This year, Fran just had to add another piece of furniture to our deck, and I'm so glad she did. She found this zero-gravity lounge chair, and we have enjoyed it all summer long. This chair makes it so easy to take a nap on a beautiful summer day.
This chair is so comfortable when I sit in it and recline; it feels like I'm floating on air. This chair was the perfect addition to our deck this summer. Since we have a finished basement, I'll move this chair there and enjoy it all winter long.
The chair has a comfortable headrest and a convenient side tray with two cup holders and two slots, one for your phone and one for your tablet. The only problem is when our son and daughter-in-law visit with our granddaughters, the chair is always occupied, so I don't get to sit in it.
The material is durable, and the highly elastic bungee ropes conform to your body, offering support and comfort like no other chair. I love this chair.
You can find this chair on Amazon in three different colors.
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.”
These cute fish are a fun choice for children's birthdays. The Collection includes invitations, paper plates, paper napkins, stickers, table sign, wrapping paper, and thank you cards.
The invitations are also downloadable, offering a quicker way to get the invites out in the mail.
The fish are in various sizes and shapes too! They're purple and have got various styles of striped markings on them that are either white or purple. The basic fish is lavender with white highlights.
The various products in the Collection can be customized and personalized.
The invitations are flat, two sided cards, with the, Help us celebrate... question on the front. The back side of the invitation has a template placeholder for the birthday party details, along with an image of the matching party hat on it.
The Thank you cards has a template placeholder on the back, that the child can personalize by hand. The thank you text can be easily customized to rephrase it in their own words. Then there is a line at the top of the verse for the child to write in the person's name, to whom they are writing. And there is a line below the text for the child to sign their own name to the thank you.
For those that are wondering how I came up with creating abstract purple fish for a birthday theme, it was a round about way. I decided to go through my various creations that I had made to use as possible scrapbook paper backgrounds. I made a bunch of designs and tried out different things. I picked the ones I wanted to offer as scrapbook paper, and set the other creations aside for awhile.
I eventually went back to them, with no theme in mind, just a wondering as to what I might be drawn to. I saw a particular purple one that looked like fish shapes in it. I was intrigued. I had made those shapes using some store bought leaves I had on hand. Anyway, I continued to go through my other leftover backgrounds to find something the fish could go on. I narrowed that down to two choices. I cut the fish shapes out and placed them on the two background choices to see which one I would like best.
After I got the fish arranged and glued on, I decided that they needed some air bubbles floating up to the top. I painted in some fishy details and added a shadow line below their bodies, and voila, the cute abstract fish design was born.
Hope you like them and that you have some friends and or relatives that they would be a great choice for.
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.”
As autumn returns and the cooler weather settles in, my mother has been on my mind every day.
When the seasons change, my parents come front and center in my thoughts, bringing back all the things I miss about growing up.
Fall always reminds me of my mom preparing homemade pickles and beets, filling the cellar and freezer up with homemade goodies.
To honor my late mother, I decided to write her this song called Mom's Pickles and Beets. Below, you will find the story of me as a fifteen-year-old girl back in September 1975. I hope you enjoy the story below and the related song.
A Page from My Life in 1975:
September 1975 brought that familiar, sharp chill to the air, signaling the start of a brand new season. I was fifteen years old and it was all in front of me.
For me, autumn was always the absolute best time of the year, filled with the return of school routines, skating lessons, and the comforting sense that September offered a fresh start.
Coming home at the end of the day meant stepping through the front door into a warm haven. The kitchen always smelled richly of spices and a pot of homemade soup simmering steadily on the stove.
Countertops would be lined with rows of freshly packed mason jars filled with homemade pickles and beets. My usual routine was to head straight for the living room fireplace to warm my hands, just as Mom would call out from the kitchen, asking me to head down to the basement to handle the laundry basket and grab a container of fudge on the way back up.
Mornings didn't always run smoothly, of course. There were frantic days when sleep got the better of me, and I had to scramble, racing into the kitchen to plead, "Mom, can you drive me? I'm going to be late!"
With a familiar roll of her eyes and a quick, resigned nod, she would agree, usually adding with a knowing smile, "You know, I won't always be here to fix every mess."
More than five decades have slipped away since those days. Yet every time the autumn leaves begin to turn, those memories return just as vividly as ever.
The scent of her cooking, the quiet warmth of those evenings, and the lasting comfort of her presence remain woven into every part of who I am today. I miss my mother.
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What memories do fall and the changing seasons bring back for you?
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"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**
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The last part of our road trip takes us through New Mexico, Arizona and on to the California Coast where the designated ending to Route 66 is at the Santa Monica Pier.
