Adventures: DIY and Bday Present

For months, I have been trying to figure out what I wanted to get us for some sort of memorial for Esa.  I looked on Etsy and saw some items that I liked (bracelets, keychains, etc.), but haven't taken the time to really go forward with it.

Then I was looking at the May 2014 Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  This was on the last page.  Seriously....

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/73957618856070650/

Do you see that?  Of all of the names/initials, they use in this publication E S A.  Now, if that is not a sign, I don't know what is.  I have thought about making something, but never really knew what I wanted.  There you go, idea solved.

Today (May 30), is Dan's birthday.  This post is/was a work in progress (and not published until May 30 - just in case Dan decides to look at the blog).

Trial run with paper 

(and a backward letter - what can I say, I don't use stamps very often)

I used 2 Creative Memories tools to get the ovals (used the middle of the tools) .  I purchased the stamps at AC Moore and had the ink pad.

Of course, the next idea that came in my head was maybe I can make a Zed one too, but with his REAL pawprint!

Friday, May 23 afternoon

It took me about 4 tries to get the bottom right large one done.  It's a mess, but I decided to keep it and it would be mine for a reminder how much problems I originally had!  LOL!  I guess it would have helped if I had cleaned the stamps BEFORE using them on the clay!  Like I said, I don't use stamps very often.

I TRIED to do Zed's pawprint (he is so patient!), but his paw is bigger than the large oval AND even when I pressed on his paw, it didn't really make a mark.  His nails did, but not his paw.

Zed's charm has is adoption date on it.  Esa's has her birth date on top and death date on the bottom.

So side story - I made these around 1 pm in the afternoon and had it sitting on the oven to cool when I went on a walk with Zed and our neighbor, Lynne and Sable (Esa's best friend) around 2:15 pm.  I figured - plenty of time to hide everything before Dan gets home at 4 pm.  I had cleaned up the mess when the charms were in the oven, so only the pan was out on the stove.  

Lynne and I come around the corner and who is sitting on our porch but Dan!  PANIC!  I thought for sure that he saw the charms.  So I immediately said, "What are you doing home?  Did you see what was on the stove?"  He said no that he saw that the leash was gone and immediately came out to the porch.  He said he saw something sitting out, but didn't go inspect it.

So, truth will be told on Friday when he gets his presents.

Wednesday, May 28

The finished products.

Dan's

Mine

I enjoyed making these.  It was a quick and easy project that means a lot.

BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: I Will Never Forget by Elaine C. Pereira

I was really interested in reviewing this book because my aunt Annie had Alzheimer's.  I don't remember when she was diagnosed, but I remember her downward spiral started in 1980-1981 when she was around 65.  She died in early 1990.  I appreciate that the author is donating to the Alzheimer's Association.

Another reason I was interested in reviewing is because I have been an elderly caretaker.  One of my other aunts that I was close to, Helen, had me in charge of her financial side, while my sister-in-law took care of the medical side (since she's an RN).

Elaine's memoir is a book that should be read by anyone who is or has gone through being a caretaker for an elderly relative.  I could not believe how much this book resonated with me.  There were many times throughout the book that I thought, "I had that happen too!"  It just reminded me that even though I was alone in the journey of taking care of my Aunt, I wasn't alone!  This was my first full book read on my Kindle and I highlighted 44 areas that I had a "YES!" moment.  No one really prepares you for becoming a caretaker (no matter the level).

Elaine did a great job in giving the background history about her family.  The glimpses in her relationship with her mother and family helped with explaining the feelings of the child becoming the parent.  Kudos to Elaine for putting her story out there.  I'm sure it was hard to relive those emotional times in her life, but it will help others.

***

I Will Never Forget is the incredible true story of the author’s talented mother’s poignant and humorous journey through Dementia. From superb stories of Elaine's childhood, her controversial name, tales of smoking’ dragons, the feisty teenage years and a near paralyzing accident, her mother Betty Ward’s wonderful character is revealed.

Over time, as their relationship evolves and a new paradigm is formed, Betty begins to exhibit goofy actions, uncharacteristic verbal assaults and bizarre thinking. Although clearly mystified by her mother’s irrational behaviors, Elaine does not initially appreciate the extent of Betty’s mental decline. Her mother’s amazing ability to mask the truth clouds Elaine’s vision and prolongs her denial until one cataclysmic explosion of reality over an innocuous drapery rod launches a waterfall of destructive events.

As her mother’s brilliant mind is steadily destroyed by Dementia’s insatiable appetite for brain cells, Elaine accompanies her mother on her one-way journey through Alzheimer’s mystifying haze. Elaine cherishes her mother’s fascinating visions of her own mother, masterful Houdini-like disappearances and finally a stunning rally to take control of her own destiny.

I Will Never Forget is a heartwarming, humorous, honest and deeply moving story pertinent to everyone touched by the insidious effects of Dementia. Learn from Elaine's unwitting mistakes as she weaves her way through her mother’s unpredictable disease to capture insightful and effective intervention strategies.

The author donates a portion of every book sold to Alzheimer's research "in part so that my daughter's don't have to write a book about me one day."

#1 Best Seller in medical Biographies and Memoirs (Kindle) Amazon March 2014

 #1 Best Seller in Medical Professional Biographies (Books) Amazon March 2014

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About the Author

Elaine C. Pereira is a retired school occupational therapist who worked with special needs children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayne State University and later completed her master’s degree. She also has completed courses as a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Caregiver, CDP. CDC.

Elaine and her husband Joseph live in southeastern Michigan with their cat, Snoopy, and two big dogs, Bailey and Maddee. Together they have five adult children; Joe’s three sons and Elaine’s twin daughters, five young grandchildren and a teenage granddaughter. Life is good again.

