zest Aug 2011

50+ Living

August 2011

ZesT

FREE!

From Farm to For Roger Karstens,

Fair

sheep and family stand the test of time

Blooming beauty Anderson Gardens thrive thanks to volunteers, more help wanted

Last Word: Caregivers need care, too

Out and About: Your pics of summer fun and sun

“Changing Lives Through Better Hearing”

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Center for Hearing

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Contents

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12

18

8

August 2011 Vol. 2 No.6 zestforlife.mn

4

Opinion: Brain exercises keep your mind fit

6

Travel: Fall fun and festivals

8

SPECIAL SECTION: Staying mobile

11

Medicare Answers: When do I pay upfront?

12

Cover Story: Roger Karstens: From farm to fair

16

Money: Slow and steady wins the budgeting race

17

Money: Save now for the holidays

18

Feature Story: Anderson Garden’s blooming beauty

22

Out and About: Your pics of summer fun and sun

24

Wellness: A laugh a day could keep the doctor away

26

Comfort Foods: Beat the summer heat with ice cream treats

28

Puzzles

28

Zest Classifieds

30

Last Word: Caregivers need care too

Welcome Yeah, toast!

Did you know that there are more than 300 different topping combinations to pile on a piece of toast?

While I was surprised to learn that number, I was even more shocked to learn that entire websites are devoted to sharing and praising the different toast toppings. I never knew the simple breakfast staple evoked such devotion and loyalty among people.

The website, mrbreakfast.com published a list of 326 toast toppings from all over the globe. Some did not spur my appetite; others were just plain weird. My top five zany options from the list are: peanut butter and dill pickle, toast sprinkled with salt, tomato ketchup and dry-roasted peanuts, Cheetos, and cucumber and

pineapple.

My favorite combination is a bit odd, as well. I was glad to see it at No. 128 on the list. Since I was a kid I have enjoyed toast spread with peanut butter and finished off with a healthy sprinkle of brown sugar. I’m not sure of its origins in my family, but I suspect it came from my mom’s side of the family. My mom is the biggest consumer of peanut butter toast in the family. She also was the one making my breakfast,so I assume one morning she put the concoction down on the table in front of a 4-year-old me and the rest is history. I still eat it, and the first bite instantly takes me back to my mom’s kitchen.

In this issue of Zest, Hutchinson sheep farmer Roger Karstens shares

his recollections of county fairs.

Also, learn how to put a green thumb to good use. Litchfield's Anderson Gardens always welcomes volunteers. Lori Dalhberg, president of the garden’s steering committee, explains the ways you can help.

I welcome your feedback and ideas. You can e-mail me at winter@hutchinsonleader.com or send a letter to Hutchinson Leader, 36 Washington Ave. W., Hutchinson, MN 55350 or Litchfield Independent Review 217 N. Sibley, Litchfield, MN 55355.

All the best!

Katie Winter

ZEST / August 2011 3

Opinion

Brain exercises keep your mind healthy and fit There’s more to being connected to the Internet than checking e-mail and reading out-of-state newspapers.

With the right software, we can exercise our brains.

CogniFit Personal Coach is an online program geared to helping older adults improve memory, stay alert, multitask and think faster. There’s nothing to download to your computer. The whole program is online, and you only need to sign up and log in. After an initial assessment, it keeps track of your progress as you go step-by-step through more than 100 different levels.

Among the many areas it covers are auditory short-term memory, spatial perception, visual scanning, eye-hand coordination and response time.

Getting benefits from the program only takes one hour a week, broken into three 20-minute sessions. If you don’t have a computer, your program can be done on a friend’s computer or even at the library, since your sign-on information is secure.

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CogniFit won the 2009 International Council on Active Aging award for creative products aimed at seniors. The program costs $14.95 per month. Log on and see how it works at www.cognifit.com. If in doubt about the value of the training, click the Scientific Validation tab and look through the studies.

If you’re uncertain about computer use, those who use computer for any amount of time are 44 percent less likely to have mild cognitive impairment. Add in exercise, and you can delay (or even prevent) mental decline.

Prefer to work with pencil and paper? Pick up a Graduate Record Exam study guide at the bookstore.

Each general test book has practice questions on a variety of topics such as math, vocabulary, reading comprehension. Talk about brain stretchers!

– 2011 King Features Syndicate Inc.

Prairie Senior Cottages

P U B L I S H E D BY Hutchinson Leader 36 Washington Ave. W. Hutchinson, MN 55350 (320) 587-5000

When a comfortable, stress-free environment is combined with trained caregivers, people with Alzheimer’s Disease or related memory disorders experience a better quality of life.

Prairie Senior Cottages features

NEWS

• 24-Hour On-site Caregivers • Secured Building • Nutritious Family Style Meals • Specialized Programming • RN Supervision & Case Management • Medication Supervision • Daily Personal Hygiene • Personal Laundry • Housekeeping • Personal Transportation • Professional Management

Katie Winter, reporter winter@independentreview.net or winter@hutchinsonleader.com (320) 693-3266 or (320) 234-4172

A D V E RT I S I N G

Prairie Senior Cottages, LLC

Shari Forsman, advertising representative sales@crowriverpress.com (320) 234-4171

P R I N T E D BY

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For more information, call John Peterson.

Hutchinson: 320-587-5508 Alexandria: 320-763-8244 Willmar: 320-235-6022 New Ulm: 507-359-3420 www.prairieseniorcottages.com

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Litchfield Independent Review PO Box 921 Litchfield, MN 55355 (320) 693-3266

Local Finds

Want to feature an item from your business?

Call Shari at 320-234-5702.

Conversation Starter Table This table may come with postage, but you certainly will not want to send it away. For only $349, this is sure to be a conversation starter in any home.

Available at Factory Direct Furniture Hutchinson Location 16919 Hwy. 7 East, Hutchinson 320-587-SAVE (7283) 320-587-5590 (fax)

Waconia Location (Open Thursday-Sunday only) 524 Elm Street S., Waconia 952-442-1302 (phone) 952-442-1340 (fax)

The Life & Times of Martin McLeod A booklet focused on the research of the years that McLeod lived, 1813 to 1860, and the social and political events that affected his decisions and shaped his life. $25.00 Available at the McLeod County Historical Museum 380 School Rd. NW, Hutchinson Museum hours: Monday 10 am-4 pm, Thurs.-Fri. 10 am-4 pm, Sat. 1-4 pm

McLeod County Historical Society Membership Purchase a membership for yourself or as a gift. With any individual or Family Membership you will receive a free theme booklet or with the purchase of a Lifetime membership, receive a theme booklet and a Martin McLeod print by Les Kouba.

