Happy Mother's Day!

The Mother’s Hand (1966) by Antanas Sutkus

 Mother's Day is Sunday, I didn't have to tell you though. All of us who have Mothers, had Mothers or have been Mothers know when it's our day. It can be a day of pampering, but most likely it's not. You still cook or clean or straighten up after kids or husbands! But Mom's just do that, they don't think twice about picking up the family room before bedtime or folding a load of clothes while dinner is cooking. My Mom was a typical 1950's Mom who stayed home with my brother and I and gave up all aspirations of career or fame so that she could wipe our noses and attend every school play we were ever in. Daddy went to work and Mom did the rest. 

♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥

If you think about it, childhood is a very small part of our lives. In 12 years we make the memories that we carry with us the rest of our lives. Not enough time really to do all the things that make for a happy childhood...

√  Play dress up 

√  Go Sledding

√  Build a snowman

√  Go swimming

√  Have a picnic

√  Visit the zoo 

√  Play Monopoly

√  Take a walk

√  Look at baby pictures 

√  Sing Songs

√  Go roller skating

√  Build a blanket fort 

√  Have a scavenger hunt

√  Go to the movies 

√  Finger Paint

√  Make S’mores

√  Play baseball

√  Rake leaves and jump in them

√  Go on a hayride 

Visit a pumpkin patch

√  Plant something

√  Have a water fight

√  Play hide and seek

√  Go to the state fair

√  Make homemade ice cream 

√  Go wading in a creek

√  Go horseback riding

√  Climb a tree 

√  Go camping

√  Draw a map and have a treasure hunt 

√  Play in the rain 

√  Paint a picture by numbers 

√  Fly a kite 

√  Jump rope 

√  Go fishing 

√  Play Simon Says

√  Play “I Spy”

√  Start a collection of rocks or shells 

√  Draw pictures on the sidewalk with chalk

√  Go for a bike ride

√  Play pretend

√  Tell Knock-Knock jokes

... unless you had a Mom like mine. The only thing I missed was going to a Pumpkin Patch, but they didn't have those in the 50's! Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there that have been a Mother to someone or SOMETHING, that includes Moms of pets~ Dad's of course, Grandparents who step up and fill in for all the working Moms! It was such a blessing to have her in my life and I honor her this day.

♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥ 

New Beginnings

Christmas is over for another year, the last tree came down today. As happy as I feel putting them up each year, I have pangs of sadness when I pack away the ornaments. Forty-three Christmases packed away in less than a dozen boxes. Many of the ornaments so old or so tacky they don't even make it to the branches, yet I hold onto them. They've made their way to the bottom of the the storage boxes like the Land of Misfit Toys, they have lost their place on the trees. 

I did pass along some ornaments and decorations this year to our oldest Grandson. His first apartment is decorated with hand-me-downs, he never says no to anything we offer! He inherited Papa's old but much loved recliner and most recently a sofa and loveseat, a little worn where I set and and blog! I noticed today as I read his Facebook post, on the counter in the kitchen set Mom and Dad's salt and pepper shakers. You've seen them in every Grandma's house since the 50's, clear glass shakers with aluminum tops. I love that he uses them, the tops are pitted from years of salt. They set on Mom's stove in the house on Summit and seasoned a million meals with ♥

The first day of the new year seems to be a good starting point for new beginnings. Last year was filled with extreme happiness and extreme sadness, but that's life in a nutshell. Wishing everyone a Happy and healthy New Year!

The Mother's Hand

The Mother’s Hand (1966) by Antanas Sutkus

 

 

Mother's Day is today, I didn't have to tell you though. All of us who have Mothers, had Mothers or have been Mothers know when it's our day. It can be a day of pampering, but most likely it's not. You still cook or clean or straighten up after kids or husbands! But Moms just do that, they don't think twice about picking up the family room before bedtime or folding a load of clothes while dinner is cooking. My Mom was a typical 1950's Mom who stayed home with my brother and I and gave up all aspirations of career or fame so that she could wipe our noses and attend every school play we were ever in. Daddy went to work and Mom did the rest. If you think about it, childhood is a very small part of our lives. In 12 years we make the memories that we carry with us the rest of our lives. Not enough time really to do all the things that make for a happy childhood. ... unless you had a Mom like mine!

Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there that have been a Mother to someone or SOMETHING, that includes Moms of pets~ Dad's of course and Grandparents who step up and fill in when needed. I was so lucky to have had the BEST Mom in the World!

