Pet Tracker - Book Review

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Wouldn't it be surreal to be the police bloodhound handler who needed a search and rescue mission for her very own tracker dog—for a dog so gifted in finding others?  What are the astronomical odds against that dog going missing and needing to be found?

For Kat Albrecht, a professional law enforcement finder of missing people, the panic of needing to find her much-loved dog, A.J., would be one of the real turning points of her life.  To read Pet Tracker, is to become immersed in Albrecht's transformative journey toward finding her true purpose in life by way of revolutionizing how lost animals are returned to their families.  

When Albrecht went out to her back yard on that fateful day and discovered, much to her shock, that A.J. was gone, she initially reacted like those of us who have had that happen.  She frantically, and tearfully, called for A.J. and ran around the area looking for signs of him.  Then, Kat did something that made all of the difference for A.J.: she paused, calmed down, and instinctively let her training take over.

Albrecht needed direction on where to start searching and this required help in the form of another dog.  If dogs could track missing people, why not give them a chance to use that skill to find another dog?  This wasn't being done at the time, but, having no other leads, Kat felt it was worth a try.  Even though Kea, the dog brought in to search for A.J. had not been specifically trained for this purpose, she was known to be a gifted tracker.  The mission was successful.  A.J. was found and brought safely home.

While reflecting on what had worked, Albrecht began to imagine the possibilities of using refined training techniques, and the tools of her trade, to take animal search and rescue to a whole new level.  It would be her retired service dog, Rachel, who would prove to be the key to this whole enterprise.  Rachel, a Weimaraner, taught her human everything she needed to know to ensure there were far more happy endings to the missing pet stories.

Pet Tracker is everything I love in a book.  It combines intrigue with amazing animals, inspiring people, surprising behavior, spy gadgets, forensics, sleuthing, and heart-warming rescue stories.  I picked up this book in the midst of a very personal rescue operation.  In grappling with the most challenging search of my life, I needed more understanding, more insight, more direction, more of everything that would take me to a higher plane, where I could be more of what the lost need.

Like Albrecht, my life has been changed forever, all because of one lost dog.  My lost dog.  I encourage everyone who cares about animals, or their humans, to read this book.  You never know when you might be called into action to help save a life.  And who knows?  Maybe the life you save just might be your own.

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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Easy Bathroom Makeover

Easy Bathroom Makeover Reviewed

Do you have a small bathroom in need of a quick, easy, and inexpensive makeover?

I use the word 'easy'-I don't want to make you think that you just wave a magic wand and it's all done.

There is certainly some work involved, but it is really not that difficult.

We have a half bath in our house that really needed a new floor. Since we were going to replace the floor, we thought it was a good idea to paint the walls and trim work. 

The first task for our new project was to remove the toilet and get it out of the way. If you're removing a toilet, clean the wax seal, then stuff a rag into the hole to prevent sewer gas from escaping. 

The next step was to remove the old floor. I think this was the hardest part. Next, I removed all of the baseboards.  Do this carefully so you don't cause damage.

We chose a light mint green for the walls, but when we started painting, it turned out a little darker than we expected. So, I used the white paint that I had for the trim work and added a teaspoon at a time to lighten up the green.

Easy Bathroom Makeover: Install the new floor

Now it was time to install the new floor. We used peel-and-stick flooring. You can find very durable, inexpensive peel-and-stick flooring. In total, we bought 45 sqft. of tile and paid only $25.00 for the floor. Prices will vary depending on what you buy.

Before you install a new floor, make sure the subfloor is clean and flat. It's a good idea to use a Shop-Vac to remove all the dust from the floor.

Tools you will need:

• A straight edge, such as a level or a chalk line
• Tape measure
• Razor Knife
• Broom or Shop-Vac
• Pencil

Measure and divide the room in half by both length and width. Intersect the lines in the center of the room using a straight edge or chalk line.

Once the center is marked, start to lay the tiles from the center of the room out to the edges. You will have an even space on both length and width from your last tile to the wall.

At this point, you will need to measure and cut the remaining tiles around the room. They are very easily cut with a sharp razor knife.

