JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
GOOD life Good Advice:
On guard for cold & flu season
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CONTENTS
11
8 17
features 6 Good Stuff Good to Go: Gentle stretching
On the cover: Marian Henthorne (left) works on her quilt as and Helene Kleymeer knits during a crafting workshop. The two women, both of Petoskey, get together with others with similar interests for the commaraderie and to share their craft. Photo by G. Randall Goss
11 Cover Story Hobbies
18 Good Read Giving the gift of verse
Good Humor: Katie MacInnis
14 Good Advice Tips for cold & flu season
20 Good Word Anne Kelly
Good for Kids: Pottery painting
16 Good Thoughts Tricia Drenth
8 Good to Know Managing Alzheimer’s
17 Good Taste Gingerbread
22 Good Health Boulder Park Terrace receives high honor
GOODlife 3
GOODlife JANURARY/FEBRUARY 2015 - Volume 6, Issue 3 PUBLISHER DOUG CALDWELL EDITOR DEBBIE MCGUINESS PHOTOGRAPHY G. RANDALL GOSS LAYOUT AND DESIGN WENDY WOLFSEN FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT ADVERTISING DIRECTOR CHRISTY LYONS (231) 439-9329 clyons@petoskeynews.com ADVERTISING SALES ERICA NIESEN JEFF GENSCHAW MATT HAUSLER JOY HOLMES HANNAH BROGGER HEIDI MACNICOL
© GoodLife, all rights reserved, 2015. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect any endorsement for any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement that there is approval for such endorsement.
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GOODlife 5
GOOD STUFF GOOD TO GO
Story by Debbie McGuiness, photos by G. Randall Goss
Gentle stretching
W
hile the winter beauty in Northern Michigan beckons outdoor enthusiasts to bundle up and get outside, winter too gives those who enjoy hobbies of the indoor variety ample time to pursue them. “Persons who are participating in activities with their hands, such as knitting, crocheting, quilting, etc., should be sure to take a break to move and stretch every 30 minutes. A good tip is to set a timer for 30 minutes to make sure time doesn’t pass too quickly and an hour has passed before you know it, said Kristin Wren, occupational therapist with McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
Some ideas for those stretches are to start at your neck and move down to your hands: 1. S tretch your neck by moving your ear toward your shoulder to stretch the sides of the neck. You can also stretch the back of the neck by bringing your chin toward each of your hips.
2c.
2. S houlder circles are always good as well as opening the arms out to the side and then bringing the arms back so that you are squeezing your shoulder blades together. This will not only stretch your chest and shoulders but also your biceps as long as the palms of the hands are facing forward. 3. L astly, moving to the wrists, it is good to stretch the wrists up and down using the other hand for a gentle stretch. Gently pulling the fingers from the base to the tip will also help to relieve some of the tension that has build up through repetitive hand movements.
These exercises are also good for someone who frequently uses a keyboard, said Wren. The most important thing is to remember to take a break every 30 minutes and do some sort of stretching to relieve the tension built up from the activity. GL 6 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
3a.
3b.
3c.
GOOD STUFF GOOD HUMOR
Curriculum Vitae
R
esumes are almost always boring – especially when embellished upon at a cocktail party. I have had the misfortune of being wedged in a corner while a retiree tried to enlist me in his fan club. Subtle ways were found to mention Harvard, first place rowing team and CEO. But as the night wore on it became obvious the newest accolade was going to be inebriation. Less than captivated, I began to day-dream about my own past accomplishments: just how fast I could get a man to take off his clothes … put on a hospital gown and pee in a urinal! I went to a small liberal arts college where we became unemployable experts about the Romance Period of English literature, able to identify an Ionic column, a sonnet, and quintet, but who didn’t necessarily know how to do anything. My parents were pleased, the unwritten code was that daughters would remain virgins or at least not become pregnant and sons would have no discernible criminal record and would actually be sober on graduation day. This education was a great foil against which some of us could “tilt at windmills” and “not go gently into this dark night ...” On parents weekend someone substituted the taped bells in the chapel carillon with Louie Lou-ie. It rang out precisely at 12 noon that Sunday, just as the church service was breaking up. You can see what a great college experience this was, right up until I went for my first job interview. It was 1969. It could have been a lot worse.
