Review of Renewed iPhones on Amazon

 

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A Review of the Best Peanut Brittle Recipe

Mom's Peanut Brittle Recipe

I always look forward to making peanut brittle, no matter the time of year!  I have what I believe is the best recipe for peanut brittle in the world!  Unfortunately, I cannot claim the fame, because I got this recipe from my Mom.....who is the best cook I have ever known.  I used to love when she made it, the brittle was so delicious, it just melts in your mouth.  

Since Mom has been gone for over 10 years, I make it myself now.    I can't make it too often, as the hubby is diabetic and he can't resist it.  It really isn't that hard to make, it gets easier each time you make it.

Ingredients

2 cups of sugar

1 1/2 cups Karo syrup (can use corn syrup but Mom always used Karo)

1/2 cup water

2 1/2 cups of raw, unsalted peanuts

1 tablespoon butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 rounded teaspoons baking soda

Instructions

Boil sugar, syrup, and water until it threads, then reduces heat.

Add raw, unsalted peanuts and stir until mixed.

Continue to stir until the mixture is golden brown.

Add butter, vanilla, and baking soda and stir quickly.  Do not over cook!

As soon as it is mixed, pour the mixture into a greased pan and let cool.

Break into pieces.

This peanut brittle makes a great gift, just break into small pieces and put it in a pretty metal tin, or a decorated mason jar.  If you like, you could even attach a card with the recipe!  Almost everyone loves peanut brittle!  

 Lion Tin Cute Mason Jar

I love to share my family recipes, people are always so appreciative.  I hope you will share this post with your friends and family so they can make this great treat for the ones they love!

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JW Pet HOLee Roller Ball Review

If you have a puppy, you know! Finding a ball should seem like an easy purchase, but each ball and each puppy are indeed unique. The challenge to find a ball the puppy likes, cannot destroy and keeps the puppy busy for more than a few seconds is real!

After a few purchases that were fails. And fails mostly because this little puppy is also a tough little chewer; who knew such teeny tiny teeth could pierce even rubber toys advertised as tough enough!

A Winner

This ball fits the assignment for this puppy! Light enough for the puppy to toss, roll, bounce and play with or without a person. The ball is very gentle on hard floors and bouncing off furniture.  While advertised as a puzzle ball which could contain treats, the holes are fairly big so the treats would need to be hole sized. We found success by putting a smelly treat in a wad of crumpled paper and leaving the paper in the ball.

The treat did fall out, but the Holee Roller ball now has a sound with the crumpled paper which the puppy loves also.

Sizes

The puzzle ball comes in three sizes:

Small 3.0 inch diameter

Medium 4.5 inch diameter

Large 5.5 inch diameter

Assorted Colors

Including Blue, Pink, Black, Green

Price Point

When dealing with the chaos of puppy management I suspect most owners will gladly pay for a toy that amuses their puppy/adolescent/dog. The balls are not inexpensive, but average priced.

There is an extreme version made of tougher rubber for the more aggressive pup when playing. As always, supervision is required and the roller balls are not for land sharks of the puppy kingdom.

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Chasing Butterflies - My Story Behind the Lyrics From Childhood to Being a Grandparent

I wrote the lyrics to Chasing Butterflies on January 16th, 2026.

I didn’t sit down planning to write lyrics that day. Lately, my thoughts have been drifting back to my childhood. I turned ten in 1970, and those years keep returning to me in small flashes. 

One of my favorite things in the world back then was riding my 10-speed around town with my friend. We’d be gone most of the day, riding from one end of town to the other — from my house to hers, and back again, over to our school, and anywhere else our bikes took us.

There was no plan. We just rode, talked, laughed, and filled the day. If we ended up at her house and her mom was making dinner, I’d call home to let my mom know I was eating there. If she were at my place, she’d do the same. And when the streetlights came on, that was our signal to head home. It was just life, a fun life.

Some Things You Only Understand Later

Thinking about those years always brings me back to my parents. I miss them. That never really goes away. Back then, I had no idea how much they were shaping me, or how much strength they were quietly giving me just by being there. I only understand that now, looking back. That part of my life, having them in it, became a foundation for everything that came after.

Somewhere in all of that remembering, the idea of butterflies came to me.

When you’re a child, you chase butterflies without thinking. You don’t question it. You imagine, pretend, make up stories, and let your imagination lead the way. You play with dolls and trucks, create worlds, and believe in them completely. When you’re that young, imagination isn’t something you try to access — it’s just there, guiding you.

We Don’t Know Who We’re Becoming

Life changes us. It has to. A caterpillar doesn’t know it will one day become a butterfly, and we don’t know who we’re becoming either. When I picture myself at ten years old, riding my bike and chasing butterflies, I had no idea who I would be later in life. Writing this now at 65, I can see how much life transformed me — through love, loss, time, and all the things that shape us along the way.

Life also teaches you about moments. About how important it is to really be present with the people in front of you. About letting everything else fall away without trying, simply because the moment matters more than anything else.

That’s where this song brought me in the end — back to where I am now, as a grandmother.

When I’m with my grandchildren, playing with them, laughing, sharing small moments, it feels like a gift. An honor. In those moments, nothing else exists. I’m not thinking about the past or the future. I’m just there. Fully present. And without even realizing it at first, I’m chasing butterflies again.

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50 Years of My Poems and Lyrics are on Amazon, Where Available.

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🎵 ©DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - Original Lyrics. | Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held) for Music and Vocals

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Heart and Steel Book Review

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania and am a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. My daughter and grandsons got me this book for Christmas. 

Heart and Steel: Inside the Steelers Dynasty is more than a football book. It's a deep, personal look at leadership, resilience, and what it truly takes to build a championship culture. Written by Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher with veteran sports journalist Michael Holley.

The book follows Cowher's journey from his roots in Crafton, Pennsylvania, just minutes from the stadium he would eventually call home. The book traces his path from a linebacker at North Carolina State to an NFL player and, finally, to an amazing coaching career.

The book gave me the chance to relive those glorious 15 years of Cowher's coaching and the team that I love. From the heartbreak of narrow playoff losses to the decision-making involving stars like Ben Roethlisberger.

While Steeler fans will love this book and the stories, the most moving chapters aren't about football at all; they focus on Cowher's life after the whistle. This book made me both laugh and cry. Cowher addresses doubts, criticism, and the sacrifices required to succeed at the highest level, along with their impact on his family life. 

Heart and Steel is an engaging and thoughtful read that captures the spirit of Steeler football and offers insights into Bill Cowher's leadership and determination.

From the very first chapter, I could not put this book down. You can find Bill Cowher today as the cohost of CBS's NFL Today.

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Heart and SteelBuy Now

 

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