For most of us, exercise is something we feel is necessary but not pleasurable.  We understand the benefits to our minds and bodies, and thus try to exercise regularly.  Exercise may take the form of running, jogging, weight lifting, biking, or a combination.  Suppose that exercise was physically difficult for you.  Running, jogging, biking were not options.  Even weight lifting was limited.  What then?

Daily Companions, Inc. strives to find fun and innovative ways for our consumers to exercise.  Swimming is both pleasurable and beneficial.  Yoga relaxes and helps stretch the muscles.  How about a little golf?  Golf, did you say?  Yes indeed!  DCI Consumers were at the driving range and eager to try their hand at hitting those little white balls.  The fact they were partaking of exercise was just an added bonus.

DCI Consumers found that hand/eye coordination was required to hit the ball.  All were concentrating, taking careful aim.  What exhilaration when contact was made!  Brian Ball, COO, and Ed Bricker, Waiver Manager, gave plenty of helpful hints on posture, how to swing the club, and all the other little “tricks” every golfer should know.  Giving up was not an option for these intrepid first timers.  Lots of laughter and shouts of encouragement filled the air.  Some even showed natural ability.

Finding a new and exciting way to exercise is great.  DCI Consumers are anxious to make another trip to the driving range so they won’t forget all that they learned.  How about you?  Try a little golf lately?

DCI Consumers attended a clay workshop, courtesy of the Washington County Museum of Fine Art.  Instructor Barbara Weiss explained the procedure for making a “Pinch Pot” from clay.  “It’s called a pinch pot because you hold the clay ball in your hand, insert your thumb in the middle to make an opening, and then “pinch” the sides until your pot is the shape and size you desire”.  Ms. Weiss encouraged all to make their pot according to their own personal interpretation.

DCI Consumers were consumed with giggles as they worked to get their clay into a ball, and then pinch the sides.  With a little help, and lots of concentration, everyone was able to make their pot, their way.  Next, bright colored beads and shapes were handed out to decorate the pots.  Several different tools were available for those that wished to draw designs on the outside.  Extra clay was provided to add on to the pot for handles, bases, or any other design that caught the imagination of the consumer.

Marty expressed his enjoyment of the clay by stating “you never get tired of it”.  “This is fun!” was a comment heard from several others.  One consumer that suffers from arthritis of the hands stated “it does not hurt to work the clay.  I really like this!”

Each DCI Consumer had an expression of intense satisfaction on their face as they quietly contemplated their original work, work of their own hands, from their hearts.

If you have not visited the Washington County Museum of Fine Art, we at DCI encourage you not to miss this wonderful museum and all it has to offer.

Our sincerest thanks to Ms. Weiss and Kourtney for making this happen.

DCI Consumers took a field trip to the workshop of local artist, Charles Stephen Adams.  Mr. Adams met us on the porch of his workshop, a shop he had built himself.  It wasn’t until later in life that Mr. Adams experienced the joy and serenity of working with wood.  He showed us a special tool, a hand adz, that is used to start chipping out the center of the piece of wood he has selected.  Other tools used are chisels and scurp to shape the wood into a bowl, tray, or whatever the wood “tells” him it wants to be.  This is a slow process that has a peaceful rhythm all it’s own.

Mr. Adams explained that once carving is complete the next phase begins, that of “curing” the piece.  Over a period of five weeks or more the wood is dried and then has applications of natural mineral oil applied.  Then a coat of beeswax is put on.  Remembering the previous visit of our Bee Lady, DCI Consumers thought it was interesting that beeswax can be used on furniture also.

DCI Consumers were fascinated.  Looking at various pieces of wood, seeing that the wood can become bowls, trays, or even tables and chairs was food for thought!  It was a pleasure, handling the beautiful items, feeling the satiny finish.  Mr. Adams enjoyed answering questions about the type of wood chosen for each item.  We learned that the color and wood grain would differ depending of what wood was used.   DCI Consumers had fun guessing how many pieces of wood were used in the making of a large table top.

We were treated to a walk through Mr. Adams garden, finishing up with the home made treats Mrs. Adams had been kind enough to bake for us.  What a splendid way to end our visit.

Daily Companions, Inc. invites all Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan County WV Seniors (and you Juniors too) to an Open House on Thursday, May 11 from 4pm until 7pm.  Opportunities for I/DD Waiver, Day Habilitation Program, Residential Living, and Job Development will be discussed and questions answered by our professional Staff.  No registration needed, free and open to the public.  Come join us at 1486 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV.  For more information phone 304-263-5008 or 304-260-6622.

If you are like most of us, you find the garbage cans overflow regularly.  But we just set it out to be picked up and never give it another thought.  Should we give it a thought?  DCI Consumers decided to track down just where our garbage goes, what happens to it, and find out if we can help reduce the amount we produce.

Mr. Hogbin, of the Berkeley County Recycle Center, met them for a tour of the Recycle Center.  There DCI Consumers were fascinated to learn that garbage falls into different categories and that is how it is sorted for disposal.  There is a category for food waste, paper, metals, glass, aluminum, appliances, batteries, books, clothing, plastic, etc.  The web site www.berkeleycountyrecycling.com will give helpful hints on how to decide if your items fit into one of these categories and which recycle center accepts.  That’s right, there is more than one recycle center for everyone’s convenience.  It was emphasized that reusing, reducing, and recycling garbage is important for our environment.

Matthew said he did not know that trees could be brought in and shredded up for mulch.  “You can buy the mulch to use in your flowerbeds” he enthused.

Brittany said she like watching the large trucks that came in to transport the garbage.

Each DCI Consumer received a helpful brochure to share with their families about reducing, reusing, and recycling garbage.  So how about it?  Let’s all help our planet by being “garbage smart”!

DCI Consumers traveled to Frederick, MD to tour the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.  It was a somber, but interesting, trip to the past.  Our Docent Jake was very informative; he explained each exhibit and readily answered all our questions.  After viewing what soldiers had to endure in the way of “cures”, it made all of us very happy for our clean, modern, hospitals.  The medical professionals from that era did make some great medical advancements that have been useful.  Some fun facts:  soldiers loved to drink coffee; there were amounts of time when they were not fighting so the time was spent playing cards or mending clothes (can any of you guys sew?).  If you have not had chance to visit this fascinating museum, take time this summer to visit!

Members of Daily Companions, Inc. attended a watercolor class at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown, MD.  Thanks to museum staff member Kourtney Lowery and teacher Barbara Weiss, everyone was able to enjoy their first watercolor experience.  The museum has a spacious classroom where all sorts of art classes are held.

For our class, Ms. Weiss suggested that a picture of a tree be painted.  She emphasized that form and color were in the imagination of the artist.  A simple template was demonstrated to help with the shape of the tree top, and then everyone plunged in and let their imagination run riot!  A whole forest of trees, some realistic, some purely imaginary, abstract, bright, or fruit and flowered were painted.  Everyone was given time to hold their picture up and explain their personal vison of a tree.  The time just flew by and the class was over before we knew it.  Many thanks to the museum staff, and Ms. Weiss for helping us to be a part of such an enjoyable experience.