Sony Portable DVD Player - DVP-FX820

A year ago, my husband and I bought a Sony DVP-FX820 portable DVD player. We put more thought and research into this purchase than many people might because it was to become our entire home theater. Our small cabin is powered by solar panels and budgeting our energy usage is a way of life, so while the rest of society is pursuing a bigger is better philosophy to home entertainment, we were taking a serious downsize. Although we were willing to give up size, picture quality and equipment quality were two things we were not ready to sacrifice. After going to Best Buy and test driving many different makes and models, as well as peppering the poor sales guy with a multitude of detailed questions, we decided on the Sony. I had read many good reviews of the DVP-FX820 during our research phase, and I now feel qualified to add my own positive review to the list.

After a year of almost daily use, we haven't had a single malfunction. Granted, we treat it well and don't utilize the screen swiveling capabilities, but I've still been impressed with the workmanship to this point. The picture quality on our 8" screen is amazing. The built in speakers are fine, but we do have our system hooked up to external computer speakers for everyday use. The price of this player (~$180.00 in Jan 2009) may be a bit high for someone who is only planning to use it on the occasional long car trip with the kids, but it is well worth it for anyone interested in serious small-scale movie watching. And for those of you on solar panels, I am happy to report that it uses a very modest amount of electricity. :)

Boomerang Pet ID Tags

Click here to view the Boomerang website for more information.

As a dog owner, it is very important to me to have ID tags on my dogs at all times, especially since my two hounds tend to follow their noses far and wide. Of course, an ID tag is only good if it remains attached to the dog. I've spent years buying those mail order or vending machine doggie-bone shaped tags with the little connector rings or S-hooks only to have to repeat the process a few months later when Fido comes back from a run in the woods with no tag on his collar. A friend of mine had recommended Boomerang tags to me once before, but I had balked at the $10.00 price when I could easily get one for around $5.00. When I found myself standing in front of one of those vending machines for the second time in two weeks, however, I decided it was time for something different.

Boomerang's "Collar Tags" are the ID tag to own for several reasons:

-They slide onto the collar, with a slight curve built in for comfort, and therefore can't be lost as long as the collar stays on the dog.
-They fit all sizes and thicknesses of collar.
-They are made of quality stainless steel, deeply engraved for long lasting readability and...
-They are made in the U.S.A by a small time business owner who truly believes in the product.

I have had one on my foxhound, the Houdini of tag losers, for over a month now. I will soon be buying one for my beagle, who doesn't lose tags, but whose current tag is suffering from that other malady of vending machine tags - disappearing text.

BOGS Boots

 Click here to view the BOGS website for more info.
These boots were the original inspiration for this blog. I work and live on a farm, and whether it be cold, snowy days or simply a heavy morning dew, I am always needing warm, waterproof footwear. For years I've worn just standard rubber boots, but they provided little support or warmth and were having a negative impact on my feet and back. Somehow, Bogs boots caught my eye, and I spent a while researching and debating whether or not they would be the right alternative to my rubber boots.  The price (about $100) seemed like a lot but would be worth it if they met my needs and were long lasting. The few reviews I found online were favorable, but they all seemed to be written by people who had barely owned the boots long enough to really give them a fair trial. I ended up writing the company and was so impressed with their quick, personal response that I decided to give them a try.

I have now owned a pair of Bogs boots for almost two months and worn them nearly every day. They do indeed provide wonderful foot support and are comfortable enough to hike around in for long periods. They have kept my very cold-sensitive feet warm even while trudging through 16 inches of snow.  Whereas fashion sense was far behind practicality in my decision making, these boots have gotten me tons of compliments. Everyone seems to notice them. Hey, there's nothing wrong with looking good while feeding the chickens!

So far I have been very happy with these boots and would recommend them to anyone.  The real test is how long they will hold up to intensive use. I will give another review when I have had them long enough to find out.