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"She was a kind, brilliant and talented person all of her life until Alzheimer's took hold leaving an agitated, bewildered and compromised woman in its wake. I was NOT the easy kid to raise, that would have been my brother. But after a decade of great personal sacrifice and unspeakable losses, Mom started her descent into dementia. I stepped up as she slid down, grateful to give back to the woman who once gave so much!" - author Elaine C Pereira

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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

 

5 Lucky Winners will each win a Signed Book of I Will Never Forget

Open to US or ebook for Worldwide winners

Ending on Sunday 15th June at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!

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The Daily Zed: Geocaching

We decided to go geocaching on Sunday since it was a long weekend and it was going to be nice out.  We invited Dan's sister and her husband along too.  We had gone to the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship  before, but still had a lot of geocaches to find.

Our plan was to go to the Equestrian entrance since that would be closer to the geocaches.  Well, that didn't go as planned.  First of all, we took a wrong turn and ended up at another "sort of " entrance that only had like 2 parking spots.  We got out of the jeep and then looked at the map.  WRONG PLACE!  

We got back into the jeep and went to the right place.  The gate wasn't open.  WHAT?!  So much for that plan.

So we just went to the main entrance and walked the trail.  It all ended good.  We walked a good 3.5 miles.  Little Z was a tired boy when we got back to the Jeep. 

ready to pass out on mama's lap

We did find one geocache, but the container was broken and there was an ink pad in it that leaked all over everything.  Disappointing.

It was great to spend time with Donna and Bill, so the day wasn't a waste at all.  We all enjoyed the day.

Of course, we had some excitement on the way there.  The check engine light came on.  GREAT!  Not again!  We'll see what the code is this time.....

After taking a little nap, Zed was up and around and back at it.  He knew there were treats in the geocaching bag, so what does he do right in front of Dan?

That little stinker!

Adventures: Family Tree Collage

Saturday was my DIY day.  I have been thinking about doing a family tree picture collage for quite awhile.

I was thinking about putting it in the stairway, but then no one would really see it.  With our dining room now decorated, I was thinking of putting it on a wall there.  I had bought a canvas that I originally wanted to use, but at the community yardsale last week, I found FAMILY letters that caught my eye.  I got them for $1.

I knew I wanted to paint them - either black or brown to match the room.  I decided on black to match the picture frames and do all of the pictures in black and white.

That was an easy project, but my second using spray paint.  Still getting used to making the paint even!

Pictures - I have so many pictures for my side of the family.  My goal is to get "couple" pictures, but the farther back I go, the harder that is.  Either it's a family picture or single pictures.  The crazy thing - I went through all of my family tree stuff and found pictures that I didn't even remember.

L to R:  Mom & Dad, Great Grandparents LaSala, Grandparents Clark, Grandparents Caprarulo

I did a couple of pictures so far and started doing my templates for the wall.  I think I am going to wait a while to put them on the wall.  I am still gathering pictures from Dan's side of the family.  Plus I need to figure out the layout on the wall.

I'm making progress though!

Adventures: Stop Knocking on Our Door

We get a lot of solicitors in our neighborhood.  Whether it's flyers on the mailbox, flyers on the door, or people knocking on the door.  I have been looking for a cute sign on Etsy, but nothing has really caught my eye.  So, I picked up a No Soliciting sign at Home Depot and then picked up a wooden sign from AC Moore for a little DIY craft.

The supplies

The finished product.  No perfect - the newspaper stuck to it when I was painting the back and the gorilla glue soaked through the sign.  Didn't expect that one!

The finished product!

Adventures: Reading Area

Every night, I try to read a little before going to bed.  Sometimes, it's just a magazine, and even then it might only be a page or two.  I know the short time was due to not having enough light on my side of the bed, so we got a floor lamp.  

Then I keep staring at the empty corner.  It used to have Babe's (my cat) treehouse, then it had an air purifier.  For about the last year year it's been empty.

Now, I know this little corner is not HGTV material.  I have been meaning to re-upholster the chair forever, but have never done it.  It's been sitting in the basement area - first used, and then put in a corner and not being used.  There are stains on the seat, it's not as comfortable as used to be and I think Babe left her mark on it by using it as a scratching post a couple of times.

There's a reason why I keep the (now) worn out chair and doesn't match anything I have.  It was my mom's.  I remember being told that Mom spent a lot of money on it.  I think it was either custom made or at least it was upholstered with a specific fabric that my mom picked out.  I can remember there being curtains that matched it too.  It was originally in the "guest" room that eventually became my room (that's a whole other story).  That being said - this chair is probably 60 years old.  My parents got married in 1951, so I know it's from the 50's (like the rest of the furniture I've inherited).

The little stool/bench has been my nightstand for awhile.  I wanted something small, and had it in the basement storage.  It was made by my grandpa Caprarulo (my mom's dad).  Who knows how old that thing is.  Grandpa passed away in 1969 (2 months after I was born) at age 91, so I don't think it was made anytime around then.

So, yes, my little reading area is not HGTV material, but family history material.

I used it for the first time last night.  Let me just say, Zed didn't like it.  He wasn't able to cuddle up with me like usual.  He sat on the floor next to me, stared at my lap but didn't jump up; and realized that he had to wait until I was in bed to cuddle.

The Daily Zed: Mama is a Good Pillow

Mama's knee makes a good pillow.

The Daily Zed: Will Sleep In Any Position

We call this "one-eared pup sleeping with chin pillow" 

The Daily Zed: Cuddle with Me, Mama!

Trying to do work and all Zed wants is attention.  This doesn't happen very often., but of course it happens when I have things to do!

The Daily Zed: Watching the Storm Pass

Crazy pup!  While sitting on the porch watching the storm pass, he decided to sit on the table instead of on my lap.