Craft Show scheduled

The Engage Life director, Sally, assigned a day for me to have a craft show in the Clubhouse: Friday, October 1, 2021. From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30. My first thought was, "Oh, October; next month!" Then I realized that the First was only two weeks away, and that I was in charge of organizing it. I had decided that since there are so many men living in Valley Manor and they weren't keen on buying jewelry, I should try to offer several different crafts, in order to draw more people into the Clubhouse. So for the last few days I've been scrambling to talk other "crafters" to come and display and sell their specialties. It's been met with great enthusiasm and I now have two greeting card makers, a lady who makes suncatchers as well as earrings, a resident who makes colorful, woven hot pads or trivets, a new resident who has made a lot of lace shawls, and two of my students who make very differenc geometric copper jewelry, as well as two tables featuring my own one-of-a-kind jewelry. Since I haven't been able to hold a craft show for two years because of Covid restrictions, my inventory has grown enormously. I've reduced the prices considerably. It's been a job recruiting the other crafters, but I feel that the variety will intrigue more residents to come out for it. Since Sally had the bad accident on her vacation, her leg is in a cast and she gets around by wheelchair, so I will have to organize the various tables and the set-up in the Clubhouse. My arthritis has been acting up, so I'm hoping that by sitting down occasionally I'll be able to still stand up to describe the fossils, opals and pearls I'll be selling. I'll have books and magazines on my table describing the unique stones. I'm hoping it will be a Fun Day for everyone. Love, Janice

Recovering takes a lot out of you.

After I came home from the hospital after a dreadful 5 days, Marta started working wonders, while I stumbled from one director to another, trying to get a nurse to come see me and OK the medications the hospital had recommended. With many wrong directions and wrong connections, we finally found an outside Patient Care Place for a nurse to come the following week. All she did was take my vitals, and "register" me (EVERYTHING down here is pointedly done to avoid lassuits!!!!!) After more delays I finally got a nurse to come, and OK therapists. A PT came with leg exercises, and an OT came with arm exercises. I started doing all of them once a day along with walking outside with my walker. Felt weaker and weaker and only wanted to lie in bed trying to sleep. Now the last few days, arthritis is kicking in on my hands, feet, knees and hips. Have increased the exercises, and walking, realizing that I am not going to get an significant help from the professionals. If I'm going to get better, it will be my own doing.... I'm taking arthritis Tylenols which help with the pain, and increasing the exercises to twice an day, also the walking. Mike came by on Monday and bought $130 worth of equipment and jewelry; he put together the new shower chair I had ordered from Amazon. I'm hoping I can start making some jewelry; I have to start enjoying things again. I had to cancel my Sept. 3rd Craft Show where I was going to sell my jewelry because I was too weak to stand for several hours. Maybe October.... Hopefully, better news next month. Love Janice