GOOD FOR KIDS My second try I went to nursing school at a community college. And even though my first alma mater COURTESY PHOTO frequently harangues Katie MacInnis, columnist from Harbor Springs me for money or sends its colorful brochures of the valuable “gifts” for joining the presidents giving level, my nursing school has remained silently, annoyance free. Maybe retirement puts us all in a great big colander, with holes to let the detritus fall away. Most of us don’t talk endlessly about the past.* Not only do we not want to engineer what others think about us, but we have, by and large, stopped caring. Once you’re getting social security there doesn’t seem to be any reason to impress the boss. And anyway, most of us are just grateful that we can still call it a resume and not an obituary. At least you can still add interesting things to the first. *The two exceptions being drunk and unable to stop talking, or you were an English major at a small liberal arts college. GL — Katie MacInnis Katie MacInnis is a retired nurse and lives in Harbor Springs with her husband, Charlie.
Paint ‘em happy By Tresa Erickson
T
here is nothing better than spending a few hours with your kids doing something you all enjoy. You could do any number of activities from ice skating to playing a board game to painting your own pottery. Hmm. Kids like to paint? Pottery painting, it is. In recent years, a number of shops have sprung up across the country offering opportunities for individuals and families alike to drop by and paint their own pottery. Fees usually run so much per person, plus the cost of the pottery, and cover all supplies needed. The process of painting your own pottery is fairly simple. You generally select your pottery and your underglazes. You are then taken to a room where after receiving some instruction from the staff, you are free to paint the piece however you like. When you are finished, the staff takes care of the cleanup, gives the piece a coat of food-safe, nontoxic clear glaze and fires it in the kiln. You may pick up your finished piece at a time designated later in the day or week.. Painting your own pottery really is that simple. You don’t need any experience, and in many shops, you may take as long as you like to explore your creative side and produce your masterpiece. If painting pottery together as a family sounds like fun to you, start looking for a shop that offers the service. Find out about the age restrictions and fees as well as the general process. In many cases, no appointment is needed. However, if your family is large, you may want to call ahead and let the staff know. They may arrange for a specific time for your family to come in and a specific room for them to paint in. GL GOODlife 7
GOOD TO
KNOW
Managing Alzheimer’ s disease: For the patients, for the caregivers
Courtesy photo Hiland Cottage on the McLaren Northern Michigan Arlington Campus in Petoskey offers end-of-life hospice care in a comfortable setting.
A
lzheimer’s disease is one form of dementia, or loss of cognitive functioning, which affects more than 5 million Americans. The disease is progressive and irreversible and most often presents symptoms after age 60, usually in the form of cognitive problems with thinking, remembering, and reasoning, or unexplained mood or personality changes. Alzheimer’s patients are commonly diagnosed at this time, and, with no cure available, caregiving becomes necessary. Alzheimer’s 8 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
progresses through a series of functional deficiencies until, by the late stages, the patient is completely unable to perform themost basic of daily tasks and functions. Alzheimer’s is a tragic condition that discomforts families and loved ones, and it is extremely difficult for those who provide care. It is fitting, therefore, that awareness of the disease is coupled with recognition of the individuals who provide comfort for itsvictims. “Alzheimer’s is a difficult disease for family members and
caregivers,” says Michelle Schwartz, program coordinator of the VitalCare Adult Day Center affiliated with McLaren Northern Michigan. “When a loved one dies, there are stages of grieving and degrees of closure, but the Alzheimer’s patient lives, sometimes for many years, under much reduced capabilities and difficult circumstances, and it is especially painful and stressful for those who choose to be the caregivers.” The cause of Alzheimer’s is un-
known, but experts agree that a complex set of changes in the brain over the course of many years creates the conditions that result in Alzheimer’s disease. It is believed that genes, environment, and lifestyle all play a role, yet these vary from person to person, so science has yet to find a pattern. What science does know is that abnormal deposits of proteins form plaques and tangles throughout the brain and begin to affect the neurons. Eventually, the neurons cease functioning and die. Damage then spreads to the hippocampus, the area in which memory is formed. Researchers are finding evidence that connects mental declines, such as dementia, to other conditions including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. None of these conditions is a direct cause of Alzheimer’s, but could be determined as risk factors.
Taking Care of the Alzheimer’s Patient THE EARLY STAGES Early stages of the disease will include a host of cognitive deficiencies. Alzheimer’s patients will exhibit memory loss, difficulty finding their way through familiar areas and neighborhoods, poor judgment, repeating questions, difficulty completing daily tasks, problems handling money and paying bills. At this stage of the disease, caregivers are often family members who offer support, care, and companionship. An important piece of caregiving includes organizing daily tasks, providing reminders of appointments, helping with bills and banking, filling prescriptions, assisting with per-
sonal relationships and name recall, and explaining familiar places.
THE MIDDLE STAGES As the disease progresses, the patient will be unable to process information, learn new tasks, or perform familiar tasks that involve multiple steps, such as dressing and cooking. Memory loss and confusion increase, and the patient will be unable to recognize family and friends. Personality changes might include impulsivity, delusions, and even paranoia and hallucinations. Caregivers will feel the additional stress and must understand that their responsibilities require adaptability, patience, and structure. As communication becomes more difficult in this stage, the caregiver must remember to respond to the tone of voice rather than what the patient tries to say. If the person is still able to read, simple written reminders strategically placed are helpful.
THE LATE STAGES The final stages of the disease are almost completely debilitating; however, the patient can live for weeks or even years. The patient will need fulltime help with personal care and will need assistance walking or, if unable to walk, will need to be transferred to and from bed, chair and bathroom. Verbal communication will probably be very limited at this stage, so the caretaker must anticipate needs and concerns of the patient. Caregiving at this stage becomes very physically and emotionally demanding. Mild stimulation of the senses — sight, touch, smell, taste, and sound — can help calm and soothe the patient. Sharing old photos, reading or listening to music, preparing a favorite food, brushing the hair, or holding the hand are all appropriate. At this stage, fam-
ily members and caregivers might realize that they can no longer provide adequate services. Health care professionals will know when it is time, whether in-home or in a house setting, such as VitalCare’s Hospice House in Cheboygan. “Alzheimer’s is an exhaustive disease for the caregivers — emotionally, socially, psychologically, and even physically,” says Laura Daniel, senior director of VitalCare Hospices and Community Services. “It is important to understand the stressors, know where to find help, and, perhaps most important, know how to ask for that help. Caregivers are sometimes the last to know that they are suffering from burnout.”
FINDING THE RIGHT RESOURCES For more than a quarter-century, VitalCare has cared for the residents of Northern Michigan and helped them avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. VitalCare is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program where patient outcomes and customer satisfaction scores are consistently high. In recent years, VitalCare has ranked in the top 25 percent of home health care organizations nationwide, based on Medicare reports. VitalCare Adult Day Center in Petoskey provides individualized care, based on physical and cognitive levels, in a warm, loving atmosphere. The cost is $35 for four-hours; $50 for 8-hour day and covers activities, meals and snacks, and personal care. Some insurances or waiver programs may cover the Adult Day Center services, VitalCare staff will be happy to explore these options with you. Additional services include foot care, bathing, and medication manageSee ‘Managing Alzheimer’s’, pg. 10 GOODlife 9
MANAGING ALZHEIMER’S from pg. 9 ment, for a modest fee. Transportation to and from the center is 75 cents per mile. “The Adult Day Center is a wonderful resource for both patient and family members,” says Michelle Schwartz. “Our patients really enjoy their time here, and it’s a relaxing place for relatives to come and visit, knowing that a professional staff is present at all times.” VitalCare Home Health provides individualized care, based on physical and cognitive levels, in the familiarity of the home. Whether transitioning home from the hospital or managing an acute or chronic illness at home, VitalCare will bring clinical care and support. VitalCare professionals will help identify the services that best meets patient needs. “Home Health services is a wonderful resource for both patient and family members,” says Brent LaFaive, director of VitalCare Home Health. “Our patients really enjoy their time spent with our home health care providers, and it is reassuring for relatives to know that caring professional staff is there to assist a loved one.” Boulder Park Terrace, an affiliate of McLaren Northern Michigan and Charlevoix Area Hospital, offers nursing home and sub-acute rehabilitative care in a warm and welcoming residence. Located in Charlevoix, the 61-bed facility recently received the highest possible overall rating of five stars among U.S. News & World Report’s sixth annual Best Nursing Homes. Those interested in more information can call (231) 547-1005. For end-of-life care, VitalCare Hospice Care services are available throughout the region. Medical personnel and specially trained staff ease the passage for the patient and the family with emotional support, physical care, and pain management, and offer respite for caregivers. Hospice services are 10 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Courtesy photo The Adult Day Center is located on the McLaren Northern Michigan Arlington Campus in Petoskey.
available to residents regardless of the ability to pay, both in-home and in two care facilities — Hospice of Little Traverse Bay and Cheboygan Hospice House. For more information about Hospice Care, call (800) 342-7711 or visit vitalcare.org. For caregivers, McLaren Northern Michigan offers wellness programs in Cheboygan and in Petoskey at the John and Marnie Demmer Wellness Pavilion. Fitness classes offer participants the opportunity to strengthen both body and mind. Through Mindfulness courses and support group, people learn to calm their minds and relax their bodies, both providing tools for application in often stressful situations, such as
caregiving. Visit northernhealth.org/ classes for a complete list of offerings. Reliable information about Alzheimer’s disease is available from a number of online sites. A good place to start is the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center. Staff will answer phone, email, and written requests and make referrals to local and national resources. P.O. Box 8250; Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250; (800) 438-4380; nia.nih.gov/alzheimers. For more information about VitalCare services, call (800) 342-7711 or visit vitalcare.org. Information about other health-related topics can be found at northernhealth.org or by calling (800) 248-6777. GL
COVER STORY
G. Randall Goss/GoodLife Friends gather in an upstairs room at the Petoskey District Library for an afternoon of knitting, quilting and conversation. They include Ruby Parkkonen of Indian River (clockwise from bottom left), Marian Henthorne, Helene Kleymeer, Mary Carpenter, Johanna Kutcher, all of Petoskey, Betsy Koss of Boyne City and Eleanor LaVictor, also of Petoskey.
