How I Hide One Of My Disabilities

I decided to take one of my own ideas from the September Writing Challenges. To write about ways to make disabilities invisible. When I wrote the idea it wasn't to make people with disabilities go away or hide their disabilities. In case you don't know, I have several disabilities. Some disabilities you can tell right off. Others are obvious without me telling you. 

I have noticed a few things with my disabilities and others who have disabilities. I struggle to be like everyone else. I struggle to make my disabilities go unnoticed. I know if someone is a true friend they will not notice my disabilities. That doesn't matter much when it comes to first impressions. Some people's first impression is to make fun of those with a noticeable disability.

Let me tell you about a journey. I have had with one of my disabilities and why I choose to hide it.

When I use to work up at the Job Center, a customer who came in often gave me an awful nickname. She would not call me by my name. She referred to me as gimpy because of my limp and needing to use a cane.

Everyone would laugh when she used that nickname. Only I wasn't laughing. That name hurt. I wanted to cry every time the customer said it and someone laughed. One day I was directed on to work with the lady. I refused to. I explained why I had a problem with the customer. There were other employees who were not busy that could take care of the customer. 

The management said I had to buck up and work with the customer. As I could not allow my emotions get to me in the work force. I stuck up for myself and told the management I know my rights under the disability acts. I can't remember the exact wording I used. I did explain management could not force me to work with someone who is bullying me. Once the management was aware of the situation going on. It was management's place to take care of the situation, not brush it under the rug. Like it wasn't happening.

I went home and cried that day. That was one of many days where I cried because of my disability. I couldn't walk like a normal person. I couldn't understand this was happening to me. I blamed myself for not not trying harder. 

A sister of my mine found out about what happen at work. That customer worked at the same place my sister did. As she started talking bad about me. My sister stopped the customer from talking. She explained to her that girl she was making fun of was me, her sister. That I was walking funny because my estranged husband had shot me. That domestic violence fo any kind was no laughing matter.

The next day that customer came up to where I worked at and apologized to me. It took my sister stepping up to make the person see what she were doing in fun was hurting me. I am lucky to have a sister speak up for me when management failed too.

I no longer use a cane every day to walk. I use a cane on long walks, when I know I will be over exerting my bad leg, or when the weather effects my leg. As the cold or a strong cool wind will cause my leg to stiffen up. When my leg stiffens in mid walk. It causes me to fall.

I walk in high heels to hide my limp when I walk. 

 I have improved my posture. That way I am not leaning to the side when I walk. As I walk on the ball of my right foot. Try walking on the ball of your foot on one foot. As you walk normal on the other. Trust me, it is a weird feeling. I will wear long skirts or long dresses that hang to the floor. That way others can not see how I walk.

I don't try to make my disability disappear for others. As haters are going to hate no matter how I try to fit in. I do it to feel good about myself. To feel normal. I do it for me. 

Photo taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty. The photo is of my walking stick and canes. I store them in a vase by my front door.

What You Need To Help Get Over The Flu At Home

I am sorry I haven't been around the past couple of days. As I have caught the flu. I finally broke my fever early this morning. I have some energy back. Yet, I can't seem to get much housework done in between wheezing and having my nose all stuffed up. It will have to wait. Unless I can talk my teens in to helping out. How well do you think that will go over?

You may have the flu if you have the following symptoms 

1. Fever

2. Cough

3. Running or stuffed nose

4. Sore throat

5. Chills

6. Headache

7. Fatigue

8. Body aches

9. Vomiting or diarrhea 

I am due to get a flu shot in October. I am type 2 diabetic I am prone to get sick easily. Getting the flu I have to be extra careful, as it can raise my sugar levels. Or drop them too low when I do not have an appetite to eat. If I don't watch myself, it can kill me. I don't take having the flu lightly.

What You Need To Help Get Over The Flu At Home

1. Plenty of bed rest

2. Roll of tissue paper

3. Chicken noodle soup

4. Cough medicine, non aspirin or fever reducers

5. Tea

6. Clear soda. Like 7 -up.

7. Thermometer 

8. Hand sanitizers

9. Heat or ice packs

10. Blankets 

11. Laundry soap

12. Paper towels

13. Soap

14. Household cleaners,

15. Plenty of DVD's, Netflix, or cable

16. Doctor or hospital phone to call in emergency

The flu can last anywhere from seven to ten days. I am on day four. Hopefully in a few days everything will be back to normal, where I will be writing daily again.

Photo from Pixabay, a free use photo website. 

Let Your Creative Writing Out

I have decided to write this blog. As I want a place to display all my creative writing. From poems, photography, quotography, prompts, challenges, and more. This blog has got away from that idea. I am going to bring it back around with my creativity.

This blog will explain different ways to bring your creative in the light. Everybody has a creative side. 

It can be creating arts and crafts, knitting and crocheting. Needlework, cooking, baking a creative theme cake. Writing a book, short story or poem.

