"Which book would you take to a desert island?"

 

A while ago, with friends, we were discussing what the title says... so it occurred to me that I had to secure the book (well, books if you want to nit pick 😉) that I would grab on-the-go to the said island...

Now, you might not agree with some of my choices - on today's shelf - but I will let you know that from time to time I change the books... some go back to the day-to-day shelf and others get eligible for that desert island trip and come here...

Just ONE of these books stays forever. I would like for you to guess which one and make yourself the same exercise - "Which Nora's book would you take to a desert island?!" 🏝

Take Care!

Women Over 40 Discovered New Passions and Hobbies

 

She'd taken on the role to prove herself—to her family, to David and even to herself. She'd spent a week assisting with tours, being trained—delicately, she thought now. Staff members treated family members with kid gloves.

It had jarred her to realize just how little she knew about the winery, about the vineyards, about the process and about the public areas and retail venue. It would take more than a week and some subtle education to learn how to handle any of those areas on her own. But by God, she could handle a group at a wine tasting.

And was determined to prove it.

She was going to learn how to handle a great many things, including her own life.

The Villa

___________

Kristin Hardwick, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

We're not sure about old dogs and new tricks, but for humans of a certain age, the science is clear: Being an absolute beginner is an absolutely great way to stay sharp and strong. Learn from eight women who mastered new skills in their 40s and beyond, and warm up for your next act.

MARTHA STEWART

___________

Struggling to crochet—her newest hobby—Sylvia sat on the porch with a pitcher of fresh lemonade and butter cookies while Fiona listened to the client repeat the gist of their phone consult.

The Search

Your Dog Knows When You're Stressed

 

“Oh, for God’s sake. What does he want now?”

Her tone had Bert growling low in his throat. “Pillow.” Her code word for stand down had the dog relaxing again but watching her for any distress.

The Witness

________________

Natalia King from Austin, Texas, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

A recent study found that dogs can determine when humans are stressed by smelling their sweat and breath.

Martha Stewart

________________

She gave him a little shove.

He gave her a little nudge.

And behind him the dog growled low in his throat.

“Stop!” Fiona ordered sharply, and the dog froze. “Newman, friend. Friend. He thought you were hurting me. No, don’t back off. Simon,” she said to the dogs. “We’re playing. Simon’s a friend. Put your arms around me.”

The Search

The heart of a dog's veterinary experience

 

She slammed the door and stalked into the living room, where both her brother and his dog were sprawled out like the dead.

"I need to talk to you, Casanova."

"Don't yell." Flynn remained on the sofa. On the floor beside him Moe whimpered. "Moe needed his shots. We've both been traumatized. Go away. Come back tomorrow."

 

Key of Light

______________

U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Veronica Pierce, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Heart rate responses in dogs vary across a standard physical examination

The results suggest that undergoing a simulated physical examination, even in a mock veterinary setting, can be a stressful experience for dogs.

Science Direct

______________

“You know,” Fiona panted, using her own body to hold Newman’s down, “this dog would walk through fire for me. Through fire over broken glass while meteors rained out of the sky. But I can’t get him to just hold the hell still for a routine exam. And he knew. The minute I called them to get in the car, he knew. How many times do I put them in the car for work, for play, for whatever? How does he know? I had to get the others in first -  they’re more easily fooled. Then drag him. It’s humiliating,” she said to Newman. “For both of us.”

The Search

Hair, I do

She’d done something to her hair, he noticed. 

Some kind of braiding deal at the sides that

merged into one at the back.

Where the hell did she find time to do that stuff ?

The Search

_________________

 

How to Train a Puppy

Entertained, Pandora crouched down and was rewarded when the puppy

 sprang onto her lap and licked her face.

"Where’d  you come from?" Laughing, and defending herself as best she could, 

Pandora found the card attached to the red bow around the puppy’s neck. It read:

My name is Bruno. I’m a mean, ugly dog looking for a lady to defend.

"Bruno, huh?" Laughing again, Pandora stroked his 

unfortunately long ears. "How mean are

you?" she asked as he contented himself with licking her chin.

