Check Out the Giveaway at Quilting and Patchwork

Giveaways

If you're a quilter or simply like giveaways, why not stop over at Quilting and Patchwork and participate in the Giveaway of a Mini Quilt Book.? It's in progress over there.

Perhaps you're not a quilter yourself, but know of someone who would enjoy this book by Patricia Mainardi. Maybe your Alzheimer's family member is a quilter and still enjoys reminiscing about the quilts in her life.

My Fav b5 Posts of the Week

Favorite Posts

Periodically b5 bloggers post their favorite posts of the week. I write three blogs at b5media, Alzheimer's Notes, Quilting and Patchwork, and One Book Two Book. (The latter I co-blog with Marcie Pickelsimer.)

Sometimes it's difficult to choose your very favorite for the week. However, here are the three for this week:

http://www.quiltingandpatchwork.com/...ilt-mysteries/ http://www.onebooktwobook.com/mary-e...storm-of-2008/http://www.alzheimersnotes.com/not-h...-nursing-home/

Tea Parties for Alzheimer's Patients

If you are considering tea parties for the Alzheimer's patients or other caregivers in your life...and they can be such fun activities for all of you...you might like to check out these posts at my Alzheimer's Notes blog.

Tea Time at Alzheimer's Notes - Caregivers Sharing
Tea Time at Alzheimer's Notes - Tea Time With Mother

Giveaways Just for Fun...Here Are Some With Gifts for Youngsters

One Book Two Book Giveaways

Fan of giveaways? You'll find a series of them at a blog I co-author, One Book Two Book, running from Dec. 2-7.

Check out the rules and leave comments at the following links. You can enter any or all of the giveaways. These will make great Christmas gifts for youngsters, too. Enjoy!

Book Swim Giveaway
Readeez DVD Giveaway
Baby Can Read Giveaway
Wii Pop Star Guitar Giveaway
Fly Me To The Moon Giveaway
Giveaway - Celebrity Arthur Book from Speakaboos
Giveaway - Countdown to Bedtime Soundbooks
Giiveaway - ECO Baby Organic Playdough
Baby Potential Teacher Onesie Giveaway
Natural Pod Giveaway
RideMakerz Giveaway
Happy Green Bee Giveaway
Mead Writing Fundamentals Giveaway

Christmas Shopping Suggestions

Super Shopping


To aid you in preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and your other shopping, I've compiled lists and suggestions at my b5media blogs: One Book Two Book, Quilting and Patchwork, and Alzheimer's Notes.

Alzheimer's Notes:Holiday Shopping for Alzheimer's Caregivers

Quilting & Patchwork:2008 Holiday Gift Guide for Quilters & Fabric Artists

One Book Two Book:2008 Holiday Gift Guide (Mary Emma)


Did you find one list more helpful than another? If so, which one?



ENJOY!

Happy Thanksgiving from Mary Emma

Happy Thanksgiving

We've been busy this morning getting the turkey ready. Yes, we're having the traditional turkey. My hubby selected it so has been monitoring the preparations. After I made the stuffing ("like Mother used to make!"), I left the rest to him. The engineer in him cooks to precision.

My daughter has been preparing her special recipes to add to our menu. She made her daughter's request of "glop" for breakfast...a combination of bread cubes, eggs, sausage, cheese, and milk. Some of us like that, while others have something else. (We live in a multi-generational home with six family members, a dog, guinea pig, and rabbit.)

Perhaps you'd like to see my Thankful Poem, a project on my Alzheimer's Notes blog.

How about writing your own Thankful Poem this weekend? Or any time of year?

Enjoy the Small Triumphs of Caregiving

Caregiving Triumphs

As you go through the day to day tasks and frustrations of caregiving for an Alzheimer's patient, you may not think you're experiencing triumphs. However, train yourself to look for these, write them down, and share them.

At my Alzheimer's Notes blog, some of my readers have shared theirs in the post, Enjoying the Small Triumphs of Caring for Alzheimer's Patients.

What have been some of your triumphs?

Finger Foods for Alzheimer's Patients

Finger Foods

After a certain point, it becomes difficult for Alzheimer's patients to manipulate eating utensils (cutlery). So finger foods become ideal for them. I've had numerous questions about preparing this food and what caregivers can serve for variety.

We have a very good guest post over at Alzheimer's Notes with foods and recipes from a specialist in this area. Venture over for Alzheimer's Finger Foods Suggestions.

Novenber is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Alzheimer's Awareness

This month - November - we raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and give recognition to all those involved - patients, caregivers, supporters, researchers and everyone who cares.

I shall be writing about this topic here and at Alzheimer's Notes, where I also blog.

What would you like to read about and learn about regarding Alzheimer's?

Can Alzheimer's Caregivers Become Obsessive?

Caregiving and Obsessiveness

After reading Carol Bradley Bursack's post, Obsessive Caregiving Can Be Harmful to Caregiver and Care Receivers, I realized that some caregivers could find caregiving overwhelming because they became too intense with their task.

So I wrote a post, When Caregiving Becomes an Obsession, at Alzheimer's Notes to call attention to this fact and referred to Carol's post.

You may want check this out and let me know what you think.

Voting By Dementia/Alzheimer's Patients...Should It Be Allowed?

Voting or Not to Vote?

This question arises as election time approaches and is especially of concern during Presidential Elections.

I've written about this at my Alzheimer's Notes blog at b5media and received some interesting comments. You may want to check my posts out and see what you think of this situation.

Should Dementia/Alzheimer's Patients Vote?

More on Voting and Alzheimer's Patients

What do you think?

Alzheimer's Patients & Voting

Should Alzheimer's Patients Vote?

This is a question that baffles many people, especially family members of Alzheimer's patients. Check out my discussion on this topic at Alzheimer's Notes, Should Dementia/Alzheimer's Patients Vote?

Since this is a right, do we have a right to take it away from them? If so, when? Who should determine whether there is a time when they really don't know what they're doing?

CHECK OUT THE "ALL ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S CARNIVAL"

Over at the b5media blog, Alzheimer's Notes, I write with Liz Lewis, the second All About Alzheimer’s Carnivals is open for entries. Here is a platform for you to write your thoughts and feelings about Alzheimer’s and caregiving.

Entering carnivals (those collections of articles about particular topics hosted at one blog) proves to be very enjoyable, I’ve found. If you’ve never entered one, simply follow the directions by clicking on the link above.

You might enjoy reading articles submitted to the First All About Alzheimer's Carnival that appeared in December, 2007, at Alzheimer's Notes.

I’ve also posted some suggestions for carnivals at my b5media Home Biz Notes blog I write with Yvonne Russell. You may like to take a look at these to familiarize yourself:

Tweak Your Topic for Carnivals
Home Biz Owners - Join the Carnival!
Participating in Showcases and Carnivals
Entering Your Home Business Post in a Showcase

You'll find enjoyment in reading the numerous entries at the Second All About Alzheimer's Carnival. So if you don’t enter (and if you do), come over to Liz’s post at Alzheimer's Notes on January 19, when she’ll publish the entries.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen