The The The CHATTER CHATTER CHATTER Homewood at Frederick Volume 15 Number 12 December 2014 REMEMBER the unusual spring blossoms of the Japanese Kousa dogwood on Homewood’s campus that has now produced its unusual winter berries? When our grown-up children visit us, from as far away as New Zealand or as near as around the corner or someplace in between, they bring the feeling of family right into our Homewood apartments, and we treasure these times spent with them---the talk and the laughter. And sometimes we see, in the adult, the little boy or the little girl we remember from those yesterdays. The images are clear, and seem to float around in the air as glitter dust from a greeting card floats slowly downward when we take it out of the envelope. Then, despite vacuuming and brushing, bits of it seem to stay forever, popping up here and there to evoke scenes of some special day. Just so, the images of the child, called forth by a sound, a cast of light, give us wisps of remembered joy, or a stab of poignancy. Mary Kay Kidder, June 7, 2011 MAY THE IMAGES OF YESTERDAY’S CHILD FLOAT AROUND YOU at this holiday season…like “glitter dust from a greeting card”… Glitter Dust
Transcript
TheTheThe CHATTERCHATTERCHATTER Homewood at Frederick
Volume 15 Number 12 December 2014
REMEMBER the unusual spring blossoms of the Japanese Kousa dogwood
on Homewood’s campus that has now produced its unusual winter berries?
When our grown-up children visit us, from as far away as New Zealand
or as near as around the corner or someplace in between,
they bring the feeling of family right into our Homewood apartments,
and we treasure these times spent with them---the talk and the laughter.
And sometimes we see, in the adult, the little boy or the little girl
we remember from those yesterdays. The images are clear,
and seem to float around in the air as glitter dust from a greeting card
floats slowly downward when we take it out of the envelope.
Then, despite vacuuming and brushing, bits of it seem to stay forever,
popping up here and there to evoke scenes of some special day.
Just so, the images of the child, called forth by a sound, a cast of light,
give us wisps of remembered joy, or a stab of poignancy.
Mary Kay Kidder, June 7, 2011
MAY THE IMAGES OF YESTERDAY’S CHILD
FLOAT AROUND YOU
at this holiday season…like “glitter dust from
a greeting card”…
Glitter Dust
Nichols’ Notes
Eric T. Nichols, Executive Director
It is the month of December and the campus here in Frederick is all decorated for the holidays. I hope you have
noticed some of the new decorations that we have this year; Homewood at Frederick’s head elf, Julie Norris, spent
some time going through all of our decorations to determine what needed to be replaced from the previous years.
Some new decorations and trees have been purchased, and I hope everyone enjoys the festive look of our campus. I
hope you and your family have a wonderful Holiday Season this year!
The new bus committee met for the first time in November. Several residents, David Burke, and I comprise the
committee taking a look at the various options for a new bus for the Homewood at Frederick campus. David has been
around buses and motor coaches for many years with his family being in the business; he brings a lot of bus
knowledge to the committee. A lot of factors go into the selection of a new bus; the committee is charged with
looking at these and making recommendations for a new bus.
The Willow Ponds apartment building, The Lodge, is now 75% leased. The building construction is coming along
nicely. You can see the stair towers and elevator towers from Willow Road and the steel structures are going into
place. It will be exciting to watch this building take shape during 2015.
The cottage and patio homes received the new landscaping guidelines that were put together by a committee of
residents, Classic Landscaping, and me earlier this year. Please refer to these guidelines when planning your outside
landscaping features for 2015 and beyond.
HOMEWOOD AUXILIARY Loberta Staley
To suggest new fundraising events for 2015, contact any
Auxiliary member. The annual Auxiliary membership
drive, open to everyone, ends in late December; contact
Diana Corl, Membership Chairperson, at 301-371-7737.
The Auxiliary’s informational brochure, prepared by
Lauren Burton, Loberta Staley and Cathy Stull, will be
available soon for distribution to residents and their
families in Independent Living. Assisted Living and the
Health Care Center.
