Hedgehog Feeding Station/ Advice For Winter

I have been feeding several wild hedgehogs who live in my garden for several years. I recently upgraded their living accommodation and decided I would also buy them a predator proof feeding station as I noticed that several cats had started to eat the hedgehog food. After searching Etsy/ EBay and Amazon I found the one I liked the most (£49.99 & £8 postage).

Before I start my review I would like to point out that whilst I was researching feeding stations I came across several blogs that said there was no need to leave food and water out as hedgehogs hibernate throughout winter.  They Do Not! My hedgies don’t hibernate at all - I have seen them stomping through the snow to get to their food and water. Also if a hedgehog is a late October birth it may well be underweight and need to come out of hibernation every so often to boost his/her calories. Anyway if you do feed hedgies thankyou so much and please continue to do so over Winter and if you don’t please consider doing so. I will leave links at the base of this post linking reputable rescues with details of suitable food, dishes and how to make cheap/ safe hedgehog houses and feeding stations. 

I purchased my new feeding station from llar01. He no longer sells via EBay but you can message him through there and he will give you his Facebook details. I chose this feeder because it isn’t varnished. Certain varnishes can kill hedgehogs so most houses/ feeders are either plain wood or coated with a water based animal safe varnish. I also liked that the main living room/ feeding area has a wooden base (some don’t). This means hedgies can curl up for a snooze in between eating if they want without getting a chill. The lid is water proof and has two locks which will help prevent nosy humans from taking a look inside. There are entrances on either side of the feeder. Hedgehogs are solitary animals so two of these means that is easier for them to avoid each other if they so wish. The baffles- the walls inside the feeder help prevent predators entering the main part of the feeder. The measurements are 75x 36.5x 24cm. 

Hedgehog Rescues/Reputable Sources of Information 

Little Silver Hedgehog

@HedgehogCabin (Twitter) 

Not the Hedgehog Society as they recently advised leaving out pumpkin out as a treat. Hedgehogs can’t digest it and it will make them ill. 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Disney Store Hocus Pocus Book Bag Charm

As Halloween approaches Hocus Pocus is one of the most watched films. Disney, naturally, have lots of related merchandise so as an avid reader I chose this book bag charm (£10). 

The Hocus Pocus book bag charm has “Eye” put a spell on you on the front of the charm/book. It is supposed to be a spell book but the pages are empty. It has a lobster link clasp chain and the book measures 11.5x5.5cm. It can be wiped clean. That’s it really, this is one of the few items I have been disappointed with. It had potential but by leaving the pages blank and not utilising the concept more I don’t really feel it is worth £10.

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Disney Store Gargoyle Light-Up Hanging Ornament, The Haunted Mansion

 ShopDisneyUK now sell hanging ornaments all the year round. So as Halloween is nearly upon us I have decided  to review the light up gargoyle hanging ornament (£18).  

Inspired by the Haunted Mansion, this detailed gargoyle holds a light up candle in each hand (the switch is on the base). The ornament can be either free standing or hung from a ribbon loop which can be easily removed and refastened using the clasp. The gargoyle measures 10.7x7x7cm and batteries for the light up function (LR41) are included. He is made from resin and stone powder with very detailed painted features and he does have a very stony/ granite like appearance.  I use mine as a free standing night light as he does give a bright glow. I do like him, but the packing he came in wasn’t great and a few of the other ornaments were broken due to insufficient packaging. I do feel that Disney are pushing up the prices of the hanging ornaments, even though all the stores bar Oxford Street have recently closed. 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

 

Book Review: Our Trespasses: A Paranormal Thriller by Michael Cordell

Our Trespasses: A Paranormal Thriller by Michael Cordell is published by TCK Publishing. I was sent/emailed this book to review but the fact that it was gifted to me will not affect my thoughts on the book. 

The psychic connection between identical twins can be a strong one and this was certainly the case for Jake and Matthew Davis. Since childhood Matt had known when Jake was in trouble and even though Matt was now trudging through a mundane life, working in a no-star Brooklyn diner, turning burgers for a living. Whilst eating his burger at Buzz and getting his dating profile checked by Esther he knows when his twin, Jake is viciously murdered. He immediately feels a great flash of pain in his head as the murder happens and instinctively knows his twin has died a horrifying death as he tellls Esther “My brother, Jake, someone just killed him”. 

 Matt immediately travels to their hometown, aptly named, Hatchett, Nebraska for the funeral. Whilst filling up gas on the edge of his old home town he his accosted by Teddy, who mistakes him for Jake and threatens to “bust him up good” if he ever saw him sniffing round his sister again. He quickly realises that as Teddy aptly points out Jake is the evil twin. He treated his sister, Lorraine,  very poorly, is a meth dealer and never says sorry when he is in the wrong.  

