Ritz Lutheran Villa News-July 18^th-Molly Chadsey

Now at the end of the third week in August, we are beginning to look forward to the end of summer - when it only just seems to have started! Ten days from today school will just have re-opened, so this coming week will be the final for shopping for new school clothes and supplies and last minute treats and outings. Plenty of grandparents are planning treats for Labour Day or a day at Wonderland or even the hotel in Niagara Falls, The Great Wolf Lodge which has a waterpark with all sorts of water features!

At the Villa there have been many outings or outdoor activities in the gardens. With the off heavy rainfall the garden has been well watered and warmed and is still looking lovely, full of bloom! Hard by the fall wooden bird feeder (which keeps the birds coming in the winter) there is one solitary giant sunflower. It is as tall at the birdfeeder and has sprung from one of the seeds dropped last winter and is just coming into flower. When in full bloom, it will be interesting to see if the birds take the seeds from  it (and maybe drop another, to sprout again next year)!

Before the summer goes, those that wish are taken for walkabouts by staff or their families and there were several "off campus" trips: a Picnic Lunch in Staffa on the 11th and some went to "Piping Down the Sun" in Goderich on the 15th. With the luck of good weather this trip is always very popular as the combination of pipe music with the sun slowly sinking into the waters of Lake Huron is well worth the drive.
Other activities  during the week included Deep Waters Mini-Music - with an orchestra of children! The August Birthday Party with the St. Vincent de Paul church Ladies and the watermoelon social with Billie Pickle the CLown and Edna Babb's 100th Birthday Open House this past Sunday!

We are all growing older and healthier, so 100th birthdays are no longer quite the rarity they used to be fifty years ago. But they are still an occassion for eral celebration and congratulations and the Ritz Villa has had it's fair share! So residents and staff gather round to give Edna their very best wishes and to wonder whether in due course they too will be in the same position??? We shall see!

Ritz Lutheran Villa News-Aug.1,2008

During the last two weeks life at the Ritz Lutheran Villa has shown a real feeling of summer. The weather has been mainly warm and sunny with only the odd cloudy day, occasional thunder storms and one real downpour. As a result of this mixture of heat and rain, the crops in the surrounding farmland are tall and sturdy, particularly the corn. Only a few patches are laid flat with the rain and wind.

The program staff has made a real effort to get the residents outside. There are the weekly BBQ lunches in the Fountain Gardens(Tuesdays) and Lemonade in the Shade(Saturdays), walkabouts around the gardens. In addition there was a Summer Social on Thursday the 24^th and an open house to celebrate the 65^th wedding anniversary of residents, Mary and Je Higgins on Saturday the 26^th, where there was a good crowd.

One bit of good news is the Mitchell and Area Community Outreach has a new bus.  The new bus (white with lots of chrome) had its maiden trip for a scenic drive around the country side on Thursday, July 31^st. 

Mary F. Dow played the piano, there was a Story Hour with Ina and Randy Satchell brought his guitar to the campfire evening.  At least it would have been a campfire night with a real campfire in the garden but this was one of the few occasions when the weather let us down – it poured rain!  So those residents who take advantage of these outings, or just sit on a chair in the garden will finish the summer with at least a light tan and the memory of a lovely garden.   

Ritz Lutheran Villa News-July 18^th-Molly Chadsey

A quiet week –lovely warm weather(too warm actually for a couple of days) and nice out for the residents BBQ in the Fountain Gardens, Lemonade in the Shade on Saturday and a Picnic to Bayfield.

The Western Entertainers, Maryanne Cunningham, and Michel Allard entertained on Wednesday, Thursday and Tuesday with their various forms of music.

Bingo, Nintendo Wii, and baking were other activities on the list of programs as well.

It is not easy for the Program Support Staff to devise a program for every month of the year and for all residents, as we are all different. Some of us like to socialize, go for walks; outings, play games, cards, read, or listen to music, yet the staff manage to provide a mixture of all those things to entertain us. As we all get older and handicaps of older age creep up on us unawares, then we sometimes find that all we need is to sit quietly in the sun (or shade) and just look at the view. This is why the garden is such a joy at the moment-so many new flowers and birds -a Baltimore Oriole with bright orange and black feathers perched on a balcony rail, showing off like a clown at a circus!

After all, a comfortable chair on a nice day in the garden with a friend to talk to and a glass of lemonade-the rest of the world would think we were very lucky-so enjoy!

