Review This Reviews!

Monday, March 2, 2026

Reviewing the Rivers Shawl Crochet Pattern by Rich Textures Crochet

The Rivers Shawl crochet pattern is a beautiful and versatile pattern with interesting texture and pretty drape. Whether you crochet for yourself or as gifts for others, this is an excellent pattern to choose.

My Rivers Shawl with Mandala Gradient yarn colorways

While focused on making items for my first donation to a local care home, I have tried to focus on shawls, lap blankets, and other items that the residents would find functional and enjoyable. I am thrilled about this pattern and highly recommend it.

Rivers Shawl Crochet Pattern by Rich Textures Crochet

As soon as I saw the photo of this pretty shawl pattern, I hoped that it wouldn't be too difficult for me to complete. Wonderful news! I've completed several projects with this pattern using different yarns. I am very happy with each of the projects and plan to continue with this pattern.

Pattern information:

listed at the skill level - Easy
finished size is 18 x 64 inches
worked in rows - a 6 row repeat
written pattern uses American English crochet terms
pattern is worked in rows
stitches used: chain, double chain, half double crochet, single crochet, slip stitch and triple stitch
available in a video tutorial and written pattern (see links below)

I consider this size as a wrap shape, due to the long rectangular shape, rather than a triangular shape which is what I consider a shawl. Due to the original rectangular shape, this wrap is easily reduced in size to lap blanket size and would easily be increased in size to a sofa throw size.

My Personal Thoughts About the Rivers Shawl Pattern

While I've crocheted for decades, I crochet slowly so it takes a very long time to finish projects. Since I'm attempting to make over 20 blankets for gift, I was very happy that this pattern works up quickly. I also have trouble with multi-row repeats or patterns that require counting and keeping track of rows. I almost did not try this pattern since it is a 6 row repeat. How fun when I realized, after completing about 18 rows, that there are 2 rows of single crochet followed by a 3rd (and 6th) row of the single, half double, double, and triple crochet pattern. That 3rd and 6th row is the same stitch combination. However, it begins on a different stitch, making it seem like a different pattern. That is what causes the "waves" to alternate; row 3 starting with a single chain and row 6 starting with the triple. After these rows have repeated into the blanket it is fairly easy to make sure you are on the right track by checking to see if your current stitch pattern row lines up with pattern two rows below.

Yarns I've Chosen Thus Far.

Puzzle Premiere. To begin, I chose Puzzle Premiere yarn because it is size 5 weight and works up quickly. It is also a self-striping (although, I wouldn't call it stripes exactly). Which means few tails to work in from yarn color changes. Because the yarn is slightly thicker than the pattern creator used, I used a smaller crochet hook to make up for the size difference.

Puzzle Premiere

Mandala Gradient. Then I used Mandala Gradient cakes for the next project. It is a size 4, worsted weight yarn. That is the size the pattern creator used for her Rivers Shawl. Mandala Gradient yarn created a beautiful color pattern and a soft piece.

Other Yarns. This pattern has enough texture that it would look pretty with both smaller weight yarns and with solid color yarns. I think this pattern would make wonderful baby blankets in DK or Sport weight yarns. Yes. A baby blanket is next on my list for this pattern.

Related Links:

Rich Textures Crochet video tutorial and free written pattern on the Rich Textures Crochet website.

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.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, March 1, 2026

My Fun Wedding Dance Song Lyric with 19 Movie References!

I wrote Our Real Life Movie on February 22, 2026, and I'm smiling a little as I type that—because this song started as a challenge to myself, and I wasn't at all sure how it would turn out.

The Way I Was Able To Write This Kind of Song!

Writing songs about a couple's love is the hardest thing for me. Which is funny, really, because I've been married for forty years.

You'd think it would be easy. But writing about brand-new love, those early feelings, that fresh spark, feels far away sometimes. Not gone. Just lived-in. And trying to capture that without sounding corny, forced, or like I'm missing the emotional mark has always been tricky for me.

