Benefits of a Vinyl Fence

Vinyl fencing is a practical and aesthetically pleasing addition to your property. A vinyl fence has many benefits and minimal upkeep. There are options for nearly any area and budget.

Here are a few of the major benefits:

• Protection - A vinyl fence offers great protection and an added level of security to your home. It keeps your yard safe by deterring anyone from entering your property. A fence will let you enclose your yard or specified area to allow any children or pets to be safely contained so they aren't harmed from nearby traffic and can't wander away into someone else's yard.
  
  A vinyl fence is also a good way to protect against weather. It can be an effective block for wind or heavy snows, keeping the worst of it away from your property and possessions. This could save you time and prevent the need to shell out money to replace damaged items.
   
• Privacy - A vinyl fence can be a great way to add privacy to your home.  The fence can protect your property from the prying eyes of any neighbors or passersby, allowing you to enjoy your activities in peace. You will be able to relax and spend time with your family or entertain friends without worrying about someone spying on you.
   
• Types - There are several types of fencing available. A full privacy fence or a semi-private fence offers great coverage. They're available in many different styles, varying in the amount of embellishment and decorative elements. You can choose a rail fence or a traditional picket fence if you are looking for the functional elements of the fencing and not concerned so much with the privacy aspect.
  
  Vinyl fencing is also available in several different colors to better match your home and to seamlessly incorporate with your existing landscaping and decor. You can also choose to include a gate or two for your fence for easier outside access.
   
• Cost - A vinyl fence is a cost-effective solution to several problems. Pricing fluctuates depending upon the options you choose. These fences are built with high-quality materials that are made to last. They are strong and fade-resistant, so they will stay looking like new for years. There is minimal upkeep and cost once the fence is installed. These fences are installed by professionals to make sure that they are even and level. 

Installing a vinyl fence can be a good investment for your home. Consider speaking with a knowledgeable professional to explore your options and get started.

Betty Reads Harry

How cool is this? Two things I love - Betty White and Harry the Dirty Dog. This video has been around for a while, but this is the first time I've seen it.


Of course, there's nothing quite as special as sitting down with your kids or grandkids and reading books together. Now you can just let Betty read one of them!

Be Sure to Try These Foods Next Time You're in Texas

Texans are a proud bunch and will tell you that everything is better in Texas. It is well-known that they are passionate about their food, most notably their barbecue. Modern Texan food culture, however, is comprised of so much more than just slow-cooked meat slathered in a tasty tangy sauce. Texans don’t do things halfway; they go full throttle and put the time, effort, and love into whatever they make until it is perfect. This especially applies to their food.

Here are a few examples of Texas cuisine you’re sure to fall in love with the next time you visit the Lone Star State.

• The Perfect Steak - Texas is cattle country so, of course, they are really into great steaks.  When you think of a Texas steakhouse, you may be thinking of some dusty old roadhouse, the kind of run-down place where you might find great barbecue. And while that definitely has its place, a nice family restaurant Grapevine TX is where you'll find that good ribeye, filet, or  massive porterhouse you're looking for. A great steakhouse meal is sure to be one of your trip highlights.
• The Perfect Burger - Once again, it’s Texas, and they do love their meat. In fact, they claim to have invented the burger and to have perfected it. It all starts with lean ground beef, a high-quality bun, either cheddar or American cheese and your choice of toppings. The official Texas-style burger has red onion, pickles, lettuce, and tomato, with mustard on one bun and mayo on the other. (Yes! All burgers need mustard!) Some would argue to include green chilis as well, but either way, you’ll be trying to make it at home. 
• The Perfect Chili - Texans are very particular about their chili, and fights have ensued over the inclusion of beans in the recipe. Purists insist that Texas chili excludes beans, also known as a “bowl of red,” and that chili with beans is a Tex-Mex bowl of horrors. Try each and decide for yourself, they are both delicious.

Whether it’s a steak, a burger, or a bowl of chili, you’ll have plenty of fantastic options to choose from on your next visit to Texas.