Ritz Lutheran Villa News-June 13/08

Having just come through almost a month of closure due to a number of illnesses, residents of the Ritz Lutheran Villa were looking forward to a period of spring sunshine, a flourishing garden with flowers budding in all directions and the full development of the program of activities. We then were informed the elevator would be shut down for preventative repairs until June 12th.

 
This meant that programs were once again done on both floors to keep residents busy and happy. A few residents did however walk down the stairs for sitting outside and walks. There is also a balcony out the east lounge , which residents sat on for a breath of fresh air and to people watch. Programs included bingo, spelling bee, floor basketball, family photo sharing, coffee and tea, worship service, and Auxiliary tea. The second floor did miss a scenic drive, but they will have the chance to go on the next one in June.

The big Spring Tea and bake sale that the Auxiliary run, as well as the quilt draw that raises money for the Resident Council and Program Support was held on Saturday June 7th. Tea, cake and strawberries were served on second floor as well as first, which made for a very pleasant afternoon. The winners of the draw were quilt-Jane DeBlock, Afghan-Donna Hinz, and $50.00-Caroline George. The winners of the lovely flower arrangements were Shirley J. Hansen, Leona Vandewalle, and Florence Bartja. Winner of the carrot cake was Esther Leary. Our thanks go out to the Auxiliary for a job well done.

Perhaps the thing some residents missed most was the gardens. From my window I can see the birdfeeder garden which has a lovely group of flowers including yellow iris, coral bells, red and white peonies, and geraniums. There are residents who cannot see this part of the gardens from their rooms. For them the news that the elevator was open on Thursday afternoon was especially welcome.

Last week all, at last, was back to normal. No more than the normal number of people sick and the elevator was fixed. You could go downstairs to pick up your mail, or get a Coffee Crunch from the machine and best of all, you could go for a quiet wander around the garden. The recent warmer weather has brought out so many of the flowers that the beds are a mass of bloom, particularly the iris and peonies with great splashes of colour.

There have been several special events this week. Sunday (15th) was Father’s Day, though the tea was on Saturday provided by the Auxiliary, with plenty of visiting families and Wednesday (11th) was the June Birthday party with the Brodhagen ladies.

You know, I don’t think it’s true that there is more fuss made of Mother’s Day than Father’s Day. At least in the Ritz the families seem to make plenty of fuss for both, which is exactly what it should be.

Finally, on Monday (17th) there was a picnic lunch outing to one of the staff’s farms, which after all the weeks shut in was a lovely way to spend a day!

So, next week will be time to get back to trying to win your favorite games or activity. This week get downstairs, get outside, go around the garden, get to the theatre in Stratford, go over to B.J.’s for ice cream – just go out and enjoy it – you earned it!

Well-all the festivities are over-Xmas, New Year, and most of the sales-so this past week was a clearing up week, quiet with nothing much in the way of entertainment for the residents except a Casino afternoon on Tuesday (8^th). The time was filled with the usual fitness, restorative care, current news, and tea & coffee breaks, and Auxiliary tea.

In a way this general air of relaxation is a good thing. One of the problems of getting old is that you do get tired more easily than you used to, and all the comings and goings of the holiday season are fun, but exhausting. So recharge your batteries and get back to normal. This was helped by a visit from the Beauty Boutique (Thursday) with a pick-up for tired skin and peeling nail polish. There were also two sessions for packing up Christmas decorations with all those trees, lights and garlands put neatly in their travel boxes and stacked away until next year.

So here we are –all ready to go refreshed, restored and tidy…next week should see the return to schedules, and children back to school.

The holiday was fun while it lasted, but enough is enough!

The activity programme at the Villa this past week was all part of the build-up towards Christmas. On Wednesday (12^th) there as a session for decorating gingerbread houses, resulting in some very attractive and ingenious little cottages (not just Smarties and peppermint canes!). On Wednesday evening the Villa Auxiliary had their Christmas party (with the Gingerbread houses on display).

On Thursday there was the second of the two Christmas dinners for the residents with their families and friends. This drew a full house of tables of large and small family parties for an excellent dinner, followed by a Christmas sing-a-long in the afternoon.

On Monday morning (17^th) the Geri Fashion company held their Fashion Show and Sale, which had been postponed from an earlier date due to the outbreak. This gave everyone a chance to pick-up a last minute impulse buy for Christmas (or even a gift for someone else). That evening there was a Christmas lights tour, which the residents always enjoy!