Originally, my goal was to write a first-dance wedding song. That was the intention. But once I sat down with it, I realized I needed a way in—something I could emotionally connect to. That's when the idea shifted.

Using My Crazy Knack For Remembering Movie Lines as That Spark!

I decided to approach it differently, drawing on something that has stayed with me my whole life: movie lines.

I'm Gen Jones, a late boomer (1954-1965), and I've been lucky enough to grow up with some incredible films—especially rom-coms from the 80s and 90s.

Certain lines never leave you. They lodge themselves in your heart, your memory, your understanding of love. So I started weaving them into the song—some directly, some indirectly—until the project took on a life of its own.

Nineteen movie-related lines later, what started out feeling difficult became fun. Here it is! It's upbeat and fun.

It wasn't easy. Not even close. But it was the good kind of hard—the kind where you don't mind taking your time because you're enjoying the process.

I didn't know if I could pull it together, and I didn't rush it. I let it become what it wanted to be. It took me about 2 days to write these lyrics; that's long for me. Oh, and of course, I design all the artwork and create all the videos. Lots of fun work. Lucky, I love it so much!

I've Been Writing Since I Was 8 Years Old - I'll Write Until I Drop :)

I've been writing since 1968, since I was eight years old, and I still never know where the next project will come from or how it will unfold. Some things arrive fully formed. Others need to be coaxed, challenged, and played with. This one asked me to stretch a bit.

I have written song lyrics from a fictional place before; this one, Elvis Saved My Life, was a fun project I gave myself in the late 1990s/2000s.

Creating the vocals and music took time. I'm fussy about emphasis. Certain words need to land just right, or the emotion doesn't work for me. When it finally came together, it felt right—like the song knew what it was doing before I did.

This song became a puzzle, and I love that part. If you feel like dissecting it and spotting the references, I've left the answers below so you can see how many you caught. I hope you have fun with it.

And if you're getting married—congratulations. Truly. If you choose to dance to this song, please link it for me. I would genuinely love to see it become part of someone else's real-life movie.

That thought alone makes the whole challenge worth it.

Here are the Movie Lines Referenced in The Lyrics (Directly or Indirectly):

1. "For a million tiny little reasons" – A Million Little Things

2. "I'll never let you go" – Titanic

3. "I'll never miss a thing" – Armageddon

4. "There's a time for everything, now it's our time to dance" – Footloose (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

5. "You'll never be in a corner" – Dirty Dancing

6. "Turning fifty shades of grey" – Fifty Shades of Grey

7. "We now write the script for our never-ending story" – The NeverEnding Story

8. "Etched in our notebook" – The Notebook

9. "Our tale of two cities" – A Tale of Two Cities

10. "Through pure serendipity" – Serendipity

11. "I jump, you jump" – Titanic

12. "I choose us" – The Family Man

13. "I wanted it to be you" – You've Got Mail

14. "Was like coming home" – Sleepless in Seattle

15. "It was like I had always known you" – Sleepless in Seattle

16. "We found our passion" – Flashdance

17. "We certainly made it happen" – Flashdance

18. "Oh what a feeling" – Flashdance

19. "Into our own ever after" – Ever After Bonus Musical Nod (not a movie)

BONUS: Old School Music Reference!

20. "Dancing on the Ceiling" – Lionel Richie

*************

Follow Me - Drageda - Lyrics About Life:

Facebook: Lyrics About Life on Facebook

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Amazon: Drageda Lyrics on Amazon Music

iTunes: Drageda Lyrics on iTunes

FOLLOW US ON:

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Pulse by Felix Francis - A Book Review

A horseracing mystery by the son of the well-known English author, Dick Francis

Felix Francis brings us another novel in the group of horseracing mysteries begun by Dick Francis and now continued by his son, Felix.

Synopsis

Pulse (A Dick Francis Novel)

A well-dressed man is found unconscious at a local racecourse and is rushed to the hospital. He subsequently dies and his identity is unknown. No identification is found on him and no one appears to be looking for him or reporting him missing.

