My AAQI quilt is up for auction starting March 1st. Bid early! Bid often! It is number 6193 and is called Hobbit House. It was designed by Tonye Belinda Phillips and used with her permission. Thanks Tonye!
I just finished reading a book by Thomas DeBaggio called Losing My Mind, An Intimate Look at Like with Alzheimer's. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 58. I see on Amazon he wrote another book When it Gets Dark. I think it was worth reading but it won't be for everyone.
My brain is feeling a little heavy today but I do have a funny tale for you.
Every now and then my mom will get something going in her brain and she will not let it rest. My mom thinks someone stole her snow shovel. Since she moved she has never had a snow shovel. For about a month now, especially every time it snows she talks about the stolen shovel. Yesterday she told me one of her neighbors has her Montana snow shovel and has been using it on the sidewalks after it snows.Most of the time I ignore it and let it pass, but yesterday I said why is it your Montana snow shovel. She answers, "I brought it from Montana with me!" I said, wow, that's a super old shovel then- at least 40 years old. She gave me the funniest look and I reminded her that she had been with Carl for about 20 years in Idaho and Dick about 20 years in Oregon. (Gee, I even forgot to add my dad who she was with about 20 years in WA) She hasn't lived in Montana since she was about 19 years old. It did prompt her memory but it was all I could do not to LMAO!!
BTW, here's my artist statement on my AAQI quilt: Trying to keep a sense of humor is important when dealing with Alzheimer's. The Hobbit House makes me smile.
I really love Hobbit House. Sweet quilt. And that's good advice you included on the back.
ReplyDeleteLove your little house and I hope it goes to someone who will love it.
ReplyDeleteThe conversation with your mum reminds me of some with my mum , I just have to walk away before things get interesting. By the way , nothing is medically wrong with her , she just gets something in her mind and nothing will convince her otherwise.
When I leave Oregon and am up in my Douglas Island home in Alaska caretaking my 85 year old mother with advanced Alzheimer's, I frequently feel like I'm living in the fantasy world of your darling little "Hobbit House".
ReplyDeleteMy mother's world went from wild and crazy imaginings to a world now where her life is very teeny, tiny and simple. She was very entertaining during her wild and crazy days, and now just very sweet and simple. She can no longer sit up, much less walk, but her sense of humor is still there..thank goodness as you have said..we all need ours, full time, during all of the many challenging stages!
What a cheerful quilt and good advice!
ReplyDeleteThe Hobbit house does make me smile and so did your story. Blessings to both of you. I will be bidding on that quilt. I love Hobbits.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay to feel down occasionally. I think it's inevitable. When my Grandma was caring for my Grampa in his early-to-mid-to advanced stages of Alzheimers, she actually had to see a doctor for depression. So do take care of yourself. It was at this point that Grandma put Grampa in the nursing home. Thanks for sharing the sweet story of the shovel!
ReplyDeletejayne
Thank you for your post. Thomas DeBaggio was a gifted horticulturalist as well as writer and I enjoyed reading his regular column in The Herb Companion probably somewhere around 15-20 years ago. I was saddened to hear of his struggle with Alzheimers in your blog, as well as his untimely death. In my mind, I always assumed that he would go on forever writing about his experiments with his beloved herbs, but such was not to be. I am glad, though, that he had time to pen such a worthwhile book. A little of his life's work can be found at http://debaggioherbs.com/
ReplyDeleteLovely little quilt for a great cause! I think humour should rank up there with kindness and humility!
ReplyDeleteWonderful piece for the auction and wonderful cause.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Hope your Hobbit house raise lots of dollars. Yes it makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteI read Thomas DeBaggio's book when it came out several years ago. I can't think where I found out about it, Must have been in the early days of Dicks illness and was trying to read everything I could about it. Just reading Lisa Genova- STILL ALICE. about a women with early onset dementia. These books are all a bit dark for someone to read if their is no connection with dementia. But they will continue to be read while their isn't a cure for this horrible disease.
this is so cute, love the hobbit house, I need to get mine quilted and registered, thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeletegoing to get it basted today and quilted this week
thanks for the push
Kathie
It's a gorgeous quilt Lori. I hope it attracts a lot of bids.