In addition Maryanne Cunningham sang on Wednesday afternoon, Tom Melady and Friends entertained at the Christmas dinner on Thursday at lunch time, the Mapleview Mennonite Choir sand in the evening; the West Perth Singers sang on Monday evening and Mary F. Dow and Murray Christie performed on Tuesday.

So with the week as crowded as this, usual games must be postponed until the quieter time after the New year.

And one last note – the Drive for the Food Bank closes tomorrow (21^st). The box is in the Courtyard, near the bird cages. So if you have a box of Kraft Dinner or can of corn or a box of cereal, just drop them in the box. The Salvation Army will make sure they get added to a Christmas box for some family who might otherwise not have much of a Christmas dinner at all.

The main event this past week was the Fall Bazaar on Saturday afternoon. There were two sessions of preparations before hand (Thursday morning and Friday afternoon) so that Karen and her helpers (residents and volunteers) could finish up all the little jobs that pile up before an affair like a bazaar.  However, it went very well; the quilt raffle this year was a particularly pretty one. Blue sprays of flowers in squares, traditional but fresh at the same time. Looking at it you can see why quilting has continued to be popular throughout its long history for those with the patience and experience to complete the incredible work. Quilts are so useful and the range of patterns, both traditional and modern, is so vast that there is one suitable for any décor, any color scheme, not only on beds or as throws, but even hanging on walls instead of a picture.On Thursday afternoon there was an Appreciation Social for the Mitchell and Area Community Outreach. They are stationed in the Activity Centre at the Villa and they run Meals on Wheels, Mobility Bus & Van (which are parked in the Villa parking lot), Dining for Seniors, Travelling Diners, Eucherama and much more! Some residents of the Manor and Thames River Place use the Meals on Wheels and a great many residents use the bus and van, either for activities arranged by the Program Support department, visits to the doctor or dentist as so on. They are also a lifeline for those residents in wheelchairs or scooter who cannot use regular cars or buses. They can be booked for private arrangements, are not expensive and enable such residents to have a life outside the walls of the Villa; see friends, go to the theatre and go shopping. Truly – a lifeline!Next week will be Halloween, so maybe some of the things you bought at the Bazaar will be useful at Halloween. If you are luck enough to win the quilt, don’t give that away! It will really cheer your room up!

At last – after two weeks of semi-quarantine for an outbreak of heavy colds, the restrictions have been lifted and the residents are able to mingle with each other, have friends and family to visit and the full programme or activities have been restored. Many of us missed our favourite programme or game as well as the chance to socialize over a cup of tea and a cookie, or even just read the paper in the library.

This past week saw the monthly Breakfast club, where a mixed group of residents from both dining rooms can eat an extra special breakfast and talk to people they otherwise rarely see. In the afternoon was the start of “Armchair Travel” which is a movie and talk – this week on England and Scotland. 

Thursday evening was the first of two Christmas Dinners for residents with their family or friends, which was well attended and enjoyed. On Friday, Bible study hour with Eugene, the Pastoral Care Coordinator will start up again and next Wednesday Bible study at the Manor will take place which draws residents also from the Villa and Thames River Place. The weather has not been particularly cooperative – high winds, blowing snow and colder, but the decorations are going up - a very attractive color scheme of the green of cedar chains wrapped around pillars and decorated in reds and golds with many pots of bright red poinsettias. 

Just remember that this is the time to get your Christmas cards written and mailed; particularly if you are mailing overseas – at least a week for Europe, 10 days for Australia and New Zealand and I don’t know how long for Afghanistan and the Middle East – though usually the armed forces post offices are pretty efficient, especially with the new Canadian freight aircraft.

And finally with the coming of snow, the bird feeder has been stuffed with seeds and the birds are back! Blue Jays, Sparrows, Chickadees and Snowbirds – no Robins yet, but one lonely Cardinal doing his best to shine against the snow, rather like a Mountie in a crowd of protesters. When the wind picks up and the snow is blowing, the small birds make a beeline for the two big blue spruces close to the feeder. I think the branches must be over booked because I made a rough count of 50-60 chickadees and snowbirds and at one point they all disappeared into both spruces in about 5 seconds! I’ll let you know if I see them squaring up like shoppers for a sale!

