The Continuing Adventures of Just a Waiter - a little thought about assisted living

 It's never easy when a beloved resident passes away.  No matter how many times we experience this, it does not get easier. We do not become numb to it.  And, if we do, we're really not working in the right industry and it's time to change career paths.  But this is a reality that comes in working with seniors and it just needs to be accepted.  Still, it's never easy.

This blog post isn't about that, though it's the catalyst behind it.  This morning we lost a resident that we all loved.  We loved her and her significant other and her family.  She had transferred down to assisted living from independent living about three weeks ago.  Many people think that it's the transition that wears residents down when they die so soon after moving.  That isn't always the case.  With this particular resident, it was simply her time.  This morning when I saw her significant other, he stated that he was so thankful that she had moved to AL, even for a short period of time.  She got the love and care that she needed.  She loved her room and was having a wonderful experience down there.  Her illness just took over.  If she had still been living in independent living, it would have been hours before someone discovered she had died.

The reason I'm talking about this today is that I want people to understand the importance of assisted living.  We have so many residents that need assisted living.  Many are paying for round the clock care on top of their monthly rents.  And I know from my job that long term care insurance will cover home health care in independent living but will not cover anything else and those costs add up.  If you have any kind of question or doubt as to whether someone needs to be in AL vs IL, chances are they need AL.  And there is nothing to be ashamed of with that.

Our AL facility is amazing.  I worked in the dining room there more several years and absolutely loved it.  If I could have afforded to stay there, I would have.  But these residents are vital, fun people who just happen to need some assistance with things.  So, do not count out the ideas of assisted living if someone's needs call for it.  I realize that families want their loved ones to be as independent as they can be for as long as possible, but independence with assistance is a great option.

Recipe Cards

 

This past weekend, Michael and I went to visit Dad and June.  We planned on going out to lunch but June would not be able to join us for that.  So, I decided to take dessert so we could share some food and visit after lunch.  I opted to make a strawberry cobbler.  It's delicious, easy to make and travels well.  I also had gotten some strawberries on sale, so this was perfect.  We all enjoyed the cobbler and June asked me for the recipe.

She always asks me to text the recipe to her, but I never do.  One, that takes so long for me to do LOL  and two, being the old fashioned soul that I am, I much prefer getting out a nice recipe card and writing it down.  I've learned that somehow my handwriting is better on a recipe card than it is when letter writing.  Who knew?  LOL  As I was writing out the card, I thought about the first time I received my very own recipe card.

It was some time in the early 80's....81 or 82.  We went to lunch after church at the home of Pat and Gene Herrell.  They were good friends of my parents and we all went to FBC together. For dessert, Pat served a pie she called "Fruit Fluff".  It's one of those wonderful cool whip pies with fruit in it.  I absolutely fell in love with the pie.  Pat offered to write out the recipe for me.  Mind you, I was only 7 or 8 at the time.  She wrote it out and gave it to me, but it was in cursive and I couldn't read it.  So, she very thoughtfully had her son type it out on a card for me so that I could read it.  And I still have that card in my recipe box.  I have made that pie hundreds of times and always love it.

There's just something very personal to me about sharing recipe cards like that.  Not only do you have a wonderful recipe in front of you but someone who cares about you took the time to write it down for you.  This seems to be a tradition that has gone by the wayside in these days of technology.  I get that.  But I cherish my handwritten recipe cards.  There is history there.

I would love to find some of my friends to exchange recipes with like that.  Just random recipes or requested ones.  I think that would be a wonderful way to connect with people.  By the way, the cards pictured above aren't mine.  But I have plenty if you want to exchange! Anyone interested?

That is all

My prayer for the day

 Dear God

I am very thankful that I have my own, unique personal relationship with you.  Ours is like no one else's and I truly believe that is how you intended it.  Lord, please give me the strength to persevere.  We have had another hard week in our country.  We seem to be forever turning against each other and that is creating grate hatred and discord in our nation.  Please guide me to be helpful in these situations and give me the patience to endure.

