Caregiver Care

If you're wondering why I haven't been at the perch for a while, it's because I was caring for my mother who was recently hospitalized for pneumonia with sepsis (this can happen at any age; for symptoms and more information consult the Mayo Clinic). Thankfully, she will be fine, but being her caregiver (and also my father's--he's 81 and needs help with some everyday tasks) made me stressed and exhausted. I'm sure anyone who's been through similar will attest the same, in addition to proclaiming the importance of taking care of yourself so you can be there for your loved one.

Here's what I learned about the needs of caregivers from my own experience:

• Get rest.  The person who is ill needs rest, but so do you. If you're tired and depleted, you won't be much good in providing help. Furthermore, you put yourself at risk for getting sick.
• Eat and Drink.  Don't forget your own basic needs to keep up your strength and avoid dehydrating.
• Use the restroom.  How can anyone not do this? Well, it's not too hard when you have doctors, nurses, and others coming in and out of the hospital room, and you're getting up and down giving your loved one sips of water as well as adjusting blankets.
• Take your own meds.  If you're on maintenance medications, like yours truly, be sure to remember your own health.
• Ask for help.  As a general rule, I try not to bother others, but when I really need help, I've learned to ask for it. I was really grateful to my husband and in-laws for helping with different things, like bringing over groceries and food.
• Read a book.  Seriously. You need a mental break sometimes from what you're doing and what's going on. I was glad to read my Kindle in the hospital during those times when my mother was able to sleep. It was good to have a temporary distraction.

There are all sorts of support groups both online and in-person for caregivers of those with various illnesses, aging issues, physical/mental/emotional impairments, etc. Some support groups are specific to a condition (i.e., breast cancer, dementia, autism) or are more general. If you're wondering how you can help someone you know who's caring for someone on a short- or long-term basis, here are some online articles to read:

• "6 Simple (Yet Meaningful) Ways to Support a Caregiver" (Caring Bridge)
• "10 Ways to Help Caregivers" (Bridge to Better Living)
• "Caregiver Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself" (Mayo Clinic)
• "Family Caregiving: Help and Support for Caregivers" (HelpGuide.org)
• "How to Support a Caregiver" (Carespring)

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Holiday Season from the perch.

The 300th Post!

Wow! Can you believe it? 300 posts in over 12 years! I missed celebrating the 100th and 200th posts, but the 300th is the charm!

Approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts and feelings turn to gratitude. You may recall that back in January I made the New Year's intention (I hate the term, "resolution") to keep a gratitude journal and every day list three things for which I'm grateful, no matter how big or small. Well, I've actually kept it up. Maybe I've combined a couple of days here and there, maybe I've listed more than three things on some days, but I've made a point of keeping it going.

Experts claim that reflecting and being grateful help rewire your brain to think more positively and, in turn, make you feel happier. I didn't think I would say this, but the experts are right--I do generally feel more content overall. Even my husband says I complain less these days! And flipping back through my gratitude journal, I'm amazed by how many things I have to be grateful about.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let me say that I am grateful that I've been able to write 300 posts for you to read and (hopefully) enjoy. I'm grateful to have been your perch librarian for over 14 years now (and counting). I'm grateful to have helped so many of you with your questions, a number of which have been interesting and some of which have kept me on my toes! And I'm grateful to have gotten to know so many of you along with your families--it's one of the highlights working at the perch.

Although we're living in uncertain and somewhat concerning times, there are still things for which to be grateful. And keep in mind that those things are often ordinary, everyday things that can be easily overlooked and taken for granted. Take a moment to stop, notice those things, and be grateful for them.

Wishing you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving from the perch.

Let's Talk Turkey!

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year like your perch librarian? Are you also intimidated by the turkey? With the holiday just around the corner, I thought it might be good to talk turkey. Specifically, let's talk about different websites that can help us conquer that big bird.

It's amazing how many ways a turkey can be cooked--in the oven, on the barbecue, in a deep fryer, in a smoker, etc. As for recipes, the number is endless; I kid you not. Bearing all this in mind, I'm going to list a few key places to get started:

• AllRecipes  Here are 13 turkey recipes to peruse. Choose from a classic or an herb roasted turkey to something a little off the beaten path, like a spicy Cajun deep-fried or a roast Peruvian turkey. The recipes include accompanying videos as well.
• Butterball  The name is synonymous with both turkey and Thanksgiving. It covers everything from types of turkey to buy, thawing directions, various cooking instructions, and leftover recipes, among other things. And don't forget about the hotline for turkey questions and emergencies.
• Food Network  The well-known TV channel lists 92 turkey recipes from the classic to the truly out-there turkey (I'm talking about tandoori, Memphis-fried, General Tso's-fried, buffalo-fried, North Carolina-style barbecue, maple-whiskey...you name it).
• Food & Wine  For a rather classy turkey, check out the 26 recipes offered here. There are recipes for turkey that's cider-glazed, citrus marinated, spice-rubbed, beer-brined, and more. There's even Anthony Bourdain's recipe for "business turkey," which has the bare basics.
• YouTube  For visual learners, watch a video and let a cook go through the cooking process step-by-step. Search for "how to cook a turkey" (the cooking method can be specified in the search) and choose from videos made by famous chefs and vloggers. Additionally, it's a good place to look up video recipes for side dishes and desserts.

Do you have a particular turkey recipe you enjoy? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads and delicious eats from the perch.

What's Cooking with the Perch Librarian

Fall is the time for comfort food, at least it is for me. With the leaves dropping along with the temperatures, I enjoy making and eating some savory foods on a chilly day (along with a good book, naturally). Although there are some great cookbooks out there, I actually prefer exploring recipes online. That way I can look for specific recipes and even compare multiple recipes for the same dish to see which one I prefer.

