Halcyon House News

Monday at the movies ?Smokey and the Bandit II? starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Reed kept everyone entertained. The characters in the action adventure comedy find themselves involved in a mission of epic proportions; transporting a pregnant elephant cross-country in 24 hrs. or less.

At the creative Art Class this week everyone is finishing up on coloring their picture of a basketful of flowers that will be displayed in the Day Lounge for May Day and Mother?s Day.

A special hot dog luncheon to kick off the baseball season was well attended. They had a choice of a hot dog with all of the fixings, pigs in a blanket, or a chili dog. Along with chips and lemonade, brownies with ice cream topped off ?this take me out to the ball game? theme party. Trivia was shared pertaining to baseball and we finished with singing ?Take me out to the Ballgame.?

Work has started on clearing out the flower beds for all of the perennials that are coming up. The tulips are really beautiful and colorful this year. The residents enjoy looking at the cascade of color outside. We also have squirrels that keep them entertained when they are trying to get seed out of the bird feeders.

Topic of the day with Lela Garten was about how Mother?s Day got its start. Anna Jarvis, started the day to honor all mothers because she believed that mothers were the one person who had done more for you than anyone in the world.

Reverend Moody Colorado from the West Chester United Methodist Church led our weekly service on Sunday. His sermon was titled, ?The Good Shepherd? and included a Scripture reading from John 10:22-30.

Halcyon House welcomed Mary M. Weinand, MBA, Family Finance Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to offer FREE Financial Wellness Classes for Halcyon team members, residents, and the greater community. This is a three-week session and those attending are very positive about the information being shared.

Several residents hosted guests this past week: Phyllis Lyle welcomed her daughter, Patty; Carl Schmidt enjoyed the company of his siblings, brother Leroy and his wife and sister Eva; Lee Moore spent time with his mother, Frances Moore; Margaret Steinbeck welcomed her daughters, Kristen Hess and Kortney Graybill; Pat Hennigan had lunch with his mother, Mary Ann on Friday in the Applewood Bistro. He was in town for the visitation of his former coach Mr. Jim Rosien. Pat played for Jim and coached with him in Washington.

Halcyon House residents welcomed Bonnie Applegate. Bonnie grew up in Washington County and farmed with her husband Bob north of Washington. Bonnie enjoys reading, puzzles, gardening, playing cards, and dogs.

Residents extended their sympathy to Ardice Blankenhorn. Her 53-year-old grandson, Steven Vick, from Cedar Rapids recently lost his valiant and courageous battle with esophageal cancer.