Sunday 28 June 2015

Learning new skills

 Now and again when I realise I am forgetting names and what day of the week it is, I have a talk to Mr.Google to find out what he advises older people to do to stay mentally alert. I came across this advice How to Stay Sharp As You Age which briefly addresses how the brain typically ages and what is not normal and shouldn't be brushed off as just symptoms of 'getting old'.


In the article there are five suggestions for staying sharp:

1. Don't drink excessively or smoke: I don't do either of them.

2. Control high blood pressure and cholesterol problems: I have given up sugar in the hope that I can bring down my too high cholesterol level. I will have the level checked after six months which will be August. 

3. Exercise regularly. I am working on this and with the help of my trusty pedometer, I have increased the number of steps I walk each day and also hope to join in on one of the fitness classes which are part of The Change Project which is funded by our local council.

4. Eat a healthy diet: I need to include more fish in my diet and less red meat PLUS more vegetables to be in line with the new Aussie Healthy Eating Pyramid. Eating more vegetables is easier said than done though. I also need to open those cans of sardines I have been looking at in the pantry for weeks now :-(

5. Last but not least ~ Stimulate your brain: Hmmm, much more work needs to be done on this one especially since I have retired and don't have the interaction with others I used to have at work. Playing challenging games - well I don't do that. Learning new skills - that is what I am working on at the moment and I am trying to do something new every couple of days or so. 

I mentioned in a previous post that we have kale growing which I rarely pick as I am not all that thrilled with the taste. However, it is being wasted as mildew is growing on the leaves so I thought I would bite the bullet and make kale chips which heaps of bloggers rave about. I found a recipe that I thought sounded nice and would mask the taste of the kale so decided to try this recipe which includes tahini. Well, I don't know if you have ever worked with tahini but it is very, very sticky and do you think I could coat those kale leaves without my fingers sticking to everything I touched. In the end I gave up trying to coat the leaves lightly and made do with the thick coating, put them in the oven and had a look at them in 10 minutes as per the instructions as they were to cook for 30 minutes.


Well I had a look after 10 minutes and was greeted by burnt offerings. LOL! Oh well, so much for learning new skills. I was amazed that a full tray of kale leaves could shrink so much. Never mind I thought, I will put them in the compost. Oh maybe I should just see what they taste like first. Would you believe it, they were just the most tasty chips I have ever eaten even though the tahini had dried up somewhat. I scoffed down the whole tray and when my son came into the kitchen and asked where the kale chips had gone to I just had to tell him that they got burnt! ;-)

I will try this recipe again but perhaps I will be able to thin down the tahini first....and the menfolk might get to eat some too. 

I am also trying a new knitting stitch in between sock knitting so started making a scarf using these  Easy Trellis Lace Scarf instructions. I have never knitted anything more complicated than my simple socks I completed recently and this pattern looked fairly simple but I kept losing a stitch somehow and it took me a few rows before I discovered a way to stop that from happening. I don't know if the pattern is wrong or if I am knitting incorrectly but keeping 25 stitches on my needles was a bit of a learning curve. Hopefully I won't have to start from scratch again. At least knitting helps me to concentrate and not let my mind wander.




I also want to learn how to make Violet Salve. I found these instructions by Faye from This Blessed Hearth. I had never really heard of making salve from violets and was fascinated to read about the process. 


I find it interesting to read on blogs that violets grow in spring in the US as we have them growing now in our winter.

 


 While checking out Pinterest for different salve recipes I came across a lot that use dandelions so will give a few of those a try as well.


 

 While I was outside with my camera I came across some Cape Gooseberry plants growing wild amongst the weeds.

 

 When these are ripe the bright orange berry inside can be used in jam or added to salads and desserts. However, they don't usually make it to the kitchen as the CEO eats them when working out in the garden.

So there you have it...challenging games and learning new skills on the list need to be worked on.

What do you do to keep mentally alert if you are getting on in years?






17 comments:

  1. Goodness me if forgetting the odd name etc is all that is happening you are doing just fine! Try driving and completely forgetting where you were heading (I did this the other day) - aaaargh.

