Reviewing A Sand And Water Table For Kids

Outdoor Fun With Sand And Water Tables

Providing water tables for kids to play with is not only fun but great for them developmentally, too. As parents and grandparents we can offer outdoor fun for the children in our lives while they learn to play with water and sand. These activity tables are not as messy as a sandbox or a wading pool and they give the kids hours of fun while they play. They do not take up as much room, either. It is a toy that can be at their own home or one that can be stored at Grandma and Grandpa's house. No matter where it is, it will provide a great deal of fun for the children for many years.

Fun for indoor and outdoor playtime,  a water and sand table has no lights or sounds and uses the imagination skills of your child to have hours of fun with option for scooping, straining, sailing, and squirting activities. There is no doubt the children will find all sorts of ways to play with a table with sand and water.

Step2 Sand And Water Center

The water table above features two sides of play - one for water and one for sand. The plastic is molded with a wood crafted styling that blends well with natural landscapes and includes an 8 piece accessory kit: umbrella, 2 bridges, 2 boats, 2 pots and 1 shovel. The umbrella is designed to provide your children protection from the sun as they play outside on a sunny day. Elastic tie-downs keep the lid secure and the legs are detachable for easy storage.

Playing at a water activity table is more than just fun. As children experiment with water they improve their cognitive and social skills. When kids learn about things that can sink or float in water, they also improve their vocabulary skills.

Using toys like these lessens the mess of small wading pools and sandboxes in our backyards. These small tables also use less water for play conserving one of our most precious natural resources.

Standing at a sand and water table encourages the use of little fingers, hands, and arms while maintaining overall balance and coordination of their young bodies. In other words, providing this type of play for our children and grandchildren helps their bodies and minds develop in a healthy way while they are having some fun.

There are several different models of sand and water tables available for you to choose from, I just showcased one of my favorite options. As a parent and now a grandparent, I have always been adamant about offering ways for children to play outdoors and I think having a sand and water table is a perfect gift idea that provides a great playtime activity along with encouraging creativity and developmental growth all wrapped into one toy. Besides, this Grandma loves to play with the children at the table, too.

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Christina Baker Kline, The Orphan Train Book Review

My husband wrestled another really, really, really good book out of my hands and forced me to read Orphan Train.  He said I had to read this book before I could have the other one back because this book was a book club assigned reading and the discussion date was quickly approaching. Fortunately for me, Orphan Train was an equally good book and I had no trouble immersing myself into the historical story that unfolded on its pages.

Orphan Train is a fictional novel based on true events that was written with those in grades 9 through 12 in mind but that is suitable for all ages, not just children. It tells the story of orphaned children between the years of 1854 and 1929 who were rounded up in the cities of the East Coast of the United States and put on trains destined for towns near the farms of the Midwest. It chronicles their lives before, during and after the train ride, flipping back and forth between the Maine of today and the Minnesota of the Depression. It tells a story of struggle and strife, love and despair, second chances and love, focusing on two main female characters, Vivian Daly, a 91-year old whose life path was altered by her trip on the orphan train and Molly Ayer, a 13-year old modern-day orphan who is struggling to find herself. It is, most definitely, a coming-of-age novel that looks at the events that shaped two females of very different generations.

The Official Orphan Train Book Trailer

Are There Any Issues With This Book?

Some in my book club and of course many other readers have expressed disbelief at a life changing choice made by one of the major characters later on in the book. Others agreed with the author's and the character's decision and could understand why she might have made that decision. I uncovered a video in which author Christina Baker Kline explains her decision about that moment in the story. I am sorry to be cryptic but do not want to give away any secrets in my review. That video, Christina Answers Top 10 Book Club Questions, is a spoiler. I do not recommend it unless you have read the book first.

What Else Should You Be Aware of?

Guest commenter Cynthia, thought the book well worth reading. However, she cautions that "It does use a lot of expletives that she is not used to reading (though she hears them) and that it does get a bit too graphic at one point, but says that she thought it was realistic." Adding, "As long as readers understand things get a little "tough" then she would definitely recommend reading it."

Would I Recommend This Book?

Yes, YES, yes. I definitely would recommend this book. Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train spent more than 90 weeks on the New York Times best seller list with five weeks in the number one position and more than a year in the top five books on that same list, which really vouches for the book.  However, it is important to know that it is a very well written, easy and interesting read that harkens back to a part of American history that was not always pretty.

Amazon says that Orphan Train is both rich and epic. That it is powerful, sharing a story of change and strength, friendship and secrets. I agree. It is a great story, one that you will not want to put down until you find out what happens to Vivian and Molly.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it?

Happy Reading!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Links:

Order your copy of Orphan Train from Amazon.

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The Rose and The Thorn (MacPherson Brides) Book Review

I was initially drawn to this book because of the title, The Rose and The Thorn.  I was not familiar with the author, but decided to give the book a chance.   After all, I needed a new book to read and the title piqued my interest.  Since it was in the romantic Christian fiction category, I felt pretty safe. 