Altogether, it’s the beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The end of September is the time of year when you suddenly notice that  "the nights really do draw in."  In some of the resident’s rooms you need a light on from after supper, even if it has been a lovely sunny day.  While you can still get out into the garden on the good fall days the program staff is to be congratulated for giving us more evening entertainment and more opportunities to socialize indoors.

This past week for example the Western Entertainers performed in the afternoon on Wednesday, and the Delany’s in the evening of the same day. Thursday was a really busy day. There was a Coffee Break in aid of the Alzheimer Society in mid-morning, a social in appreciation of the Building Services mid-afternoon and a Pub night with Randy Satchell (and his guitar) in the evening. There were afternoon breaks for coffee and tea or coffee and pie on Wednesday, Friday and Monday as well as Bingo with ice cream.

But, as you can see there is a danger in all this. If, like me you find gaining weight only too easy and taking it off again very, very difficult, the motto must be “watch those snacks!” It is possible to give in to those delicious fruit trays or a small tart, but when it comes to a chocolate dipped doughnut or a nice big ice cream cone ( or possibly a good slice of banana cream pie) then I try very hard to think twice!

If you have any summer time relaxing to do, you had better get it done next week because Labour Day is coming smartly. Then back to school or University or a new job, or even an old one. For the residents of the Villa, the Manor, and Thames River, it’s a chance to look back and see what sort of a summer we have had.

In spite of all the dire warnings of climate change it really wasn’t that bad- in fact it was rather good. There were a great many lovely sunny days when it was a pleasure to sit out or walk in the gardens. The flower borders were outstandingly colourful all the way from the early daffodils to the autumn yellows and oranges. Admittedly we haven’t had enough rain and the grass has suffered-but grass is tough and it will be back next year as green as ever.

The vacant space left by our Chaplin-Thelma Kudelka, who recently retired, has been filled by Eugene Dufour. A social was held to welcome him on Wednesday (22nd). He has great experience in pastoral care and we look forward to seeing him from now on.

Friday was a “Wizard of Oz” day. It is quite extraordinary how an old movie has become one of the traditional fairy tales, not only for children (of many nationalities) but of many adults also. On seeing that it was to be shown on Friday afternoon, one of the residents said to me “I haven’t seen “The Wizard of Oz” for a long time. I think I shall go see it again”.

This past week was what might be called a “regular week” at the Villa with the round of activities, including fitness classes, musical entertainment and games. There were two sessions of Bingo – the regular Saturday one and a Halloween Ghost Bingo on Tuesday!  The scenic drive and lunch outing on Monday was looking for Fall colours, but there is still only a little bit here and there. However, lunch out is always fun and makes a change. There was also a craft workshop and Bazaar preparation periods to prepare for the Fall Bazaar, which is organized by the Villa Auxiliary and Program Support department, and takes place on Saturday, October 27^th at 2:00pm at the Villa. There are the Bazaar stalls including the popular Bake Sale (get there early or your favourite item will be sold out!), Home Décor by Trina, Epicure Selections with Erica, Jewellery with Eddie and Crafts made by the residents and volunteers. As always, there will be a Quilt Raffle with one of the queen sized traditional style patterns that are such a joy to own. Tickets are $2 – Good Luck!

And coming up next week, of course, is Halloween. Let’s hope the weather stays seasonably warm and above all, it doesn’t rain! As much as we need the rain – not this one night, please!

This past week was typical for this time of year. The summer is all packed away, the weather is cooling, and all the planning is looking forward to the indoor activities of late fall and winter. There have been several committee meetings, to meet the new interim management team and enable them to get to know both the residents and staff members and to plan activities for the coming months. With our residents growing older there is a growing need for physiotherapy, restorative care and various fitness activities such as fun and fitness, sit and dance, restorative care, and even beauty boutique. There are still walkabouts in the gardens, when the weather permits, but when it doesn’t you meet people taking their exercises up and down the hallways, on the basis of “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”-so keep those muscles and joints moving.

The Saturday afternoon teas organized by the Ritz Lutheran Villa Auxiliary have started again, as has the monthly breakfast club and the new weekly Men’s Coffee Hour-they seem to be going strong.

On Tuesday there was one popular scenic drive to see the fall colours. Unfortunately this year, because of the long summer drought, good colour, the flaming scarlet maples and the clear deep yellows of maples and birches are really hard to find. Instead there are a lot of muddy greens and dull browns from leaves dry or dry-edged and the slightest winds are stripping trees bare already. The Villa, Manor Apartments and Thames River Place are surrounded by well treed gardens with distant views of woods and there are very few patches of bright colours. Oh well, maybe next year!