So if you're wondering what are some of my favorite fall dishes, check out the following:

• Rustic Hungarian Mushroom Soup  I love almost anything with mushrooms, but this easy-to-make soup is so mushroomy and creamy you'll be wishing you had a bigger stomach. Enjoy it with a roll or a chunk of crusty bread.
• Easy Slow Cooker Beef Chili  The crockpots tend to come out more in the fall and winter, don't they? Other than sauteing onions and browning beef, this is a "dump" recipe. Pair it with this ultimate moist and tasty Cornbread recipe and you're in heaven.
• Meatloaf Supreme  There are so many meatloaf recipes out there that it's hard to choose. The ingredient that distinguishes this one from others (along with it being a recipe of American author Laura Ingalls Wilder) is your choice of sausage mixed with the beef. I like using mild Italian sausage and an extra can of mushrooms (did I mention I love mushrooms?) beside the can of mushrooms I spread on top.
• Gemma's Best Ever Irish Scones  Scones and tea--what could be better? Not much, in my opinion. Believe this tea snob when she says there are few (if any) recipes for scones that can compare. Make sure you pair this with a good cuppa.
• Polish Apple Cake  I found this recipe on a Facebook page for those interested in their Polish heritage. If you're looking for something different from your standard American pie, give this one a try. It's simple, delicious, and you can decorate the top with sliced apples to impress others.

What are some of your favorite comfort recipes for fall? Share with us!

Wishing you delectable delicacies this season from the perch.

 

Witchy Reads

Some are old, some are new. Find the perfect book for you! 'Tis the witching time of year to read of things that we may fear. Care to read of Salem's trials? Witches of the British Isles? Then come and visit for a spell. The books we like, we'll gladly tell. The cauldron's brewing--that's no joke! The library's where you won't go broke.

Now on to books that are quite charming or (who knows?) a tad alarming:

• The Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian  In 1662 Boston, a woman seeking to divorce her abusive husband is tried for witchcraft. Beware of dinner utensils.
• The Nature of Witches by Rachel M. Griffin  Witches control the climate and are losing control. Now we know the real reason behind climate change!
• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness  What do you get when you put a witch and a vampire together, and then mix in some daemons? The first book of an exciting trilogy filled with romance, history, adventure, and suspense.
• The Once and Future Witches  by Alix E. Harrow  Three sisters join the suffragists, use witchcraft, and change the course of history. Never underestimate a witch.
• Wicked by Gregory Maguire  Move over Dorothy. This is the backstory about the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz who wasn't always wicked.
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K Rowling  The book that started the world phenomenon centering on an 11-year old boy who discovers he's a wizard and attends a school for witchcraft.
• The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem by Stacy Schiff  A non-fiction read about the most infamous witch hunt in American history.

Know other books that are divine? By all means share and post a line.

Wishing you good witchy reads from the perch.

Why You (May) Read Faster on an E-Reader

In my last post, I talked about people generally reading faster on an e-reader as opposed to a print book. This time I'm going to explore why this may be the case. I can't speak for all readers of digital books, but I will share with you some of the reasons why I probably read faster with my Kindle:

• I can adjust the font size.  I love that I'm not restricted to the publisher's font size. I can choose a size that's comfortable for my eyes to read. I can also choose a serif or sans serif font, if I'd like.
• I can read in dark mode.  If you're not aware of this, dark mode puts text in white against a black background. This makes it easier on the eyes to read in low-light situations. It's an eye-saver for me to use dark mode to read in bed at night.
• It's lighter to hold than a print book.  My Kindle weighs far less than most books. Also, I don't have to hold it open or even hold it at all (I actually have a triangular pillow pad on which to prop it).
• I can get a book anytime.  If I finish my book outside of library hours, I don't have to wait for the library to open to get my next read. I can get it at 11 p.m., 6 a.m., or whenever.

Not too long ago, someone who prefers reading print books told me I went over to the "dark side" and "drank the Kool-Aid." I replied that the dark side is pretty nice and the Kool-Aid tastes good. Not everyone may agree with me regarding the use of e-readers, and that's okay. I will say, however, to be open to different things because you just never know if you may discover something new to enjoy.

Wishing you delightful refreshments to accompany your reading from the perch.

With What Do You Read Faster?

Do you read a paper book faster or an electronic book? That is the question for today since I stumbled across this article claiming we perceive that we read faster on an e-reader.

When I first started reading ebooks on my Kindle during the pandemic, I admit that I had to adjust to reading on a screen and swiping across it to advance rather than turning a physical page. However, once I grew accustomed to using an e-reader, I was like a fish taking to water. It indeed felt like I was reading faster on a screen than a printed page. I thought that must have been my imagination. Did I really read more ebooks than print?

To get to the bottom of things, I went to my LibraryThing page to see how many print books I read throughout 2019 (my last pre-pandemic year of reading strictly print) versus how many ebooks I've read this year (post-pandemic) so far. Surprise--I listed 10 books in all of 2019 compared to 19 books in 2023 and there are still 3 MONTHS left in the year! I actually do read more on my Kindle than in print! Who knows how many books I'll have read by December 31?

According to a blog called Simone and Her Books, 66 percent of people say they read faster on an e-reader, while 34 percent say they read slower. Wow! Bear in mind that Simone didn't do a scientific study; she got these percentages from people who responded to her topic-related question on Bookstagram. If it's true that people read faster on readers, it would be interesting to ponder why that's the case, something that's best left for another post.

Do you feel you read faster on an e-reader or in print? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads (electronic or in print) from the perch.