NOTICE: SIGN-UP DEADLINE CHANGE FOR MAKING DINNER RESERVATIONS
Eric Nichols
Effective December 1, the deadline for making dinner
reservations at Homewood’s Tuscarora Dining Room
will change from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm each day. At
3:30 pm each day, the dinner reservation sign-up sheet
will be picked up from the Front Desk by the Dietary
Staff. Please continue to sign up for dinner, by filling
in the number of persons who are choosing the “daily
special” or “menu.” Be aware that only those persons
who sign up for the “daily special” will be served the
“daily special” for that evening; all others must order
from the menu. After 3:30 pm, no other reservations
can be accepted. Thank you for your understanding
and cooperation.
Jo Gilbert
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION Richard Petre, President
On November 6, Pat and Paul Culwell, Catoctin
Country Store Committee Chair, and Bob Hartman,
Store Bookkeeper, presented a check in the amount of
$18,000 to Phil Litman, Treasurer for the Independent
Living Residents Association of Homewood at
Frederick. The check represents the profit from the
convenience store for its last fiscal period, and will be
deposited in the Lasting Value Fund of the
Association.
The doors opened at 5:15 pm to a very successful
evening of fun, food, fellowship at the eighth annual
Filled Basket Bingo. The sold-out crowd enabled a
$1,240 profit; how that profit will be utilized will be
published later in The CHATTER. The gathering
included Homewood co-workers, IL and AL residents,
family and friends. Of course, there were 20 beautiful
theme-filled baskets, and 10 door prizes. Winners of the
Silent Auction were: Christmas tree, Herb Hoffman;
silhouette duck picture, Eleanor Lambert; set of 16
Precious Moments Collectible Ornaments, Lois
Noffsinger-Spurrier.
Auxiliary representatives Barbara Rhoads, Mollie
Snyder, Linda Goodman, Nancy Dellinger and Peggy
Chaney sold food that was available to all residents and
Bingo players. Ed Chaney helped the ladies.
Committee members were Priscilla Hart, Barbara
Grigg, Mary Mate, Maggi Hartzell, Pat and Paul
Culwell, Gloria Gafney, Dale Loman, Bobby
Rickman, Peg Strine, Sue and Herb Hoffman, Mollie
Snyder, Mara Dudrow, Betty Fox, Carol Schuhardt,
and Barbara Rhoads. Joining the Committee this year
were Linda Broadrup, Betty Hobbs and Barbara
Pasike.
Many donated monetarily, with their time or with items
for the baskets. The Homewood Auxiliary, Nancy
Hendricks, insurance representative at Homewood at
Frederick, and the Catoctin Country Store each donated
a basket. Dietary, maintenance and housekeeping staff
helped with the big event. George and Marty Kreps
donated two copies of their book, A Quiet Moment in
Time, about the Amish. Herb Hoffman called all 20
games. And, we couldn’t have pulled it off without the
help of Julie Norris, Homewood’s Activities Director.
FILLED BASKET BINGO: THE RESULTS Shirley Erdmanis
WILLOW PONDS CHRISTMAS WALK Leslie Hobbs
On Friday, December 19, all Homewood
residents are invited to walk through Willow
Ponds and visit the homes of some of the new
residents in our community. Come between 3:00
pm and 6:00 pm, and enjoy light refreshments
and a chance to get to know one another during
this festive Christmas season. Watch for a flyer
with a map that will indicate which Willow Ponds
homes will be open.
NEW RESIDENTS ……………Shirley Erdmanis and Leslie Hobbs
Claireanne and Gene
Ganssle moved into
Apartment 411 from Mt.
Airy, MD in October 2014.
They have one daughter,
four sons and 13
grandchildren.
Claireanne was born in Boston, MA. She graduated
from Emmanuel College in Boston with a BA in
English and from Gallaudet University in Washington,
DC with an MA in education of the hearing impaired.