Websites for Some Free Learning Fun

With so many kids out of school due to the coronavirus, parents are scrambling to figure out how to keep them busy and learning. Some schools are holding e-learning days and I'm sure many teachers have sent home plenty of assignments and activities. And there are many learning websites out there to explore - many of them are even offering free access at this time.

I don't have any kids at home anymore, but I am seriously tempted to check some of these out myself. I always loved school.

I just downloaded this image from facebook with a list of 10 Free Learning Websites for Kids, so I thought I'd start with looking these up and linking to all of them here while I'm at it - it's easier to click than have to type the url in, right? Enjoy!

1. Switch Zoo Animal Games - all about animals, of course
2. Fun Brain - games for some math and reading practice
3. Nat Geo for Kids - geography (and animals)
4. PBS Kids - games and videos with your favorite characters (parents can sign up for daily activities and tips for keeping kids playing and learning at home)
5. Into the Book - games to practice reading strategies
6. Star Fall - language arts and mathematics
7. Seussville - all things Dr. Seuss
8. Storyline Online - some of your favorite stories read by celebrities
9. ABCya! - fun games that also practice math and reading skills
10. Highlights Kids - reading, games, and science experiments

Where will your kids start first?

What To Look at in a Child Care Facility

With all the schools canceled for the foreseeable future, parents everywhere are scrambling to figure out what to do for childcare. Of course, the ideal situation would be for the parents to be able to stay home with their children. But not everyone can work from home, and not everyone can take extended time off not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from and how the bills are going to be paid.

So, if you find yourself needing a place that can watch your child while you are at work, it may be even harder than usual to find what you are looking for. There are several around, and even in the best of times, it can be hard to know which one you should choose.

Here are three things to look at when picking a daycare for your child:

1. Staff - Knowing who your child is with is very important when choosing a place. You will want to make sure the staff is friendly and reputable. Meet those who are in charge and get a feel for how they are. Your child deserves the best care while there, and you should not expect any less from those who work there. Their mindset should be focused on keeping your child happy and entertained. Find places like Inglewood child care which assure their workers are trained and ready to be there for your child.
2. Center - The facility where the daycare is housed should be clean and child-friendly. Although it is not required, having decorated rooms and a bright atmosphere helps everyone be happy. The rooms should be large enough to hold several children without being overcrowded. You should be able to see plenty of toys and areas where children are allowed to play.
3. Schedule - Finding a center that has an outline of their day is one of the best things you could do. This allows you to see what your child should be doing throughout the day, as well as reassure you that they are not being stuck in a room without really being watched. See if they will be playing outside or what kinds of activities they might do. While everything may not happen exactly as the schedule says, you know that things have been planned for your child to do.

While it may be hard to leave your child somewhere for a few hours, knowing where he or she is can help make it easier. Remember to keep these things in mind when considering a place to put them.

Tips on How to Detect Hidden Water Leaks

Whether you own your own home or live in a rented home, you may find yourself lying awake in the dead of night, listening to the dripping sound of water, and wondering where it is coming from. Worse still, you may be unaware of how bad the extent is. Water leakages are often an annoying and costly occurrence. This may especially be frustrating when you are unable to find any visible signs of the water leak anywhere in your home. You may not have concrete proof that even after identifying one leak, there may be more lingering elsewhere. Here are tips on how to detect hidden water leaks in different scenarios.

• Notice Common Signs
  Checking your daily water usage regularly may help you notice any sudden increases that are unaccounted for. Remember that some activities such as watering your garden may cause a spike in your water consumption. To assist you in checking, you may request your water supplier to send you regular updates on your usage. Experts in leak detection Austin recommend that when you notice a decrease in water pressure while taking a shower or filling a bath, it may be a positive indicator of a leak.
   
• Likely Signs of Underground Water Leakage
  Be on the look-out for damp patches or pools of water on your floor and first ascertain that your ceiling is not leaking. Certain smells may also likely indicate leakages. Since underground leaks tend to take a while to seep through pores and cracks, it often leads to the growth of mildew and mold, which have distinct odors.
   
