2026 Finish #26

Rachel Seller

Red Barn Samplers

40 count PTP with dmc

Approx 4" x 5"

The books I ordered regarding Alzheimer will I hope, offer some guidance.  I only wish I would have had such references when mom moved here.  The biggest mistake we made is what many deal with.  I only read a sample (hasn't arrived yet) but it hit like a hard slap.  I thought I was helping by explaining what she imagined or thought, was not reality.  The brief but powerful message from this book .....

What matters more than factual truth is emotional truth.  What they believe, validate and defer.  Correcting them feels like scolding and being dismissive, you're right, they're wrong.  Agree, accept, and change the subject which almost always distracts.

From only a few sentences, I knew this was the book she will need.

Dementia Engagement by Suzanne Faith

The second book I chose is a journal of simple questions to discuss and answer of your life, before those memories are lost.

My Life My Story from Pen Page Purpose

The last one is for the caregiver, with helpful suggestions on how to deal with the tremendous gift they are living.

Self care for Caregivers by Susanne White

I read a few lines and those alone were worth the book ... write down the situation/emotions you are dealing with, fold and insert into a special box.  Know it will be retrieved and dealt with tomorrow, get your rest tonight.

All from Amazon

Having minor surgery in office tomorrow, will need to wear a mask.  Horrible throat and pounding head.  Waited months for this appointment, I'm going.  Still waiting almost four weeks for the electrophysiologist I was referred to for a call.

Stay safe, be well.

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Rachel's border

A single row of stitches .... my kind of border!

Wasn't planning on stitching, but it will pull this together.  Without it, edges are not uniform enough for me.

Charted in green but I haven't decided on color yet.

I spent hours searching online for a few good books/journals for my cousin's wife pertaining to Alzheimer.  Some a personal journal for caregivers, others to engage with the patient to record their life for family before the memories are gone.  Their daughters purchased a locater for him, like a GPS, to always find him if he wanders.  I'm not sure if it is on a neck chain, bracelet, or for wallet.

Another beautiful day here.  My leaf duties are over for the time being.  The knee injection today was excruciating and has limited my movement.  He did not freeze the area beforehand as usual, stayed in the flesh MUCH longer, and hubs said this syringe was twice the size.  But hopefully, worth it.  The oaks have not shed yet, but all others are half done, a huge task for hubs by himself.

Hope your day goes well.

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Lantern

A few tweaks and it's done.  Perfect size, will order a battery candle with remote.  Copper top, but I like the steel of the original also.

Working on Rachel, can't find the 310 for the other.  She's looking better as more color is added.  After today is over, no more large gatherings to work on and I will have time to search for the black dmc.

Enjoy the weekend!

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Oh Rachel

 Our relationship isn't going well.  It's not you, it's me.  The 152 was too ghosty and the 407 I'm using is too dull.  The original has more pronounced color even on its darker linen.  Far too much to remove, I'm too lazy to start over.  Maybe the stronger colors at the bottom will allow us to reconcile.  

I am switching to The Primitive Needle's Crescent Angel this evening for a break.  Larger than I want, so ending this under 1632, moving bottom border up beneath it.

Also saw this darling snowman, a free chart on her website.

Dinner went well.  We had a nice time together, but sad.  Missing our sisters who were always the queens of this gathering.  And one of my cousins has dementia.  Of my very small group of cousins, three have died, three have dementia.  I have 12 for dinner on Saturday (that's a lot of ravioli).  

At the same time, the landscapers showed up.  Added soil to raised bed areas, used the rest of the barn stones.  This little brat thinks we made giant litter boxes.

My back and side are worse.  I can't help with leaves now.  Husband is exhausted doing it alone but no pills or patches are helping.  Landscapers removed my swing last week for easier access. When they hung it back, two of the four links weren't secured, and down I went.  May have caused the worsening symptoms, even though fine when it happened.  The swing survived too.

Beautiful weather this week but too much to do to enjoy it.

Be safe everyone.

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Grin and bear it

When my intention of ravioli dinner with ribs, balls, and sausage was discovered, one local cousin is coming into town and his wife is cutting girl's weekend short, and their adult son would like to see the cousins.  I have a set of 12 dishes, there will be a few luncheon sizes used.  Chairs?  Hmm.  I can't back out, this was planned.  Others invited previously, that's a lot of guests.

Today I am prepping the bean salad, kugel, Hawaiian sliders, and hot beef for shredding in the old crock pot.  Any new one I've tried, does not match up.

My thinning hair can be tied up but stragglers can't be trusted.  These neck gaiters sold for masks during covid are ideal!  Pulled up over my head, all hair beneath, comfortable, reliable.  Finding a hair in my guest's dinner is a real fear!

I had visitors this morning. 

 They came with him.

Salonpas is wonderful.

Adios!

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I don't stitch with silk

But am hitting the silk floral department often.

Never cared for exterior decor that wasn't natural, but these branches (three different) caught my eye.  I'll add a few bare craggy branches to this.  Mums are fading, pumpkin rotted, the old lady's back is hindering her every move.  The walk-behind blower is quite heavy to handle on sloped ground, I'll switch to the tractor next time.  If hubs allows me. 

Finding a large enough flat basket has been a chore and this one has seen better days.  But I found a used one online and am so pleased, anxious to receive.  Plans to make this simple style with grapevines never seem to take place.  Call me crazy, but constructing this with leather has crossed my mind.  Sun, rain, snow, but if properly oiled, will it hold up for a few years?  I think so, and I want it.

Anyway, I haven't been stitching.  Cousins arriving with spouses in two days, my other two living local are spending days at their lake camp three hours away.  Up to me to have the dinners and visits for the week, adding brother, Chris, and GF for gatherings.  Lots of prep, expense (they all drink different liquors, none cheap!) and food.  Stitching on hold for the week.

Nice weather, but it ain't summer.

Have a good week!

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