She was a teacher of the deaf in Summit, NJ and
Gallaudet Preschool. Claireanne also served as
professor of education at Trenton, NJ and director at
Rock Brook School, Montgomery Township, NJ. She
has served as a volunteer for Princeton University Art
Museum, Frederick County Historical Society,
numerous church organizations, Literacy Council and
Great Books. Her interests and hobbies are art history,
theatre, books and music.
Gene was born in East Orange, NJ, and graduated from
MIT with a BS in mechanical engineering. His career
was spent as an aircraft and spacecraft design engineer,
and he has worked as a volunteer with Recording for
the Blind in Princeton, NJ, as a teacher at Roxbury
Correctional Institution, and as a docent at the National
Air and Space Museum. Gene’s hobbies are soaring (he
is a glider pilot) and oil painting.
The Ganssles chose Homewood at Frederick as their
home after visits to many retirement communities
because “it seemed to match our needs and desires.”
Moving from the Frederick area in
October, 2014, to Apt. 227 is Jean
Kessinger. She was born in
Washington, DC, is a widow, and
has four daughters, two sons, 11
grandchildren and one great-
grandchild.
After high school, Jean earned a BS
in bacteriology from the University
of Maryland. Her profession was homemaking and
working part-time in the Montgomery County Library.
As a volunteer with the Frederick Memorial Hospital
Auxiliary, Jean is active with Pinkies and the Select
Moving from Timonium, MD in
August 2014 into Cottage 28 are
Carolyn and Stan Adamiak.
They have one daughter, three
sons and five grandchildren.
Carolyn was born in Flushing,
MI. After high school, she
graduated from Presbyterian
School of Nursing in Newark, NJ,
and attended Rutgers/Columbia College in NJ/NY. Her
nursing career spanned employment with Presbyterian
Hospital in NJ; Baltimore County as a school nurse; and
with Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. Carolyn
was very active in scouting for 46 years, receiving many
awards, and is also active with the United Methodist
Women. Her interests include outdoor activities.
Stan was born in Newark, attended Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute and received a bachelor’s degree in
mechanical engineering. Stan served in the U.S. Army
and was employed at various Bell System assignments,
engineering and supervisory, in NJ, OH and MD. Golf is
a hobby.
A son living in Walkersville influenced their decision to
move to Homewood at Frederick.
Al Demchak moved to Willow
Ponds in June 2014 from New
Market, MD. Al, who is single,
was born in Perth Amboy, NJ. He
studied aircraft design at the
Academy of Aeronautics and
earned both BS and MS degrees in
mechanical engineering from the
New Jersey Institute of
Technology. His career focused on
engineering, designing and maintaining large pumps for
Worthington Pump Company, Chevron Oil and PSE&G
Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant.
Al is a student of military history and has a large
collection of U.S. Infantry individual equipment from
1750-1960. He is a member of the Staten Island
Historical Society, the Company of Military Historians
and the American Society of Military Insignia
Collectors.
SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIES (Subject to change) Nancy McIntyre
Dec. 6 Perfect Storm 2000
Dec. 13 Precious 2008
Dec. 20 Home for Christmas
Dec. 27 The Sound of Music
THE RESIDENT OPTIMIST
“If things improve with age, I’m
getting pretty near perfect.”
Sign on a shop door in Niagara
Falls, Ontario, Canada
NEW RESIDENTS ……………Shirley Erdmanis and Leslie Hobbs
Adrien Tudor moved to Willow
Ponds from Woodsboro, MD in
December 2013. Born in
Baltimore, Adrien is a widower
with two daughters and two
grandchildren. He graduated
from City College of Baltimore
and received a BA in elementary
education from Trenton State
College. He also had NSF
fellowships at Western Maryland, St. Cloud, Miami of
Ohio and Stockton Colleges.
Adrian served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and
spent many years teaching middle school science. In
retirement he enjoys teaching science and history to
adults and children. He is a docent at Rose Hill Manor,
Schifferstadt Museum, the Civil War Medical Museum,
Fort Frederick and other sites in the region.
Adrian enjoys traveling and opportunities to re-enact
the roles of physician, spy, teacher and soldier of the
French and Indian War, and collects ink bottles and dip
pens.