Normally  the twin connection would now be severed, as Jake is dead, but not in Jake and Matts’ case. If anything whilst Matt stays at Jake’s house the connection has intensified. As Jake lives and suffers in the Afterlife, Matt continues to live the same agonies.

In an attempt to understand and break the connection he goes to visit Skiz/Walter. He tells him Jake is currently in Hell and to break the connection Matt needs to get him out advising him that he needs to gain forgiveness for his brother’s sins. Walter then tries to kill him as apparently Jake cannot be let back in. 

Matt attempts to atone for his brother’s sins but a demon infects the connection between the brothers.  He must find a way to break the connection before he too is drawn into hell. 

Michael Cordell is a novelist, screenwriter and playwright.  His first novel is Contempt which reached the Top 10 Legal Thrillers and is also an Amazon bestseller. He also wrote the screenplay for Beeper. The methodological fast paced storyline shows the skills of all three combined to create an excellent novel with two storylines that combine into a fascinating ending with a twist.  

I enjoyed this book immensely. Our Trespasses: A Paranormal Thriller, as it indicates in the title fits into the paranormal book category alongside The Outsider by Stephen King and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. The suspense and correlation between Jake’s death and Mathew’s collapse plus the build up of paranormal forces as he continues to suffer because the twin bond is not broken but has become stronger as Jake is in the afterlife is clearly well thought out and grips the reader’s attention.  The meth storyline both complements the main paranormal storyline and helps bring the novel to a spectacular conclusion. I will read other novels by Cordell, not just paranormal novels but also legal as the execution of his writing is so clear and enjoyable to read. 

I was sent a free copy of this book to review but this has not influenced my review of the book. 

Amazon US:

Our Trespasses: A Paranormal Thriller

Amazon U.K. 

Our Trespasses 

TCK Publishing website link:

https://www.tckpublishing.com/

author's website:

https://michaeljcordell.com/

Review: Erstwilder Grumpy Bear Good Morning Brooch

 

 

As a child of the late 70s to mid 90s I loved the Care Bears. I had the cloud car, lots of bears and the soft toys, I thought they were magical. Erstwilder has recently brought out a second collection of Erstwilder x Care Bear jewellery, pins and scarfs. I have already reviewed the Trick or Sweet Care Bear Enamel Pin. This review will look at the Good Morning Grumpy Bear Brooch (£24.28). This brooch is sold out on the Erstwilder website, but is still available via EBay. The Grumpy Bear earrings are still available on their and other Erstwilder stockist websites. 

 Erstwilder brooches are all made from resin and the Grumpy brooch is no exception. He is made from blue bubble resin, hand assembled with detailed hand painted features. He measures 60mmx4mm and is presented in a beautiful Erstwilder x Care Bear heart shaped box.  The pin fastening is made from silver plated steel. Erstwilder sell both a magnapin which is a magnet that clips on to the brooch so you don’t have to pin the brooch through clothing and risk snagging material and a brooch converter which converts your brooch into a pendant. The brooch is quite heavy so the magnet is a great idea. I actually prefer wearing my Grumpy Bear as a pendant as it really is an eye catching statement piece which seems to get more notice when I wear it as a pendant. Grumpy is quite a tactile piece. I have a family friend who is completely blind, so even though she watched the care bees cartoons she never knew what they looked like. By feeling the brooch she now knows! 

The brooch is lovely and well made. I bought mine directly from Erstwilder which is based on Australia but the shipping was very quick and the costs very reasonable and free if you spend over a certain amount. I also received a free gift - a pair of earrings which I thought was a lovely touch. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Review: Couture Kingdom ECC The Child Baby Yoda Enamel Stud Earrings & Necklace

CoutureKingdom.com stock a range of Star Wars themed jewellery not yet available on their U.K. site. As the international shipping is both reasonable and fairly quick I bought several pieces to use as Instagram competition prizes and to review here. 

 The ECC The Child Baby Yoda Enamel Stud Earrings (£11) and matching necklace (£14) are reasonablely priced and would be great for any Star Wars/ The Mandalorian fan (cuff links are available (£27) in their white gold range. Both items come in jewellery envelopes. They are made from stainless steel and have enamel detailing. The earrings are for pierced ears and have a butterfly fastening. The Baby Yodas each measure 12mm. The necklace length is 40cm with a 7cm extension. Baby Yoda measures 16mm. 

