New Recipe

A few weeks ago I found a new adult version recipe for macaroni and cheese that I wanted to try. I knew I would have extended time with Chrissie over the Memorial Day holiday and thought she and I might cook together. I looked forward to the complicated recipe knowing that mother usually enjoys “helping out.” Chrissie had the task of stirring the roux – around 15 minutes. When I added dry mustard, cayenne, and garlic to the roux mixture she calmly asked that I reread the recipe. While stirring she stated several times “everyone likes the macaroni and cheese you always fix.” Later when blending three cheeses with the roux mixture she commented “I don’t know why you want to make it different.” When mixing the topping she continued with “you don’t change something that’s already good.” During dinner she kept looking at my husband and when he commented that the macaroni sure was different, Chrissie immediately and boldly said “I told her but she didn’t listen to me…she never listened when she was growing up either!”

Another note:

While reading on The New Old Age site I came across a blog written by Paula Span that included comments from Dr. Ronald C. Petersen, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic who chairs the medical and scientific advisory board of the Alzheimer’s Association. He stated, “As their families know, Alzheimer’s sufferers may experience days of comparative lucidity alternating with days of bewilderment. Cognitive ability may even vary throughout the day; a person might be relatively sharp in the morning and by evening be quite confused.” I have never read or heard this stated so clearly before and am trying to research Dr. Petersen’s entire article. I know Chrissie has good and bad days and she does have the uncanny ability to “pull it together” whenever company comes.

Favorite Things

I thought this might be fun for Ms. Chrissy; the questions are from a favorite site, http://www.marybethwhalen.blogspot.com/ . Interestingly, she answered most immediately and more that a few really surprised me!

20 Of My Favorite Things

1. Color- light blue
2. Dessert- cheesecake
3. Smell- lilac
4. Flower- red geraniums
5. Animal- Sam and Sasha (miniature schnauzers - mine and Wilma's)
6. Month- I like all of them
7. Beverage- Ale-8's (soft drink produced in Winchester, KY.)
8. Pair of shoes- tennis shoes
9. Snack- cheetos
10. Song- many pretty songs
11. Book- my Bible
12. Fruit- peaches
13. Hairstyle- the same one
14. Piece of clothing- jeans and pink blouse
15. Store to clothes shop- Belks
16. Season- spring
17. Hobby- use to be working in flowers
18. Thing to collect- never collected anything
19. Movie- Driving Miss Daisy
20. Restaurant- Kelsey’s

Alzheimer's series - HBO - May10

The Alzheimer's Project begins Sunday, May 10th on HBO.

Sunday 5/10 9 p.m. The Memory Loss Tapes
Monday 5/11 7:30.Grandpa do you know who I am?
Monday 5/11 8:00 & Tuesday 5/12 8:00 (2 parts) Momentum in Science
Tuesday 5/12 7:00 Caregivers

This series is also produced on DVD so if you don't subscribe to HBO you can contact your local library and request they order the DVD series.

Absent Look

The "absent" look now seems to be with Ms. Chrissy more frequent and for longer periods. A couple weekends ago it lasted from Friday evening through Sunday, the longest ever. During the episode she is very quiet and slow to respond. This latest spell left her struggling for words more so than usual.

On a different note, my little mother loves to help out. I hosted bookclub the other evening and Chrissy rinsed and sliced strawberries, which was most helpful. Spring has also ushered in her desire to redecorate. Chrissy has changed living room rugs and had furniture moved from downstairs to upstairs. This evening she's talking about freezing strawberries! Another day.