Hobby gathering By Debbie McGuiness
A
Sharing skills, sharing stories
group of Northern Michigan women have been unofficially gathering once a week for 25 years or longer to collectively and individually work on their creative endeavors. Currently, the group meets from 1-4 p.m. on Thursday afternoons in an upstairs meeting room at Petoskey District Library. “We first began meeting at the Historical Society Museum in summer,” offered Mary Carpenter of Petoskey. “Years ago.”
The group is open to all who enjoy needlework. Many of the women are quilters and share with each other their collective knowledge of techniques, color theory and pattern recognition. Along with showing what each is working on, the talk around the table can range from the mundane to the sublime. Ages vary from 20s through 80s. Occupations range from stay at home moms, retirees, full time and part time employees. During the summer cottagers are included. There are dog lovers, cat owners, gardeners and more. “Here is some black and red
shirting fabric,” said Betsy Koss of Boyne City, pointing to the small rectangular piece. “It is from the Garabaldi family and is dated prior to the turn of the century, about the 1880s,” she said. Koss is working on an antique piece, as is Marian Henthorne of Petoskey. With interests ranging from traditional hand-piecing and quilting to modern sewing machine piecing to gallery works of art, the energy around the table is palpable. “Does anybody have a See ‘Gathering’, pg. 12 GOODlife 11
GATHERING from pg. 11 chalk marker,” Koss asks. Several mention how they met years ago by taking a quilt class at the former Quilting Barn in Harbor Springs. Too, some are members of the Little Traverse Bay Quilters Guild. This day, Helene Kleymeer of Petoskey is working on a “knit along” project. Area knitters can be found at Cynthia’s Too! Yarn and Gift shop in Petoskey or at the Dutch Oven Yarn Shop in Alanson at various days and times. “Knit alongs” are usually a project or pattern introduced by one, and others join, working the same pattern and sharing tips and how to overcome pattern challenges when gathered together, or by posting on Ravelry, a knitting website. One prolific quilter, Ruby Parkkonen, has been quilting “Oh, gosh, forever,” she said. A retired school teacher who taught high school business classes at Inland Lakes in Indian River, Parkkonen said, “They gave me middle school kids so I left, I retired.” She is working on a pediatric quilt — guild members provide quilts to pediatric patients at McLaren Northern Michigan. Parkkonen is working on what she calls Doctor Doctor quilts. “These are given to the older kids — you’re in peds up to age 18.” Among the quilt squares Parkkonen adds Doctor Doctor jokes such as (patient) “Doctor, Doctor I think I’m suffering from Deja Vu! (doctor) Didn’t I see you yesterday?” Parkkonen said she uses whatever fabric comes her way, and often finds fabric at yard and garage sales. “I went to the Gold Mine Resale Shop and found a whole bag of fabric for $3.50! That’ll keep me supplied,” she laughs. She said she can’t count the hours she has donated stitching quilts for hospitalized babies and children, nor how many quilts she has made. 12 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
G. Randall Goss/GoodLife Ruby Parkkonen, of Indian River, looks over her current quilt project.
Each year, members of Little Traverse Bay Quilters Guild provide Christmas placemats for each recipient of Friendship Centers of Emmet County’s meals on wheels. Parkkonen said the placemats are fun to do as small projects are quickly finished. “Making quilts for teenage boys can be an undertaking — they can be adult sized — those I machine piece and sturdily tie together — they are to be used,” she said. For younger children, Parkkonen creates “I Spy” quilts. Novelty fabrics are combined so a child can be asked to search for an object, color, letter, number or animal. On any given Thursday, there may be someone quilting, needlepointing, knitting, wool felting or embroidering and sharing with others a love of creating by hand, a gift for a loved one, or perhaps a stranger. GL
A
ccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey, Americans spend on average, 4.5 hours per day in leisure activities, and spend half of their leisure time in front of the television making it the most popular 21st century “hobby.” When NOT watching TV, many in Northern Michigan spend their leisure time in outdoor activities — in winter,
downhill and cross country skiing, snowmobile riding, ice skating, snowshoing, ice fishing and star gazing. Popular indoor pastimes include reading, painting, coincollecting, model-making, cooking, scrap-booking, knitting, crocheting, sewing and quilt making. Some pursue their hobby solo; others take classes and workshops offered at area art centers, libraries, museums and retail establishments.
Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey’s winter 2015 classes/workshops take place throughout the week for children, teens and adults. They have offerings for a variety of activities and interests — try something new! Visit www.crookedtree.org or call (231) 347-4337 for course listings. Other creative classes/workshops found at Boyne Arts Collective, Boyne City, www.boynearts.org, will reopen Spring 2015. Charlevoix Circle of Arts, www.charlevoixcircle.org,(231) 547-3554 Jordan River Art Center, East Jordan, www.jordanriverarts.com, (231 536-3395 Three Pines Studio, Harbor Springs, www.threepinesstudio.com, (231) 526-9447 Petoskey District Library, www.petoskeylibrary.org, (231) 758-3107 Boyne District Library, www.boynelibrary.org, (231) 582-7861 Charlevoix Public Library, www.charlevoixlibrary.org, (231) 547-2651 Battle Grounds, Petoskey, www.battlegroundspetoskey.com, (231) 653-2053 Ben Franklin Crafts/Scrapper’s Attic, Petoskey (231) 348-3606 Cynthia’s Too Yarns and Gifts, Petoskey, www.cynthiastoo.com, (231) 439-9221 Dutch Oven Yarn Shop, Alanson, www.dutchovenyarnshop.com, (231) 548-2700 Hearts To Holly Quilt Shop, Charlevoix, www.heartstoholly.com, (231) 547-2729 Hobby Lobby, Petoskey, www.hobbylobby.com, (231) 348-0991 G. Randall Goss/GoodLife Helene Kleymeer, of Petoskey, works on her knitting during a get together with other
JoAnn Stores, Petoskey, www.joann.com, (231) 348-6476 Petoskey Sewing Center, Petoskey, (231) 753-2525 University Coins, Harbor Springs, (231) 347-8119
knitters and quilters from the area. GOODlife 13
GOOD ADVICE
C
It’s that time of year
oughing. Sneezing. Runny nose. Sore throat. Yes, it’s that time of year again. And while the symptoms of cold and flu are well known, making the distinction between the two can be difficult. “Colds and influenza (flu) are both respiratory conditions, but they are caused by different viruses,” said Internist Melanie Manary, MD, FACP, of Internal Medicine of Northern Michigan in Petoskey. “Diagnosis is often difficult because the symptoms can be similar.” According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the main difference between colds and flu is the severity of symptoms. Flu symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, extreme fatigue, dry cough, and body aches and pains. Symptoms of the common cold are milder and usually include a stuffy or runny nose. “With a cold, you’re probably okay if an over-the-counter medication controls congestion and secretions,” said Dr. Manary. “Unlike a cold, the flu comes on suddenly.” Serious flu symptoms might require a doctor’s care. The CDC indicates that both cold and flu viruses are spread through excretions when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks. The droplets can range up to 6 feet. Secretions land on the mouth or nose or are taken into the lungs. Surfaces and objects can become contaminated as well. A cold sufferer is contagious during the 14 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Courtesy photo Melanie Manary, MD, FACP
Courtesy photo
first three days of symptoms, and sometimes before symptoms are obvious. The flu is contagious one day before the appearance of symptoms and through five to seven days after symptoms appear. “Sufferers should stay home from work or school for at least three or four days,” adds Dr. Manary. A good rule is to stay home until the sufferer is free of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications. Hand washing is a simple—and very effective—method for preventing the spread of contagious viruses. “Prevention is key,” Dr. Manary says. “I rarely get sick because I am constantly washing my hands between patient appointments at the office, after grocery shopping or running errands, and after using phones.” Dr. Manary also advises that individuals get a flu shot. At Internal Medicine of Northern Michigan, an average of 2,000 flu shots are administered annually to patients. “The shot significantly reduces the chances of contracting the virus,” Manary says.