Individual .............$20.00 Family ...............................$35.00 Business............$200.00 Individual Lifetime............$500.00 Available at the McLeod County Historical Museum 380 School Rd. NW, Hutchinson Museum hours: Monday 10 am-4 pm, Thurs.-Fri. 10 am-4 pm, Sat. 1-4 pm

Versatile Leopard Print Bench Function and style combine to make this versatile bench a MUST HAVE! The rich wood finish, turned legs, carved details along with nail head trim and leopard print fabric come together in the perfect combination at only $299.

Available at Factory Direct Furniture Hutchinson Location 16919 Hwy. 7 East, Hutchinson 320-587-SAVE (7283) 320-587-5590 (fax)

Waconia Location (Open Thursday-Sunday only) 524 Elm Street S., Waconia 952-442-1302 (phone) 952-442-1340 (fax)

ZEST / August 2011 5

Travel

Fall fun and festivals Don’t miss these must-see autumn events

Take a trip in October to the Great Smoky Mountains, also called the “place of blue smoke.”

The Great Smoky Mountains is a place of remarkable natural beauty, incredible views, and sparkling streams.

Riley’s Travel Easy Tours is offering a nine-day trip to this beautiful part of the country and want you to come along.

The tour begins on Oct. 18 and returns Oct. 26. The trip ranges in price from $1,275 to $1,725.

About the tour: The nine-day trip travels right into the heart of Bluegrass Country with stops in Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee. Explore Kentucky’s rich horse racing heritage with a pair of fun-filled days at the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs and Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Tennessee is next on the itinerary. Experience Cumberland Falls, known as “Niagara of the South,” where water pours over the rocks in a 125-foot wide curtain and plunges 68 feet into the boulder strewn gorge below. Then it’s on to Pigeon Forge for a two-night stay, complete with a Hatfields and McCoys dinner show and a visit to Dollywood.

Day six brings the tour to Ashville, N.C., and the Great Smoky Mountains. You will meet a local guide for a tour into this beautiful mountain area.

• Cranberry Festival Wisconsin makes more than cheese and football fans.

It’s also the nation’s leading producer of cranberries.

And you could see the cranberry bogs and the harvest in progress by traveling to the 39th Cranberry Festival with Willmar Bus and Southwest Tours. Taking place in Warrens, Wis., the festival has a large arts and craft fair, parade, and plenty of cranberry concoctions.

The trip is set for Sept. 22-25 and ranges in price from $435 to $620.

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One Day Tours Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox Target Field Tues., Aug. 9, 7:10 game Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees Target Field Fri., Aug. 19, 7:10 game Minnesota State Fair Metro Mon., Aug. 29 (Senior Day) Minnesota State Fair Metro Tues., Sept. 1 (Senior Day)

Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox Target Field Tues., Sept. 6, 7:10 game Renaissance Festival Metro Sat., Sept. 24 Hostfest 2011 Minot, ND -Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, The Judds

Tues.-Fri., Sept. 27-30

Sign up early to reserve your seat!

Extended Tours Door County August 15 through 19 Northern Wisconsin & Apostle Islands Sept. 7 through 10

Christmas in Branson Nov. 3-8, Nov. 7-12, Nov. 11-16, Nov. 14-19, Nov. 28-Dec. 3

Cranberry Festival Sept. 22 through 25

1308 SE 7th St., Willmar, MN 56201 320-235-6230 or 1-800-858-8687 www.willmarbus.com • tour@willmarbus.com

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• Smoky Mountains

Warrens Cranberry Festival features more than three miles of shopping and over 1,300 booths.

Travel About the tour: The first day of the trip rambles across southern Minnesota with stops at the Hubbell House, one of Minnesota’s oldest restaurants, and the Riverside Museum in La Crosse, Wis. On the second day, explore the world’s largest Cranberry Festival. Shoppers will be able to browse hundreds of booths featuring arts and crafts, antiques and farmers’ fresh produce.

After having your fill of cranberry cream puffs, the tour continues on to Fort McCoy and a traditional German dinner, complete with dancing.

The trip’s final days include stops at Granddad Bluff and Preston Apple and Berry Farm, a lunch cruise on the Mississippi River and a guided Amish tour.

• Norsk Hostfest Get in touch with your Scandinavian roots with a trip to North America’s largest Scandinavian Festival. Rustad Tours presents a four-day motor coach tour to Norsk Høstfest in Minot, N.D. You will have two opportunities go. The first tour leaves on Sept. 27 and returns Sept. 30, and a second tour departs Sept. 29 and returns on Oct. 2.

The trip ranges in price from $619 to $879.

About the trip: The 2011 Norsk Høstfest promises to be the biggest and best festival ever. Headlining this year’s festival are a variety of top acts.

Martina McBride performs on Sept. 27 and 28. Trace Adkins performs in the Great Hall of the Vikings on Sept.

28 and 29. The Judds grace the Great Hall of the Vikings

stage Sept. 29 and 30. Bill Gaither and The Gaither Høstfest Homecoming take the stage on Sept. 30 and Oct 1. Charley Pride is back on-stage on Oct 1.

Also along the way, guests will visit the Scandinavian Heritage Village and Hjemkomst Heritage Center in Moorhead. You’ll see the Viking ship that was built and sailed to Norway, the Stave Church, and exhibits.