The ER Doctor who treated the deceased is Dr. Chris Reynolds. She is at first intrigued by this nameless man, and then is all but obsessed with discovering who he is. She begins asking questions and discovers this to be a problem. Someone doesn’t want the questions asked or answered and will go to any lengths to prevent it.

At the same time, Chris is suffering from mental health issues and severe anorexia. Her husband and 14-year-old twin boys are worried about her. Even her job is in jeopardy if she cannot get her medical issues resolved.

While on medical leave, Dr. Chris continues to try and discover who the dead man is. When someone attempts to murder her, no one will believe someone tried to kill her. Chris is left with no option but to discover who the dead man was and why he died, before the same thing happens to her.

Summary

Another mystery set in the world of horseracing where the subject of race fixing becomes a factor in the plot of the story. Pulse, by Felix Francis, is part of a collection of novels continuing the racing thriller tradition begun by his father, famous English fiction writer, Dick Francis.

For more Francis (Dick & Felix) Book Reviews here on ReviewthisReviews, check out this link.

For more Book Reviews, check out ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of Pulse is written by Wednesday Elf

FOLLOW US ON:

Friday, February 27, 2026

Easy Apple Cake Recipe

When we received a bushel of Honeycrisp apples for Christmas, I immediately thought of the apple cake recipe that my mother-in-law gave me many years ago.

I've often made this cake during the holidays because we have so many out of town guests. Our family members come in from all across the United States, which means they hail from different time zones. Therefore, we have early risers who quietly start their mornings so others who are still sleeping can rest uninterrupted.

With the various sleep habits, we are not going to find a great time to have breakfast together. The apple cake is perfect for me to make in advance and have available for whatever time of the day our guests need breakfast.

This apple cake is similar to a pineapple upside down cake. The fruit goes on the bottom of the prepared pan which means it is on the top of the cake when it is turned out of the pan.

The cake does not need to be refrigerated, which is another plus for making this delicious cake and leaving it out for breakfast, or throughout the day as a snack.

Apple Cake Recipe

To begin, set out the butter to soften. Also, wash, core and thinly slice apples. Each apple will be cut into sixteenths.

Ingredients

3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup softened butter
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour (I use 2-1/4 cups Swans Down cake flour)
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup walnut pieces (if desired)
4-6 large Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples, cored and sliced

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F
Generously butter a 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking dish
Combine all of the dry ingredients and set aside (cake flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon)
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with an electric mixer until frothy. Gradually add the sugar, oil and butter (a little of each at a time). Beat until sugar has dissolved.
Stir in the vanilla (with the mixer on low speed is fine)
Add dry ingredients mixture to the egg mixture along with the walnuts (with the mixer on low speed is fine)
Spread the apples over the bottom of the prepared baking pan and drizzle with a few pinches of sugar
Pour the batter over them, smoothing to cover all the apples

Bake for 1 hour

Set aside to cool to room temperature. Turn upside down on serving plate. I use my cutting board as the serving tray for this cake. Not only is it the right size, but a knife will not harm it.

PrepWorks Dishwasher Safe Apple Slicer and Corer – 16-Slice Thin Apple Cutter with Safety CoverCheck Price Swans Down, Cake Flour, 32oz Box - Pack of 6Check Price Thirteen Chefs Large Acrylic Cutting Board, 16x10 Inch with Rubber Feet, Clear - Dishwasher SafeCheck Price

If you happen to be the recipient of a bushel of apples, you may also wish to check out my Apple Cobbler recipe or my Chocolate Covered Apples. They are both delicious!

Easy Apple Cobbler Recipe Chocolate Dipped or Covered Apples

Check Out More Recipe Reviews at
ReviewThisRecipes.com

Apple Cake Recipe Written by:

FOLLOW US ON:

Thursday, February 26, 2026

AI and Photography

AI generated image from original photograph

AI has come a long way since I last wrote a review on it two years ago. You now hear a lot of negatives (mainly when people try to pass an AI feature off as their own) but I believe there are many useful purposes for AI in photography and editing. I also believe it is important when a creation has added AI features that you represent it as such.