Dr. Manary is part of the 12-provider team at Internal Medicine of Northern Michigan, serving adults patients for preventative and primary care, plus chronic disease management. For more information about Internal Medicine of Northern Michigan, call (231) 487-9702 or visit doctors4adults.com. Contact the Health Department for information about flu shot availability at (800)432-4121 or nwhealth.org. GL
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GOODlife 15
GOOD THOUGHTS
Serenity now
By Tricia Drenth
I
have to admit I get overwhelmed very easily. I apparently always need to be stressing about something. Juggling life with two young boys and two part-time jobs does not always work in my favor. Our house is often covered in piles and stacks of papers and mail; laundry baskets full of clean clothes waiting to be folded; LEGO, LEGO and more LEGO pieces everywhere; it is all enough to give me palpitations. At various times throughout the year we actually get the house completely picked up. This usually occurs before family gatherings. We clean and organize but then end up putting all those papers and mail in a box to be sorted at a later time, whenever that may be. After the family leaves (often close to 30 people) the floors get a thorough scrub and remnants of cupcake crumbs embedded in the rug are vacuumed. When all is said and done, we look around and wonder why we can’t keep the house this nice and clean all of the Chaos, busyness, and stress – it is all an inevitable part of life. I am trying to learn to get past the paralyzing “I don’t even know where to begin so I won’t do anything” to actually taking action. Making a list can be helpful. I feel accomplished when I can check something off. But what I really need is a system to declutter and stay as clutter free as possible, keeping our household in some kind of general order. I am obviously not the only person with this problem, as there are magazines and books dedicated
16 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
wikipedia.com
to this topic. I recently came upon a website for a company that can help one “declutter and destress,” with services ranging from phone consultations to time management assistance to family skills training. I am tempted to give them a call. I am not going to make this my new year’s resolution, since statistics show those rarely last. I am going to take it step by step, little by little. I finally found a home for the LEGO pieces in a long, clear plastic bin. All of the craft supplies are in one location. My husband and I bought ourselves a vacuum for Christmas (exciting, I know) that works so well and is so amazing we actually enjoy vacuuming. I continue to weed through clothes and toys to donate or share with friends, and I am trying to keep up with the recycling and the constant flow of mail. The dust balls will continue to
roll and the basement is pretty much a free for all, but I will do my best to work on my organizational skills to keep my stress level to a minimum. This may be an impossible task but is certainly worth a try. But I suppose I should take yoga back up, just in case. GL Tricia Drenth is a registered nurse and holds a master of science degree and bachelor of science in nursing degree from The University of Michigan. She also received an interdisciplinary certificate in international health and social development. She serves as an adjunct nursing instructor at North Central Michigan College and works at Charlevoix Area Hospital. Drenth resides in Charlevoix with her family.
GOOD TASTE
Gingerbread Goodness By Tresa Erickson
T
he scent of ginger, molasses and honey begins to fill the air. Ovens everywhere are bursting with gingerbread goodness. Some are making gingerbread cake, some, gingerbread houses, and some, gingerbread cookies. If you plan to bake some gingerbread cookies this season, here are some tips to ensure you get some good batches. There are hundreds of gingerbread cookie recipes available. You might even have a favorite or two. Either way, if you are planning to cut the dough into shapes, you will want to chill it. Mix up the dough and then place it in the refrigerator for a few hours. The dough will firm up, making it much easier to work with. Even when chilled, gingerbread dough can be sticky. To prevent the dough from sticking to everything, lightly coat the cookie cutters with cooking spray. Then dust the cookie cutters, rolling pin and countertops with flour or powdered sugar and repeat as necessary. For rather
large or delicate shapes, you may want to use parchment paper. Just cut the parchment paper to size, set it on top of the cookie sheet, roll out the dough on the parchment paper, cut out the shapes, remove the excess dough and slide the cookie sheet into the oven to bake. It’s that simple. For most people, the fun in making gingerbread cookies comes in the decorating of them. The key to great decorating is to use cool cookies. The heat from warm cookies will melt icing and cause it to slide off. Wait until the cookies are completely cool before icing them. Then, add any decorative candies before the icing sets. To keep your freshly decorated cookies intact, give the icing ample time to set. Making gingerbread cookies takes time. Don’t rush home from work and expect to have a plate of beautifully decorated gingerbread cookies done in an hour. It won’t happen, even with store-bought dough. Prepare to put in the time, follow the tips above and you will get the results you hope for. GL
creativeoutlet.com GOODlife 17
GOOD READ
Giving the gift of verse By Glen Young
W
