There are plenty of qualities you need to look for in flooring if you have pets. It needs to be stylish yet functional, durable, and easy to clean and maintain. Dogs and cats don’t like certain types of flooring such as laminate because it’s slippery. They may like other types like carpet too much and chew or scratch it. It’s essential to find the flooring that will last a long time but create a comfortable environment for your pet. Fortunately, there are many types of flooring that are perfectly pet-friendly. Here are the top five examples.

Vinyl flooring

If you want to take great care of your dog, then vinyl is a popular choice. It’s less slippery than laminate and dogs and cats are comfortable walking on it. As well as providing decent grip, it will maintain its temperature making it a cool place to lay on in the summer. It’s not as cold as other floorings such as stone or ceramics, however. Vinyl is good for pet owners as well as it’s easy to clean, cheap, durable, and pretty much scratch-proof.

Sustainable woods

For an eco-friendly flooring solution, you could try sustainable woods like bamboo or cork. These are actually very durable materials, not to mention uniquely attractive. They’re also easy to clean and they won’t get damaged if your pet has an accident. These types of woods are microbial which means they’re less likely to develop mold or harmful allergens.

Stone flooring

For a luxury finish, there’s nothing like stone tile flooring. It’s stunning to look at and very durable. The only downside is that it can get a bit cold, but that’s what dog beds are for. To walk over it’s very comfortable and has plenty of grip. Stone will be totally resistant to even the sharpest claws and it’s a type of flooring for life. If you’re looking to the long term, it might be worth investing in.

Ceramic tile

Ceramic is actually one of the most common types of tile in the home. It’s perfect for statement walls or flooring areas as it can be very decorative. Ceramic is water-resistant, durable, and muddy paw prints will wipe away in seconds. The only issue is that it can be a bit slippery like laminate. Older dogs may need stepping stones of other types of flooring or rugs to help them.

Comfy rugs

If you opt for a slick type of flooring, there’s always a solution. Comfy rugs will prevent your pets from slipping. They’ll protect you and your family from having an accident as well and enlisting the help of a personal injury lawyer. It’s better to err on the side of caution when choosing your flooring. Rugs can be decorative as well as functional so avoid skids by investing in a couple for common areas. If you get one with dark patterns pet prints will barely be visible. Choose the right flooring design for you and create a safer, more comfortable home for your pets.

Normally when I think of Suzanne Woods Fisher, I think of amish novels. But her newest book, The Moonlight School, is a great historical novel based on true events. 

Haunted by her sister's mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn't expected: love.

I wanted to read this book because the cover itself intrigued me but I also have found a lot of myself in Lucy. When I was a teenager, my family moved from the city in Florida to pretty much the back country of North Georgia. I found myself looking down on people who didn't have my education and who didn't speak like me. But I wasn't looking deep within then either. Seeing them for real people who had dreams like me.

Now almost 15 years later I know how to look at someone's heart. And it was sweet to see how Lucy was able to change. I think the only thing I didn't like about the novel was how it ended with Angie and Lucy. I  really expected something more to be done about the situation so I was disappointed there.

Overall it was a great standalone book and since it was based on true events, I enjoyed it even more.

About the Book

Book:  The Midwife’s Heart

Author: Brenda Ray

Genre: Historical

As Abraham’s descendants prepare to cross into the Promised Land, led by Moses, Hannah, a disillusioned midwife will be tested in ways she cannot imagine. She wanted love, a home, and children, but gave up on that dream long ago.  One heartbreak and humiliation was enough.

Ze-ev is a commander in the army, protecting his people. Busy doing what must be done, finding a wife is not his priority. Besides, when his childhood sweetheart marries another, he lost interest in securing a match to be his bride.

When he meets Hannah, they are both tested. Will either of them let down their guard long enough to trust again?

Set on the Plains of Moab, amidst attacks on the camp, spies, plague, and the unprecedented request of Zelophehad’s daughters, Ze-ev and Hannah must navigate the thorny path of the heart.

Click here to get your copy!

Review

As a lover of biblical fiction, I was interested in finding out more about this story. When I first looked at the title though, I automatically assumed that it was about Puah, the midwife in Egypt. But it was actually about Puah's great granddaughter, Hannah when the 40 years in the wilderness is almost up. I don't believe the Bible mentioned the names of Puah's family members so this part of the story I believe is just author allowance. But the ones I did notice that are in the Bible are the daughters of Zelophehad which I haven't seen in any stories except for the ones by Barbara Britton! So it was exciting to see them in a new light. 

I do have to say that this story did have romance in it and some of the kisses were quite passionate so I wouldn't recommend it for young teens. But the story line was good with characters that possessed qualities that fit for the time period. 

About the Author

RWA award-winning author, Brenda Ray, grew up along the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida.  A University of Florida trained nurse-midwife, she traveled as a military wife and raised three remarkable sons. She is now retired and writing full time in Vero Beach, FL.  A graduate of the University of Florida, as well, she is always confused during football season, but she is never confused about loving feedback from her readers.  You may contact her at: www.wildwolfwomanwriter.com

More from Brenda

I didn’t set out to be a writer.  In 1997, I was a practicing nurse-midwife, blessed to have delivered hundreds of babies.  In one day, latex allergy abruptly ended my career, ended my job, and took my health. Seven years of college felt like a waste. At times the grief felt bottomless.