THE LAST THREE STATES OF ROUTE 66:
New Mexico, Arizona, California
NEW MEXICO - 487 Miles
Of the original 400+ miles of Route 66 across New Mexico, 265 miles are still drivable. Running parallel to Interstate 40, this drivable, historic stretch connects iconic boomtowns like Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Grants, and Gallup. Travelers can experience vintage neon signs, classic motels, and deep Indigenous and Spanish heritage.
Highlights include the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, the Blue Hole, an 80-foot artesian spring, in Santa Rosa, the Nob Hill district, filled with vintage diners and local events in Albuquerque, and the McKinley County Courthouse (The Heart of Indian Country) in Gallup.
ARIZONA - 401 Miles
Check out the Petrified Forest National Park in NE Arizona. Spend a night in a vintage concrete teepee in Holbrook (AZ). Stop at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City and the Powerhouse Museum in Kingman, known as the “Heart of Historic Route 66”.
Conclude your Arizona Mother Road trip in Oatman, as you enjoy a mountain drive through the Black Mountains.
CALIFORNIA - 314 Miles
From the Arizona border at Needles, the Route 66 Road Trip includes over 300 miles through the Mojave Desert, past historic ghost towns and those iconic roadside diners. Barstow offers a desert oasis featuring the ‘Mother Road Museum’.
You will pass through San Bernardino, Pasadena & Los Angeles, then follow Colorado Boulevard directly to the Ocean. The official “End of the Trail”, complete with a sign, is at the Santa Monica Pier.
Summary
This concludes our scenic road trip of the iconic Route 66. We hope you have an opportunity to celebrate this famous highway’s 100 years during its Centennial by enjoying even a small part of the distance from Chicago to Santa Monica.
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 lot of dog toys are made for any size dog, therefore they tend to be
small if given to a full grown large breed dog. The BarkBox Shifty Sid
the Squid dog toy is big! He is the perfect size for a big
dog.
When our son traveled out of town for a concert, he came back bearing
souvenir gifts for everyone in the household, including Watson, our year old
Labrador Retriever. He brought Watson a Sid the Squid dog toy that he
found in the Cracker Barrel shop on the way home. Watson loves the big
squid!
Shifty Sid the Squid has legs that crackle which Watson really
enjoys. No matter which leg he grabs, it makes a sound. Plus, if
he bites the squid in the head, it squeaks. Because of the awesome
sound effects, the squid is easily Watson's favorite indoor toy
ever.
The first few nights "Sid" was here, Watson carried him to bed with
him. Watson's bed is at the foot of our bed. Needless to say, as
Watson would wake in the night or roll over, Sid would make a sound and
Watson was on immediate alert, then attack. Both my husband and I woke
up laughing at the Watson & Sid battles. It really was worth the
disturbed rest.
The following morning Watson would bring Sid to the kitchen for
breakfast. Sid didn't eat breakfast, but he waited patiently for
playtime.
Now, a few weeks later, Sid often remains in "bed" until playtime, but he
is still Watson's first choice for play.
Watson's squid is a different color than the one on Amazon, but they are the same toy otherwise.
The Barkbox squid dog toy is 17" long. He has a fat mantle (body section above the head & eyes) that makes
him easy for our big dog to carry. He can also be carried by his
crinkling legs.
Sid the Squid is made of a soft, plush material that is gentle
on a dogs mouth, as well as a human's body if they get in the way of the
thrashing squid.
His eyes are embroidered instead of crafting or wiggy eyes that could be pulled out and swallowed. Therefore, Sid is safe for roughhousing with Watson. If his eyes were detachable, they would have been ripped out in minutes upon his arrival.
Clearly, the BarkBox Shifty Sid the Squid dog toy was/is an excellent choice for an 80+ pound puppy dog that enjoys having a durable interactive toy.
Watson's Squid Friend has Reversed Colors. His Squid is Lime colored with Blue Leg Interior Fabric. Watson still has his pretty puppy looks, but his body is full grown in the picture above, so you can see how big the squid toy is by comparison
More Reviews for Puppies and Dogs by Contributors Who Love Their Dogs!
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 had read Nora Roberts books in past but had not read any in recent years. I remembered enjoying her books, so when Nightwork was picked as our monthly book club read, I was looking forward to reading another Nora Roberts book. I was not disappointed, Nightwork was a different type of book then I remembered Nora Roberts writing. (One reviewer calls it a Romantic Suspense Novel) I found the book to be an exciting read in which I eagerly anticipated what would come next.
Book Highlights
The book follows the life of Harry Booth. When he is only 9 years old he turns to a life of stealing in order to help support his single mother who is very ill. When she dies he leaves Chicago, but he continues his "nightwork". Over the years he perfects his craft and becomes a "master thief". However, he is a thief with his own code of morals, which I found very interesting. He also was very careful never to draw attention to himself. As he moved to various towns during his life, he changed his name to keep his past behind him.
He settled into a comfortable life, getting a job as a teacher and buying a beautiful home in a small southern town. He meets a woman he adores, Miranda Emerson and everything seems to be going his way, until some dangerous associates from his past catch up with him. His first response is to leave in order to keep those he cares about safe, but that doesn't work. The bond between Harry and Miranda has become strong and he finds that he must address his past straightforward and reclaim the life he wants.
Book on Amazon
The book is available on Amazon in the following formats: Kindle, Audible, Paperback, Hardcover. Here is a link to the book on Amazon Nightwork
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.”
We live in an apartment that has wall to wall carpeting. While it's wonderful to have that nice carpeting underfoot, it can also be a problem.
As we are aging, we find ourselves a little less nimble and steady on our feet. So taking a cup of coffee from the kitchen to the living room to enjoy, can and has been problematic.
Hubby and I both have issues with balance. Years ago we could and did bring cups of coffee or tea into our living room without a problem. Nowadays, with our aging bodies, we find that getting that cup to the coffee table without spilling, is a feat not often accomplished without incident.
So our once nice looking wall to wall carpeting was showing signs of spills and stains. Even if we quickly grabbed paper towels to blot up the spill.
That being said, hubby did some research and found the Bissell Little Green Pro. It is a small but mighty spot and stain remover for carpeting, upholstery and more.
Easy to bring out, light in weight and a powerhouse in cleaning, our once stained carpets are now clean and looking like new again.
Not only good for carpets, but it can also be used for furniture, pet beds, and car interiors. It's small in size but big on cleaning. It only weighs about 7 pounds and according to it's description on Amazon, it is 10 inches deep x 13.5 inches wide and 12 inches in Height. So being so small it's also easy to find a place to keep this handy dandy cleaning machine.
So now when we have an unfortunate accident, it's easy to get our little Green Machine out and clean the area that is affected. We have already put it to great use for our own little messes and also for our pet's messes. (We have a conure, who is not yet toilet trained). Cleaning up after our loved pet's messes has just become so much easier. This is also great for puppies that are in the process of toilet training. No messes are too small or big for this handy little machine. Bissell has many other options for you and your own personal needs you can check out this page, https://amzn.to/4gk1h2l to find the one that best suits your needs.
We are happy that we found this carpet cleaner as the stains were really an eyesore. Now, we don't have to worry about those nasty spots and stains anymore and life again is enjoyable. When you have stains on the carpets, it doesn't matter how often you vacuum, it just doesn't feel clean and it looks really nasty. Not anymore!
I hope this helps you to make a great decision as far as keeping your carpets clean and fresh.
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.”
This Collection features an outline drawing of a pink sunflower with green leaves, is printed on a variety of items for the home. This collection can be colored/painted in by hand, and or enjoyed as they are.
This would make a pretty design for wall art in for a girl's bedroom. She can enjoy the simplicity of it, or she can paint it in.
There are a variety of different canvases to choose from on Zazzle. Be sure to check the details for the one(s) that you are interested in. In addition to the finish or the material used, there might also be more or less sizes to choose from.
From my artist perspective and experience, acrylic paints dry much quicker on the faux wrapped canvas, as compared to stretched canvas. So blending mediums may need to be used to extend blending time on the faux wrapped canvas. Either option can make a pretty room addition.
A personalized canvas tote bag can be a fun choice for shopping, carrying gym clothes, shoes, etc. Zazzle has a variety of tote bag styles to choose from. The budget tote has a lighter weight fabric than the other tote bags. Handle color choices can vary depending on the bag style that you choose.
Tips:These can also be painted in or simply used without the addition of painting it. If one does choose to paint on the canvas tote bag, be sure to place a flat sheet of cardboard between the fabric layers, to prevent bleed through. Also, do this for painting of tshirts. There are acrylic paints that are made for multiple surfaces, and also especially for fabric. I recommend checking these out for the painting of any fabric.
Another home type item are the canvas aprons from Zazzle. They come in a choice of yellow, white, and khaki. They also come in a choice of adult style and children's style. The adult style has three pockets across the bottom, and it comes in a standard length or the long length. The child's apron doesn't have any pockets, and only comes in one length.
If you choose to paint an apron, be sure to refer to the tips listed under the tote bags above.
Be sure to check out CherylsArt store on Zazzle for more pink sunflower themed items, including personalized notepads, posters, tshirts, and kitchen towels, through the link below.
For added inspiration, you can also scroll down on any product page on Zazzle, to find other products to possibly transfer that design to. Be sure it fits on the product before ordering, and even see if you can edit the product to get the design to fit within the dashed lines on the product.
You can also make a request below in a comment, and I will see what I can do. Zazzle has a lot more products to choose from.
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.”
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