• Likely Signs Water Is Leaking Outside or in the Garden
  If you are unable to find water leaks inside your house, then you should consider checking outside. You can simply start by checking your water meter. TDo this by first turning off any water going into your house, which you can confirm by running a tap until no more water comes out. After doing this, now check if the meter dial is still moving. Once you have confirmed that the leakage is likely to be on the outside, look for signs like muddy patches or better thriving grass in parts of your lawn.

By checking out the likely leakage signs in your house, garden, and even underground water leakage features, you may be able to ease your frustration and save a lot on extra water bills.

Decoration Ideas for Your Home

If your walls look a little bare and you need some inspiration for decorating, consider these not-so-typical decoration ideas to add a splash of color to the walls.

• Landscape Photography - One great way to add some color to your home is by hanging landscape paintings or photographs. When it comes to landscapes, there are so many different kinds of photographs you can choose. If you prefer wooded scenes, ocean scenes or pictures of sunsets, a nice frame makes that photograph perfect to hang on the wall. If you want something a little different, you could get some alternative energy photography to decorate with. Beautiful wind turbines or images of solar panels reflecting a sunset can brighten a room.
   
• Tapestries - Another fun way to decorate your home is with tapestries. You can cover an entire wall or just the corner of the room. Tapestries can be made with a variety of materials and come from many different countries. From patterns to scenery to texture, a tapestry can bring a whole new look to a room.
   
• Upgraded Collage - While many people probably grew up making collages in school for projects and reports, why not make a collage as an adult? If you get a solid frame and cut out pieces from books or magazines, you can make a sprawling picture of the things or people you love. If you get a shadowbox, you can make an even more impressive collage of sorts out of pieces of items you no longer use. This home decoration can be like a little piece of modern art homemade by you.
   
• Wall Plants - Most people keep plants in their home, but have you thought about hanging plants that grow from wall art or square vases? Put your plant collection on the wall for a bit of unconventional decor. 

Book List 2019

I've been reading as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until 2008 that I started putting together a list of all the books I read each year. I use Goodreads to keep track throughout the year and then list them all here once the year is over. Even though Goodreads compiles my Year in Books, it's always fun to go back through all the books I've read over the course of the year and see how many pages I've read and how many hours I've spent listening over the course of the year.

Also, once again I'll link to any reviews I did. As always, I have good intentions to review more of the books I read, but I don't always follow through. Let's see what 2019 looked like, shall we?

Again, all books are listed by the month I finished them. Even if I started listening or reading the previous month.

January 

1. The Memory Box - Eva Lesko Natiello (audio) - 11 hrs 9 min
2. A Mutiny in Time (Infinity Ring #1) - James Dashner (audio) - 4 hrs 30 min
3. Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life - Tish Harrison Warren - 184 pages
   
4. Still Alice - Lisa Genova - 293 pages
5. Vox - Christina Dalcher - 336 pages
6. The Rule of One (The Rule of One #1) - Ashley Saunders, Leslie Saunders - 258 pages

1071 pages | 15 hours 39 minutes

February

7. Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again - Rachel Held Evans - 270 pages
8. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman - 327 pages
9. A Murder in Time (Kendra Donovan #1) - Julie McElwain (audio) - 18 hrs 39 min 
10. The Spitfire Girls - Soraya M. Lane - 328 pages - 328 pages  - (5 stars) 
11. The Lost Girls of Paris - Pam Jenoff (audio) - 11 hrs 41 min
12. Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward - Nabeel Qureshi- 176 pages
13. The Wife - Meg Wolitzer 224 pages

1325 pages | 30 hours 20 minutes

March

14. Gilead (Gilead #1) - Marilynne Robinson (audio) - 8 hrs 54 min
15. Crosstalk - Connie Willis - 498 pages
16. MAD Librarian: You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Library! - Michael Guillebeau - 402 pages
17. Rhythms of Rest: Finding the Spirit of Sabbath in a Busy World - Shelly Miller - 226 pages
18. Under a Painted Sky - Stacey Lee (audio) - 10 hrs 11 min

