Karen’s Opinion

A few months ago, I was able to watch two pileated woodpeckers in our backyard. I had never seen such large woodpeckers. Their plumes were beautiful. I finally did some research and found out that it is a sight to cherish. The birds are plentiful but I have never seen them in my 30 years of living at this house. An acquaintance of mine said she sees them regularly but she lives in a wooded area. My yard is more what you would call a pasture setting.

From the Indy Parks Nature blog:

The Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus, is Indiana’s largest woodpecker. It is sixteen and a half inches in length, almost the size of a crow. It’s size, sleek black back and wings, offset by a red crest, are obvious field marks. The males have a characteristic red “mustache”, which is actually a stripe near the beak. The female’s stripe is black. Another distinct field mark is the large white area under its wing which is viewed when the bird is in flight.

So often do our parents get us gifts for various occasions that some children (regardless of age!) believe that it is an entitlement. Many parents sacrifice their own comfort, necessities and luxuries to make sure that not a birthday or Christmas or graduation goes by without their a kids having gifts in tow but what do we as adult children do for them? Yea, we go to the stores and just pick up whatever the clerk says they would like but are we really putting enough thought into what we bestow upon our parents? As we get older and become parents ourselves, sometimes it is only then we understand how often kids neglect the joys of gift giving to their parents. Some, after a certain age don’t give their parents gifts at all! We should try to change that because after all, giving a gift is symbolic of appreciation and love – two things of which parents are more than deserving. While power tools and gift certificates are nice, why not invest a little more money and a lot more thought? As we enter into adulthood and become self-sufficient, making our own salaries and such, why not treat our parents to gifts that are age appropriate to them, indicative of their lifestyle and a lot more personal? In some cultures, giving gifts to parents is not only done out of observance of occasion, but also as a mandatory mark of respect. No matter the reason or season, we should honor our parents with gifts they can enjoy and be proud to receive. Here are a couple ideas for moms and dads that you can play around with:

1. For Moms:
No matter what your mom’s profession or lack thereof, she is deserving of some pampering. Instead of just sending her off to a salon to get her nails done, why not organize a full spa weekend that you can share with her? Parents love the memories just as much as they appreciate the gifts and if you’re a part of the experience with your mom, she will remember it forever. Go the full 9 and get her some red roses and hire a driver for the weekend so neither of you have that responsibility. Make it a mom-and-me weekend and go to the movies that she likes and don’t forget to take as many pictures as possible to document the fun!

2. For Dads:
Dads are real troopers and often have no problem settling with whatever gift you throw their way – they are just downright happy to be remembered and considered. Treat your dad to something he will be able to hold onto besides socks. Why not get dad something he can enjoy in his everyday life like his own personal ultra-luxe recliner? This isn’t cheap but after a hard day of work or tending to the house, he will sit in its comfort and think of you fondly.

Gifts that create memories are often the ones that last forever, so trips, keepsakes and events are always good considerations. Don’t forget to include yourself as you will become an indelible part of a happy memory for them both.

Source: johnthinkingaloud.wordpress.com

People never cease to amaze me. Just recently a family member of an elderly person here in Indiana, noticed that their family member’s pre-paid burial insurance policy had been cashed in. Because the family member is still alive, red flags went up. Seems as though the funeral home has been cashing in a few insurance policies to get money. It would certainly be a shock when said member passed away and the family went to use the pre-paid burial benefits.

Thankfully, there are laws in effect to maintain the integrity that most funeral institutions comply with as standard business procedures.

Casket wholesaler, Express Caskets offers caskets for sale in a manner that makes it comfortable and easy to understand. Pricing and procedure should be easy to follow when going through this most difficult time. It might be confusing to walk into a showroom of veneer, steel or wood caskets. Emotions run high when wanting to choose the best for our loved one’s last wishes. No one wants to appear cheap but sometimes discount caskets are what one can afford. Express understands this and works with each client in a manner that makes planning a funeral less stressful. Express Casket is leading the charge to provide consumers with affordable, high-quality caskets for sale to the public.

Pocks on the companies who prey on people. Kudos to Express for treating people with respect and dignity.