R I L E Y ’S

Rustad Tours 2011 Tour Schedule

Travel Easy Tours Shipshewana .................................................September 6-10

Folklorama .................................................August 6-9 Mississippi River Cruise.............................August 15-18 Mackinac Island.......................................August 21-25 Yellowstone National Park Tour.................August 24-29 Pacific Northwest ...............................Septemeber 3-19 New York City.......................................September 6-15 Door County .....................................September 22-25 New England States ...............September 25-October 8 Minot Hostfest 1 ................................September 27-30 Minot Hostfest II ...................September 29-October 2 Smoky Mountains...................................October 15-22 Christmas Branson 1.............................November 7-12 Christmas Branson 2 ............November 28-December 3 Christmas Around The World in Omaha.Nov. 28-Dec. 1 Christmas in Chicago ...........................December. 9-12

Nova Scotia .................................................September 13-26 Mackinac Island........................................September 15-18 Apostle Islands .........................................September 19-22 Cranberry Festival ..................................September 23-24 Norsk Hostfest ..........................................September 27-29 New England States.............September 28-October 11 Smoky Mountains Colors ..........................October 18-26 Washington DC ................................................October 19-27 Branson Christmas ....................October 31-November 4 Branson Holiday............................................November 6-10

2011 MN Twins Games August 10 .................Boston

Branson Lights ............................................November 19-23

August 21 New York Yankees

Nashville Christmas ....................................December 8-13

September 17 ......Cleveland

Call for pick ups in your area

September 22 ...........Seattle www.rustadtours.com info@rustadtours.com

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208 N 12th St. Box 346 Kerkhoven MN 56252 320-264-2987 1-800-525-0730

Norwegian sweater dancers are joined by musicians and trolls for their daily dancing parade.

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1-800-288-8246 www.rileytours.com ZEST / August 2011 7

Mobility

Help older drivers stay safe and mobile A

s experienced drivers grow older, changes in their vision, attention and physical abilities might cause them to drive less safely than they used to.

Sometimes these changes happen so slowly that the drivers are not even aware that their driving safety is at risk. If you have questions about a loved one’s driving safety, here’s what you can do to help him or her stay safe and mobile.

The safe driver test If you have the chance, go for a ride with your loved one. Look for the following warning signs in his or her driving: • Forgets to buckle up • Does not obey stop signs or traffic lights • Fails to yield the right of way • Drives too slowly or too quickly • Often gets lost, even on familiar routes • Stops at a green light or at the wrong time • Doesn’t seem to notice other cars, walkers, or bike riders on the road • Doesn’t stay in his or her lane • Is honked at or passed often • Reacts slowly to driving situations • Makes poor driving decisions Other signs of unsafe driving include: • Recent near misses or fender benders • Recent tickets for moving violations • Comments from passengers about close calls, near misses, or the driver not seeing other vehicles • Recent increase in the car insurance premium Riding with or following this person every once in a while is one way to keep track of his or her driving.

Another way is to talk to this person’s spouse or friends.

What can you do?

Talk to your loved one. Say that you are concerned about his or her driving safety. Does he or she share your concern?

Don’t bring up your concerns in the car. It’s dangerous to distract the driver. Wait until you have his or her full attention.

Explain why you are concerned. Give specific reasons — for example, recent fender benders, getting lost, or running stop signs.

Realize that your loved one might become upset or defensive. After all, driving is important for independence and self-esteem.

If your loved one doesn’t want to talk about driving at

8 ZEST / August 2011

If you have questions about a loved one’s driving safety, don’t be afraid to talk to him or her about different mobility options. this time, bring it up again later. Your continued concern and support might help him or her feel more comfortable with this topic.

Be a good listener. Take your loved one’s concerns seriously.

Getting by without driving If you don’t drive, you’re in good company. Many people stop driving because of the hassle and expense of auto insurance, car maintenance, and gasoline. Other people stop driving because they feel unsafe on the road. Some people never learned how to drive in the first place.

Although most Americans use their cars to get around, many people get by just fine without one. Here are ways to get by without driving.

Continued on page 10

Need help getting to your medical appointments?

Call 1-866-968-9939

**We accept Medical Assistance, PrimeWest, Blue Cross, U Care and Medica Insurance!**

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ZEST / August 2011 9

Mobility Continued from page 8

Where can you find a ride?

• Ask a friend or relative for a ride. Offer to pay for the gasoline.

• Take public transportation. Can a train or bus take you where you need to go? Call your regional transit authority and ask for directions.

• Take a taxi cab. To cut down on costs, try sharing a cab with friends. Also, find out if your community offers discounted fares for seniors.

• Ride a Senior Transit Shuttle. Call your community center or local Area Agency on Aging to see if your neighborhood has a shuttle service. Call this toll-free number, 800-677-1116 and ask for the phone number of your local Area Agency on Aging.

• Ask about volunteer drivers. Call your community center or church to see if they have a volunteer driver program.

• Order your medicines by mail. Not only is this more convenient — it’s often less expensive. Order only from pharmacies that you know and trust.

• Have your meals delivered to you. Many restaurants will deliver meals for free or for a low fee. Also, you might be eligible for Meals-on-Wheels, a program that delivers hot meals at a low cost.

• Shop from catalogs. You can buy almost everything you need from catalogs: clothing, pet food, toiletries, gifts, and more. Many catalogs are now also available on the Internet.

Source: American Medical Association

Have things come to you.

Many stores, eateries and organizations offer home delivery of their products.

Many stores will deliver their products straight to your door.

• Have your groceries delivered. Many stores deliver for free or for a low fee. You also can ask your family, friends, or volunteers from your local community center or church if they can pick up your groceries for you.

A place to call home

Transform an existing tub into a shower!

Apartments for seniors 55 and older

Make the bathroom safer by converting your bathtub into an easily accessible shower unit.

• Bathtub Refinishing & Repair • Convert Existing Tubs to Whirlpools • Grab Bar Installation • Shower & Bath Slip Resistant Floor Texturing

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There is nothing to do but move in, relax and enjoy!

BEFORE

Serving Minnesota since 1979

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www.surfacespecialists.com

AFTER

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1300 Sherwood St. S.E., Hutchinson 320-234-7761 mornings www.realifeinc.com www.villagecoopofhutchinson.blogspot.com

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Village Cooperative

Medicare Answers

When do I pay upfront?

Dear Marci, I recently went to my doctor, who accepts Original Medicare, but she made me pay up front for the cost of my visit at the office. Is she allowed to do that?

– Susanne Dear Susanne, There are two types of doctors who accept Original Medicare: those who accept assignment (participate in Medicare) and those who don’t accept assignment (also known as non-participating providers).

Doctors who accept assignment are doctors who take Medicare and agree to accept the Medicare-approved amount for a service as payment in full. If you see a doctor who takes assignment, you will only be responsible for a 20 percent coinsurance for most Medicare-covered outpatient services. The doctor can charge you this 20 percent coinsurance when you receive care. You will start paying this coinsurance after you have met your Part B deductible. Before you have met your deductible you will be responsible for the full cost of your care.

Doctors who accept Medicare, but do not take

assignment, are referred to as non-participating providers. They are allowed to charge you up to 15 percent above the Medicare-approved amount. That’s typically more than the 20 percent coinsurance for most Medicare-covered outpatient services.

Non-participating providers also can request the full payment for their services up front and then bill Medicare. Medicare will pay you back if it is a Medicare covered service.

They will pay you back 80 percent for most Part B covered services. Doctors who participate in Medicare, even if they do not accept assignment, are required by law to bill Medicare for services provided to people with Medicare.

It’s sometimes easier to see doctors who take assignment. They are not allowed to make you pay up front for the full cost of the services, and you might save money because they cannot charge you more than 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for most care. Ask your doctors if they take assignment to avoid paying more for your care.

– Marci

ZEST / August 2011 11

Cover Story

STAFF PHOTOS BY KATIE WINTER

Roger Karstens has managed Farview Farm in Hutchinson since 1961.Throughout the years he has raised different breeds of sheep. Currently the farm is home to 220 Dorsett lambs.

From farm to fair For Roger Karstens, sheep and family stood the test of time 12 ZEST / August 2011

Cover Story

By Katie Winter

R

oger Karstens knows sheep.

For more than five decades he has witnessed the wooly animals at their best, their worst and their most entertaining.

“I remember one time I delivered a ram,” Karstens said. “I put it in the trailer. Drove all the way to Willmar to deliver it. Stopped the truck and looked in the back. No ram. He had jumped out. So I thought, I’ll go down the road I came from. I got about 10 miles down the road from home and there I saw he was standing in the ditch. So I threw some grain down and then I grabbed him. Put him back in the trailer and I delivered him again. So I delivered that ram twice.”

Karstens has collected many similar stories since starting Farview Farms in 1963. The sheep raising operation west of Hutchinson has been home to a variety of lamb breeds, including Dorset and Suffolk.

The quality herd of sheep produced State Fair grand champions and the lamb meat for restaurants. The farm currently has 220 Dorsets, though Karstens is looking to trim the herd down from 120 ewes to a more manageable 50.

“This’ll be me slowly getting out of the sheep business,” Karstens said. “I won’t say I’ll ever get out but it will be easier to manage.”

Karstens’ farm career began with a desire he and his wife, Shirley, had to be self-sustaining. They wanted their children to live off the land. The couple purchased a seven and a half acre farmstead, where they grew vegetables and raised beef cows.

“We started to see opportunities,” Karstens said. “We got to thinking about the food value and thought we could probably live a better lifestyle and a healthier lifestyle in the country.”

Sheep did not factor into the family’s farm equation until oldest daughter Chris (Schlueter) reached 4-H age and showed an interest in showing livestock. It was an interest Karstens had himself as a youngster, but was

unable to pursue. He wanted things to be different for his children. In 1963, Roger purchased a small herd of Suffolk sheep. Soon the remaining three Karstens children joined in on the fun. And so began the family’s fascination with fairs. “(When I was a kid), we were thinking of joining 4-H once, but if you don’t have parents who help you or push you, you’re done,” Karstens said. “So we didn’t get the chance to do it. There were more important things than 4-H then. I have a different view now. That’s why all our kids were in 4-H. I wanted them to have what I didn’t have. And they all did well.”

In 1969, Chris took home the grand champion ewe prize at the Minnesota State Fair, the first of many trophies the family would take home from state and county fairs. Roger found success in a niche event, the lamb carcass contest. This is an evaluation of lamb carcasses for fat thickness, weight and grade to give feedback to lamb exhibitors and breeders about

their genetics and management. He won grand champion carcass at the 2010 State Fair to bring his total to 11 championships, a State Fair record, Karstens said.

“It took years to develop that ability to get the carcass,” Karstens said.

“We have the genetics but it didn’t happen overnight.”

Throughout the years, Roger has accumulated a wealth of knowledge related to all things sheep. Much of the knowledge he shared with 4-H youth as both a county fair judge and 4-H volunteer. Karstens judged his first sheep show in 1990 after retiring from 3M. As he traveled from county to county, Karstens took his judging duties seriously. Whether the event was sheep, wool, or lamb lead, he was always sure to use the opportunity as a learning moment. He took the time to explain to young showmen the reasons behind his judging decisions.

Karstens believed fair participation and livestock showing are great character builders.

Roger Karstens has devoted a good deal of time to mentoring young 4-H members interested in showing livestock.

ZEST / August 2011 13

Cover Story “They got to learn discipline,” Karstens said.

“They have to feed their animal. They have to keep records. They learn responsibility and accountability.

You’ve got to have some fire in your belly. If you want to win, you have to learn how to show that animal. Genetics, I would say is a third of it. Another third is feed. The other third is presenting the animal to make a winner.”

Karstens still judges a few fairs each summer. He has seen much change at fairs since he attended his first fair as a kid. Growing up on a pig farm in Hassan Township, Karstens said the county fair was the highlight of the summer.

“I remember sneaking in a lot of times,” Karstens recalled with a chuckle.

“We were a bunch of kids.

It was four or five friends of mine, we’d always find a way to get over the fence.

We thought going to the county fair was a big thing in those days. I always liked to look at the animals, especially the sheep always kind of attracted me.

Today, Karstens still enjoys the camaraderie of a good fair.

“You talk to people and you never forget,” Karstens said with a hint of wistfulness. “You meet a lot of people and just sheep people. People you haven’t seen all year. It’s a get together.”

Sheep graze in a pasture the same way .

Roger Karstens’ sheep do in Hutchinson.

We are DEDICATED to Caring.

Monuments and More!

Skilled Nursing Care Occupational Therapy Foot Care Physical Therapy Medication

Assistance SpeechTherapy IV Infusion Therapy PCA Home Health Aide

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Medicaid

Medicare Private Insurance

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County Programs

Cover Story Roger Karstens leases out many of his sheep to youth who look after them and prepare them for county fairs.

ZEST / August 2011 15

Money

Slow and steady wins the budgeting race B

udgets are like diets: No single approach works for everyone; overly complicated plans rarely work for long; and sometimes it takes a few tries before you get it right.

One common stumbling block is thinking of budgets as punishment rather than a means to achieve your life’s goals. Say you dream of buying a house: A budget shouldn’t serve as a constant reminder that you can’t afford a down payment; but rather, as a tool to help identify where the money goes each month so you can adjust spending and saving - accordingly.