Creativity is coming up with an idea or following an idea and making it a reality in some form. Creativity can come in the form of a joke, doing a project and changing a few things. To skipping rocks across a pond to see the water ripple. Creativity comes in many forms. It can be anything.

First thing you need to do to get your creativity flowing is to start a journal or notebook. This is where you write down all the ideas of things you want to create. Open it to the first page. Write down what you plan to create at the top. In mine, I jot down writing ideas. Next you need to figure out if you are going number each idea. Or use a different sign to be able to tell where the next one starts and first one ends. I use a dash. As I use the sides to jot down short or two word ideas. When I use an idea. I mark it off with a highlighter. That way I know I have done it. While still being able to read it.

Every time I get an idea, I write it down. I can read a magazine, watch a movie or watch the news for an idea to write down. Some subjects are from experience, some are try and fails, others are of things I want to do. I choose what I think it would make a great story. That someone desires to read, my feelings in form of of a poem, or a short themed story.

Use your passions to bring out the creativity in you. Put your passions, thoughts, and experience together. Start your creativity flowing. Your creative side can't come out unless you try.

Photo from Pixabay.com, a free use photo website.

Addiction Dog Food Recall

Addiction Foods out of Seattle has issued a voluntary dog food recall, on it's canned New Zealand Brushtail & New Zealand Venison and Apple dog foods.

You can find if yours is in the recall by looking at the UPC codes on the label. Both have expired dates of December 2018. The following UPC codes are affected : 

8 885004 070028, 8 885004 070462

New Zealand Brushtail

 WHY THE RECALL?

The company found high traces of vitamin A and calcium ratio. Which does not meet the quality of standard. No complaints have been made. The company wants to ensure the safety and quality of it's products by doing this recall.

 New Zealand Venison and Apple dog foods

What Can Happen If You Don't Stop Feeding These Products To Your Pets?

High does of vitamin A can cause bone damage and death.

High amounts of calcium can result in hypercalcamia.

Go To A Vet If Your Dog Is Experiencing These Symptoms 

Lack of appetite

Constipation

Lethargy

Stiffness or swelling in the neck

Weakness

Weight loss

Vomiting

WHAT DO YOU DO ONCE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL?

You have a couple of options once you discover the recall. You can throw the food away. If you do so, make sure to dispose of the can where no other animals will be able to get to it.

Or unused cans can be return to the store you purchased them from for a full refund.

For more information or if you wish to get a hold of the company. You can do so by calling (425) 251-0330 Monday thru Friday 9 AM to 5 PM PST. Or email at info@addictionfoods.com

USA residents have the legal right to file a consumer complaint about regulated pet food products to consumer complaints coordinator at : 

http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints

Animals Around The Yard WW

American Toad

Brown praying mantis

Black squirrel climbing the tree

Neighbor's chicken 

Katydid

Unidentified . I don't know what kind of spider this is.

Salamander 

Frog

milipede

slug

birds

Another spider

I decided to share some photos of different animals that have been found in and around my yard this past summer. I see more than I can get photos of. Most times the animals or insect disappear before I can grab a camera or take a picture.

8 Things To Think About When Buying A Dog Bed

Since both my dogs are crate trained. Plus, the crates sit there not being used. I have put the crates up to make clear up the spaces. The dog beds were removed from the crates. I gave my bigger dog, Moose bed to a friend who needed one for her dog. I bought a new bed for Moose to sleep in. One that was bigger where he could lay stretched out. 

When I first got the new dog bed, I placed it in the livingroom where Moose lays the most on the floor. I know winter is coming, he will not be happy on the floor. As it will be too cold. Moose wanted nothing to do with the new dog bed. Rascal my smallest dog sure did. He took it over by dragging the toys in to the new dog bed. 

Moose took to the new dog bed when people would visit. There wouldn't be any place on the couch for him to sit. He would go to the new dog bed. Afterwards Rascal would join Moose to lay in the bed. There is plenty of room for both of them. When it is bedtime, they do not sleep in their dog beds. They sleep in bed with the humans in the house.

8 Things To Think About When Buying A Dog Bed

1. Choose the right size for your dog. 

2. Circle beds do good for dogs who like to curl when they sleep.

3. Square or rectangle beds do good for those who like to stretch out or roll over to sleep.  

4. Get a bed with a cushion for dogs with bad joints or suffer from arthritis.

5. Buy a bed made of good material. If it is itchy to you on touch. It will be itchy for the dogs.

6. If your dog likes to chew, buy a durable not chewable bed. Or train your dog to not chew on the bed. By giving them a chew bone every time they try to chew on the bed.

7. Make sure the bed has no tears or loose strings for the dog to chew, pull or get tangled up in. 

8. Buy a bed that is machine washable to extend the life of the bed. The extra large dog beds will fit in the oversize washers at laundromats.

Photo taken by  and  © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

If you looking to buy a new dog bed, check out these available ones on Amazon. Thank you for looking.

Visiting A Local Park

For much of Saturday, I was able to visit a well known local park. As one of my friends little girl was having a birthday party. My boyfriend, my daughter, a friend of my daughters and me went together. I was able to see many people I have not talked to in awhile.

