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Showing posts from January, 2020

Two of My Favorite Subscription Book Boxes- Coffee and a Classic and The Book Drop

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Let's talk about books on a Thursday. I really enjoy book subscription boxes.  I am going to link you to my YouTube Channel so you can see two of my favorite book subscription boxes.  I hope you enjoy:-) I have gotten other book boxes but these are two of my favorites. If you get book subscription boxes I would love to know which ones. Just write your thoughts in the comment box. Happy Reading Everyone! KathieyV:-)

A Visit to Joyner Park in Wake Forest NC

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     Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit  Joyner Park  in Wake Forest NC. Joyner Park has restored original farm buildings, a pecan grove, and a 1,000 lawn seat amphitheater.    There are two gardens in the park.  The Walker Garden and a Performance Garden.  You will find a 2,000 foot stone wall on the property plus three miles of paved trails. If you live in the area or find yourself in the town of Wake Forest, you should check out the park.  I spoke with several people that visit the park on a regular basis.  They said they love to picnic there and that they enjoy the events held on the property.  They love that it brings the community together. Happy Travels and Adventures! KathieyV ( kathieyvwriter.com )

What to buy for Valentines Day 2020- Shopping on Amazon

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Join me for some Valentine's Day Shopping on Amazon.   If I could I would buy all of these things. (I am an Amazon Affiliate.  If you buy anything on Amazon using my links I get a % of the sale with no extra cost to you.  Thank You:-) 1- Pink Medley Tulip Wreath 19" 2- Nikon Coolpix B500 in Red 3- M&M's Valentine Chocolate Candy 4- Godiva Chocolatier Assorted Chocolate 5- Women's Cotton Long Sleeve PJ's 6- Aphison Woman's Handbag 1 - Valentine Plush Stuffed Elephant 2- Pete The Cat's Groovy Guide to Love 3- I love the Poop Out of You TP 4- T-Rex Fingerlings in Red 5- Hi-Ho Cherry-O Board Game 6- Lego Valentine Picnic Happy Valentines Day Everyone! KathieyV:-)

Books: January 2020 Reading Wrap-Up plus a link to my YouTube wrap-up.

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My January 2020 Reading Wrap-Up (There is an Amazon link to each book.  If you are interested in a bit more information, just click on the link.  I am an Amazon Affiliate.  If you click on the link and buy anything at all, I get a percent of the sale with no cost to you...thanks:-) *************************************************************************** Here is a scale on how I rate my books. ********************************************************************************* Book 1  "Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster" by Jon Krakauer Genre-Nonfiction, Adventure, Memoir. 4.16 stars on Goodreads out of 5 stars I would give the book 4.25 out of 5                                                                                                                            Overview I found on GoodReads A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon K

Home Decorating and Organizing-Keeping the Winter Vibe

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Keeping the house clean : One thing that helps me keep the house clean is getting Brodie shaved.  At least twice a year, Brodie sheds hunks of fur at a time, I will call it molting.  I can sit and literally pull handfuls of hair off of his body, I could easily make a sweater.  So we are off to Petco to get a bath and buzz cut for Brodie.  Yes, he is going for his biannual spa treatment. Organizing the Christmas decorations:   In the past, I have just thrown holiday items in random boxes, but this year I am headed to Target to get specific storage boxes.  I saw Target was having a sale on medium size plastic bins for $5.00.  It sounds like a good deal to me. Here are a few options I found for Christmas storage on Amazon. Sadly, I did not put my tree in a storage container.  I picked it up and carried it to the garage.  Easy solution but not ideal.  It is not an expensive tree, and it is challenging to pull the segments apart.  I will save that chore for another day. (I am an

