where sheep wear spandex / an MS outing

Whether care giving or needing care sometimes the best thing you can do is just go have some fun.

Laughing while spandex wearing sheep tried to eat Patti’s wheelchair we began our visit to the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

With 24 accessible acres(approximately 24 football fields) under roof, I cannot think of a more wheelchair friendly outing for January. (and excellent pushing and walking exercise for me) 

Enjoying two creamy chocolate milk shakes from PA Dairyman’s Association in search of the butter sculpture we decided to watch some honeybees in a glass observation hive at an exhibit by PA Beekeepers Association. Soon we found ourselves in a conversation with a beekeeper about bee stings and medicine. While most visitors took a step back from the weird people talking about stinging themselves, several lingered, listened, and asked questions in a spontaneous discussion about Patti’s eventually unsuccessful two years of Bee Venom Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis and the beekeeper who had found genuine success for his Rheumatoid Arthritis through apiatherapy.

It’s hard to miss 1,000 lbs (454 kg) of butter and we eventually found the sculpture. After the week long farm show the sculpture is given to a selected dairy farm where it is converted into electricity.

After a couple hours of checking out and often visiting up close and personal certainly every farm animal and crop in our imagination – well, we were hungry … hey, the theme was “from the farm gate to the dinner plate.”

Heading to the food court area we decided on Lamb Stew from PA Livestock Association with frozen maple yogurt topped with maple syrup for dessert from PA Maple Syrup Producers.

Lamb stew and frozen yogurt could not have been more dysphagia friendly and feeding Patti was no problem in the crowd of humanity, over 50,000 attend each day. Most people are shoving one thing or another in each other’s mouth anyway under the ‘try this’ principle of fine farm show dining.

Happy and fed Patti was ready for a long winter’s nap.

Fortunately between MS fatigue and her memory loss she would not have to fret about counting spandex clad sheep. 

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer 

videos: www.youtube.com/daddyleer

a weekend for dreams and worries

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Pennsylvania state-subsidized adultBasic medical insurance runs out of money at the end of February. 42,000 insured and almost half a million on the waiting list awake daily heading for the largest one-day loss of health insurance in State history. Pennsylvania subsidized health insurance for low income people to end  

 “The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers.” MLK

Smiles tell the story of the “Exceptional Rodeo” for people with disabilities far better than words. Clicking on the picture opens the picture gallery from First Frontier Prorodeo at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

  “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” MLK

Just over 100,000 houses were taken over by banks in 2005, before the housing market bust. … 1.05 million homes were seized by banks last year. 1.2 million are estimated to be repossessed this year. 2010's record-breaking foreclosure crisis: By the numbers  

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" MLK

Safe Harbour protects children and their families from the cold. ... this huge uptick in donations couldn't have come at a better time … the donations received will ensure that each of the children residing at Safe Harbour is taken care of for the remainder of the winter season. Safe Harbour exceeds fundraising goal  

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” MLK

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer 

web site: caregivinglyyours.com
videos: www.youtube.com/daddyleer 

baby, I’d walk through bull sh*t for you

Probably not the most romantic verse but ‘baby, I’d walk through bull sh*t for you’ is no expletive when pushing a wheelchair through the livestock pens of the 2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Nor can I remember Patti ever laughing harder and longer than at my footwear misfortune. Alas, it’s all in a days work of a caregiver / carer.  

Who would have thought that Texas Longhorns roam Pennsylvania? Lower in fat, cholesterol and calories than most beef and able to thrive on marginal pastures apparently the old ways are becoming the new ways. … nor is a written sign necessary to warn you – do not pet the calf. J 

Eventually the Farm Show becomes about the Food Court and we found ourselves addicted to schroomies (button mushrooms stuffed with cheese and jalapeno) from the PA Mushroom Growers Cooperative, before sharing a grilled portabella sandwich. Leaving just enough room to share a bowl of lamb stew from PA Livestock Association and wash the whole meal down with chocolate milk shakes from PA Dairymen’s Association. ... Sharing food I’ve found is a sneaky way to assist Patti with eating in public. Looks more like “taste this” than feeding someone.

While the Farm Show Complex is wheelchair accessible attendance overwhelms resources. Elevators are simply not people movers and the sheer numbers of baby strollers, wagons, vendor carts, scooters, wheelchairs and companions make wait time too much a part of a visit.

For years now we just roll along our work-around, no wait, no crowds and then there is the ‘ciggie’ break bonus of using outside.

Maybe it was too many mushrooms but it sure looked like Patti was pulling an enchanted carriage …

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer 

web site: caregivinglyyours.com
videos: www.youtube.com/daddyleer