Manor Monthly – November & December 2016

Our favorite scouts came for a Christmas carol sing with new kindergarten & 1st grade members. How could we not smile as we viewed these cherubic faces singing their hearts out?

Monique and I had fun joining in song together!  Scouts loved their cookies & Hershey Kiss packets Sheila, Janet, José & Marilyn helped make. Heartfelt thanks to Nilda for assisting and  to Vinnie &  Leo for moving  furniture and sweeping crumbs before I asked. Residents were treated to another carol sing by Aurelia’s United Methodist Church friends on a Sunday afternoon.  They are a wonderful group of folks who gave much enjoyment to all.

Thanks Aurelia & church members!!

Christmas crafting  was  fun  painting and  gluing cotton  on  wooden  Santos,  snowmen and  stockings. Janet, Monique, AI, Ron, Darlene, Sheila, José and Marilyn joined in. Great job!

Enjoying a trip to St. George’s Church gingerbread village, “Christmas Around the World,” were Olga, Janet, Marilyn, José and Vinnie. Olga bought a Santa snow globe & dainty, glittery, bells perfect for her Christmas tree.  A trip to McDonald’s to reminisce about our outing was a lovely ending to this adventure. So glad Olga joined in!!!

Proudly decorating our Gingerbread house were Janet, Sheila, Ron, AI and José.

New resident, Al, celebrated his December 3 birthday with a strawberry cake, with cream cheese frosting. José, our New Year’s Eve birthday guy, enjoyed pineapple cake with vanilla frosting. Both celebrants received birthday cards from manor friends and wishes of good health & happiness!

Attending mass at the Immaculate were José, Vinnie, Janet and Marilyn. All enjoyed lunch at Watertown’s Burger King. Later, Secret Santa left Hershey kisses at resident’s doors. Hmm….. Who could Secret Santa be???

Our full day Christmas party was fantastic! Ten o’clock coffee break included delicious pastries. Christmas BINGO followed, with a $5 full card & a $5 DD gift card win. Winners of $1 single games were: José, Ron and Marilyn; winners of the $5 full card was José and Marilyn of the Dunkin Donut $5 gift card. Congratulations!

Our veteran friends Brian & Rich jovially participated in our old-fashioned carol sing. Glad to see Alex attend with her Christmas tree head adornment! A fantastic  party buffet  cooked by Jennifer and Debbie included spiro (glazed ham with pineapple, lemon chicken, baked  ziti with sausage, fresh green salad, roasted potatoes, rolls with butter, coffee and soda. Jennifer’s delicious pumpkin pie followed. Yum!

After our luncheon we were entertained by Chris Dabbo on keyboard with many holiday classics, as well as jazzed up renditions.  It’s always a treat to have live party music!

Santa Claus flew in with his reindeer for a pre-Christmas visit. He sang along, posed for photos with residents, giving gift cards to everyone! Residents enjoyed coffee with the luscious marble, holiday decorated cakes with whipped cream topping Rhonda bought.   Yum!

Later, after relaxing, everyone enjoyed their pizza supper, reminiscing about the party over their evening coffee & cake before settling down for a long winter’s nap! Christmas Eve’s menu of turkey with trimmings and Christmas Day’s holiday ham and lasagna satisfied everyone’s appetite. They loved the 10 AM coffee break goodies and afternoon egg nog. Residents received a generous monetary gift from the Boisverts as well. We thank the Boisverts for the party, entertainment, gift cards and monetary gifts.  Your generosity is most appreciated.  We wish you a wonderful holiday!!

November was busy with holiday preparations, voting & activities.

I was proud to have 8 residents request to register to vote. Enid & Sheila applied for absentee ballots & were assisted at the manor by the registrar of voters. I brought Aurelia, Leo, Janet, José, Sue and Sandy to Swift Jr. H.S. to vote. Sue excitedly voted for the first time! Congratulations, Sue & all voters!

We enjoyed old fashioned butter making, pouring heavy cream into plastic containers with lids. Monique, Sheila, José, Vinnie and Marilyn, took turns shaking containers until    the cream becomes whipped butter.  Lori continued to shake and the cream solidified! Jennifer made some delicious cornbread that was sooooooo…. good with our butter! Vinnie helped deliver our holiday food drive items to the WTN food pantry. We thank the Boisverts for their generous contribution.

