Walk with Me, By Priscilla Wieck

The recent breezy cool mornings have made our early walks pleasant again this week. I have been trying to remember to check out the interesting outdoor sit places that are attached to some of the older homes in town. Several look so inviting, it makes me want to try them out. Lots of work and imagination have gone into these little nooks and crannies.

Adapting an older house for modern living can be challenging but rewarding. Many families in our town have found creative ways to include not only sitting places but outdoor cooking areas as well. (Below:  Our hostas’ haven provides a sheltered cubbyhole for our backyard rabbit families and the back deck was a favorite of husband Bill for his cookouts.)

Father’s Day is Upon Us

In case it slipped up on you, this Sunday, June 21^st, is Father’s Day. All forms of advertising media have tried to help readers find gifts for the big day. I have noticed that many of these suggestions are geared to be helpful for outdoor grilling. We know that most men want their steaks or burgers grilled to their own liking so being “king of the grill” ensures that. Bill received his share of Chief Cook aprons and long-handled barbecue tools over his many fatherhood years. He presided at countless cookouts while making sure his steaks were medium red and his burgers juicy.

The Gift List

CNN decided to take a different look at available gifts for fathers this year. Yesterday, they posted on line a list of 19 gadget gifts for the big day. Some of these suggestions have universal appeal as they are not just grill related. In case you are a late gift purchaser, they will still be available on line after Sunday and your “gift is coming” cards are available to download now.

The first item that caught my interest is called Fit Track. It is advertised as letting you see inside your body. Using your smart phone and the accompanying smart scale , you can take a free physical exam at home, monitoring 17 key health insights including body fat, muscle and bone mass and hydration levels. Maybe some things are better unknown?

I might actually send for this next gadget:  Peeps Carbon Technology, NASA’s solution for dirty eye glasses (now available to the public).  Peeps utilizes soft carbon microfiber pads to eliminate oil and fingerprints instead of those cloths and sprays that end up just smearing lenses and making them worse. At least that’s my experience. If it’s astronaut endorsed it has to work, doesn’t it? Glasses’ wearers rejoice!

FIXD is a gadget that both mothers and fathers who commute to work would appreciate. It tells you why your check engine light is on, how severe it is and how much the repair should cost. The company claims that it easily plugs into any gas, diesel or hybrid car from 1996 onwards. It also adds that FIXD can alert the car owner to 17,000 potential mechanical issues in real time. Scam mechanics beware!

For outdoor family time , BUZZB-GONE’s company advertises that its product is “the ultimate protection from mosquitoes.”  It is a small, round light devise that uses UV light to attract insects and a 360 degree suction fan to capture them. It is said to be safe for children and pets, kills without using chemicals, and is perfect for camping and outdoor gatherings.  It can also can be used indoors. Might help with those June arrivals of buffalo gnats maybe?

Another gift for Father that might benefit family members is the DODOW,  touted as being “the best night’s sleep you’ll ever have.”  It is a small, metronome light that is scientifically designed to block out overactive thought patterns and lull you into a deep peaceful sleep. Users claim that they fall asleep before the 8-minute sound mode ends and after a few months, their brain is trained to fall asleep without using it. It combines yoga, meditation and behavioral therapy. Fathers who get a good night’s sleep are happy fathers, aren’t they?

There are many other suggestions for Father’s Day gift gadgets on the CNN website. Prices aren’t listed, so beware.

Missing our Fathers

For those of us whose fathers are no longer living, Sunday will be a day of remembrance. It will be a time to tell the family stories of “Remember when Dad ….?”  It will be bittersweet for some and painful for others but there will be memories of love and happy times scattered in between.  So to all fathers everywhere—Happy Father’s Day! And thank you for being great Dads.

“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” —-Billy Graham

Peace

Husband and Father Bill, years ago, taking care of manly duties mowing the lawn. To all fathers everywhere, put up your feet and enjoy the love of your family on this special day.