A WIll  and a Way

_________________

By ManuelFD - Own work fuente propia, CC BY 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11368669

The First 8 Things You Need to Do

Take a break from those cute puppy cuddles to make sure your new pooch learns these essential life skills.

Family Handyman

_________________

“You should try crate-training him.”

“I got a crate. He ate the crate. Or enough of it to get out. 

I think he must be able to flatten himself like

a snake. I can’t get any work done. I think 

maybe he’s brain-damaged, or just psychotic.”

“What he is, is a baby who needs a lot of playtime, 

love, patience and discipline,” she corrected

The Search

Could your child survive alone in the woods?

The kid had been out for a minimum of two hours, she thought. A lifetime for worried parents.

But toddlers didn’t have any real sense of time. Children of his age were very mobile, she mused, and didn’t always understand the concept of being lost. They wandered, distracted by sights and sounds, and had considerable endurance, so it might be hours of that wandering before Hugh tired out and realized he wanted his mother.

She watched a rabbit skitter away into the brush. Peck had too much dignity to do more than spare it a passing glance.

But a little boy? Fiona thought. One who loved his “Wubby,” who enjoyed animals? One his mother said was fascinated by the forest? Wouldn’t he want to try to catch it, probably hoping to play with it?

He’d try, wouldn’t he, to follow it? City boy, she thought, enchanted with the woods, the wildlife, the other of it all.

How could he resist?

The Search 

_______________

There's a hierarchy of survival skills that are appropriate for children.

For any parent, the idea of your children wondering lost and alone in the wilderness is a terrifying one. A family in California had their worst fears come true on March 1, 2019.

Two sisters, ages 8 and 5, miraculously survived 44 hours alone in the woods in freezing temperatures. But it wasn't just luck that kept them safe.

mother nature network

_______________

“Where'd you find him?” Trent asked Nathaniel quietly.

“Up on the cliffs, holed up in a crevice in the rocks.”

“Good God.” C.C. shuddered. “Did he spend the night up there?”

“Looked that way. I had this feeling, I can't explain it. And there he was.”

Megan's Mate

Creative Ways to Use Barn Wood

“What the hell do you want it for?”

“You never know.”

“You sure don’t,” Gary agreed.

The Search

_________________

Been there done that with barn wood? Not so fast! 

Check out these incredibly unique and stylish ideas that are still on trend.

family handyman

Bring the Spa Home

“It’s good to be home. You know, one of the things I have in those shopping bags

 is this incredible honey almond scrub they use at the spa. 

After dinner, and after I give the dogs some more play and attention, 

we could take a shower. I’ll exfoliate you.”

“Is that code?”

She laughed. “You’ll have to find out.”

The Search

_______________

Those minutes spent soaking in a bath or luxuriating under the shower can transform your hair, skin, and mood. Maximize the benefit of every drop.

Better Homes & Gardens

_______________

She began to rub it over his back in slow, steady circles. 

“The texture, the flesh-to-flesh contact, the aroma—all add to the experience. 

Your skin wakes up and feels more—Uh-uh,” she said again, when he reached back. 

“I do the touching till we’re done. Hands on the wall, Doyle.”

“Did you get naked in the shower at the spa for this?”

“No. I’m adjusting it for home use. You smell wonderful already, 

and mmmm, smooth.”

The Search

Three Men Are Watching Every Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie and It's Our New Favorite Thing

“I planned to watch a movie with dinner.”

“I like movies.”

“I was going to watch Steel Magnolias.”

He let out a long, long sigh. “I probably deserve that.”

The Witness

___________________

Checklist app? Check. 

Tea? Check. 

Non-stop Christmas music? Check! 

You’ve got almost everything you need to make the most of this year’s killer lineup of Hallmark Channel holiday movies.

The only other thing your movie-watching marathon is missing is a podcast hosted by three ordinary men. (Yes, really.)

Brandon Gray, Daniel Pandolph, and Daniel Thompson are the voices behind Deck the Hallmark, the hit podcast. Together, they watch and then review all 37 of Hallmark’s original holiday movies.