In the image above I started with a photograph of myself, as you see in the center of the collage. I then went into ChatGPT and asked it to create a collage with my favorite pastimes: photography, Bible class, Book club, photographing lighthouses, and bird watching.

Caricatures using ChatGPT

Another fun thing to do in ChatGPT is to make caricatures. These are very easy to make and ChatGPT allows you to make up to 4 images a day for free. If you want to do more in a day then you would need to upgrade to their paid version. I have made several of these caricatures and always enjoy the outcomes. Here are the steps I take to make the images.

Enter ChatGPT in your browser.
Sign in to ChatGPT
On the left side of the screen you will see images as a choice-hit that
Now a box will come up asking you to describe image here
This is where you list your activities that you would like to show in your caricature.
Now to the left of the box you will see a plus sign and this is where you add your photograph
When all is added you just click on the button to start and it will create your image. This will take a few minutes.

Below you see a caricature I made of my dog Dixie. I put her activites as running in park and chasing squirrels.

Dog Caricature created on ChatGPT

For my brothers-in-law birthday, I wanted to create a special card so I put a photo I had of him on ChatGPT and listed his favorite pastimes: the theatre, chess, visiting Branson MO and cigars. I asked for a caricature and here is the resulting image which I then put on the front of his birthday card.

Caricature Created by ChatGPT from Photograph

Generative Fill in Photoshop

Another great way to use AI is a fun feature in Photoshop called "Generative Fill". In this feature you use a photograph that you had taken and add something to it. You can do this by circling the area where you want to add something and then selecting generative fill in the Edit drop down menu. You will have a box pop up where you can describe what you want to add. Here is an example.

This is a photo I created an image for a challenge group I am in called" Monthly Artistic Playtime". They provided the hearts and lettering, and we were challenged to create an image using that. I added a photo I had taken of the Northern Lights for the background and then with generative fill I added the two Cardinal lovebirds.

Valentine Greeting

Creating Images in Meta AI

In this one I had a photo that I took of my backyard when it was snowing, and I wanted to use it for Christmas. I used Meta AI to add the wreath with the red bow, the twinkling lights and the greeting. Meta AI is found on Facebook and is very easy to use. You can find it on your home Facebook page in the lefthand column

Christmas Decor edited with Meta AI

2023 Review on AI and Photography

In 2023 I first wrote a review on fun ways to use AI and creativity with photographs. AI has come a long way in the past two years, but I thought you might like to see what I wrote two years ago. Here is a link to that review.
Fun with AI in Photography

Zazzle Card from my Designs

Valentine Card

FOLLOW US ON:

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

The First Gentleman Book Review

The First Gentleman, a thriller by former President Bill Clinton and the master of thrillers, James Patterson.

The First Gentleman is Clinton, and Patterson's third collaboration with the first two being The President Is Missing and The President's Daughter. The books are not a series, so it doesn't matter what order you read them in.

The First Gentleman: Plot

President Madeline Wright is in the middle of a reelection campaign and preparing a plan to save the US economy. But that is not her biggest problem; it's her husband, Cole Wright.

Cole is a former NFL star who played for the New England Patriots and is now the first gentleman. Cole is being charged with a 17 year old murder of a cheerleader, turning his world upsidedown.

Two investigative reporters, Garret Wilson and Brea Cooke, set out to write a book and uncover the truth about this cold case. Is Cole Wright guilty of murder? You will have to read this book to find out.

The story alternates between personal moments and political drama. You will be drawn into a web of secrets, investigations, and power struggles that feel real. Patterson keeps the chapters short and suspenseful, making this hard to put down. I do have the other two books and can't wait to read them.

Find more Book Reviews on ReviewThis Here:

ReviewThisBooks.com

The First Gentleman: A ThrillerBuy Now

FOLLOW US ON:

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

A Review of Making Hot Cocoa from Scratch

Few things are as good on a cold winter's day, than a big mug of hot cocoa. The smell alone is enough to take me back to my childhood and the cocoa my Mom use to make. Drinking it at the kitchen table, looking out the window at a glittering snow covered landscape. It was magical.