Now that the floor was in, I painted, reinstalled the baseboard, and reinstalled the toilet. Overall, it was a pretty easy project. That means if I can do this, anybody can.

You might also want to know how to re-caulk your bathtub

Click here to find out how

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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When is National Umbrella Month?

WHEN IS NATIONAL UMBRELLA MONTH?

March is National Umbrella Month. In my part of the world, you could not pick a better month to celebrate this very important invention. Ontario is not necessarily the rainiest part of Canada but we do receive plenty of rain in the springtime, which is not a bad thing for, as you know, rain showers bring spring flowers.

Umbrellas have a number of job duties that are not limited to protecting us from the rain though that is what they are most commonly associated with. People also use umbrellas as fashion accessories, for photography and to block out the strong rays of the sun.

National Umbrella Month is the time to celebrate one of the most useful yet underrated inventions so before we plan our celebration, let's take this striking striking blue umbrella for a walk in the rain with us now. It is Amazon's top rated sky-themed umbrella and is available by clicking right here.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL UMBRELLA MONTH

• Celebrate umbrella month with a new umbrella. Find one that will be sure to make you smile on a rainy day!
• Celebrate by donating a new umbrella to a homeless shelter. It will help shelter someone else from the rain.
• Celebrate umbrella month by promoting your business with one. Instead of using pens this year to promote your business, use umbrellas with your company business information and logo on them. You'll really stand out in a crowd!
• Celebrate by hanging a decorative umbrella on your patio or by adding one to your patio table. Pick a colour or a pattern that you really love!
• Celebrate umbrella month by donating all of your used ones to goodwill. If you are not using them and they are in good working condition, you can bet that someone else will.
• Celebrate by donating ten new umbrellas to the Red Cross. Once again, you will help brighten someone's rainy days.
• Celebrate umbrella month by reading an umbrella-themed storybook. Yes, there are beautiful children's books devoted to the wonderful umbrella.

Can you think of other ways to celebrate National Umbrella Month?

Don't let those raindrops
keep falling on your head!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

MORE UMBRELLAS:

Order the Sky Blue Umbrella shown on this page directly from Amazon.
Learn about Totes Clear Bubble Umbrellas.
More days to celebrate in March.
Discover the Rainbrella Golf Umbrella.

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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Book Review - One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker

I was transported to 1876 Wyoming each time I began reading One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow here I left off. The story is so descriptively written that I felt as though I too were on the prairie. I will remember these two families and this natural setting for quite some time.

Each chapter was written from the viewpoint of Nettie, Cora, Beulah or Clyde. Each of them had a different reaction to the crimes that take place as the story opens. The tension between Nettie and the others is nearly as harsh as the Wyoming winter. Cora is as uncomfortable in the rural setting as Nettie is in Beulah's presence. And Clyde suddenly becomes the man of the house, of two households, but is still a boy who needs to decide whether or not to follow in his father's footsteps. 

The two families are oil and water but they must pull together to survive the winter.

Cora was from St. Louis. She met and married Ernest, who moved them to Wyoming. On her first night, she quietly ventured from the wagon as far as she dared and watched the turning stars in the night sky. She felt she could love the place. But it turns out that she didn't. Cora missed the excitement and socializing of Saint Louis too much. After Ernest left, she was suddenly solely responsible for her four children and the homestead.

Ernest found his wife at the river with Nettie's husband. He immediately leaves the homestead and heads for the sheriff's office in Painted Rock to turn himself in for murder.

Nettie is not the forgiving sort. She can't find it in herself to forgive Cora for her many sins but mostly for the sin of causing her husband's death. And Nettie is sure that the strange daughter of hers, Beulah, must be as corrupt as her mother. She directs her son Clyde to stay away from this girl. Nettie is stoic and strong. She has all of the right answers and solutions. Or does she?

Clyde is talented with the horses and knowledgeable with the sheep. He is hard-working and responsible but his father's anger bubbles just under the surface. This story is about Clyde's coming of age as much as it is about pioneers doing the best they can on the prairie. 

