My Halloween cat collection is in storage. The calendar flipped to November. The time has come to finalize holiday plans. I have always been a planner.  Make a plan and work the plan. Schedule and complete as many items on your to do list weeks before the event.  My to-do list with plan ahead week by week and day by day strategies keeps needless stress away. I am calm and peaceful. I have had Parkinson’s 10 1/2 years. My symptoms are mainly slowness of movement and rigidity. Ten Sinemet tabs daily help to mask symptoms, But I do have some “off” times when the meds do not work as they should. Although the reasons I experience off or down times is unknown, stress is a factor. Happy events and sad events can both be stressful.

Three Weeks Before: Set the menu. Locate recipes. Consider dietary needs, special requests, and traditions. Be wary of eliminating a menu selection if it has been on the menu for 30 years! One year my sister and I decided we did not need mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and noodles–all in the same meal. Well, you do if your brother Larry blurts out ‘Where’s the mashed potatoes?’ before the prayer. If you want to add a new item to the menu, test it now. Last year I added Watergate salad. Watch for special sales on turkey and hams. Our turkey was purchased in October. If you are having guests, decide what you want them to bring. Flowers, bottled drinks, or an appetizer may be helpful.

Two Weeks Before:  Make a master shopping list of all items needed including drinks, napkins, flowers, and food. Check basic pantry items. It may be time to replace cloves from 2018. You may not remember that all the brown sugar was used last month.

Next, make a shorter list from the master list. Then go shopping for pantry and freezer items. Plan your shopping expedition when your meds should be working the best. Be sure to take your water bottle and meds with you. The wheelchair is in the trunk and only used if I have a down time when my meds no longer work. I am immobilized and are unable to walk until the next dose kicks in.

One Week Before: Finalize your shopping list and shop for the perishable items such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, dairy, and bakery.

Four Days Before: Decide on dishes and table linens. Press tablecloth and napkins or toss the linens in dryer with a damp cloth for 10 minutes.  Polish silverware and wash crystal.  Design and set the tablescape.

Three Days Before:  Buy flowers. Complete center piece, guest favors, and decorations. Select serving dishes, stemware, utensils, and trivets. Place on table and label. These tasks are my favorite!

Two Days Before: Make two side dishes that can be frozen or kept in refrigerator. Do prep work such as dicing onions and celery. Select pans and baking dishes. Locate the electric knife and potato masher. Review menu recipes and collect ingredients on counter. For example, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, coconut go in the 3-quart corning ware dish.  Clean as you go and put away ingredients as you go. Run the dish washer. Unload dish washer.

One Day Before; Make one side dish. Rest, retreat, and revitalize! Take your meds on time. Be sure the dish washer is empty. Go to bed early.

Day of Event:  Set your pills up in daily pill box and place on kitchen counter. Set your phone timer for all the daily doses. Stop the task you are doing the minute the timer goes off and take your meds. This process is an absolute requirement. You do not want to stand in the middle of the kitchen staring at the pill container wondering if you just took your pills or not! But it happens allot when you are engrossed in an activity.  If I set up box correctly, I can determine whether I have already taken the dose. Entertaining is both a fun stressor and a negative stressor. I may need to increase the Sinemet dose slightly to remain functional.

Enjoy the time in the kitchen.  Enjoy your guests more! Make one or two easy appetizers. Monitor the turkey. Reheat side dishes.  Assign simple tasks like putting ice in glasses, filling with drinks, and carrying food bowls to table. Ask for help in removing hot pans from oven.  Run through menu right before sitting down. You do not want to forget the Watergate salad in refrigerator! Breathe! You did it!!

Blessings!

Linda

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We’d make a “Purr”fect Pair

My collection of “cat stuff” includes new and vintage valentines. This die cut valentine is from the 1960s. It folds and stands up.  The back shows Gladys gave the valentine to Mary Ellen. It may have been given at a school valentine party. Remember those!

This week I passed out valentines to health care workers when I had a doctor’s appointment. I gave my doctor a recycled valentine from the 1930s; a classmate had given it to my uncle over 90 years ago.  Another day I gave valentines to employees at my residence. Reactions ranged from “this is the only valentine I will get” to “I want to show this to my wife.” Some people were shocked. Others were intrigued with a recycled card. Conversations turned to memories of their school parties. I had fun celebrating Valentine’s Day.