ith Valentine’s Day only a few short weeks away, book lovers need look no further than poetry as Glen a sure way to hit the Young heart of a loved one. Two recent offerings from Farrar, Strauss and Giroux provide solid entry points for giving the gift of verse. Whether your reader likes fiction, non-fiction or something farther flung, consider steering your gift selections instead toward poetry. There are no better selections than two recent publications from Farrar, Straus and Giroux highlighting Christian nags Hope and Help and whip Wiman and Robin Robertson. the sorry chariot of yourself.” “Once in the West” is Wiman’s Offering sage advice to those fourth collection, demonstratwho would tend our souls, the ing again his powerful and spare preacher later explains how “the voice. The Yale Divinity School truth is our only savior is failprofessor hums low to the ground ure,” though his flavor of failure is in some verse here, while reachpalatable because it’s delivered “in ing heavenward in others. His a rage of faith,” conventions and voice takes up, always, the fundapunctuation notwithstanding. mental issues of here versus now, In “Rust,” Wiman shows not the profound and the personal. only the ethereal etching of time, “Into The Instant’s Bliss” illusbut also the incarnation of the trates the elemental questions of mundane and intimate. Wonfaith as Wiman explains how “some dering about the “milkfeel of a who cry the name of Christ Live child taking shape,” the woman more remote from love Than some in question nonetheless comes who cry to a void they cannot name.” alive through “handmade houseThese same concerns of conshoes and a cairn of yarn” and “a viction surface in “The Preacher Bible worn to nearly nothing.” Addressed the Seminarians,” as the In language both lean and poet reveals, “it’s no good pretendlabyrinthine, Wiman confirms the ing you don’t have to pretend, don’t power and weight of introspechave to hitch up those gluefutured tion found “Once in the West.” 18 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Scotsman Robertson, author of five previous collections of poetry, in addition to a handful of translations, hangs heavier meat on his verse, careful still to pare any fat. These muscled and verdant poems echo recognizable howls of emotion whether joy or despair. “In a slink of river light,” we learn in “What The Horses See at Night,” “the mink’s face/ is already slippery with yolk.” This helps carry the observer toward the hill, where the horses “hear the volecrying under the alder, our childrenbreathing in their beds.” Later, in “Trumpeter Swan,” Robertson explains, conjuring gossamer images of Icarus, “You can learn how to fly, see all the edges,” but “you can never be taught how to fall.” Unfortunately, “you can’t hold on/ to the height you find.” Robertson, romantic and
rogue, can also turn his wonder to whimsy when necessary, as well, such as in “Trysts.” Coupling simple anaphora rhyme, he urges his love to “meet me in your best shoes and your favorite dress meet me on your own in the wilderness.” Later, the poet trades quirkiness for notions ancient and ancestral in “The Wood of Lost Things.” As a child, walking the tribal woods, “listening out/ for gypsies” and “timber wolves,” the wanderer runs into “the place I wasn’t meant to find,” where he discovers “a life’s-worth of women in the forest corridor,” including “Mother and sister. Wife. And (his) daughters.” Before leaving, he realizes something “held down by stones,” where “the dead unbury themselves.” He finds at last, “This is my home.” An accomplished translator of both modern and ancient masters, Robertson also translates the simple into the sublime with few words, leaning on a keen understanding of austerity, as in “The Key,” where he opens the door “to the walled garden, the place (he’d) never been … with the simple turn of the key (he’d) carried … all these years.” Whether ancestral or whimsical, Robertson’s poetry provides hints, both known and newfound, that any poetry fan will appreciate. New readers as well will learn how poetry, as I’ve long proclaimed, is the sound of humanity delivered at the speed of emotion. Book buying can certainly be problematic. Fiction works for some readers, while others prefer non-fiction. And though poetry has traded much of the civic function of the political for the personal objective of entertainment, collections such as Christian Wiman’s “Once in the West” or Robin Robertson’s “Sailing the Forest,” will help you expand the possibilities for any reader on your Valentine’s Day gift giving list. GL creativeoutlet.com
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GOODlife 19
GOOD WORD
Breaking the habit of being myself N
ot long ago, I was inspired to pick up a book by Dr. Joe Dispenza titled “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself.” There comes a time in life when self- analysis seems like a healthy idea. As the book suggests, why wait for a crisis or a terminal illness to take stock and make improvements? Here’s the catch. The method of recommended self-analysis is meditation. I have always had a problem with meditation. When I was young I attended a parochial school, where during time spent in church, I watched in awe as habited nuns knelt for long periods of time before the tabernacle. “What were they thinking?” I wondered. It was a mystery. I tried my best to conjure up images from my faith but all I could think of was lunch. Years later I came to learn about mystics that put themselves in a trance and Native Americans who did something similar going on dream quests. Always the skeptic as a result of my failed attempts, I wondered if their apparitions had something to do with food and water deprivation. All the great religions of the world, however, can’t be wrong. From Buddhism to Catholicism, they all subscribe to the sublime introspection afforded by meditation. I am determined to break the meditation code. The closest I have ever come to achieving any success, is in the relaxation 20 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
By Anne Kelly