My strong faith in God got me through that dark time.  My daily meditation and clinging to God’s Word were by lifelines.  One morning, while reading the second chapter of Exodus, (which I had read many times before) the story of Puah and Shiphrah struck me in a new way.

I began asking myself how that came to be.  Why would a pharaoh order his future workforce murdered?  Did all the babies arrive before the midwives could arrive or did the midwives lie? With much research and study and my own experiences as a midwife, the answers to those questions became The Midwife’s Song: A Story of Moses’ Birth.

The book started a flood of writing that continues today.  Writing is a creative process and as the Holy Scripture teach, “In the beginning, God created….”  We are told we are made in God’s image.  Thus, we ourselves are destines to create.  For me, it has been quilting, sewing, cooking, and writing.  I also write under the pen name of B. K. Ricotta. Two of a Kind is my first book under that name. A sweet novella will be released soon by Wild Rose Press entitled A Love So Sweet by B. K. Ricotta.  Finally, the finishing touches are being done on a historical romance set in Northwest Florida when it was a new state.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 5

For the Love of Literature, February 6 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 6

Artistic Nobody, February 7 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Texas Book-aholic, February 8

For Him and My Family, February 9

Sara Jane Jacobs, February 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 11

Older & Smarter?, February 12

Inklings and notions, February 13

Through the Fire Blogs, February 14 (Author Interview)

Our Whiskey Lullaby, February 14

Connie’s History Classroom, February 15

deb’s Book Review, February 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Brenda is giving away the grand prize package of an autographed copy of “The Midwife’s Song: A Story of Moses’ Birth (1st edition) and a few rainy day comfort items!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1073f/the-midwife-s-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

We all love our pet cats and want them to be as healthy and happy as possible, but they do not always make being a cat-parent easy. Cats are notorious for hiding illness or possibly taking themselves to a quiet hiding place where we cannot find them. Unfortunately, this can mean that we do not notice they are suffering until their illness has advanced to the point where they can no longer hide it. However, if we are able to get cats the treatment they need in the early stages, most cats will make a full recovery. Here are seven common signs to look out for which might mean that your cat is unwell:

1. Changes in their behavior

When a cat is unwell, they tend to sit in a hunched position in a dark and quiet place. They often stop grooming themselves, or if they are in pain, they might avoid sitting or sleeping in certain positions that they used to find comfortable. If a cat presses its head into a wall or piece of furniture for a long period of time, has seizures, or appears confused, it may have developed neurological issues. Cats can also purr when they are stressed or in pain as it is a way of soothing themselves.

2. Eating or drinking less or more

You know your cat better than anyone and will know what is ‘normal’ for them in terms of appetite. If a usually fussy cat is suddenly devouring everything they can get hold of, or a healthy eater is off their food, it is a good sign that something is wrong. By monitoring both their intake of food and drink and their litter box, you can get a sense of their health. If cats are not able to urinate, they are in pain while urinating, or have to urinate suddenly and in small amounts, call your vet.

3. Regular vomiting

When a cat vomits their food quickly after they have eaten, they may have eaten too quickly, or they could have an issue in their digestive system. If it only happens once or twice, there is probably nothing to worry about, but repeated vomiting over more than a few hours should be looked at by a vet. You can visit exceptionalpets.com for advice if you are concerned about any aspect of your cat’s health.

4. Constipation or diarrhea

Occasional constipation or diarrhea is not usually anything to worry about, but in some cases, it can be a sign of infection, poisoning, parasites, or illness. If your cat is struggling to defecate and appears to be in pain, or their stool is particularly watery or contains blood, contact a veterinarian.

5. Coughing or wheezing

Sometimes cats will develop hairballs in their throat, but they usually manage to sort them out on their own. However, persistent coughing or wheezing could indicate more serious blockages, allergies, lung disease, tumors, or other serious conditions. When a cat is coughing for more than 24 hours, contact a vet. This is particularly urgent if you believe your cat is struggling to breathe or has blue gums.

6. Low or high temperature

Your cat’s temperature should be between 100-103 degrees, and readings above or below this range could be a sign of illness. To take their temperature, you could insert a rectal thermometer that has been lubricated into their rectum and leave it there for up to a minute. If you do not have a rectal thermometer, click here. If you are concerned about your cat’s temperature, call your veterinarian.

7. Discolored gums

A cat’s gums should be dark pink in color. When you press the gum with your finger, it will turn white but turn back to pink quickly after you stop pressing. If the gums take a long time to return to pink, or they are very pale regardless of pressure, it could be a sign of several illnesses. If the gums and/or tongue are blue, yellow, or red in places, you should take the cat to the vet urgently.

Have you ever been drawn to a book just from the cover alone? When I first saw A Dance in Donegal, I knew I had to read it. The cover intrigued me to say the least and since I have red hair and an Irish husband, I knew it would be a keeper. And I wasn't wrong!

A Dance in Donegal starts off with Moira Doherty, a young woman who decides to fulfill her mother's dying wish to return back to her hometown in Ireland. While there, she becomes the new schoolteacher but she is faced with a lot of problems; a family scandal among one of them.

This debut novel was amazing to say the least. I loved how it captivated me and kept my attention. Plus I never knew where the story was going to end up! I love all the twists and turns in the plot and learning the secrets behind people. If you love the rolling hills of Ireland, the 1920's, and sweet romances, then this one is for you!