1126 pages | 19 hours 5 minutes | a review for all 5

April

19. Scrappy Little Nobody - Anna Kendrick (audio) - 6 hrs
20. Five Feet Apart - Rachael Lippincott - 288 pages
21. Charlotte Morgan and the Lemonade Stand (The Number Investigators Book 2) - Martin Tiller - 61 pages
22. Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid (audio) - 9 hrs 3 min
23. Elevation - Stephen King - 146 pages
24. Bathed in Prayer: Father Tim's Prayers, Sermons, and Reflections from the Mitford Series - Jan Karon (audio) -  7 hrs 20 min

495 pages | 22 hours 23 minutes

May

25. The City of Mirrors (The Passage #3) - Justin Cronin - 602 pages
26. Love and First Sight - Josh Sundquist (audio) - 6h 25m
27. The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate - 325 pages
28. The War That Saved My Life (The War That Saved My Life #1) - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - 316 pages - (5 stars)
29. The Tales of Beedle the Bard: The Illustrated Edition (Hogwarts Library) - J.K. Rowling - 160 pages
30. The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom (audio) -12 hrs 57 min
31. The War I Finally Won (The War That Saved My Life #2) - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - 400 pages - (5 stars)

1803 pages | 19 hours 22 minutes

June

32. Inside HBO's Game of Thrones: Seasons 1 & 2 - Bryan Cogman - 192 pages
33. The Other Daughter - Lauren Willig (audio) - 10 hrs 39 min

192 pages | 10 hours 39 minutes

July

34. The Wife Between Us - Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen (audio) - 11 hrs 25 min
35. Once We Had a Horse - Glen Rounds - 32 pages
36. Light from Other Stars - Erika Swyler - 305 pages
37. Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower #6) - Stephen King - 413 pages
38. Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman (audio) - 12 hrs 32 min
39. Murder on Birchardville Hill - Ruth Buchanan - 123 pages

 873 pages | 23 hours 57 minutes | reviews for 4 out of 6

August

40. Have You Seen Luis Velez? - Catherine Ryan Hyde - 320 pages
41. The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath - Mark Buchanan - 240 pages
42. The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein (audio) - 6 hrs 56 min
43. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - Kim Michele Richardson (audio) - 9 hrs 26 min
44. Enna Burning (The Books of Bayern #2) - Shannon Hale - 316 pages
45. The Colorado Kid - Stephen King - 205 pages
46. A Thousand Shall Fall - Susi Hasel Mundy - 178 pages

1259 pages | 16 hours 22 minutes

September

47. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - Jim DeFede - 260 pages
48. Extraordinary Means - Robyn Schneider (audio) - 8 hrs 7 min
49. The Two Lila Bennetts - Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke - 307 pages
50. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor's Journey into Christian Faith - Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (audio) - 7 hrs 15 min
51. The Grace Year - Kim Liggett - 407 pages
52. Summerlings - Lisa Howorth - 256 pages
53. These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 (Sarah Agnes Prine #1) - Nancy E. Turner (audio) - 13 hrs 47 min - (5 stars)
54. Love Changes Everything: Finding What's Real in a World Full of Fake - Micah Berteau - 208 pages

1438 pages | 29 hours 9 minutes | 1 reviewed half of them...

October

55. Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes - Jessica Pan - 274 pages - (5 stars)
56. The Martian - Andy Weir (audio) - 10 hrs 59 min - (5 stars)

274 pages | 10 hours 59 minutes

November

57. The Furies - Katie Lowe - 357 pages
58. A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles (audio) - 17 hrs 52 min
59. Sold on a Monday - Kristina McMorris - 352 pages
60. Glow (Sky Chasers #1) - Amy Kathleen Ryan (audio) - 9 hrs 56 min
61. The Words between Us - Erin Bartels - 374 pages
62. Spark (Sky Chasers #2) - Amy Kathleen Ryan (audio) - 11 hrs 12 min

1083 pages | 39 hours

December

63. The Flatshare - Beth O'Leary - 336 pages
64. Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World - Ella Frances Sanders - 112 pages
65. Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved - Kate Bowler - 183 pages
66. A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes #1) - Brittany Cavallaro (audio) - 9 hrs 7 min
67. Red at the Bone - Jacqueline Woodson - 208 pages
68. A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18 - Joseph Loconte - 232 pages
69. One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow - Olivia Hawker (audio) - 19 hrs 2 min
70. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version - 1328 pages - (5 stars)
71. The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower #7) - Stephen King - 845 pages - I finished re-reading the series!