If you’re new to budgeting or you haven’t been successful in the past, start slowly. First, for a few months write down every cent you spend: mortgage/rent, utilities, food, gas, medical copayments, birthday presents, credit card interest, allowances – the works. Don’t forget annual expenses like insurance and income tax. It sounds tedious, but I guarantee you’ll be amazed by the bottom line.

At the same time, track your income. Comparing money coming in versus money going out can be quite enlightening. Breaking even or losing money each month may mean you need to find additional income sources and/or aggressively alter your spending habits.

You can go the pencil-and-paper route by downloading a budget template (Google “Budget Worksheet”). Interactive, online budgeting calculators to help plan for expenses also are widely available. Practical Money Skills for Life, a free personal financial management program run by Visa Inc., includes budgeting calculators for everything from backto-school costs to holiday expenses to retirement, www.practicalmoneyskills.com/calculators.

Once you’re ready for the next level, many software packages and online account management services are available – some are free, while others charge a one-time or monthly fee. Popular products include Quicken, Mint.com, Yodlee and Mvelopes. Commonly available features include: • Account aggregation – import transaction information and balances from bank, credit card and investment and other accounts into one common database.

• Transfer money between accounts; some also allow online bill payment.

• Track, categorize and annotate transactions – also helpful when calculating income taxes.

• Interactive charts and graphs to help visualize changes in spending and savings habits.

Start jotting down your short – and long-term financial goals – buying a new car or house, saving for retirement and vacations, paying off debt, etc. You won’t solve all these financial challenges at once, but start whittling away at them; over time you’ll notice gradual improve-

16 ZEST / August 2011

A budget is a tool to identify where the money goes each month so you can adjust spending and saving. ments and be encouraged to up the ante.

Here are a few suggestions: • Look for items that stand out as extravagances you can trim or eliminate, at least temporarily.

• Reduce insurance premiums by raising deductibles.

• Always pay at least minimum loan and credit card balances to avoid late charges.

• List accounts by interest rate and pay off those with the highest rates first.

• Create separate savings accounts for different longterm goals and have contributions automatically deducted from your paycheck or checking account – even if it’s only a small amount each month. Don’t borrow from one to pay expenses in another, especially your retirement accounts – the tax implications alone are daunting.

When budgeting – like dieting – remember the tortoise and the hare: Slow and steady wins the race.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.

Money

Save now for the holidays It’s sweltering outside. How about cooling off with some refreshing savings ideas for the 2011 holidays as well?

The holiday season is notorious for causing people to get off track with their spending and forget about their financial goals, say personal financial planning experts at the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. There’s nothing worse than a budget-busting post-holiday credit card bill to bring out your inner Grinch.

Five tips for grinch-free holiday spending 1. Join the club. Many banks offer special Christmas savings accounts that you can open with a very small initial deposit. Subsequent deposits can be made by direct deposit to help make sure you keep contributing. Some of these accounts are free and even accrue interest. Putting away money each month over the course of the year and then purchasing gifts with cash will help you avoid the biggest post-holiday letdown of all: the credit card bill.

2. Make your list. As soon as possible, create a list of who you’ll be purchasing for this year.

3. Plan for spending. This is code for “budget” since that word always makes people cringe. You’ve made your list,

now decide how much you’re going to spend overall and on each person.

4. Shop all year’ round. Planning out who you’re buying for and what you’d like to give them allows you to take advantage of special sales and deals you might see throughout the year instead of having to make impulse buys in those last frantic days.

5. Use layaway. Take advantage of this opportunity to have a retailer hold your merchandise while you pay for it over time. After your last payment, you get to take your stuff home.

It’s fun to shop and give gifts to your loved ones. What isn’t fun is the debt that can accompany so many gifts purchased in a short span of time. Make a plan, spread out your spending, and ultimately you’ll have more time to be with your family and feel less stressed about your finances, which is what makes the holidays so special.

The Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants serves the public interest by advancing the highest standards of ethics and practice within the CPA profession.

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• New Treatments for Macular Degeneration • Eyelid Surgery N02351 Z

ZEST / August 2011 17

Feature Story

STAFF PHOTOS BY KATIE WINTER

Litchfield’s Anderson Gardens’ rich colors and beauty is a credit to the dedication of a group of volunteers that includes Mickie Luke, Marlene Nelson, Ardella Solbrack, Lori Dahlberg, Ruth Schrum, Rose Minton and Denise Springer.

Blooming beauty Anderson Gardens thrives thanks to volunteers, more help welcome 18 ZEST / August 2011

Litchfield’s mini-arboretum has been a town treasure for more than 20 years.

Feature Story

By Katie Winter

H

ow does your garden grow? Quite nicely, if you ask the group of volunteers providing tender, loving care to the blooms of Litchfield’s Anderson Gardens.

Inside, some flowers are planted for pure aesthetic beauty. Others take root in memoriam of a loved one. And some are just the easiest to maintain.

Whatever their reason for being, the multitude of plants and flowers seem to thrive.

The core of the garden is perennials and shrubs with annuals mixed in for extra color. Whether it’s a shade garden, the hosta hill, a tulip garden or a clump of crabapple trees, Anderson Gardens has the plants for color from spring to fall. The mini-arboretum on the northeast shore of Lake Ripley is purple and yellow with tulips in the spring and red and gold in the fall as leaves change and monarch butterflies stop by.

There are paved pathways for easy walking, benches for restful gazing and gazebos for special events. Anderson Gardens is a popular choice for weddings, parties and tours.

“We host a lot of garden tours with Red Hat societies, church women’s groups,” said Lori Dahlberg, chairperson of the Anderson Gardens Steering Committee. “One day I did a talk to a whole bunch of little daycare kids. Oh, they had questions. It was so cool. It was fun. We have a lot of weddings. Every time you go there, there are people walking through, people taking pictures of their kids with the flowers.”

Anderson Gardens is cared for by a group of 25 volunteers. They do the weeding, planting, mulching and the other magical tasks that make plant life grow. Tools, gloves, fertilizer and seedlings are provided courtesy of the City of Litchfield. The steering committee leads the volunteers and oversees each garden project. Dahlberg has been involved with the committee for the past 15 years.

For most of the volunteers at Anderson Gardens, the work in the gardens is more fun than fuss. The group of mostly women enjoys putting green thumbs to good use.