Meanwhile indoors our regular performers Mary F. Dow, Murray Christie, and Michel Allard brought us their music and the Maple view Choir sang on Thursday evening.

And finally, of course, Wednesday was election day for the Ontario Provincial Government and a very convenient polling booth was provided in the Courtyard. No new party in power this time, as the Liberal party was returned with a majority and the proposal for a change of election procedure to proportional representation was firmly rejected, which was convenient for those of us who weren’t al all sure what “proportional representation” was!

Last Sunday was National Grandparents Day.  All well and good as we have lots of those here!  Most people enjoy being grandparents.  They enjoy the company of their grandchildren – enjoy babysitting and giving them special outings and presents.  However, it is as well to remember that it can be overdone – on all sides. 

There are grandparents who are asked to baby sit so often and for so long, that they barely have time for their own life.  Handy for the parents of course, but not good for the children who may grow up feeling their grandparents are their real parents.  There are, on the other side, grandparents who spoil their grandchildren rotten with too many and too expensive gifts.  These are grandchildren who work the basis of “Oh well, if Mom and Dad say we shouldn’t have this yet, we can always get it out of Grandma!”  So as far as I can see, the best thing to do is “Love them a lot, give what you can, but remember all things in moderation! 

To celebrate the National Day, there was a Grandparents Social on Friday, and two outings – a scenic drive on a lovely day, Thursday, and a picnic and tour to Doon Heritage Crossroads on Monday.  There were also several interesting indoor programs. “Inspirational Stories” (Thursday), “The Biography of Patsy Cline” (Saturday) and a drumming session (Monday) for all tastes. 

So, I hope you enjoyed “Your Day” and got lots of cards!

Anyone taking a walk in the garden this past week would have known that fall was coming. There was coolness in the air, the last of the flowers bloomed in the borders and in the river valley; the Canada geese were gathering in large flocks.  They  would take flight for a few minutes and then settle again as if practicing for the long flight south. One day soon they will be gone.

The program at the Villa is also turning towards fall. On the Wednesday Geri Fashion put on its fall fashion show with plenty of warmer sweaters and winter colours. The Resident Council and the Program Planning Committee resumed their regular meetings after the summer break, and the Men’s Group met with Eugene on Monday. There were several games throughout the week, Fortune Cookie Trivia on Thursday, and Bingo on Saturday.

And finally, there were two Birthday Parties. One, on Wednesday which is the regular monthly party for all those with a September birthday (entertainment was by St. Bridges Kennicot) and in addition an Open House for Scotty Butler’s ninetieth birthday on Sunday afternoon. The number of residents over 90 is rising all the time and we shall soon reach the fifty percent mark. Which will be the occasion for a SUPER open house!

The pleasant weather has continued during the past week except for the one wet day and a few showers at night which helped to keep the gardens looking stronger and healthier. Consequently every effort was made to enable the residents to get outside. There were walkabouts, a picnic lunch and outing to Exeter, a BBQ lunch and lemonade in the shade.

Several performers came to entertain us. “Granny and the Girls” performed and told stories on Wednesday afternoon, Michel Allard sang on Friday afternoon and the Mapleview Mennonite Choir sang on Thursday evening.

The monthly Birthday party, on Wednesday evening (for those residents with birthdays in August) was run by the St. Vincent de Paul group. The well supported charity with the same name is known for its interest in recycling, particularly for clothing and such things as glass bottles, long before the present craze for recycling (of everything- by everybody). Like the Salvation Army, they have raised a vast amount of money to help the poor and those in need over many years. Such work is true charity. It is unobtrusive, but persistent and it achieves its aims without making a big fuss. So anything we can do to help is worth doing.

Finally this past week (Monday) was declared Elvis Presley week! By the time Elvis and his music became the fashion with the teenagers and twenties, I was already too old to find either the music or the man particularly intriguing, but plenty of people did and still do. His early death from drug addiction, thirty years ago has not wiped out the memory of his music and it is for that he will be remembered!

This past week all the Villa was full of celebrations. It was Civic Holiday weekend, so many residents were either away or had friends and family visiting; but in addition, it was clown week with Snippity the clown entertaining on Wednesday and a talk in the history of clowns on Thursday. Friday was national watermelon day with a social in the afternoon. Tuesday the 7^th was national lighthouse week with a talk on the history of lighthouses.