3244 pages | 28 hours 9 minutes

• Total books - 71 (compare to 63 in 2018)
• Total pages - 14,183 (compare to 13,698 pages in 2018)
• Total time - 265 hours 4 minutes  (compare to 192 hours 13 minutes in 2018)

Page counts courtesy of Goodreads; audio lengths courtesy of Audible. My reading goal for the year was 50 books, and I met and surpassed it. I have yet to decide if I should shoot higher in 2020 or just go for 50 again and see how it turns out.

I didn't do such a good job of writing reviews this year - 34 reviews out of 71 books, so less than half. Some of them were just a few words, but I suppose that's better than nothing, right? Still, there were books that I really meant to review but didn't...

 How many books did you read in 2019?  I'd love to hear some suggestions for my 2020 reading list.  Because my already crazy long and ever-growing TBR list can always use a few more, right?

*if you happen to click any of the book covers and buy from Amazon, they say they'll pay me a small percentage.  Every little bit helps, and I thank you for your support!

What You Need To Know About Renewing a Notary Certificate

Renewing your notary public certification is an important step to maintaining your ability to notarize. If your certification expires and you act as a notary, even if accidentally, it can result in a misdemeanor. This is why it’s important to stay ahead of the renewal process so you can ensure a continuation of your service while meeting laws and guidelines.

Things to Keep In Mind:

• How Long a Notary Appointment Lasts
  Depending on which state you live in, the length of your appointment as a notary public may vary. For example, an appointment for a notary in Florida lasts four years. If you are currently a notary public and want to renew your certificate, look up your state’s length of service requirements and when they recommend beginning renewal. It is good to keep in mind the length of your appointment so you can plan ahead for renewal.
   
• What is Involved in the Renewal Process
  In some states, the process to renew a notary certificate is the same process you went through to obtain the certificate in the first place. You can research your state’s renewal process by searching Florida notary renewal (if you live in Florida, or insert your own state into the search) and reading through the requirements of your particular state. It can take as long as six months to complete the required steps of renewal and receive your updated certificate, so be sure to plan ahead so you can complete the process before your current appointment expires.
   
• Remember To Restock Your Supplies
  As a notary, there are different supplies you may find useful in your role. Some of these supplies are a self-inking notary stamp, a notary journal, a receipt book for items you’ve notarized and other supplies. It can be a good idea to make a list of supplies you commonly use while fulfilling your duties as a notary and keep those items stocked so you’re always prepared. If you’re renewing your appointment, consider restocking your supplies as well.

Remember that notaries are a great service to the community and in high demand nationally. The high demand and appreciation of clients can make this a great side job.

Easy Ways to Improve Your Home

It does not have to cost thousands of dollars to give your home and update and achieve the look you desire. Here are some simple ways to bring your space to the next level.

• Paint an Accent Wall - Sometimes a splash of color is all that you need to completely change the mood of a room. This can be achieved easily by painting an accent wall, which means painting one wall a bright or deep color in an otherwise neutral room. You can also get more creative and use a different material for your accent wall, such as brick, tile, or wood. Make sure that it stands out and will bring attention from guests, and harmony to the room
   

• Add a Rug - A custom rug can brighten any room or area. You can choose a small rug as an accent, or a large rug that covers a bigger space. To find the perfect carpet, you should consult a specialty store in your area. For example, if you live in Atlanta, Georgia, simply search the internet for "rug store in atlanta ga," and you will find a list of vendors that are in your city. From there, you can compare your options.
   

• Pick a New Scent - It is always wonderful to come home to a great smelling space. Spice up your house by adding candles with seasonal scents, an essential oil diffuser, or even by simmering some apple slices and cinnamon sticks on your stove or in a crockpot. Many scents can have therapeutic effects, which can positively alter your mental health and well being. Mix up your fragrances depending on which room you are in, or the time of year you are in. The possibilities are endless.

Home improvement does not have to be a costly project. With these options, you can help your house feel more comfortable and inviting.