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A Mewsical Party

A word art display advises me to Laugh More and Stress Less. This Tuck postcard featuring amorphized cats makes me laugh. Stress exacerbates Parkinson’s.  Anything I can do to minimize or eliminate stress helps me live my best life now.

Raphael Tuck & Sons used to be the world’s largest postcard publisher. The card company offered a unique history of life in the late 19th and early 20th century.  A series of six cards made up A Mewsical Party. The oilette was produced in Bavaria in 1911 and 1912. It was first published by T.S.N. Dresden in 1852.

During World War II, company headquarters were destroyed including greeting cards, postcards, records and originals. TuckDB Postcards is a non-profit attempting to recreate the lost records.

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A Knight to Remember

2017 Fundraiser SCC Athletic Department         Left brother Larry, me, Coach Knight, brother Steve

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls sing.” ~~Marcel Proust

My ABCs of Gratitude for 2023

In keeping with my tradition, here is my gratitude list for 2023. I enjoy the challenge of working with ABCs. But you could use the word Thanksgiving or the initials of your name. Some years I notice a theme. This year nineteen of twenty-six blessings are people ranging from family, friends, relatives, doctors, colleagues, and feline friends.  The list reminds me how important my interactions and relationships are.

Alison and Eleanor…West Palm Beach friends come to visit

Brain Surgery…right and left electrodes powered up

Chand…movement disorder specialist

Donna…best sister ever

eBay customers… love to hear about their collections

Fur Babies…5 of 6 siblings celebrated 13th birthday

Groh…my 91-year-old aunt and cousins visit

Hobby…new pastime designing tablescapes

Interview…Tatianna interview republished by T.J. Banks

Joe…my gem

Knight…saddened legendary Coach Knight is gone, but blessed I met him in 2017

Larry…best brother who taught me devotion and unselfish love

Michelle…dear friend and Northwood University virtual colleague

Neck Dystonia…good-by, thank you DBS

Orange cat…a blessing, I loved you to the moon and back

Personal Assistant…Laurie extraordinary helper

Quiet…17th floor home only has one other tenant

Rose…angel earth kitty who is brave and resilient

Steve…other best brother and the best cat dad ever

Tuttle…person who hired me at Northwood University

University…retired from Northwood with 35 years of service

Vienna Boys Choir…Attend concert at St. Louis Cathedral

Writing… winning 1st for nonfiction entry–Rose and Her Six Kittens

Xadago… Parkinson’s med that keeps me moving

Yams…Thanksgiving menu favorite

Zen…have fleeting moments for which I am blessed

What are you thankful for in 2023?

Blessings!

Linda

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The Movie Star Look

One of my favorite hobbies is photographing my cats Chauncey, Grace, and Maggie Mae. I also like to go on photo shoots with their siblings when I visit my brother in the country. The tuxedo cat Boots understands  when I say “let’s go on a photo shoot.” He prances, climbs, struts, and sits. He loves to pose and hold a gaze. He is so easy to photograph. I created this card last year from a photo taken in 2018. My brother named him Boots as a kitten and later nicknamed him “Movie Star” after he won an award. I call him Bootsie and simply adore him.

Blessings!

Linda

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Browse, Bid, Buy

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~~Margaret Mead

How about adding  an interesting and worthy event  to your weekend by visiting a virtual auction that supports historic preservation, education and patriotism! Seminole Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (of which I am a proud member) is trying a new way to conduct our annual traditional benefit. We are determined that a pandemic is not going to stop our support to our charitable projects.

The auction is open to everyone through Monday, March 22, 8 PM EDT. You do not have to be a NSDAR member or pay to join the auction. Let your family and friends know. From Swarovski earrings to fitness equipment, butterfly gardening, handwoven shawl and ice cream basket, you will find a wide array of unique selections for all ages. If you are not in the West Palm Beach area, we will ship to you. If you are being out bid, you will be notified and have the opportunity to raise your bid. That has happened to me several times already.  I admit it’s a bit of an adrenaline rush and I bid again!

Please click 2021 Annual Benefit to browse the items up for auction.

Photo Credit: Dara Hatten, Benefit Chair

Blessings!
Linda

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