As it turns out, I am really glad I took a chance and read this book!  I finished reading it last night and immediately downloaded the next two books from the series.  I never want to be without a book and finding a series I enjoy is always exciting! 

It turns out that the book title was a play on the main characters names, Sarah Rose Greer and Thornton MacPherson.  Unlike many of the Christian fiction books I read, this book delved into some really painful experiences including rape and spousal abuse.   As a rule, I prefer books to be more lighthearted.   I have oft said there is enough sin and pain in the real world, I don't want it in my entertainment.  But, this book was more insightful about the impact of those actions on the victims.  In my opinion, the author struck just the right balance.  Nothing got too graphic to handle and the victims weren't wimpy, whinny little creatures.   They were strong women with real issues that they confronted.

Synopsis of "The Rose and The Thorn"

The book takes place in the 1800's when women were not considered equal to men.  It was also a time of arranged marriages, or at least marriages that were established based on social and economic background.  Marriages that were beneficial to families and not founded on love were much more commonplace.  Such was the marriage that was forced upon Sarah.  

 The Rose and The Thorn (MacPherson Brides Book 1)At 16, Sarah's parents died.  She and her little brother moved in with her wealthy grandfather who immediately made marital arrangements for Sarah with an older man who was deemed a good business partner for her grandfather.  Against her wishes, she married a stranger who turned out to be a real monster behind closed doors.  The inescapable marriage lasted 13 years.  After her husband was murdered by the mother of one of his rape victims, Sarah, her brother and the child she adopted, moved away from her grandfather and Boston.   As the named heir to her husbands wealth, Sarah was able to purchase a home for her little family and start a new life in the small, but growing, mining town of Central City.

Unfortunately, her brother still worked for their grandfather.  Not because he wanted to, but because it was his "duty" to expand their business into Central City.  Even though he was out of his grandfathers home, he was still controlled by him through his grandfather's manager, Stanley.  

Stanley had plans himself for the new wealthy widow.  He knew that if he married Sarah, he would not only control her money, but he would have equal standing with her grandfather, not just his employee.  His scheming backfired on him though and Sarah ended up being forced to marry Thornton, but this time it was a decision she made to protect her reputation and her adopted daughters future.  However, Thornton was just as much a stranger to her as her first husband had been when they "walked the aisle".

The analogy of the rose and the thorn became obvious almost immediately after Mr. and Mrs. MacPherson were united.  Both Sarah and Thornton had survived their previous spouses, but they still struggled with issues from their past.  Those experiences tainted and affected their relationship.   

Conclusion 

As I have previously stated, Christian fiction is my preferred genre, but I am often annoyed by how an author will present life as being easy for Christians.  They want readers to accept that God is going to make everything wonderful in their lives and that everyone will live happily ever after.  Since Christianity is not a fairy tale, neither is the life of a Christian.

I appreciated the fact that this author, Mischelle Creager, did not paint a fantastical life around her characters.  As a reader, I may not want to be bludgeoned with horror and gore, but I also don't wish to be assaulted with stupidity and completely unbelievable characters.  For the most part, this book was realistic without being too real.



The Rose and The Thorn (MacPherson Brides) Book Review & Recommendation Written by:

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Action Movies for Bored Cats (A Review)

Dandy and Oreo, my cats watching
their favorite action movie.

Is your Siamese sad? Tabby troubled? Burmese bored? If your cat needs entertainment, it's time to check out these action movies for bored cats, made just for them!

Believe it or not, cats love action movies. Specifically, they enjoy watching DVD's starring birds, squirrels, mice, gerbils, chipmunks, butterflies, and more, all in their natural habitat. At our house we call these DVD's "bird movies."

Meet Oreo and Dandy, our (now dearly departed) sibling cats, inside cats who never had the pleasure of partaking in the pursuit of winged prey. They were certainly attracted to birds, though; that was obvious whenever they watched them through the window. So we bought them a bird movie - and they loved it!

I laughed when I read the warning on the DVD label advising you to make certain that your TV set is secure because your cat may try to get inside the TV to get to the birds and squirrels. As you can see in the picture below, that was good advice.

My cats loved the video at first and would watch it every day, but then they figured out that they weren't going to catch those birds and tired of it. That's why I recommend that you choose a couple of different movies, to provide some variety for your precious feline friends.

Yes, even cats eventually tire of reruns.

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Try as she might, and she did try, Oreo never caught
any of the birds in her "bird movie."

The DVD that I bought for our cats is no longer in print, but there are some great, highly-rated alternatives. The "Cat Dreams" DVD has received great feedback from cat owners. The video is on a 90-minute loop, shot from a cat's perspective, and includes lots of movement, definitely an action movie that cats enjoy.

"Cat Sitter" is a trifecta of action movies for cats, available three in a package or singly if you just want to try one to see if your felines are interested (I'm betting they will be). All of these action movies include nature sounds which, actually, provide enjoyable background sounds for humans who are stuck inside and would rather be out, too.

EBay has an excellent selection of DVD's for cats, quite a few different titles, with great prices. Or try Amazon if you're interested in checking out more customer reviews of cat movies.