Lighthouses were one of the very first signs of European civilization on Canadian coasts and lakes. The lights were vital for the safe passage of ships into harbors and away from the rocky coasts. Now with radar and sonar, they are no longer necessary, but if we want to preserve the towers and lights as historic monuments, we must make sure that they are not carelessly demolished by people who don’t realize (or don’t care) to remember how many lives they saved.

The weather was particularly hot this week, but for those who wanted to get out, there were walkabouts in the gardens, a scenic drive to Seaforth, near Exeter, Cromarty, Staffa and then back to Mitchell, and a BBQ lunch in the Fountain Garden. Scattered thunderstorms have given us some rain so the grass and flowers are looking perkier at last. As always there were various games of bingo, crosswords, and trivia this past week also. Designing a program of activities for each week is a complicated process and it reflects great credit on the Program Staff that they are able to make it so varied and enjoyable.

The last week in July is the dead center of the holiday season-changeover time for children’s camps, cottage rentals and foreign holidays. If you have a birthday in this week, there is no time to celebrate, you are either packing up to leave one place, or just arriving somewhere else. The roads are packed with cars and the airports are overcrowded with people trying to board overbooked flights to places all over the globe. In other words if you happen to be somewhere where you can relax and do nothing for a few days, you are very, very lucky, especially if it’s a nice warm sunny day.

Well the Villa happened to be one of those places. On the program there were a number of games-bingo, memory cards, lawn darts, and spelling bee. In addition to all this there were the usual news and fitness programs, walkabouts in the gardens and refreshments Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.

On Wednesday afternoon there was a special Open House to celebrate the 100^th birthday of one of our residents-Catharine Linke. Catharine is not our only centurion, but a “100 years old” is cause for a very special celebration with a cake, ice-cream, family, friends, fellow residents, and staff. Everyone enjoyed singing happy birthday and visiting at Catharine’s celebration.

All in all it was a quiet week and it just shows you don’t have to rush about to enjoy yourself. So in a week when much of the rest of Canada appeared to be running ragged trying to get from one place to another, it was nice to just sit-and enjoy!

The past week has been a quiet week at the Villa- quiet but pleasant. The weather has been cooler, but still warm enough to sit in the shade without a heavy jacket. One day it even rained-not as much as we need, but enough to persuade us that rain was possible and to walk across grass that didn’t crunch like cornflakes.

The program of activities for the week included two evening activities-the Country Friends performed on Wednesday and Bert Vos lead a hymn sing on Sunday. There were lots of opportunities to get outside, on Thursday a BBQ lunch in the Fountain Garden, followed by a scenic drive(by Mobility Bus) around the countryside, or walkabouts to B.J.’s for icecream, for those that could walk and others were pushed in their wheelchairs by volunteers. There were walkabouts on Friday and on Saturday, plus a lawn dart game outside. A picnic outing was held on Tuesday, with the usual great food and scenery.

Each of the activities can only take eight to twelve people, but if you missed out this time, they will be repeated from time to time during the summer. Just ask!

This quieter tempo of life in the summer suits most seniors better than rushing around about indoors from one thing to another. We live in beautiful countryside with lovely gardens and if we have the chance to get out and sit in the shade (or the sun) and just look, hear the birds singing and the wind in the trees, that’s pleasure enough.

The main focus of the program at the Villa this past week was a Tour of Ontario.”

Canada is such an enormous country that it is impossible for even the most enthusiastic tourist to know more than a small part of it. Also Ontario is one of the largest provinces, so the tour (which began last week) has been a welcome addition to the resident’s knowledge. On Monday we learned about Ottawa and ate “beaver tails” which people can buy after they skate on the Rideau Canal. A beaver tail is a flat donut that is deep fried and sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, and icing sugar. On Wednesday night there was an Algonquin Park Campfire night with hotdogs, on Thursday a trip to the local Niagara-on-the-Lake winery with wine tasting and cheese, plus a talk in the morning on the historic sites of Goderich. On Friday afternoon a movie about exploring Northern Ontario was shown for those interested residents. And last but not least on Monday the 23^rd a picnic lunch and a River Boat ride in Stratford. All of which no doubt added something to the residents knowledge and pleasure in their part of Ontario.