The park has many trees throughout it. many of trees have nuts that feed the local wildlife. Such as hickory and walnut. It is great for taking scenic photos. Among the trees you will see wildlife that frequent the local area. Such as black squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, and various birds.
Behind the park runs a river. You are able to find different spots to go fishing or sit by the river.

The park offers many different playground type equipment for the children to play on. I have seen in the past single adults coming out and using the monkey bars to exercise.
There are several different open shelters houses where people can hold a picnic, birthday parties and more. A small grill is at each shelter house for visitors to use. You must bring your own charcoal.

Trash bins are placed throughout the park for visitors to place their trash in. Trash cans are important to use. As wildlife can get trapped in trash thrown on the ground or easily swallow the trash thinking it is food. Both ways are a slow and horrible death for the animal.

Do you visit local parks?

Photo taken by and © belongs to sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

Arctic Foxes

Arctic Foxes

I want to tell you about another animal that lives in extreme harsh weather called the “Arctic Fox”. The weather is very frigid and cold. It can withstand freezing weather up to -70 C (-94 F) before starting to shiver.

The Arctic fox has a pretty coats of fur. The animal is hunted for its different colors in fur. Which are  white (winter months) , brown (summer months), and blue (a recessive gene that sometimes comes out). At one time almost to the point of extinction. The “Arctic Fox” is also known as the white fox, snow fox and the polar fox.

It is native to the northern hemisphere in the arctic regions. Such as the Arctic Tundra, northern Europe, northern Asia, and North America. The foxes range can include northern Russia, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, Hudson Bay, Greenland, Fennoscandia, and other island in the Barents Seas.
It has deep thick fur. It is brown in the summer months but changes color in the winter and cooler months. It size ranges from 18 to 27 inches long. Its bodies shape help minimize heat from escaping.

Arctic fox has to eat to stay alive. It is considered an omnivore. It will eat smaller creatures than itself. Such as lemmings, various seabirds, fish, ringed seal pups,  voles, and waterfowl. Arctic foxes also eat small invertebrates,  insects, seaweed, carrion, eggs, and berries. They will also scavenge leftovers from large preys kills as well. Such as wolves and polar bears.

Arctic foxes will pair up during breeding season. They will stay together and raise the young pups together in an underground den. Breeding happens between April and May. Gestation periods last around 52 days. Litters can range as small as four up to fourteen pups. The largest number in one litter on record is twenty-five. Pups start emerging from the den at three weeks. They are weaned by time they are nine weeks old.

The photos are from Pixabay, a free photo website.

Growing Tomatoes In Pallets

In the spring of this year I had planned on planting a big garden. To many things happened to prevent this. yet, I was able to plant a small garden in the front yard in the flower beds.

I planted a bunch of seeds. I wasn't sure if they would sprout. My daughter and i pulled all the weeds out of the flower bed. As it grew weeds and grass for years. After pulling the weeds we placed thick cardboard in the flower bed. We placed three small pallets and frog statues in the flower bed. Afterwards we placed mulch all around the statues, inside the pallets and out. We added numerous seeds and steadily watered them.

After a few months things started to grow. Lazy Susans, Marigolds and pear tomato plants appeared. Plus weeds where the other seeds were planted.
I am not sure if I actually planted weeds. Or the birds, squirrels and rabbits that frequent my front yard took off with the seeds.

By the start of August I was picking pear tomatoes. One day a neighbor came over. We started talking about my tomato plants. He asked if I sprayed anything on the plants. I said no. Only put the pallets, mulch and seeds. I occasionally water them as it rained enough times i didn't need to. yet, that was it.

He grabbed a tomato and ate one. He said the tomato tasted better than ones you can get in a store. My boyfriend grab ones and ate it. He to told me how good they tasted.
It made me secretly wish I wasn't allergic to tomatoes. I would of ate one too. The compliments made me feel good. I smile when I look at my small garden each morning seeing more tomatoes producing.

Photo taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty

Women's Denim Printed Leggings By SwagLAMode

I came across the denim printed legging by SwagLAMode. The denim jeans are offered with thirteen different prints. Designs are made in the USA, but the leggings are imported. materials use to make these are 40% Viscose, 50% Polyester and 10 % Spandex. Sizes available are S-XL. Also in Plus sizes.

I chose the denim jeans covered in roses. As roses are one of my favorite flowers. When the jeans arrived, I got them out of the box to look at. I thought there is no way these jeans are going to fit. They look too small. Like they would fit much better on a small child. 

I had my daughter try them on and model for me. She wears a size large, the jeans fit nicely. The denim has nice stitches. I could not find any flaws. 

I love how the jeans are stretch when you move and doesn't restrict or get tight in movement. The material is soft and does not irritate the skin. This is a plus, as my daughter loves to wear soft materials.

If I had to rate these jeans from one to five,. Five being the highest rated. I would rate these a five. I would recommend anyone who wish to has soft jeans with cute printed designs to order a pair.

Photo take by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.