Decades ago, when I first took piano lessons, I was instructed to purchase individual books on theory, and some other books as well. There were three or four books that I had purchased. It is what was available at the time, and I got the books my teacher recommended.
When I had gone for quite awhile without playing, sans piano, I decided to get some books to help me relearn piano.
What I found was a book that has Lesson, Theory, and Solo, all in one book. I already worked through Book 1, and have recently started with Book 2.
I like this approach much butter, you learn a bit of theory along with explanations, and practice songs to reinforce the theory and technique, all in one book.
It's so much nicer having the various steps of learning, all in one place, in an easy understandable order, without having to go to one book from another; it's all sequential. It's much easier for one to follow and know what to do next, especially if they don't have a piano teacher.
When I started working in Book 2 of the All in One Course, Lesson, Theory, Solo, I was able to jump in and play the presented song from beginning to end, (They are short."), without much hesitation. I am pleasantly making progress. I know it helps that I had piano lessons many years ago, but overall, I think this method is much more enjoyable than the earlier method was, and easier too.
It is so nice having the lessons flow from one aspect to the next, in a sequential order, all in one book. If you are interested in checking out this book on Amazon, you can check it out here: All in One Course. There are other books in this series for different levels.
Cheryl Paton
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.”
Final Orbit is a novel that you just won't be able to put down. Chris Hadfield is a master at putting together a story that is full of facts and yet manages to weave in some fiction into the story plot as well. He is much loved Canadian Astronaut, author, musician and writer. This reviewer has read his books and loved each one. But let's get into the Final Orbit!
The 1970's space race had everyone interested in what was out there. There was much political, international and general interest in all of the exploration of the moon, the space station and the possibilities of future travels in space.
In 1975 the space race took on a whole new focus as Apollo and the Russian Soyuz were to jointly dock with the now abandoned Space Station. It was a time of hope for the whole world that the two super powers could in fact come together to benefit all of mankind with cooperation and not with suspicions.
But unknown to both the US and Russia, China has been secretly trying to enter into the space race as well. Deep in remote location, China secretly launches it's first manned spaceship. No one knows what their purpose is and even though the Russians and Americans are working together, they are never totally above being suspicious of each other too.
This space mission is full of many triumphs and many mistakes as well, not just in the heavens but here on earth as well. Three of the six astronauts die during a decompression error. One of the Soviet's and two American astronauts are no longer part of the mission as it was supposed to happen. That leaves two Soviet's and one American aboard the Apollo capsule to figure out what needs to be done and how to do it. Just to add to the astronauts stress, there is the language barrier to work through and teaching the Cosmonauts how the Apollo works, compared to their Soyuz craft. And then there is that pesky Chinese astronaut out there too.
It doesn't take too much imagination to put yourself right into that Apollo capsule along side these three space travellers. That's what makes this book so intriguing.
If you are an astronaut wannabe or get excited about the possibilities of outer space travel, this book is for you!
If you lived through the 1960's and beyond, the Space Race and all of the missions Apollo made, you will relive some history that was happening on earth during that time as well. The Cold War, Patty Hearst. civil unrests and more are all part of what happened during this mission.
Once you open the book, Final Orbit, will be glued to your hands until you finish the last page. and then you will want to go back to the start and read it all over again.
Well done Chris Hadfield, well done indeed!
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.”
A Liquid level indicator is not something I had heard of until my
husband was diagnosed with severe sight loss-blind.
It is surprising all the little things you take for granted when you
are sighted and how much you need to relearn or adapt with sight
loss.
Simply making a hot drink, a tea, a coffee had become some thing just a
little more difficult for my husband. We did not know what he was supposed
to do to know how high the hot water was. Did he just put his finger at the
top of the mug and risk being burned, or did he give up making hot drinks
altogether?
Even cold drinks were an issue as unless made over the sink we could
have many spills to clear up.
