Monday, Monday

   Can't trust that day!

So, my apologies, but today's post will be another quickie. I have research to do you see.......a great deal of it. Why? Well today was the first real appointment with Dr. A, our last meeting was a meet and greet. Let me tell you, Doctor Lady does not let any grass sprout under her, erm, butt! Lots of tests are on tap, most particularly for my thyroid.

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common thyroid problem there is, (and which Dr. Lady also has) but I didn't know half as much about it as I thought I did and she straightened me right out! First, I was taking my medication for it all wrong....it has to be the first med taken of the day; eating and taking other meds follow at least an hour later. Poorly regulated Hashimoto's can also cause many, if not all, of the pain, etc.... symptoms I experience. What I, and other doctors I've seen, thought was neuropathy is most likely to be caused by the Hashimoto's since I don't have corresponding loss of sensation. I'm going to be having lots of tests, including antibody tests, etc... fun, fun!

Lastly, Dr. Lady has ordered me to go on a strict gluten free diet as gluten can wreak havoc on those with Hashimoto's. Say what? No one had ever told me that before! But........but.......but!  Okay, deep breath; in with the Buddha, out with the Hitler! One moment while I attempt to contact my inner zen.

Ahhhh! Oh wait, I don't really feel better about it (right now) but I can pretend I do and that's just as good, right?

Fortunately there are great food blogs I follow which often, or always, spotlight fabulous gluten free cuisine; yay! I'm saved! Over the next month I'll be spotlighting some of my favourite foodie blogs on Fridays; these blogs will definitely be included!

(Oh Mom, you also have Hashimoto's!)

Good thing for the day: Dr. Lady also stated that taking care of this, and a couple of other problems, could make me feel up to 75% better. Imagine, being able to drive again, maybe even work again! Independence, self-sufficiency!

Sometimes on Saturday - Flowers for Leontien and a Change

   This will be another quickie but I couldn't miss out on participating in this flower power show of support I found on The Bee Lady From Hilltop Farm's Blog It is so important to support one another and many thanks to Cindy, the Bee Lady, for the opportunity to show my support.

Leontien, this bouquet is for you; each blossom holding a warm thought, a hug when you need one, and a prayer for strength.

From the top: Bellflowers which symbolize 'thinking of you', forget-me-not so we remember to hold you in our thoughts, pear blossoms for health and a happy home, rosemary for remembrance, and yellow roses which symbolize the friendship of all who are thinking of you today...as well as those who think of you every day.

Those who follow my blog, if you get the chance please Link Up for Leontien.

Now for the changes....For the month of May I'll be making a few changes outwith the change to Tea Party Tuesday. Wednesdays will be changing to Wonderful Women Wednesdays in honour of the American celebration of Mother's Day on the 12th of May. Yup, I'll be doing a special *gasp* Sunday blog that day about, you know it, my mother. Fridays will be changing as well; perhaps to Freewheeling Fridays, or mayhap to Foodie Fun Fridays. Yes, I must continue with the alliteration, even when doing a bit of a change-up to keep things fresh.

I'm thinking it will probably be Foodie Fun Fridays since I've gotten rather behind on sharing recipes and such. Plus, I've found such a plethora of wonderful food blogs to share I thought it would be rather nice to 'spotlight' one each week. What do you think?

Good thing for the day: The crashing and banging in the sky whilst rain slowly drips, drips, drips down.

Thinking About......Thursday - We Are What We Eat part 1

  First: Welcome to Heidi, SugarandRoses, and the Bee Lady; it's great to have you here!

 Forgive me for making this post a relatively short one; time constraints y'know. Let me point out that I am neither a medical nor legal professional but having been both a caregiver, and now someone who is cared for, feel I can give an enlightening perspective. Given the realities of caring for an aging population it is inevitable that many of us will end up being caregivers at some point; I hope readers find information and tips that will be useful.

   One of the areas which can be especially problematic in caring for another (or being cared for) is that of adequate nutrition and being able to eat. This can be a problem associated with any number of conditions and for a wide variety of reasons; establishing what, if any, problems there are and why they occur can become an extremely frustrating guessing game. Figuring out what to do about it even more so. Because I am not speaking about any one particular population I'm going to share very general information and hope it helps lead you to workable answers for your situation.