Everybody knows that Stratford is well known throughout Eastern Ontario and the Eastern USA, for its theatre but not so many people realize the comparatively recent date of the Canadian wineries. The growth and popularity of Ontario wineries within the Niagara region has expanded greatly during the last thirty years (well within the memory of most of the Villa residents) and the planting of vines and growth of wineries in Prince Edward County, along the Bay of Quinte, is even more recent. The area was previously known for its apple orchards. Canadian wineries are also gaining ground in overseas markets such as the UK, who hither the thought “New World” wines came only from  Australia or Chili.

This past week included the Canada Day long week-end, the traditional start of the summer season. Schools are out and last Thursday saw commemoration celebrations for schools and universities ( even Junior Kindergarten had a passing through to the next grade party and certificates to prove it!) all the way down to Senior Kindergarten!

This is also the “opening the cottage weekend” for many people, and the start of holidays at the lake or on the island with the beach, the boats, the fishing and all the other “cottage” occupations. Maybe a period at camp with canoe trips, campfires, and toasted marshmallows! In these days when so many parents work outside the home, this is a precious time when all the family can be together, on holiday and doing traditional “cottagey” things.
It is also the time when a few lucky residents of the ‘Villa can go “up to the cottage” for a break with their families. Even if all you do is sit on the dock and watch the kids swimming, you smell the air, hear the loons in the early morning and eat fresh caught fish. It’s a good thought indeed.
Back at the Villa the air has cooled after some blistering heat and the gardens really lovely. The weather is good for walking, sitting, picnics and drives in the countryside. The news programs, movies, games and trivia are all worth taking in.

Summertime always seems to go so quickly and before you know where you are July and August have passed and you’re looking at the Labour Day weekend. But as of now we’re just starting , so enjoy it!

On a cold winter day you look out of the window and long for the warm sunny feel of a perfect summer day. Just like the day of the walk and roll-a-thon at the Villa held 10 days ago. Dry, sunny, the air fresh with a slight breeze-perfect for walking, working and sitting in the shade. Since then it has been sunny and breezy and growing warmer and warmer, until now it is too hot for anything except staying indoors.

So now we are looking forward to a good thunderstorm to cool us off-Never satisfied!

However the residents of the Villa, happily settled in their new dining rooms (thanks to the emanating efforts of the nursing and dietary staff) have had plenty to occupy themselves. Exercises (in chairs or in the Spruce Lodge pool), music from Mary F. Dow (19^th), the Mapleview Choir (14^th), the regular monthly birthday party (13^th), a Beach Party (indoors,14^th), news reading (Advocate) and a day for wearing a tie-to honour Father’s Day.

There was also a very interesting talk on the History of Logan. We have already had a talk on the history of Fullarton and Dublin. I hope this will continue as a series to give us more history of surrounding towns and villages. For the many residents who have spent much of their lives somewhere near the Villa, many will find things they didn’t know about their hometown or district. They may even be able to contribute an item which is new to everyone else. This is particularly true of the early days of settlement. I have a profound admiration for those early settlers, facing acre after acre of standing trees, which had to be cleared, cut up, for warmth and shelter, and  then stumped before you grow anything. Using your own two hands and (if you were lucky) horses or oxen and the help of neighbours and friends. No government grants, if you were poor, no hospitals, if you were sick or supermarkets if you were hungry.

So lets remember our fathers and all the family, not only on Father’s Day but all the time-and be thankful we don’t have to work as hard.

Last Thursday was the first day of summer- the longest day of the year, which, for thousands of years was the most important day of the year with all sorts of ceremonies, religious and otherwise, attached to it.  Today it marks the official beginning of summer after the long growing period of spring. This year, however, we seem to have already had summer for at least a month – warm, rising to hot or very hot and mixed with thunderstorms.  The flowers are already at their peak and many of them having had their blooms will not flower again.  So what about summer – the next three months – that is the question? More of the same would be wonderful, so let’s hope!

Those residents able to get outside could enjoy the gardens and for those who can not, the view from many windows are very refreshing.  Once again, the calendar was full of programs – fitness classes were held three times last week, the individual physio sessions, the news programs, stories, euchre and games.

And if you just wanted to chat over a cup of tea in the afternoon, there was Auxiliary Tea on Saturday, an Ice Cream Parlour on Wednesday, Baseball snacks on Tuesday and a cup of tea or coffee (sometimes pie!) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s in the library.  The program calendar is full and if you want to read a book or have an afternoon nap, you have to make a choice!

So, here’s to a summer, hot but not too hot, sunny but not too dry and flowers that save their blooms until later on!