Halcyon House News

Pastor Bob Wollenberg with the United Presbyterian Church led our weekly service. Special music was provided by Mary Atwood.

We have had some great days to be outside for a picnic at the Garden View Patio. Many residents recently enjoyed Maid-Rites, watermelon, chips and brownies for dessert while dining on the patio. The baking class made applesauce and a group of residents went outside to the garden for lunch and enjoyed garden tomatoes, cantaloupe, and applesauce made in baking class. Our volunteer Doris entertained us with a sing-along.

Monday night at the movies was ?Mrs. Lambert remembers Love? starring Ellen Burstyn and Walter Matthau. This heartwarming movie is about the love this grandmother has for her grandson and the lengths that she will go to keep him as her health fails. Walter Matthau vows to help grandmother and grandson stay together for an inspiring transition for all of them at the journey?s end.

At Movers and Thinkers (which is a gentle exercise class) we used huge balloons for the residents to hit for the moving part of the class. For the thinking part it is always some trivia that pertains to what is going on during that month. This week we learned some fun facts about the State Fair. The first Iowa State fair was held Oct. 25 to 27, 1854, in Fairfield. Another fun fact question was ?What happens to the butter from which the butter cow is sculpted?? It is frozen and stored during the year and reused for three or four Fairs. Butter sculptures have been a part of the fair since 1911. It takes an estimated 550 pounds of butter and 16 hours to craft the butter cow. That?s a lot of butter!!!! And believe it or not, the budget for the first Iowa State Fair in 1854 was $323.

Isy Flander welcomed visitors over the weekend. Her daughter and husband, Linda and Tim Holden from Manley, and granddaughter and husband, Emily and John Palik of Omaha, Nebraska, spent a long weekend with her. Emily and John brought a special visitor to meet Isy ? her 7-month-old great-grandson, Mason. On Friday evening, the family enjoyed dinner together and were joined by Isy?s sons and their spouses from Keota, Murray and Jane and Randy and Cindy. They all attended church together on Saturday evening and then went to Isy?s for dinner. On Sunday everyone left for home and Isy spent the day relaxing.

Halcyon House is happy to welcome Sam Hochstetler to his new apartment on campus. He comes to Halcyon House from his farm by Wellman.