   So you've noticed that your pycsie (person you care for) is having problems associated with eating....they are either eating too much, or not enough, having trouble chewing and swallowing or once favourite foods are being spurned. Perhaps they don't remember having eaten or complain about the way things smell or taste. Maybe they just don't have any appetite; or burn themselves on hot liquids. It could be that they get confused about what is edible or struggle to get food from their plate to their mouth. Your first step is to discuss the problem immediately with their healthcare provider. As certain diseases proceed, one indication of the worsening of the condition is difficulty with eating and swallowing. Some symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing or loss of taste and smell, are caused by medications. The healthcare provider can help identify what is causing the problem and help you find ways to deal with it or refer your pycsie to physical therapy, change medications, etc...

   If loss of appetite is the problem your healthcare provider may suggest offering several small meals a day, as well as adding something like Ensure ( a liquid supplement which offers protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and so on) on a daily basis. If you or your pycsie don't like the flavour (and many don't) you can add a bit of fruit and ice cream to it and blend it into a shake. My father, for example, despised the stuff but loved it when I added a bit of malt, ice cream, and protein powder...which he didn't know about, hehe....to it and served it to him as a 'chocolate malt'. Sometimes appetite loss is about something as simple as missing the foods they grew up with. My great-aunt Bea, for example, lives in an assisted living apartment house where meals are served in a common 'cafe'. They serve healthy, nutritious foods that are very modern and wouldn't seem at all amiss if it were a public eatery but Aunt Bea is, as she puts it, 'an old country gal'; needless to say, she doesn't take well to the salads, risottos, and so on served there but if given a plate of, say, ham and fried potatoes, eats very well indeed. Sometimes the stimulating effect of peppermint tea can help the appetite, and there are medications which are used to help stimulate the appetite of people undergoing chemotherapy or who are anorexic that can help. It's certainly worth discussing with the healthcare provider.

I think I'm going to wind this up for tonight, but will continue it next Thursday. Btw, if any of you, gentle readers, have experience in caregiving or being cared for and would like to contribute I'd love to hear from you!

My apologies for having been a bit sparse on the recipes of late; I promise to do better soon. ;-)

Good thing for the day: Tossing together a few handy ingredients and making them into whole wheat buttermilk biscuits...as soon as I standardize quantities I'll share the recipe. (I tend to toss things together the first time and sit down to make measurements the next, lol.)

Funny thing for the day: Lily the WonderDoodle panicking at nearly being caught sleeping on the sofa and pulling my blanket and pillow off as she beat a hasty retreat!

Lastly: This type of thing is why I wrote the blog post on Preventing Abuse . I'll warn you ahead of time, it is difficult to read, watch, and hear but sticking one's head in the sand regarding this subject only allows it to flourish. I applaud this passionate father's determination and love for his son.

  

1940's Part Two

I cannot believe I forgot to add this......some of my favourite books are from this era. Books like:

1984 by George Orwell (1948)

Animal Farm, also by George Orwell (1945)

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (1947)

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1943)

The Stranger by Albert Camus (1942)

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (1949)

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

The Screwtape Letters by C.S.Lewis (1942)

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (1947)

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (1944)

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (1940)

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (1948)

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck (1945)

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir (1949)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (1943)

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (1943)

Earth Abides by George R. Stewart (1949)

   This is by no means a complete list, just some of my favourites from this painful and creative decade...you should check the books published in that era out. They range from Dr. Seuss to Pat the Bunny to Jean-Paul Sartre and more! Happy reading dear readers.

Wednesday's Whimsies - The Two Faces of the Forties

   Continuing with the great fashion extravaganzas of the past few Wednesdays, tonight's post is about the fashion of the 1940's.