“Just 3 dudes…watching Hallmark. What could go wrong?” the iTunes description reads.

Better Homes & Gardens

___________________

“I guess you leave him there and go home and watch ESPN.”

He studied the drums. “Some people would complain it’s sexist to assume I watch ESPN. Maybe I’m a fan of Lifetime.”

She gave up.

The Search

Appetizers Every Host Should Know

She took a sip of wine, then set the glass down to get a jar of olives out of the refrigerator. 

...

She transferred olives from bottle to a shallow dish. 

...

“This is my version of an appetizer, by the way.” She shoved the olives toward him.

The Search

________________

Forget mixing and mingling. A holiday snacks spread this good means everybody will be bellied up to the buffet. And with Christmas snack ideas like these, who can blame them? Cue the carols!

Taste of Home

25-Minute (or Less) Holiday Appetizers

Why do we use 'baby talk' with puppies?

“Oh, it’s a little puppy! She’s like a little toy.”

“He. This is Earl Grey. I hope you don’t mind, but I didn’t want to leave him home alone.”

“Oh, oh, he’s precious. Just precious.”

“Would you like to hold him?”

“I’d love it.” Miranda gathered the dog in her hands, immediately lapsed into lisping baby talk.

Lila just slanted a look toward Ash, and smiled. “Is there anywhere I could take him for a little walk outside?”

“Oh, of course! I’ll show you. Want to go for a walkie?” Miranda cooed, rubbing noses with Earl Grey, then giggling when he lapped his tiny tongue on her face.

The Collector

_______________

By maxintosh / Max Talbot-Minkin - 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/maxtm/311263959/, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5724965

You can't help it. You see that sweet little face and immediately begin to blabber in a sing-song voice, "Hello, sweetie pie! Who's a good boy?!"

We tend to talk to puppies as we do to babies, speaking slowly in a high-pitched voice. An international team of researchers recently looked at the science behind what they call "dog-directed speech" to find out why we do it and if our canine friends truly respond to it.

Mother Nature Network

_______________

She cradled the pup, who immediately bathed her face as if they were reunited lovers. She caught the

faintest whiff of leather on his warm puppy breath.

“Aren’t you cute? Are you a pretty boy?”

“He’s a monster.” Simon snarled it. “An escape artist who doesn’t sleep. If I take my eye off him for two minutes, he eats something or breaks something or finds the most inappropriate place to relieve himself. I haven’t had a minute’s peace in three weeks.”

“Um-hmm.” She snuggled the pup.

The Search

healthy alternatives to those breakfast foods you shouldn't eat

"Sit down, you can have some cereal." 
 "Cereal?" 
 "Man doesn't live by hotcakes alone, Nathan." 
She kissed him quick. "And some bananas."


Loving Jack 

_____________________

By Carissa Gan carissagan - 

https://unsplash.com/photos/YlwOMESLPQo, CC0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61665613

There are alternatives to some of those popular breakfast foods like granola bars or bagels that will give you the same satisfaction plus more nutrition that will keep your energy up all morning while leaving you feel fuller. Here are a few healthy breakfast alternatives.

mother nature network

_____________________

She turned, narrowed her eyes as Fiona took a box of Froot Loops out of another cupboard. “You’re not having that processed sugar for breakfast.”

“Fruit, as in Froot Loops.” Smiling hopefully, Fiona shook the box. “There has to be fruit in here.”

“Sit down. I’m fixing you a decent breakfast.”

“Syl, this is fine.”

“It might be, on occasion, if you were ten. Sit,” she repeated, and, at home, opened Fiona’s

refrigerator. “Um-hmm, um-hmm. I can work with this. You’ll have a nice egg-white omelet on whole wheat toast.”

“I will?”

The Search

How To Make The Best Minestrone Soup

She smiled, spooned up soup. “To Syl.”

“Okay.” He sampled. “Wait.” Sampled again. “This is really good. Like dinner-in-Tuscany good.”