We are all created in your image and we are all...and by all I mean ALL...sinners.  People are focusing so much on our differences right now and not seeing that we are one mankind.  How can I help with that?  What can I do to make a difference in the world when most people do not want accept anything other than what they see in their mirror.  This week I have often thought of the song "Jesus Loves The Little Children".  We all sang it growing up.  But most people do not seem to remember that meant all children.  You, yourself, sent your son to Earth not only to die for our sins, which I am grateful for, but also to show us how to live in peace and harmony with each other.  Why has it been so easy for people who label themselves as Christians to forget that, God?  Obviously, I do not know the answer to that.  I must continue to live as Jesus taught us too and hope some of the rubs off on my fellow man.

I have to ask, God, does it bother you that so many people are trying to take over your job?  It has become clear this week that people hide behind you while at the same time are trying to be you.  Does that get on your nerves?  Because it's sure getting on mind this week.  Now that I think about it, maybe Earth is your version of reality tv.  If that's the case, I have a list of a few people I would love for you to vote off the island.  The ways people are behaving towards each other was not the way I was raised...in my home and in my church.  I hope that the cherry pickers are at least grateful for the 15 minutes of fame you have allotted them, even if I disagree with them.

Ah, well.  Hopefully people will come to their sense and stop trying to speak for you and let you do your job.  At least, that's what I'm praying for this week.  And maybe a winning lottery ticket?  That's a lot to ask, I know.  But if you don't ask, you'll never know!

Amen

Daily Goal - working on spending

 One of the things that I need to work on if not daily, at least every few days, is keeping track of my spending.  As an adult, I have always had spending issues and that is definitely something that could use improvement. Growing up, I certainly did not get everything I wanted and asked for, but I did not go without.  There was always some kind of compromise.  I need to carry that train of thought with me into adulthood.  

As a young adult, I had a credit card with my Mom.  Looking back on it, that was a big mistake and gave me some very unhealthy spending habits.  I would use the card and Mom paid the bill.  It was quite a shock years later when I really had to start paying the bills myself.  Unfortunately at that time, the way I spent money did not change.  And there are many reasons for that which will be saved for another time.

I think, though, that if I start really paying attention and keeping track of the money that is going out I might be more inclined to spend less and save more.  I always do better in general if things are written down and I can look at it.  If I try to do it in my head, it will work for a few days and then fall by the wayside.  I know myself well enough to know the truth of that.

So, my goal this week is do improve my spending habits.  Things like sticking to my grocery list will help.  And asking myself if I really need something.  Note that I said need and not want.  I tend to want a lot of things and I know I either don't need them or can't afford them.  And that made me think of our family friend Janet.  She always said that if you don't have the cash, you don't need it. I should have started paying heed to that a lot earlier.  While she did have good credit, she paid for almost everything with cash including her car and her house.  That's a goal for me to be able to do that one day.  Or at least to have that option.

Living paycheck to paycheck is hard.  Not being careful about how I spend my money makes it more difficult.  I don't exactly enjoy being poor, but I know that if I can focus on my active spending, I may be able to enjoy more things.  Who knows, I might be able to save up to buy something that I just want and don't need at all. We shall see!

That is all.

Dream of the Forgotten Child - David Lanz

 

With everything going on in the world today, I simply needed a beautiful and inspiring piece of music to start off my Saturday.  I needed it and wanted it.  David Lanz always delivers that for me.  I hope you enjoy it!

Quote of the Day

 This one just struck a chord with me today.

The Kikusui Green Checkers Tea Set

 Piggy backing off of yesterday's blog, I started thinking about when I really started my antiques and vintage collecting. It was somewhere around 1987 when I bought my first item at an antiques store.  It was in Wingate, NC.  The owners of the shop were a couple.  I remember that her first name was Bonnie.  But that's all I remember.  I don't even remember the name of the shop, just that it was in a big old house off of 74 in Wingate.  Actually the house was the childhood home of my Great Aunt Billie's 2nd husband, Bruce Hinson.  The home is historically called the Dickson-Goodwin House and is now a museum to Jesse Helms.  Ah, well.