Denise Springer started the children’s garden in 2005.

Most summers, she designs the garden around a theme.

“One year we did an American flag on the left side and a peace sign on the right side,” Springer said about the children’s garden.

Her daughters and their friends enjoy tending this garden with its vibrant, yet simple flowers. Nearby, Springer goes to work on another garden.

“I like to bury my problems and see the results that grow,” Springer said. “When you get frustrated you can always come out here, because there’s weeds too pull.”

The crew has plenty to work on throughout the summer, with a laundry list of projects such as mulching, adding plant labels, controlling weeds, rearranging flowers and adding annual flowers to the beds. On the group’s wish list is adding a bird path or fountain to the gardens.

“The last few years we had had all the beds edged with cement edging just to make it easier for us to maintain,” Dahlberg said. “We have our list of the garden beds. This

is kind of a changing thing. Like any garden it’s a work in progress. We’re changing things, we’re moving things around.”

The steering committee’s most important project each year is finding people to care for the gardens. This year, five flowerbeds are without caretakers, leaving extra work for volunteers.

Some orphaned beds that are just waiting for some attention are shrub rose hedge that needs trimming and weeding and a few small trees that need to have mulch spread around them.

Dahlberg invites people of all ages to adopt a flowerbed.

Even those with minimal gardening experience are welcome to try their hand.

“We’re looking for more volunteers and we could use another person or two on the steering committee,” Dahlberg said. “Some people like to have their own bed and other ones say I can weed or I can help somebody else when they need help.”

Anderson Gardens is dotted with memorial trees, gardens and plaques in honor of cancer survivors, school classes and horticulture clubs.

ZEST / August 2011 19

Feature Story Volunteer Marlene Nelson has taken ownership of the hosta hill because she knows more about the ways plants grow in shady conditions.

“Because I have shade at home,” Nelson said. “I like to see what the flowers are going to do. It’s kind of neat. I know more about shade because I have shade at home and I have shade here. So it’s fun. I think it’s an asset to the community. I mean, how many towns have a mini arboretum like this?”

The gardens also give volunteers the opportunity to add their own flavor to their garden by choosing what kinds of plants are planted. Dahlberg said the design of the gardens is not fixed but rather up to the volunteers’ personal tastes.

“Volunteers can pretty much make changes, add things,” Dahlberg said.

“It’s what they would like to do with.

It works out good.”

Now in its 21st season, the gardens are blooming and colorful as the leaves and petals soak up the summer sun. This is the ideal growing time for these lovely buds, Dahlberg said.

“We see a lot of people just walking through,” Dahlberg said. “Some bring their lunch and sit there on a bench and just relax. It’s very peaceful. It’s very nice. I don’t think I’ve ever been there when someone wasn’t walking through. It’s really amazing.”

City leaders in Litchfield know how special the gardens are and how important to the town’s tourist draw.

That is why the city provides the funding for plants, a sprinkler system and general maintenance. The rest is funded through an endowment from the Anderson family.

“Carl Anderson is a relative of the original Andersons,” Dahlberg said.

“He was our benefactor for many years. Every year he would give us a donation and he would come and visits. When he passed away he gave Anderson Gardens and the City of Litchfield a certain percentage of his estate. The interest from that will keep us going for a long time.

For more info or to volunteer, call Lori Dahlberg at 320-587-3581.

20 ZEST / August 2011

Marlene Nelson and Mickie Luke weed a bed of flowers on a warm July afternoon.

Any plant, flower or tree is welcome at Anderson Gardens.Volunteers have free reign to plant what they like best.

Feature Story Ruth Schrum removed twigs and leaves from a bed of hostas.

Oaks & Pines Assisted Living and Memory Care

Independence. Community. Security.

For information or to arrange a tour, call Kristal Ehrke at 320-234-0873

Oaks • 945 Century Avenue SW, Hutchinson Pines • 1015 Century Avenue SW, Hutchinson www.oaksandpines.org • 320-234-0873

Call us about ou r summer move-in specials!

N02139 Z

• 1 or 2 BR Apartments • Social Activities • Medication Administration • Meal Plan • 24-hr Staffing • All Utilities • Housekeeping and Laundry Services

ZEST / August 2011 21

Out and About

Summer fun and sun Zest readers share their favorite photos

ARIZONA DREAMING. Dennis Bergquist sent in these two photos from his winter home in Tucson, Ariz. Above is a building coated in the soft colors of the Southwest and at the right are spring flowers in the desert. “It’s a wonderful place to winter,” Dennis said.

PLENTY OF FISH.This photo submitted by Dorothy Bullert, Hutchinson, was taken in June 1980. In it, Randy Bullert, (hand only visible), his son, Rustin Bullert, wife Dorothy Bullert and daughter Kyla Bullert clean the "mess" of sunfish caught in Stahl's Lake earlier in the afternoon. "We always cleaned them in Randy's work shed following the catch – and we ate many of them that night for a late supper," Dorothy said.

22 ZEST / August 2011

Out and About

We want to see your photos “It’s such a wonderful life.”

What does wonderful mean to you? Grandchildren?

Gardening? Traveling? Pets?

Send an original digital image from your camera to winter@hutchinsonleader.com and a brief photo description. Include your name, address and phone number. Or drop off a photo at the Hutchinson Leader, 36 Washington Ave. W., Hutchinson or at the Independent Review, 217 Sibley Ave. N., Litchfield.

You also are welcome to send your photos through the mail.

Call Katie at 320-234-4172 for more information.

Photographs will be featured on our website, and selected photos will be in future issues of Zest.

Can’t wait to see them!

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ZEST / August 2011 23

Wellness

A laugh a day could keep the doctor away W

hen was the last time you had a really good laugh?

Laughing makes people feel good for a reason.

Studies have shown that laughter boosts the immune system and triggers the release of pleasure-inducing neurochemicals in the brain. The immune system, which contains special cells that are responsible for defending the body against infection, have been shown to increase during the act of laughing. In the central nervous system, the brain releases powerful endorphins as a result of laughing. Endorphins are natural, morphine-like compounds that raise the pain threshold, produce sedation and induce euphoria (commonly called a “natural high”). In other words, we feel better when we laugh because endorphins reduce physical and mental pain. While this may be a wonderful feeling, laughing has other benefits, as well: • During a laugh, respiration, heart rate and blood

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We accept

pressure temporarily rise. This causes oxygen to surge through the bloodstream that then results in lower blood pressure.

• Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

• Laughter reduces blood sugar levels, increasing glucose tolerance in diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

• Laughter relaxes the whole body, relieving tension and stress. It has been shown that following a good, hearty laugh, muscles in the body are relaxed for up to 45 minutes afterward.

• Laughing burns calories. Laughter is sometimes referred to as “inner jogging.” A hearty laugh gives the muscles of the face, chest, shoulders, stomach and diaphragm a good workout.

• Laughter also helps to create a positive mood. It allows the expression of happiness and the release of anxiety. Humor eases tension and is a great antidote to a stressful situation. Humor and laughter are natural safety valves that shut off certain hormones that are released during stressful situations.

Here are some ways to bring more humor and laughter into your life: • Smile: Smiling is the beginning of laughter. Like laughter, it’s contagious. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling.

• Count your blessings: Literally make a list. The simple act of considering the good things in your life will distance you from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humor and laughter.

• When you hear laughter, move toward it: People are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feel the humor in it. When individuals hear laughter, they seek it out and ask “What’s funny?”

• Spend time with fun, playful people: These are people who laugh easily, both at themselves and at life’s absurdities and who routinely find humor in everyday events.

Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.

• Bring humor into conversations: Ask people: What’s the funniest thing that happened to you today? This week? In your life?

• Laugh at yourself: Share your embarrassing moments.

• Attempt to laugh at situations rather than bemoan them: Look for the humor in a bad situation, the irony and absurdity of life. This will help improve your mood and the mood of those around you.

Wellness • Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up: Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family having fun.

• Keep things in perspective: Many things are beyond our control, so make the best of a situation and find the positive in the situation.

• Deal with stress: Stress is a major impediment to humor and laughter.

• Pay attention to children and emulate them: They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly and laughing.

Here is a simple prescription for a healthy life: Thirty minutes of exercise at least 3 times a week, and 15 minutes of laughter on a daily basis.

The bottom line – laughter may just be the best medicine on the market today.

Gail Gilman-Waldner writes the “Family Living Focus” column through the Program Development and Coordination Department of the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging Inc.

Service, Security and Satisfaction…Our Promise To Our Customers

Laughter is sometimes the best medicine. A hearty chuckle has been known to reduce mental and physical pain and help people cope with stress.

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The cost of not correcting your hearing is too high to ignore it!

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ZEST / August 2011 25

Comfort Foods

Beat the summer heat with ice cream treats Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Cake From Family Features Ingredients: • 1/2 gallon block vanilla ice cream, softened • 1 1/2 cups raspberry preserves • 10 chocolate sandwich crème cookies, crumbled • 3/4 cup chocolate syrup, divided • 1 tub (8 ounces) frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed

Maraschino cherries make this sweet treat even sweeter.

Cherry Cordial Ice Cream From Family Features Ingredients: • Ingredients • 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk • 2 cups (1 pint) half-and-half • 2 cups (1 pint) whipping cream, unwhipped • 1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries (without stems), drained and chopped • 3/4 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Preparation: 1. Line bottom of a 13 x 9-inch pan with foil. Remove paper carton from ice cream block. Using a knife dipped in hot water, cut slices of ice cream and place in bottom of pan. Spread ice cream into a smooth layer.

2. Spread preserves over ice cream.

Sprinkle cookie crumbles on top of preserves. Drizzle 1/2 cup chocolate syrup over cookie crumbles. Top with slices of remaining ice cream. Spread ice cream until smooth.

3. Place in freezer for a minimum of 3 to 4 hours. Remove from freezer and turn out onto serving platter.

Remove foil. Frost with whipped topping. Drizzle remaining 1/4 cup chocolate syrup over top to decorate.

Return to freezer until ready to serve.

Preparation 1. In ice cream freezer container, combine all ingredients; mix well.

2. Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Freeze leftovers.

Makes about 1 1/2 quarts

Cookies and ice cream are a match made in dessert heaven.

26 ZEST / August 2011

Fresh frozen fruit is great dessert for warm summer days.

Fresh Fruit Ice Cream From Family Features Ingredients: • 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 1 cup pureed or mashed fresh fruit, such as peaches, strawberries, bananas and raspberries • Food coloring • 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream Preparation 1. Combine sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in large bowl; stir in 1 cup pureed fruit and food coloring, if desired.

2. Fold in 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream (do not use non-dairy whipped topping). Pour into 9 x 5-inch loaf pan or a 2-quart freezer container; cover.

3. Freeze 6 hours or until firm.

Makes about 1 1/2 quarts.

Comfort Foods

Soup, salad and sunshine Minestrone Pasta Salad

Golden Summer Corn Soup

By Healthy Exchanges

From Family Features

This delightful summer salad is a delicious cross between minestrone soup and a pasta salad. It's really the best of both worlds! One bite and I think you'll agree.

Ingredients: • 1 1/2 cups cold cooked rotini pasta, rinsed and drained • 1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained • 1 (5-ounce) package reduced-fat sliced pepperoni, chopped • 1 cup shredded carrots • 1 cup chopped celery • 1/2 cup fat-free Italian dressing • 1/4 cup reduced-fat Parmesan cheese • 1 cup chopped fresh tomato Preparation 1.In a large bowl, combine pasta, kidney beans, pepperoni, carrots and celery. Add Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese. Mix well to combine. Fold in tomato. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Gently stir again just before serving. Serves 6 (1 cup each).

Submit your recipe,

WIN A

!

PRIZE

Share your favorite recipe with Zest readers. One entry per month will be randomly selected to win a

Ingredients: • 1 package (16 ounces) fresh corn with husks removed • 2 cans (12 fluid ounces each) Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk or Evaporated Fat Free Milk • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 1 small yellow onion, chopped • 1 carrot, peeled and sliced • 1 celery stalk, sliced • 2 large cloves garlic, chopped • Kosher salt and ground black pepper • 1 cup water • 2 large sprigs fresh thyme • Light sour cream or crème fraîche (optional) • Chopped fresh chives for garnish (optional) Preparation 1. Cut kernels from cobs; reserve kernels and cobs. Place evaporated milk and corncobs in large saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover.

Cook for 8 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent. Stir in carrot, celery, garlic and reserved corn kernels. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

3. Add vegetable mixture, water and thyme in saucepan; cover. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Discard corncobs and thyme. Cool mixture for about 10 minutes.