Moving Forward...

This has been a hard week. My Mom has been in the hospital since Friday so I've not been home much. It's sad to see her health failing, she was strong for a long time. Her dementia keeps her from being able to tell me much, but when she woke up one time she was making ice cream with her Mom... a favorite memory she used to re-live. I can see expressions that help me to understand her feelings, even though she can't speak. So many helpful people all along the way to  give me hope and courage, placed there "strategically" I'm sure! I do feel a strength that comes from my faith, it's there even on the darkest days.

At this stage of my life, the one thing I can count on is that the horizon is always changing. I really never know what the day holds until the sun comes up. But one foot in front of the other is how I make it, and for America that's how we will overcome the many hardships we are facing right now. Working together toward a goal, it's senseless to lay blame and complain. Moving forward is the only answer and we can do that if we set aside party affiliation and focus on the task at hand. I'm in line to do just that.

My Girls

I knew, even when I was a kid that my Mom was something special. Like so many women in the 1950's, she was a stay at home Mom. I never remember a time when she wasn't there after school with a snack setting on the kitchen table for me. She could read me like a book and often would know when something was bothering me. In tune, she knew what was in my mind and on my heart. I don't know how she would know if I'd been bad, but she could pick up on it like she had radar mounted on her head! One time I had rode my bike outside the perimeter that was deemed safe-- the two blocks around my house. I guess I had been gone just a little too long. She met me at the end of the driveway with a switch in her hand. I immediately told her what I had done and faced the music. It wasn't too bad, and it wasn't child abuse- she was just doing what her own Mother would have done. She had a clear goal, to raise me right. A good dose of morals and a strong faith would help me with whatever life had in store. I owe so much to the lessons she taught me and the example she set. 

Everyday my daughters face the struggles of raising kids. Often times you just don't know if you are doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. But deep inside are all the guidelines we need to raise our children. It comes from our own upbringing, the things we've been taught and the wisom we've learned all along the way. Keeping a prayer going up every day doesn't hurt a thing either...

Alive Inside

You've most likely seen on the news how ipads are helping children with Autism to have a more normal life. The ipod is now credited with reaching the elderly who are the the depths of dementia. Patients who have been quiet for years, almost mute come alive when they hear music on the headphones!

My Mother and now my Father-in-Law both have dementia. Mom was diagnosed almost 20 years ago and is now in a wheelchair, often in her own little world. The facility that cares for her, Jamestown, not only takes care of her physical needs. As much as they can, they incorporate a feeling of home into their activities. The staff of activity workers, CNA's and nurses work diligently to keep Mom "in this world." This new program discovered purely by accident, offers hope to the 5.6 million people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

Take a couple minutes and watch the video and then pass along the information on Facebook or to anyone you know that's facing this horrible disease.

Spic and Span

Reader's Digest, when was the last time you picked one up? Honestly, it's been years for me but there was a time when I was growing up that it came into our house monthly and was read cover to cover. Lots of information in there- health articles, in depth interviews on current events, funny jokes and even a few recipes. Mom took Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies Home Journal, I can remember her sitting reading a magazine in the afternoon... her version of a coffee break. She was a typical 50's housewife who got up before everyone else, made breakfast and then woke us up, fed us and got us off to school. The rest of the day revolved around household chores, cleaning, laundry and cooking. Her chosen career was family, she never worked outside the home. That's not to say she didn't work hard, her days were long and unglamorous, but she took great pride in her home and making our lives content. I can never remember a time when the bathroom didn't sparkle or the kitchen sink was full.

When I got married she gave me some very good advice... she said you only need a few products to clean your house. Her favorites were ammonia, bleach and Ajax. With those in her cupboard and rags to clean with, she could tackle anything! She wasn't one to use paper towels, the very idea of throwing something away was against her religion!

I asked a Facebook friend the other day for some advice on cleaning our wood floors. She owns a cleaning company and I couldn't resist picking her brain for the best products. She highly recommended Glitsa floor cleaner over the Murphy's Oil Soap that I've been using. Also she said a steam mop will make quick work of hardwood floors, but spring for the professional quality one instead of the cheaper model. She knows her stuff, I had bought the low end Shark and didn't like it. I love my Don Aslett microfiber mop that I ordered from QVC. It takes all of 10 minutes start to finish to mop my wood floors. When I'm done they shine like glass until Ben drools or we track in something on our shoes! I like it clean though, so I mop often.