   World War II, which began on September 1, 1939 and ended, in Europe, on May 8, 1945, and in Japan on August 15, 1945, had a huge impact on fashion for the first half of the decade. With shortages on everything from green and brown dyes (used for uniforms) to stockings, to rubber for girdles and elastic bands, how could it not? For women, hemlines went up and clothes were more form-fitting to cut back on the amount of fabric needed. Hats, which were mostly manufactured in Europe heretofore, became harder to find since shipping was dangerous and problematic so American manufacturers stepped in with smaller and simpler creations. Using black eyeliner to create a 'seam' up the back of the leg stood in for hard to find stockings and, with the scarcity of rubber, wooden wedges and high heels were made to serve the purpose; this time period also saw a surge in the popularity of sandals, open-toed shoes, and T-straps since they required less leather to make. There were significant changes in men's fashions as well: suitcoats were shorter and men's pants were closer fitting, much of the time the pants didn't have cuffs to conserve on fabric. This was also the time when double-breasted suits became popular since they allowed the wearer to go without the otherwise obligatory waistcoat (aka vest). Fabrics were sturdy and meant to last. Even hairstyles were influenced by the need to conserve resources...women often kept their hair longer and made imaginative use of things like ribbons and 'rats' (pads which filled out rolled up hair to create the distinctive look of 40's hair) to maintain their hair style. Cosmetics use became much bolder in order to offset the austere plainness of everyday wear. Gloves were no longer used as a part of the daily costume and everything had to be made to last as long as possible.

   Then, when the war was finally over and the G.I.'s returning home, fashion exploded with the 'New Look' exemplified by the work of Christian Dior in women's fashion. Clothing, particularly skirts, became more voluminous whilst bodices mostly remained close fitting...this particular style led right into the 1950's....undergarments such as girdles were de rigeur again (the scarcity of rubber made things like girdles very rare in the earlier part of the decade) and no one ventured out without their gloves if they wanted to impress. Men's suits gained volume as well, as best exemplified by the zoot suit....and along with the explosive expansion of dress came a burgeoning population as soldiers came home, which led to the Baby Boom. As an old friend, Marj Peeler, once put it: "It was the 40's. Sex was in and birth control methods were iffy." So without further ado, let me share some photos with you. Outwith the first, which is of Granny and Pa, the first photo will be an example from the first half of the decade and the second photo will be of the New Look. Enjoy!

Let's start with hair and work our way to weddings, shall we? From the long, tightly rolled and controlled look pre-1945 to the shorter, looser, curls and waves post-1945.

Men's fashions, followed by women's:

Even wedding fashion showed the effect of wartime, as well as the loosening of restrictions.

You can almost see them giving a big sigh of relief!

Good thing for the day: Finding the fun 40's music below! As 3M sings the first: "Pardon me boss, is that the cat that chewed your new shoes..."

Tea Party Tuesday - Encourage One Another

   Last week I peeked in at my dashboard looking for newly published posts, after all the blogs I follow are ones I really enjoy reading, and noticed there was a new follower of my blog. After the initial 'yay' I always feel when someone decides they like my blog enough to follow it I had to, of course, check their blog out (as always) and was left scratching my head a bit.

   The name of the blog is 'Encourage One Another' and is very Christian-oriented, filled with humourous little homilies, etc... Now please don't take me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against faith-based blogging, loved the blog title and so on, but was more than a bit puzzled as to why the blogger chose to follow my blog. Nothing in my blog is overtly Christian (or any other religion for that matter) because, even though my faith is strong, I tend to hold my faith 'cards' close to my chest. Why? There are a few reasons, a couple of which are: 1. I will share my faith but not as a way to show off or garner attention for myself. 2. There are good people of every faith who neither want, nor need, to have my belief shoved down their throats...a very good way, btw, to have people turn their backs and close off their ears in my opinion. So to reiterate, I was a bit puzzled by why this blogger chose to follow my blog.

   One thing I did not puzzle over was the title of their blog, taken from 1 Thessalonians 5:11...which reads, in the King James version "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." Or, in plainer English (from the New International Version) " Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just in fact as you are doing."

   Isn't that a wonderful sentiment; both powerful and moving. So much richer and worthier than the way so many of us point fingers at one another; critical of everything from what someone else believes, to their gender, to how they dress and  which economic or social class they are believed to belong. Think of how much energy is wasted in negativity, anger, hurt feelings and criticsm which could be used so much better to give an encouraging word. A show of support. A simple hug or a hand up. How could we change our world by the simple expedient of changing ourselves, and our focus, from the negative and criticsm to the positive and encouraging one another?