Painting leaves and writing words of gratitude on them were Monique, Sheila, Darlene, Jose, Marilyn, Janet and Ron. Family, brothers, daughters, God, food, warm home, and friends were   expressed gratitude.   A donation of lap quilts for residents was made by Dottie, a lovely “angel” who mysteriously appeared with quilts in hand. She likes to pay it forward. A U.S. Marine Corps quilted pillow was made especially for Aurelia, a veteran. Beautiful! Sue and Eugene had a blast at their program’s “Fall Ball 2016.” They dressed in party clothes and were served a full course meal as a professional entertained.

Sue & Eugene danced and partied with friends!

Thanksgiving dinner was splendid. Jennifer & Debbie made turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed onion potatoes, caramelized sweet  potatoes  and green bean casserole. Jennifer made vegetable lasagna & pumpkin pies for supper.

We thank Jennifer, Debbie and Nilda for making this day special for residents.  Sue had an outstanding time celebrating the day with her brother, sister-in-law and extended family. She happily told us all about it.  That weekend they celebrated her nephew’s 4th            birthday. “He is so cute!” Sue shared. Darlene had a great meal at her sister’s with turkey and all the trimmings. She was so happy to be included in this family holiday.  Leo had a great turkey dinner and trimmings that his brother prepared. His sister, husband, nephew, wife and adorable 13 month niece Sophie visited.  Leo’s eyes light up when he talks of Sophie. He LOVES her!  She makes his heart MELT!!

Ron, Janet, Jose and Marilyn had fun with Sheila as our Yahtzee tutor. “Bottoms Up” cards is loved by Olga, Ron Darlene, Marilyn, Jose, Janet and Sheila. Attending our BINGO and Pokeno sessions are: Olga, Enid, Sheila, Darlene, Sue, Eugene, Ron, Janet, Marilyn, Leo and Jose. Winners of $1 single games were: Darlene, Janet, Sheila, Olga, Ron, Jose. Winners of full card $2 were: Ron and Olga.   Thanksgiving   full card $5 winner was Ron; Pokeno single game winners were:  Darlene, Olga, Marilyn    while jull card winner was: Olga.   Congratulations!  Vinnie accompanies me  to  the  soda  can redemption  center  whose  cash  provides for BINGO  and POKENO. Vinnie also helps with: bulletin boards, bringing ice-cream from the freezers, getting McDonald’s coffee for residents, helping aide Lori. He is a wonderful man!  McDonald’s, Jimmy’s 2, Rizvani’s, Burger King were fun times for Leo, Janet, Jose, Ron, Vinnie, Marilyn, Bill.

Our volunteers enrich residents socially, musically, emotionally, spiritually. Residents enjoyed the Christmas clarinet show by volunteer, Amanda Hetric. She has graciously shared her talents treating residents to patriotic and holiday shows for 5 years.  Sharon Bly has been visiting with her dogs for 8 years.  Although little ”Timmy” passed, she continues delighting residents with lovable “Torri.” Volunteer Bob has been praying the rosary with interested residents for over 20 years. He comes every Wednesday, also distributing Holy Communion.  The cub scouts have come to decorate Easter eggs and for Christmas carol sings for four years.  St.  Mary Magdalen parishioners have generously donated restaurant gift cards for residents’ Christmas gifts for years.   We are so fortunate to reap of the generosity of these volunteers!

As the sun set on 2016, my career at Pleasant View Manor is setting. While look forward to this new phase of my life it comes with mixed emotions. My 19 years here have given me many memorable times with your family members, who I hold dear. I have been privileged to share lives, experiences, thoughts, sadness and much humor with them. I will assist with transitioning as we find a replacement to facilitate the recreation program. Your loved ones deserve the best.  They are all special people who have truly taught me more than you might imagine. I will always cherish our “adventures” together and thank-you for sharing them  with me.

Blessings in 2017,
Barbara Lutkus TRD