Twitter feed had these 'Housekeepeeper's Little Known Cleaning Tips" from the current issue of Reader's Digest. It's still pumping out the articles we love to read!

"The best way to dust blinds: Close them, then wipe up and down with an old dryer sheet. It'll create an antistatic barrier that helps prevent dust from building up again.
The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is your friend. It will cut your cleaning time in half for bathtubs, sinks, countertops, and dirty walls.

To clean glass and mirrors, use coffee filters, not paper towels. They leave no streaks or lint — and they're cheap.

Vinegar and water is a great deodorizer for a musty bathroom. Spray your shower down as you're getting out. It really absorbs the odors, and the smell of vinegar goes away in an hour.

A wet pumice stone will clean a dirty oven faster than any spray-on product.
Vacuuming bathroom mats is a nightmare. Toss them in the wash every week or two instead.
To damp-mop wood floors, use plain water or a water-based floor cleaner like Bona. Don't use vinegar. The acid in it will pit your polyurethane finish, can void your warranty, and may reduce shine over time.
Seventh Generation dish liquid diluted with water is a great nontoxic all-purpose cleanser. Just put two squirts in a spray bottle and fill it with water.

Our biggest secret weapon? A powdered product called Bar Keepers Friend (amazon.com). We use it on everything. Its active ingredient is rhubarb powder, which really cuts through grit and grime. It cleans glass-top stoves, counters, toilets, porcelain and more. Your sink will never be shinier.

To clean your microwave oven, microwave a cup of water with some baking soda in it until it's boiling. That eliminates odors and makes it super easy to wipe away all that stuck-on stuff.

Clean cobwebs with a yardstick covered by a tube sock. That also works for cleaning under stoves and refrigerators.

Shine your bathroom tiles with lemon oil. It also helps prevent mold and mildew.

To eliminate that ring in your toilet, drop in a bubbling denture tablet, and leave it for at least 30 minutes or overnight. The stain will come off with just a few swishes of the brush."

Lead Hill

We went back home this weekend, to Mom's farm to check on things. I'm not going to say it felt good to go back, it never does anymore since she's not there. We talk the whole trip, that road is as familiar as the back of my hand. Over the mountains, past the little towns of Goshen and Marble, many curves and many farms just like Mom's that now stand vacant of families. Old homesteads all along the way that used to have smoke curling out the chimneys and supper on the stove. Like I said, not easy.

There's so much that needs to be done there, if I lived close we could spend a year just on the care of the pastures. So.much.work. That's the way it is with a farm. We might dream and idolize living on our own piece of land, but in reality it's hard work, never ending. When my Grandparents lived there, Grandpa spent a part of everyday cutting hay or clearing brush. Without that, pastures grow up with sprouts that turn into trees. The paths that used to run across the property are now invisible to the eye, but in my mind I know exactly where they ran. Out past the chicken house to the clearing at the top of the hill where Grandpa would feed late in the afternoon. The cows would follow along behind the truck as he threw hay from the bed of that old International pickup. I loved to go there, years and years of weekends and summers and holidays on that farm.

We fixed the window, swept the floor and locked the door. Down Keeling lane to check another pasture, back across the mountains, around the curves and home again. The trip home is always quiet, I'm lost in my thoughts and my memories. All good ones.

Saturday arrived just like every other Saturday. We got up late, 8ish... but that's late for us. Coffee, paper and more coffee.

"What sounds good for breakfast?"

Then he mows, I blog and we are off to check on parents. Aging parents who have health issues that we worry about. It didn't happen overnight, we are almost 60 and they are almost 90, but it seems like it just arrived on our doorstep one day, these problems that cannot be solved but only lived. It happened when we weren't thinking of how we were going to get through these years. Our kids are grown, and we should have fewer worries, right? Wrong.

The nursing home called to tell me Mom had a fall from her wheel chair. As we drive I'm thinking how bad her injuries could be. She's frail and bruises so easily now. In my memory is a time when she was strong and could carry me on her hip as she did her chores.

I was a Momma's baby and I needed her a long time.

When we arrive at Jamestown she's sitting in the dining room having lunch. A band aid on her hand to cover the scratch from her fall, she smiled ear to ear. Unable to remember the mornings' event, she is in a wonderful mood. Around the table are friends who share her days, their needs being met by caring staff. I depend on these wonderful angels to care for the one who watched over me and did so much to keep me safe.

