My Mother's Passing

Well, several of you knew about my mother and her illness of dementia along with the heart attack and strokes she had.

Mother's journey came to an end Jan. 5th, 2013. She no longer has to struggle or hurt with any pain. We cremated her which was her wish the next day Jan. 6th, 2013. She was 86 yrs. old, she and my dad were married for 65 yrs. in Nov. of 2012.

My mother was an artist and oh how she could draw, paint and just do any thing when it came to art. She used pastels, oils, charcoal, acrylics, it didn't matter what it was, she could do it.
She also taught her self how to sew back when I was a little girl. Mother became so good she made her own patterns for the clothes she would make and for the customs she made for several of our friends in the circus world. She also made formals/patterns and just about anything she wanted or anyone ask for.

The only thing she didn't do very good at was cooking and especially baking. We gave her a hard time about that in fun and joking around. Mother would do her best at baking but never could do a good job when it came down to it. I don't know why, but her talents laid in her art and her sewing.

Mother drew a portrait of my husband from a picture I had of him before he was killed
in an accident. He had his USCG uniform on and he was so very handsome, well mother decided she would draw him and when she was through...it was WOW!
Then she drew one of our daughter from a picture I had taken of her when she was about
three I think, and it was beautiful!

Mother did a lot of stuff for the Eastern Star and the Masonic Lodge, when they needed anything in an artful way, they would holler for mother. Dad was always so proud of her being an artist and the things she could do.

I didn't know what it was to have store bought clothes until I started to jr. high school, because mother always made my clothes. She would make everything to match right down to my slips and can-cans. (which is what we called them back then). I had scarfs and little bag type purses to match each outfit, plus she trimmed out my socks to match what ever I had to wear.

It was no secret that my mother and I didn't get along for the most part of my life. I took
care of her from the time she had the heart attack until her death. I had to be the one to tell her she couldn't drive anymore and make sure she didn't. Dad had to stop her from cooking on the stove.
They had butane and she would forget she had put something on to cook and would go read a book
or be working on some other project that she thought she had to do and the house would fill with smoke and the pans burnt, not to mention the food.

Although through out the almost four years and everything mother went through, she never forgot
who dad was, not one time! Mother actually did manage to keep a bit of her brain from going all the way to the final level with the dementia. How she did it the doctors aren't sure, but then again with mother things weren't ever normal (if you will). There were several times when the doctors said she was down for the count...not going to make it through the week, if she made it a couple of days.
Low and behold mother would prove them wrong, every time...except for this time.

I was with mother for every step of the way with every thing that did happen to and with her. There was only one time for a few seconds that mother forgot my name, but that was ok. I really didn't mind
because I knew what she was going through and what she would go through in the future. I read, talked to doctors, researched the internet to know all about everything the illness or disease of dementia would do to her. Not for me as much as for my dad, so in some small way I could help him to understand and maybe protect him, hopefully even give him some cushioning...away to prepare for the inevitable.

During all of this time I had to deal with hurt caused by my mother through out my lifetime and find a way to forgive her, and I really didn't know whether I could actually do it or not. But I did pray, alot and I did forgive some but not all, but I also learned as time went by and watching her going through so much, that I was slowly forgiving her. I know that the Lord was there throughout all of this and I seriously couldn't have done it if not for him helping me and showing me how, but not only for her as much as for me, myself...how badly I needed to forgive her!

So I say now, mother thank you for the good times we had, even though they were very far and few. I have learned you did the best you could with what you had to go by. I have learned your life growing up was not a good one either, and some of the things that happened to you. I am sorry you had to go through what you did and that you were treated the way you were. I want you to know mother you did have worth, you were so very talented, and I know in your own ways you and dad did love each other and you even loved me a little in your own way.

Before you passed, you knew I was there with you and when you reached for my hand, held it like you did and snuggled it up to you neck the way you did, I felt the love you were showing me then and I thank you mother for that. It did mean so much to me, and I hope you felt mine.

Your with the Lord now looking down on us here, now you can show us the love you couldn't show before. Your up there with Bobby, your mother, grandma and grandpa, Uncle Buddy, Aunt Edie and others that we love. Please know you were loved and will be missed until we are up there with you.

Thank you every one that has called, sent cards and came by, my family and I greatly appreciate it so much. God Bless each of you.

About Alzheimer's Disease

How Alzheimer's Progresses Through the Brain

Alzheimer's disease symptoms result from physical changes in the brain. While the cause of these changes remains somewhat of a mystery and has yet to be thoroughly proven, researchers have a leading theory of how Alzheimer's disease progresses. Here’s an explanation, in brief.