Guest post, courtesy of GKBC Creative Media & Publishing
First we had manual letterpresses, then technology advanced and printers came into existence. The poor old letterpress was relegated to dusty attics and, if it was a lucky one, museum collections.
Then came the twenty-first century and suddenly many people found themselves sick of high-tech gadgetry, nostalgic for something a little more old-fashioned and obscure. And so the ‘craft revolution’ was born.
Led by popular craft sites such as Etsy, Mitsy and Folksy, anything vintage or handmade is suddenly back in fashion. We’re seeing a revival of ancient crafts that were once thought to be confined to decades gone by, with people now willing to pay extra to get their hands on items that are ‘traditionally’ made rather than mass-produced.

Image: Edinburgh City of Print
A Truly Unique Gift
There’s something special about hand-produced goods. Perhaps it’s the obvious love and attention to detail that goes into every piece, or perhaps it’s a longing for those slight imperfections hand-crafted items always have and that look so unique in a sea of perfect, mass-produced merchandise.
Whatever it is, letterpress printing is making a comeback.
Want to send someone a birthday card, or a framed print of a favourite quote? It just looks so much more personalized and like you put time and thought into choosing it when it’s a hand-printed design, than something you picked up off the shelf in your local card store.

Image: Cushing Memorial Library
Printing Throughout the Ages
With its current popularity on European and American greetings cards, it’s easy to think that letterpress printing is a Western invention. It was the Chinese however who first developed the method in the 2nd century, with a single, carved wooden block for each and every page.
The Europeans however refined the technique. The Chinese method was labour intensive and inefficient, requiring a new block to be carved for each page to be printed.
It’s quite a wonder really that it took a further twelve and a half centuries for one person – Johannes Gutenberg – to stop and think, “hey, couldn’t we just make letters and re-arrange them each time?”. It was here that moveable type, the father of modern letterpress printing, came into being.
Up until the invention of the modern electronic printer, nothing really changed. Sure, the letter pieces went from fragile ceramic to strong cast iron that could withstand being used again and again, but the vintage letterpresses that you can buy today from the 19th and 20th centuries are really no different to their 15th century counterparts.

Image: Caelie Frampton
Buying a Letterpress Today
Unfortunately, despite the renewed interest in letterpress printing, it can still be very difficult to get your hands on a proper press, mainly due to the fact that many of the old companies producing them are now long gone.
Parts break or get lost that cannot be replaced, and the specialist knowledge required to repair a broken letterpress is no longer readily available. All in all, it is a dying art – but that’s not to say you have to give up the dream of letterpress printing!
There are two types of letterpresses – the large, bulky ones that were commonly used by businesses in another era, and smaller, tabletop styles that people often kept at home.
As a beginner, I’d recommend the smaller option – they’re easier to use, generally cost less than their floor-standing counterparts and it will generally be cheaper to have replacement parts made to order if they’re completely unavailable.
If you’re unsure where to start looking for your first letterpress, check out auction sites such as eBay. It’s not uncommon for vintage and antique letterpresses to have parts missing unfortunately, so be sure to ask the seller if everything is intact and in full, working order – replacement parts will almost certainly be difficult or even impossible to come by!

Image: Kathryn Rotondo
Keeping the Trade Alive
So what does the future hold for letterpress printing? Its heyday has long gone by – laser printing is simply more time and cost efficient for big businesses, and there’s still a huge demand for ‘perfection’.
However, so long as craftspeople keep caring for and fixing their letterpresses, and so long as the general public keep buying their uniquely printed creations, letterpress printing will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Elise Lévêque is a Parisian chick with a passion for all things vintage, be it her trusty Lomo camera or a gorgeous Golding letterpress. She blogs for IDPro who focus on the more modern side of printing, such as ID card printers and the ID card holders that go with them.

I heard that watches are becoming a thing of the past. What?! I feel naked without my watch. It is the only piece of jewelry I wear most times. I have tried wearing bracelets but they drive me crazy. I revert back to my beautiful, trustworthy watch for its faithful job of keeping me on time.

I remember, about 35 years ago, looking longingly at the Seiko watches at our local jewelry store. Yes, the local jeweler was who we counted on for advice and quality time pieces, necklaces and earrings. Well, my husband was paying attention! I never know if he is listening or if what I say goes in one ear and out the other. LOL He was definitely listening and surprised me with a beautiful Seiko watch with small diamonds on each side of the face of the watch. I still have that watch and it still works!

Do you wear a watch? What do you count on to keep the time? I’ve heard that many folks use their cell phones to check the time. I like the convenience of looking at my watch. I’d hate to have to dig for my cell phone to check the time. How about you?