By : Alicia West


Deciding to adopt an animal is a big decision. First I adopted two kittens from a rescue group.  But it was several years later until I decided to adopt a German shepherd from the Virginia Beach SPCA (VBSPCA).  Although I’m really happy with my animals I just never released how much a 100 pound dog can eat. Since I live in a condo with limited parking the trip from the car to my home can be a trek.  It’s normally not a problem unless I’m trying to haul a 50 pound bag of dog food. 

I decided I needed a wagon of some sort to haul the dog food and groceries from the parking lot to my home.  However I wanted a wagon that could fold up flat and fit in the trunk of my car so I wouldn’t have to make an extra trip to my house before I unloaded.  It took a little bit of searching but I finally found a wagon sturdy enough to haul all that dog food that would also fold up flat. 

The VBSPCA also has a low cost veterinary clinic that I use as much as possible.  It was a warm spring day when I pulled into their parking lot with a toddler, two cats, and a dog who were all due for their shots.  Well, except for the toddler. 

Opening the car door I lifted the heavy baby carrier off the base and set it on the ground.  Roxy, my German shepherd, nearly strangled herself leaping out of the car while her leash was still thankfully attached to the gear shift.  Meanwhile the cats were meowing piteously from their carrier.  It felt like a three ring circus so I made the decision to leave the cats and take the baby and the dog inside first.  Three steps from the car I realized I was going to have to drag the baby carrier in and out and in again because I couldn’t leave the baby unattended.

Then I remembered I had the pancake flat wagon in my trunk.  Although I had never used it for anything other than hauling groceries it now had a new purpose.  Pet propulsion.  I loaded the two cat carriers one on top of each other and wedged the baby carrier beside them.  I carefully rolled my Noah’s ark on wheels towards the vet and made it in one trip.  Perfect!  My hairy day at the vet turned out to be smooth rolling thanks to the Pancake Flat Wagon.  The receptionist was amused by my little caboose and I  told her that she could order online from www.foldflatworld.com or find it on Amazon Marketplace as well in some Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) Taylor Do-It-Yourself centers.

By: Cassandra Travis, Artist

Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse. -Winston Churchill

I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember.  I’ve always enjoyed going to the Virginia (VA) Boardwalk Art Festival and coming home excited and giddy with a thousand new ideas.  Everyone always asked me after seeing my work why I hadn’t done an art show and so I finally did.

However “doing an art show” isn’t as nearly as easy as it sounds.  First you have to be accepted into the art show, then there’s the entrance fee, tent rental, having enough work to show.  The details are exhausting.  Another problem I had was the logistics of getting tables, art, display cases, a chair, cash box…..and much, much more to the site.

At this point I didn’t have a lot of room or a lot of money left.  So I was really pleased when I found the pancake flat wagon.  It was fairly inexpensive for something so sturdy and rugged.  It was also the only wagon I could find that folded flat.  The wheels literally fold under and hide up inside the wagon making it only 7 inches.

The wagon is constructed of metal so it’s sturdy and I was able to secure some of my bigger art pieces with bungee cords.  With the seagulls cartwheeling overhead I towed my first load of art out onto the boardwalk and it was smooth sailing the rest of the weekend.  I finished off the show with several large pieces sold and tired but happy.  Once again my little lovely wagon helped me get everything back to the car and loaded.

A bunch of other artists asked me that weekend where I got the pancake flat cart by pancake wheel, this newest piece of essential artist equipment.  I told them that they can order online from www.foldflatworld.com or find it on Amazon Marketplace as well as at a couple of Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) Taylor Do-it-Yourself centers