ReplyDeleteI thought about reading some books since my Mum got diagnosed but my sister did that and got quite distressed so I haven't. So far, we've had a few funny stories too.
Aww, I love the Hobbit House. You know Lori, I appreciate what you've shared here about your Mom and the shovel. I don't think I have the right adjectives for it except to say it touched me and I smiled.
ReplyDeleteHobbit House is a great choice for your quilt and I love your artist's statement. I'll be checking the bidding.
ReplyDeleteIt's an adorable quilt, Lori, and for such a great cause.
ReplyDeleteI want to share a story with you -- My paternal grandmother and my father had Alzheimer's (my father was early-onset in his late 50s). My 3 sisters and I are all in our 60s now, and I mentioned to my younger sister one day that probably one of us would get Alzheimer's, and I felt like it was probably going to be me (I'm pessimistic that way). She said "Really? I've thought about that as well, but I always figured it would be one of you." I laughed so hard I started crying -- I love the way that girl thinks!
Love your Hobbit House and especially the words you added. I see Alzheimer pts often when I'm at work and am so blessed with many of the family members that come with them. Last week there was a daughter that did just what you said...kept a sense of humor. It seemed to help her mom stay calm and put up with all the things required while being in the ER. Not always a simple challenge.
ReplyDeleteLove the Hobbit House quilt! It such a wonderful cause!! I hope it raises a ton of money!!
ReplyDeleteYou are in the middle of the road I am just starting on. Thanks for the book info - I am at the reading everything I can get my hands on stage. Good advice, I will try to keep my sense of humor. Lovely little quilt.
ReplyDeleteCheri
Adorable; I love your free form type applique pieces.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about having a sense of humor when dealing with a loved one afflicted with Alzheimer's. Sometimes I wish that I was a journal writer - to remember these moments.
I will have to look into getting this book. Grover says things like this. He had a few small strokes in 2005and other issues and i forget about it till he says something like this... Lol He has no time frame of things. None. A month csn pass and he will think it is a week or less. Yes, a sense of humour is very important in dealing with anyone againg. (which, come to think of it, it all of us! )
ReplyDeleteXo
P.s.
ReplyDeleteLove your work!!!
What a cute little house. The colors are so happy. I know you'll get the big $$ for the foundation. How lovely of you!
ReplyDeleteYour little quilt is darling..and so cheeful too! It's a wonderful cause it's going to.
ReplyDeleteA sense of humor can go a long way in dealing with the frustration of this awful disease. Thanks for sharing the story.
Your little Hobbit House quilt made me smile and I thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteAlzheimer's is a terrible disease, but it does help to keep a sense of humor when dealing with it. Sometimes that can be hard, as you well know. Thank you for sharing about your Mom Lori.
I love your little Hobbit House, Lori...and your conversation with your mom made me say a prayer for you...life is a bit hard sometimes!!
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of a conversation I had last week with my mom...she has dementia..She fell recently and spent a week in a rehab facility..Mom was convinced that her roommate stole her cell phone. I explained that her cell phone was in her hand..."yes, but this is a new one cause that lady stole my other one, and they don't like her there so she can't have visitors and she knows where we live and she is coming to get her cell phone again". {sigh}
ReplyDeleteLori, I love toni Phillips patterns. I have made that same little house. Love it. alzheimers is a hard thing to deal with. I too have a parent that has it, My mother. And she has given me a couple of things and then decided she can't live with out them and insists I give them back. do you think this is a sign of the illness?
ReplyDeleteHope your quilt is a big seller! It's just darling. It's good to hear that you are finding a bit of lightness in the darkness. It does help make the path easier *hugs*
ReplyDelete