“She’d love to hear that. Mostly, I think Sylvia’s developed too close an attachment to tofu and strange grains of rice. 
But when she does minestrone, she’s a genius.”

The Search

______________________

My Grandma’s easy minestrone soup recipe is one of the healthiest vegetable-loaded soups you’ll make, and it tastes far better than any of those Olive Garden copycat recipes thanks to the secret ingredient in the savory broth.

foodie crush

Domino's Is Fixing Potholes

By http://www.dominos.uk.com/media_centre/pictures.aspx - 

http://www.dominos.uk.com/media_centre/pictures.aspx, CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19488333

Because They're Ruining Pizza

"Paving for pizza" is a good advertising gimmick, and the sign of a sad state of infrastructural affairs.

Popular Mechanics

_________________

“I didn’t grow up in the city. My family’s in construction.”

“Okay, but doesn’t that mean planting buildings?”

His lips quirked. “You could say. But my dad’s policy was to buy a tree or a shrub for any new house he built. So I plugged in a few.”

“That’s nice. Your dad’s policy, that’s nice.”

“Yeah. Nice gesture, and good business.”

The Search

Plant a Beautiful, Thriving Window Box Garden

“I know maybe you don’t actually want window boxes,

but you have to admit they’d look good, and they’d perk up the front of the house.”

The Search

_________________

Photo by Cameron Landscapes and Gardens - More landscaping photos

Improve your chance of success with these tips for choosing, combining and caring for plants in window boxes

HOUZZ

_________________

Needed hot colors in the flowers, he decided. 
And if she tried to do some wussy pastels, she’d have

to try again.

Strong, hot colors—nonnegotiable. What was the point in planting flowers 
if they didn’t make a

statement?

The Search

Easy Outdoor Chairs You Can Build

“No. You could use a new rocker for your porch. The one you have is ugly.”

“It’s not ugly. It’s serviceable. And it needs repainting.”

“The left arm is warped.”

She opened her mouth to deny it, then realized she wasn’t sure either way.

The Search

__________________________

By Moritz Poll - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63525929

These amazing outdoor chair projects may look difficult to build, but they're actually really easy—even for a beginner! We've got the step-by-step plans for each project, so all you need to do is decide which one will look best in your backyard; then get started!

THE FAMILY HANDYMAN

Planting a Tree this Spring?

“I don’t know much about planting trees.” 

She swiped the back of the work glove over her brow.

“In fact, this is my first. Do you?”

The Search

___________________

By USFS Region 5 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfsregion5/3598029211, 

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39320123

DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES WHEN PLANTING A TREE

Reap rewards from your investment of time and money by planting a tree correctly. Avoid these costly mistakes—all of which will impede, if not kill, a tree.

The Family Handyman

___________________

Together they dumped in topsoil and peat, mixed it.

“Shouldn’t we cover it more?” she asked when Simon stopped.

“No, just to the height of the root-ball.” He lifted a bucket. “You want to deep-water, and do that about once a week unless we get a good rain.”

It had been fun, she thought, planting a tree with him in the cool morning air. “Once a week, check.”

“I didn’t get mulch. Figured it was going in the woods and I could just use pine needles. You’ll want to mulch it.”

“Okay.” She stepped back. “I’ve got a dogwood tree. Thank you, Simon.”

The Search

The vet will STILL see you now!

A trip to the vet invariably included comedy and drama, and required persistence, stamina 
and a flexible sense of humor.

The Search

_____________________

By Rennett Stowe from USA - Dog Peeper, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26303332

Pet owners share hilarious photos of their beloved animals trying to hide from surgery staff

DAILYMAIL

_____________________

She talked, rubbed, smiled, as Mai pinched some skin and slid the needle in.

Peck moaned like a dying man.

“There. All done.” Mai walked back to Peck’s head, held up her hands to show them empty of all tools of torture. Then she laid a treat on the table. He refused it.

“Could be poisoned,” Fiona pointed out. “Anything in this room is suspect.” 

She signaled the dog down, and he couldn’t jump off the table fast enough. 

Then he stood, facing the wall, ignoring both women.

The Search