In a healthy brain, certain chemical processes ensure the proper functioning of neurons. One is the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) that is attached to the outer membrane of nerve cells. An enzyme called alpha-secretase cuts off a section of the protein; then another enzyme, gamma-secretase, snips a second portion and releases APP from the cell’s membrane.

These APP fragments are then broken down and removed from the brain. Another process involves the microtubules, which carry nutrients through the nerve cells to keep them functioning normally. Tau protein helps to maintain the physical structure of microtubules.

The Plaques and Tangles of Alzheimer's. But when these processes go awry, a different enzyme, beta-secretase, cuts shorter APP fragments from the nerve cell membrane. These smaller pieces are more resistant to breakdown and tend to clump together in toxic clusters called oligomers; eventually, the oligomers collect into larger beta-amyloid plaques that interfere with nerve cell functioning.

Within neurons, abnormal tau strands separate from the microtubules and cause the microtubules to fall apart, crippling the transport of nutrients and destroying nerve cells. Loose tau threads join together to form knotted strands inside neurons. Called neurofibrillary tangles, they cause further neuron destruction.

In the early stages of Alzheimer's, plaques and tangles form in brain areas responsible for learning, thinking and planning -- in particular, the hippocampus. This is why forgetfulness, disorientation and verbal repetition are often among the earliest signs of Alzheimer's. As nerve cell destruction spreads, more brain areas are affected, especially the cerebral cortex, responsible for language, reasoning and judgment. Speaking skills become impaired and emotional outbursts grow more frequent.

When large areas of nerve cells die off in the advanced Alzheimer's stage, brain sections atrophy and the whole brain shrinks to as much as three-quarters of its original size. People with Alzheimer's lose most of their ability to communicate, walk and care for themselves.

More things to do with Coffee filters...who knew

                                      COFFEE FILTERS

                              Coffee filters, who knew! 

          And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing.

1.. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2.. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3.. Protect China . Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5.. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6.. Apply shoe polish.. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7.. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8.. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9.. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers

Just little tid-bits to try and make somethings a little easier...hope it works for you.

Heal a blemish fast!

Banish blemishes with this dermatlolgist
trick: Crush an aspirin and add enough
water to make a pastes. Dab the paste
over the blemish and allow it to sit for at
least 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
Aspirin contains a high concentration
of salicylic acid, which kills acne-causing
bacteria, speeding up the healing process.

Bounce This Along

Bounce This Along The US Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow-jackets away. Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer. I use it when I am working outside. It really works. The insects just veer around you. All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer! 1.  It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice. 2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars  that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle. 3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.  4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.  5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer)  screen.                                       6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe  your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling..  7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.  8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of  Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.                   9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner. 10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through  a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.  11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce   inside empty luggage before storing.   12. To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under  the front seat.   13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan,   fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent   apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.   14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the    bottom of the wastebasket.   15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will   magnetically attract all the loose hairs.   16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds..Wipe the blinds   with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.    17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of    Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.    18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of    Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.     19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your     shoes or sneakers overnight.     20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to     keep the bees away.     21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding    and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.     22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs     off easily with the wet Bounce. 23. Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling, it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it. While you are at it, travel with several Bounce sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed, it will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in it. Another little tid-bit, hope you can use some or all of these.

Cut your risk by calming your Bood Sugar

Sugar surges fuel the growth of cancers, so keeping your blood sugar
steady is key to both stalling the growth of tumors and giving your
immune system time to destroy them.

To Do :
1. Block sugar absorption by taking a fiber supplemnet ( such as ground
flax or Metamucil) each morning.

2. Include a little protien (meat, eggs, dairy or tofu) with every meal to
slow carb absorption.
                ~~ the info above is from the University of Pittsburgh~~

**Flax seed or flax meal is very good to mix in to oatmeal, (or any hot
cereal). As the flax meal you can also mix it in to soups, stews, gravy
and sprinkle it on/in salads. I use it in a lot of receipes, just use about
2 tbs. till you get use to it, then you can gage for your self.

Taming toxins with Strawberries

Strawberries are rich in elegiac acid, a plant
compound that soaks into the cells lining your
gastrointestinal tract. Eating 1/2 cup daily
 (fresh or frozen) prevents up to 75% of the
damage normally caused by carcinogens and
toxins, says University of Kentucky researchers