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5 Valuable U.S. Coins In Circulation Today

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Coin StashFinding rare coins in your pocket change can be fun and profitable. Once you start to develop coin-checking habits, identifying valuable coins in U.S. circulation will become easy. That is, if you are ever lucky enough to come across on of these extremely rare coins. Here are five coins to keep a keen eye out for:

1969 Double Die

Before you get your hopes up, this coin is exceedingly rare. The earliest copies were confiscated by the Secret Service until the U.S. Mint admitted that it was a genuine coin. In order to detect a 1969-S double die Lincoln cent, you have to examine the “heads” side. Take a close look at the phrases “In God We Trust” and “Liberty.” The strike doubling damage is what coin experts commonly refer to as a “double die.” However, if the mint mark is doubled, it’s probably fake as mint marks were punched in the dies separately in 1969. If you’re lucky enough to find this coin, you hit the lottery as this one-cent piece’s value exceeds $10,000.

1943 Copper Penny

During the 1940s, the United States was in the midst of World War II. Therefore, all pennies made during 1943 were supposed to be minted as the steel pennies in order to save copper for the war efforts. According to coin experts, copper plates may have been tested or left mixed among steel plates from 1942 and thus the error. Whatever the cause, these rare beauties sell for about $100,000. Fair warning: there are many fake 1943 copper pennies out there. Be careful, and make sure your coin is certified!

1982 Roosevelt Dime

While most dimes made at this time have the “P” mind mark, this rare 1982 Roosevelt dime has no mint mark. During this time, when coins were made the dies were sent to the individual brand mints which would be punched with the proper mint mark letter for that branch. This rare coinage came about because one or more non-punched dies were used to make coins. It’s very easy to detect. Just look for a 1982 dime with no mint mark on it. If you find one, it’s may be worth $30 or $50, depending on condition.

2004 Wisconsin Quarter

This rare coin could be in your pocket right now and you don’t even know it! This 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter has an extra leaf one it. Look on the lower left-hand side of the ear of corn on the “tails” side. This leaf is very obvious. It’s also known in two different varieties, the high leaf and low leaf type. Hurry home and check your loose change, this little beauty can be worth between $200-$300.

Presidential Dollars

Ever since the Presidential Dollar was created back in 2007, there have been errors associated with the lettering on the edge of these particular coins. In some cases, the lettering was missing entirely. In other instances, the edge lettering had been placed there multiple times (double die). You can detect this error by looking at the edge of the dollar. The inscription should appear fully stamped around the circumference of the coin. But, missing or doubled inscriptions are rare and very valuable. If you find one, it can be worth $50 to $3,000, depending on the President.

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Katelyn Porter is a freelance writer and avid coin collector. Among her favorite coins to collect are 90% silver coins, which she’s been collecting for more than 10 years! In her spare time, Katelyn studies rare U.S. coins.





The Scary Truth About Your Pet’s Food

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peaceWe all love our pets and treat them like family. And when it comes to buying them food, we want to buy the best. So we purchase bags of food from the local grocery store that has pictures of whole grains, prime cuts of meat and human grade vegetables nicely displayed on them. We pleasantly assume there is some nice chef in a pet food kitchen preparing wholesome meals for our beloved pets.

Wrong. While we would like to believe our pet’s food is made of whole chicken meat, choice cuts of beef and fresh grains, the truth is pet food is actually made from the absolute worst parts of chicken and beef. Some of which is high in hormones and even diseased and cancerous meat. And those whole grains, they’ve had the starch removed for cornstarch powder and the oil extracted for corn oil. The only true whole grains used in pet food has been deemed unfit for human consumption due to mold, contaminants, or poor quality.

Pet Food Industry is Unregulated

Sadly, the pet food industry is not regulated. As one of the world’s most synthetic edible products, pet food contains virtually NO whole ingredients. What’s worse is that the pet food industry makes approximately 11 billion dollars a year on products that should be in the garbage or better yet a landfill. Pet food manufacturers have become master manipulators when it comes to producing tasty food for our pets. Scientists have learned how to take a mixture of inedible ingredients, fortify it with artificial vitamins and minerals, and preserve it so it can sit on the grocery shelf for more than year (yuck). While the human eye may be deceived by the color and texture of our pet’s food, remember it’s made of leftover carcass and cheap fillers.

Look at the Ingredients

Carefully look at the top five ingredients on your pet food. These will be the most abundant ingredients according to weight in the food. For dogs and cats, a good portion of their diet needs to be from meat protein. Therefore, you want the first ingredient in your pet food to be a meat source (e.g. chicken, beef or lamb). You never want to purchase pet food with an unidentified “meat” or anything listed as a “by-product”. Also, it’s ok to see “chicken meal” before “chicken” because it contains less water content, more meat.