These pieces would make great gifts for Disney/Star Wars fans of any age. They are reasonably priced and well made. 

I purchased the items myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Review: TumbleandRose Sterling Silver Tiny Raw Aquamarine Necklace

I was recently diagnosed with and was told that I need treatment for glaucoma. I have always teetered on the edge of the thinking semi precious stones have restorative or healing qualities and as I was feeling pretty upset about the diagnosis I looked up which stones could help eye problems (obviously I will still continue with mainstream medical treatments, the laser procedure was not fun).

Aquamarine is a positive gemstone thought to bring happiness and help with grieving process. It is also thought to improve eye sight and help with eye problems. 

I purchased a sterling silver tiny raw aquamarine pendant (£16.10) from Rose and Tumble, a small Etsy seller. She makes no claims aquamarine or any gemstones have healing benefits. I chose this pendant because I like it.

The pendant arrived nicely packaged in a tiny hessian gift bag. The raw aquamarine stone is tiny but also extremely beautiful and minimalist. The rawness of the stone makes it seem very pure and close to nature. The silver setting and jump ring seem to make the stone glow in the sun. 

I really like this pendant, bought in a moment of panic, I don’t think it will solve one of my many health problems, but it does cheer  me up  when I wear it. 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Review: Classic Canes Bats At Night Derby Walking Stick

I haven’t purchased and reviewed a walking stick for some time but I as I was browsing the Stick and Cane website I noticed that Classic Canes have launched quite a few walking sticks in their Contemporary Chic  Derby Adjustable Stick. The patterns include ladybirds, owls, birds and bats. I want them all, but restrained myself and chose the bat themed walking stick. 

The Bats at Night walking Stick (£46) is adjustable, collapses into four pieces and comes in a protective pouch. My stick looks slightly strange in the photo as I had a piece removed (I am only 4ft 7”). There are black bats, tree silhouettes, orange and yellow stars on a greyish background. Depending on the lighting and background the grey takes on a lavender tint.  The stick comes with a black non slip ferrule and a chrome collar. The colours aren’t exactly the same between the handle of the cane and the shaft (not a design flaw but due to the different materials used to make the stick) and I think that adds to the spookiness of the design. The derby shaped handle is comfortable to hold and the height of the stick is easy to adjust, just press the silver buttons at the top of the shaft and slide to the height you want. Without having any adjustments made to the walking stick it is adjustable from 79cm to 89cm.

I enjoy using this stick. The theme and graphics are really cute and eye catching. I shall continue to use it when Halloween is over! 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Review& #Win Elizabeth Scarlett Elephant Conservation Collection Coin Purse

 

Elizabeth Scarlett Coin purses, as with all  her products are made from the softest velvet and have beautiful, well thought out embellishments and embroidery on them. The coin purses are akin to very small pouches aren’t just for change. I fitted a lipstick and compact in mine, but they can also be used for keys and a cash card on a night out. The pouches cost £16. I have reviewed the Elephant pouch for purpose (£28) as each pouch results in a donation of two bottles of specialist milk for the orphan baby elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. 

 

I chose the Elephant  Conservation Collection Coin Purse because the purchase gives the equivalent donation of one bottle of milk to the baby elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The coin purses are available in both olive and coral.  The purses measure 16x10 cm and are made from the softest velvet. They also come with a little protective bag.  The elephant is an adorable hand designed elephant motif which is on both sides of the purse. The zip and and zip closure are gold toned with the zip having ES embossed on it. 

Lined with a PU coating, it is easy to keep clean and is machine washable. I use mine as a touch up make up bag as I can easily  fit a chantecaille elephant lip veil and a Chantecaille future skin compact (both of which also support the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust), with room left for loose change, key and cash card. It’s like a mini Mary Poppin’s bag! There are several items in the Conservation Collection, including a cushion, wash bag, pouches, purses, an eye mask and bag but I think this design/style would look so cute as a cross the body/ evening bag!  

  I have purchased and will be giving away items which support animal charities and Animal Trusts during the run up to the festive/ holiday/ Christmas season. This month, on my blog, I will be giving away an Elizabeth Scarlett Elephant conservation purse and pouch. The colourway of purse and pouch and choice of pouch will be left to the winner. Which is why there isn’t a proper photo of the prize.

Enter here>>>a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

Entrants must fulfil the Rafflecopter mandatory option (I do check);

Competition opens on 7 Oct and closes on 1 November 12AM GMT;

Competition is open internationally;

Competition is not in any way affiliated with Elizabeth Scarlett. I will purchase the items myself when the competition has closed and the winner has decided on the colourway for both items and which pouch they want.