Mom never used hot chocolate mix, she made it from scratch, by the cup. In each mug, she would put powdered milk, cocoa and of sugar. Then she would boil water on the stove and pour one cup each in our mugs with the homemade mix. Then all you had to do was stir. Delicious!

The recipe is simple and easy to make....

1/2 cup powdered milk
1 teaspoon cocoa
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup boiling water

Making your own hot cocoa from scratch is so much better than buying mixes. Store bought mixes have all kinds of preservatives and additives that you really don't need to put in your body. Making your own cocoa lets you control what you put in your body. Another great thing is that you can adjust it to the flavor you like. More or less sugar, more or less cocoa, however you prefer it.

If you want to be adventurous, you can flavor your hot chocolate. Just add the following to the original recipe. Remember, one addition per cup.

Cinnamon hot chocolate - add 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon

Peppermint hot chocolate - add 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla

Coffee flavored hot chocolate - add 1 or 2 teaspoons of black coffee, to taste.

Orange hot chocolate - Replace half the water with orange juice and add a pinch of cinnamon

Three Adult Beverage Hot Chocolate Recipes

1. add 1 ounce of warm Kahlua

2. 1/4 ounce Peppermint Schnapps and 1/2 ounce chocolate liqueur

3. 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, 1 and 1/2 ounces of spiced rum.

I keep these ingredients in my cupboard all the time, that way I can have hot chocolate any time I want, or make it for guests. Some times I also make it for a hostess gift, especially during the holidays. Just bag the ingredients separately and put them in a decorative tin or box for perfect gift giving!

FOLLOW US ON:

Monday, February 23, 2026

Amicool External DVD Drive Review

Do you still own a desktop or laptop with a Cd/DVD player ? When my last computer met its' fate the replacement laptop did not have a CD/DVD player. At the time I wasn't concerned as through the years had pivoted away for media and store all documents and photos in the cloud.

Until ... I decided to tackle the media from years ago. In all forms saved on Cd's, DVD's, USB thumb drives and on and on. The library actually offers a digitize service free of charge; however, the wait list was long. Instead an external DVD drive was purchased for under $25 and it works like a charm.

The Amicool had over 11,000 online reviews with average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. A great affordable alternative for laptops and desktops without an internal drive.

Features

Slim, light and unobtrusive the Amicool is features packed:

DVD Drive

USB 3.0 C CD Burner

Cd/DVD Optical Drive Rewrite

Backward compatible

Compatible Windows 7-11

MacBook Mac Linux OS Apple

Recommendation

I highly recommend and this drive delivers as promised!

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, February 22, 2026

My Children Save My Life Every Day - A Song Review

My Children Save My Life — Every Single Day

All my life, I've said this sentence without thinking twice: my children save my life every day. It was never a slogan or something I tried to turn into meaning. It was simply the truth as it lived in me — steady, quiet, and constant. I realize that's a lot of pressure to put on our kids, but nevertheless, it's an honest feeling.

When I wrote the song My Children Save My Life, I realized I wasn't just writing about my children. I was writing to them. I was also finally giving words to something I later discovered so many parents, especially mothers, feel but rarely articulate.

Over time, I've seen versions of this same sentiment shared again and again on social media: my kids saved me, my children gave my life purpose, I wouldn't be here without them. Different words, same heartbeat.

That's when I knew this feeling deserved its own song.

As you read this article, you'll find some of the lyrics I wrote for this song filtered throughout.

Wanting to Hand Them an Easy World - Yah, I Know, It's Not Easy!

I want my children to have an easy life. Not a perfect one. Just an easier one.

When they were little, and even now, I want to hand them all the answers. I want to give them the map, the shortcuts, and the warnings written clearly so they can bypass that broken ground altogether.

I want to keep them close. I want to block the shadows. I want to win every battle for them so they can stay peaceful.

I know, logically, that children are supposed to struggle sometimes, that challenges shape them, that lessons learned firsthand matter more than anything I could explain.

