Alzheimer's Disease Baffling!

Alzheimer's disease is very baffling.It can make it's presence known so subtely. A friend of mine whom I had not seen for awhile, started to experience some startling symptons. I went to visit her one afternoon. She had already retired to her bedroom. I announced myself, and she invited me in, but she asked me to please close the door to her room because it was snowing outside. Well, just coming from outdoors, I was well aware that it was not snowing.



I glanced at her television and the screen was showing a snowy scene 'way up in the mountains.

My friend was getting the tv scenes mixed up with reality. She even asked me to start a fire in the stove in her room and make her some cornbread and vegetable soup. She said she wanted something nourshing so she could enjoy the snowfall. My friend glanced over at me and thanked me for cooking the food. Before I could tell her that I wasn't cooking anything, she fell asleep.

On my way out, I spoke with her daughter and son-in-law. They filled me in as to what they were going through in caring for her. But they were doing their utmost to give her the best care under their circumstances.

Alzheimer's is a baffling and devastating disease. It robs one of their soul. They become only a shell of the person they once were. The time can't come soon enough for a cure to be found.

With the researchers and the medical associations focusing on this critical issue, answers should be coming to the general public in the very near future.

I Love The Rain!

Today promises to be a rainy day. I love when it rains. The world appears to look fresher and cleaner. I feel so relaxed and at peace with everyone. Nothing seems to faze me when it is raining. This serene time gives me the opportunity to catch up on reading, writing, sleeping, or just slacking off.

What ever I decide to do, or not do, I'm completely at ease with the Universe when it's raining.
I like to see nature stand at attention ; the shrubs and trees bowing down with the winds that accompany the showers. I prefer to be indoors looking out, but if I'm caught in the rain, then that's okay, too.

I know the gardens cannot survive without rain, and neither can anything else. We are all at the mercy and grace of the beautiful rainfalls. I personally sit or lie back and simply enjoy the rain. Let the precious water come on down. Let it rain!

Genealogy

I am doing some research; trying to solve the puzzle of putting some missing branches on Hubby's Family Tree. Sometimes the search seems fruitless and hopeless. Again, I get a tidbit of information and that satisfies me for awhile. I've been at this for two days consistently. I hope I get a major breakthrough soon.

I'm searching for some half brothers and sisters. My hubby just recently realized that these people may be his father's children. I volunteered to do the search. I shall give it a good try.
Something great may come from this venture yet! I did find some other family members during my search that I was not looking for. They just popped up.

If I'm blessed, the individuals I'm searching for will show up soon, too, without any fanfare. I'm anticipating a bit of magic in doing this search. I expect the information to literally to hang itself on the branches of the Family Tree. I'm still at it. We'll have to wait and see.

Rogue Dogs Returned Home

When I stepped off the back porch this Saturday morning, who should I see first thing?;
Choca and Slick, standing by the steps. I was so shocked and surprised to see the both of them together. The dogs were also very happy to see me. They both jumped on me at the same time; trying to hug and kiss me. Somehow, I had a feeling they would return home. I just didn't know when.

I gave them a nice breakfast and some fresh water. The dogs both seemed to be confused to be back home. We watched them for awhile and they appeared to be lost. Wherever they stayed for that week seemed to have taken a toll on them. The both of them are just barely dragging themselves around. Their strength and energy have been depleted.

I know we must be patient, give Choca and Slick a lots of love, good food, and over time, they'll be back to their old selves again. They both like to run and play constantly when they're in top form. They're home in body; hopefully the spirit will catch up to them real soon. Welcome home, babies!

Straight-Up Pineapple Cake

The first thing I thought of this morning, after showering and having my favorite breakfast, (a medium banana, and a glass of soy milk), I prefer the PLAIN soy milk; I wanted to make a cake. Any kind would be sufficient. My Hubby prefers pineapple upside down cakes, but I've tried baking them so many times with mediocre results.

Hubby had to laugh when I told him about my bright idea; I would make him a straight-up pineapple cake! How's that? He asked. Well, I'll put the pineapples and cherries on the TOP of the sheet cake before baking, instead of on the bottom and turning it upside-down after it's baked.

When my creation was done, the finished product looked normal to me. Hubby stared at the cake for some time before getting the gumption to cut it. After sampling a nice slice, he announced that my straight-up cake lived up to it's name. It was straight-up in all aspects. It really was great tasting!

Doggone Dogs Are Gone!

The dogs are gone! They escaped late Thursday night. While we were sleeping, Choca and Slick, our dogs, dug out of the fenced back yard. Of course, Choca is the alpha, or leader dog. Slick is the follower. It has been almost a week now since we've seen the two of them. I miss the scoundrels so much.