Anyway, we went to the shop many times.  Mom and formed a friendship with Bonnie while Mom was handling Aunt Sara's estate.  Bonnie appraised the contents of the house for her.  I remember the first time Mom took me to the shop how amazed I was.  I hadn't really been in a shop like that yet.  There would be many more in my future!  The house itself was well preserved and very large.  As I made my way through the rooms, I came into the dining room and saw the tea set.  I immediately fell in love with it.  Green is my favorite color after all.

Of course I asked Mom to buy it for me, but alas, no.  It was somewhere around $60.  That's a lot of money for me today, much less 30 plus years ago.  I didn't make much of a fuss about it but Bonnie knew how interested in it I was.  Every time we would go to her shop, I would spend most of my time looking at it.  I would pick up each piece and examine it.  I loved it.  And there would always be this nervous apprehension that one day I would turn the corner into the dining room and it wouldn't be there.  Someone else had bought it out from under me but thankfully that never happened.

Well, after about 6 months of obsessing over it, Bonnie offered it to me for $20.00.  Yes, that was an incredible buy.  And I had been saving my money to buy it at the original price, so the $20 was no problem.  But I know she did it because she wanted to encourage my love love all things antique and vintage.  And she did.  I wish we had kept up better as I would love to talk to her again and tell her how much that meant to me.

So ends today's episode of Around The House.

That is all.

Expanding my passion for antiques

 There should never be a question in anyone's mind that I love antiques.  I have for as long as I can remember.  And, if you follow my blog, you know that my love of antiques began with my family.  Truly starting with the old family home in Wingate and branching out to Grandmother's and Aunt Billie's and our own home. I love being surrounded by them and knowing their history.  I asked a lot of questions growing up about where things came from, who they belonged too, what they were used for etc.  It was my strongest passion for about 10 years.

I never really lost that passion, but it did get put on the back burner for awhile for various reasons.  But lately that desire is being rekindled.  This time, it's a little different.  I want to thin out my collection.  Shocker, I know.  But there are several reasons for this.  One, I have always wanted to run an antiques shop, so why not look into that.  Or at least a booth in a mall or selling online.  I'm not getting any younger so why not work on that dream?

And yes, another reason is space.  But I'm approaching that in a different way now.  When I look back on all of the family homes, the one thing that really keeps them all on the same page is that everything had its place.  I'm not saying that by the time I came along that everything was still being used, but it definitely had its place.  There was not much of an overflow.  Yes, closets were full.  Yes, cabinets were full.  Yes, ever table top had stuff on it.  But it all had a specific place.  There weren't storage boxes full and garages full of stuff.  By the way, I'm not including the holiday decor in that list.  I have too much that at sometimes suffocates me even though I love it.

It truly is time to pick and chose what to keep and what will go where.  I don't have many friends that collect.  I have a few but I need to follow through with getting them things.  But I want others to enjoy things that I have loved for years.  Whether it be in a shop or online or as a gift.  It's time for me to spread my love of things antique and vintage.

That is all.

Recipe of the day - Pepperoni and Red Pepper Dip

 Awhile back, I bought a package of pepperoni that was on sale and stuck it in the freezer.  When I was cleaning out the freezer and making room, I decided to pull the package out to thaw.  It ended up being a lot bigger than I remembered so I have been looking for recipes that called for pepperoni.  So far, I've found two of them that we have really enjoyed.

I wanted to find an appetizer that was not any kind of pizza roll.  I have nothing against pizza rolls, they are just more involved in preparation than I wanted.  I came across this dip recipe online and decided to try it.  It smelled divine and thankfully tasted just as good.  

Pepperoni and Red Pepper Dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic power

1 cup finely chopped pepperoni

1/2 cup roasted red pepper, chopped

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth.  Add all herbs and mix until well blended.  Fold in the pepperoni and red pepper.  Once that is mixed in thoroughly, add the mozzarella until completely combined.  Chill and serve with crackers or vegetables.

Enjoy!

Sitting at the table

 Dining rooms are my favorite room in homes.  They always have been.  I'm sure it's because that is usually where all the china, crystal and silver are normally kept.  And we all know how much I love that.  We don't have an actual dining room in our house, but we do have a nice dining room area.  It, too, is one of my favorite areas of our home.  