Making a hot drink became a real challenge. We worried that he would burn
himself or spill hot or cold liquids over the worktops and floor, it then
itself becoming a safety hazard, or put his hand in hot liquids. Suddenly
something that most adults take for granted became an issue and a lack of
independence.
We went to an information session soon after he was diagnosed. It was all a
little overwhelming but we noticed that the drinks were being made by a
blind person and we kept hearing these little bleeps and I noticed a small
device hung over the mugs. It wasn't long before the session began and
drinks were handed out. So I asked what is that device you used and he
started to explain.
In this article we will be using the terms severe sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.
What Is a Liquid Level Indicator And How Does It Work?
It is a small device that clips or hangs onto the edge of a cup, mug,
soup mug or glass.
1. Place it so that the metal prongs are on the inside of
the container. Often there are two levels of prongs one for a general alert - this is when you should stop pouring. However, If you carry on pouring there is often an emergency alert when you must stop pouring.
2.Then you simply pour the liquid as usual from the kettle, tap
or jug.
3. As the level of the liquid rises the liquid touches the metal prongs and
device uses sound or vibration to let you know when the mug, glass, jug or whatever is
nearly full.
4. These alerts give you enough time to stop pouring before the liquid reaches
the top.
5. Then you stop and take the device off the mug or glass. Simple as that
!
There are different models to choose from but that is the essentials of
every Liquid level indicator. It then all depends what you are wanting and
what is most helpful to a person individually.
Most have an alert when the liquid nearly reaches the top.
Many have two
alert levels, one when the mug or glass is nearly full and one emergency alert when it is
nearly to the top.
Some have bleeping and vibration when liquid is reaching the top.
Some advanced models differentiate between hot and cold liquids, offering
stronger alerts for hot drinks to enhance safety. We don't have that one,
but may consider it for the future.
I have also heard of "smart" models which link to a smartphone but these
are not common and I have not experienced one.
My husband is happy with our quite straightforward model which bleeps and
vibrates when the liquid is close to the top. It is clear, simple and
effective.
It takes only a very little time to get used to using it and to remember to
use it, but it is not a steep learning curve. There are no courses to go on
or skills you need to know. It is just practice and habit.
My husband said it is very easy for him to use. It is a good idea to start
with a cold drink and then progress to hot drinks once you feel
confident.
Why Does Being Able To Make A Simple Drink Matter?
For many people with severe sight loss, pouring drinks is a significant and
frequent challenging task throughout the day. Think about how many times you
make a drink in a typical day !
Especially when making hot drinks, it becomes a safety issue and can carry
a real risk of burns. Not being able to make a drink safely robs a person of
autonomy and independence.
A liquid level indicator helps
Preventing burns from overfilled hot drinks, or feeling the need to stick
a finger in the cup to test how far the liquid has reached, which is a
significant safety risk.
Reducing spills and cleaning them up.
Reducing the risk of slipping on wet floors
Supporting independence and confidence in normal, everyday tasks
Supports a person with sight loss still being able to make drinks for
themselves and friends and family.
For people who live alone it is essential to be able to make a drink
safely.
Even if living with other people or at work, the ability to make a drink
for yourself and others is a small but significant sign of independence. My
husband now loves to make me a hot drink of coffee in the morning and it is
a lovely start the day !
Although primarily used by people who are diagnosed severe sight impaired
or partially sighted, this device can also be useful to people who have
tremors or motor impairments and people who may have declining vision,
macular degeneration, cataracts or other sight issues.
Features To Consider In A Liquid Level Indicator
Audible alerts, look for clear, loud beeps
Vibration mode is useful if the person also has hearing loss or just
prefers a vibration rather than a noise. The vibration should be strong
enough to feel through the hand holding the container.
Some have both audible and vibration alerts which can be useful in busy,
noisy places.
Magnetic can be useful. We love ours as it sticks the fridge freezer so
takes up no room on worktopsand is vey easy for my husband to find.