stage of a yoga class. The warm up music is hypnotic, my socks are warm; I shut my eyes and think about as close to nothing as I can manage. But as soon as I get in a zone, I find myself, too soon, in a downward facing dog pose with a cramp in my toes. Dispenza’s book lays the groundwork for the process by a very scientific analysis of the world beyond our conscious reality. It is not until chapter nine that he gets into the “how-to-do-it.” I will tell you this: you have to read the lead-up so don’t cheat. You will feel like an expert on brain waves and metaphysics and come to
the conclusion that it’s worth a try. The learning will take four weeks, according to Dispenza, so just relax. I have not completed the whole first week yet because I am not disciplined. You will do better. Here is the deal: in WEEK ONE it’s “Induction.” This is the part where you put yourself into a state of being in touch with your inner self. You can do this by concentrating on an awareness of body parts from the head, working your way down until you imagine yourself in the space that you occupy around your body, the room and the universe. Another means of induction is imagining warm water rising from your toes up very gradually until you are consumed by the water and floating. Make sure that the water is warm. I was really worried about the water when it reached my neck until I imagined myself with gills. The place that you do this is important. Sorry, it can’t be bed; too conducive to sleep. I opted for sitting in a cross-legged position on the floor (couldn’t pull off an actual “lotus” for fear of not getting untangled and up again), in my darkened bedroom, by a register … where it is warm and at about 6 a.m., the only sound comes from the humidifier. I tried Pandora with New Age music. Unfortunately, when the water got up to my neck, the music was interrupted by a commercial because my app is the free version.
I admit, I did read the rest of the book to see where this is going, should I finally master INDUCTION. Next thing on the agenda is to concentrate on (just) one character flaw that you feel is causing the most trouble in the quest for peace and harmony in your life. There has to be recognition of this flaw, a desire to change it, and then, here it is ... a surrender of the control we all feel about our destiny, into the hands of some power greater than ourselves, to fix it. If you follow the recipe for transformation and visualize the “you”, you want to become, it will be realized in the subconscious before it is ever actualized. And, “Change!” I tried that the other day I like this part, the outcome will on my way to the cupboard where I happen as a surprise because you hide the Golden Oreos which I am didn’t orchestrate it yourself. pretty sure are laced with cocaine. If you find yourself tempted to Four weeks and seven stages succumb to your old habits along later, there is a promise of redempthe way, you have to acknowltion, at which time you will have edge the transgression and say created a new you and only have
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to rehearse and maintain it. Voila! You have broken the habit of being yourself. If I make it, past the rising water, through the soul searching and into the reformation and re-creation, I plan to reward myself with one Golden Oreo! Namaste! GL
WED GD1
up north up
Bride 2014-15 Up North Bride Sprin g/Su
mmer 2014
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Bride 2014- 15
UP NORTH
FALL /WINT ER
Our fall-winter issue is here! Up North Bride is filled with helpful hints, tips and checklists for future brides and grooms. Watch for it available at bridal-related businesses, newsstands and bridal shows throughout the year.
Visit: upnorthbride.com MICH OM CHE DE & GRO INS IDE : BRI
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GOODlife 21
GOOD HEALTH
Boulder Park Terrace receives highest rating from U.S. News & World Report
W
ashington, D.C. — Boulder Park Terrace in Charlevoix has received the highest possible overall rating of five stars among U.S. News & World Report’s sixth annual Best Nursing Homes, available exclusively at http://www. usnews.com/best-nursing-homes. The Best Nursing Homes 2014 ratings highlight the top nursing homes in each city and state, out of nearly 16,000 facilities nationwide. U.S. News’ goal is to help the millions of Americans who will spend time in a nursing home find a home with a strong trackrecord of good care. According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about 60 percent of individuals over 65 will require some type of long-term care services during their lifetime and over 40 percent will receive care in a nursing home for some period. Best Nursing Homes draws on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency that assesses homes in three categories — health inspections, level of nurse staffing, and quality of care — and gives each an overall rating. U.S. News awarded the “Best Nursing Home” designation to homes that earned an overall rating of five stars from CMS in January 2014. “We are pleased that U.S. News & World Report recognizes Boulder Park Terrace as a five-star facility,” said Deb Saur-Mackenzie, LNHA, 22 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
executive director. “Our staff members are outstanding, and their compassionate and skillful care for our residents is what is being recognized by this prestigious award. It’s very exciting for us to be counted among the best in the nation,” she added. Boulder Park Terrace is a 61-bed nursing home and rehabilitation facility affiliated with McLaren Northern Michigan and Charlevoix Area Hospital. Those interested in more information can visit northernhealth.org/, or call (231) 547-1005. Boulder Park Terrace is located at 14676 W. Upright in Charlevoix. GL
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