A Rainbow of Binders

Every teacher loves the versatility of three ring binders and Isabel has 6 of them to keep her reading life organized.

Several of you have written letters with a PS that says something such as: "I hope someone can read this to you" or "how are your eyes? can you read?"

Isabel's eyes are fine and she reads a lot, although her eyes tire fairly easily. (The nurses say it is because of the smoke coming off her letterboard when she is in high-gear!)

Isabel has use of a few fingers of her left hand. It is not easy to turn pages that lay on a wheelchair table so we have devised a coloured three ring binder system for her various materials. A binder can sit on Isabel's angled reading board for easy turning. The various colours make it easier for Isabel to communicate with staff about which binder she wants on her angled reading board.

Her red binders are the favourites. We three hole punch each letter, news article, etc. that comes from you (and sometimes greeting cards as well before they go up on her card ledge). The contents of each red binder changes weekly, and is read daily by Isabel. The housekeeper on the south end of 2-6 opens Isabel's mail for her early each morning.

The dark blue binder is for The Seniors' Newspaper. Thanks to an Aber friend's generosity with this gift subscription.

The orange binder is for farm newspapers.

The green one is for magazines. This week's is a Scottish one. Thanks to all of you who have brought a variety of magazines.

The purple one tells the story of Isabel's teaching career and is a well used one as she and former students have frequently looked through it.

We still have the pink, purple, and yellow ones to fill.

Now if we could just get our desks (and staff!) organized as well as Isabel has hers!

Today is November 11, and Isabel will be watching programming from "the Hill" in Ottawa. Together, we remember........

Contacting Isabel

Several of you have inquired how to contact Isabel.....

By leaving a phone message in her room: 306-545-5994.

By sending a letter:

Unit 2-6
Wascana Rehab Centre
2180-23rd Ave.
Regina, SK
S4S 0A5

Thank you!

"Trick or Treat or Halloween Apples?"

Halloween is one of Isabel's favourite days and this has been a full
Halloween week. The 2-6 staff have decorated the unit with witches,
goblins, and jack o'lanterns. One of Isabel's quilting friends has
created a Scottish witch wall hanging (in two tartans) that now hangs
along side her Fall pumpkins.

On Monday, Isabel's Cousin Mary who turns 90 the same week as Isabel turns 80 arrived to visit with family members, a singing birthday
plate, and 7-Up for birthday toasts. Two other former Abernethians
dropped in at the party. Riddle of the Day: How many people can you
stuff in one resident room?

On Thursday, five other Abernethy friends came by (several to show
off their Halloween costumes) and to discuss the latest happenings in
the village.

In between these party times, other family members and friends
visited to catch up on news from the summer.

There is still time to participate in October 31 activities! Isabel
has her Halloween costume and is ready to go to Wascana's Haunted
House and Social Hour. Guests welcome, too. Departure time is 1:00
sharp!

Some weeks are very quiet in Isabel's room. This is not one of them!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Recipe for a Fine Fall Day

Take:

* 1 sunshiny day and a turquoise cloudless sky

* 1 Wascana van and a relaxed driver

* 1 Grandmother, 2 daughters, 1 granddaughter and three of her friends

* 1 wheel-chair accessible college on a beautiful University campus
close to Wascana

What do you have?

Isabel's afternoon outing to Luther College at the University of
Regina to see granddaughter Megan's new digs, cafeteria, lecture
halls, new friends and hang-out spaces. Thanks for the tour, Meg!

Wasn't That A Party!!!!

Wascana was rocking last Thursday evening when Larry & Marj Middleton of Abernethy brought their blend of keyboard and sax for the pleasure of many of the residents of Wascana. 50 residents settled in at ground level and 20 more were entertained from the second floor "balconies". Through the mix of swing, folk, latin, country, old tyme, polkas, and gospel music, the staff kept the residents and their wheel chairs dancing. Isabel and her friends had front row seats.

Remembering her own coaching from Larry while she was learning to play the sax a few years ago, Isabel remarked:

LARRY MAKES IT LOOK SO EASY and THOSE TWO CAN PLAY ANYTHING.

When you use a letterboard to communicate, you can "talk" throughout the concert, and the ushers don't tell you to "Keep quiet!"

Isabel closed the party down when she saw her guests to the door to wish them good night. On her way back home to Unit 2-6, the cleaning staff were the only folks left reminding us of a fine evening of music and dance and friendship.

Thanks, Larry & Marj and Regina friends for bringing your music and appreciation to the halls of Wascana.

A Thanksgiving Hymn

It is the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and we reminded Isabel that a year ago  she painstakingly spelled out through nods and blinks: HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

A year of significant improvement later, we suggested to Isabel that she might want to post another message to the blog. We solemnly suggested that perhaps it could include a stanza from a favourite Thanksgiving hymn, and thus "Voices United" was consulted. After reviewing several hymns, Isabel spelled KEEP IT SHORT.

And then at a rapid pace she quipped on her letterboard:

I MAY BE OVER THE HILL, BUT THAT'S BETTER THAN BEING UNDER IT!

And with mirth in her eyes, Isabel confirmed that this was the posting for the blog.  So there we go.....

AND also from all of us to all of you  ~  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

A Musical Evening at Wascana

Marge and Larry Middleton of Abernethy are bringing their musical talent on keyboard and sax to Wascana at a public event on Thursday October 9.

Isabel is inviting anyone to join her from 7-8 pm in the Wascana Atrium (main level) for some fine entertainment.

It is best to plan to be there by 6:45 pm as seating is limited. Parking to the right of the main doors. Please bring a lawn chair as this is open space that will fill quickly with people who use wheelchairs for mobility.

Here's hoping for an Aber reunion in Regina this Thursday evening!