Mom's memories fade, but mine get stronger.

It felt great to get out on the lake yesterday. It was mid 80's, the sun was shining and even though the water is still cold the GRANDson's had to jump in for the first swim of the year!

The public launch at Prairie Creek looked pretty busy, but there really weren't that many boats out. We've had so much rain the water is still churned up and not the clear blue green we are used to.

It didn't stop people from having fun though. You don't have to get in the water to have a great time. 

I think a jet ski would be a lot of fun but we really don't have a place at the boat dock for it. Jerry thinks it would be a bad idea since I've had back surgery twice, maybe he's right.

This is the real reason we need one. Jackson is our oldest Grandson. but in my heart he's still 5. He wore these glasses when he was that age and I carry them on the boat for our youngest Grandson Ewan. Yesterday he put on these glasses that were once his and my heart broke a little. Cause he's growing up so fast, and I worry about him. I want him to have happiness and joy in his life always. I wish he'd never have to face hardships or heartbreaks or disappointments but there's not a person alive who doesn't have to go through a few of those days.

For right now, at 16 almost 17, it's not too complicated. In 6 days, summer vacation starts and I want to tell him that no matter how complicated he thinks his life is, there will never be a time in his life again that is so UNcomplicated. There will never be another summer when life is so smooth or carefree. It would "fall on deaf ears" so I will keep quiet and let him grow up... even if I don't want to!

Camping~1959

Everytime I hear this song by Alan Jackson, it takes me back to summers on Tablerock Lake in Missouri when we fished and camped. My Dad loved fishing and hunting and my Mom loved my Dad despite the fact that he loved fishing and hunting! It's almost camping time in the Ozarks and with gas prices so high I expect a lot of families will choose to vacation closer to home this year. We camped a lot when I was kid. Nearly every weekend during the summer, we'd either be on the lake in the boat or camping. The only thing I didn't like about fishing trips was the fact that they started so early! We'd leave the house by 5AM to assure that we'd be on the lake by 6AM. Evidently the fish liked to have breakfast EARLY!

We camped with the necessities... a tent, sleeping bags and a big green Coleman cooler. If it was a quick trip, Daddy would simply make a campfire and cook dinner in a big cast iron skillet. The only other pot they took was to make camp coffee. I think Mom must have made some side dishes at home, but all I remember having was fried potatoes and meat!

Other times Daddy would bring along a grill or the green Coleman cookstove. I see the old Coleman thermos in both of these pictures. We carried everything we needed in a campbox with a lock on it...to keep animals out. We'd spend the day fishing and then come back to camp and have dinner. As the sun would go down and the moon would come up, we'd sit around the campfire. Fireflies would blink and disappear, playing their hide and seek game. The stars seemed close enough to reach up and touch.

There wasn't a Memorial Day or 4th of July or Labor Day that we weren't somewhere fishing or camping. It was just a given that a trip was planned. I never tired of the trips or being around my family. We were a noisy bunch, there was no danger of bears ever wanting to be close to our campsite!

Our whole family would gather at the lake for fish fries in the summer. My Dad and his brothers would trot line to assure that we'd have plenty for a crowd. The rest of the family would bring salads and sides, spreading the food out on the tailgates of trucks. That's Grandma Keeling putting out potato salad and deviled eggs, bread and butter pickles and chow chow.

 If you are new to camping you need some recipes for the meals! Cooking food over a fire can be a lot of fun, even more so when you cook it on a stick. Cooking on skewers means you won't have any pots and pans to clean up! The kind of stick you use is very important. Skewers made from dead wood will simply catch fire. Metal or bamboo skewers can be purchased in any grocery store. They need to be at least two feet long so you can stand far enough away from the fire. If you're going to place the skewers on a metal grate, they can be shorter. Just be sure to use tongs to remove them. Consider using pre-cooked meats to account for uneven cooking temperatures of a fire.

Twist Bread- Make simple bread dough and divide into balls about the size of golf balls. Roll between the hands to form a rope about 8 inches long. Wrap dough around a stick. Hold it over red hot coals, turning frequently to bake evenly.

Shish Kebabs- Cut chicken or beef and vegetables like potatoes, onions, or peppers into bite-sized pieces. You can also add shrimp, cherry tomatoes, pearl onions, or whole mushrooms, anything that sounds good to you! Cook on a metal grate for 15 to 20 minutes, turning at least once. Be sure meat is completely done in the middle. 