Seconds Thrift Shop. Her leisure activities are walking,
sports and crocheting. Her friendship with other
residents and watching Homewood being built kept Jean
interested in living here.
Millie and Joe Loetell moved to Willow Ponds in
July 2014 from Ocean City,
MD. None of their three
children, five grandchildren
or five great-grandchildren
live in this area.
Millie was born and raised in
Baltimore, and attended
Essex Community College, the University of Illinois and
the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She
was employed in drug stores and active in community
activities with her church and as a Girl Scout leader. She
enjoys all sorts of needlework including embroidery and
crocheting, reading, scrapbooking, church work and
especially, time with her children and grandchildren.
Joe, also a native of Baltimore, is a registered
pharmacist. He served in the U.S. Army and earned both
a BS and a PharmD at the University of Maryland
School of Pharmacy. Joe is a Shriner, a member of the
American Legion, Amvets and the Maryland
Pharmaceutical Association. He enjoys cards, coins and
fishing.
New best sellers, recently arrived:
James Patterson – Burn
Sandra Brown – Mean Streak
Debbie Macomber – Love Letters
Daniel Silva – The Heist
Kathy Reichs – Bones Never Lie
Danielle Steele – A Perfect Life
J. D. Robb –Festive in Death
John Sanford – Deadline
The Library Committee needs a dictionary stand for the Second Floor
Café library. If you have one to donate, please call Stan Schweinfurth
at X 5918. If you are interested in joining the Library Committee,
contact Freda Litman at X 5915; new members are very welcome.
RESIDENT PROFILE - PRISCILLA and LANE HART Shirley Erdmanis
BOOK CHAT Vernon Rippeon
A new paperback book in the 4th
Floor Library (Book Nook) is a
mystery by Catherine Coulter. In
The Final Cut an international thief
leaves a path of death and
destruction.
Lane and Priscilla met at a 4th of July party in 1949. After graduating from
college (Lane from Kenyon ’50 and Yale ’51, Priscilla from Wooster ’51),
Lane began his career with the Armed Forces Security Agency (now NSA).
On May 10, 1952, they were married in Harrisburg, PA. They took up
residence in Falls Church, VA.
After their daughter was born in November, 1954, anticipating NSA’s move
to Ft. Meade, MD, they moved to Silver Spring. Using her musical training,
Priscilla served as her church’s choir director/organist and taught piano
lessons until the pair’s son was born in May, 1957. In July, 1957, a tour of
duty took the family to Cheltenham, England for two years.
Upon returning, both Priscilla and Lane became involved in the social issues of the time. They were ordained
elders in the Presbyterian Church and participated in the National Capitol Area Presbyterian Interracial Council
(PIC) during the civil rights era. Priscilla joined the League of Women Voters (LWV) and the Montgomery County
ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens).
In 1969 the family moved to the new city of Columbia in Howard County, MD where they lived for 30 years. There
Priscilla’s activities in the LWV of Howard Co. culminated in her becoming treasurer and finally president of the
LWV of Maryland. In 1982 her work with the HC Community Action Agency earned her the Distinguished
Volunteer Award by the National Community Action Association. She was also involved in the HCARC, and in
1997, received the National ARC’s Outstanding Volunteer Award.
In 1979 Lane retired from NSA ending a satisfactory career as primarily a cryptanalyst and sometimes a mid-level
manager and management teacher. After this, he increased his involvement in the HCARC, Amnesty International
and, with Priscilla, became involved in Presbyterian and interfaith programs.
They moved to Homewood in 2002 and have lived here longer than any other couple. They are happy to be living
here! Priscilla has served on the Residents Council (one year as president), the Travel and Library Committees, and
worked with the Indoor Yard Sale for several years and many other Homewood activities. Lane has served on the
Environmental Committee and is a photographer for The CHATTER.
