When my mother was suffering Alzheimers, the nursing home urged us to put together a scrapbook of her family and friends from earlier years. While she wouldn't recognize me much of the time those last several years, she would recognize pictures of me from my childhood. Maybe each attendee, including Dad, could wear a picture of himself/herself from 30 or 40 years ago? Might just trigger Dad's memories of each person. I agree with Jackie that keeping things calm is important. Regarding the invitations, calling would prevent having to put Dad's condition in writing. ... View related article.
There is supposed to be an insect you can buy that will make the thistle plants infertile, and I haven't tried that. I don't know anyone who has eradicated thistle without chemicals, but I use very very little. First I make sure that none of them go to seed. If you just chop or mow them while they have any purple showing in the buds, they will usually go ahead and mature and make seed. I try to chop them before they get that far, but those I miss, I pick off the purple flowers (get some good rose or welding gloves), bag those up, then chop the plant within a few inches of the ground and spot spray my chemical mix right on the open wound. I use WD40 with dishsoap and water. You have to be vigilant. Let one flower head go to seed and you've got a whole new crop next year! 20 years ago, we had huge patches of thistles threatening to take over our farm, now they are few and far between. I can top and spray all of them on our 86 acres in just a few hours. ... View related article.