We're always looking and listening out for our 'two furry babies'. I hope they find their way back home. We had just got new tags from the Vet for them. We didn't put them on their necks in the back yard because the dogs liked to pull on each other's collar and tag.

I have been told that when dogs get out of the yard and go away, they always return on the nineth day. I don't know if that's facts, or if it's based on some superstitious notions, but I'm hoping that we see the dogs here at home real soon.
Another one of our favorite dogs ran away many years ago, and he really did come back home on the nineth night!

Life Without Grandpa

Grandpa and Mama started to have differences as soon as she chose to marry my father.
When Grandpa realized Father was eight years older than his only daughter, my mother, he immediately stopped all contact with she and father. Still, Mama honored her father by naming her firstborn after him.

Father and Mama had five live babies, and two stillborn babies. As we grew up, Grandpa would pass us on the streets and he refused to speak to or acknowledge us in any way. Some of the other children around the area would tell us some things about our Grandpa, but we knew absolutely nothing. Mama wouldn't talk about him. She just became angry every time she heard his name.

Then, one day Grandpa decided to visit us. We were more than surprised. He didn't quite know how to act around us. He and Mama went off to themselves and talked and talked. It was as if they were trying to make up for all the time they had lost by not communicating all those years. After that, Grandpa came to our house every day.
If he didn't show up after a certain hour, Mama would go looking for him. This continued about ten years until his death. We all became so close. But, we still missed not having Grandpa in our lives when we were small kids. Better late than never, though!!

Can You Imagine?

A place where there's no bills to be owed and paid, where the weather is always ideal, no home to keep clean. No stress about purchasing food, and it's preparations. A place where a car is never needed; other means of transportation will always be available.

Schools, as we perceive them now, will become a thing of the past. That time is fast approaching. Acquiring knowledge will be instant and final. What will be introduced to the brain will be forever retained. Being forgetful isn't an option.

Health issues will become obsolete; no one will ever have ailments or troublesome illnesses. Health, peace, and happiness will be the order of everyday, and for everyone. The monetary system will no longer be. It will have priced itself out of existence. Money will be blowing in the wind, in the gutters, and no one will pay attention to it because it (money) will become valueless. Can You Imagine?
Well, I can!

Picnics in The Glen

A picnic in a beautiful wooded surrounding, cool fresh air, and brilliant sunshine all speak of ultimate relaxation and easy conversations. Good to excellent food must also be figured into the equation.

I could easily pass up sandwiches in exchange for salads, grilled meats, fruits, cheeses, and assorted crackers. Home-baked cookies and a fresh limeade would finish the meal off smashingly.

Good conversations before, during, and after the picnic meal, then taking a leisurely stroll through the glen, or woods, makes for a really enjoyable pastime.
Choose a clear spot, and beware of the number one picnic pest; the ant!

Reminiscing

When I was about five years old, I came down with diphtheria,an acute bacterial infection that is chacterized by weakness and high fevers. It also causes a tough, membrane-like obstruction that interferes with the breathing passages. I had quite a long hospital stay.

I remember lasping into a coma after I had been there almost a month. But, I also remember hearing my Great Grandmother yelling and screaming to the doctors that I was dead. When she realized that I was still alive, Great Grandma calmed right down. The point here is that even in a comatose state, the hearing is as sharp as ever in some individuals. I could hear, but could not respond.

The day the doctors dismissed me, my mother and uncle, who had come to take me home, were headed out the door when they realized I wasn't following behind them. I could not walk. The doctors did not give me therapy on my legs or feet before I was to go home. My uncle carried me to the car, and into the house when we reached home. I relearned to walk by pushing a chair in front of me and holding on while I made small steps. Where there's a will, a way will be made!

Extend Kindness to Everyone

Being kind to everyone is easier than you may think. Even the ones who are having a tough time adjusting to the day's events. They may even disagree and balk about comments regarding the weather. Continue to smile broadly and think positive thoughts; also, say positive words. Negative words can always be turned around to mean something really nice. Positiveness can be very contagious.

Reach out to everyone you may happen to come in contact with, whenever possible. A tender smile, an offer of helping with small articles, offering necessary information, etc. Always be ready to smile and carry extra umbrellas, raincaps, candies, gum, etc. We're all on this planet together. Let us strive to make the most of it.

There are personal benefits in extending kindnesses to everyone we can. We experience wonderful feelings that lasts and lasts. The more we reach out to others, the more we will want to reach out. Goodness and kindness actually multiplies. Let us all perform some 'multiplication
goodness each day'!!