Library Corner Freda Litman
HOSPITALITY’S HALLOWEEN Mary Alice Marks
CELEBRATING 100 WITH ELGAR Bruce Poynter
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not
be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Elgar Soper has spent his life “waiting on the Lord,” but he
has also spent a lot of his 100 years running, walking and
doing all sorts of exercise, which may well account for his
being with us to celebrate his first century.
Most of us, by the time we come to Homewood, are not apt to
win many footraces. Strength and speed become memories as
we pass our 60s, 70s and 80s. By the time we reach our 90s,
we are happy if we can walk unassisted, and few of us make it
much farther. But, occasionally, one of us does. And if his
name is Elgar, he continues to maintain his daily workout in the Wellness Center. He well knows, and devoutly
believes, the basic mantra for aging well: “Move, move, move!”
Congratulations, Elgar, on completing your first century of service as a pastor and preacher, and to many of us at
Homewood, a good friend. We’ll check back with you as you approach November, 2114.
Decorations abounded in the Multi-Purpose Room on
Halloween night, thanks to the efforts of Peg Strine
and the Hospitality Committee. The party began with
a word game followed by the “Witches’ Walk” led by
Fran Wenner and Mary Alice Marks riding their
brooms, while 82 residents paraded around the room to
the music of Dean Woods at the piano. Then the
participants passed around a “hot potato” and prizes
were awarded. Pumpkins, decorated by residents,
were judged by dining room staff, and prizes were won by Jane Dertzbaugh, Ginger Ward, and Mary Alice
Marks, with an Honorable Mention going to Dottie Carmody. Many door prizes were awarded at the great
Halloween evening of fun and fellowship!
TIPS FOR DECREASING FALLS Rehab Department
For trouble with balance and/or coordination, please don’t hesitate to call the Rehab Department at X6098. In
the meantime, try these tips to decrease the chances of falling.
For Better Posture, you need strong muscles, normal joint motion, proper alignment and a conscious aware-
ness of your posture habits.
For Better Balance, you need to improve coordination, regular exercise, and regular vision and hearing check-
ups.
Watch out for Hazards. You need to remove all clutter, avoid icy and rainy conditions, and take your time.
You need Proper Equipment such as a walker, canes, ramps, rails and shoes.
Opportunity is still open for IL residents at Crumland Farms to have grab bars placed in their bathrooms. If you need
help, call either Stan Schweinfurth at X5918, or Graham McIntyre at X4267. Get your bars installed now; submit a
work order at the Front Desk TODAY so that it can be forwarded to the Maintenance Department.
Bathrooms are high risk areas; more than 80% of bathroom injuries among U.S. adults, age 65 or older, are from falls.
Each year, 1 in 3 takes a tumble. More than 2 million seniors end up in emergency rooms with broken bones, brain
injuries and reduced mobility; hip fractures are the most frequent fall-related fractures. (AARP statistics) Homewood
at Frederick has provided residents with the new Philips Lifeline system that automatically senses falls and signals for
help; but we can also minimize falls with safety bars in the most hazardous rooms in our residences.
Beginning in April, 2013, two of the Residents Association committees surveyed 122 apartments and 43 cottages,
with a total of over 283 bathrooms. Since then, residents in 72 apartments (59%) and 37 cottages (86%) have upgrad-
ed safety by installing additional bars, or are satisfied that their bathrooms have sufficient bars. That still leaves about
38% of residences that may need bars installed, or the occupants need to agree that they have sufficient safety.
Turnover of IL residents is continuous and inevitable. New residents move in, and others move out or move along
within the health community. It is estimated that Homewood at Frederick has invested to date about $6,000 (the cost
of about 120 grab bars and the labor to install) to improve safety in our bathrooms. We thank the administration for
underwriting the expense and the Maintenance Department for installing the bars. Now we need to finish the task.
GRAB BAR INSTALLATION UPDATE Safety & Security Committee
Music Listening Group Avadna Coghill/Barbara Zentner
HOBOs Paul Mellott, Head Tramp
HOBOs’ meeting on Thursday, December 18, starts
with lunch at 12:00 noon for the men followed by a
program for everyone starting at 12:45 pm. All men
attending the meeting are reminded to sign up for the
luncheon at the Reception Desk by 6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 17. ALL men residing at
Homewood at Frederick are automatically members of
Homewood Old Boys Organization (HOBOs). There
are no dues for membership. The only expense is your
meal which is charged to your account.