There is nothing I love more than to have a dining room table full of people eating and enjoying each other's company.  There's something about that that is so comforting to me.  It brings back so many wonderful memories.  Holidays, birthdays, Sunday meals.  And not just from growing up.  Michael and I have made some wonderful memories around our table and no doubt there are more to be made.

Yesterday, I sat down at the table by myself and had lunch. Lots of times if I'm eating by myself I'll sit on the bed and watch tv.  I was having some soup, though, and that is not always a good thing to eat in bed.  So I decided to sit down at the table and listen to some music while I ate.  And it made an ordinary lunch of leftovers seem a little more special.  As I was eating, I started remembering all of the times I sat at this exact table.  The memories that stood out to me, though, were the times when it was just Grandmother and me at the table.

I spent a lot of time at Grandmother's house through the years.  And even if it was just the two of us, we always ate at the table.  It didn't matter if it was breakfast, lunch or dinner, we ate at the table.  As a kid, you don't always want to do that because it might take me from the tv or something.  Looking back on it, I wouldn't change it for the world.

Grandmother and I had many wonderful conversations over meals at the table.  Mostly I would ask her about what life was like when she was a child.  I loved those stories.  And we talked about so many things.  And of course the food was always good....just because Grandmother made it for me.  And as I sat at the table yesterday, I realized how much of myself is because of what often went on around that table.  It was a staple of my childhood and thankfully it is still a constant in my life.

I sat at the table again today to have lunch by myself.  I didn't feel lonely at all because I was surrounded by so many wonderful feelings.

That is all.

The Continuing Adventures of Just a Waiter

 There are times when I feel very sorry for the families of some of our residents.  The majority of our residents have families that are still very involved in their parents lives.  I realize how much of a blessing that is. Many elderly people do not have that.  Occasionally, we will have a resident who is essentially dropped off at Heritage Greens and that's the last time we see the family.  It does not happen a lot, but it has happened before.  And that's sad, but I digress.

I have talked about this before but many of our residents do not need to be in independent living.  They simply are not capable of living on their own, even under the roof of a senior living community.  Many times it is a case of dementia but sometimes the resident is too far gone physically to live by his or herself.  They just need more care.  And, yes, they can have in home health care.  Sometimes that works sometimes it does not.  It can be a very touch and go situation.

I watch so many children work so hard to maintain the normalcy in their parents lives that they are wearing themselves out emotionally and physically. I understand it.  You do not want to watch your parents deteriorate in any fashion.  The sad fact of life is that is going to happen and there is very little to be done to stop it.  You may be able to slow down the progression some, but aging cannot be stopped as long as someone is breathing.

I always try to be as positive and hopeful with residents families.  I don't want to overstep my bounds and offer my opinion unsolicited.  Yes, they need more help.  They would do better in a different kind of facility.  I know that's not what you want to hear, but that is the truth.  But I cannot say that.  I'm a secretary.  It's not my place.  I will, though, answer questions honestly if asked. I know that my opinion is taken to heart by family members and I will always present my argument in a way that's not the end of the world.  

It's just hard sometimes watching families putting themselves through so much stress.  This morning I started my shift at 7 a.m. and after a few minutes of being on the clock, one of our resident's daughters stopped by the front desk on her way out.  She'd been there all night with her mom because she needed more care.  She, the daughter, was smiling but I knew she was so tired.  I hear it in her voice whenever we speak on the phone.  It's rough on these people.  I cannot imagine.

I will continue to be as upbeat and positive and helpful to my residents and their families as I possibly can.  It's what I do.  It's just exhausting for all of us some days.

That is all.

Trying a new organizing method

 The other day I was reading an article about organizing your household.  In it was a method that I think I will try.  I've tried many different ways to attempt to organize our house, but nothing seems to stick.  So what harm can it do to try something different?  Who knows? I may warm up to and stick with it.  Or I may throw it by the wayside like so many others LOL

The method is called PILLS.

P = Pull everything out

I = Inventory what you have and put like items together

L = Let go of things, figure out what to get rid off and donate

L = Label and contain stuff 

S = Style 

One of the things that made a lot of sense was not to label and contain stuff before sorting it and dividing it into groups of things to dispose of.  If you do, it simply creates more work later because you're basically just moving things around without making long lasting progress.  Admittedly, I have done this many times thinking I'll get to it later.  Well, we all know that later never really comes.

