Taking Care of Pops

I just love the idea of allowing Pops to stay in his own home as he ages. I was excited to find a nj senior care company that specializes in in home care. I think the best sort of new jersey elder care allows patients to stay in their own homes because it's so much more dignified and I can't imagine being taken away from my home just because I'm aging. In a perfect world (my perfect world anyhow) families would live in communities, taking care of each other and I'm hoping the visiting nurse acts like family, so Pops feels more like he's visiting with someone rather than like someone is coming over to take care of him. I wish we had found something like this several years ago, it seems like the perfect solution. They check over the meds, they help with hygiene and all sorts of other things, to help make life easier for Pops.

So have you ever used an elder care service? What sort did you go with? I think our culture has strange practices for aging, like when Aunt Rita was 94 and she went into the hospital for something simple, they ended up wanting to give her surgery. I was so happy when she said "No thanks" and just went on about her life. She lived another 3 years after that and died at home in her sleep. She told her daughter that next time she's not feeling well, tell her to suck it up because "I'll be damned if I'm going to die in some hospital bed somewhere."

Gotta love her, I hope I'm just as fiery at that age!

Pinching pennies

If you or your spouse works at a place that requires scrubs, then you should totally check out this link for a website called Blue Sky Scrubs at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/ because they are an online scrub store that has an amazingly huge selection and also great prices. It's no surprise really that a web based business would be able to offer the best prices and selection, but when you compare like on an item by item basis, it becomes suddenly the most exciting thing int he world to shop for scrubs. I just LOVE the simple layout of the site and how easy it is to browse through the color swatch tabs. I can't do it on my husband's computer because his color is a little off and everything looked a little greener than it's supposed to be. But on my computer, I love to see the full range of beautiful colors they have and so many different prints and fabrics and sizes. They even have scrubs for kids. You know, in case you're like Doogie Howser's mom or something. Anyway, be sure to take a peek and see what they've got. You're SURE to save some money and I dont' know about you but shopping online is so much MORE FUN than actually going somewhere, right? For me it is, anyhow. I'm not much of a shopper. 

Putting the HOME back in homeschool

Have you ever walked into a homeschooler's house and you get that sinking, crappy feeling that you're back in school again? Charts on the wall with gold stars ensure that kids are being taught to follow someone else's reward system rather than their own inner guidance... lesson plans that ensure that the specific target points of knowledge are being communicated and stressed, even if it's in spite of true understanding or enthusiasm. That used to impress me, but I don't think a homeschooling mom's job is to recreated the (failing) classrooms of the world. Life is joyful and learning is fun and there's no reason a home should be anything but a home.

It hit me when we were shopping to decorate my daughter's room. The rest of the world was shopping for school supplies, but that was the farthest thing from my mind, I just wanted to create a beautiful environment she'd be comfortable in. She's picky and I know it's important to HER that things be in order, so we set off with hot cocoa, our snuggies and started shopping online. She wanted everything she saw on this site, but we settled for a beautiful pegasus vanity and a trundle mattress that she can use when friends come over and some matching floral lamp shades to bring it all together.

Girl History

One thing we love about visiting the SCA re-enactments is the opportunity to check out the clothing and jewelry that was popular during that time. We like learning about the textiles, dyes and patterns they used. We've never tried to make any, but we do appreciate it. Maybe because we're girls. My daughters definitely want to have authentic medieval outfits, but the amount of work that goes into them is just maddening. Jewelry is a different story, though. There are some great historical jewelry reproductions. Especially if you're looking for Celtic designs. Celtic jewelry is beautiful and easy to find, too (especially since I just gave you a link to click on!) I absolutely love the Celtic knot patterns and I might even want one in tattoo form eventually.

I had to look up the term "Claddagh ring" and I'm so glad I did.  According to Wikipedia:

The Claddagh ring (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring given as a token of love or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the city of Galway. The ring was first produced in the 17th century during the reign of Queen Mary II, though elements of the design date to the late Roman period.

Isn't that sweet? I love the idea that jewelry can have its own story. You should seriously check out some of the beauitful designs, they have something for everyone, for sure. And learning about traditional and historic clothing and jewelry automatically teaches lessons about materials, livestock and farming practices of the day and helps to get an understanding of the lifestyle in the time period, instead of just memorizing dates and names. I was never interested in war history and when I was a kid, that's all history was; memorizing dates and names of winners of wars. BORING. This is one reason we homeschool, to learn what life was like back then, not about the wars.

Remove It

Now is definitely the time to get rid of those nasty old appliances. You might want to call a service like Appliance Removal Chicago because they specialize in coming right out to your house and hauling away whatever it is that you want removed, as long as it's an appliance. So maybe you have an old dryer on your back porch, or an old washing machine or an old refrigerator or an old oven or an old freezer. Whatever it is, they can take it away for you. I mean, what else would you do with an old appliance, right?

Well, not so fast... I once saw the most adorable planter made out of an old dresser and I keep thinking it would be kinda cool to use an old washer as a planter. You could plant rosemary in it, or some other hanging-basket type of plant, like petunias, because they would spill over the top like too many soap suds. Hey, that would actually be kinda cute, to have a line of washers back-to-back like a little dividing wall, with flowers growing inside of them and maybe a row of pots in front of it. Anyway, it would be tacky but sometimes that's cute. I'd rather have that than a stack of nasty old machines on the porch collecting dust and spider webs.

All shapes and sizes

We all know that people come in all shapes and sizes, right? Actually, they come in under ten pounds and as soon as they get here they just grow and grow. Some grow more than others. Sure, there are averages but there will always be  few people who thrive at levels above or below that average. That's where averages come from. It's necessary to have two extremes. So it's a good thing there are Big and Tall Clothing stores, as well as clothes for women's plus sixes. Next thing we know they'll be making a children's store that specializes in oversized kids. Not that it matters what their size is, UNLESS they're unhealthy. Then it matters because they deserve to be healthy. A lot of kids these days don't have a choice. There is a general lack-of-knowledge when it comes to the importance of whole, natural foods for health.  Some people eat nothing but processed foods. We choose to eat only whole and natural foods, but that's our choice. Mine, actually.  My kids get to make their own decisions, but they generally choose healthy foods, with a little more candy than I enjoy. Lately I have no craving for sweets at all. I think that means I am officially old or something.  I don't know, maybe it's because I just don't eat refined or processed foods much. I guess I start each day with a cup of coffee that's made with refined sugar. I should find a substitute I like. Maybe stevia. I wouldn't mind switching from coffee to tea, if I had  badass tea collection. Maybe I'll do that one day. Anyway, life is good. have a nice day.


 

Wear one out

Hey homeschoolers, wanna get your hands on some great Christian T Shirts? I know what you're saying; "A T shirt isn't capable of accepting Jesus as its savior." But lighten up, I just mean that there are some awesome shirts out there with Christian sayings, quotes and graphics. If you decide to visit their site, be sure to check out the top selling funny shirts.One cool thing about this site is that so many of the shirts are able to be customized. When you see the designs, it's kind of funny to see that each shirt says "Your words here" I collect quotes, though, so I'm always thinking of which words would go on a T shirt and I bet they might sell more if they display them with actual words instead of making the consumer think of their own. Oh well, they must have an artist on staff because the designs are fresh, modern,(yet traditional - nothing trashy) AND they're well-drawn. So basically you go for the art of the T shirt and you have to then choose your favorite quote or saying to be printed with the art. It's really a unique idea and the shirts are beautiful.  I'm sure they would make great gifts, too.