Monday, August 31, 2009

Wondering How To Help

As I look back over the last five or more years and my journey with my mother's Alzheimer Disease, I am still struck by the stress I suffered and the toll that it has taken on my health and well being.  But now, as I begin a new chapter in that journey and as I learn about the disease, I realize how much of that stress originated in my ignorance about so many things.  And because I faced so much of it alone and in ignorance, I wonder how I might help others going through this experience.  Oh, how wonderful it would be to spare one person that suffering!

My husband says that I should write a book about all that I have learned.  I have so much still to learn about the disease, and much of what I learned over the last five years is about dealing with the local health professionals and system where my mother lived.  A book is a long-term project and mine might be too localized to be of broad assistance to anyone.  But I haven't ruled out the option.

I have learned that there are volunteer opportunities with my local Alzheimer Society, and there are also advocacy opportunities:  to help raise awareness, to educate decision-makers and influence public policy.

I continue to learn about the disease and the statistics about the affect of this on our society as we baby boomers age are frightening.  I'm also learning about the support programs offered by the Canadian and BC Alzheimer Societies.  One of these is a message board, and through that I'm learning about the challenges of caring for an Alzheimer patient in your home.

And while I do this learning, I'll continue to ponder how I might help in an effective way.

Any suggestions?

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Another Christmas Card

200902

This is a simple card with the image and words embossed in silver, and the image coloured with gel pens.  The image has been mounted on green card stock before adding it to the card.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Christmas in August

Not really, but some of us who make our own Christmas cards get started early!  I'm not usually one of those people, but I had a few designs to try out and lots of new Christmas stamps from last year's Hawaiian vacation, so here's my first card for 2009!

200901

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Another Photoshop Trick

This colour photo has been turned into black and white and then selectively recoloured for emphasis.

Granville Island Public Market

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friends

In this ATC (Artist Trading Card) swap, the word "friend" had to appear on the card somewhere.  Here is a selection of the beautiful art I received in the swap:

File0792 File0794  File0793

And here is the card I made for trade:

Love is Friends

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

tropical fish

It is very easy to put text onto a photo using Adobe Photoshop Elements!

Maui_2008_003_B copy

My husband, in Maui, November, 2009

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Bitten by the "CAS" Bug

There is a new(ish) movement in the rubber stamping community know as "CAS" - Clean and Simple.  I'm not absolutely sure it was started by Susan Raihala over at Simplicity, but she's certainly someone whose work I admire.  Here's my latest attempt:

Get Well Soon

Thanks, Susan, for the grid layout.  I love anything with grids - inchies, stamps outlined with squares, etc.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Summer Fruit

I love the variety of fruit available during the summer, and I love going to the Granville Island Market to look at it!

What do you enjoy about summer?