Hot Dogs- Even the youngest children can put a pre-cooked hot dog on a stick, though you'll want to help them hold it over the fire. Slip them in a bun and top with condiments. Wrap uncooked biscuit dough around a hot dog and cook until golden brown. For a cheesy dog, wrap a slice of cheese around the dog, then wrap with dough.

S'mores-Toast marshmallows on a skewer until browned, but not black. Place a chocolate bar on a graham cracker. Place the hot marshmallows, still on the skewer, onto the chocolate. Top with another graham cracker and slide out the skewer.

A FARMER'S BREAKFAST

6 Slices of bacon, diced
1 Tbsp of butter or margarine
1/2 Tbsp medium sized green pepper, finely chopped
1 Small onion, chopped
2 Medium potatoes, cooked and chopped
4 Eggs
1 cup of milk
1/2 tsp salt
Pepper to taste
Fry bacon slowly in frying pan. Pour off some of the rendered fat and replace with butter. Add green pepper, parsley and onion. Cook until just starting to brown, then add potatoes (or brown them with onion if you prefer). Stir frequently to prevent burning. Beat the eggs and season with salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture into frying pan, stir just enough to incorporate evenly, then cook over low heat to simmer until set. Cut into wedges and serve hot. Serves 4.

OATMEAL TRAIL MIX
1 1/4 Cups of Oats (or combination of Oats, Bran, and Wheat Germ)
3/4 Cup of powdered milk
1 Tbsp Plain gelatin
1 cup of dates, apricots, or other dried fruit, chopped
1/2 cup of raisins
3/4 cup of chopped nuts and sunflower seeds
6 Tbsp Honey
1/4 tsp Grated orange or lemon peel
4 Tbsp Water
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix honey, water and citrus peel. Combine second mixture with the first. Knead with hands until thoroughly mixed. Press into a baking pan to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Bake at 150 degrees for about 6 hours. Don't let it brown! It burns easily. Cut into bars 1" x 2" or larger, wrap in wax paper. Store in a cool place until needed. May be eaten in bar form or crumbled in water or milk as a breakfast cereal.

Happy Camping!

When I visited Mom this week we looked at one of her many photo albums. The one that stays with her at Jamestown is full of her life. We made this one together after she moved away from the farm. Dementia robs one of present day, but Mom's memories of long ago are strong. She can name the people in the photos taken in 1946, she recognizes the house in Santa Cruz where she and Daddy started their life together and she sees expression in faces. The look her Mom had in a Thanksgiving photo as she sits down finally to a huge spread of food, made with love and served with pride.

Mom says, "Look how glad Mother was to have us all there!"

She sees my brother and remembers him as a child, all round and chubby in his little Red Ryder wagon. She sees Daddy and says, "He's so handsome in his Army uniform!" She recognizes my Aunt Joy, her sister-in-law...but can't call her name. I fill in the blanks and she turns the pages. The pages of her life.

It's hard for families going through this decline in memory and sometimes health too. But it's the little things that add meaning to a person's life. Taking the time to go back as we go forward. Get those photo albums out and sit down with someone you love, share the memories...

You have no idea when Motherhood begins that these little bundles of joy are going to turn your world upside down, inside out! There were times when I felt like throwing in the towel, times when I felt like I could sleep a week if given the chance and times when I just wanted the house to be quiet for an hour or two. 

When you are in the thick of it, raising your kids... the days are long and sometimes the nights are too. There are plays and ballgames and sleepovers and then the worst, boyfriends. Each one worse than the last, you know the kind-- they crawled out from under a rock just to meet your precious daughter! All that time and money you've put into this child and she's dating someone with no plans of ever being useful to society. About the time you are ready to throw up your hands and give up-- they grow up. They start to make the right choices and the next thing you know, they have kids of their own.

That's when it gets good- DisneyLand good! The GRANDS actually listened to what we said, unlike our daughters. They even wanted to go places with us, we had been 'shunned' for all those teen years so we almost didn't know how to act!

 

The best part is our daughters began to understand why we did the things we did. We weren't ogres who ruled from our throne, we were just doing the best job we could without a manual on raising kids. Ours came without one! Did you get one with yours???

Being a Mom is one of the best jobs you'll ever have, but these are the top 10 things that no one will ever tell you about Motherhood...