   It isn't easy; most cultures teach us not to seek positive attention and that giving too much praise, etc.... is unhealthy, and leads to pride or a sense of entitlement; that can be true if encouragement is exaggerated or falsely given, but a simple word of praise? An encouraging smile? Those can never be wrong. Start out with simple steps...pat a shoulder, lend an ear and listen, (without preparing what you want to say next in your head) offer a hug to someone you know needs one... then watch as those actions ripple out to include others. Watch an encouraging word you gave someone passed on by the receiver in the form of a smile shared with someone else; a smile that may not have happened without your encouraging action bringing it to life.

   What kind of world would you prefer to live in? How can you become the creator of that world, even in small ways? I encourage you to think about it and begin taking small steps toward making it happen.

Good thing for the day: 3M singing the following song while getting ready for work in a lovely light tenor....



  

Maundering Monday

   So what is maundering? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary it is: maundering (verb) 1. Talk in a rambling manner. 2. Move or act in a dreamy or idle manner.

   Yup, very appropriate for today; I've done a whole lot of nothing and I'm not the least bit ashamed of it either! I did have a good, long blether (chat) on the phone with me Mum, Pop, and the kidling this evening. They will be on holiday in June and will be coming up here, woot! We were busy making plans, and I must say I'm looking forward to seeing them tremendously; it's been a year and I need kidling and Mom hugs.

   Mom (I only call her Mum when being goofy) made a birthday offer I couldn't refuse whilst chatting. Having read my Friday blog post and seeing the ideas I have for my room she offered to sew up some stuff for me; something she's far better at than I. So we discussed it and decided to go look at fabric while they're here, then she will sew me a set of duvet covers and valances.....now how sweet is that? It will mean so much more than just going and buying something, thank you Mom and I'm glad you're enjoying the blog! I intend to get some soft white pillow cases and do an orange embroidery border to pick it up even more. Btw, I spotted this Orange Paisley Print at Joann Fabrics; love it!

   The only sad note was when I had to explain that access to a scooter, or someone to push me in a wheelchair while we're out and about would be necessary...(we would like to do other things together as well)....because my balance is so poor and I'm easily fatigued. I never thought that, at this point in our lives, my mother would still need to worry about taking care of me; it should be the other way around. At least I'll be able to cook up a storm for the family reunion(s) that will be going on while they are here.

   In other news: Sunday was Earth Day, and to celebrate I joined Recyclebank which is not, despite the name, a financial institution. It's a great online community that is free to join, which rewards it's participants for learning about and participating in 'green' activities. It teaches simple, free or inexpensive ways to go greener, (as well as saving oneself money) and rewards you with points which can be redeemed for anything from restaurant and shopping discounts, to free magazine subscriptions, to winning things like trips! I've already earned enough points to get a free year-long subscription to Whole Living and they have everything from Verandah to Popular Mechanics! Their corporate sponsors range from green energy companies to well-known companies like Coca-Cola that are trying to go greener to organic cosmetic companies. It's a great way for the companies to get (nearly) free advertising whilst making it just that much more attractive to go green. And no, this is not a paid ....or unpaid....official advertisement; just an idea I found and got excited about.

   So I'm going to be making some changes in my weekly format. Next week I'll return to my regular Monday menu and music posts but Tuesdays are going to be changing. While I enjoy writing about Terre Haute it would be good to have one day which isn't dedicated to any particular subject. What should it be called? Talkative Tuesday...Totally Tuesday!....Tuesday Tea Party.....or? Give me some ideas folks!

Good thing for the day: Catching up with the extended family!

Music for the day: These songs are great for Earth Day!

 

 

 

 

 

Frabjous Fridays - Inspiring Designs and Designers

   Since I can remember architecture, interior design, diy and the like has fascinated me. Even now nothing thrills me more than to receive magazines and books about home design and decor, unless it would be discovering a new blog or website pertaining to my passion. I particularly like funky updates of older, but still functional, furniture and the use, or re-use, of great retro or vintage fabrics.

   We are, as you know if you've read much of the blog, remodeling and redecorating our home slowly but surely. Since this is a process which will take years rather than months I've tried to develop a plan which will allow for continuity rather than hopping on every trend which comes along. At the same time I love colour, so our plan is to use the same 2 colour scheme throughout the house.....classic and timeless black and white.....with a pop of bold colour specific to each room. In the sitting room (living room) that will be maroon, in the dining room light turquoise will hold court, and the kitchen will be enlivened with apple green.

