Christmas in July 2026

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

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Image: Christmas Notepad

Christmas in July 2026 by Gail K. Kachnycz on 16 July 2026

     Christmas in July has become a tradition with holiday themed parties and movies. The idea of planning for Christmas well ahead of December is a good one. I am not much of an online shopper, but with all the hype, I became aware that Amazon Prime Days occur in June and can offer some great prices. Many other types of sales, such as "Memorial Day" may extend through the entire month of May. Back to School bargains have already begun in July, and prices for summer items will be slashed soon. "Black Friday" deals will probably start November 1. By taking advantage of these offers, preparing for Christmas can be less expensive and less hectic than waiting until the holiday season arrives. For me, the priority is to allow Advent and Christmas to be more Christ-centered.

     Here is a link to a previous post to explain more about how to allow Christmas in July to make life easier for a busy care-giver. Before inserting the link, I read through the post and was actually surprised at all the helpful suggestions it contained. It is a great reminder and I will be using some of the tips & tricks since Christmas 2026 will be the first one with our new grandchild!

Christmas in July 7/24/24


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Work Ethic Scholarships Info

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

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Image: mikeroweworks.org accessed 15 July 2026

Scholarship Information Time Sensitive 

     At first, it may not seem that scholarships for "hands on" type jobs relate to caregivers. A direct connection might not be apparent. However, those in a "Sandwich Generation" situation may be using funds to provide care for elderly parents and therefore not have the ability to provide financial aid to their children for career education. Chronic illness or disability often diminish income. Perhaps having a better paying job would allow for hiring assistant caregivers or pay for a time of respite care. 

     Mike Rowe, probably most famous for hosting the TV show "Dirty Jobs," has a foundation that is providing scholarships for learning skilled trades and other hands on jobs. The link to the website is inserted below. However, this opportunity is time sensitive and will close in October. Even if this information is not immediately helpful for you, please share it in your sphere of influence.

     As mentioned above, care giving and chronic illness do impact finances. Links to previous blog posts related to money are also inserted below.

Mike Rowe Works Foundation

Finances and Chronic Illness

Finances for Special Needs 4/9/25 

More on Money 4/23/25

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Royal Recipe: Watermelon Salad

Thursday, July 9, 2026

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Image: Kate Middleton Watermelon Salad from Better Homes and Gardens online July 4, 2026

ROYAL RECIPE: Watermelon Salad

     We are in the midst of watermelon season. As a kid growing up, watermelon was consumed in half-moon slices with salt. Now, the crunchy melon lends itself to a cool salad that is both sweet and savory. The connection to a Royal is just a bonus. Here are the sections of the article in Better Homes and Gardens that give the recipe for this salad.



 

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HOT WEATHER SAFETY

Friday, July 3, 2026

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Image: Weather App 3 July 2026 for Philadelphia, PA USA

Hot Weather Safety by Gail K Kachnycz on 3 July 2026

     As Philadelphia anticipates celebration of 250 years of independence, FIFA knock-out round game, parades and Welcome America concerts, we are in the midst of a heat wave requiring a health warning. Locals expect this type of weather pretty consistently through July and August. We hibernate in air conditioned spaces and escape "down the shore" or "up the Poconos." 

     The elderly and those with chronic illness are more sensitive to hot weather. Older folks have a decreased sense of thirst, and less ability to concentrate urine, so dehydration is a concern. Some medications cause increased urine output, predisposing to dehydration. Some drugs cause increased sensitivity to the sun, intensifying the danger of sunburn.

     I recently received information from Community Support Connections, an organization in Waterloo, Canada, dedicated to improving the health of the elderly in that region. A link to McMaster University provided a video with 5 quick tips on beating the heat, as well as a short list of medications and how they impact the body's ability to keep cool.

McMaster University: Heat Harder with Age 20 May 2026

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