Pill Bottle Pencil Holder

Pill Bottle Pencil Holder

Another idea from our year of recycling projects.  This activity came about because someone brought a bag of pill bottles to our group along with a challenge.  What could we make out of pill bottles? Because the bottles are so light weight I decided that they had to be used in groups.  Gloss gel to the rescue!

For those of you who don't know me you probably don't know that my favorite  product to use for an adhesive is gloss gel.  For this project we took three of the pill bottles, which happened to be triangular,  spread a bit of gloss gel on the parts that would be touching, and held them together, overnight, with a rubber band. 

By morning the gloss gel was dry and the bottles were beautifully welded together.  Then it was time to decorate.  As you can see, the bottles in the picture are simply decorated with plastic flower-like pieces that are also held in place with gloss gel.  Any small embellishments would work.

This idea also works with round containers.  Gloss gel dries clear so fear not if a participant uses a goodly amount of the product.  Other ideas for such a container might be for holding paint brushes or straws.   How else could you use them?  What else could you, or have you made with empty pill bottles?    Would love to hear from you with your ideas.

A Few Kind Words

"Everybody likes a compliment."  Abraham Lincoln

The Most Handsome Man in My Life - Dad, about a year before he died

I have a confession to make.  Besides sitting out in my art studio and making stuff for many hours of the day I also waitress at my son's restaurant two nights a week.  I have been dabbling in restaurant work for over 45 years, oftentimes as a manager, and I love the interaction with the guests as well as with the restaurant staff.

Through all those years of connecting with the public I've learned how effective a compliment can be to establish rapport.  I've also learned that most people can spot a false compliment a mile away.   False compliments are like the bar talk between singles just before closing time.  You get the picture.

At any rate, on a recent, busy Saturday night a young couple came into the restaurant.  I'd guess that they were in their early 30's.  The waitresses all noticed the young man immediately because he was tall and slim and had a soft, rugged look.  One of the waitresses wondered if he might be a model.  The waitress who had their table said that he was extremely polite.  Well, I just couldn't let the moment pass.

As the couple was leaving I walked up to them and said to the young man, "The wait staff took a vote  and decided that you were the best looking man in the restaurant this evening."  He not only smiled, he glowed.  The young woman with him was also beaming.

Too often, however, I notice something about a person, such as a kindness they do, and fail to mention.  Fail to simply move my lips and put into words what I'm thinking.  What a shame because it's just as easy to notice and speak.  And as Honest Abe tells us, "Everybody likes a compliment."  Wouldn't that be a nice little gift to give to people in your life for Valentines Day!

A Life More Fully Lived

"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions." Oliver Wendell Holmes

Sometimes I find it easy to be swept along by routine.  It's such a protected place to live.  But growth, according to a myriad of authors, comes from stepping outside of our comfort zones, which are entrenched in our routines.

I recently came across a book that is designed to force readers, especially the readers who choose to participate, out of their routines.  It's touted as an action plan to change your life forever.  The book is, "The Nine Intense Experiences" by Brian Vaszily.  I prepared myself for some sky diving or bungee jumping.  "Bring it on, Brian!" I thought, as I started to read.

Instead, the book takes readers out of their comfort zones with activities that can be performed in their own  homes.  Intense Experience number one nudges the reader back to the spontaneity of childhood.  There are suggested movies to watch and books to read.  I read, for the first time, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll.  Also on the reading list was "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint Exupery, my favorite book of all time. 

But then the tasks for Intense Experience number one included more participatory challenges, such as, singing out loud or dancing around the house.  Now that sounds rather easy, doesn't it.  A small step outside of my comfort zone in order to expand my world.  As the disclaimers state, individual results might vary. 

When you see me this year at activity professional conferences notice if I spontaneously break into dance steps.  If you'd like to try some life altering experiences for yourself, Brian's book is probably available in your public library system.  The book is delightful and, in a strange way, slightly challenging.  Happy dancing! 

Sabbatical

This past month, January of 2012, I took some time off for myself.  I spent the month mainly in my art studio, reconnecting with the things that I love to do.  I also spent a large part of my time cooking, which is another creative activity that I love.  My freezer is now filled with containers of easily accessible meals and my recipe blog, loveyathemom.blogspot.com, is bursting with new recipes and information about the foods that we eat.

As much as I believe in the value of the work that people do with and for others, I also believe in the importance of good self-care if a person is to be of value to others.  To continually take without replenishing leaves me tired and wondering when in the world I'll ever find the time to do the things that I believe need to be done.

As part of my jumping back into the fray I decided to explore websites and blogs dedicated to care of the senior population.  Some of the sites had sections about creative ideas.  Almost every posting was at least 40 to 60 months old.  Have the last 3 to 5 years been especially difficult and overwhelming, or did caregivers simply loss interest and a sense of purpose?  Maybe it's time for an all out recharging of personal batteries.  What do you love to do?  Have you given yourself the gift of time to enjoy whatever it is that buoys you up and keeps you at your best?  This could be the perfect time!