   Before we get to those areas, however, we are going to be working on my room and there I would like something a little different... While I love the idea of an all white room I feel it would be more than a little difficult to maintain with pets in and out, and fear it would feel cold in the winter, even if it isn't. My solution is to change things like pillows, comforters, etc... to reflect the season; a brilliant orange to make it seem warmer in winter and a soft green to make it feel cooler in the summer. Simple, neh? Here are a few things I love and which will inspire my room makeover. (before pics in a couple of weeks)
First, a hat stand with some great vintage hats like these on it...

Followed, perhaps, by a vintage wedding dress like this hanging on a wall or on a dress form.

A lovely metal bedframe, in white of course, would be perfect with some funky bedcovers, pillows, and great French Industrial bedside tables to keep it from getting too sweet.

Some beautiful bedside lamps, like the ones which follow, would make snuggling up in bed with a good book irresistable and the dragonfly patterned material, with it's natural theme, would make the perfect curtains to pull both summer and winter looks together.

Of course linens and a bed alone do not a happy space make so a shabby chic desk and chair, along with a few funky tchotchkes and some flowers are needed (got the candlesticks, wouldn't they look great with brilliant orange or mossy green candles?)....

I have a lovely dresser which used to belong to my Granny, as well as a small wooden console which was my father's, and they would look smashing painted in a soft, worn, white.

As I wrote above, there are a number of blogs and websites which inspire me and I'd like to share them with you. Since this post is running longish yet again I'll simply post the links with, perhaps, a brief description. Hope you enjoy, and are inspired by, them as much as I!

Wisteria This is a fabulous antiques, rarities, and unique decor online store. Some things are reasonably priced, others are ouch but they are all great quality items you'd be hard pressed to find just anywhere.

A Beautiful Mess Blog Includes, among other things, wonderful (and inexpensive!) DIY ideas.

Conversation Pieces Lovely U.K. blog which includes everything from recipes to vintage and retro pieces.

Domestic Sluttery What a name! It is, in the bloggers own words: "The home and lifestyle blog for women who have better things to do." How cheeky, I love it! It covers everything from food and drink, to homes, to design porn.

I'm not sure why but Maria, when I first found Industrial Chic. net , I thought of you. Hmmm, perhaps because of your jewelry?

There are a number of designy blogs I follow right here on blogspot as well, here are a few of them: a daily something Rebecca shares the occasional recipe or giveaway but most often her blog shares crafty little diy projects for decorating around the home...like this simple but perfectly lovely Easter egg craft. Creative Wings is another crafty little diy blog. Home Again Vintage is the blog of a crafty vintager who is remodeling her home with the help of her husband and, like most of us, on a budget.

Salvage Savvy is the blog home of a thrifty diy-er beyond compare, just check out this post about 5 great things you can do with a hollow-core door. Especially inspiring for me since we have several we'll be replacing someday!

Cassie's blog Shabby Mom of 2 really deserves more followers; just look what she did with the nursery!

Wendy at The Shabby Nest did a fabutastic inspiration board for her children's bathroom on this post; I've found a lot of inspiration on her blog.

My fellow Hoosier, Nicki of the The Vintage Farmhouse fame is mother to 3 young children and on a tight budget while trying to update and redecorate her old Indiana farmhouse. She is one busy gal with a great eye for design who also sells vintage and antique pieces.

The next few blogs I've found only recently but am finding inspiration in them and hope you will as well... Vignette Design for both interior and landscape Design. Vintage Sparkle Chic and [damaskdesigns] have both caught my eye as well. Hope you enjoy checking out some of these websites as much as I enjoy following them!

Good thing for the day: Homemade beef and mushroom pasties, yummy goodness.

Thinking About.........Thursday - Making Things Easier

   There are a number of adjustments to be made when you, or someone you care for, is...or becomes....less able to do things for themselves. This can happen for a number of reasons; the effects of aging, injury, or illness can make things which were once simple much more difficult, and the things which were always a bit difficult can be nearly impossible. Making the transition isn't always fun but there are a huge number of goods, services, and resources available to help...you just have to find them. To help with that I'm going to post a number of helpful links tonight....things from meals for those who need help getting adequate nutrition even if they have difficulty preparing meals to clothing for those with arthritis or movement disorders. Please keep in mind that I am neither a healthcare nor legal professional; I am someone who has been both a caregiver and, now, someone who requires care so hopefully I can give a helpful perspective from both sides of the equation.