Holistic Options For Your Pet

There are holistic options out there for your pet. For starters, you could prepare your pet’s food yourself. Remember, dogs require protein, whole grains and vegetables in their diet. Cats on the other hand are pure carnivores; the majority of their diet should include protein with half the amount of whole grains and vegetables. However, before you cook anything be sure to consult with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist about your recipes. Foods you should absolutely avoid are chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, and raw meat. You can also purchase pet foods from specialty pet stores. Make sure they are labeled “all natural” or “organic,” and read the ingredients carefully. It may cost you more money, but it is much healthier for your pet.

If you love your pet and value their heath as much as I do, I hope you will take this information to heart. Please do a little research of your own so you too can become aware of the truth about the pet food industry. My only wish is that pet owners will take the time to read the ingredients of the food they feed their pets, rather than fall victim to the misleading commercials or labels on pet food today.

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Jessica McNeal is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed animal lover. When she’s not spending time writing, she is out running with her wheaten terrier. She recently purchased rabies tags from Ketchum Mfg. Pet safety is her number one concern.

Playing the Perfect Host in Your Kitchen

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Although the primary function of the kitchen is to provide a place in which we can cook, eat and store food, it has also become a place to socialise. It is true that parties and social gatherings often take place in other rooms in the home such as the lounge or dining room, but it is likely that one of the first places you show your guests into is the kitchen. It is the ultimate place to create a great pre-party atmosphere, so whether you are having a few drinks before a night out or a full-blown house party, there are several things you can include in your kitchen to make it the perfect place to host a party.

Snacks

Of course, the kitchen is the part of the home where you expect to find food. So as your guests enter the room, what could be more inviting to them than an array of tasty snacks to feast upon whilst you gather their coats and pour them a drink? There are several kinds of food that wold be appropriate for this kind of occasion; for example crisps, nuts or chocolates. Get a few of their favourites in stock and you’ll surely get top marks on your hosting skills. You could even go a bit further and make your own!

Alcohol Decanters

When hosting a party, unless you are blessed with the presence of a bar in your home, the alcohol is bound to be stored in the kitchen. Rather than letting bottles and cans take over all the empty space, a good idea might be to buy a decanter; that way whiskey, wine, cocktails or whatever else you choose to serve can be poured easily into your guest’s glasses and your kitchen will look less cluttered. There’s something stylish about a decanter as well, having one on display will give your kitchen quite the professional look.

Breakfast Bar

A breakfast bar is not just somewhere for you to sit when you eat the most important meal of the day, it also provides room to place the snacks and drinks necessary for a fun night in. Breakfast bars are perfect for small gatherings where you get together with a few friends to drink, laugh and catch up, a good place to arrange the refreshments for a house party, or the comforting place you retreat to for that sobering coffee after a night out!

Kitchens are the best room in the house when it comes to throwing a party and there are many ways in which you can arrange yours in order to entertain your friends and family.

This Guest Post was written by Kutchenhaus.co.uk who like to make an impression with their High Gloss Kitchens

Importance of Caring for Your Garden

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Homes with gardens are more attractive and pleasing to the eye. They can make a house look like a home, and the flowering plants and trimmed shrubberies can easily make any home look elegant.

Gardens are an extension of the house. You can have your meals and parties outside; your children can play in it; you can even take a nap under a shade in your garden; or you can simply use the garden as a source of solace, peace, and tranquility. As an extension of your home, it should also receive proper care and maintenance. But why is a regular clean-up good for your garden, aside from making your property pretty and relaxing?

It Can Help Keep Pests Out

Without a doubt, a clean garden can help keep pests out. Pests can live just about anywhere, but their population can really flourish in dirty places. Gardens that have stagnant pools of water, mounds of debris and leaves, piles of rotting wood, tall grass, untrimmed shrubberies, etc. are more prone to pest infestation than those gardens that are clean and regularly cared for. This is because dirty gardens attract pestiferous insects such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, beetles, ants, giving the ample hiding places where they can easily feed and breed. Dirty gardens also attract rodents and reptiles that are scavenging for food. If the garden is pest infested, there’s no stopping them from invading your home.

However, if you regularly give your garden a good cleaning by trimming the bushes, pruning the trees, moving the lawn, getting rid of debris, you’re reducing the population of pests and decreasing the risk of having them inside your home.