The program will be “NASA’s Gemini Program from a
Software Developer’s View” presented by Dick Kopp,
a resident of Homewood at Frederick. He will give us
an idea of how NASA ground controllers managed
flight data and communications on missions, including
some of the problems and solutions encountered in
providing software in miniature computers. Kopp will
explain how NASA dealt with computers that break
during a mission, how they put huge amounts of data
into a thimble-sized computer, and some of the politics
of dealing with NASA.
THE VISIONAIRES Mary Catherine Brake
The Visionaires will meet Tuesday, December 2, at
10:30 am in the ILAC Room across from the bank for
the group’s annual Christmas party. Come prepared
to share a poignant Christmas memory. The group
will also make a list of visual aids or instruments to
have available for residents to purchase, if that can be
arranged.
When the Music Listening Group meets on December 18
at 3:00 pm in the ALACT Room, Bob Powers, a Willow
Ponds resident since February, will delve into the history
of modern bassoons and woodwind instruments, and
demonstrate their sounds.
Bob’s career was in science and technology policy, but
music has always been an important part of his life. In
sixth grade he was presented with a clarinet, and in high
school, an oboe; in the early 1960s, Bob was introduced
to the bassoon. He played in the Boulder Philharmonic
orchestra, and in other symphony orchestras and
ensembles in Colorado and Texas. Locally, he plays with
the Rohrersville Band and the Frederick Wind Ensemble.
Among the selections Bob has planned for the December
18 program are Mozart’s Sonata for Bassoon and Cello,
Hindemith Sonata for Bassoon, and the bassoon solos
from Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Ravel’s Bolero.
During the next year, the Music Listening Group may
feature other Homewood residents on its programs.
VIOLIN CONCERT Shirley Erdmanis
On November 2, Zhenya
Zianouka, a classically
trained violinist and
teacher of resident, Ardine
Gorden, presented a very
beautiful concert in the
Multi-Purpose Room. The
highlight of the
performance was Zhenya’s
playing the same violin
that belonged to Ardine’s
wife and which he uses to
take his lessons.
Zhenya was born in the Republic of Belarus. She
grew up in a family of dedicated musicians; her
mother was a music teacher and conductor, and her
father, an accomplished composer and performer. She
started playing the violin at the age of six. Zhenya
attended the Oginsky School of Music in her
hometown of Molodechno where she studied violin,
piano and music theory for eight years. During her
studies, she participated in classical violin
competitions and appeared on stage, performing
contemporary music on the electric violin. After
graduation, Zhenya was accepted into the prestigious
Minsk State Linguistic University where she was
recognized for her scholastic talents and foreign
language proficiency.
Upon moving to the United States, Zhenya was
awarded a scholarship to study Violin Performance at
Hood College in Frederick where she held the position
of Concert Master in the university string ensemble.
Her awards and acknowledgements include the
prestigious Marie A. Markow Excellence in Music
Prize and the Ardine Gorden Music Scholar award.
WANTED: New and Used Greeting Cards Bobby Rickman
Pass along your new or used greeting cards (like Christmas,
holiday, anniversary, get well or any special occasion
cards) for a charitable purpose. Please donate them for a
fundraising project to benefit the Frederick Memorial
Hospital Auxiliary. If you have new or used cards to give
away, contact Bobby Rickman at x1960 in Cottage 11.
NEW OPEN COMPUTER LABS
On Wednesdays, beginning December 10, residents can meet with volunteer computer coaches at the fol-
lowing places: 1:30 -2:15 pm in the Independent Living Computer Lab and 2:30-3:15 pm in the Assisted
Living Computer Lab. One of the new coaches is Newt Plaisance. Newt brings to Homewood a MS in
Computer Science and many years of computer systems experience with the U.S. Air Force as well as
Blue Cross Blue Shield. He looks forward to helping residents with any computer issues. Very soon, an-
other new coach, Shannon Burke, will lead open IL and AL computer labs Tuesdays and Fridays at hours
to be announced.