   Because it can be difficult for an older person, or someone with movement difficulties, high levels of pain, etc... to get adequate nutrition on their own, let me first share these links with you. They range from places which can provide meals for those who simply can't do it at all (especially helpful if you live far away and can't do it yourself) to sources of information on planning and storing frozen meals you can bring to your pycsie...to utensils and cups/plates/bowls for those who have difficulty with the mechanics of eating. Having arthritis along with the Parkinson's I'm definitely going to be taking advantage of some of these!

 Meals on Wheels is a great organization which provides a hot lunch and a 'brown bag' supper for seniors. It is widely available and very low cost. You can also look into Volunteer Match which matches volunteers with opportunities...and if you have the time and inclination, consider volunteering with them. If I could drive reliably I definitely would! So many seniors, as well as those with disabilities, are socially isolated and so not only could you help provide them with nourishing meals you could nourish their hearts with a smile. For those who live in the Orange County, California area this is also a useful resource: Meal Delivery Brings Food and Company This is such a lovely idea; I'd love to see it spread nation-wide. Many people, such as those with arthritis or a movement disorder, have difficulty with the simple mechanics of eating or drinking; to help you find solutions I give you these links: For those who have trouble with being able to grasp eating utensils, or for cups, glasses, plates, plate guards, or bowls, look here: Arthritis Supply Company (They actually supply a huge number of articles, not just cutlery, which will make the life of anyone with arthritis or movement disorders much easier; explore the website!) You can find permanent travel cups for either hot or cold drinks at places like WalMart or Amazon.com; they will make drinking much easier and safer, and did you know that drinking from a straw is highly recommended for those with drinking, swallowing, and choking problems? I use travel cups exclusively and they've made my life much easier! You might also want to consider physical therapy for those who have problems with choking or swallowing, living with a constant fear of choking is not fun and getting help with it could save your pycsie's, life.

   If you can visit your pycsie on a regular basis and have the time/inclination for it, or if they have diet guidelines they have to follow that a volunteer organization might not be able to provide for, then cooking and freezing meals for them to re-heat (if they are able to safely do so) may be just the ticket for you! To help you in that endeavour take a look at these links: (and if you want to be able to do, say, once a month cooking for yourself you'll find the websites helpful/interesting as well) My Recipes-Freezable Recipes (also provides storage information) thekitchn.com (great hint for the best way to freeze and store soups NetPlaces (helpful information on customizing meals to meet dietary requirements) and lastly, Favorite Freezer Foods , this is a comprehensive website which includes recipes, helpful hints; just about anything you need to know about making and freezing meals.

   Another area in which people often need help is that of hygiene and dressing. If you have arthritis or a movement disorder bathing, etc... can be difficult at best, frightening or dangerous at worst, so anything which helps is all to the good. Similarly, handling small buttons, zippers, and so on becomes painful or troublesome. Here are some websites which can help: Silvert's Adaptive Clothing for those with arthritis or movement disorders. Buck and Buck also provides adaptive clothing, footwear, and wheelchair accessories. Arthritis Supply Company deserves a repost here because they have such a huge range of products to help make life easier; including, but definitely not limited to, aids for use in the bathroom and when getting dressed.

   I have a number of other links which include helpful information but this post is running a little long-ish, so I'm just going to give you the links with perhaps a brief description.

Arthritis Foundation Store - Tai Chi For Arthritis Video (Tai Chi also helps those with Parkinson's improve and maintain their balance.)

The Writing Pen Store (Wide-barreled pens are much easier to hold on to!)

Rolling Walkers and Rollators

Multiple Sclerosis Association (While specific to MS, it does help provide things like powered wheelchairs to those who couldn't otherwise afford them.)

Wheelchair Foundation (Provides free wheelchairs to those who need them, both in the US and internationally. What a worthy cause, to give mobility to those who truly need it!)

Enablemart (I originally found this site when looking for large-print computer keyboards but it contains a wide range of products suited to a wide range of needs/conditions. Highly recommended!)

Phillips Medication Dispensing and e-Pill Medication Reminders (Useful products and services for those who are trying to care from a distance, or who have a job/family, etc .... which keeps them from being with their pycsie 24/7.)

