Alzheimer's

Many times a day I am asked "What day is it?", "Where is.....?" "I can't find....", When is ...coming?". 

Just after I logged off yesterday the question was slightly different.  "Is it Sunday" my man asked me - "No, it is Saturday" I replied.  His immediate answer "Oh, its yesterday".  Just as well we can still laugh.

Alzheimers

I should have started this blog a year or more ago.  I thought that Alzheimer's Disease was people forgetting things, names, people etc. before it happened in my family - it is so much more.

My wonderful husband was an auto-electrician by trade but could turn his hand to most things, he did all the work on our vehicles, building work on our previous house, set up the mixed orchard and was constantly thinking through some plan or other.

It is so hard to see him now trying unsuccessfully to complete a small task - he doesn't even attempt such simple things as changing the wiper blades after being able to do all the fine electrical work that he did for many years.

I think that confusion is the main problem rather than the memory although I suppose they are linked. Working out what clothes to wear, which part of the house to go to for a shower, where to find cutlery and everything else needed for a meal - the list goes on and on.

The hard part is that he knows this is happening and it is frightening.

If I happen to mention to someone that my husband suffers from Alzheimer's the answer is invariably "my mother, father, grandfather etc has it as well".  It seems to be spreading like wildfire.  More to come....

A Wet Day

The forecasters got it right today and it is hosing down.  The car was booked in for its 6 monthly "Warrant of Fitness" so after dropping my wonderful husband at the Alzheimer's Club for the day I took the car to the garage.

The rain had eased so I walked down to the Whangarei Town Basin for a Flat White.  Unfortunately it didn't ease for long and I got absolutely soaked as I walked back again.

First thing when I got home was to relight the "Pot Belly Cast Iron Stove".  My sodden clothes are drying in front of it, the kettle is heating for afternoon tea, it is heating our hot water and keeping the house warm and dry. I wouldn't be without it.

Bromeliads

This pot of bromeliads sits in the shade behind the house and performs wonderfully.  I do love its bright flowers on a dismal autumn day.

Autumn

On returning home this morning I noticed that autumn is arriving in the garden.  The gleditsia is turning colour and in the recent winds has lost a lot of leaves.

At the bottom of the garden the camelia and luculia are coming into flower.

When we moved here 20 months ago the luculia was hidden by all the weeds.  It has been hard work but very therapeutic clearing them all.

A good day for a sleep

Although the temperature is 21 degrees C. the weather is variable with constant showers and thunderstorms.

Cats always know when it is a good day to just stay inside and have a nap.

Here is Kath's "sister", Kim who woke up when I took her photo.

However Kath slept on.

No baking today but here is the loaf I baked on Sunday - only enough left for breakfast so must bake a fresh loaf tomorrow.

Sunday- a day of rest

A wet and windy autumn day here today.  I hope it is not a sign of a winter to come.  A good day to do some baking.

First get a batch of fruit buns on the go (Hot Cross Buns minus the crosses).  Once they are on the way make a batch of Jaffa Biscuits and then get the buns shaped and in the hot cupboard to prove. 

By now it is lunch time, Pumpkin and Kumara Soup.  Time to get the Buns in the oven and then get a new loaf of bread underway,  it doesn't sound much when written down but this has taken me most of the day.

The weather forecast is for it to get worse over night with heavy rain and strong easterly winds.

The last of the roses were likely to get a hammering so I picked some last night.