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On Tuesday I posted to our Facebook page a welcome to our recent new followers. I was thrilled to view the page statistics and see that we have personal Likers from around the world: Australia, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Malaysia, Turkey, Iraq, Portugal, Cameroon, Greece, Thailand, India, Aruba, Pakistan, Ireland, Egypt and Libya. Although our number suggests a small group, as a collective we represent many. I know some followers are home carers, some are artists and photographers, some are professional carers and therapists, there are more experiences I'm sure amongst our followers and some, I know, are my family

When I read all the countries' names I remembered the little flags of the world that I collected when I was a girl - way back. It was the 1950's and I'm guessing it was 1956 to coincide with the Olympic Games that year in Melbourne, Australia. I'm not sure how I managed to get so many, surely they hadn't come in cereal packets as I was raised as an only child. I've always had a healthy appetite - but not that good - lol!  Maybe the flags were a weekly purchase at the local news-agency. They weren't collector cards. They were tinny reproductions of each flag. The material was fine, like an organza from memory. The flagpole was light wood, like a toothpick. Your person in care or facility residents will no doubt remember them and give you more information than I can. Especially where they came from. They will tell you some of the countries too no doubt. Perhaps they had dolls from different countries. I didn't but I so enjoyed a doll collection one of my little girlfriends owned. She had shelves of smiling dolls wearing beautiful costumes. It was, I remember, a strictly look and don’t touch experience. A further chat time with memories of the Flags of the World may include the old movie Around the World in Eighty Days.

I chose the above photo of the Rosa as it is a recognizable, common, universal flower. Although our Facebook Likers represent many different countries we all obviously have one thing in common - an interest in activities for people in aged care and support for carers and people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Thank you for following both my Blogs and Facebook page.

Photo: Film Still from the DVD movie A Flower Medley

I have shared a free iStockphoto image for you on our Facebook page. It is a reminder of those old days when many of us used typewriters not a key board. It may be a little dark for some persons in care to see the detail but many will recognize the scene, especially if they have been writers, or used a typewriter for work.  Perhaps they enjoyed creating their own recipe books, labels for their photo albums, writing their private letters or perhaps a tip or letter to an editor. Maybe the image is a reminder of the old afternoon television shows in the 1960's of Clark Kent working at his desk or the evening program Dragnet, about a detective.

As I've mentioned before, whether we are looking at a typist from the 1950's or someone working at a computer today, the procedure and posture is the same. This is why I use images and scenarios of recognizable actions and hobbies in my audiovisuals for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. 

If you are planning to do an activity on the arts, as occupations or hobbies, I have put together some quotes on my Pinterest Page. So far I have pinned quotes by artists and quotes for artists. Subjects include writing, painting, acting, photography, craft, dancing, fashion and music. Hopefully you will find some sayings there that your residents or person in care will enjoy listening to. The typing image from iStockphoto is available for download at Facebook and also the artist painting image (above) is available at a larger jpg size from our Art eBooks Page for free. In this picture I'm using a hand-made Mahl Stick to support my painting hand while doing fine detail. Please email me if you would like the instructions for making one.

FYI: Our Social Media Links  -  Other Blog Posts Listed by Title  -  DVD Previews

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Well, I've finally finished my first couple of online pin-boards for Share-Time Pictures on Pinterest. There are more to follow, in time. Although I have to admit I have been finding the experience rather addictive. There are so many amazing images and subjects out there. Do you have a Pinterest acccount? Our Pinterest name is the same as our Twitter account: Activites4Care - If you're looking for us the full URL is: http://pinterest.com/activities4care

Carers and therapists in aged care are familiar with the cross-section of arts available for residents and people in our care. I am currently creating a board around activities in the health industry and will make it public shortly. One board that I have made public is titled: Alzheimer's Awareness Through The Arts. The collection of images brings together a variety of arts disciplines in which people are bringing awareness of Alzheimer's disease to their communities. I have included a couple of my own projects there as well. Please let me know if you have any others I can add to the board, thanks. 

I've also done a page just about Our Happy and Engaging Movies for people with Alzheimer's. This provides a lot of the movie information and previews on one page. I hope you'll return to our Pinterest collections to see what's new in the future. 

On our Share-Time Pictures Facebook page I have shared a photo from that wonderful classic movie - The Sound of Music. The image includes the cast as they appeared in the movie 45 years ago and a second photo of the stars today. If you are able to use an iPad or similar with your person in care, the image may be viewable when enlarged. Did they go and see it in the 60's? What was a favourite moment in the movie? What is a favourite song from the movie? Did they see the stage show on Broadway? I was a teenager in my high school choir in the 1960s and we sang every song, or at least it seemed we knew them all. Enjoy a sing-along with a CD or the movie or perhaps a piano or guitar. 

DVD VIEWING TIPS: If you are planning to view the movie on a DVD, or any other movie or program on television or screen, I have written a suggestions to support the viewing experience.

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For those of us in Australia we will be welcoming this change in our seasons, I'm sure. I live in the sub-tropics, in South East Queensland, so we don't get to see the dramatic colour changes in leaves as those living in the southern states or people in the Northern Hemisphere. In Queensland, the seasons almost blend into each other over several weeks. Not to mention the fact we are being surrounded by palm trees and gum trees in many areas. Here, Mother Nature saves her colour display for Spring with our Jacarandas, Flame Trees and Poincianas. 

During the late 1970's I lived in Ontario, Canada for a year. The seasons changed instantly. Snap! During our 'Fall' there we were holidaying, with my four children, up on the Lakes. It was an isolated cottage snuggled in dense forest. The lake nurtured snapping turtles and a bear rummaged at our bin during one night. It was an indelible memory for an Aussie girl from the suburbs. Although I was born and raised in Melbourne (yes Melbourne, with all the seasons in one day and beautiful public gardens), the change in the Canadian season was dramatic. It was as though an artist had painted the trees overnight. The colours were breathtaking. The landscape glowed.

I was so excited by the colours and shapes of the Canadian Maple leaves that I picked branches with leaves and arranged them in a large vase. That didn't satisfy me though ... so I painted them. It was an oil painting, 18 x 24 inches. I loved it. Plus, it was my first painting that I took to a commercial gallery, it was accepted and hung. I was ecstatic Eventually I sold it. I always find it hard parting with a painting. 

If you are organizing activities about Autumn the DVD A Flower Medley is a nice way to quietly close the session. Before your activity begins, fast forward through to the autumn section. Start on this vignette at the introductory colour changes and allow discussion or just let it play. Then while serving morning tea or transferring residents from the area the movie will move on and loop automatically through other seasons. 

There is also an Autumn section on the DVD Oranges and Lemons. In this vignette the movie is focusing on the orange and yellow colours. Preset the starting point. Depending on your group, this vignette may be more suited for the start or close of painting activities.

If you are celebrating Spring then we still have flower templates to colour or paint - Buy eBooks or free downloads

Photo: Film Still from the movie A Flower Medley (a DVD that's not just about flowers)  Movie Previews

Thank you for stopping by to read my posts. My next post will be after Easter. Happy and special holidays for you.