Last but not least, don't forget that the public library is a great place to find large-print books, audio tapes, cd's and dvd's for your pycsie's use. They also provide helpful books and resources as well as often having free internet, and you certainly can't beat the cost! The library is perhaps the best place to find information on special diets as well...it was a great resource when I needed to find foods which didn't contain high fructose corn syrup or msg. When looking for necessary goods and services don't forget that you can also approach local worship centers, senior centers, the doctor's office, and the hospital for help and/or referrals to those who can help.

Before I end this post I'd like to share this video with you. It comes from David and his wife Debbie; I've written about David before...he has stage 4 cancer. He is a professor who taught about end of life care and decided to make these videos as a way to reach out to his colleagues when he was diagnosed; now the videos are being used to teach medical students as well as helping others in a similar situation. In this video he and his wife discuss dealing with cancer treatments as well as her insights about learning to be David's advocate and caregiver.





Good thing for the day: Gratitude. Knowing I don't have to do this on my own is a great gift.

Wednesday's Whimsies - Wherefore Art Thou Great Gatsby Fashion Dear?

   How many of us had to read The Great Gatsby in school? Come on, raise your hands! While we all complained about slogging through it I secretly enjoyed it tremendously, especially after finding this photo of my maternal grandparents; Grandma D was a flapper!

   Reading about the era you find that it was a time of sweeping changes, both in the States and abroad, and the fashions definitely demonstrated that. World War 1 ended in 1918 and Prohibition began on January 16, 1920; women won the right to vote (in the U.S.) on August 18, 1920 whilst Europe and the UK were trying to rebuild after the war. In this era of sweeping change fashion designers like Coco Chanel, Elsa Shiaperelli and Jean Patou (creator of Joy, the world's most expensive perfume) were celebrating la liberte by liberating women from corsets, hobble skirts, and the hiding of women's bodies in clothing so heavy and all-enveloping it was more like armour. Imagine how shocking it was to go, within a decade, from heavy clothing that seldom showed an arm, much less......ohmygoodness! knees!....to fashion that showed arms, legs, necks, even the occasional flash of cleavage.

 Men's fashions lightened up as well, becoming less formal, (this is the era when 'sportswear' first became popular) less dark, and less heavy. Clothing developed for particular sports, such as golf, began heavily influencing men's every day wear, making it much more comfortable and practical than the heavy woolen or flannel suits which had been de rigeur heretofore.

   One of the biggest cultural changes of the 1920's was that the pursuit of fun and pleasure gained a far greater legitimacy for more of the population, than at any other time in history. No longer the purview of the rich and/or titled....trends were no longer established by the older and more conservative members of society and the new fashions, hairstyles, and music reflected the change. Along with hemlines, women's hair grew shorter, as epitomized by the 'bob' Louise Fuller made a classic. Men's hair styles didn't make so radical a change but the hair cremes and oils required by an earlier generation disappeared into the background for a time. And lets not forget how women's cosmetics flourished!

   You can see significant change in gentleman's clothing; from lighter colours to sporty attire, even shoes became lighter and more colourful:

   The change in women's clothing was even more radical, going from this in the 1900's:

To these much lighter and more comfortable and revealing styles:

The 1920's were, after all, the era of powdering and rouging one's knees for best effect; after having rolled down the tops of one's stockings of course. How radical!

Due to the great popularity of the various films based on The Great Gatsby the fashions of the 1920's have experienced a couple of minor resurgences....both Lagerfeld and Lauren (and I doubt not that there are more than a few others) have done Gatsby-esque lines this year in honor of this spring's remake of the Robert Redford/Mia Farrow classic. For true fashion eye candy try to see both if you can!

One of the things I personally like about the era's style is the preponderance of hats. I've always loved hats and had quite an extensive collection at one time; it would absolutely delight me to see a resurgence of fun, fashionable, funky women's hats. I would so be on top of that style! Now to finish with some more modern interpretations of jazz-era style...including the obligatory Great Gatsby wedding fashions!

(And just in case any of you like old cars as much as I do, a little yellow car porn....Enjoy!)

Good thing for the day: The scent of fresh-baked bread, yum!

Music for the day: How can we do a post like this without some jazz and ragtime, hmmm?