It Can Decrease Health Risks

As mentioned earlier, dirty gardens attract pests. The more pests you have in the garden, the higher the chances that they’ll infest your property, and the higher the risk of these pests bringing sickness and diseases into your home. Pests, after all, are very notorious when it comes to spreading diseases. In fact, it was the rodents that spread the Bubonic Plague that wiped out millions of people. It’s the mosquitoes that are spreading diseases like dengue fever, malaria, and West Nile disease. Cockroaches carry viruses and bacteria that can cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal problems. Rodents like rats, mice, rabbits, squirrels, etc. can carry rhabdovirus, which causes rabies. Ticks carry viruses that cause Lyme disease, tularemia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Feve; while fleas can cause flea tapeworm infection. There are also the ants, spiders, bees, wasps, scorpions, and other pestiferous insects to think of. If someone with weak or compromised immune system gets stung or bitten by one, he can suffer from severe allergic reactions, necessitating immediate hospitalization. Really, there are so many diseases that humans can get from pests.

If you want to avoid these diseases, then see to it that your garden is clean and neat. Make sure that the pest population is controlled, if not eliminated. If usual trapping of rodents, using repellents and simple pest control, and regular thorough cleaning of your home and garden are not enough, then it’s time to avail of the services of your local pest control company to completely get rid of them for you.

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Jennifer Dallman is a freelance writer for PreventivePestControl.com. Your garden is the most visible part of your property, and as such, it also deserves proper care and maintenance, one of which is keeping it pest-free.

 

Eight Top Books for Pet Lovers

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Introduction

The innocence of pets as they go about their lives in our world designed for humans always makes for a good story. Whether we are rooting for the kitten that just won’t give up, or learning more about how dogs perceive our world, these eight books are some of the greatest reads for pet lovers everywhere.

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love

The book Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, was featured on The Oprah Show. This is a heart-warming story about a dog who has been beaten badly and is missing an ear. The dog just wants attention and he is going to get it – even if it is not in a good way.

Oogy was mutilated because he had been a bait dog for fighting dogs, before he met his wonderful new family after a police raid. This canine has gone through hell and back and still manages to be a great pet. This is indeed a very touching story.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein was published in 2008. This is a novel told exclusively from a dog’s point of view. In the book, readers can follow a story of a race car driver and his dog. The dog is preparing to be reincarnated into a human in its next life. Readers are taken on a journey of the dog Enzo, watching television and learning all he can about his owner’s race car driving passion. This novel was such a big hit, they have made a movie out of it.

97 Ways to Make Your Dog Smile

97 Ways to Make Your Dog Smile is quite a silly book that a lot of dog owners love. The pictures in the book are impressive and the tips work really work. This is a book on how to teach your dogs and how to get your dog to pay attention to you and others. Dog lovers who bought this book raved about how well all the tips and tricks were explained and how easily they were ultimately able to do them.

Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family

Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family is a touching book that will make the average pet lover cry. The book is about a woman who does not really like cats, but her son really wants one after overhearing some kittens were available.

Something tragic ends up happening to the son that wanted the cat right before it arrived. The family was going to send the cat back to the original owner, but the kid’s little brother wanted to keep it.

While the family is mending their broken heart for their lost loved one, this cat provides comfort for the child’s little brother and becomes his best friend.

Readers have said that it is one of the most heart-warming books about a childhood companionship they have read in a long time.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World is a very touching story of a woman who lost her family farm and alcoholic husband. One cold morning this woman found a kitten almost frozen to death and decided to rescue it.

His story made it around the world and there was television documentary made in Japan about him. The documentary showed how one can be in the worst financial crisis in the world and pull oneself up again. This book does not only teach people that you can overcome any problem, but when you do how good it can feel.

Matilda Mae: The Dog Who Needed a Name

Matilda Mae: The Dog Who Needed a Name is a children’s book suitable for ages 8 years or older. This is a tale about a dog who needs help finding a home. Matilda did not look or act like her beagle brother and sisters so they were adopted quicker than she was when she was in the animal shelter.

This book provides the reader with knowledge about animal shelters and pet adoption. This is a great book for children who love animals. Parents of children that have read this book have given it great reviews saying that it taught their child the importance of compassion.

Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know is a very interesting book about the fascinating relationship between a human and a dog. This is a scientist’s perspective as a dog lover, providing a look at the world from a dog’s point of view.

101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your

101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog is a guide to things you can do with your canine friend. This book is described as one of the best dog training books ever. It provides you with step by step instructions and pictures to teach your dog effectively with frustration wondering if you are doing everything right. This book also offers side notes suggesting other ways of doing different activities with your dog and different ways you can get them to listen to you.

Conclusion

Pet books span a wide range; from pet training to tales of compassion, tales of our furry friends always manage to tear at those heart strings, making these books excellent not just for pet lovers, but for everyone.

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  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Guest Post by Lovereading – Helping you to find your next book.

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