Saturday Updates-YouTube Videos and More

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If you have not checked out my YouTube Channel yet here is a link. Kathiey's World YouTube Here are a few links to my latest posts What I am reading Jan 2020 (TBR) Stitch Fix Unboxing and Try-On Coffee and A Classic ***************************************************** Updates from KathieyV Writer kathieyvwriter.com Click the links below to read the posts. The Joy-Do What You Love Quote From My Book **************************************************************** Something to make you laugh that I found on Facebook. "Bob Freeze...Act Like a Tree" Man Changing Diaper ****************************************************************** Happy Reading and Watching Everyone. Have a Great Weekend! KathieyV

Food Photography-Using an iPhone in a Restaurant-Exposure

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I love to take photos of food, and I also love to do blog posts on restaurants that I visit.  I am all about the photos and all about using them in my posts. Many times in a restaurant setting, it is just too dark to get the crisp, clean photo that you want.  I was reading that there is a way when using your iPhone to increase your exposure when taking the photo, thus making things a bit brighter in a dark environment.  This link will help you with this process How to lighten or darken your exposure on your iPhone .  Tap the photo screen, and a yellow square will pop up.  Hold it down until you see AE/AF Lock at the top of your screen.  Then you can put your finger on the tiny sun beside the square and slide it up and down to get the exposure you want.  A Quick Thought on Restaurant Etiquette *Don't use a flash *Don't disrupt your neighbors, who may just want a peaceful night out. Let's practice using lighter and darker exposure on my iPhone.  I am going to put s

Places: Lunch at The Fearrington Granary in Pittsboro NC

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It was a beautiful day so I decided to visit   Fearrington Village in Pittsboro NC.  I love that place.  If you go you will find quaint little shops, a bookstore, a spa, several places to eat, and of course the belted cows . I was visiting  Fearrington Village for the  Folk Arts Festival .  After enjoying some of the artsy items and exploring the shops I decided it was time for lunch.  After checking my options I selected The Granary . Here is a quote from their website... "Offering a casual dining setting, The Fearrington Granary serves up lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Whether you’re grabbing dinner with friends or celebrating a special event, make every meal a treat."   (They have a full bar and of course a wine list:-) Quote from their site.... “The Granary is a neighborhood gathering place,” says  Chef Colin Bedford , who designs and updates the menu seasonally. “The Granary’s menu is full of comfort food and Southern classics with English influence.

The Five Second Rule

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I was listening to Dr. Radio the other day and they were plugging an upcoming program.  They were going to focus on the 5-second food rule.  You know the one, where you drop your food, it hits the floor and you scoop it up quickly as you say "5-second rule" and then pop it in your mouth.  The theory of this rule is that if you pick it up within 5 seconds there is less chance of your food item picking up nasty bacteria or germs. I don't know how many times I have used this rule on my kids, grandkids, and my self.  Not so much with Brodie, my dog.  Brodie has my permission to eat whatever he finds on the floor no matter how long it has been there. For dogs, at least in my opinion, this time rule is extended. Now, let's find out if I have been putting myself, my kids and grandkids at risk.  Here is a short article called "The 5-Second Rule". It does appear that the longer the food is on the floor the more bacteria the food item can collect.  It also se

The South Academy Street Mural in Cary North Carolina

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As you know, I love murals. I found this one on South Academy Street in Cary North Carolina. I searched and searched to discover the history behind this painting, but I had no luck. In place of the history of the mural, I will give you a couple of historical notes from  Wikipedia  "In 1750, Cary began as a settlement called Bradford's Ordinary. Allison Francis "Frank" Page is credited with founding the town.  Page was a Wake County farmer and lumberman." Happy Travels! KathieyV

My Reading Goals (TBR) for Jan 2020

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My January 2020 Reading Goals ********************************************************************************* Book 1  "Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster" by Jon Krakauer Genre-Nonfiction, Adventure, Memoir. 4.16 stars on Goodreads out of 5 stars Overview, A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for  Into Thin Air , Krakauer's epic account of the May 1996 disaster.  Quote, "Why did you want to climb Mount Everest?" This question was asked of George Leigh Mallory, a Himalayan mountain climber in 1921. And his answer was, "Because it’s there."