Product Review Monday

Today's recommended book is entitled "A Country Year: Living the Questions" by Sue Hubbell.

Here's the Amazon description: "Alone on a small Missouri farm after a thirty-year marriage, Sue Hubbell found a new love – of the winged, buzzing variety. Left with little but the commercial beekeeping and honey-producing business she started with her husband, Hubbell found solace in the natural world. Then she began to write, challenging herself to tell the absolute truth about her life and the things she cared about."

To be honest, this description doesn't even begin to capture the charm of this book. It was first published in 1986. I was working as a legal secretary at a law firm in downtown Sacramento at the time, and the book absolutely enchanted me. I bought ten copies as Christmas presents for friends. It's that good.

Hubbell's writing style is warm, clear, humorous, humble, and in all ways magnificent. If you're interested in the life of a solitary beekeeper in the Ozarks in the 1980s, you can't go wrong with "A Country Year."

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With winter on our minds, Don's product recommendation is the STABILicers Maxx 2 Heavy-Duty Traction Cleats.

We've tried cleats before. Many years ago in our old house, I purchased a relatively inexpensive pair, strapped them on, and tried walking to our mailbox and back (a three-mile round trip). Within half a mile, the cleat straps broke. So much for that pair.

These are far and away the very best we've found. The individual cleats are even replaceable if they ever wear out. I can't even begin to express how much safer it is to walk during snowy or icy conditions while wearing these – the difference is night and day.

We've had these cleats for six years now, and in winter we just keep them strapped to our boots by default. These boot cleats are worth their weight in gold for anyone walking in icy conditions. Highly recommended.

(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, we earn a small commission.)

(Don't forget: A complete list of all our book and product recommendations are linked here and at the upper-right column of the blog.)