Beulah. Nettie is correct. Cora's daughter, is a strange girl. Beulah appears slow or lazy. But she's not lazy at all. She cares for the three younger children, gardens, helps Clyde with repairing fences, and she knows things. She knows things she shouldn't. Whether it is intuition or visions she knows things before they happen. And Nettie finds this very disconcerting.  




Life on the frontier is not peaches and cream. It is difficult. This story is about grudges, loss, forgiveness, a spirit, and the natural world - both good and bad. And two very broken families that may or may not find their way. There are portions of this story that are difficult to read offset by the beauty of love and healing. And family.

Related Link:

Renaissance Woman reviewed The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker. That story is set in Nazi Germany 1942. "To immerse ourselves into Anton and Elisabeth's war-torn lives is to see glimmers of unimaginable beauty beneath the desolation of loss, shame, failure, and fear". Continue reading the review here.  

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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An Affordable & Amazing Concealer - Check This Out

An Amazing and Affordable Concealer

My make-up routine is specific, fast, inexpensive, and extremely basic. It consists of a bit of eye shadow, mascara, blush, concealer, and lip gloss. Yep, I've mastered the five-minute face.

We all have health issues of some sort or another, however, problem skin has never been one of mine. The good skin gene has allowed me to be more liberal with my make-up choices.

I've never had to buy products for sensitive skin - and for that reason, I've had the good fortune of trying out just about every cheap make-up product out there!

After decades of trying different things, and enjoying the changes, I've discovered one product I'll no longer switch-up: I love e.l.f. Camo Concealer.

No Foundation Ever - Just a Bit of Concealer

e.l.f 16hr Camo Concealer - on Amazon

Foundation isn't something I choose to or need to wear. However, I do like a good concealer for under my eyes. Long hours, and those sleepless nights lead to tired-looking eyes - yuk - me no likey.

Also, in my opinion, tired, dark eyes make me look older. A good concealer is a great facial pick-me-up; it makes my eyes look brighter.

I've run my own not-so-double-blind-study: Without concealer, hubby will almost always say, "you look a bit tired today" - with it, hubby has been heard saying "oh, you slept well." Can't argue with wife-science?

I've tried umpteen concealers, and until e.l.f. Camo Concealer, I would switch products like underwear. I was never committed to a concealer, until this one.

Why I Like e.l.f Concealer

First, it's the price. It's not expensive. It's under $10 most of the time. Second, I can buy it at my local grocery store in the drugstore section. For any Canadians reading this, I buy mine at our local Superstore. Of course, you can find it on Amazon as well.

Skin Discoloration Cover-Up

As mentioned above, I don't have problem skin, however, a medication I take has a side-affect - skin discoloration.

Fortunately, it's only two spots on my neck. I get two reddish/brownish narrow blotches in the middle of my neck. Weird, I know. Unfortunately, they look like hickies (lol).

This concealer covers the two marks perfectly. I don't use very much, and I don't have to cake it on. By the end of the day, it's pretty much worn off.

How I Apply e.l.f. Camo Concealer

They give it that name for a reason - it's pretty thick. So you'll want to use it sparingly to determine how much you need. I use just a dab - the end of a fingertip - on each of the spots on my neck, then rub it in. I then put a dab under each eye, and on the eyelid of each eye, and gently rub it in. It's quick and easy to apply.

It Comes in Different Shades

Probably one of the hardest things to figure out with concealer is what shade/tone matches our skin. As you can see from my photo below, my skin is fair.

In the past, I always selected an Ivory shade. However, with e.l.f. Concealer I decided to try 'Light Peach' - Turns out, that's a better choice than ivory for me. The specific shade I use is "85845 Light Peach 9H02FH."

Can People With Sensitive Skin Use e.l.f Concealer?

Truth is, I have no idea. It may very well be fine, however, you'd have to do your own research on that front. My skin is normal, and this review is written with that in mind.

Make-up choices for our skin are often trial and error - e.l.f Concealer gets two thumbs up after my trial.  I've been using e.l.f. Camo Concealer for about a year, and plan to continue with it.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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