Style is one thing that the article did not go into at all. I am assuming that it means that when you are sorting through stuff, don't hold onto things that do not fit into your style.  Well, that is all well and good unless your style is eclectic LOL  Ah, well. But I do get the idea of what was being said and maybe I can define my style a little better.  We shall see.

Anyway, I will give this method a try.  It can't hurt. Can it?  LOL  So ends today's episode of "Around the House".

That is all

The Trolley Song

 With yesterday being Judy Garland's 100th birthday, I wanted to post another of my favorite songs of hers.  Meet Me In St. Louis is one of my all time favorite films.  I love everything about it including its wonderful score.  This scene is one of those one shot wonders that Judy was not exactly known for and she nails it.  Enjoy!

Recipe of the Day - White Bean Dip

 This is a wonderful and easy dip, perfect for spring and summer.  I found it in an issue of Our State magazine and have made it several times.  It's a lot like hummus. I would consider it part of the hummus family, but it's a lot less complicated than hummus is to make (depending on the recipe you use for hummus.)  It's good with pita chips, veggies or crackers.  I like it with rosemary and olive oil triskets :)  Hope you enjoy!

White Bean Dip

2 14.5 oz cans navy or cannellini beans

2 cloves garlic, minced

juice from 1 lemon

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped or 1 tsp dried rosemary

1/4 cup olive oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Mash beans with a fork, leaving a few whole. Serve then or chill for a few hours and serve.  Makes about 2 cups.

I use a potato masher on the beans as it takes less time.

Enjoy!

Inventorying My Christmas Albums

 

When I do inventories I tend to separate them into categories.  Furniture, knick knacks, silver, china, etc.  One of the ones that I keep up with the best is my inventory of Christmas Albums.  Every time I buy new Christmas records I update my inventory.  I figured that once I hit 50 albums, I should start keeping track of them.  

One of the good things about keeping up with the records is it is easier to add to my collection without double buying.  Anytime we go to Ed Mckay's, which is my main go to for used Christmas albums, I can pull the document up on my phone and see if I already have it.  Yes, I have enough albums that I cannot remember all of the all of the time.  I find this a very convenient tool.

Another detail about this inventory is I denote any family records with an asterisk.  I got all of our Christmas albums that my parents owned.  Bill and I grew up with them and they were a part of our childhood.  With the cassette tape and cd's beginning to emerge in the 80's and 90's, we almost never bought new actual records so most of our Christmas records were from the 60's and 70's.  I like having them labeled in case anything ever happens to me and Bill or someone else in the family would like to have them.  Now, they know which ones they are!

Today my total is 140 Christmas records.  I still listen to the all year long.  I do make an effort not to play them in front of anyone else...at least not too loudly.  Now I'm ready to find more albums and update this inventory again!

Sometimes I disagree with God

 I have my own relationship with God.  It's mine and no one else's.  It will not be like yours as it is specific to my needs and what I believe God expects from me.  I talk to him daily and, for the most part, trust in his guidance.  I know that obstacles are put in my way to see how I will deal with them, how I will overcome them.  I believe that his plan for me changes almost daily, as my plan for myself does.

But lately I have been wondering if it's wrong to disagree with God.  What if he does things that I don't think are correct?  Or to put it in other words, if he's gone too far to prove a point to mankind?  Sometimes I find myself saying "God, just stop it already.  We get the point.  You've given us the problems and given us the tools to handle them, so please let us try before making your point again.  Give it a rest."  I hate that say that, but I do.  

I don't often talk specifically about the goings on in our world on here.  And I'm really not going to change that today.  But with all of the horrible things going on today, I often stop and wonder why.  I know that some trials and tribulations will last years....possibly hundreds of years.  Is that what this is? Are we to live in this fear of mankind for the rest of my life?  In the past few weeks I have been repeating a line from a film in my head over and over.  There is a scene that takes place after a child has been in an accident.  The local reverend is present to give comfort and talk about God's mercy.  He is met with the reply:  "What kind of a merciful God could allow a thing like this to happen to a child?"  That has been ringing in my ears daily, hourly.  And I have been asking God that question.  

