United Presbyterian Home news

Kerr Hall residents met in the dining room in February for their monthly luncheon and to celebrate the upcoming Valentine holiday with a sweetheart theme. Tables were lined with rose petals and diners enjoyed roast beef or chicken alfredo with salads and desserts in red accents. Carla Carter and Mary Meeker served as hosts for the event. Many residents stayed for an afternoon of fellowship following lunch.

Early risers enjoyed a special campus breakfast Thursday morning. A buffet of foods including eggs, sausages, bacon, sweets and more enticed residents to break from routine and gather for some early morning fun and feasting.

A large crowd gathered in the Moore Family Dining Room for a Valentine party Friday afternoon. Sweethearts enjoyed the love songs and familiar music of Ned Francis and his one-man band. Dick Quayle reports that he enjoyed tapping his toes to the music while snacking on the sweet treats provided by the dietary staff. Cookies, peanut clusters, fruit and vegetables with assorted dips lined the buffet table.

Several residents participated in the Washington Public Library Date with a Book valentine project in February. Participants were surprised with a book or books selected for them and wrapped individually adding mystery to the blind book date. The book deliveries proved intriguing and exciting.

Presidential trivia, wordsearch and crossword puzzles provided thought provoking activities on President's Day. A more physical activity happened when Up with Day Care children and Health Center residents met in the Activity Room for a game of noodle ball. Kids of all ages enjoyed batting balloons around with foam swim noodles.

Ruth Zehr entertained family for Sunday dinner in the Moore Family Dining Room. Ruth's son Fred and his family traveled from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to visit for the afternoon.

Those celebrating birthdays this week in the Town Center include Julia Gamon, Carla Carter and Dave Brown. Residents were happy to part take in the celebrations and enjoy the treats provided by the birthday honorees.

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On Saturday, February 22, 2020 several residents enjoyed a presentation at the Washington Public Library about The Art of the Apron. Spotted in the audience were Jana Nieman, Carol Ray, Mary Temple and Jean Frazer. The aprons on display and the conversation about aprons were much enjoyed by the group. The history of the apron was shared with us several years ago by Don Pfeiffer hoping to educate future generations of the many uses of an apron. 'The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming stove. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold Grandmas wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow when bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that old-time apron that served so many purposes.”

The Cottagers meeting for the monthly potluck were delighted to see unique placemats on the tables which were made from laminated copies of advertisements for retail stores and other businesses in Washington at the turn of the century. Hosts Jean Leeper and Dick Anderson produced these from an old book that belonged to Jean's family. Wonderful keepsakes and a lot of work! The other committee members were Jack and Geneva Genkinger, Lois Swank and Jana Nieman. February birthdays included Betty Thomson, Arbie Reed and Carol Ray. President Larry Bartlett pointed out that Arbie had been married on her birthday as she and Jim stood for happy anniversary wishes. The Reeds were in The Union newspaper on Valentine's Day in a lovely article about long marriages - 63 years in their case. Cottagers Betty and Charlie Thompson were also featured in the article. New to potluck socials, Jim Redlinger, was introduced and Larry Bartlett warned the pool players to watch out. It was as usual, a very pleasant and delicious evening.

Amy Kleese and Andrew Zuehlke are teaming up to offer a six-week program known as The Daniel Plan. The Daniel Plan is a practical lifestyle program designed to help one achieve health in every area of life. It is a gracious approach, encouraging one to take things one step at a time moving steadily toward better health. Small changes equal big results accomplished by emphasizing five core values of faith, food, fitness, focus and friends.

Spiritual Life Director Andrew Zuehlke held an Ash Wednesday service in the Moore Family Dining Room for residents of all denominations. His message inspired those in attendance to prepare for Lent through reconciliation, that we may know true sorrow for our sins not through the blind phrase of 'I'm sorry”, but through our deeds and actions. He shared with us scripture readings and prayer including a time of silence so that everyone could reflect on their sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Andrew shared beautiful music before, during and after the imposition of ashes.

Beautiful flower bouquets were delivered this week to celebrate the birthdays of Phyllis McConnel and Mary Wagamon.

Classics Et Cetera for February 26, 2020 included the overture to 'Bluebeard” by Jacques Offenbach; Romance for Violin & Orchestra by Antonin Dvořák; 'Largo al factotum” from 'The Barber of Seville” by Gioachino Rossini; 'Fiddle-Faddle” by Leroy Anderson; 'Carmen Suite No. 1 by Georges Bizet/Ernest Guiraud; 'Bugles and Drums,” a march by Edwin Franko Goldman.

The opera 'Carmen” by Georges Bizet (1838-1875) premiered in 1875 in Paris. Its breaking of conventions (ladies smoking cigarettes on stage for one) shocked its first audiences, but it has since become perhaps the world's most popular opera. Bizet died suddenly at age 36 after its 33rd performance, unaware that the opera would win international acclaim within 10 years. Ernest Guiraud (1837-1892), another French composer (but born in New Orleans), and a friend of Bizet, saw the value of 'Carmen's” music and put together 'Carmen Suite No. 1” from Bizet's music. It has become a staple for orchestras as has his 'Carmen Suite No. 2.” They each have six quick movements.

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Nine people met to discuss a memoir by Claire Hoffman at the February book club. Julia Gamon led the discussion of Greetings from Utopia Park: Surviving a Transcendental Childhood. Hoffman grew up in Fairfield, Iowa and went to public school part of the time and Maharishi School the rest of the time. At the book club, people shared their experiences with Fairfield and meditation. The March book will be The Child Finder, by Renee Denfeld. It is a novel about a young woman whose job was finding lost children. The April book will be The American Agent, a Maisie Dobbs mystery by Jacqueline Winspear.

Reid Orris celebrated his birthday in the Town Center last week when his daughters Linda Marie and Cathy Pacha brought in cupcakes made to Reid's specifications. Reid was very specific that he needed enough cupcakes to include the daycare children and that they should be fun and colorful. It is always an event when Reid celebrates his birthday.

March came in like a lamb enticing residents to get outside for walks and to inhale the fresh spring like breeze. Daffodils and Crocus are beginning to sprout and trees and shrubs are showing their first buds.

Classics Et Cetera for this week included the overture to 'Rich for a Day” by Anthony Salieri; 'Peer Gynt Suite No. 2” by Edvard Grieg; 'Brindisi” from 'La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi; 'The Carnival of Venice” by Jean-Baptiste Arban; Carmen Suite No. 2 by Georges Bizet/Ernest Guiraud; 'With Palms of Victory,” a march by Herman Blankenburg.

Many know the tune as 'My Hat, It Has Three Corners.” It had been a Neapolitan song called 'Oh Mama, Mama Cara.” Then the great violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) wrote 20 variations on the original tune and titled it 'The Carnival of Venice.” This inspired the composition of many other variations on it for various instruments, especially cornet. Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825-1889) wrote and played an insanely difficult one for cornet in the early 1860s. Herbert L. Clarke (1867-1945), the Sousa Band's great cornet soloist, composed and performed another. And it is amazing what artists such as Wynton Marsalis (born 1961) and others can do with these works.