1. That things happen in the delivery room that are never spoken of, because if they were, human reproduction would end! When Stephanie was born in 1970, it wasn't even an option to have anyone other than Me, Dr. Brown and the nurses in the delivery room. By the time Amy came along in 1979, they would allow Jerry to come in...he said 'No thanks' and I was glad. I didn't really want him in there. I know, old fashioned! Things have really changed and birthing suites are common now where the whole family can join in on the joyful event. I just remember my husbands' face after he visited the delivery room following the birth of our first Grandson Jackson....all he ever said was he could never be a doctor!
2. That I would regret saying I'd never raise my kids like I was raised. Most of us go the opposite direction in raising our kids, until that doesn't work then we try it like Mom and Dad did! The "Clean Your Plate Club" was not practiced in our house but bedtime was!
3. That it's ok for your kids to have cookies for breakfast, just not everyday. Once Mom's read the ingredients on cereal or breakfast bars, it's not hard to figure out your own oatmeal raisin cookies are superior to anything that comes from the store!
4. That children have meltdowns. That on some days, parents have meltdowns. Just don't have them the same day! Unfortunately, a two year olds' meltdown is often followed by Moms' meltdown!
5. That there is no such thing as taking the kids for a quick trip to the store. I see it happen everytime I shop. Moms with kids in tow trying their best to gather up groceries in a timely manner, it never works. The faster you go, the slower the kids are!
6. That when you say,"You can have a cookie after lunch," a child only hears "cookie." Or if you tell them you are doing something fun they will drive you crazy asking when is it time to go?
7.That dogs and kids really are made for each other. Cats, rats, bunnies, horses... it really doesn't matter what the animal. Kids learn so much from having a pet.
8. That your Mom actually did know something about child rearing.
She learned just like you, from experience! Does that mean that we "practice" on the first one?
9. That it would be this hard. The hardest job you will ever do, but the perks are great...hugs and kisses!
10. That it would be this awesome. The first time you see that face, you are hopelessly in love! Everything from that point on has new meaning and purpose.

Elvis is in the building...

Jamestown residents couldn't believe their eyes yesterday,

...they actually were spellbound,

speechless...

Because Elvis was in the building!

 

He serenaded the ladies...

He made their hearts go pitter~patter...

Time stood still... nurses stopped nursing, cooks stopped cooking!

They were carried back in time, back to 1950 when they used to hear Elvis on the radio. Favorite songs like Blue Suede Shoes and Jailhouse Rock.

Who would have ever dreamed he'd be here now so close, singing I Can't Help Falling in Love With You?

He kissed every hand...

He sang to each lady's heart...

He made them feel like kids again!

Memories brought back...

... just enjoying the day.

Some of us almost swooned...

Some danced again...

Love was definately in the air!

These 3 gentlemen are in for a fun afternoon with a gaggle of gals who have hearts in their eyes!

Elvis gave his all, he wowed us!

We can thank this sweet little lady for having friends in high places...

It may have been a cold day in Arkansas... but Jamestown was on fire with a Hunka, Hunka Burning Love!

Feast for the Eyes!

I was going through some of the "drafts" on the blog recently, you know...the posts you start and don't finish? I came across this painting that Jamestown bought this summer for their residents to enjoy. All throughout the facility that Mom calls home, are beautiful paintings that invoke wonderful memories. A painting has the ability to inspire us or take us back to another time. It can remind us of a favorite time in our lives, or a special moment. The eye of the artist sees what our heart sees, unspoken desires or hidden longings.

Jamestown went all out for their residents and bought the finest pieces they could find. The day these were delivered, the hallways were lined with paintings, sculpture and fountains. Mom and the other residents were "abuzz" with excitement! I had totally forgotten about these pictures I took that summer day.

 Last week's Christmas Party reminded us of the real "jewels" at Jamestown...the many nurses, CNA's and staff who make this feel like home to some 140 residents.

Angels hide in every nook and cranny at Jamestown, this one helped Mom gain her weight back when everyone else had given up!

We enjoyed a trombone solo by one of the many talented residents... 

A delicious buffet was prepared, complete with gourmet sandwiches, Black Forest Cake and even a chocolate fountain!

I have to say the Hula Dance was a BIG HIT! Fun to watch and made us all want to learn how to do this...rumor is there will be classes available this year to learn the dance!

 Santa made a surprise visit, his bag packed with oodles of presents for everyone!

The room was filled with families enjoying being together. Celebrating yet another Christmas and making memories. I can't tell you what it felt like being there...maybe I can, it felt like Grandma's house!