4. Pour soup into blender until it is half full; cover. Blend until smooth. Pour through a medium sieve into clean saucepan (discard contents of sieve). Repeat process with remaining soup. Reheat soup until heated through. Serve topped with swirl of sour cream and chives.

Makes 4 to 5 servings

$25 prize.

Send your recipe, name, address and phone number to: winter@hutchinsonleader.com OR mail them to 36 Washington Ave. W, Hutchinson, MN 55350 OR 217 N. Sibley Ave., Litchfield, MN 55355 Attn: Katie Winter

Fresh corn soup paired with a salad makes a refreshing summer meal.

ZEST / August 2011 27

Puzzles

Every Wednesday is Senior Citizen’s Day:

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28 ZEST / August 2011

N02160 Z

All answers on page 31

Puzzles

All answers on page 31

FREE Zest Classified Ad Form Zest is now offering FREE private party classified to area residents. Sell your used items with these 30-word ads!

Item up to $400: Item up to $800: $4.95 Item up to $1,600: $9.95 Item up to $2,400: $14.95 Item over $2,400: $19.95

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LAWN MOWING, dethatch, handy man, Gutter and home repair, HOUSE PAINTING, decks, branch trimming, hauling, local moving. Low cost, mature careful work. Senior discounts!

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Price must be listed in ad. Excludes pets.

My Ad: ______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Name _______________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________ Daytime Phone________________________________________

Electronics

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COLOR TV, MAGNAVOX 27”, in solid oak cabinet, excellent condition. $150.

320-587-6731 RCA COLOR TV, 27”, with converter. $10. 320-328-4354 SONY TV, 22”, works perfectly, like new. $50. 320-587-6342 TV, 27” RCA color, remote, works good, $35. 320-583-6581

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Furniture

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FULL SIZE BED WITH brass rail headboard, 5 drawer chest of drawers. $175 for set. Glencoe, 320-296-7373 COUCH AND MATCHING chair, midcentury design, neutral color. $25 for both. 320-587-5788

Misc. For Sale

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3 LES KOUBA prints, framed and matted, $50 - $70 each. Call 320-587-7088 for more details.

DEHUMIDIFIER, MONTGOMERY WARD, 22 qt. $25. 320-587-8960 FISH TANKS, 4, different sizes, stands, pumps included. $75 to $200 each.

320-583-6581 HUMIDIFIER, BEMIS, excellent condition, oak look finish, new $160; selling for $65. 320-587-5629, leave message TWO BEAUTIFUL 6-foot silk trees in wicker basket bases. Look great in home or office. $20 each or $35 for pair.

Call 320-587-7979

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LOOKING FOR SOME FRESH garden produce in small amounts? Call Chris 320-587-4974

ZEST / August 2011 29

Last Word

Give yourself a break Caregivers: Take care of yourself while looking after a loved one

30 ZEST / August 2011

Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m., at the Hutchinson Public Library meeting room, 50 Hassan St. S.E. Glencoe Caregiver Support meets at 5:45 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Grand Meadows, 1420 Prairie Ave. Litchfield Caregiver Support gathers at 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at the Litchfield Public Library, 216 Marshall Ave. N. Hector Caregiver Support meets at 2 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at Prairie View Senior Housing, 1010 Elm Ave. E. For more information, call Jan Novotny at 320-8940479, or toll free at 800-488-4146. Information also is available online at www.lssmn.org/respite.

“The mail’s here!”

The happiest day of the month is when delivery of the fresh, new issue of ZEST arrives in mailboxes and on newsstands. Home delivery subscriptions are available for $18 per year.

Subscribers to the Independent Review or Leader can receive ZEST for only $10 per year.

N02255

D

octor appointments that must be scheduled; the constant care and attention your loved one needs, both physically and emotionally; the back and forth to grocery stores, drug stores, physical therapy sessions and, most of all, the need to know you are doing the “right thing” for the loved one in need of your care. We all know the daily challenges we face as caregivers and that we seldom have time for ourselves.

But we do need time to reflect, relax and rejuvenate for at least a few hours each week. This “private time” gives us a renewed strength to carry on. It’s important to take that time. You deserve it. And, you should not feel guilty about it.

There are ways to allow yourself time away. For an hour, a day or even a weekend, take time to collect your thoughts and get back on track. It’s OK to do that. You have an important role to play as caregiver. If you do not care for yourself, who will step in to care for you and your loved one?

Take the time to read through this “guilt free” list and know you'll be a better caregiver for it.

• Accept the help others offer. Suggest specific things they can do for you and your loved one. This is rule No. 1 for a reason. No one is a super hero. Don’t feel like you’re the only one who can take Dad to the doctor or your wife to her physical therapist. Reach out and ask another family member or close family friend to assist you occasionally so you have time to yourself. Trust in their willingness to help. Many times they do not know how to reach out and help unless you are able to communicate your needs.

• Ask for and accept favors such as a friend staying with your loved one while you are able to get out of the house for a while, a dinner being cooked for you and your loved one once a week, an offer to go to the supermarket or drugstore in your place. Respite can be achieved on a daily basis with the smallest of kindnesses.

• Know your limits. If you wear yourself out caring for your loved one, who will step in to care for the both of you? Remember, caring for yourself is not selfish. It is the greatest gift you can give your loved one.

• Attend a support group. Lutheran Social Service sponsors caregiver discussion groups in Hutchinson, Glencoe, Hector and Litchfield.

Each group provides education, discussion and support for caregivers. It’s also an opportunity to share with other caregivers in a confidential setting. Admission is free and the public is welcome.

Hutchinson Caregiver Support usually meets the third

Subscribe to ZEST Name ____________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ City ____________________State ______Zip____________ Mail this form and your $18 or $10 check to ZEST ZEST OR 36 Washington Ave. W. P.O. Box 921 TO Hutchinson, MN 55350 Litchfield, MN 55355

Puzzle Answers

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ZEST / August 2011 31

Joint pain? Take the first step toward restoring your

active lifestyle.

Attend a FREE Seminar “We’ll Get You Moving Again” Learn more about the joint replacement experience and how it can restore your mobility and quality of life.

Thursday, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Hutchinson Event Center Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to (320) 234-5081. Space is limited.

320.234.5081 • HutchinsonHealthCare.com

02661

32 ZEST / August 2011