A Volunteer Computer Coach Team has formed at Homewood. Seven very
knowledgeable volunteers will begin offering open computer labs in
Independent and Assisted Living during the second week in December. The
new team consists of resident and community volunteers who offer a diverse
and comprehensive background in computers. Additional coaches will also be
available for one hour, one to one, in-home coaching for residents. This
service is complimentary! Coaches will also offer periodic, specific subject,
computer workshops and classes.
To request the assistance of a Volunteer Computer Coach, complete a request
form (provided in the IL Computer Lab and outside the Volunteer Office) and
submit it to the Front Desk. A volunteer will contact you to schedule a
mutually convenient time to meet and solve your computer
issue. Appointments are kept at under 60 minutes.
Open Computer Labs will be offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Times will be announced and posted
soon. These are very helpful opportunities to stop by on an unscheduled basis and have a question answered, to
learn a new computer skill or to get help with a special project that you may be working on.
NEW VOLUNTEER COMPUTER COACH TEAM Cathy Stull
Chaplains’ Corner Shelley Weakley/Suzanne Morris
What do you like to drink on a cold winter morning? Do you enjoy coffee…black…or with sugar and cream? Or
do you prefer tea? I like mine the British way, with milk. Maybe hot chocolate sounds appealing. For each of us,
it might be something different, especially around the holidays, with all of those lovely special teas and cocoas
available.
The theme of a recent church women’s retreat I attended was “The Cup of Our Life,” based on the book by Joyce
Rupp. We reflected on the various ways our lives resemble a cup. Sometimes we feel chipped or empty; at other
times, we are filled to overflowing by all the “busy-ness” of life which leaves no room for the milk of kindness or
the sweetness of friendship. This can be particularly true during the holidays, when we may find our cups filled by
dreary winter days, overfull schedules and grief for loved ones who are no longer with us. At these times, we may
need to drain our cups so that there is room to receive strength, companionship and hope.
December at Homewood offers two special opportunities to refill our cups as we celebrate the grace and richness of
the holiday season together. The Hanukkah Celebration will be held Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 3:00 pm in the
Multipurpose Room. (Happy Half-Hour will follow.) The Christmas Eve Service will be at 10:30 am on
Wednesday, Dec. 24, also in the Multipurpose Room. Please join us. Whatever fills your cup this holiday season,
may it include a warm drink of blessing and joy!
MRS. CLAUS ANNOUNCES HER SCHEDULE Cathy Stull, Volunteer Coordinator
Mrs. Santa Claus is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to share time with her long
-time Homewood friends, and hopes to see all of them soon. Don’t forget to bring
holiday wish lists to these events...Mrs. Claus always has special access to Santa’s
ears!
Monday, December 1, at 10:30 am, Garden View Room. Mrs. Claus hosts the
Holiday Gratitude Circle and Harp Concert. Come and enjoy delicious treats, listen
to holiday music and “kick off” this special month of celebration.
Tuesday, December 4, at 8:00 am, Café. Mrs. Claus will host her Little Donut
Shoppe (until sold out) with freshly baked donuts and live Christmas music. This
fund raiser is sponsored by the Homewood Auxiliary to benefit the residents, and
will be a very nice way to start the annual Homewood Holiday Sale which opens the same morning at 10:00 am.
Monday, December 15, at 2:00 pm, Dining Room. Join Mrs. Claus for a Christmas Tea and Coffee in the
afternoon. Everyone should wear his or her Christmas finery, anticipate door prizes and visit with Santa’s favorite
lady.
SANTA’S ELVES OFFER FREE SERVICES
On Thursday, December 4, 10:00 am-2:00 pm, outside the MPR, during the
Craft Bazaar, Santa’s elves will offer complimentary gift wrap service, free
2015 calendars, free holiday cards, and help with card addressing.
