Halcyon House News

On Friday, March 4, residents Gladys Ferguson, Rita Beembloosm, Mona Paul and many others participated in the first Balance Basics class that will continue to be held on Friday afternoons for the next five weeks. Halcyon House intern, Annemarie Hoyt started the first class with a PowerPoint program that introduced the basic concepts of balance and safety measures to consider in our home environments. Then the residents followed along to various exercises that enhance strength, coordination, and balance skills. Many of these exercises are simple to try at home and can be modified to each individual?s skill level. The residents were then asked to complete at least one of the exercises every single day for their homework. Throughout the next five weeks of the Balance Basics class, the residents will continue to build upon the new skills they?ve been taught in order to decrease their risk of falling in the future.

On Sunday, March 6, Phylis Lyle had guests from Keota for dinner in the Timmins Dining Room. They were her grandchildren Levi and Jill Lyle and four of her great-grandchildren: Olivia, Elyse, Emmerson and Ivy. They then spent the afternoon visiting in Phylis's apartment. It made for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon for Phylis and family.

Bea Johnson reports that she had guests on Saturday afternoon they were Lana and Sara Todd from Columbus Junction and Lois Skubal and Emma Jarrard, of Washington. They had not been to Halcyon House before so they toured her apartment and talked about all of the activities and meals that Halcyon provides. Lois and Sara will be going to college in the fall so they all discussed their plans.

Gladys Ferguson traveled to Columbus Junction on Saturday to see Columbus Community Schools production of ?Nunsense Two." She met her nephew Brian Watson and his mother Joan Watson. Gladys' great neice Gracie Watson performed in the musical. Gracie is the daughter of Brian Watson.

Welcome home, Snow Birds Kathryn and Paul Kuhlman and welcome Pauline Skarda, a new resident at Halcyon House who is Paul's mother.

Mary Soper had a guest visit her Tuesday, March 8. She was Mary's sister-in-law, Lyla Roe from Des Moines. They had nice afternoon sharing old memories.

At Movers and Thinkers we don?t just exercise our muscles but we also exercise are minds with trivia. This week the topic for trivia was all about Dr. Suess.  Did you know that Dr. Suess wrote ?Green Eggs and Ham?on a dare from his publisher.  His publisher bet Dr. Suess that he couldn?t write a book using only 50 different words.

Dr. Suess was actually not a doctor of anything, he never had any children of his own, and he was quoted as saying?You have ?em; I?ll entertain ?em?.   ?The Cat in the Hat? resulted from a theory Suess had that ?Dick and Jane children?s books were so boring,  reading levels were down in in schools because kids refused to read them. To fix this , a director at Houghton Mifflin sent Suess a list of about 350 words kids should know and then challenged him to write a book that kids couldn?t put down.  In the end, the book uses 220 of the words most used by children.

This week at Monday night at the movies the residents watched  ?Seven Brides for Seven Brothers? starring Jane Powell and Howard Keel.  This classical musical roaring with vitality, back-flipping, plank-leaping athleticism ? leaves a daylong smile,when the brothers decide it?s time for them to find brides of their own after their big brother Adam brings home a new bride.

New volunteer Penny Patterson started her first day volunteering by making popcorn for everyone.  The smell of popcorn enticed everyone throughout the building to come and get a sack of this delicious treat.

Rascal Rabbit has been treating residents with a bag of Easter candy if they submit a news item for the paper. I for one enjoyed this tasty bag of chocolate and jelly beans.

As all of the residents here have been watching the construction of the new buildings taking place and so thankful that the weather has been so cooperative for the workers involved in the construction.