Lightweight and easy to carry so it can be taken when travelling and
visiting friends and family, to hotels etc.
Heat resistant as clearly it needs to be safe to use with very hot
drinks.
A good battery and/or rechargeable battery
A good price, many are not expensive, it all depends how sophisticated
you would like it to be, but a basic model works well. Some organisations
and sight loss charities provide them at a reduced cost.
So a liquid level indicator is another example of a low tech, reasonably
priced and simple device that can make a huge difference to independence,
confidence, dignity and safety for a person with sight loss. It is now just
a part of our kitchen devices and appliances and we would not be without
it.
Reviewing Liquid Level Indicators For People With Sight Loss by Raintree Annie.
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.”
The beautiful knitted Sophie Scarf has taken the yarn art world by storm. This is a retro style scarf with a modern, knit pattern. This scarf reminds me of fashionable women in the 1950's, women such as Audrey Hepburn, and has reignited my desire to build my Tunisian crochet skills.
Knitted Sophie Scarf
As far as I can determine, the original Sophie Scarf knit pattern was created and offered by Petite Knit. It is no wonder that this small scarf, with a pleasing shape, and I-cord edging became popular. It is a handmade item that many people would choose to wear. It is functional and pretty.
Of course, with all things viral or popular, the copycat versions appeared overnight.
If you are a knitter, or if you are a person who supports small business, I hope you will find Petite Knit and use her pattern or support her by interacting on her social media pages. I will include those links below.
Crochet Scarf Versions
I enjoy crocheting. There are many beautiful crochet stitches and a vast variety of patterns available from beginner to expert. There are some crochet Sophie Scarf (or skinny scarf) copycat patterns that I like. Some of those feature ribbing, thicker yarn, and bigger stitches. I have plenty of those patterns saved for later. They often have a more rustic look that would pair great with Carhartt, denim, or similar jackets and coats.
However, in my opinion, knit makes a prettier, more delicate, stitch and lends itself better to certain items; sweaters, socks, and many styles of scarves are handmade wearables that I think are often prettier done in knit.
Tunisian Crochet
I think that Tunisian crochet is a wonderful blend between the knit and crochet outcomes. Tunisian crochet is created with one hook that is often the length of a knitting needle but with a crochet hook on the tip. Tunisian crochet, in my opinion, creates a more fine stitch than crochet.
Don't misunderstand me. I love crochet. When making afghans, chunky hats, thick scarves and slippers I feel that I will always gravitate toward crochet. But now that I have decided to make
The best difference between knitting and Tunisian crochet, for myself, is that when I drop a knitting stitch, or make a mistake, I can NOT successfully backtrack and fix the mistake or pick up the dropped stitch. With Tunisian, like crochet, each row starts with one loop on the hook. I can rip out the mistake back to the beginning of the row, and continue on with the project.
But I Don't Wear Scarves
That is right, I don't wear scarves. Nor do I gravitate toward trends, especially fashion trends. So why am I head over heels with this scarf trend?
Gifts. Gifts that I think the receivers will love.
Over the past couple of months, I have focused on creating crochet items to donate to the local care home. I feel that the elderly who live in a care facility are often overlooked. I am planning to donate lap blankets, hats, shawls and such. As soon as I saw the Sophia Scarf trend I thought of women's fashions and the women who may have worn that trend in their youth.
While I recently wrote that I am learning knit, thanks to switching to wooden knitting needles that help me to control the yarn, I am very slow when knitting. I make many mistakes and I am not yet able to fix mistakes. I end up scrapping an entire project when knitting. However, when I am finished working on these projects with the self-imposed timeline, I WILL continue to practice knitting and WILL begin to make the knit Sophie Scarves by Petite Knit. They are just that pretty.
I made a very brief video to show friends and family my newest project. You are welcome to look. I realize that I misspoke and named the wrong Hepburn in the video.