But emotionally? Like many parents, I don't want my children to suffer. When they struggle, I don't watch from a distance (but sometimes I'm forced to), I dig deep alongside them.

Is that selfish? Maybe a little.

If their life is easy, mine feels easier too. But mostly it comes from love. From instinct. From that deep, almost unbearable desire to protect their spirit.

That's where the song begins — with that wanting. That hope that if I could just give them the book of life, filled with every secret to an easier road, they'd never have to stumble.

The truth is, that wouldn't work, because nine times out of ten, the likelihood they'd listen is slim to nil. But that's ok too, because it's evidence that, in the end, it's up to them.

Life, of course, doesn't follow the maps I draw.

Watching Them Become Who They Are

One of the hardest truths of parenting is realizing that no matter how much wisdom you carry, life still belongs to your children. They have to live it themselves. I've watched them stumble. I've watched them rise again. I've watched them make choices that require courage, quiet courage, the kind that doesn't announce itself.

There's a line in the song that holds a complicated truth for me: I'm grateful for their strength, yet at the very same time, I hope they never really need it.

That's the paradox of being a parent. You want your children to be capable and resilient, but you don't want life to demand too much of them.

What humbles me most is realizing they don't need my book of life after all. They don't need every secret written down. They find paths I don't see. They bypassed broken ground, which I thought was unavoidable. And in doing so, they teach me something I'm still learning.

Choosing Faith Over Fear

Parenting is a constant balancing act between faith and fear. Fear wants control. Faith asks for trust. Trust is not passive — it's an active choice, one I have to make again and again. Letting go doesn't mean loving less. It means loving differently.

I'm still practicing. I'll never be a pro at letting them go. But even in silence, I feel their hearts. I send them peace. I remind myself that I'm not their answer — I'm the road that helps them through. I'm the doorway into living, not the path they have to choose.

My children don't just shape my life.
They save my life.
Every single day.

And that truth deserved its own song. It was my Valentine's Day gift to them this year.

*************

I Write Lyrics About Life:

Facebook: Lyrics About Life on Facebook

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Amazon: Drageda Lyrics on Amazon Music

iTunes: Drageda Lyrics on iTunes

FOLLOW US ON:

Saturday, February 21, 2026

National Toast Day Review

Toast Day is held each year on the 4th Thursday of February. It was begun in 2014 by The Tiptree World Bread Awards to celebrate toast and all the breads we make it with. (Tiptree is a brand of fruit preserves, conserves, and marmalade made in England by Wilkin & Sons Limited, so it makes sense they have an interest in toast.)

Image of toast slices popping up from a toaster

The organization is in the UK, but the popularity of this day has found a following in the United States.

The Shades of Toast

Some people like their toast barely toasted (my mother, for one. I used to tell her that her version of toast was more like ‘warm bread’, LOL).

Vintage toaster from the 1920s and 1930s

Others like their toast almost burnt, which is a way I learned to eat it as a small child from my great-grandmother, Banny. At the time, the only toaster she had was a non-popup toaster used in the 1920s to 1930s. You lowered each side, inserted the bread, closed the doors and ‘watched’ it closely. Only one side was toasted at a time. One had to lower the doors, and flip the bread to toast the other side. And, yes, I do remember that toaster - it looked like the one pictured here. Banny, my GG, would wait until the smoke was coming out of the toaster (burnt), then toast the other side. Then she would lightly scrape the burnt part off.

It may sound weird to you today, but as a tiny child who adored her ‘Banny’, I thought it was great, and I loved the burnt flavor. The rest of the way we ate that toast was dipped in coffee (Banny) and cocoa (me). To this day, cocoa and toast is a favorite of mine. Although, I no longer eat my toast burnt! Most people prefer their toast toasted somewhere in between barely and burnt.

Toast Toppings

Now, the toppings for toast are endless, and depend on your preference. Butter is a standard topping, but favorites run anywhere from jam/jellies to peanut butter to avocados. Then there are standards like poached eggs on toast and toasted sandwiches.