If you have a cat that lives indoors, I highly recommend trying one of these "bird movies" to bring a taste of outside action inside. The cats will have fun and you'll be entertained just watching them watch it!

P.S. Don't own a cat? Bet you know a cat lover who would love to have a movie for their bored cats. Why not share this information with them?

~ 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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Lady Bugs are So Cool

Now you must admit, this little red and black bug really is quite cute to look at!  When I review the benefits of having these Lady Bugs in the garden, I can't help myself, I am happy, and smiling.

These little bugs are the kind that you want to see in your garden! They are wanted for their ability to eat immense numbers of "bad bugs" that gardeners and farmers all over the world seem to have. Surprisingly, they are fairly long lived as bugs go! They have a life span of 2 to 3 years. Did you know that? According to the National Geographic that's what a lifetime for a lady bug is!

Others tend to think that lady bugs live a few months to a couple of years, I've never been able to follow just one to find out for myself which estimate is correct!

From the time I was a young girl (not so many years ago) I have always loved these little critters. I did not know then, that these were some of the best bugs to have around. That was long before I became a gardener or had any inkling of getting my hands dirty!  I just know that I liked them even when I was younger.   If one would happen to land on me, my day just seemed to be great!

Lady Bugs are Beneficial to Gardens

While most bugs in the garden tend to hide, these little guys just seem to scream, "Here I am!"

I can remember my sister and I going out to the garden to hunt these lady bugs and see who could get more of them........It was a game that we would play for hours. When we had enough of them gathered in a jar, my mother would immediately take us out to the tomato garden and watch us release our beauties right there. She would be pleased as punch that she now had her own "army" to do some of the gardening work!

My sister and I wouldn't mind either, because we could go out and watch them all day long. Now that I am all grown up, I think back to those Lady Bug hunting days with a smile on my lips, because I still go out to my garden to look for my little lovelies! But, I also look for ways to encourage them to stay in my garden! That means planting things that will in effect also draw aphids. That is not hard to do, because aphids have got to be one of the biggest garden pests going and they are attracted to many different kinds of flowers, including roses. So if you are a lover of roses, you just might want to also become a lover of Lady Bugs!

Lady Bugs are a favorite for many people.  There are many different items available with lady bugs as their motif.  From jewelry to coffee mugs. games and books, all use the lovely red/black and white coloring of the lady bugs to enchant and captivate their audience. I think that's one of the reasons you will find them in so many places.

I can remember when we first had our children. My sweetling ( one of hubbie's pet names)  was a budding carpenter (woodworker) and decided that he would build our baby's crib! He did a great job and while it was painted a very plain white, we wanted something to brighten up the new baby's bedroom. Well,  of course I went out looking for lady bugs! Truth be known, at the time they were hard to find, and I didn't trust my artistic ability. We searched and searched and searched (this was pre-internet days) and could not find what we wanted.

The baby's grandparents were on the way to Switzerland and there they found some beautiful ladybug decals. So, when they were back home, the decals were the first things to find a special place, and that was on the headboard and foot-board of the new crib........ Today I would have found some pictures and painted them on the crib myself, but like I said earlier, I didn't trust my artistic abilities at that time. How things have changed. Since that time (almost 45 years ago) lady bugs and insects in general have been given a whole new spotlight on the decorator's radar. You can find all kinds of bugs, beetles, insects and more to decorate your child's room. Not to mention flowers, and trees and a host of other "earth friendly" decorating ideas.

The Charm of Lady Bugs 

Lady Bugs are considered to be good luck, so if you get one to visit you, you are lucky too! There is something charming about Lady Bugs, and I don't really know why they stand out. It could be their color as those cute little red, black and bits of white, just make me smile. Maybe it's the whole idea that they are beneficial bugs that makes them desired, all I know is that,every time I wear my  Lady Bug pin, someone comments on it. There are rhymes that are told about Lady Bugs, stories that are written about Lady Bugs and a whole lot more. The bottom line is that lady bugs with their primary colors are wonderful ways to get children involved with their surroundings and get them thinking in earth friendly terms. I think the earth would appreciate having some youngsters interested in keeping the world green and healthy!
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Start small and work your way up to some real Earth Friendly activities! Budding entomologists, scientists, gardeners, are being formed just by awareness, and you can't start too early for that.

Get your little ones started on the road to learning about the earth and it's bugs with - a host of stories and books about the critters around them!

A deep love for all things of the earth are possible if you take the time to encourage that activity. Children are a natural place to start, because their curiosity is boundless.

Feed that curiosity with books, games and puzzles and who knows, you just might be encouraging the next generation of "earth sciences" scientists.


Even grown ups love lady bugs, so let your inner child out and enjoy what you did as a child.  Lady bugs are not just for kids to enjoy! If you loved them as a child, there is nothing stopping you from loving them now too!


Grammie Olivia loves to write on Review This, and offer a few suggestions for you to enjoy with your youngsters.  She is an Amazon Affiliate and if you click on her links, she will be paid a small commission. And because she loves LadyBugs so much you just know she will have them on her website`s banner!http://grammieknowshow.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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