Related Links:
I believe the original, knit Sophie Scarf pattern was created by Petite Knit. You can find that pattern on the website.
For Tunisian Crochet inspiration, I highly recommend checking out HookLoopSarah on Instagram for beautiful photos of her talented yarn work. It is difficult to believe that her sweaters are handmade. But I believe it since I've followed her for almost 10 years now. I used her very brief tutorials on her YouTube channel for reminders and pointers with Tunisian crochet. You can also find her on her 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.”
I wrote The Tango of My Life around 2009. I wasn’t personally walking away from my life at the time, but I know I must have been stressed. You know those moments — when life feels loud and heavy, when everything piles up at once, and you suddenly think, I just want my life back. That’s where these lyrics came from.
When Life Gets Too Loud
This song is an empowerment song, but not in a dramatic or rebellious way. It’s for women who feel overwhelmed. Not women who are necessarily trying to walk out on their lives, but women who reach that quiet breaking point where they say, Damn… that’s it. I need to find me again.
That’s where the lyric Destination Me comes from. It came from that internal moment when you stop trying to hold everything together for everyone else and realize you need to turn back toward yourself. Destination Me isn’t about leaving your life — it’s about returning to yourself within it. It’s the decision to choose yourself without knowing exactly what the next step looks like.
This song isn’t about running away. It’s about claiming yourself again.
Writing Was Always My Exit - Sometimes Saving Me From Heading to the Front Door!
For me, the exit was never leaving — it was writing. Some people journal. I write lyrics. I’ve been doing that since 1968 (yah, I was 8 years old). When life gets tangled, when emotions don’t come in neat sentences, I put them into a song or a poem.
The Tango of My Life came from that place. It came from needing to breathe. From needing to hear my own voice again. From realizing that sometimes the only way through overwhelming life circumstances is to stop and put the truth somewhere safe.
This song isn’t about quitting on people, and it isn’t about abandoning your life. I’m not saying that some people don’t need to leave certain situations — sometimes they do — but this song holds more than one truth. It can be a momentary feeling of get me out of here, or a long-standing knowing that something has to change. It holds both.
The Middle Still Belongs to You
The song talks about how someone else may have gotten the beginning of your story, but you still get to decide the middle — and ultimately, the ending. That part belongs to you. Always.
This is a song for people reclaiming their lives. It’s also for someone who’s just having a bad day and thinking, I’ve had enough. I need to pause. I need to do this for me.
If that’s you — even just for today — this song is for you.
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.”
If you're looking to make a quick pizza for dinner or just a snack, this quick and easy pizza dough is perfect. This is perfect for one pizza and so easy to prepare.
1 package of yeast (Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Instant)
1 teaspoos salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, add the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Mix together with a fork.
Add the olive oil and water, and mix until a dough forms. I always use my KitchenAid Stand mixer for this.
We are using Rapid Rise Instant yeast, so there is no need to proof it in water; just add it to the dry ingredients.
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for about 30 minutes. You only need to let the dough rise once, and you are ready to make pizza.
For a thinner pizza, I use a greased 10-inch-by-15-inch square pan. For a little thicker pizza, I will use a 12-inch round pan.
If you're looking to make pizza for a crowd, check my Easy All-Purpose Dough Recipe. This recipe will make three 10" x 15" pizzas. You can also use the rapid-rise yeast in this recipe.
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.”
My mother has pretty much everything she needs or wants. Buying a
gift for her is rather challenging. I spent some time searching Amazon
products before Christmas, asking myself questions about each thing I
considered and then rejecting it. That is, until I found this really
cute fleece loungewear outfit.
Mom and I are both always cold. Seriously! It can be 70°
outside, but with the air conditioner on inside, we get cold. It seems
an odd dance. We love air conditioning, but we also like to be
warm. This fleece loungewear will most likely be a year round part of
our wardrobe.
