As I was writing an article for my Country Kitchen blog, Food Memories in Community Cookbooks, I was swamped with memories of Mother in her pre-Alzheimer’s years.  Actually I have two cookbooks published by the church we attended when I was a child, one from my mother-in-law’s church, and another published by the nursing home where Mother resided. 
These cookbooks represent different eras in my life and those of my family.  They bring back memories of neighbors, Sunday school teachers, family members and several at the nursing home.  I recall occasions when many of the recipes were served.
If you have any …read more

Winter break from school has arrived for the grandkids.  We’re also digging out from a blizzard that left 12-16 inches of snow, depending on whether it drifted or not.  Along with show shoveling tasks, reading is on the agenda today.
We are a family of readers in our multi-generational home (grandfather, granny, mom, dad and the two children).  Books abound around the house, the library is a fun place to visit, bookstores (new and used) hold a fascination, and online bookstores are enjoyable to access.
Reading in an Alzheimer’s World
My mother was a reader, too, and could sit midst clutter in her …read more

Happy Valentine’s Day!
 
May this be a special day for you. 
We have been enjoying Valentine’s Day flowers, cards and candy.  This was a fun day at school yesterday with the Valentine parties.  Today the children in our household are enjoying it, too.
How have you been celebrating?  Is the Alzheimer’s patient in your family enjoying this day, too?  My mom always made a special occasion of Valentine’s Day when my siblings and I were young.  Even in her Alzheimer’s years, as long as she was aware of the day, she wanted me to help her send valentines to family members.

The Food Bloggers have some up with some more recipes that may help you create interesting meals. 
Alphabet Cake Pan
Personalize your birthday cake with an alphabet cake pan. Make their initials, or their age in cake! 
Busy Family Meals
Vindaloo sauce can be used to flavor meats, but we like it best as a vegetarian delight!
Chocolate Covered Buttercrunch Bars                                                                                                       Chocolate and buttercrunch treats made with a surprise ingredient.
Cooking Gadgets
Space saving genius: collapsible colanders!
Horehound Drops
A herbal home remedy for a sore throat or cough.
Old Woodenware Stirs Memories
Mary Emma, at Country Kitchen, finds that old kitchen woodenware brings back memories …read more

We’ve chatted before about helping your Alzheimer’s patient create memories and the pleasure this can bring the whole family.  I mentioned in that post the use of photos to stimulate memories or give you both something to chat about.
You also may want to play around with your photos…making faded ones more visible, correcting mistakes in current ones, cropping them, printing just one or two people from a group, etc.
My daughter has been having fun playing with her Christmas gift, Photoshop Elements 7, as she experiments with photos and gets ideas for her quilting and fabric art. It’s amazing what all …read more

I mentioned National Bird Day on Monday and related how my mom enjoyed watching the birds and listening to their songs when she was in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s.  As her illness advanced, then her recognition of birds was only fleeting.
To extend the pleasure of birdwatching for Alzheimer’s patients, children if they’re in the house, as well as yourself, I’ve researched some books for all ages and posted them on my One Book Two Book blog.  You might want to stop by to check them out, Bird Books: Stories, Information and Fun.
My mom probably would have looked at the …read more

 Handmade Gifts
 I grew up in the era of handmade or homemade gifts.  Sometimes this was because we and our relatives didn’t have the money to purchase many from the store or mail order catalog.  Often it simply was because we liked to make something special and the recipients enjoyed these gifts.
 In later years, when I had a family, we made gifts for my mom and for my mother-in-law as well as others.  One Christmas, my daughter Beth stitched my mother a lap quilt.  Mother always had enjoyed quilts although she hadn’t made any since she was a child. 
 She seemed to enjoy this gift, even though she had …read more

Tea Parties
My grandchildren and I enjoyed tea parties with my mom when she resided in the nursing home.  They became a ritual, even after Mother no longer really knew what it was all about.  She smiled and chattered and seemed to enjoy the children.  From this evolved memories the youngsters and I shall treasure.
Why not plan tea parties for your family members in the nursing home?  Victorian tea parties can be such fun.
Read about one my friend planned for her mother at Seasoned Citizen Activities.  You may enjoy organizing one for a family member.  Perhaps you can find someone who does …read more

Snowy Day

We woke up to 5 inches of snow this morning and wondered if school would be delayed.  However, when the grandchildren checked (we live in a three generation household), it was school as usual for them and substitute teaching for me. 
Snow can interest Alzheimer’s patients, too, as long as they don’t have to go out into it.  I can remember ,when Mother lived with Jim and me, having to get her up on a snowy morning and take her to daycare so I could go to my teaching work.  In these cases, snow may look lovely, but can be a …read more

Quilting

Quilting often is a family project and one that has memories for the Alzheimer’s patient as well.  If they can’t participate, they may reminisce or simply express interest in the colors and activity.
I made quilts with my grandmother when I was eight-years old.  My daughter and granddaughter became involved in this art at a young age.
My mom told us about sewing and making quilts when she was as young as six-years old.  So, even in her Alzheimer’s years, she showed an interest in quilts even though she could no longer do quilting.
I’ve compiled a list of Fascinating Quilting/Fabric Art Books, at my Quilting and Patchwork …read more