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    1. Phil, I have done that too. Often I will find myself driving to my former workplace without thinking. LOL!

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  2. I'm always trying to learn something new! Knitting for instance. We have learned to control Cholesterol by eating less red meats. More fish and chicken. My doctor recommended the Mediterranian Diet. It's so yummy! Lots of great foods on this plan.
    Excercise, no, I don't get enough actual excercise but I go sun up to sun down. Some day... things will slow down and I will be able to work out some.
    Hope you have a great week.

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    1. Concentrating on a knitting pattern must do something good for one's brain, Joyful. At least moving around and not sitting will keep you reasonably fit with your busy days.

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  3. You could always use my excuse - I have accumulated so much information that my brain is sometimes storing odd bits in files on its own! The information is there I'm just not sure where it is filed, so I am forgetting things because I have so much knowledge! There - doesn't that sound better than getting old!!!

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  4. Kathy, that definitely does sound much better. LOL!

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  5. Chel, i dont know anyone who tries so hard to be active, and engaged with life more than you. I dont think you are in any danger and i agree with Kathy. You have been stuffing that poor brain of yours with all these newly learnt skills and it is just overstuffed. The filing cabinet is full. I have only one suggestion and it seems to have worked wonders for my 85 years old MUM and that is music. She is still playing and writing music on her ole upright piano. Still entertaining the "oldies" at two homes and occasionally learning new pieces "on request". She play solitaire as well. I have a piano as well and its sitting there in readiness for my retirement when i will have lessons again and hopefully play myself to old age. Pity the neighbors.

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  6. Lynda, I don't play the piano but I used to play the guitar. Perhaps I could learn how to play my son's bagpipes. Now that would really upset the neighbours LOL!

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  7. My brain is over stimulated, as well as the knitting, I also love Sudoku it is another time waster, when I should be doing exercise.

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    1. I don't think my brain is over stimulated since retiring, Deb. I did try Sudoku but couldn't work it out. I should give it another go as it was a few years ago that I had a try.

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    2. Come on Chel, you can do it. I love it but then i am an Accountant. Numbers make the world go round. Oh, Happy New Year to me!!! Its the 1/7.

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  8. I think too much on your mind can cause forgetfulness. I know it does it for me. And I know that spending too much time on the computer numbs your brain too...

    I agree with Lynda, music and dance would be perfect for keeping your brain active. For example, look at that 100 year old lady dancer (Eileen Kramer) that was on TV a while back. She is simply elegant and very much switched on. She is a lady of many talents.

    Sardines Nanna Chel? I found this recipe last night and I am going to try it soon as it sounds a bit more interesting than plain sardines http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/lemon_sardine_pasta.html

    xTania

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    1. I agree about being on the computer too much, Tania. However, I also find other blogs interesting to read and to find out what is going on in other areas of Australia and the world. I have pinned that recipe so I don't forget about it and will give it a try. Thanks heaps.

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  9. I also worry about the whole brain stimulation thing Chel. For the last two years I've had french lessons but gave it a rest this year. Like you I used to play the guitar and I must get back to it. Learning new songs would help I think as does blog writing. Time for another new challenge though. I just have to find it.

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    1. Yes Hutchy, after being in the same work environment it is such a change to be in a quiet atmosphere all the time with not much mental stimulation at all. Some days I wake up and have to try and work out what day it is. LOL!

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  10. It seems as though you're doing all the right things.
    Having worked a good deal with the elderly and just through observing older people I have found to 2 key things to a stimulating daily life:
    1. Faith - this is a no brainer for me, my faith is the most important thing to me and motivates all I do.
    2. Learning - some people seem to feel they have nothing new to learn after a certain age and these are the people who are the least happy because it seems they have given up on life.
    How is your photography going with the new camera?

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    1. Kelly, I finished one online course which was fairly brief and I did start another one but haven't gone past the introduction. I really need to get motivated to get stuck into it. It is just so easy to grab the little point and shoot when I head outside rather than lug the DSLR around but I must slot in time every couple of days to learn how to use it properly. I would love to take photos like you do.

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