. It is a family home and the family do live there.

The Ritz Cinema was an amazing experience. We arrived about 30 mins before the film was due to start and were lucky enough to get talking to one of the volunteers there who kindly showed us around. It dates back to the early 20th century and as first established as a music hall venue. It has been entertaining the locals for over a hundred years.

There have been many changes of use over the years including a Bingo Hall before it was once again converted back to a Cinema in the early 1980s. It has been modernised and has comfortable seating but has a most beautiful art deco interior. It is now run by enthusiastic volunteers and screens current and classic films.

The Three Tuns Pub is three hundred years old dating back to the 18th century and is located in the market square in Thirsk.

It is a beloved building and over the years has been a meeting point for travelers, local businesses and farmers. Now it is a public House serving local ales and beer and food. It has a large beer garden at the back enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

The Golden Fleece Old Coaching house dates back to the 16th century and was a coaching inn stage for Royal Mail Edinburgh to London.

One of its most famous guests was Captain James Cook who used to drink there. It is very popular with people who go to the Thirsk races such as Jockeys, Trainers and racing enthusiasts. It is now a large central Hotel well situated in the market square in Thirsk.

Thirsk is home to the Thirsk Racecourse, which is a major attraction for horse racing enthusiasts. Although we did not visit the racecourse. It hosts a range of races throughout the year, including the annual Thirsk Hunt Cup, one of the country's top flat races.

All in all it was a really wonderful visit to the town of Thirsk and would appeal to anyone with a love of the beautiful quite stunning scenery which surrounds the town, a love of James Herriot books and TV series, a slice of British history and culture at its best and just embrace a part of the world that is a joy to experience.

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Monday, May 29, 2023

Observing Memorial Day 2023 - Movie Review - The Outpost

Memorial Day in the United States is a holiday to honor and mourn U.S Armed Forces personnel who lost their lives during military service. For many, this day represents a three-day weekend, travel, and barbecues. As a young adult I thought of the weekend only as the unofficial beginning of summer. I didn't fully appreciate the somber meaning of this day until my own children were active duty and deployed overseas. Now I spend part of Memorial Day weekend each year learning the names of a few of those for whom this holiday was created.

I read a book or watch a movie that highlights those who lost their lives while serving our country. I have a deep respect for those who choose to serve our country to begin with. Personally, it is important to me to learn the names of at least one persona KIA (killed in action) and to keep their memory alive.

The Outpost

Today I watched The Outpost. It is a war film released in 2020 and directed by Rod Lurie. It is based on the book, The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper.

The story is about an American military base in Afghanistan in 2009. The base is set in a valley fully surround by mountains. Not distant mountains but mountains towering over the base. Even a civilian like me knows that this isn't a safe position to be in when dealing with the Taliban during that time of conflict. But American troops are sent there because of the proximity to Pakistan and some of the supply routes coming out of that country and into Afghanistan.

It is heart-breaking when this vulnerable outpost is attacked and the Battle of Kamdesh results in many deaths. This battle is historic for many reasons. I am not sure of any way that I can tell more about the storyline without giving spoilers. So I won't. I will say that, as an army mom, it gave me an idea of what our deployed family members went through with limited contact with home, deciding what to say and what not to say when that contact is made, and their "austere" living conditions. We know that our Armed Forces members are sent into harm's way. But sometimes it appears that some of the risk is preventable.

This is a difficult story. But I believe it is an important one. When searching for recommended "Memorial Day movies" I found it listed on a military site. For that reason, I thought that the movie must be viewed as important or realistic - or both. I hadn't heard of this movie or seen advertising for it otherwise.

This will be one of the movies I watch more than once. A movie I will probably add to my annual Memorial Day tradition.

Additional Links:

In 2019 I read Dog Company You: A True Story of American Soldiers Abandoned by Their High Command. You can see the original post here.

In 2018 I learned about the Bataan Death March in the 1940s and about a special reconnaissance mission was occurring in Afghanistan in 2005 (Lone Survivor). You can see my original post for that year here.

In 2017 I read World Changer: A Mother's Story: The Unbreakable Spirit of US Navy SEAL Aaron Vaughn by Karen Vaughn. You can see the original post here.

I don't believe I have ever reviewed the movie Saving Private Ryan. I do not have the words to adequately describe that powerful movie. I do watch it every year during Memorial Weekend. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it.

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