Thursday, January 29, 2009

Friday, January 16, 2009

Saturdays' Venture

Get out of my way!

Straight to the cookware -

Maybe something for Brie...

How much is this?

Cheers!
Last Saturday we ventured to the new super Wal-Mart in Arden and then to lunch at Carrabbas. It was a good day being out an about.




Friday, January 9, 2009

Internal Architecture


Frustrated with my efforts in trying to get Chrissy to stay with one of you while we are away, an interesting article by David Solie came across my way that seemed to make sense. It talked about our reasons in moving a parent from their home - such as being helpful, safety reasons, convenience and such. Solie refers to “internal architecture” and that emotionally, our parent has “secret scaffolding” that supports her and it’s all tied to being home. Our mother’s house is her world – exactly how she wants it, familiar and a strong element of safety and control; to be in a new space creates psychological discomfort. Yes, even for only a few days. Solie believes that when we ask an older person to leave their home it’s like asking them to give up the equivalent of water or oxygen. Staying in her home is the last area of control – important, as she seems to be in a place where her ability to control is limited and precarious. Her health is fragile, her husband is gone, most of her brothers and sisters have passed, friends and neighbors that she was once close with are gone – her home is an anchor of sorts.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

New Chicken Recipe

A couple of days ago I had thawed out a package of organic chicken breasts and had not gotten around to preparing them so I took them to mother's asking her to cook them as Barbara would be there in the afternoon. That evening when I came home Ed was there with her and mother wanted to send him a chicken breast home. Well, those chicken breasts were flat as a flitter and hard as a brick! She had pounded the chicken breasts flat, not thin, and fried to a crisp! Ed's expression was priceless.

Christmas Presents

According to mother, John talked with her about not spending a lot of money this Christmas; specifically, about buying a lot of presents. So, she decided she would just give out a few (7) checks - that's what she would do and kept repeating her plan the rest of the evening. The following day Sheila brought her a Christmas present and mother was going on and on that she had not planned to give Sheila a gift - just money, and now didn't know what to do. She then decided she'd open the present and see if she liked it - if she liked it she would then give a gift in return. Watching her try to gently open that present was a hoot - holding it way up close and carefully trying to slide her finger under the tape! While, she managed two sides, the paper was beginning to tear so I opened the back and showed her the present. She stated, "oh that's so pretty - now I'll get her something." The package was rewrapped though not as neatly as before.

Morning News


The other morning I walked inside to find mother sitting on the sofa watching the news rather than the Waltons, so I then realized I'd forgotten to change TV stations to the morning channel when I'd left the night before. I asked her what was going on and she replied, "all they talk about is Barak O'bummer!"