I do hate to question what he does, but sometimes I'm like please just give it a rest and be merciful right now.  It's a sparring match that will go on between me and God for awhile I believe. I do not think it offends him.  I've never been one to question authority very much and have to take these feelings to mean that he is actually pushing me into a direction in my journey of life.  Couples argue sometimes, it's part of life.  This really isn't that different.  I've just never been much of an arguer but sometimes you just have to.

Even though I disagree with God sometimes, we get through it and keep moving forward.  It just sucks in the meantime.  That is all.

Trying to Keep House

 One of my goals this year, among so many that I have, is to do a better job of keeping house.  Now, this probably sounds like a stupid goal to some people, but it is honestly something that I want to work on.  I really don't know how my Mom and Grandmother kept up with everything in the house.  That on top of working just boggles my mind.  But they did it and I can to.  Of course, I do realize that Grandmother had a housekeeper for years and later in life Mom had some help to come in and clean as well.  But each could manage it on her own and did whenever it was required.  I think I can handle that. 

I feel better when the house is in order.  I want to keep it in such a state so that in case someone ever just drops by, I won't worry about how the house looks.  Not that we have much company to just drop in on us, but it would be nice to have a clean house if they do.  Yesterday, I spent time cleaning our living room.  Dusting, vacuuming.  No reason really I just wanted it done and felt better once I had accomplished that. It truly relaxes me when things are clean.

But this goal gives me some definite areas to work on.  The kitchen, the center of the home, seems to be in a constant state of disarray.  That's simply because we use it all the time.  This morning when I went into the kitchen, I had left dirty dishes everywhere.  And I hate to wake up to a dirty kitchen.  I know this about myself but still let that slide under the rug on weekends.  There's almost no domestic feeling I enjoy more that getting up in the morning to make my coffee in a clean kitchen.  To be honest, it's a little crowded right now and I have to work on that as well.

And I will admit that I am not good about keeping up with cleaning my bathroom.  I let it go until it's just an absolute mess before I clean it and then it's frustrating.  I need to keep up with that more.  I always excuse it by saying that no one goes in there but me, which is true, but I would still be very embarrassed if someone had to use it in its current state.  If I can keep reminding myself that the more I keep up with it, it will take less time to clean it.

Maybe I need to come up with a better weekly housekeeping schedule.  I don't know.  I always do laundry on the weekends, that's a given.  But during the week I need to make more of an effort.  I realize that people don't go out and visit like they used to, especially during the pandemic.  But it really would be nice to have a well kept house ready when they do.  And it makes me feel better to be in a place that's neat.  I feel accomplished.

That is all for today in Escapades In Adulting

Daily Challenge Update

 I'm so far behind on some of my daily challenges LOL  But they are still there in the back of my mind each and every day, so at least that is something.  And I do not feel as if I have taken steps backwards in any of my goals which is good.  I don't always achieve them on a daily basis, but I have not regressed.

The one that I am being most successful at is water.  I am drinking a lot of water these days.  Almost every day I am able to get my 64 ounces in.  That may not sound like a lot, but it really is.  And I have realized that if I start my day with a glass of water rather than a cup of coffee I am more likely to achieve my daily water goal.  Don't get me wrong, I still get my morning coffee in LOL

My other challenges are coming along, some not as good as I would have liked.  My daily letter writing has fallen by the wayside and I must do better with that.  I enjoy it so I need to do it more. I think last month I only got 10  letters out.  That doesn't sound too bad until you realize there are 31 days in May.  Ah, well. Exercise and dressing better for work are two that will go hand in hand.  I have gained weight and lots of my shirts cannot be tucked in because they're too tight.  I look better when I can tuck in my shirt but right now it's not an  option for most of my clothes.  Gotta work on that one!

Still, I'm not unhappy with how things are going.  Even small steps for me are steps in the right direction.  And it will continue.

That is all.

Quote of the Day

 Following yesterday's quote of the day lead, here's a similar one from my spirit animal, Dorothy Zbornak!