Fair Day for DCI Consumers!

What a great morning to be outdoors at the Fair!  The weather was sunny with a cool breeze.  Smells of hot dogs, fries, and cotton candy filled the air.  Who doesn’t love food from the fair?

We could hear cows, goats, sheep and pigs; students were scurrying around cleaning and prepping their animals for show.  DCI Consumers enjoyed being able to be up close with animals, petting them, and talking to them.  The Poultry Barn was exciting.  All were able to pet chickens and rabbits.  We learned that some rabbits will eat fruit!  What funny looking chickens the Silkies are, with their top knots of feathers.  The ducks, geese and turkeys were so loud!  Even though we enjoyed looking and touching the poultry, all agreed due to the noise they would not like to keep one!

Next was the horse barn.  What beautiful animals.  Some were taller than us!  We were surprised by the fact the horses wanted to be petted, and looked for treats.  One of DCI Consumers that is normally afraid of animals decided to feed one of the horses a treat with the owners help.  Boy, what fun!

All too soon it was time to leave.  We had such a good time and look forward to our visit again next year.

I/DD Waiver Consumers are not just “horsing around”

DCI Consumers had an opportunity to visit the racetrack in Charles Town.  Mr. Erich Zimny, Vice President of Racing Operations, met us and gave a very informative tour.  We were able to see the stalls where the horses wait before each race.  Both males and females can be jockey’s, and must regulate their weight.  DCI Consumers were consumed with giggles as they took turns weighting themselves.  Race horses can weigh over 1,000 pounds.  DCI Consumers decided if they all got together, they just might weigh as much as one horse!

The jockeys were busy exercising the horses, but some took time to stop and let us admire the beautiful horses.  We learned that some horses wear the “blinkers” to help keep them focused on the track.  Surprise, horses love peppermint candy!

Inside the track we saw where people can watch the races and place bets.  Lot’s of laughing and joking about who could choose a winner!  There are some beautiful display’s of pictures recording the history of the track, as well as people who have worked there.   As always, DCI Consumers enjoyed the tour very much and we thank Mr. Zimny and the Staff of Charles Town Races for giving us such a good time.

Day Habilitation Workshop. Randy Lilly, Berkeley County Emergency Preparedness Manager and Ed Dashiell presented a very informative workshop on emergency situations.

The importance of having a plan of evacuation in the event of a house fire was emphasized.  Know where to meet, never try to re-enter the home for an item, even if it is a family pet.  Wait for the professionals!

A designated meeting place is a good idea for times when there are high winds; look for any area where there are no windows.  Also noted were the warnings to never try to go outside during a tornado to try to take pictures as you could be hit by flying debris.

In times of flood, we learned to never try to walk or drive through water.  Randy pointed out that the ground underneath the roadway can give way and you would be swept away.  Even as little as 6 inches of fast running water can sweep a grown person off their feet.

Ideas for home/business Emergency Kits were discussed.  At least 3 days worth of food, water, medications, batteries, hand held can opener, NOAH radio, even a small generator would be helpful.  Ed pointed out that during times of power outages, a cell phone may not work but usually your land line will.

We thank these gentlemen for taking time out of their busy schedules to help us get better prepared for emergencies.    Please visit their website at www.berkeleywv.org for more information.

Daily Companions, Inc. will host an emergency preparedness workshop at 1486 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV on Wednesday, July 19 at 1pm.  Randy Lilly, Berkeley County Emergency Manager will speak about how to get a free app on your phone and how to use Swift 911.  Learn ways to be prepared at home, work or on the road.  Workshop is free and open to the public.  Call our Day Center at 304-263-5008 for more information.

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.