Oh, yes! I did say "our" wardrobe. I had put the outfit on my
wishlist so I could go back and buy it for Mom once I decided on a color and
size. It was on the wishlist for less than 48 hrs, but that was
clearly an important 48 hours. During that time, my son checked out my
wishlist to select a gift for me for Christmas. Obviously, he liked
the loungewear because he purchased it for me.
Christmas morning was rather humorous when Mom opened her gift first and he
thought the wrong gift went to her. She loved it so much, he was not
about to open his mouth and say anything though. It would be easy to
mix up gifts when handing them out since I call Mom, "Mom" and my son calls
me "Mom", but there was no mix-up. When I opened my gift, he was
greatly relieved to see me pull out the same fluffy blue outfit. The
rest of us were confused at why he was laughing, but a brief conversation
between us revealed what had happened. Turns out, the gift was perfect
for both of us!
Since Christmas morning, we have run around looking like 2 blue polar
bears. Mom and I both wear the loungeware over our pajamas. We
even wear the jackets when going back and forth to each other's
homes.
The listing says they are pajamas. I have not worn the outfit as
pajamas, but Mom has. She loves how warm and lightweight they are even
when sleeping.
If you can't stand the cold, I highly recommend this fluffy fleece
loungewear, day or night!
Bedsure Fleece Women's Pajamas
Bedsure Fleece Womens Pajama SetsCheck PriceThe Bedsure fleece loungewear pajamas are 100% polyester and extremely
soft. Plus, they are very lightweight. I love the pockets in the
jacket! They are perfect for my cellphone, keys, Kleenex, hair clips,
etc.
Mom and I are both short. The ribbed cuffs at the wrists and ankles
are great. The ribbing keeps the fabric the right length without
having tight elastic or requiring alterations.
It is also machine wash and dry, which mean we don't have to be
parted from our blue bear suits for long. I have washed mine several
times and it still looks as good as the day I opened the package.
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.”
I saw a video on YouTube praising the benefits of purple cabbage. I thought wow, I'll have to check that out. According to the AI results when I did a search on Google, purple cabbage supports heart health, bone health, digestive health, reduces inflammation, improves immunity, and even has cancer prevention properties.
Purple cabbage has Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, folate, and minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Sounds like a winner on multiple accounts.
I later saw a video where the person used purple cabbage in a salad. I was inspired by their recipe, but did not make their recipe.
Even when I looked for it in my browsing history, I couldn't find it. So I ad-libbed and made my own. Here is my version, which I call Refreshing Purple Cabbage Salad, because I thought it tasted refreshing when I ate it.
All measurements are approximate, as I just eye balled it for the total overall equality of the amounts.
1/2 of a purple cabbage, cut into slices and then sliced those pieces crosswise.
Around a dozen mini carrots - sliced lengthwise in half, and then slice each half into skinny strips, then cut the strips into halves.
One apple with peel on, sliced into slices, and then slice the slices into stripes, and then cut strips into thirds.
A couple of small boxes of organic raisins.
Around a half of cup of chopped walnuts, that I further chopped into smaller pieces.
Toss the above ingredients together.
I stirred in several Tablespoons of Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing and Marinade. This was dressing that I bought at the grocery store in the refrigerated section near produce, the Panera brand. I chose Panera brand as they are pretty good about keeping their ingredients on the healthier side.
If you want to make your own dressing, I would recommend a mix of the mayonnaise of your preference, with around a third amount of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar, with a bit of honey to taste. Stir or whisk together. Adjust any amounts to your preferred taste.
With this type of salad, I prefer to store any leftovers in a glass bowl that has a lid to fit. Pyrex is my choice for this. I actually found an individual Pyrex bowl like the green one, in my local Kroger grocery store. The set is available on Amazon.
I stored my leftovers in the green glass bowl that I mentioned above. The salad tasted just as good the second day.
Have you used purple cabbage in a salad before?
Here's to your good health.
Cheryl Paton
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.”
